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Katherine Jackson - AEG lawsuit : NEWS Only (No discussion)

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ABC7 Court News ‏@ABC7Courts 12m
Gongaware said a lot of people who wanted to work for MJ asked for huge sums of money, thinking he had a lot.

ABC7 Court News ‏@ABC7Courts 11m
Just over 20 minutes into the afternoon session, Juror 12 reported he wasn't feeling well. Session is suspended for now.

ABC7 Court News ‏@ABC7Courts 11m
It is unclear what is wrong with him, but he was sweaty and looked he was about to pass out when he left the courtroom.

ABC7 Court News ‏@ABC7Courts 10m
One of the fellow jurors, a woman, is a nurse and she's helping out. He was seen eating sugary drink and snacks. We hope everything is fine!

ABC7 Court News ‏@ABC7Courts 9m
Court clerk just announced a 10 minute break.

------------------------------------------------------

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 18m
Court was only in session for about 15 minutes before a juror felt ill and we had to take a brief recess. Will update soon.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 17m
Before the recess, defense attorney Marvin S. Putnam resumed questioning of AEG Live executive Paul Gongaware.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 17m
He showed him a frame from “This Is It” film in which Jackson’s manager, Frank Dileo, was sitting in on dancer auditions.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 16m
Putnam also asked Gongaware about an incident Karen Faye testified about, that she heard PG yelling at MJ's assistant one day.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 16m
The incident occurred while "This Is It" rehearsals were happening at The Forum in LA.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 16m
Faye claimed she heard Gongaware yelling about Jackson being late to a rehearsal and told his assistant to get him there.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 15m
"Never, never happened," Gongaware said, shaking his head. #JacksonTrial

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 14m
Going to go back into courtroom. We're still on a recess and will advise once we know what's going on with an ill juror.
 
Re: Jacksons vs AEG - Day 22 - June 3 2013 - News Only (no discussion)

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 9m
We're still on stand by for Juror 12. Will take the time to resume tweeting today's testimony. Will update on juror's condition too.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 8m
"He was Michael's doctor, Michael wanted him. That was it," Gongaware said.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 8m
Putnam: Did you think about checking the doctor?
Gongaware: No
P: Why not?
G: He was Michael's doctor

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 7m
" I'm not going to tell Michael Jackson who his doctor should be," Gongaware explained.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 7m
Gongaware said he doesn't think a doctor's financial situation has anything to do with being an ethical doctor.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 7m
Gongaware said it never crossed his mind to either do a background check on Dr. Murray or to suggest to anyone to do it.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 6m
"I just expect doctors to be ethical, the financial side of their lives shouldn't have impact on their medical decision," Gongaware opined.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 6m
Sounds like Juror 12 is ok. Judge bringing him out to inquire.
 
Re: Jacksons vs AEG - Day 22 - June 3 2013 - News Only (no discussion)

AEG exec denies he pushed Jackson to rehearse

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Posted: Jun 03, 2013 3:26 PM EDT
Updated: Jun 03, 2013 6:57 PM EDT


(AP Photo/Al Seib, Pool, File). FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2011 file photo, concert promoter and producer on Michael Jackson's ill-fated "This Is It" tour, Paul Gongaware, testifies on the second day of Dr.
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY
AP Entertainment Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) - An AEG Live LLC executive denied Monday that he pushed Michael Jackson to rehearse for his ill-fated comeback concerts, refuting earlier testimony by the singer's longtime makeup artist and stylist.

Paul Gongaware said he never told Jackson's assistant to get the singer out of a locked bathroom and to a rehearsal, an incident that was described to jurors by makeup artist Karen Faye.

"Never, never happened," Gongaware said, shaking his head.

Faye testified last month that she overhead Gongaware tell Jackson's assistant to do "whatever it takes" to get the "Thriller" singer to a rehearsal. She described Gongaware as sounding "angry and kind of desperate" on the call.

Gongaware told jurors hearing a negligent hiring case filed by Jackson's mother that the entertainer was under no obligation to rehearse.

The differing accounts are just one of several pieces of contradictory information jurors will have to consider when testimony in the case concludes. Katherine Jackson is suing AEG Live, claiming it failed to properly investigate the physician convicted of administering an overdose of the anesthetic propofol to her son.

AEG denies it hired Conrad Murray, or could have known that Murray was giving the singer propofol as a sleep aid.

Faye, whose testimony was interrupted when other witnesses had to be called, will return to the witness stand before the trial's conclusion and is likely to be questioned by AEG's attorneys about the Gongaware incident.

Gongaware also said he was mistaken when he wrote in an email that his company was paying for Murray.

"We want to remind him that it is AEG, not MJ who is paying his salary," Gongaware wrote in the email, which was sent after Jackson missed rehearsals. "We want him to understand what is expected of him."

Gongaware said AEG agreed to advance Murray's $150,000 a month fee to Jackson, but the costs would have come out of the singer's share of "This Is It" earnings. He said he never instructed Murray about how to care for the singer.

The promoter and producer also told jurors on Monday that he never considered doing a background check on Murray, or anyone such as Faye, who was working directly with Jackson.

Murray had several liens and child support judgments and was facing foreclosure before agreeing to work with Jackson.

"I just expect doctors to be ethical," Gongaware said. "Their financial side of their life shouldn't affect their medical judgment."

The executive was shown several emails that he was sent less than a month before Jackson's death in which tabloid newspapers were speculating the singer was suffering from cancer.

Gongaware urged his company not to respond. "Our redemption will be when he does his shows," he wrote about Jackson. "We don't have to sell tickets, so we can just sit back and prove them wrong by just doing it."

The trial is entering its sixth week. AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips is expected to testify later this week.



Read more: http://www.myfoxaustin.com/story/22...e-detailed#.Ua0hX3l4xpc.twitter#ixzz2VCItbGLw
 
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1h
The Jackson vs AEG Live juror was feeling better, and we went back into session after about a 30-minute break.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1h
I stepped out to file a story update (link coming soon) and will file updates on the Jackson vs AEG Live trial at the end of the day.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP44m
AEG Live executive denies he pushed Michael Jackson to rehearse for "This Is It" _ AEG exec denies he pushed Jackson to rehearse (brief update.)

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP15m
AEG Live executive denies he pushed Michael Jackson to rehearse: AEG exec denies he pushed Jackson to rehearse (longer story update)

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP6m
A few more updates coming from the afternoon session in Jackson vs AEG Live trial.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP6m
Gongaware testified about emails in which UK press agents working on “This Is It” sent him tabloid reports on MJ’s health.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP6m
Gongaware said he urged the press agents not to respond. He wanted Jackson’s performance to speak for itself & silence skeptics.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP6m
Gongaware: “With MJ we don’t’ have to react to the press. We can decide what we want to do and then do it.”

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP5m
His email continued laying out his strategy: “We can only make this work, of course, if MJ puts on the best show of his life.”

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP5m
Gongaware: “I’m here to tell you that he will. I have seen it for myself,” he said of Jackson's performances.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP5m
He described a rehearsal in which MJ performed 9 songs. Gongaware: “He was amazing, captivating, riveting. And he’s just getting started.”

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP5m
Gongaware was shown some “This Is It” film footage. He denied any footage was taken out or altered.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP5m
He was asked about CEO Randy Phillips’ email where he described Jackson in a red leather jacket and looking like a skeleton.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP5m
Clip from “Thriller” mini-movie shoot for “This Is It” was played for jury, and Jackson was there, wearing red leather jacket.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP5m
He denied that “This Is It” feature film presented a skewed vision of Michael Jackson. #JacksonTrial .

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP5m
Jury was shown several clips from “This Is It” preparations, mainly the mini-movie scenes for “Thriller,” “Earth Song” and others.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP5m
Gongaware said he didn’t have any medical training and wasn’t qualified to tell Conrad Murray how to treat Jackson.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP4m
This afternoon featured what I think is the first mention of Lou Ferrigno to the jury. Gongaware was asked about him working with Jackson.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP4m
Paul Gongaware said Ferrigno was working with Jackson as a trainer. He said he negotiated Ferrigno’s deal.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP5m
Gongaware: “He was to be paid ... a certain amount, per session.” He didn’t elaborate on fee, how many times he worked with MJ.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP4m
Putnam then turned to the last few days of Jackson’s life. “Let’s talk about those 10 days,” the lawyer said.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP4m
Gongaware was asked about several emails that have been shown before, including messages related to MJ missing rehearsal on June 19, 2009

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP4m
The executive was on the East Coast for a family wedding, but responded to one message questioning why Murray wasn’t at rehearsal.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP4m
Gongaware email: “Take the doctor with you. Why wasn’t he there last night?” He then explained his thinking to the jury.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP4m
Gongaware: “If his patient is having is problem and he’s sick, and he’s his only patient, it seemed like he should be there.”

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP4m
With last questions of the day, AEG attorney Marvin Putnam asked Gongaware if he was concerned about Jackson’s well-being. He said yes.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP3m
Paul Gongaware's testimony is expected to last most of Tuesday as well. After him, we're expecting AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP2m
There's no update on when Karen Faye will return, although both AEG attorney and judge noted it's been a long time since she was here.
 
Re: Jacksons vs AEG - Day 22 - June 3 2013 - News Only (no discussion)

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 39m
Gongaware said he never did background check on anyone he hired and had he done one on Dr. Murray, it would've been out of the ordinary.
ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 39m
As how MJ was, Gongaware said he was great. He didn't think he had relapsed, was using painkillers again and said MJ had always been thin.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 38m
"It wasn't surprising he wanted a doctor," Gongaware expressed.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 38m
Dr. Finkelstein, a friend of Gongaware, said a doctor should charge $10,000 a month for the tour work.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 38m
But Dr. Finkelstein would've done it for free, since he was on the Dangerous tour before and had a lot of fun.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 38m
The second call about Dr. Murray came from Michael Amir Williams saying they were going to need to get a deal done for the doctor.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 38m
Gongaware said he heard MJ in the car saying "offer 150, offer 150." Gongaware understood that to be $150k/month.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 36m
Gongaware called Dr. Murray, said he was authorized to offer him $150k a month. He said Dr. Murray responded that he couldn't do it for that

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 36m
Gongaware told him the offer came directly from the artist and Dr. Murray responded: I'll take it.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 36m
Gongaware said Michael approved the amount of compensation. "Michael told me offer 150," Gongaware recalled. "And that's what I did."

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 36m
Gongaware inquired Dr. Murray how he would get a license in London and the doctor told him not to worry about it.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 36m
They talked about Dr. Murray's request for a house in London, and the doctor said he would need a three bedroom house.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 35m
Gongaware recalled Dr. Murray saying he would probably need an assistant and some equipment, but no details were given at this point.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 34m
After the call, Gongaware said he let Michael Amir Williams know what the result was in an email. "Done at 150k per month, per MJ."

