In this Feb. 28, 2005, file photo, Michael Jackson follows his mother, Katherine Jackson, as they arrive for court on the opening day of his child molestation trial at Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Santa Maria, California. Lawyers for Michael Jackson’s mother on Monday, April 29, 2013, opened their case for huge compensation from the promoter of his doomed final tourath. AP PHOTO/MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ
LOS ANGELES—Lawyers for Michael Jackson’s mother on Monday opened their case for huge compensation from the promoter of his doomed final tour—the second trial over the late King of Pop’s 2009 death.
Katherine Jackson was at the Los Angeles court for the start of the wrongful death trial, which has pitted her against AEG Live, whom she blames for negligently hiring Conrad Murray, the doctor convicted over his killing.
“We love you Mrs. Jackson,” screamed passionate fans as the 82-year-old family matriarch arrived in court in a blue trouser suit and amid a massive media crush, accompanied by Jackson’s brother Randy and sister Rebbie.
In 2011, Murray was convicted and jailed for involuntary manslaughter after he was found to have given the singer a sleeping drug overdose, and Jackson’s clan hopes to secure billions of dollars in damages from the tour promoter.
Murray could be called to give evidence but has said he will claim his right to remain silent to avoid incriminating himself before an upcoming appeal.
40-minute procedural debate
Monday’s court battle began with a 40-minute procedural debate between lawyers before the jury was led in. The case began nearly four years after Jackson’s death and could last more than three months.
The singer died at his Los Angeles mansion on June 25, 2009, at age 50 from an overdose of the powerful sedative propofol, administered by Murray to help the “Thriller” legend deal with chronic insomnia.
At the time of his death, he was rehearsing for a series of 50 shows in London, organized with the Anschutz Entertainment Group, in an attempt to revive his career and ease his financial woes.
Jackson’s mother claims that AEG Live pushed her son too hard to prepare.
But the promoter claims Jackson had a history of drug abuse long before the singer met Murray, hired to care for him before and during the shows at London’s O2 Arena.
“AEG had legal duties to Michael Jackson to treat him safely and to not put him in harm’s way,” according to the lawsuit.
“But AEG, despite its knowledge of Michael Jackson’s physical condition, breached those duties by putting its desire for massive profits from the tour over the health and safety of Michael Jackson.”
Judge Yvette Palazuelos has allowed testimony about child molestation charges against Jackson to be heard, but she has notably refused to allow testimony about the parentage of Jackson’s three children.
She has yet to rule on whether Jackson’s medical records could be unsealed to be used in evidence.
$40 billion
Celebrity news website TMZ says Jackson’s mother and his three children—Prince, 16; Paris, 14; and 11-year-old “Blanket”—want over $40 billion from AEG for loss of future earnings. AEG says the figure is “preposterous.”
Murray broke his silence this month to say he does not want to testify to avoid incriminating himself for his own appeal—which he filed last week.
“I am an innocent man… I maintain that innocence,” he told CNN, adding: “I am extremely sorry that Michael has passed. It’s a tremendous loss for me… He was very close to me… we were absolutely great friends.”
Unlike at Murray’s trial two years ago, there will be no live televised coverage of proceedings at the LA Superior Court, held amid tight security and huge media interest.
The judge has ordered lawyers to limit opening statements to two-and-a-half hours each, according to the LA Times.—Michael Thurston