AEG Live Calls Michael Jackson a Drug Addict in Wrongful Death Lawsuit
The defense has only made its opening statement but things are already getting heated in the lawsuit Katherine Jackson filed against concert promoter AEG Live over its alleged role in Michael Jackson's death.
According to the AP, AEG said it's not responsible for the pop star's anesthetic-related death because Jackson was an addict and the company wasn't privy to the private medical information shared between him and his doctors. Dr. Conrad Murray—who administered the fatal dose of propofol that killed MJ—is currently behind bars after being convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of Jackson.
The Jackson family matriarch alleges AEG is responsible for her son's death because of its negligent handling of Dr. Murray. But lawyers for the concert giant said there was no way AEG could have known Jackson was addicted to the sleep-inducing anesthetic that ultimately killed him.
"AEG, like everyone else, was an outsider," AEG's lawyer said in their opening statement. "They had no idea. It was going on behind locked doors." Furthermore, the lawyer warned the lawsuit would force "some ugly stuff" about MJ's private life into the public's eye.
During the prosecution's opening statement, lawyers for Katherine Jackson said AEG "ignored the obvious red flags and they hired Dr. Murray." Although AEG disputes the claim it hired Dr. Murray, the prosecution has said it has a "smoking gun" email that proves otherwise. Murray himself pleaded the fifth and refused to testify in the trial against AEG.
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