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 34m
Gongaware said this was a message for MJ, that he had done what he asked. He didn't receive any response back from Michael Amir Williams.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 26m
Gongaware said he passed Dr. Murray on to Timm Wooley, never had any other conversation with Dr. Murray about him possibly going to London.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 26m
Putnam: Do you have any understanding as to whether a contract with Dr. Murray was executed?
Gongaware: One never was

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 25m
Putnam: Did AEG pay Dr. Murray any kind of money?
Gongaware: No

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 25m
Gongaware said MJ was ultimately responsible for his own health: "I think everyone is responsible for their own health and well being."

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 25m
MJ was a grown man with capability to make decisions regarding his health and medical care, Gongaware explained.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 24m
Dancers auditions took place at the Nokia Theater on April 13, 14, 15. MJ attended the last day and made the final decision, Gongaware said.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 23m
Putnam played a clip of the dancers audition. Gongaware said MJ was very involved and chose the dancers.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 23m
Gongaware said Ortega wanted to film the audition to use fresh footage on http://michaeljacksonlive.com

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 23m
The cost for crew to shoot the audition was very high, so Gongaware bought couple of cameras and use his own crew to shoot the rehearsals.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 22m
He said he wasn't sure what he would use the video for, but thought the website would be a good platform.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 20m
Gongaware said during the period at Center Staging, MJ was good, engaging, didn't think MJ had any health issues or was using drugs.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 20m
Gongaware said the media in the UK was going wild with gossip about Michael Jackson. "They just lie about things."

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 16m
The Sun claimed MJ had skin cancer on his chest. "It was sport over in London," Gongaware said about MJ's stories on tabloids.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 16m
Gongaware on 5/27/09:
The Kid is healthy and rehearsing every day. He was still there at dance rehearsals at 9pm last night when I left.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 16m
Email cont'd: Our redemption will be when he does his shows, that makes all of this build up so damn sweet.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 15m
Email cont'd: We don't have to sell tickets, so we can just sit back and prove them wrong by just doing it.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 15m
Gongaware said he was not concerned. "If there was something going on, if he had cancer, we would've heard about it."

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 15m
He said if the rumor about the cancer were true, they would've to deal with a lot to accommodate the shows.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 15m
Gongaware said while they were rehearsing at Center Staging, he was not concerned with MJ's health.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 14m
Michael Jackson rehearsal venues:
Mar 28- Center Staging
May 27- Forum
June 23 - Staples Center
July 13 - O2 Arena

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 14m
Gongaware said he never told security guard to get MJ to rehearsals, whatever it takes. He said he never told anyone to get MJ 2 rehearsals

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 10m
Putnam went through chain of email about tabloid reports in the UK regarding MJ.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 10m
In one, it said MJ had asked AEG to reduce the number of shows by half. Gongaware said that such a discussion never happened.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 9m
Gongaware testified he woke up to one gossip headline pretty much every day. His idea was simply to ignore the tabloids.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 8m
An amazing show would be the answer, Gongaware said.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 6m
Gongaware on 6/5/09 in response to Sunday Mirror Query:

"We can only make this work, of course, if MJ puts on the best show of his life.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 5m
Email cont'd: I'm here to tell you that be will. I have seen it for myself. Last night he ran 9 songs with full band, singers and dancers.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 5m
Email cont'd: Sang every one, he was amazing, captivating, riveting. And he's just getting started.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 4m
Email cont'd: Taking it one step further. When people realize that bulls**t the press has been, they will be in receptive mood for the truth

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 3m
Email cont'd: Hey look. No skin cancer. He's just a good dad, loving raising his kids. His art and his craft are paramount.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 3m
Email cont'd: A gentile, loving man who does care about people.

"The shows were going to be spectacular," Gongaware said.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 2m
Putnam showed clip of MJ in front of green screen with 11 dancers, who would become 11,000.

Gongaware said MJ was great at this point.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 1m
Regarding email Phillips sent Gongaware directing to remove MJ's "skeletal" scenes Gongaware said he didn't take anything out of the movie.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 1m
Putnam: Did you remove anything from the movie?
Gongaware: No

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 1m
Putnam showed clip from TII with making of Thriller 3D and Jackson wearing red jacket.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 1m
Putnam: Did you try to alter in anyway how Mr. Jackson looked, appeared?
Gongaware: No

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 2m
Gongaware said he didn't remember any of the footage been removed because of how MJ looked. "We just let the footage speak for itself."

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 2m
The mini-movie of "Earth" a bulldozer would come out from a ramp in center stage.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 3m
Putnam: A real bulldozer?
Gongaware: I wish, it would've been cheaper, but it would have crushed our ramps

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 1m
Gongaware said they had to build the bulldozer like a prop. It would appear at the end of the song on stage.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 1m
"I think the live audience would be just captivated by it," Gongaware said about the little girl running after the last plant on Earth song.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 41s
End of the show would be 3D animation. An airplane taxis up, door opens, Michael entered the plane.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 52s
The airplane door closes, MJ would actually take an elevator down and out of the building, but plane would take off over the audience.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 40s
Gongaware said he didn't know if anyone was responsible for MJ's nourishment. Tour would be demanding and exhausting.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 3m
Gongaware said he met Dr. Murray once at MJ's Carolwood house and ran into him at The Forum during rehearsal.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 3m
There was a meeting scheduled to discuss MJ's nutrition with Randy Phillips, Kenny Ortega, Dr. Murray, MJ, Gongaware and DiLeo.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 2m
Putnam: Do you recall anyone in that meeting ever tell Dr. Murray how he should be treating MJ?
Gongaware: No

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 2m
Gongaware said neither Dr. Murray nor MJ talked about the treatment singer was receiving. The meeting was about nutrition, vitamin, therapy

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 1m
Gongaware said he had no idea Dr. Murray was giving MJ Propofol and first heard of the anesthetic after Michael died.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 1m
Gongaware said Dr. Murray was really engaged in the meeting, seemed like a very intelligent guy and wanted to take care of MJ very much.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 1m
This was the first time Gongaware had with Dr. Murray. He said there were no signs of MJ being poorly treated by the doctor.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 51s
"Michael was engaged in the meeting, attentive, seemed happy we were having this meeting," Gongaware opined.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 25s
"He's a doctor, he'd know better than anybody how to treat his patient," Gongaware said about Dr. Murray.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 44s
Gongaware said he was never present on any meeting where anyone told Dr. Murray how to treat MJ.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 3m
As to Gongaware's email saying AEG, not MJ, paid Dr Murray he said he mistaken. "We wouldn't pay his salary, we'd advance Michael's money"

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 2m
Gongaware said he didn't remember writing/receiving the email, but never denied he did it.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 2m
"Michael Jackson would be paying his salary, but AEG would advance the money," Gongaware testified.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 2m
As to MJ being habitual late, Gongaware said the singer worked on his own schedule, did things his way.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 2m
Gongaware said his understanding was that MJ hired a trainer of his choice, Louis (Lou) Ferrigno.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 1m
"I made the deal with him (Ferrigno). He was supposed to be paid certain amount of money per session," Gongaware said.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 3m
Putnam showed email from Travis Payne, he suggested massage chair 2 be put in MJ's dressing room. Gongaware said it wasn't callous treatment

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 1m
As to Bugzee's email saying MJ needed cheeseburgers, brats and beers, Gongaware said Bugzee was joking, Bugzee cared very much for MJ.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 27s
Gongaware testified he didn't recall having any concern about MJ's health/using painkillers as of Monday 6/15/09, 10 days prior to his death

ABC7 Court News @ABC7Courts
Gongaware said on 6/19/09, he was out of town. "This is the day Michael had chills at rehearsal and was apparently sick," Gongaware recalled

ABC7 Court News @ABC7Courts
"If the meeting was going to be about what happened that night, the doctor should be there," Gongaware said.


ABC7 Court News @ABC7Courts
Gongaware: If his patient is sick and he's your only patient, doctor should be there!

ABC7 Court News @ABC7Courts
Gongaware said he believed MJ wanted to go on tour. He said he doesn't remember anyone talking about pulling the plug on the shows.

ABC7 Court News @ABC7Courts
Putnam: Did anyone tell you at this point that MJ needed a drug addiction specialist?
Gongaware: No

ABC7 Court News @ABC7Courts
Putnam: Did anyone tell you they were concerned with the care Dr. Murray was giving to MJ?
Gongaware: No

ABC7 Court News @ABC7Courts
Gongaware said that on 6/20/09 he did not think MJ's health was deteriorating.

Gongaware and Phillips were concerned with MJ's well being.

ABC7 Court News @ABC7Courts
That wrapped Day 22 of the trial. Paul Gongaware resumes testifying tomorrow. Attorneys are expected to finish with him by end of day.

ABC7 Court News @ABC7Courts
Next scheduled witness is AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips. There will be no trial this coming Friday. Hope to see you all tomorrow!
 
Murray wanted $5 million to treat Jackson, AEG exec testifies

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2

AEG executive Paul Gongaware testifies during Dr. Conrad Murray's involuntary manslaughter trial in the death of pop star Michael Jackson. (Al Seib / May 31, 2013)
By Jeff Gottlieb
June 3, 2013, 3:24 p.m.
An AEG executive testified Monday in the Michael Jackson wrongful death civil trial that he offered Dr. Conrad Murray $150,000 a month on the singer's instructions to serve as his personal physician on the "This Is It" concert series in London.

Murray originally asked for a total of $5 million, which Paul Gongaware testified was ridiculous.

When Gongaware later made the $150,000-a-month offer, Murray at first turned him down.

"I told him the offer comes directly from the artist," Gongaware testified. "He accepted it right away."

Murray said he needed an assistant, a house in London with at least three bedrooms and medical equipment. Murray also said he would take care of getting a license to practice medicine in Britain.

Gongaware wrote a May 6, 2009, email to Jackson's assistant after cutting the deal with Murray: “done at $150k per month, per MJ. He needs about 10 days to wind down his practice then he will be full time.”

Gongaware said the email was a message to Jackson "that I had done what he asked."

Asked why he had negotiated with Murray, the AEG executive replied that he was "instructed to by Michael Jackson."

Gongaware said there was no other reason for him to deal with the doctor.

Marvin Putnam, Anschutz Entertainment Group's attorney, asked Gongaware why he didn't tell Jackson he couldn't take Murray on tour with him.

"Because he could if he wanted," Gongaware said.

Jackson's mother and three children are suing AEG, Gongaware and AEG executive Randy Phillips, alleging they negligently hired and supervised Murray, who administered a fatal dose of the anesthetic propofol to the singer. AEG contends that Jackson hired the doctor and any payments the company was supposed to give Murray were advances that Jackson had to repay.

Murray is serving time in jail for involuntary manslaughter. Jackson died June 25, 2009, at a time when he was in rehearsals for the 50 concerts in London.

Gongaware insisted in his testimony that AEG was not paying Murray.

An AEG executive previously testified that negotiations over Murray's deal were between the doctor and AEG and that neither Jackson nor his representatives were involved nor saw any of the drafts.

Parts of Gongaware's testimony differ from a June 14, 2009, email he wrote to tour director Kenny Ortega about Murray that is one of the key pieces of evidence.

“We want to remind him that it is AEG, not MJ who is paying his salary. We want him to understand what is expected of him."
 
