Lou ferrigno??? On Sunday, April 28, 2013 1:07:21 PM UTC-7, Eidem wrote: > > LOS ANGELES (AP) — The most complete account of Michael Jackson's > final months is about to unfold in a cramped Los Angeles courtroom > nearly four years after the pop superstar's death. > > Lawyers for Jackson's mother will attempt to convince a jury that the > company promoting the pop superstar's 2009 comeback concerts is > responsible for his untimely death. The attorneys will try to prove > that AEG Live hired and controlled the doctor convicted of involuntary > manslaughter over Jackson's demise. > > AEG Live denies any wrongdoing and contests that they hired the > physician who for months was giving Jackson doses of a powerful > anesthetic in the singer's bedroom to help him sleep. > > Opening statements on Monday will provide a roadmap for a case that > will delve into Jackson's addiction struggles and issues previously > unexplored in court. Many of those in the singer's orbit — family, > famous friends, doctors and his teenage children — may testify during > the months-long trial. > > Some of the stars listed on the witness list include Quincy Jones, > Diana Ross, Lou Ferrigno and Spike Lee. Both of Jackson's ex-wives, > Lisa Marie Presley and Debbie Rowe, are also listed as potential > witnesses. > > Katherine Jackson sued in September 2010, claiming AEG failed to > properly investigate her son's doctor, Conrad Murray. All but one of > her claims has been dismissed, but millions and possibly billions of > dollars are at stake. The trial pits the family of a global superstar > against AEG Live, a private company that as part of the Anschutz > Entertainment Group has helped spark the revitalization of downtown > Los Angeles with its venue, the Staples Center. > > Unlike the 2011 trial that ended with Murray's conviction, the civil > trial will explore the troubled finances of both men — a situation > that Katherine Jackson's attorneys say created a conflict of interest > for Murray that AEG should have been aware of. > > The Houston-based cardiologist was deeply in debt when he agreed to > serve as Jackson's personal doctor for a series of 50 concerts in > London dubbed "This Is It." The doctor had liens and owed back child > support when he began working with Jackson, expecting a $150,000 a > month salary. Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication before the > contract was fully signed. > > The trial is expected to include detailed testimony about other > doctors' treatment of Jackson, a subject that was largely off-limits > in the criminal case. Unlike Murray's trial, which was broadcast live, > the civil case will play out without cameras in a courtroom with only > 45 public seats. > > AEG denies they hired Murray, and have contended he should be > considered an independent contractor, a designation many hospitals > deem surgeons and other physicians. > > Katherine Jackson's attorneys, Brian Panish and Kevin Boyle, have > repeatedly cited emails sent by top AEG executives referencing > Murray's pay and his obligations to get Jackson to perform. > > Marvin S. Putnam, an attorney for AEG who was not available to > comment, has said the company could not have foreseen the > circumstances that led to Murray's administration of propofol to > Jackson as a sleep aide. > > AEG has said in court filings that Jackson's family is seeking $40 > billion in damages, but Panish denies that's the figure he's seeking. > > "We've never asked for $40 billion," he said. "The jury is going to > decide what the loss is." > > The high figure, Panish said, is the company's attempt to "prejudice > everybody against the Jacksons." He says the case isn't about money. > > "It's about getting the truth," he said. "We'd like to get out all the > evidence. The evidence is going to speak for itself that AEG had a lot > of involvement and they completely deny responsibility." > > Jackson's three children, Prince, Paris and Blanket are also listed as > plaintiffs on the case. > > Asked whether he and the Jacksons are concerned about the image of the > "Thriller" singer that will emerge in court, Panish said the trial > will show a different side of the superstar. "Mrs. Jackson and her > grandchildren suffered a tremendous loss and AEG has never recognized > that and continues to deny responsibility," he said. "The other side > of the story hasn't been told." > > A jury of six men and six women has been selected to decide the case. > > Monday's remarks by Panish and Putnam will provide the jurors' their > first true insight into the evidence they will likely hear, and once > again pull back the veil of Michael Jackson's private life. >
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