After a month long selection process, the jury pool is finally complete in Michael Jackson's upcoming wrongful death civil trial. Six men and six women were chosen for the $40 billion civil suit filed against AEG Live by the King of Pop's mother and children. Another three jurors will be selected as alternates this week, with the trial ready to start any day now.
AEG Live was sued by Jackson's family for hiring Dr. Conrad Murray, who is currently serving time after being convicted for involuntary manslaughter. They claimed the concert promoter negligently hired and supervised Murray when he served to care for MJ's health during the preparation of "This Is It" concert series.
Judge Yvette M. Palazuelos will preside over the trial, which could run for months.
Dr. Conrad Murray is currently appealing his conviction.
It’s been 9 years since the death of Michael Jackson, and fans have finally gotten some closure. A jury has been selected in the $40 billion wrongful death lawsuit that was filed against his estate by members of the late singer’s family. The case promises to be a long and complex one, with both sides arguing their own side vigorously.
The trial is being held at Los Angeles Superior Court and will involve twelve jurors deciding whether or not Jackson’s estate should be liable for damages related to his passing. The family has accused two companies associated with Jackson’s career – MJJ Productions Inc. and MJJ Ventures Inc – of negligence resulting in an untimely death. They are seeking compensation for medical expenses incurred during treatment of a drug addiction, as well as punitive damages for pain and suffering they endured due to the loss of their beloved relative.
This high-profile case is sure to draw attention from around the world as it progresses, so now is your chance to follow along! With millions on the line, emotions running high, and plenty of legal wrangling ahead of us, this trial promises to be an interesting experience no matter what side you’re rooting for. Keep up with all the latest news here!
Case Overview
The wrongful death lawsuit surrounding Michael Jackson’s untimely passing has been highly publicized since its filing in 2013. His mother and three children sued his concert promoter, AEG Live LLC, alleging that the company was negligent and contributed to Jackson’s death. After a trial lasting nearly five months, it fell on the jury to decide who should be held liable for Jackson’s death.
The primary issue at stake was whether AEG Live is legally responsible for not hiring or supervising Dr. Conrad Murray, who had been convicted of involuntary manslaughter for administering an overdose of propofol – a powerful sedative used as a sleep aid – to which Jackson succumbed. It was alleged by plaintiffs that if AEG had done their due diligence in vetting Dr. Murray they would have seen him as unfit to care for Jackson given his prior drug-related issues with patients in the past; thus leading them to deny him employment as Jackson’s physician during the ‘This Is It’ Tour in 2009.
Ultimately, the twelve person jury sided with AEG Live, absolving them from any responsibility regarding Michael Jackon’s death. With this decision came an end to one of the most high profile lawsuits in recent memory; however, it still remains unclear how much impact this ruling will have on future cases involving celebrity deaths and negligence claims against large organizations such as AEG Live.
Legal Proceedings
The legal proceedings surrounding the wrongful death lawsuit spanned more than five years and included a series of appeals. The Jackson family’s original complaint was filed in 2013 against AEG Live LLC, alleging negligence on their part for hiring or failing to properly supervise Dr. Conrad Murray. In response, AEG denied any responsibility and counterclaimed that it was Michael Jackson who chose Dr. Murray as his personal physician; thus absolving them of all liability regarding his death.
In September 2014, after much deliberation, the jury found in favor of AEG Live with a unanimous verdict – ruling that they were not responsible for any damages related to Michael Jackson’s passing. However, this decision would be appealed several times over the following years leading up to its final confirmation by California Supreme Court in 2018 – effectively ending the litigation once and for all.
This case serves as an example of how difficult it can be to prove corporate negligence when celebrities pass away under tragic circumstances like those surrounding Michael Jackson’s untimely death. Despite having some compelling evidence from both sides, ultimately the jury sided with AEG Live which allowed them to avoid paying out billions of dollars in what could have been one of the largest wrongful death settlements ever seen in court history.
Conclusion
We have now looked at the case overview and legal proceedings of Michael Jackson’s $40 billion wrongful death lawsuit. It has been a long journey, but it appears that a jury is finally selected to decide the outcome of this trial.
The selection process was certainly not easy as there were many factors that needed to be taken into consideration when picking jurors for such an important case. However, after days of intense scrutiny from both sides, they managed to narrow down their choices and make sure only those with no bias or predisposed opinions would serve on the jury.
Now we can all sit back and wait for the verdict, which will ultimately determine how much compensation will be given out if any at all. This is an incredibly significant moment in history and I am eager to see what the final ruling will be. Regardless of the result, one thing is certain: justice must be served for Michael Jackson’s wrongful death.
Founder and Creator of Singersroom.com and IncredibleWork.com. Follow me on Instagram at @gary.gentles.
