High profile case involves wrongful death of famous musician

Each year there are numerous fatal accidents that impact families throughout California, including Alhambra. However, when a wrongful death happens in a famous family and is covered extensively by the press, it soon becomes everyone’s business. This is what has happened with the death of Michael Jackson, whose wrongful death trial has recently begun in Los Angeles.

A death can be considered wrongful for many different reasons. It may be due to a fatal car accident, the intentional decision of a corporation to make choice that led to a death, a result of medical malpractice and much more. In the simplest of terms, it is a death that occurs due to another individual’s negligence.

In the case involving Michael Jackson, his family is claiming in their suit that Jackson’s death was the fault of the tour promoter, AEG Live. Their lawsuit accuses AEG Live of making the decision to hire, and from that point forward control the actions of, Dr. Conrad Murray.

They claim that AEG urged Dr. Murray to administer medication to keep Michael in performance-ready condition. Unfortunately, the opposite happened, and Jackson died two weeks before the launch of his “This Is It” tour. On the criminal side of the law, Dr. Murray was recently found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for administering the lethal dose of propofol that led to the singer’s death. This may or may not help the family’s case.

It has not been stated what the family will be seeking in damages if they win their case. However, in wrongful death lawsuits there are usually a few different types of recovery available, depending upon the nature of the circumstances surrounding the situation. One common type of compensation is pain and suffering. In addition, sometimes a family can receive compensation for lost wages if the deceased was the family breadwinner. They may also be able to obtain damages for medical bills and funeral expenses.

When a loved one dies a wrongful death due to the negligence of another, it can be a traumatic experience for the family members left behind. But through a wrongful death lawsuit, the victim’s loved ones may feel that some iota of justice has been served.

Source: Global Post, “Michael Jackson wrongful death trial begins in Los Angeles,” Talia Ralph, April 29, 2013