Re: Michael Jackson Personal Assistant Michael Amir Williams Sues AEG / Complaint file added
Michael Jackson's assistant accuses promoter in star's death
By Alan Duke, CNN
updated 10:05 AM EST, Wed November 14, 2012
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Michael Amir Williams wants other former Jackson staff to join as a class-action suit
The lawsuit claims AEG's "acts and omissions brought about the demise of Michael Jackson"
AEG's lawyer calls the suit "clearly frivolous" since Williams has no legal standing to sue
AEG's "acts and omissions" allegedly involved hiring and supervising of Dr. Conrad Murray
Los Angeles (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's last personal assistant claims concert promoter AEG owes him money because, he says, it was responsible for the pop icon's death.
Michael Amir Williams, one of the people closest to Jackson in the last two years of his life, filed a lawsuit that he hopes other former Jackson employees will join as a class action.
The suit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, charges that AEG's "acts and omissions brought about the demise of Michael Jackson."
The court filing included a copy of AEG's contract with Jackson, revealing that the promoter agreed to advance the singer $15 million to help him buy a 29-bedroom estate that spreads over 16 acres in Las Vegas.
AEG's lawyer called the suit "clearly frivolous" since Williams has no legal standing to sue because he was not a party to Jackson's contract with AEG.
"It is truly unfortunate that so many see Mr. Jackson's demise as an opportunity to grab as much for themselves as possible," AEG attorney Marvin Putnam said. "This is just the latest wrongful death lawsuit with someone hoping to profit from Michael Jackson's tragic death in the same way they profited from his tragic life."
Dr. Conrad Murray, who was Jackson's personal physician as he prepared for his "This Is It" comeback shows, was convicted a year ago of involuntary manslaughter in the pop star's death.
The coroner ruled that Jackson died of an overdose of the surgical anesthetic propofol combined with sedatives on June 25, 2009 -- two weeks before the concerts were to begin in London.
The suit contends AEG never paid Jackson's staff as required in the January 2009 contract with Jackson.
"After the contract was signed and performance begun, Michael Jackson had problems keeping up with the pace of Tour's rigorous schedule and physical demands," the lawsuit said. "In response, AEG, began a series of unreasonable acts and omissions."
The "acts and omissions" allegedly involved the hiring and supervision of Dr. Murray.
"AEG used Conrad Murray as a tool to further its business purposes and abused the sole discretion given to AEG under (the) contract," the suit said.
The company failed to look at "Conrad Murray's qualifications, experience, and medical specialty," but instead weighed the benefits Murray could bring, including "managing Michael Jackson so that he could meet all deadlines and timetables AEG set in place," it said.
Testimony at Murray's trial indicated that Jackson chose him to be his full-time doctor for the tour, but that AEG would pay him.
AEG, which is also defending itself in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Jackson's mother and three children, denies it was responsible for hiring or supervising Murray. That suit is set to be heard by a jury next April.
A judge must decide if the newest lawsuit can be made a class-action suit with other former employees joining.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/14/showbiz/jackson-assistant-lawsuit/index.html