Jacksons vs AEG - Day 23 - June 4 2013 - News Only (no discussion)

Jacksons vs AEG - Day 23 - June 4 2013 - News Only (no discussion)

Use this thread to post any and all news stories from day 23 of Katherine Jackson vs. AEG trial.

Daily news threads are merged into the main News thread in the stickies

Please help the staff by posting all the news stories as well as tweets from media you see.

Please Don't post updates or tweets from Fans in news thread
 
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 15m
We’re on a break in Jackson vs AEG Live trial. AEG executive Paul Gongaware is expected to be on stand most of the day.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 15m
He was questioned by AEG Live attorney Marvin S. Putnam, who covered the last few days of Michael Jackson’s life.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 15m
Katherine Jackson returned to court this morning. She is sitting in the front row, with a clear view of the witness box and jury.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 15m
He was asked about Jackson’s final two rehearsals at Staples Center. Gongaware couldn’t details about recall the first one.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 15m
He said he wasn’t particularly attentive about Jackson’s health, appearance. This was 1st rehearsal after Jackson missed one 4 days earlier.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 15m
The second rehearsal on June 24, 2009, Gongaware watched Thriller. “He was fine,” he said of Jackson.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 15m
Gongaware talked very matter-of-factly about the day Jackson died. He said he heard about the death from AEG Live CEO Randy Philips.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 15m
“I was in shock,” Gongaware said. “The artist was gone. He just passed away.” Gongaware said he questioned how it happened.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 15m
He said he never contemplated that Jackson would die. He said he went to Staples Center, where the mood was somber.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 15m
Gongaware said AEG never considered having Jackson start concerts in United States, due to “all those child allegations and all that stuff.”

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 15m
He said he didn't believe that Jackson liked to tour, and that he didn't do meet-and-greets with fans and sponsors.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 15m
Gongaware said “Dangerous” tour lost money due to cancellations. He said he thought “HIStory” nearly broke even.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 14m
Attorney Marvin Putnam asked Gongaware of Jackson: “Was making money his primary concern?” Gongaware: "That wasn’t his primary concern.”

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 14m
Putnam asked Gongaware about the day he thought Jackson was impaired after an appointment with Dr. Arnold Klein.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 14m
The questions prompted a sidebar. He said Jackson “wasn’t quite the same” but didn’t testify about Jackson’s demeanor in detail.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 14m
With that Putnam ended his questioning. Plaintiff’s attorney Brian Panish started his questioning.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 14m
In response to Panish question, Gongaware said “This Is It” was only second tour that AEG Live would promote and produce.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 11m
Break is over in Jackson vs AEG Live trial. I'll have more updates later.
 
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
We're on the lunch break in Jackson vs. AEG Live. More updates coming from the morning session.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Panish then asked Gongaware whether he cared about Michael Jackson. “I believe so. I certainly wanted him to be well, yes.”

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Panish: “Were you concerned about his children and his family?” Gongaware: “I suppose.”

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Gongaware added, “I was focused on Michael Jackson.”

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP50s
Brian Panish asked Gongaware a couple different ways if he was concerned about Jackson's mother, children.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP44s
Gongaware looked up toward the celiling and then said he’d thought about it and he was concerned about Jackson’s mom & children

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP37s
Panish asked if Gongaware ever called Katherine Jackson to express his condolences. The executive said no.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP2m
Gongaware said he also didn’t think that he sent Katherine Jackson or Jackson’s children a condolence card.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP2m
Panish asked Gongaware several questions about the executive changing elements of his deposition testimony.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Panish then started pointing out what he said were inconsistencies in Gongaware’s testimony.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
This led to questions about whether Gongaware was mistaken when he wrote in an email that AEG was paying Conrad Murray’s salary.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Gongaware said he didn’t necessarily think he was mistaken. He also said he didn’t remember writing the email.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Panish then asked Gongaware about Lou Ferrigno and whether he was an employee of AEG Live. No, Gongaware said.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Gongaware reiterated his testimony from Mon. that he made a deal with Ferrigno. He said Ferrigno would have been an independent contractor.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Panish asked whether Ferrigno had a contract with AEG Live. Gongaware said he didn’t know.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Panish asked whether Ferrigno submitted bills directly to Gongaware to be paid. I hear the response, but it prompted this exchange.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Panish: “You stiffed Lou Ferrigno? You didn't pay The Incredible Hulk?” Lots of laughter in gallery, from the jury.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
AEG Live exec Paul Gongaware said he didn’t know if Lou Ferrigno was paid.

nthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Before the break, Panish asked Murray about whether he ever received Conrad Murray’s contract.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Gongaware, when shown an email from June 16, 2009, that he received that included Murray’s contract, said he didn’t generally read contracts

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Panish then asked Gongaware about whether he’d ever sent Murray anything saying it was Jackson, not AEG paying him. PG said he didn’t know.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Will have a few more updates from the morning session in a bit. Need to plug in my laptop, file another story.
 
Re: Jacksons vs AEG - Day 23 - June 4 2013 - News Only (no discussion)

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts3m
Hello from the courthouse in downtown LA. Day 23 of Jackson Family vs AEG trial. AEG exec Paul Gongaware is on the stand for 6th day.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts40s
Gongaware said MJ rehearsed on June 23rd. "He was fine," Gongaware described, saying his understanding was that MJ was okay.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts54s
Remember on June 19th was the day Gongaware said Michael Jackson had the chills and was apparently sick.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts37s
Gongaware said he wasn't being specifically attentive on the 23rd because he didn't think there was a problem with Michael.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
MJ rehearsed on Jun 24th. Gongaware watched "Thriller" in its entirety, it was the 1st time they were using costume. He said MJ seemed fine.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
Putnam: Was he engaged? Gongaware: Yes P: Any physical issues? G: No, I didn't see any "He did a good rehearsal," Gongaware testified.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts4m
On June 25th, Gongaware got a call from Randy saying he had a call from DiLeo asking him to go to MJ's house because something was going on.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts4m
As Randy got to Michael's house, an ambulance was leaving and Randy followed it to the hospital, Gongaware said.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts46m
"I didn't know what was going on," Gongaware said. "At that point I was apprehensive because I didn't know what was happening."

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts45m
Gongaware said he didn't hear anything for a while, so he called Randy to see what was going on and he said Michael had died.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts46m
"I was in shock," Gongaware recalled. "The artist was gone, he just passed away. How did this happen?!"

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts45m
Gongaware said he no idea what caused MJ to die, never contemplated the idea of Michael Jackson dying.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts44m
"I called Kenny right away and told him. He was at Staples Center," Gongaware recalled. "The atmosphere at Staples was very somber."

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts44m
After MJ's passing, Gongaware said they had to shut down production. He was then involved in Jackson's memorial service.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts44m
As to why TII was happening in London, Gongaware explained it was MJ's best market. "We didn't know how strong it would be."

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts44m
Putnam asked Gongaware if AEG considered tour in US. "No, he had all those child allegations flying, it was the wrong thing to do" he said.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts43m
Gongaware: He didn't tour very often, I don't think he liked it very much. There were lots of things he would be rather doing.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts43m
MJ never did "meet and greet", according to Gongaware.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts43m
The exec said Michael came out with the phrase "This Is It" because this was the last tour he was going to do.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts42m
MJ only agreed to 50 shows, but Gongaware said AEG Live was interested in more shows.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts42m
Gongaware worked on "Dangerous," "HIStory" and one Jacksons tour back in the 80s with MJ.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts41m
Dangerous lost money, Gongaware said, because a lot shows were canceled. History was probably pretty close to break even, the exec explained

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts41m
MJ did the "Bad" tour, but Gongaware was not involved in it.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts41m
MJ's primary concern was not making money off his shows, Gongaware said. His primary concern was with the art, the performance.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts41m
"This Is It" was supposed to be spectacular, Gongaware said. He would be doing 8-10 shows a month, so about 3 a week.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts40m
Gongaware said he never saw MJ take drugs. Aside from drug use in 93, Gongaware said he didn't have any other knowledge of MJ using drugs

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts40m
"He was lively, engaged, he seemed happy," Gongaware said about MJ.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts40m
Gongaware described the time where he was at MJ's house for a meeting and MJ was late.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts39m
When MJ arrived, Gongaware said his speech was a little slurred, he wasn't quite the same. He was told Michael was at Dr. Klein's office.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts39m
Gongaware said he was not familiar with the doctors who treated MJ. Putnam announced be had no more questions at this time.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts37m
Jackson's atty Brian Panish began re-cross of Gongaware. He asked if the exec was concerned about MJ. "I certainly wanted him to do well"

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts37m
Panish: Were you concerned about his children and his family, sir? Gongaware: I was concerned about him (MJ)

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts37m
Panish: How about his family and children, sir? Gongaware: I supposed. I was focused on MJ.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts36m
"I believe he was a good father," Gongaware said about Michael Jackson.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts36m
Panish: Did you know he was a great son to his mother? Gongaware: I believe he was

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts36m
P: After MJ died, did you ever send a card to his mother? G: I don't think so P: Did you ever call her to express your condolences? G: No

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts36m
"I believe I testified truthfully," Gongaware said. "I don't believe I changed my testimony substantially."

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts34m
As to the email Gongaware wrote that AEG, not MJ, paid Dr. Murray Panish asked again if Gongaware recalled writing this email. He said no.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts33m
Gongaware said he spent 2 days with his lawyers preparing for his deposition, one-two hours discussing the email about AEG paying Dr. Murray

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts33m
Panish pointed out several answers Gongaware gave on his deposition and the changes he ask to make to transcript after meeting with attys

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts32m
Panish said Gongaware changed his testimony several times as a result of meeting with AEG's attorneys.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts32m
Panish said Gongaware also changed his testimony again while on the stand and under oath.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts31m
Panish tried to impeach Gongaware, which is a legal way to call into question the witness' credibility.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts31m
Later in the case, judge will instruct the jurors that if they think a person lied, they may disconsider part of all of his testimony.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts30m
As to the email about AEG paying Dr. Murray, Panish pointed out that Gongaware changed his answers several times throughout his testimony.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts30m
One time he said the email was shorthanded, normal course of business and didn't really think it was a mistake.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts30m
Yesterday, Gongaware answered the same question saying he was mistaken when he said AEG was paying Dr. Murray.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts30m
Gongaware explained he thinks he said the same thing but different ways.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts29m
Panish asked Gongaware if he hired Lou Ferrigno to be MJ's trainer. "I made a deal for Michael," Gongaware said.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts30m
Ferrigno was an independent contractor, Gongaware said he didn't know whether Ferrigno was submitting bills to his office.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts29m
Panish: So you stiffed Lou Ferrigno, you didn't pay the Incredible Hulk? (Everyone in the courtroom laughed out loud)

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts29m
Gongaware: I don't know how he would get paid, if he would submit bills or not.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts29m
Panish said Gongaware testified yesterday that he was not concerned with MJ because he was working out with a trainer.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts29m
Today Gongaware testified MJ was going to work out with Lou Ferrigno.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts28m
Gongaware said he didn't know whether Ferrigno had an independent contract agreement or not and if he got paid.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts27m
Panish inquired about AEG only paying people with fully executed contract. Gongaware said he didn't know the status of Ferrigno's contract.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts27m
"I don't know specifically when Mr. Jackson saw trainers, but I believe he was seeing trainers," Gongaware explained.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts26m
Panish: He was seeing Lou Ferrigno to be in the next Incredible Hulk? Gongaware: I don't think so

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts27m
Panish said Gongaware testified he was not concerned about MJ because he was working out with Lou Ferrigno. He said he didn't say that.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts27m
"When he was sick on June 19, I didn't know what was happening," Gongaware explained. "After that, MJ was great."

