Michael Jackson's family launches bid for £31.1 billion in compensation for his death

Michael Jackson's family launches bid for £31.1 billion in compensation for his death

Michael Jackson’s family yesterday started their bid for £31.1 billion in  compensation over the drug induced death of the King of Pop.

The singer’s mother Katherine, 82, and his three children are suing the company behind the star’s long awaited This Is It comeback concerts, AEGLive, for negligence.

The promoters claim Jackson was responsible for his own demise due in part to his addiction to drugs.

As the jury were sworn in US legal experts said the trial was expected to become “incredibly nasty”.

Accusations of child molestation, which he was acquitted of in 2005, and his addiction to drugs are likely to be presented by AEG lawyers subjecting his family to further pain.

The children - Prince Michael, Paris and 10-year-old Blanket - along with their grandmother are demanding the compensation accusing the promoter of being negligent in hiring Dr Conrad Murray.

They also claim AEG were guilty of neglect in the supervision of the convicted physician in the $40 billion lawsuit.

Dr Murray, who was jailed for involuntary manslaughter of the singer two years ago, used surgical anaesthetic Propofol in a fatal effort to treat the singer’s insomnia

Court papers obtained in the US show Jackson’s family want £5.14 billion ($6.6billion) for the what would have been the star’s future earnings.

The remaining money is being claimed for damages.

Jackson, 50, died two weeks before his comeback concerts at London’s O2 Arena were due to begin in the summer of 2009.

Ahead of the trial AEG lawyer Marvin Putnam told the CNN documentary “Michael Jackson: The Final Days”: “I don’t know how you can’t look to Mr. Jackson’s responsibility.

“He was a grown man. Mr Jackson is a person who was known to doctor shop.

"He was known to be someone who would tell one doctor one thing and another doctor something else.

“We’re talking about Michael Jack son. This is a man who would show up in pyjamas.

“This is a man who would stop traffic and get out and dance on top of his car.

"This is a man who would go to public events with a monkey named Bubbles.

“This is a man who said he slept in an oxygen chamber.”

The lawyer also questioned why the Jackson legal team would call his children to testify suggesting it was “for the emotional response”.

“I can’t understand why bringing them to the stand has anything to do with whether or not Dr. Conrad Murray was hired by AEG or hired negligently,” he said.

“But perhaps they’re bringing them to the stand for different reasons.”

Prince Michael, 16, and Paris, 14, are understood to have had conversations with their father as he battled drug issues just prior to his death on June 25, 2009.

Putnam also defended the potential use of the child molestation accusations saying it was relevant because it “resulted in an inc redible increase in his drug intake”.

Along with Jackson’s children, other witnesses include the singer Prince and legendary music producer Quincy Jones.

Although the Purple Rain star is not expected to appear in person he has previously worked with AEG.

Quincy Jones is set to tell the jury how much the concert could have netted the singer, which could be key if the jury find in favour of the family and award compensation.

Dr Murray, 59, is serving a four-year jail sentence for involuntary manslaughter and refused to give evidence at the trial in Los Angeles as he is appealing.

During the case it was heard how he was paid £100,000 a month to help Jackson get fit for the This Is It concerts.

The trial, expected to last for up three months, continues.