LOS ANGELES (AP) – A California appeals court on Friday upheld a jury’s decision that the promoter of Michael Jackson’s ill-fated comeback concerts was not responsible for his death.
The 2nd District Court of Appeal issued a 39-page ruling a week after attorneys for Katherine Jackson argued for a new trial. The court found the verdict in favor of concert promoter AEG Live LLC was legal.
The court also upheld rulings by a trial court judge that narrowed the case to a single claim that AEG negligently hired, retained and supervised the doctor later convicted of causing Jackson’s death.
Jackson died in June 2009 while preparing for his “This Is It” shows.
His mother sued AEG, claiming executives exercised undue control over the doctor and failed to properly investigate before he was hired.