The late superstar’s family are sueing the concert promoter
As the Michael Jackson family lawsuit with concert promoters AEG Live continues, it’s now been revealed that the late superstar’s family are reportedly seeking damages in excess of $40 billion (£26.5 billion) from the company.
Jackson’s children Prince Michael, Paris, Prince Michael II (‘Blanket’) and his mother Katherine are suing AEG for its alleged role in the Bad singer’s death in 2009.
The children are said to be seeking a whopping $10 billion for Michael’s future earnings, TMZ reports, plus another $50 million for further damages.
However, the website states that AEG reportedly believe that the sum is ‘ridiculous’ and ‘speculative,’ allegedly going on to say that the downward spiral of Michael’s career up to the time of his death was down to previous behaviour, including continued allegations of child abuse.
It had previously been revealed that some ‘smoking gun’ emails had allegedly been unveiled, suggesting that there may be new evidence to back up mother Katherine and her claims.
The emails were allegedly released at the start of the month, suggesting that AEG were ‘worried’ about Jackson’s missed rehearsals and they sought Dr. Conrad Murray’s help in getting him ready, CNN previously reported.
Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson and their grandmother, Katherine Jackson, contend that AEG Live’s pressure on Murray to have Michael Jackson ready for daily rehearsals despite his fragile health led to his death from an overdose of surgical anesthetic.
This then resulted in the judge ruling that Jackson lawyers had shown enough evidence that AEG Live hired and supervised Murray to warrant a jury trial. She also ruled there was evidence to support the Jacksons’ claim that AEG Live executives could have foreseen that Murray would use dangerous drugs in treating the pop icon.
“Now that the court has ruled that there is evidence that it was foreseeable that AEG’s actions resulted in Michael Jackson’s death, the Jackson family feels vindicated from the public smear campaign that AEG has waged against them,” Jackson’s lawyer Kevin Boyle allegedly said recently, according to the news site.
“The truth about what happened to Michael, which AEG has tried to keep hidden from the public since the day Michael died, is finally emerging. We look forward to the trial where the rest of the story will come to light.”
Katherine will now go to trial on 2 April over allegations AEG Live heads negligently hired and supervised Murray.
