Michael Jackson's doctor had no background check, AEG lawyer says
AEG knew of 'deep issue' with Jackson's health, says corporate attorney
AEG Live LLC did not conduct any background checks or supervise the doctor who was later convicted of killing Michael Jackson, a corporate attorney testified Tuesday in a lawsuit claiming the concert promoter was negligent in hiring the physician.
AEG Live General Counsel Shawn Trell told jurors that no legal or financial checks were done involving Conrad Murray or anyone else who worked as an independent contractor on the This Is It shows.
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Jackson's mother Katherine is suing AEG claiming it failed to properly investigate Murray, who was deeply in debt when he agreed to serve as Jackson's tour physician in 2009 for $150,000 US a month.
Trell said he thought a background check would be appropriate for people working in financial roles, but not tour personnel who weren't employees of AEG.
Murray's employment status is a central issue in the case. Katherine Jackson's lawyers contend he was hired by AEG, but the company denies it hired him and notes the singer died before signing the doctor's contract.
Jackson appeared unready
Trell also acknowledged while testifying that numerous people in the company knew of concerns that Jackson's health was declining. Five days before Jackson died, AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips alerted the promoter's parent company that Jackson had missed a rehearsal and didn't appear to be ready for his comeback concerts.
"We have a real problem here," Phillips wrote in the message to the CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group.
Trell agreed with a statement by plaintiff's attorney Brian Panish that company executives knew by then there was a "deep issue" with Jackson.
Trell also said he continued discussions with an insurance broker about additional coverage to recoup AEG Live's investment if the tour had to be cancelled.
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Hours after Phillips sent the warning email, attorney John Branca, who later became co-executor of Jackson's estate, offered to enlist a spiritual and substance abuse specialist to help Jackson, according to an email shown in court.
Murray not monitored
On that same day, Phililps and others met with Jackson and Murray at the singer's home. Trell also testified on Tuesday that no one at AEG supervised or monitored Murray, who was convicted in 2011 of administering a fatal dose of the anesthetic propofol to Jackson.
Trell is considered the most knowledgeable person on numerous issues involving the shows, including contracts and Jackson's health. He has not yet been questioned by AEG's trial lawyers.
Earlier in the day, Trell revised previous testimony in which he told jurors that tour director Kenny Ortega worked on This Is It without a contract.
The lawyer said Monday that Ortega worked under an agreement forged through a series of emails but didn't have a signed contract.
On Tuesday, he told jurors he was mistaken, and Ortega did have a contract that was not displayed in court. He said he was reminded of Ortega's agreement by AEG's trial attorneys.