Michael Jackson's family planning to appeal after $31billon lawsuit defeat

[KingsOfTheDay]

Michael Jackson's family planning to appeal after $31billon lawsuit defeat

8 Oct 2013 00:00
By Christopher Bucktin

Family to continue their legal fight for damages against concert promoter AEG over the hiring of jailed doctor Conrad Murray

Michael Jackson’s *family have refused to accept last week’s jury decision against their £31billion lawsuit and are planning to appeal.

Gig promoter AEG was cleared of negligence for hiring Conrad Murray, who gave the star a fatal dose of propofol and was jailed for involuntary manslaughter.

But Jackson’s mother Katherine, 82, and his children Prince, 16, and Paris, 15, have vowed: “We won’t give up fighting for justice.”

They claim AEG should have known Murray, 60, was unfit to treat Jackson and was therefore responsible in part for his death in 2009.

Jackson family attorney Brian Panish is pictured in a courtroom sketch at Katherine Jackson's civil suit against concert promoter AEG Live

Big loss: Jackson family attorney Brian Panish is pictured in a courtroom sketch. Reuters

The promoter said it was Jackson who hired him and that he was to blame for his own drug-fuelled demise.

The family’s lawyer Brian Panish is said to have lost about £4.5million in the case in a no win, no fee deal.

And Tom Mesereau, who successfully defended the star in his 2005 molestation trial, said: “I spoke to them. They are going to appeal.”

He also hit out at Murray for continuing to claim his innocence.

He said: “Unless he tries to change his *attitude I have contempt for him. I hope he admits responsibility, but I doubt it.”