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts25m
"Dr Murray wasn't supposed to get paid. If MJ would've signed the deal, Dr Murray would've been paid for his work in London," Gongaware said

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts25m
Panish: You didn't have time to ready budgets, you didn't have time to read contracts, right? Gongaware: I didn't read budgets early on

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts24m
Panish asked if Gongaware had any doc to prove that Dr. Murray was told that anyone else, but AEG, was paying him. Gongaware didn't recall.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts25m
Panish: Did you have anything in writing saying it was MJ, not AEG, paying Dr. Murray? Gongaware: I don't know

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts24m
Gongaware said he believed Dr. Murray signed one version the contract, but doesn't know whether the one showed to him was it.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts24m
Panish: You expected Dr Murray, just like Ferrigno, to get paid for services provided to AEG right sir? Gongaware: He wasn't working for AEG

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts24m
Lunch break is almost over. Would love to hear your thoughts so far. We'll tweet more about the testimony as soon as we are allowed.
 
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
A few last minute updates from Jackson vs. AEG Live morning session before I have to get back to court..

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Plaintiff's attorney Brian Panish asked Gongaware about his contention that Jackson was always able to perform and nail shows when necessary

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
The lawyer cited several shows over Jackson’s career that he missed: Bangkok, South America and the need to move a couple in Mexico City.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Panish then asked Gongaware about Dr. Stuart Finkelstein, who the lawyer kept referring to as Gongaware’s friend of 25 years.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Finkelstein, a possible witness in the trial, was on the last leg of the “Dangerous” tour before it was canceled.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Gongaware denied that Finkelstein told him that he thought Jackson was suffering from a prescription drug addiction.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
He also denied that Finkelstein told him that another doctor on the “Dangerous” tour was giving Jackson Demerol shots.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Lastly, he denied that Finkelstein told him that Jackson had been placed on a 24 hour morphine drip at one point.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Gongaware said he was never alarmed about Jackson’s health and said he say the musician as being well.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Gongaware said he was never alarmed about Jackson’s health and said he say the musician as being well.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
That contract included a line that called for the doctor to “perform the services reasonably requested by producer.”
 
Jackson concert promoters hired 'Hulk' to train pop star
By RICHARD JOHNSON
Last Updated: 4:39 PM, June 4, 2013
Posted: 4:18 PM, June 4, 2013
LOS ANGELES -- Michael Jackson’s concert promoters hired Lou Ferrigno as the late singer’s personal trainer, a company executive said today, acknowledging “The Incredible Hulk” was on board MJ’s team even if he didn’t have a signed contract.

That fine, technical admission by AEG Live co-CEO Paul Gongaware could be key in helping Jackson’s family in its lawsuit against the concert giant.

“I made a deal with him (Ferrigno) yes,” Gongaware told jurors.

Jackson’s family is suing AEG, claiming it should be held accountable for employing Dr. Conrad Murray, who was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection to Jackson’s 2009 death.

AEG insists it can’t be held liable for Murray because the company never had a signed contract with the disgraced Doctor Feelgood.

Gongaware admitted he hired “The Hulk” even though there’s no record of any signed deal or payment to the world-famous bodybuilder.

Ferrigno is best known for “The Incredible Hulk” TV show, playing the angry green monster on CBS between 1978 and 1982.

“You stiffed Lou Ferrigno? You didn’t pay `The Incredible Hulk?’ “ Jackson family lawyer Brian Panish cracked, drawing laughs from the courtroom audience.

Today was Gongaware’s sixth grueling day on the witness stand, as Panish hammered him for the upteenth time about Murray’s connection to AEG.

Panish reminded Gongaware, again, that he wrote a June 14, 2009 email demanding more work and accountability from Dr. Murray: “We want to remind him that it is AEG, not MJ who is paying his salary.”

Jackson died in his rented LA home 11 days later.

A frustrated Gongaware lashed out today, saying his words - written weeks before Jackson’s demise - were being taken out of context.

“If I had known it was going to be torn apart by lawyers four years later, I would have chosen my words more carefully,” he testified.
 
AEG testimony: Conrad Murray worked for Michael Jackson, not us

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Michael Jackson announces his comeback tour in 2009. (Joel Ryan / Associated Press / March 5, 2009)
By Jeff Gottlieb
June 4, 2013, 1:41 p.m.
The AEG Live executive who negotiated the salary for Michael Jackson's doctor said Tuesday he knew of no document that said his company's payments to Conrad Murray were actually part of a loan to the pop singer.


The testimony is critical in a wrongful death case in which a central question is whether it was concert promoter AEG or Jackson himself who paid and controlled Murray, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for administering the singer the fatal dose of the anesthetic propofol.

Jackson's mother and three children say in their lawsuit that it was AEG Live, while the company says that any money it was supposed to pay Murray was actually just part of a multimillion-dollar advance to Jackson.

Paul Gongaware, on the stand for the sixth day, said he didn't know what Murray assumed about who was paying him. Murray, who is now serving a jail sentence, has said he will invoke the 5th Amendment against self-incrimination if called to testify.

The jury was shown an email from Timm Woolley, the AEG accountant on Jackson's "This Is It" concert series in London, sent Murray June 6, 2009, 19 days before the pop idol's death.

“I am sorry for the long delay in getting this to you, but I hope that, with your input and comments, we can dispose of the agreement quickly and arrange for payment of the May & June fee instalment,” Woolley wrote.

Gongaware testified that although he made the deal with Murray, and that the contract was emailed to him in 2009, Tuesday's court appearance was the first time he had seen it.

According to earlier testimony by Shawn Trell, AEG Live's senior vice president and legal counsel, neither Jackson not his representatives were involved in the negotiations with Murray and never saw the contract drafts.

Gongaware repeated his contention as he has through his testimony, that “he was working for Michael Jackson. He wasn’t working for us.”

The contract shown to the jury said it was between AEG Live and Murray. The contract also said Murray was to "Perform the Services reasonably requested by Producer," AEG.

Trell testified earlier that this was one of several mistakes in a draft that would have been cleaned up in the final version.

Murray signed the contract shortly before Jackson died. An AEG representative never signed it.

Gongaware was also asked about a key email he wrote that has come up several other times during the trial. Talking about Murray, he wrote, “We want to remind him that it is AEG, not MJ who is paying his salary. We want him to understand what is expected of him.”

Panish asked, “Do you have any idea why you might have written that AEG is paying his salary?"

"No," replied Gongaware. "I mean, I was mistaken there. We weren’t going to pay his salary. We would have advanced the money on Michael’s instructions.”

Gongaware said he also made a deal with actor and bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno to serve as Jackson's trainer.

When he said he didn't know if Ferrigno had been paid, Panish replied, “So you stiffed Lou Ferrigno? You didn’t pay the Incredible Hulk?”
 
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
We’re on a break, and AEG Live executive Paul Gongaware is done testifying. CEO Randy Phillips is up next.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP57s
After the lunch break, plaintiff’s attorney Brian Panish asked Paul Gongaware questions for about an hour.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP48s
Panish asked Gongaware about why he didn’t review emails before his deposition in Dec. 2012. He said he relied on his attorney’s advice.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP44s
Later, in questioning by defense attorney Marvin Putnam, Gongaware said he had no idea which of his 13k emails he would be asked about.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP46s
Gongaware was asked whether he remembered signing court docs in which he called Katherine Jackson an extortionist. “I don’t recall,” he said

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP37s
Regarding the court case, Gongaware said, “I just don’t understand the merit of it.”

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP51s
Regarding whether Jackson’s children suffered a loss after their father’s death, Gongaware said, “I believe they suffered a great loss.”

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP44s
After questions about other emails, Gongaware acknowledged they were the best evidence of what he was doing at the

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP49s
Gongaware was asked about extending the “This Is It” tour. He was shown emails from promoters wanting MJ concerts in India, Australia.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP47s
Gongaware said he would have liked the "This Is It" tour to continue, but they only had agreement for 50 shows.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP51s
Panish asked Gongaware if he had talked to Phillips since he’d been on the witness stand. He said he hadn’t discussed case.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP42s
Panish then asked if Phillips was aware Gongaware said he was content with AEG Live being #2 concert promoter behind Live Nation.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP36s
Gongaware said he’s expressed his opinion that AEG Live doesn’t need to be #1 promoter.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Defense attorney Marvin Putnam then took over. He quickly went over several areas.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
He asked Gongaware why he never sent a condolence card to Jackson’s family. “I’m not good with cards,” he said.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP53s
He said the memorial service was how he wanted to honor singer. Gongaware said he spent a lot of time thinking about Jackson after his death

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Gongaware said AEG and the estate spent more than $1 million on Michael Jackson’s memorial service.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Putnam also showed jury Gongaware’s police statement. Panish had said his comment to police was different from testimony.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Panish keyed in on whether Gongaware testified that it was five weeks or two weeks between his 1st two conversations with Conrad Murray.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
The police statement said Gongaware told detectives a few weeks separated the calls regarding Murray and the contract.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Another document that defense attorney Marvin Putnam showed Gongaware was Lou Ferrigno’s contract.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Ferrigno’s three-page contract designated him as an independent contractor. It was signed by AEG accounting exec Julie Hollander.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Putnam finished his examination of Gongaware by showing him Conrad Murray’s contract.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Putnam showed Gongaware language in the agreement that said Michael Jackson had to sign agreement for it to be a valid contract.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Putnam also keyed in on language that said Murray was being engaged “on behalf and at the expense” of Michael Jackson.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
The last few moments of Gongaware’s testimony were rapid fire, and a bit testy when plaintiff’s attorney Brian Panish got one more chance.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Panish questioned Gongaware about whether Ferrigno’s contract may have been signed after Jackson’s death.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP2m
Gongaware said he didn’t think he sent any contracts to Julie Hollander after Jackson’s death.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Panish also repeatedly referred to the number of AEG Live defense lawyers in the courtroom. He was later admonished to stop mentioning them.

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Putnam had noted that Katherine Jackson's side was being represented by four law firms. Panish said he didn't care if Putnam brought it up

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP1m
Headed back into court for the start of AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips' testimony.
 
