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AEG Live Cleared In Michael Jackson Wrongful Death Suit

Evan Petersen

by Evan Petersen

Published October 3, 2013

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Following 21-week trial, a jury has ruled that AEG Live, Michael Jackson's final concert promoter, is not responsible for the singer's death.

Rolling Stone reports that the $1.5 billion suit--helmed by Jackson's 83-year-old mother--was filed by Jackson's family, who alleged that the event company was guilty of negligence through the hiring of Dr. Conrad Murray. Murray is the physician who gave Jackson the lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol and is currently serving an 2-year jail sentence for involuntary manslaughter.

AEG argued that Jackson was responsible for his own death, by actively seeking out doctors who would prescribe the drugs to which he was addicted. The jury ruled that while the company was indeed responsible for hiring Murray, there was no evidence to suggest that he was not competent to treat Jackson.

Following the verdict, AEG's president and CEO Dan Beckerman said, “I am pleased that the jury recognized that this lawsuit was without merit, and the entire AEG family looks forward to putting this unfortunate chapter behind us.”

In a phone interview with Matt Lauer, Conrad Murray had this to say regarding the jury's decision:

"I was not given a fair chance to defend myself, nor were they given an opportunity to defend me. Based on the ruling of the court, I was very relieved that at least the world had a chance of hearing some of the facts…"

This verdict comes not long after the news that Jackson's estate owes over $700 million in back taxes.

Via: Rolling Stone

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