A Chilling New Version of Michael Jackson's Final Days

[ladylee1979]

With his sold-out concert series only four weeks away and a sickly Michael Jackson missing yet another rehearsal, the promoter gave the star an ultimatum: Start taking drugs from a new doctor to keep you going, or we'll sue you for millions.

This dose of "tough love" administered at Jackson's house is alleged in a lawsuit filed this week that provides a new account of the days before Jackson died from a dose of a powerful anesthesia.

In the suit by Jackson's mother Katherine and his children, Jackson is not portrayed as the rejuvenated King of Pop on the comeback trail, as seen in the movie This Is It, but as a tired, drug-addled 50-year-old barely able to rehearse – much less embark on a high-stakes concert series.

To protect its huge investment and the potential for even bigger profits, the lawsuit alleges, promoter AEG Live drove the entertainer – once so out of it that he was disoriented and shivering in a hot arena – into a premature death through the poor medical care from the physician hired by the promoter: Dr. Conrad Murray.

Promoter Denies Allegations
An AEG spokesman would only say that the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit "is inaccurate, unsubstantiated and meritless. Dr. Murray was Mr. Jackson's longtime personal physician. AEG did not choose him, hire him or supervise him."

The lawsuit, which alleges breach of contract, negligence and fraud, provides a detailed narrative of what it claims were AEG's heavy-handed tactics in the weeks prior to Jackson's U.K. concerts, when Jackson was faltering during rehearsals.

According to the suit, the promoters went to Jackson's Los Angeles house on June 18, 2009, and insisted he stop seeing his personal physician, Dr. Arnold Klein, and stop taking Klein's medications, because they "made him sleepy and prevented him from rehearsing," says the legal papers.

"Tough love," the promoters allegedly called it: Just take the drugs from Dr. Murray and don't miss another rehearsal, the promoters allegedly said, or we'll call off the tour and sue you.

"Rather than act reasonably and relax the rehearsal schedule to Michael Jackson could recuperate from his physical problems, AEG insisted that he attend every rehearsal in a grueling schedule," according to the lawsuitDiffering Accounts of Jackson's Health
A month earlier, the suit also says, AEG had contracted Murray, a Las Vegas cardiologist, to be Jackson's "personal concierge physician." For $150,000 a month and a rental house near the London concert venue, Murray would make sure Jackson got the sleep he needed and that he made every Only Jackson's health worsened, the lawsuit says, as Murray pumped him full of such sedatives as Valium, Ativan, Versed and the drug Propofol, an anesthetic for minor surgeries. Under his contract, Murray was also supposed to receive from AEG a nurse and CPR equipment, but these were never furnished, the lawsuit says.

At 9:30 p.m. on June 18, hours after the "riot act meeting," Jackson showed up at rehearsal "visibly shaken" and "not himself that day," the lawsuit says. At home that night, Murray administered the usual sedative cocktail, including Propofol, still without the resuscitation equipment and nursing support Back at rehearsal the next day, "Jackson was upset, not coherent, and seemed drugged and disoriented," the lawsuit says.

'Had to Have a Heater'
After a Father's Day weekend break, Jackson returned to rehearsal on June 23 "freezing cold," the lawsuit says. "His assistants had to give him several shirts to wear under his long, heavy coat. Although it was warm in Staples Center that day, and although the rehearsal was vigorous, Jackson had to have a heater."

The lawsuit says: "AEG was well aware of his condition but did not postpone any rehearsals, nor did AEG relent in its demands that Jackson continue to maintain the grueling rehearsal schedule."

The suit says Jackson was in bad shape on June 24, too, shivering and seeming disoriented. This is in stark contrast to the picture of Jackson painted by other witnesses, who said he seemed enthused and healthy that night as he ran through classics like "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," "Billie Jean," "Smooth Criminal" and "She's Out of My Life." He and his dancers also performed "Thriller" in full costume. They worked until midnight.

According to various accounts, Jackson arrived home fatigued but had trouble sleeping that night. Murray has told police that he gave into Jackson's demands at 10:40 p.m. on the morning of the 25th, pushing 25 milligrams of Propofol into the IV. Soon, Jackson stopped breathing. Murray, still without the heart resuscitation machine he was supposed to get, was unable to save Jackson's life.

The coroner conducted an autopsy the following day and concluded that Jackson died from acute Propofol intoxication and that he had a "polypharmacy" of drugs in his system.

Charles Peckham, a civil attorney for Murray, declined to discuss the case in detail, citing civil and criminal litigation. The doctor has been sued by Jackson's father, Joe. Katherine's attorneys may go after him as well. Murray also is awaiting preliminary hearing on an involuntary manslaughter charge brought by the Los Angeles DA.

"Dr. Murray has a great deal of respect for Katherine Jackson and for Michael Jackson's children and wants to give them all the peace that they deserve as they grieve the loss of their son and their father," Peckham says. "But for Dr. Murray, it's just another day and another lawsuit." http://www.people.com/people/article/0, ... 38,00.html

[scorpionchik]

At 9:30 p.m. on June 18, hours after the "riot act meeting," Jackson showed up at rehearsal "visibly shaken" and "not himself that day," the lawsuit says. At home that night, Murray administered the usual sedative cocktail, including Propofol, still without the resuscitation equipment and nursing support Back at rehearsal the next day, "Jackson was upset, not coherent, and seemed drugged and disoriented," the lawsuit says.
'Had to Have a Heater'
After a Father's Day weekend break, Jackson returned to rehearsal on June 23 "freezing cold," the lawsuit says. "His assistants had to give him several shirts to wear under his long, heavy coat. Although it was warm in Staples Center that day, and although the rehearsal was vigorous, Jackson had to have a heater."
The lawsuit says: "AEG was well aware of his condition but did not postpone any rehearsals, nor did AEG relent in its demands that Jackson continue to maintain the grueling rehearsal schedule."
The suit says Jackson was in bad shape on June 24, too, shivering and seeming disoriented. This is in stark contrast to the picture of Jackson painted by other witnesses, who said he seemed enthused and healthy that night.