AEG Live CEO: Jackson lawsuit is extortion attempt
Associated Press – 16 mins ago
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Associated Press/Joel Ryan, File - CORRECTS PREVIOUS CAPTION ELIMINATING EXTRANEOUS DETAILS - File - In this March 5, 2009 file photo, US singer Michael Jackson announces at a press conference that he is set …more
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The head of AEG Live has told a jury he believes a lawsuit filed by Michael Jackson's mother against the company is a shakedown attempt.
The statement came Tuesday during testimony by CEO Randy Phillips.
Katherine Jackson is suing AEG Live LLC, claiming it failed to properly investigate the doctor later convicted of giving her son a fatal overdose of an anesthetic.
Phillips says he doesn't believe the concert promotion company bears any responsibility for Jackson's death in 2009.
He is the highest-ranking AEG executive called to testify during the case.
AEG has denied it hired former cardiologist Conrad Murray or could have known that he was giving Jackson an anesthetic as a sleep aid.
 
AEG Live CEO: Jackson lawsuit is extortion attempt
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY | Associated Press – 4 mins 30 secs ago
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Associated Press/Joel Ryan, File - CORRECTS PREVIOUS CAPTION ELIMINATING EXTRANEOUS DETAILS - File - In this March 5, 2009 file photo, US singer Michael Jackson announces at a press conference that he is set …more
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The head of AEG Live told a jury on Monday that he believes a lawsuit filed by Michael Jackson's mother against the concert promotion company was a baseless extortion attempt.
CEO Randy Phillips also said the company bears no responsibility for Jackson's 2009 death, as his mother contends.
Katherine Jackson is suing AEG Live LLC, claiming it failed to properly investigate the doctor who was later convicted of her son's death. AEG denies wrongdoing.
Phillips said he agreed with statements attributed to him and defense attorney Marvin S. Putnam that the case was a shakedown.
"Yes or no, answer? Yes," Phillips said in response to a question by Katherine Jackson's attorney Brian Panish.
Phillips is the highest-ranking AEG executive to testify in the case, now in its sixth week.
He will likely be asked about numerous emails he sent and received about Jackson's health in the final weeks of the superstar's life, as well as any interactions he had with former cardiologist Conrad Murray.
Murray agreed to serve as Jackson's doctor for $150,000 a month while he performed 50 shows titled "This Is It" in London's 02 Arena in 2009 and early 2010.
AEG denies hiring Murray and agreeing to pay Murray's fee as an advance to Jackson.
Phillips' testimony came after several days of often tense testimony from AEG Live executive Paul Gongaware, who told jurors he did not remember numerous details about Jackson's rehearsals and emails he sent about the singer.
Panish sparred with Gongaware, and pointedly questioned Phillips, whom he called to the stand as a hostile witness.
Panish asked Phillips whether he was eager to tell his side of the story.
"I believe you called me as a witness, so I'm here," Phillips said flatly.
Panish at one point asked the executive whether he was familiar with the music industry.
"Familiar with the music industry? I was working in it," Phillips replied.
When the executive appeared to crack a smile, Panish asked if he thought the proceedings were funny.
"No, I think it's tragic." Phillips replied.
 
Re: Jacksons vs AEG - Day 23 - June 4 2013 - News Only (no discussion)

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts2m
Paul Gongaware is excused. Randy Phillips next on the stand. Will tweet remainder of Gongaware's testimony when court adjourns.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts3m
Continuing Gongaware's testimony... Gongaware said he was tasked to make the deal, determine compensation for Dr. Murray.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts3m
Panish: If he was MJ's personal doctor, why hire him? Gongaware: I think he wanted to set up the payment

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts2m
"I was told to negotiate his compensation," Gongaware said about Dr. Murray.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
Gongaware repeated he believed when lights went on, MJ was always there. Panish pointed out MJ canceled several shows in Dangerous tour

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts2m
Gongaware said Dr. Finkelstein is now a drug addiction specialist.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
"There were two occasions where he (Dr. Finkelstein) told me he treated MJ, but never talked about Demerol or injections," Gongaware said.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
"I believe he's mistaken," Gongaware said if Dr. Finkelstein gave deposition to the contrary.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts56s
Panish: Did Dr. Finkelstein tell you he put MJ on a 24 hour morphine drip? Gongaware: No

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts39s
Dr. Forecast, from London, was MJ's doctor treating the artist during Dangerous tour.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts55s
Panish: Is safety paramount to AEG live? Gongaware: Safety should always be expected, act safe

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts37s
Gongaware said he didn't know if there was a person in charge of safety at rehearsals.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts21s
Panish asked about Dr. Murray's contract. Gongaware said he received an email with it attached but never read it.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts2m
Under responsibilities of Dr. Murray, it said Dr. Murray was to perform the Services reasonably requested by Producer.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts2m
Panish: Do you know it MJ would've agreed to that? Gongaware: I don't know

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
After lunch, Katherine Jackson is present in court wearing a purple/gray jacket. She's accompanied by her grandson Austin.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
Panish inquired if Dr. Murray asking $5 million was a red flag. Gongaware said no, people asked more than their value because it was MJ.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts37s
Panish: In your opinion, this is a baseless, shakedown lawsuit? Gongaware: I don't understand the merit in it

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts50s
Panish: You answered interrogatories in this case blaming everything on Mrs. Jackson? Gongaware: I don't recall

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts48s
Panish: Did you sign anything in this case saying that Mrs. Jackson was trying to extort money from AEG? Gongaware: I don't recall

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts32s
"I believe they suffered a great loss," Gongaware said about Michael's children losing a father.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
Gongaware agreed that the best recollection of what happened in 2009 is the emails, but said he remembers from his head too.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
"He was always amazing," Gongaware said about MJ.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts38s
Gongaware: I thought he was great Panish: Despite Bugzee saying MJ was deteriorating in front of his eyes? G: My eyes told me differently

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts18s
Gongaware said the demand for tickets for MJ's memorial service was huge, comparable to the demand for TII tour.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
Gongaware said the amount of people still in line to buy tickets for TII could've sold out 100 shows.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts56s
Panish: Do you remember what you said Elvis died of? Gongaware: Heart ailment

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts35s
But Panish recalled Gongaware giving a different answer earlier on, saying he believed it was prescription drugs

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
On 3/18/09 -- asking about MJ going to India for show, Phillips responded: "Thanks, Thomas. MJ will definitely be heading your way.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
Gongaware said he thinks they were making plans in case MJ said ok, let's go.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
EmIl on 3/17/09 from Phillips: We have a 4 year plan that included Australia, however, we have to finish London first.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts55s
Gongaware, who didn't like Australian's promoter, responded: "Over my dead body. But let's see what he says before I p**s on his parade."

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
Panish: Did you ever see MJ under the influence of prescription medication on Jun 2009? Gongaware: When he came back from Dr. Klein's office

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts2m
Panish: Did you investigate? Gongaware: No, he was coming from his doctor, I didn't think there was a need

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
Email on 3/23/09 from Gongaware to his secretary: Figure it out so it looks like he's not working so much

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts49s
"I didn't want him to think he was working more than he was," Gongaware testified.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts48s
Panish: your goal was to have as many shows as possible? Gongaware: I would've liked that

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
Panish: The more shows you had, the more money AEG would've gotten, right? Gongaware: Yes

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts10s
Marvin Putnam, in re-direct, asked Gongaware if he tried to give his best testimony possible in deposition. Gongaware said yes.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts34s
Gongaware said he saw MJ with slurred speech after seen Dr. Klein, not Dr. Murray.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts17s
As to the card to Mrs. Jackson and children, Gongaware said he's not good with cards, couldn't recall ever sending a condolence card.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
"What I did, I tried to put the memorial show together," Gongaware said. "I think it was the best thing for me to do, commemorate his life."

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts44s
Memorial was at the Staples Center with 15,000 people, live feed to Nokia Theater with 5,000 people.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts54s
Gongaware said he worked directly with Randy Jackson on the memorial. It cost over a million dollars, AEG and MJ's estate bore the cost.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
"I'm glad I did what I did," Gongaware said, adding memorial was shown to millions of people interested in MJ around the world.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts56s
Putnam tried to rebut all the claims that Gongaware changed his testimony. Gongaware said he feels he has changed his answers.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts33s
@ABC7Courts: Putnam tried 2 rebut all the claims that Gongaware changed his testimony. Gongaware said he feels he hasn't changed his answers

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts57s
Putnam tried 2 rebut all the claims that Gongaware changed his testimony. Gongaware said he feels he hasn't changed his answers.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts23s
Putnam showed independent contract agreement with Ferrigno fully executed. Julie Hollander signed on behalf of AEG,effective April 27, 2009.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts23s
Putnam questioned Gongaware about Dr. Murray's contract. The exec said MJ had to sign it in order for it to be valid.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts50s
Then it was Brian Panish's turn again. He said there isn't a date on the contract showing when Julie Hollander signed Ferrigno's agreement.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts39s
Panish pointed out that Hollander was signing contracts after MJ had died. He asked to see the original contract.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts55s
Panish: Lou Ferrigno was retained by AEG, right? Gongaware: Yes

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts38s
Gongaware said he expected his lawyers would act on his best interest and that testified truthfully and factually in his deposition.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts38s
Panish asked if Gongaware expected to be believed now when he wouldn't recall his answers in deposition. Defendant objected, judge sustained

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts4s
With that Paul Gongaware was excused, subject to recall if needed. Randy Phillips took the stand next also as adverse witness.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts45s
Phillips said he met w/ 6 attorneys to prep for testimony between 6-8 times over the last two weeks, probably for about 30 hours.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts37s
Phillips said he went through a bunch of emails, probably 30, from the period in question. He also read his deposition.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts19s
Phillips said he didn't prepare for the deposition. "They (attys) felt it would be better if I went in without any preparation."

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts27s
Phillips attended two years of law school, but didn't graduate.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts21s
Panish: Who's higher up than you at AEG Live? Phillips: No one at AEG Live P: You are the top dog, so to speak? P: Yes

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts31s
Phillips reports to an executive committee who would then report to Tim Leiweke. Phillips said he doesn't know why Leiweke left the company.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
Phil Anschutz now belongs to the executive committee.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts35s
Panish: Do you think this is an extortion, shakedown lawsuit? Phillips: Yes or no answer? Yes

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts23s
Panish: Did you sign a document under the penalty of perjury saying Mrs. Jackson aided and abetted Joe Jackson to extort money from AEG?

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts17s
Phillips: It's possible, I don't remember

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts34s
"I wish you wouldn't keep calling it a baseless shakedown lawsuit," Phillips told Panish.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts8s
Panish: You believe this case is an extortion, correct? Phillips: Yes

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts35s
Panish: You told Mr. Ortega that AEG checked everyone out, including Dr. Murray?

