Katherine Jackson Drops Several Complaints In Suit Over Son's Death
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Attorneys for Michael Jackson's mother say she will not proceed with some of the original allegations in her complaint against the promoter of the London concert series her son was about to begin when he died, including fraud.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Yvette M. Palazuelos ruled Feb. 2 that lawyers for Katherine Jackson and her grandchildren will have to provide more concrete evidence of fraud, negligent infliction of emotional distress and civil conspiracy, which the lawsuit alleges. She gave them 20 days to amend the complaint.
However, the attorneys filed papers Tuesday stating they "do not intent to amend the complaint." The case is now scheduled to go to trial on the remaining allegations of breach of contract, negligent hiring and employer responsibility.
The suit was filed on Sept. 15 by Katherine Jackson on behalf of herself and her son's three children, Michael Jr., Paris-Michael Katherine and Prince Michael, also known as Blanket.
The suit alleges AEG Live is responsible for the medical decisions made by Dr. Conrad Murray, the singer's personal physician at the time, who has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death.
The suit originally alleged Michael Jr. suffered negligent infliction of
emotional distress when he "witnessed his father suffering and accordingly
has suffered great trauma and severe emotional distress." But according to
AEG, the Jackson family lawyers themselves do not allege the boy was present when Murray gave propofol to the singer, nor do they claim the boy was aware the physician was causing any harm to his father.
The 50-year-old singer died June 25, 2009, of acute propofol intoxication.
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