Judge in Jackson Trial Dismisses Music Executives From Wrongful Death Suit
A California judge on Monday dismissed two music executives from the wrongful death suit filed by Michael Jackson’s mother, but ruled that the case could continue against the concert company the two men work for, A.E.G. Live.
Katherine Jackson filed the suit in 2010, a year after her son’s death, arguing that A.E.G. Live and its executives were negligent in hiring and supervising Jackson’s personal physician, Conrad Murray, as the pop star prepared for a series of comeback concerts in London. A.E.G. Live, a music company controlled by the billionaire Philip F. Anschutz, denies any wrongdoing, and contends that Jackson hired Dr. Murray. The doctor was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for giving Jackson a fatal dose of propofol, a powerful anesthetic the singer was using as a sleep aid.
The judge, Yvette M. Palazuelos, ruled on Monday that Mrs. Jackson’s lawyers had not shown enough evidence that Randy Phillips, A.E.G. Live’s chief executive, and Paul Gongaware, another top executive of the company, could be held liable for Jackson’s death. But she ruled that a jury could still determine whether A.E.G. Live had hired the doctor.
The case has been at trial for more than four months. Lawyers for A.E.G. Live have said they intend to conclude their defense next week, and Mrs. Jackson’s lawyers are expected to then call several rebuttal witnesses. Jurors could begin deliberating in by the end of the month.
Mrs. Jackson seeks damages equivalent to what Jackson might have earned had he lived. That amount has been disputed at trial, but according to witnesses called by her lawyers, it could we worth $1 billion or more.
\n \n\n'; } s += '\n\n\n'; document.write(s); return; } google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '3'; google_ad_client = 'nytimes_blogs'; google_safe = 'high'; google_targeting = 'site_content'; google_hints = nyt_google_hints; google_ad_channel = nyt_google_ad_channel; if (window.nyt_google_count) { google_skip = nyt_google_count; } // -->