Jurors in the Michael Jackson wrongful-death case sided with AEG Live that the singer’s death was a tragedy — but not one for which the concert promoter was responsible.
After three days of deliberations, the jury unanimously agreed that AEG Live hired the doctor, who gave the singer a fatal dose of the anesthetic propofol. But they said Dr. Conrad Murray was competent and awarded no money to the pop star’s family.
“There are really no winners in this,” jury foreman Gregg Darden said. “Somebody had to die for us to be here. … It was really a tragic situation.”
Darden said the jurors struggled with questions about Murray. They found him competent to serve as a general practitioner — he had a medical license from an accredited university.
“We felt he was competent,” Darden said. “That doesn’t mean we felt he was ethical. If ethical was in the question, it might have been a different outcome. In the end, he was very unethical. He did something he shouldn’t have done. “
Attorneys for the family had said that economic damages could surpass $1 billion. They wanted each of Jackson’s children awarded $85 million and another $35 million paid to Katherine Jackson.
Jackson’s mother and three children brought the lawsuit, saying AEG Live hired and supervised Murray.
In a written statement, AEG’s lead attorney, Marvin Putnam said: “The jury’s decision completely vindicates AEG Live, confirming what we have known from the start — that although Michael Jackson’s death was a terrible tragedy, it was not a tragedy of AEG Live’s making.”
Randy Phillips, an AEG executive named in the lawsuit, said in a statement: “We lost one of the world’s greatest musical geniuses, but I am relieved and deeply grateful that the jury recognized that neither I, nor anyone else at AEG Live, played any part in Michael’s tragic death.”
Katherine Jackson left the courthouse without talking to reporters.
Source: LATimes / MJ-Upbeat.com
Randy Philips day will come The wicked shall be cut off suddenly without Mercy.
Very true.
AEG’S DEFINETLY RESPONSIBLE FOR “MJ” DEATH..THEY CREATE INAPPROPRIATE SCHEDULE WTOUT ASK’N “MJ”.1ST IT WAS SUPPOSED TO B 10 SHOWS THEN AEG THOUGT-LETS MAKE MORE MONEY OUT OF “MJ”..THEN IT WAS 50..EVEN PARIS TOLD SHE FOUND HER DADDY WAS CRY’N & TELLING ‘ THEY R GONNA KILL ME”.. HW COULD SUCH CRIMINAL GO AWAY WT ALL CRIMES? IS THERE NO LAW? RANDY PHILIPS U’LL DEFINETLY GO TO HELL FOR SURE
It’s disgraceful.
I cannot believe this. Something deep inside says this is very wrong. Conrad Murray did so many negligent acts, how can anyone say he was competent? AEG Live knew Michael had used Propofol in Germany for sleep, knew that Conrad Murray asked for resuscitation equipment which they failed to provide, so must have known risky procedures were going on; also if they had checked him out they would have known his board certification or medical licenses expired in Texas and Nevada in December, 2008. They have lied constantly, so how on earth have they got away with this? It makes no sense.
I totally agree.
Michael Jackson is truly the king. Whenever i listen his records i feel like he is still alive. Certainly one of the most significant pop music celebrities ever been born!