Ever since the untimely death of the King of Pop in 2009, both his family and admirers, including his countless Louisiana fans, have been crying out for justice. Some cries were answered when Michael Jackson’s personal physician, Conrad Murray, was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Jackson’s mother and children have taken one more step towards justice recently by filing a wrongful death suit against AEG Live.
AEG Live was the company responsible for promoting Jackson’s 2009 comeback tour. The case centers on a charge of negligent hiring regarding Dr. Murray. In response, AEG stated that Murray was Jackson’s longtime physician who continued to treat Jackson in preparation for his tour. Their role was only to pay Dr. Murray on behalf of the pop star. According to AEG, Murray was not their actual employee. However, the Jackson family believes that AEG’s role went far beyond that of funding; Jackson’s relatives have provided a host of emails to bolster their position. The trial begins this April and is expected to continue for several months.
Any case involving negligence requires proof of four main elements: duty, breach, causation and damages. There must be an actual duty or responsibility by the defendant, and that duty was unfulfilled. That lack of action, or breach, must be the direct cause of the injury. Finally, there must be an assessment of damages. Here the Jackson family seeks to recover an amount that equals what Michael Jackson would have made during the remainder of his life.
Whether one loses a megastar like Jackson or a quiet family man, the loss of a loved one is difficult to accept. When that loss is due to the negligence of another, the pain can prove unbearable and compensation for loss is difficult to fathom. In cases like this, though, it is important to seek proper compensation to help meet the financial obligations that may linger after a death. An experienced attorney can help assess the legal issues, while taking charge of demonstrating the key elements of negligence.
Source: CNN, “AEG Live to put Michael Jackson on trial in own death,” Alan Duke, April 2, 2013
