Michael Jackson's Family Sues Touring Company For His Death

from the finger-pointing dept

Thu, Sep 16th 2010 6:34am — Mike Masnick

Sooner or later someone was going to get sued, but it does seem a bit surprising to find out that Michael Jackson's family is now suing AEG, the concert promotions company, for Jackson's death.

"By the nature of their contractual, joint-venture, and special relationship, AEG had legal duties to Michael Jackson to treat him safely and to not put him in harms' way," the lawsuit alleges. "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."

The main issue is that the doctor who treated Jackson was apparently pushed on Jackson by AEG. This seems like a longshot no matter how you look at it. Even if there was negligence somewhere in Jackson's treatment, going so far as to sue the concert promoter for recommending the doctor seems extreme.

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Filed Under: blame, michael jackson
Companies: aeg

18 Comments

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Malodorous Intent (profile), 16 Sep 2010 @ 6:49am

If they win
If they win, then the liability for many HMOs will go way up!
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Yogi, 16 Sep 2010 @ 6:54am

Awful
Simply an awful family - they abuse the man ever since he was five years old, live off his talent for decades, ride him till his untimely death and that's still not enough?

Michael Jackson's ghost should sue that damn family.
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ReallyEvilCanine, 16 Sep 2010 @ 7:23am

The touring company is responsible because...
they expected Jackson to fulfill a contract which he signed but really didn't want to do except that he needed the money. If it wasn't for that awful contract he never would've felt the need to shoot up so much that he would be able to keep the $50M base pay and not have to perform due to an unknown medical condition.

The way the US courts are rolling right now I'd bet on the Jackson family & Estate.
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Adam Wasserman (profile), 16 Sep 2010 @ 7:28am

Re: The touring company is responsible because...
Yeah, they really should have just given him the money and let him stay at home.
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Poing poing, 16 Sep 2010 @ 7:31am

Dutch Ministry of Justice not going after Pirate Bay
Mike, some good news:

Dutch Ministry of Justice: "We will not meddle with stuff like The Pirate Bay" http://tinyurl.com/35uc2nj
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average_joe (profile), 16 Sep 2010 @ 7:36am

Re: The touring company is responsible because...
The way the US courts are rolling right now I'd bet on the Jackson family & Estate.

I just read through the complaint, and it's really not that crazy. But still, I'll take that bet.

I've got $20 on summary judgment for the defendants on all counts. ;)
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Daniel, 16 Sep 2010 @ 8:22am

who gives a damn
why should they be sueing anyone, let the man rest in peace. he is dead and buried, its over.
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Verve (profile), 16 Sep 2010 @ 8:25am

Re: who gives a damn
+1

This.
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John Howard, 16 Sep 2010 @ 8:45am

Doesn't make sense
"its desire for massive profits from the tour over the health and safety of Michael Jackson."

That doesn't really make any sense, since their massive profits from the tour depend directly on the health and safety of Michael Jackson.
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Paradroid (profile), 16 Sep 2010 @ 9:07am

Ha!
"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."

IT'S desire!?!?!? Jackson was there because of his own decision to do so.

When the gig was announced I actually said to my wife there's no way it would actually go ahead. I didn't anticipate what happened though.
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2010 @ 9:20am

Oh the glory(or gory) of the American family is just a source of endless entertainment and inspiration for we all.

Well, as all families they will do what they do best, they will screw things up and laugh at Christmas time about it.

Now c'mon his ex-wife told reporters that MJ said to her he would die like her father(Elvis) from overdose, that could be damaging.
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2010 @ 9:26am

oops sorry not overdose, complications from drug abuse :)
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Don J, 16 Sep 2010 @ 10:15am

The Jackson family suing AEG is actually NO surprise to me at all.

Considering the fact that Conrad Murray doesn't have a pot to tinker in, I always figured it was just a matter of time before the Jacksons went after the REAL money - AEG.

And, I'll bet a year's salary that Joe Jackson is behind the whole suit. I'm sorry to say it but, Katharine has been Joe's robot for 60 years and, apparently still is.

No wonder Michael Jackson never seemed to want any contact with his family when he was still alive.

Disgusting.
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2010 @ 10:25am

So where was the family when those bad guys didn't take care of Michael Jackson?
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Anonymous Howard, 16 Sep 2010 @ 5:18pm

AEG= a billionaire from Denver. He will cut a check and that will be that. This biz is just a hobby for a VERY rich dude (like Warner Music Group).
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meg, 18 Sep 2010 @ 6:56pm

Re:
trying to get hold of him.
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They give a damn, 18 Sep 2010 @ 6:58pm

Re: who gives a damn
Michael has a mother who gave birth to him he has children he was raising and other family memembers who loved him. They and all his fans deserve to know the truth, if you don't care then don't read about him.
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Daryl (profile), 20 Sep 2010 @ 10:57am

Re: Re: who gives a damn
Wow, way to completely miss his point.
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