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts28s
"I wrote in an email to Kenny Ortega that I thought Dr. Murray had been checked out. I still do, to some extent," Phillips said.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts11s
Panish: You said he was a great doctor? Phillips: Because that's what I was told

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts13s
Panish: Did you write email that AEG checked everyone out? Phillips: Yes, I did Panish: That was not true Phillips: In retrospect, not 100%

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
"It's what I knew at the time," Phillips said.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
Panish: Isn't it true you said AEG live doesn't lose money, sir? Phillips: Among other things I said

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts50s
Panish showed Phillips a Forbes article where he said AEG is about making money, since they are a business.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
Live Nation is the largest concert promoter in the world, Phillips said.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
Panish: Do you like being number 2? Phillips: Love it! I'd rather be a successful number 2

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts4m
Panish: You don't want to be number one? Phillips: Not if it means losing money

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts2m
Phillips said Mr. Anschutz told him he's happy being a number 2.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts35s
Panish asked if it was true Phillips wanted 2 meet with MJ to tour in 2007. Phillips answered it was the opposite, they asked for a meeting.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts18s
Panish: Please don't argue with me, I'm going to argue w/ you and will get in trouble Phillips: That's an incentive now (Everyone laughed)

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts1m
Panish: Did you learn Colony Capital purchase note on Neverland? Phillips: Yes BP: Is Barrack one of principals on Colony Capital? RP: Yes

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts55s
On 6/13/08, Phillips sent email to Colony Capital with a summation of plans for MJ for four years.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts41s
Email: I caution you that MJ is not fast and a total perfectionist (needs to be controlled as much as possible).

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts21s
Phillips said he was referring to MJ's spending.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts4s
Panish: Neverland was his beloved home, right sir? Phillips: Hard to answer, because of the things MJ told me

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts33s
Panish: Do you think any of this is funny, sir? Phillips: No, I think it's tragic

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts20s
Tohme Tohme was a business associate with Colony Capital, who was also working with MJ.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts22s
Panish asked if Phillips thought there was a conflict of interest with Tohme working for Olony and MJ. He said no.

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts35s
That ended today's testimony. Phillips is back on the stand tomorrow morning. As always, we hope to see you too!
 
Re: Jacksons vs AEG - Day 23 - June 4 2013 - News Only (no discussion)

AEG exec accuses Michael Jackson's mom, kids of extortion
By Alan Duke, CNN
updated 10:08 PM EDT, Tue June 4, 2013
Katherine Jackson: Michael's mother, 82, was deposed for nine hours over three days by AEG Live lawyers. As the guardian of her son's three children, she is a plaintiff in the wrongful death lawsuit against the company that promoted Michael Jackson's comeback concerts.
HIDE CAPTION
Key players in Jackson wrongful death trial

>>
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
AEG Live CEO Randy Phillip is testifying in the Jackson wrongful death trial
Feisty chemistry between Jacksons' lawyer and Phillips should keep jurors attention
AEG lawyers advised him not to review old e-mails before testimony, exec says
The Jacksons accuse AEG Live of negligently hiring Dr. Conrad Murray
Los Angeles (CNN) -- Claims of extortion and laughter-inducing testimony stemming from legal advice on e-mails highlighted Tuesday's proceedings in the Michael Jackson wrongful death trial.
Randy Phillips, the chief executive officer of AEG Live, disclosed that his lawyers advised company executives not to review old e-mails before testifying.
That strategy could explain the high number of "I don't recall" answers by Paul Gongaware, the concert promoter's co-CEO, during his deposition and six days of testimony that have just concluded.
Phillips, who followed Gongaware on the witness stand Tuesday afternoon, said he believed Jackson's mother and three children were trying to extort money from his company, which he insisted bears no liability in the pop icon's death in 2009.
The Jacksons' lawsuit accuses the company of negligently hiring, retaining or supervising Dr. Conrad Murray, the physician convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's drug overdose death.
AEG lawyers contend Jackson chose, paid and controlled Murray, who infused him with the surgical anesthetic propofol almost every night for a month to help the singer rest as he prepared for his comeback "This Is It" concerts.
AEG exec: I didn't know Michael Jackson abused drugs
Jackson lawyer Brian Panish, who has been previously told by the judge not to argue with witnesses, quickly tangled with Phillips.
"Please don't argue with me because then I will argue back and get in trouble," Panish told Phillips at one point.
"Then that's an incentive for me," Phillips joked.
The feisty chemistry between lawyer and witness promises to keep jurors, who often chuckle at Panish's courtroom behavior, on the edge of their seats for the next day or so.
Gongaware's testimony was punctuated with so many "I don't recall" responses that jurors began laughing at one point. He frequently said he couldn't recall sending or reading key e-mails in the case, although his e-mail address was on them.
Panish asked Gongaware whether he thought it would have been better for him if he had reviewed documents and e-mails before testifying.
"I relied on the advice of my attorney," he said.
With his testimony concluded, Gongaware will resume his responsibilities as tour manager for the Rolling Stones.
"All this legal stuff, I don't understand it," he said.
Phillips, a law school dropout, seemed ready to rumble when he entered court after Gongaware. But he acknowledged that until two weeks ago, he had not looked at any of his old e-mails to refresh his memory.
"They felt it would be better if I went in without preparation," he said, referring to his lawyers.
AEG Live lawyer Marvin Putman said outside of court that the volume of documents they would have needed to review was massive, making it impossible for them to prepare.
E-mails that AEG Live executives sent and received in the months before Jackson's death include one in which Phillips assures show director Kenny Ortega that the company has "checked out" Murray and found him to be very successful.
AEG Live executives later acknowledged they did not do a background check on Murray, who a police detective testified was in debt for more than $1 million dollars and faced foreclosure on his home.
"I wrote it in the e-mail that I thought at the time he had been checked out," Phillips testified Tuesday. He wrote that Murray was successful "because that's what I was told," he said.
"In retrospect, it's not 100% true," Phillips said. "There's what I thought at the time versus what I learned afterwards."
Phillips, Gongaware and other AEG Live executives ignored red flags that should have alerted them that Jackson's life was in danger, the Jackson lawsuit contends.
Murray signed and faxed his $150,000-a-month contract back to AEG Live, but with Jackson's death the next day on June 25, 2009, Phillips didn't sign it. AEG lawyers argue that means it was not a fully executed agreement and Murray was never hired by them.
 
Jacksons vs AEG - Day 24 - June 5 2013 - News Only (no discussion)

Jacksons vs AEG - Day 24 - June 5 2013 - News Only (no discussion)

Use this thread to post any and all news stories from day 24 of Katherine Jackson vs. AEG trial.

Daily news threads are merged into the main News thread in the stickies

Please help the staff by posting all the news stories as well as tweets from media you see.

Please Don't post updates or tweets from Fans in news thread
 
Michael Jackson an 'emotionally paralyzed mess,' AEG email says

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By Jeff Gottlieb
June 5, 2013, 12:21 p.m.
Despite the apparent suicide attempt by Michael Jackson’s daughter, testimony resumed Wednesday in a wrongful death case brought by the pop singer’s children and mother against entertainment titan AEG.

Paris Jackson, one of the plaintiffs in the case, was rushed to the hospital early Wednesday morning, according to sources. The L.A. County Fire Department described the medical emergency call it received as a "possible overdose."

Jackson's former wife and Paris' mother, Debbie Rowe, told Entertainment Tonight that Paris Jackson tried to commit suicide.

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PHOTOS: Michael Jackson | 1958-2009

In its suit, which is being heard in a downtown L.A. courthouse, the family accuses AEG of being responsible for the doctor who administered a fatal dose of the anesthetic propofol to Jackson as he was preparing for his return to the stage.

On the stand Wednesday, the chief executive of the company producing and promoting Michael Jackson's 2009 "This Is It" concerts testified it was a "miracle" that the singer showed up at a news conference in London to announce his comeback.

Randy Phillips testified that Jackson was hung over, although in emails he says the singer was drunk.

FULL COVERAGE: AEG wrongful death trial

"The fact that the press conference even happened is a miracle," Phillips wrote to Jackson's manager.

In another email he wrote to Tim Leiweke, then-chief executive of parent company Anschutz Entertainment Group, Phillips said: “MJ is locked in his room drunk and despondent. Tohme [another Jackson manager] and I are trying to sober him up and get him to the press conference with his hairdresser/make-up artist.”

In a second email to Leiweke, Phillips wrote: “I screamed at him so loud the walls are shaking. Tohme and I have dressed him and they are finishing his hair and then we are rushing to the O2. This is the scariest thing I have ever see. He is an emotionally paralyzed mess riddled with self loathing and doubt now that it is show time. He is scared to death. Right now I just want to get through his press conference.”

In another email Phillips wrote to a business partner: “I haven’t pulled it off yet. We still have to get his nose on propery (sic). You have no idea what this is like. He is a self-loathing, emotionally paralyzed mess.”

The emails were shown to the jury in the wrongful death suit filed by Jackson's mother and three children against AEG Live. The Jacksons charge that the company negligently hired and supervised Conrad Murray, the doctor who administered the propofol. AEG says that Jackson hired Murray and that any money the firm was going to pay the doctor was an advance to the pop star.

No family members appeared in court Wednesday. This is one of the few days of the trial when no Jackson relatives have appeared to watch the proceedings.
 
