Entertainment company sued for wrongful death of Michael Jackson

The death of the famous male pop singer Michael Jackson is now being blamed on his entertainment company, Anschutz Entertainment Group. The family of the late pop singer has filed a wrongful death suit against the entertainment industry giant.

A wrongful death claim is often used when a death was the result of someone else’s negligence or intentional wrongdoing. This is exactly what Jackson’s family members believe was the case regarding AEG’s business relationship with Jackson prior to his death.

The entertainment group and its concert subsidiary are under fire from the singer’s mother and children, and has been demanded to cancel its behind-the-scenes documentary about the man. The show allegedly shone a negative light on Jackson’s reputation and steers the blame of his death upon himself.

The history between Jackson and AEG revolved around his concert tour. The celebrity chose to work with AEG because the company had extensive resources and good financial payoffs. AEG reportedly advanced a payment; the company also negotiated that they could seize his assets if he failed to fulfill his end of the contract.

According to the wrongful death lawsuit, AEG pressured the celebrity into doing things he was unable to complete due to his poor physical health. Because of the pressure, the singer had no choice but to seek a doctor who could provide him with sleep aids. Allegedly, AEG pushed him to work with the specific doctor; the doctor, Conrad Murray, has already been convicted of an involuntary manslaughter charge.

But did the entertainment company play a role in pushing him towards prescription drugs by forcing him to follow a strenuous concert schedule? AEG responded to the allegations in the lawsuit by arguing that the pop star was competent to take care of himself and at any point could have walked away from his contract with the company.

Source: Florida Courier: “Jackson saga continues after trial,” Nov. 10, 2011