A civil trial in which Michael Jackson’s family is suing concert promoters AEG is to begin on Monday, April 29, court officials have confirmed.
Michael Jackson’s family is suing AEG for wrongful death, claiming the company was responsible for the star’s death in 2009 because it hired Dr. Conrad Murray.
Dr. Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011.
A jury of six men and six women has been selected for the Los Angeles trial, which may last up to six months.
Michael Jackson died from an overdose of the powerful anaesthetic propofol while preparing for 50 comeback gigs in the UK.
The legal action claims AEG Live is liable for his death because Dr.Conrad Murray supplied the mgastar with the surgical drug.
The Jackson family is suing for $40 billion. But AEG Live has said it was not responsible for the hire or supervision of the doctor and called the $40 billion claim “preposterous”.
Potential witnesses include Michael Jackson’s mother, the star’s two oldest children, Prince, 16, and Paris, 15, as well as the singers Prince and Diana Ross.
The jury was selected from more than 100 candidates – many of whom were eliminated because they said serving on a three-month trial would be a hardship.
Others were rejected when they said they had a bias against Jackson or disapproved of big-figure legal cases or had business ties to AEG or the Jackson family.
Lawyers for both sides have now begun questioning prospective candidates to sit as six alternative jurors – used to replace a regular juror who becomes unable to serve.
The legal action accuses the promoters of failing to check the credentials of Dr. Conrad Murray, who supplied Michael Jackson with the propofol.
During Dr. Conrad Murray’s trial in 2011, the prosecution said he caused Michael Jackson’s death through negligence.
The defense argued that Michael Jackson was a drug addict who caused his own death by giving himself an extra dose of propofol while the cardiologist was out of the room.
Earlier this week, Conrad Murray launched an appeal against his conviction.
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