Katherine Jackson sued AEG Live LLC in Los
Angeles Superior Court, claiming the promoter of a her son's planned series of
comeback concerts failed to provide key lifesaving equipment and adequately
monitor the cardiologist hired to care for her son.
The case cites numerous
events that allegedly occurred in the two months prior to Jackson's death in
June 2009, including details of negotiations between AEG and Dr. Conrad Murray.
The physician has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and his actions in
the hours before Michael Jackson's death will be the subject of a criminal
trial.
Murray has pleaded not guilty and is not named as a defendant in
Katherine Jackson's lawsuit, although he is frequently mentioned. Murray's
proposed contract was not included in Wednesday's filing, but a copy obtained
earlier this year by The Associated Press revealed that Murray requested a
heart resuscitation machine and another person with medical training from AEG.
The equipment was not in place when Jackson died. "At the time of his
death, Michael Jackson was under the immediate care of a doctor selected by,
hired by, and controlled by AEG; indeed AEG demanded and required that Michael
Jackson be treated by this particular doctor to ensure that Michael Jackson
would attend all rehearsals and shows on the tour," the complaint stated.
AEG spokesman Michael Roth said the company has not seen
the lawsuit and had no immediate comment. The company has said that Jackson
died before signing Murray's contract and that it is not binding.
Katherine Jackson's lawsuit contends AEG, which had
already invested millions of dollars in her son's comeback shows, did not have
his best interests in mind.
"AEG's representations to Jackson were false because
in reality AEG was merely doing whatever it took to make sure that Michael
Jackson could make it to rehearsals and shows and AEG did not provide a doctor
who was truly looking out for Jackson's well-being and did not provide equipment,"
the lawsuit stated.
The comeback concerts in London sold out in anticipation
of Jackson's return as the King of Pop.
Despite years of self-imposed exile, he retained a huge,
loyal following of fans overjoyed at the prospect of seeing him reclaim the glory
he'd attained with albums like "Thriller" and songs like "Beat
It!" and "Billie Jean." The lawsuit places Katherine Jackson in
direct conflict with a major source of money for her son's estate. She, along
with Michael Jackson's three children, are the primary beneficiaries of an
estate that some experts have predicted may surpass Elvis Presley's in
profitability.
Weeks after Jackson's death, a deal between his estate,
AEG and Columbia Pictures resulted in a $60 million deal to rights for the
footage that became the film "This Is It." The estate is slated to
receive 90 percent of the profits of the film.
The concert promoter was also involved in the public
memorial for Jackson at AEG's Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.
Katherine Jackson's attorneys at the time had expressed
concerns about AEG's involvement, but had not raised issues publicly in recent
months after hiring a new attorney, Adam Streisand, to represent her interests.
Streisand did not return a phone message seeking comment on the lawsuit.