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 5m
Last two tweets were corrected versions, thanks to @SandraAnne777 who pointed out misidentification in them.
View conversation Reply Retweet Favorite More
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 7m
Phillips was asked about a lunch meeting he had with Jackson's former manager Tohme Tohme about a month ago.
AEG attorney was present too.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 7m
Those were the two inconsistencies Phillips pointed out in his police report.
Interview apparently wasn't taped at request of AEG attorneys
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 22m
.@SandraAnne777 Good catch - it should be Phillips. I'll correct tweets in a bit.
Gongaware on stand so long, got used to typing his name.
View conversation
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 35m
Murray's trial didn't have as much focus on contracts. It was kept simpler MT @AmberlovesMJ2: strange he didn't testify @ Conrad's trial hmm
View conversation
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 48m
I'm planning on being in court for Randy Phillips' continued testimony, but that depends on other stories.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 51m
There will only be a half-day of court tomorrow, with testimony starting at 1:30 p.m. Pacific time tomorrow.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 51m
Court recessed for the day before Panish could ask more questions about the "This Is It" ticket revenues and refunds.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 52m
He said the un-refunded ticket revenues totaled more than $5 million.
He indicated the money was handed over to the estate.
Expand
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 53m
Phillips said AEG didn't refund 7 or 8% of ticket purchases for "This Is It" because the buyers opted to hold on to the tickets.
Expand
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 54m
Phillips said it was more of a "hi-goodbye" conversation with Sharon Osbourne. They lived in same building at time of conversation.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 55m
"That would be the most idiotic thing in the world" to say, Phillips said of the statement attributed to him in Osbourne conversation.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 55m
Randy Phillips denied that he told Sharon Osbourne that AEG Live had kept all the money from ticket sales for "This Is It."
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 57m
He said it was a standard practice for Michael Jackson during his career.
Phillips said Bon Jovi has a similar deal.
Expand
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 57m
Phillips said he could recall of only one other instance where AEG Live paid fee for artist's manager.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 58m
Randy Phillips was also asked about Tohme's $100k/mo. contract between him, AEG Live and Michael Jackson.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 59m
... they testify.
It remains unclear whether Tohme Tohme will testify during the Jackson vs AEG Live trial.
Expand
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 59m
After court, AEG attorney Marvin Putnam, who was at the lunch meeting, said it was standard for attorneys to interview witnesses before ...
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
"I was completely impartial," Phillips said of testifying at the labor hearing. "I was an impartial witness."
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Panish asked Phillips if he testified at Tohme's Labor Commission hearing to "try to help him out."
Phillips said no.
Expand
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Plaintiff's attorney Brian Panish said he would had a witness who could testify about what was discussed at the table later in the trial.
Expand
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Phillips said he testified in a Labor Commission hearing over Tohme's claim against Michael Jackson's estate.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Phillips said he didn't directly discuss Tohme's possible testimony in the Jackson vs AEG Live case.
Expand
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Gongaware was asked about a lunch meeting he had with Jackson's former manager Tohme Tohme about a month ago.
AEG attorney was present too.
Expand
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Those were the two inconsistencies Gongaware pointed out in his police report.
Interview apparently wasn't taped at request of AEG attorneys
Expand
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Phillips said that was wrong _ Gongaware worked with Jackson that long, but he hadn't.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips also said police report said he and Paul Gongaware worked with Jackson over course of 16 years.
Expand
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Phillips keyed in on how report mentioned Murray got in his face, when it more likely Kenny Ortega he admonished.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Previous tweet was a quote from the report. Phillips said the police made a mistake. "If you read it, it makes no sense," Phillips said.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Report: Randy stated that Kenny got into Michael's face, at which time Dr. Murray admonished Randy, stating, “Your not a doctor. Butt out.”
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Phillips read one statement about a meeting at Jackson's home between Phillips, Conrad Murray and "This Is It" tour director Kenny Ortega.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
"We don't need to do it line-by-line," Judge Yvette Palazuelos.
Phillips then keyed in on two areas he said were inaccurate.
Expand
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Randy Phillips (AEG Live CEO) said there were numerous inaccuracies in the report. Panish started to ask him to go through it methodically.
Expand
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Plaintiff's attorney Brian Panish tried to use a police report of an interview with Phillips and detectives to refresh his recollection.
Expand
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
... during at least one of the meetings. He was a bit unclear on dates, so Jackson's weight may have been discussed at two meetings.
Expand
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
Randy Phillips was asked about meetings with Conrad Murray at Michael Jackson's house. He confirmed Jackson's weight was discussed...
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 1h
I have pretty limited notes in Jackson vs AEG Live trial from today. A couple updates coming from today's afternoon session.
Expand
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 5h
Jackson tweeps, obviously I haven't been able to closely monitor Jackson vs AEG trial today. I may be able to a bit this afternoon.
 
ABC7 Court News ‏@ABC7Courts 2m
Randy Phillips resumes testimony tomorrow. There will be no trial on Friday, since Putnam's son is graduating. Hope to see you all tomorrow!
ABC7 Court News ‏@ABC7Courts 2m
Court adjourned at this point. Session tomorrow begins at 1:30 pm PT. a juror has a graduation to attend in the morning.
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Out of $75 million in sales, AEG kept more than $5 million, which Phillips said they gave back to MJ's estate.
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93% of the "This Is It" tickets sold were refunded, Phillips said. "7-8% people elected to hold the tickets as souvenirs."
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Phillips said the encounter with Sharon Osbourne was just a hi and bye. They never talked about ticket sales or anything else related to MJ
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Phillips said he ran into Sharon at the lobby of their building. She asked how it was going, he said it's tough but we're going to get there
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Panish: Did you talk to Sharon Osbourne about the show?
Phillips: No, not to the extent that Sharon is alluding to we did.
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Phillips said in MJ's career they always paid his personal manager. Phillips recalls AEG paying artist's manager 1 other time, for Bon Jovi
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Phillips said he didn't know anything about Dr. Tohme in January 09 other than he was a consultant for Colony Capital and repped MJ.
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"We never hired Dr. Murray," Phillips said.

Phillips said AEG advanced DiLeo $50,000 at MJ's direction.
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Phillips: He had someone in that capacity. My understanding Frank DiLeo was his manager.
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Panish: Isn't it true, sir, that when Dr. Murray was hired no one was acting as MJ's personal manager?
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Phillips said they discussed something regarding Dr. Tohme's case against MJ's estate. He said he doesn't remember talking about this case.
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Phillips said he didn't, but Marvin Putnam, AEG's attorney, was also present.
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Phillips said he had lunch with Dr. Tohme in Beverly Hills within the past month. Panish asked if Phillips discussed Dr. Tohme's testimony.
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Phillips said it was not an intervention, but a meeting. He said it had nothing to do with drugs.
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Email cont'd: Getting him fully engaged is difficult and the most pressing matter as we are only 20 days out from the first show.
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Email cont'd: have an intervention with him to get him to focus and come to rehearsals yesterday.
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Panish showed an email dated 6/17/09 from Phillips to Dr. Tohme:
Kenny Ortega, Gongaware, DiLeo, his doctor named Conrad from Vegas and I
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At this point, most jurors seemed to be tuned out when Phillips didn't give straight answers.
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"Frankly, I don't remember reading Paul's email, I was more concerned about Kenny's email," Phillips said.
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Phillips said he answered the same thing, but with different qualifications.
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On the stand today, Phillips said he received Gongaware's email. Panish grilled Phillips pointing out he changed his answer three times.
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Phillips said he never received the email. Then, after being shown the email at depo, Phillips said he didn't remember receiving it.
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Panish showed the email that was forwarded to Frank DiLeo and Phillips was cc'd containing the mention that AEG, not MJ, pays Dr. Murray.
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Phillips said at the deposition it was the first time he ever saw Gongaware's email.
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In his deposition, Phillips said Paul Gongaware never communicated to him about the email that AEG, not MJ, was paying Dr. Murray.
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The only phone call Phillips remembers is the one that Dr. Murray called him on June 20, 2009.
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Panish said he never subpoenaed any phone records, that it was LAPD that did it. Phillips said he made an assumption.
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Phillips told Panish he'd know how many times he called Dr. Murray because the attorney subpoenaed the exec's phone records.
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Phillips remembers one phone call with Dr. Murray that lasted probably about 25 minutes.
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As to MJ missing rehearsals, Phillips clarified: "MJ was showing up to rehearsal, just not to enough of them, in Kenny's opinion."
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Phillips pointed another mistake in LAPD's report. It states Phillips/Gongaware produced 2 MJ's tours but Phillips said he wasn't involved
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"I believe the Los Angeles Police Department is a fine entity as I believe in this judicial system," Phillips explained.
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Dr. Murray got in to and admonished Kenny Ortega and told him not to be an amateur doctor, Phillips said he told the police.
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"The police made a mistake," Phillips said. "He (detective) misconstrued what was said and made a mistake."
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Phillips said he never told LAPD "Randy stated that Kenny got in Michael's face, at which time Dr. Murray admonished Randy..."
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Phillips said LAPD's detective made a mistake in the written police statement attributed to him.
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Phillips said each interview was different, but the intention was to say AEG hired Dr. Murray on behalf of MJ. "It's called the truth."
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Phillips said AEG's media person set up several interviews for him after MJ's death.
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Panish played the interview Phillips gave Sky News saying AEG hired Dr. Murray. Phillips said he meant AEG hired the doc on behalf of MJ.
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Panish showed a board meeting agenda on 5/26/09, in which they were to talk about MJ's tour.
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Panish asked Phillips if he knows the corporate structure of AEG Live. He said it was under AEG, but he doesn't know who exactly owns AEG.
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Panish asked Phillips which answer was right. He answered: "Do you want the truth or do you want what I testified?"
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Brian Panish resumed questioning. He showed several instances where Randy Phillips said one thing in deposition, another while on the stand
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AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips resumed testimony this morning. No one ever said anything about Paris Jackson during trial.
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Katherine Jackson was not in the courtroom today for today's trial session. We were told she's naturally concerned with granddaughter Paris.
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We got interview on camera with both Jackson's attorney and AEG attorney. Watch @ABC7 or http://www.abc7.com for the latest updates.
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Statement cont'd: We wish her a speedy recovery and her family all the best. I hope, I really hope she's okay."
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Statement from AEG's attorney, Marvin Putnam: “We pray to God the reports are not true. God forbid that they are.
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Statement cont'd: Please respect her privacy and the family's privacy."
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Statement cont'd: Paris is physically fine and is getting appropriate medical attention.
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Statement cont'd: It is especially difficult when you lose the person closest to you.
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Jacksons attys released this statement, approved by Katherine Jackson: "Being a sensitive 15 year old is difficult no matter who you are.
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We are told Paris is currently under the care of specialized medical professionals.
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A source close to the Jackson family confirmed to @ABC7 that Paris was rushed to the hospital due to suicide attempt.
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ABC7 Court News ‏@ABC7Courts 6h
Hello from the courthouse in downtown LA. Very busy morning today. @ABC7 confirms Paris Jackson was rushed to the hospital last night.
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AEG Live CEO Offers Conflicting Testimony About Jackson’s Demeanor
June 5, 2013 5:03 PM

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AEG, AEG Live, Jackson, Katherine Jackson, Michael Jackson, Paris Jackson, Phillips, Randy Phillips

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The CEO of AEG Live offered conflicting testimony Wednesday about Michael Jackson’s demeanor as the family’s wrongful death suit against the firm continues.

AEG CEO Randy Phillips was called to the stand Wednesday by attorneys representing Katherine Jackson.

Phillips is the lead defendant in the case filed by the Jackson family, who claim AEG Live negligently hired and supervised the doctor who provided Jackson with the fatal dose of propofol that killed him while he was preparing for his comeback concert series in 2009.

By Phillps’ written account, in the hours leading up to the March 5, 2009 news conference when Michael Jackson announced his This Is It concert series at London’s O2 Arena, the star was drunk and despondent. By another account of Phillps’, he was just hungover.

KCAL9′s Randy Paige reports Jackson family lead attorney Brian Panish took issue with the conflicting statements after he called the executive to the stand.


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“Was Mr. Jackson drunk?” Panish asked.

“No, to the best of my knowledge no,” Phillips testified.

“Was he despondent?” Panish asked. “No,” Phillips replied.

Later Panish produced an e-mail writted by Phillips to AEG President Tim Leiwicke the day of the news conference.

“MJ is locked in his room drunk and despondent,” Phillips wrote. “Tohme (Jackson’s manager) and I are trying to sober him up and get him to the press conference.”

“Are you kidding me?” Leiwicke responds.

“I screamed at him so loud the walls are shaking. Tohme and I have dressed him and they are finishing his hair and then we are rushing him to the O2. This is the scariest thing I have ever seen, he is an emotionally paralyzed mess riddled with self loathing and doubt now that it is showtime. He is scared to death. Right now I just want to get through this press conference,” Phillips writes.


After showing the e-mail to the jury, Panish asked his witness if he had yelled at Jackson on the day the e-mail was written.

