Judge issues favorable ruling for insurers of Jackson’s tour

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Judge issues favorable ruling for insurers of Jackson's tour

Judge issues favorable ruling for insurers of Jackson's ill-fated tour

The insurers of Michael Jackson's attempted comeback concerts won a round in court Thursday when a judge said the company can begin collecting information from the promoters of the singer's attempted 2009 comeback tour.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Malcolm Mackey denied a motion by AEG Live asking that a lawsuit by Lloyd's of London be put on hold until two other legal actions by the mother and father of the late singer concerning his death are concluded.

Mackey also said he will delay setting a trial date and appoint an evidence referee to make recommendations to him in case any disputes arise between the two sides in exchanging information.

"I know this is a multi-faceted case and I think that somewhere it's going to settle way down the line," Mackey said. "For what, I don't know."

Attorney Paul Schrieffer, on behalf of Lloyd's, criticized AEG Live's motion. He said his clients have waited for more than two years to get the documents they need and that any such motion should have been brought months earlier.

"Now they have the epiphany to come into this court and ask for a stay in this case," he said.

After the hearing, Schrieffer said he was pleased that the motion was denied. He also said he would be agreeable to the cases by Katherine and Joe Jackson being tried ahead of the Lloyd's case so long as his clients continue to get their information from AEG Live.

Lloyd's filed suit against AEG Live and the Michael Jackson Co. LLC last June. Lloyd's wants a judge to declare it does not have to pay AEG's $17.5 million policy on grounds the insurers were not told the singer was taking drugs before he died of a drug overdose on June 25, 2009, at age 50.

The Lloyd's lawsuit against AEG claims the company did not tell the insurer about the singer's medical history, "including, but not limited to, his apparent prescription drug use and/or drug addiction." The company also alleges AEG did not disclose the star's use of propofol, a powerful anesthetic normally used in a hospital setting.

The late pop star's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter last year in the death of Jackson, who died of acute propofol intoxication. The physician was sentenced to four years in prison, but is expected to spend about half that time behind bars.

Murray administered the final dose to Jackson at his rented mansion to help him sleep, then failed to monitor the singer, according to trial testimony.

Lloyd's was never told that the singer was missing rehearsals and appearing at meetings with slurred speech after visiting the office of Dr. Arnold Klein, the singer's dermatologist, according to the Lloyd's attorneys' court documents.

Up until the last day of Jackson's life, Lloyd's executives were asking for Jackson's medical information from AEG Live's lawyer, who in turn was passing those requests to Murray, according to the Lloyd's attorneys' court papers.

In their suits, Katherine Jackson is suing AEG Live for the alleged negligent hiring of Murray. The case is scheduled for trial in September.

Joe Jackson's complaint names both Murray and AEG Live. No trial date is set.

Attorney Marvin Putnam, on behalf of AEG Live, said the company is not interested in settling either case.

"These are just shakedowns of my clients," he said.

http://www.wavenewspapers.com/entertainment/Judge-issues-favorable-ruling-for-insurers-of-Jacksons-comeback-tour-136754403.html