The head of concert promoters
AEG Live has admitted in court in Los Angeles he believes a legal action filed
by Michael Jackson’s mother Katherine is a “baseless extortion” attempt.
Katherine Jackson claims the
concert promoters failed to investigate the doctor who was later convicted of
causing her son’s death in 2009.
AEG Live are being sued for
$40 billion (£26 billion).
Randy Phillips says AEG bear
no responsibility for Jackson’s death.
‘Shakedown’
When asked on Tuesday by
Katherine Jackson’s lawyer whether he thought the case was a “baseless
extortion, a shakedown of AEG Live”, Phillips answered: “Yes.”
It is likely he will be asked
about numerous emails he sent and received about Jackson’s health in the final
weeks of the singer’s life, as well as any interactions he had with his
physician Conrad Murray.
AEG Live claims it was not
responsible for the hire or supervision of the doctor and has called the legal
action “preposterous”.
AEG denies hiring Murray and
agreeing to pay his fee as an advance to Michael Jackson.
Murray agreed to serve as the
pop star’s doctor for $150,000 a month while he performed shows at London’s 02
Arena in 2009 and early 2010.
He was convicted in 2011 of
involuntary manslaughter after supplying Jackson with a surgical anaesthetic.
The civil trial is now in its
sixth week. (Source)
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