Where did Katherine get these details from? Assistants? Why she was waiting more than a year to file lawsuit? Again lots of questions....

[ladylee1979]

well this statment may answer a few questions why he wearin many layers of clothing whilst rehersing,also it seems clear to me michael was sufferin from withdrawal symptoms from something,which takes me back to the statment made by a doctor on the programme michaels last days when a dr said it seems likly michael was trying to get clean for the tour but couldnt handle the withdrawals and returned for more drugs to ease the symptoms and maybe took what he was used to taking and his body couldnt handle the mass surge havin been clean for wks or mths,but yes why has it took so long to file and latoya made it clear they were responsiable so the story unfolds

[tekamjforever]

My heart is torn, I'm sorry .. :cry:

[dom]

heres a question-

the family want to put Murray in prison, right? im sure they have loads of good lawyers, these lawyers should be telling them that lawsuits like  this are going to prevent the trial from going ahead because  it is going to pollute the jury pool- giving out evidence against Murray/ AEG way before the trial even starts!
i cant help wondering are the family making  these phoney lawsuits & releasing them to the public to protect Michael & make the world believe he is gone?murdered? then the trial of Murray will come & it will be thrown out because the public know too much about the prosecution's case therefore there wouldnt be a fair trial so Murray (& Michael) will walk free!  :mrgreen:

[Sinderella]

heres a question-

the family want to put Murray in prison, right? im sure they have loads of good lawyers, these lawyers should be telling them that lawsuits like  this are going to prevent the trial from going ahead because  it is going to pollute the jury pool- giving out evidence against Murray/ AEG way before the trial even starts!
i cant help wondering are the family making  these phoney lawsuits & releasing them to the public to protect Michael & make the world believe he is gone?murdered? then the trial of Murray will come & it will be thrown out because the public know too much about the prosecution's case therefore there wouldnt be a fair trial so Murray (& Michael) will walk free!  :mrgreen:

TOTALLY RIGHT.and everyonevkinda..gets what they wanted out of this whole thing.Apart from the fans obviously...unlsess some miraculous announcement is made claiming what we have believed all along I fear we may still be half in the dark.

[AnaMarcia]

These new statements of AEG are very strange. It was not just Randy Philips along with Kenny Ortega who spoke in a documentary that would trade body with Michael? Said he was very healthy and ready ... .. now been saying that he was weak, sick and addicted?
The story of several shirts under the jacket, it really makes sense. On Earth Song and Thriller it should be with a 4-shirts will be ... explanation is that a disease or Michael pretended to be sick??
If Michael did not agree with the shows, then that explains the use of doubles in "This Is It" and the announcement of this tour. The problem now is whether it was Michael himself who hired the lookalike to replace him or if it was AEG that called this double to finish the movie and be able to earn money, since Michael had died.
You know, this whole story're giving me is fear. Jermaine and Randy said that everyone will know the truth, then, in any case I prefer the blatant truth of what this affliction of ups and downs, doubts, unanswered questions, fantasies ...
Whew ... hopefully have good news at the end of everything, but for now I can not be so positive. This story is getting very strange.
Do not know why only now all this came to light.
Is it only now that police discovered the truth?? After 15 months?? Didn't Murray say anything before? D. Kathe sued AEG just now?? Why?
Or this is part of the process of return of Michael or have a very dirty story behind it and with a depressing ending for us.

Then we wait ... .. :oops:  :oops:

[paula-c]

More contradictions, whenever they publish a news there are new contradictions, a few persons say that it was healthy others supposedly they say the opposite, his personal trainer said in an interview that Michael was in ideal conditions.
These appearances of a Michael Jackson in very poor condition it did them by the way, a few times I stop him to see in poor condition, others in mint condition of health.

[MJonmind]

MJ is a perfectionist, and has always taken great attention to detail. If murder or negligence/greed on the part of AEG through Murray, then why the extensive attention to numerology, cryptic clues throughout, providing of TS and TMZ coverage, etc.--it does not seem realistic. BUT 8-) if it's all a hoax created by Michael to be the biggest performance of his life to top Thriller, and continue his own themes such as Ghosts, it all makes perfect sense to lead people into the plot of the story with substantiating evidence--lots of evidence, including layers of shirts, lots of drugs scattered around the bedroom, phonecalls showing his fears, and on and on. Otherwise who would buy his created story--MJ knows people/media/fans would thoroughly dismantle the details for the truth. Simply again--he is a genius. MJ said in TII, it's nothing to be afraid of, but it will be a great adventure. And "You gotta keep the faith."

[tekamjforever]

Looking coldly, it may be that AEG would make Michael incapable of achievement, linking him to drugs (and thus take advantage of its properties - the catalog, mostly). Maybe that's what Peter Lopez meant when he said: "It was not to happen this way" (or something along those lines). MJ should end up in hospital due to an overdose, but something "wrong" and accidentally killed her? It seems there is a deception or concealment of any kind. :?  :roll:  :?:  I do not know what to think right about one thing or another ... but I know I want to know the truth, whatever.