“In the two-and-a-half hours this all took place, if you take it out of context the answer won’t make any sense,” Phillips said.

The executive later acknowledged “I raised my voice”.

“So the answer is no? Did you or did you not scream at Mr. Jackson? Yes, no or I don’t remember?” Panish asked.

Phillips said he couldn’t answer the question.

An attorney for AEG told KCAL9 he will show there are no inconsistencies in Phillips’ accounts when he calls witnesses to the stand.

Wednesday’s testimony marked the first time since the trial began that no Jackson family members attended.

The absence came hours after reports emerged Paris Jackson, the only daughter of the late pop legend, had been hospitalized after an apparent suicide attempt.

Sheriff’s deputies and paramedics responded to a report at 1:27 a.m. Wednesday of a possible overdose at the Jackson family home in Calabasas, according to Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Scott Miller.

The patient was transported to an unidentified local hospital, Miller said. No age or sex of the victim was provided.

Katherine Jackson subsequently released a statement to Entertainment Tonight, in which she said Paris was “getting appropriate medical attention”.

“Being a sensitive 15-year-old is difficult no matter who you are. It is especially difficult when you lose the person closest to you. Paris is physically fine and is getting appropriate medical attention. Please respect her privacy and the family’s privacy,” she said.

No other details were immediately available.
 
AEG exec: 'You needed a scorecard' to track Jackson's entourage

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Michael Jackson rehearses in 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. (Kevin Mazur / Associated Press / June 23, 2009)
By Jeff Gottlieb
June 5, 2013, 7:46 p.m.
His name is Dr. Tohme Tohme, and although he has not taken the witness stand in the Michael Jackson wrongful death case, he was the center of attention Wednesday.

Tohme was one of Jackson’s many managers, who seemed to come and go.

“With Michael Jackson and his advisers you needed a scorecard,” testified Randy Phillips, chief executive of AEG Live, which was promoting and producing the singer’s comeback concerts.

Phillips said he was introduced to Tohme in a meeting at the Century City offices of Colony Capital, the investment firm that held the mortgage on Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. It was AEG owner Phillip Anschutz’s friendship with a Colony Capital partner that led to the firm’s promotion of the planned 50 “This Is It” concerts at the 02 Arena in London. Phillips said Tohme was an adviser to Colony Capital who had no background in the music business and represented no other clients when he began working with the singer.

PHOTOS: Michael Jackson | 1958-2009

Brian Panish, the attorney for Jackson’s mother and three children in an ongoing wrongful death suit against AEG, asked Phillips what kind of doctor Tohme was, whether he was a physician or if he had a doctorate.

Phillips said that although he had met this doctor 25 times, he never asked him.

The jury was shown a June 17, 2009, email Phillips wrote to Tohme, eight days before Jackson died from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol. Phillips wrote him that he had an “intervention” with Jackson scheduled “to get him to focus and come to rehearsals…Getting him fully engaged is difficult and the most pressing matter as we are only 20 days from the first show.”

Phillips said the intervention was not drug related.

FULL COVERAGE: AEG wrongful death trial

Panish asked the executive if Jackson had ever fired Tohme.

“It’s not a yes or no answer,” he said. “The answer is yes but he kept in contact with him.” Panish later showed Phillips an agreement in which AEG agreed to pay Tohme $100,000 a month and asked if that was common practice, even though the manager is supposed to represent the performer, not the promoter.

“In Michael Jackson’s case it was standard,” Phillips said.

PARIS JACKSON: "Physically fine" after apparent suicide attempt

Panish persisted, and Phillips said AEG’s payments to Jon Bon Jovi’s manager were the only other time it had made a similar arrangement.

He also said two of Jackson’s attorneys helped draft the agreement.

The Jacksons' attorney brought the courtroom to attention when he asked Phillips if he met with Tohme at the Polo Lounge recently. Phillips said they had lunch there about a month ago.

“And you were discussing his testimony in this case at the Polo Lounge with him?” Panish asked.

“I wasn’t,” Phillips said.

“You know there were witnesses sitting around you?” Panish said. “You know people took pictures of you?

Phillips said he didn’t remember exactly what was discussed.

“I don’t remember what I ate,” he said.

“I didn’t ask you what you ate,” snapped Panish.

Phillips said the meeting had to do with the case Tohme filed against Jackson’s estate with the state labor board for money he was never paid. Phillips was a witness.

Outside the courtroom, Panish said he found the meeting “very suspicious” and said that Tohme’s AEG deal was one of the conflicts of interest “that are flying everywhere” in the case.

Marvin Putnam, AEG’s attorney, who was also at the Polo Lounge meeting, said the money AEG was supposed to give to Tohme would have been an advance to Jackson but that no payments were made.

“It’s not a conflict remotely,” Putnam said. He also said Tohme’s testimony was not discussed at the Polo Lounge, but there would be nothing wrong if they had.

The wrongful death case revolves around Dr. Conrad Murray. The Jacksons say that AEG negligently hired and supervised him while the entertainment giant says the singer hired Murray and that any payments it was supposed to make to him would have been advances to Jackson, just like those to Tohme.
 
Jacksons vs AEG - Day 25 - June 6 2013 - News Only (no discussion)

Jacksons vs AEG - Day 25 - June 6 2013 - News Only (no discussion)

Use this thread to post any and all news stories from day 25 of Katherine Jackson vs. AEG trial.

Daily news threads are merged into the main News thread in the stickies

Please help the staff by posting all the news stories as well as tweets from media you see.

Please Don't post updates or tweets from Fans in news thread
 
Re: Jacksons vs AEG - Day 25 - June 6 2013 - News Only (no discussion)

ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 17s
There no trial tomorrow and Randy Phillips resumes testifying on Monday at 9:30 am PT. Hope to see you then! Have a great weekend!
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ABC7 Court News ?@ABC7Courts 1m
Phillips said the meeting with the doctor was at the request of Frank DiLeo.

Judge then adjourned session for today.
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Kane asked Phillips in an email on June 20: "Would a financial coming to Jesus speech help or add to his pressure?"
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Panish quickly responded "I haven't made 50 of them" to which Phillips said "I don't know, I haven't watched the entire trial."
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Panish made a mistake in one exhibit and Phillips reacted immediately. "See, we all make mistakes," Phillips said.
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"I think he needed both, so in this case I'm not sure he meant therapist or psychiatrist," Phillips said.
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Panish talked about the email Ortega sent saying MJ needed a strong therapist and immediate physical nurturing.
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"AEG Live would've survived it (show) not happened," Phillips said. He agreed that part of his concern was that AEG Live would look bad.
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Phillips would not advance any more money to MJ on June 20th because Michael may had been in breach of contract already, Phillips testified.
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If MJ said he didn't need to go to rehearsals, he could've been in breach of this contract, Phillips said.
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"I felt Michael had that obligation, yes," Phillips said about MJ needing to be at rehearsals.
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"Required is a little too strong, I was concerned that if he didn't go to rehearsal Kenny could not finish the production," Phillips said.
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Phillips said if MJ's lack of appearance caused production to not complete, show not open in London, MJ could be in breach of his contract.
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None of our agreements have artist need to rehearse, Phillips said, but the artists want to perfect their show, he said.
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Panish: You anticipated MJ would breach the contract by not showing up to rehearsal
Phillips: Yes
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"He (Kane) asked for a million dollars to pay for Mr. Jackson's bills," Phillips testified.
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It was response to Phillips' email
"This is y it's impossible 2 advance any $. He may unfortunately be in anticipitory breach at this point"
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Michael Kane was MJ's business manager. On 6/20, he responded to Phillips saying "And I thought it couldn't get worse."
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Panish: Did you ever do anything?
Phillips: Only the meeting on the 20th
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Panish: Did Mr. Branca ever tell you who the psychiatrist was?
Phillips: No
BP: Did you ask him for the name?
RP: No
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Some jurors shook their heads when Phillips and Panish argued with each other and judge intervened.
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The email does not name who the doctor is, but Phillips testified shortly ago that he remembered a name. He said he was wrong about it.
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Branca responded to the email from Phillips saying he had the right therapist/spiritual advisor.
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Panish asked if Phillips ever told Ortega it was not his job to question MJ's health/doctor care. He replied no.
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Phillips testified he never said he was going to pull the plug on the show and never threatened MJ with pulling the plug.
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Phillips testified he didn't contact any psychologist or psychiatrist after Bugzee and Ortega said MJ should be checked out by one of them.
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"I'm not responsible for Michael's health, he's an adult, he had a personal doctor," Phillips said.
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Phillips testified today he agreed with what Kenny said. In his deposition, Phillips said he didn't recall.
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Ortega then sent another email to Randy, saying he believed MJ needed to be psychologically evaluated.
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Panish went thru 5 different answers Phillips gave as explanation for this email, from not knowing what chemical means to possible drug reax
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Phillips answered the email saying he was not sure what MJ's problem was, chemical or physiological.
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Phillips received another email from Bugzee saying MJ was shaking and couldn't eat, Ortega had to cut his food, feed him.
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Phillips then forwarded the email chain to John Branca, Joel Katz, Tim Leiweke (his boss), adding "Unfortunately we are running out of time"
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"The word deteriorate may not be what happened. I didn't know what was going on until we had the meeting," Phillips said.
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Panish: It shows someone's physical condition deteriorated, right?
Phillips: It shows that there's a problem, yes
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"I know what he said, but until we had the meeting I didn't know what was going on," Phillips said.
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Panish asked what Bugzee said about the 360 turns: "He was telling me MJ couldn't do a 360 spin."
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"That's what he wrote, I'm not sure exactly what he meant," Philips said.
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Bugzee replied back to Phillips that MJ needed a shrink and trainer, deteriorated in front of his eyes for eight weeks.
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The meeting Tim asked didn't happen that day, Phillips explained. But there was a meeting in the afternoon of June 20th, he said.
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Phillips said he forwarded the email to Ortega and asked him to set up the meeting. Ortega responded yes to the email next morning.
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Just over four minutes later, Leiweke responded the email asking for a meeting between him, MJ, Phillips and Kenny Ortega.
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Within 19 mins of receiving Bugzee's email on the evening of Jun 19, Phillips forwarded Bugzee's email adding "We have a real problem here."
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Tim Leiweke was Phillips' boss at the time.
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Panish showed video of Phillips' deposition where said he didn't remember how he reacted when the received the email.
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Panish asked if Phillips remembered his reaction after receiving this email. "Yes, yes. Concerned," Philips responded.
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Panish: Did Mr. Jackson have a problem on June 20th?
Philips: Absolutely
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What changed from your deposition and today? Nothing, absolutely nothing, just that I'm very prepared, Phillips answered.
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Panish: You are not a drama queen, right?
Phillips: Sometimes

"Yes, I'm under oath," Phillips joked about having to tell the truth.
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"Since the deposition, my memory had gotten better because I was given documents and tried to remember what happened," Phillips testified.
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"I don't want to argue with you either, I don't think it's fair to the jurors," Phillips told Panish after a short exchange between them.
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"I think I read this email before I went to bed on 6/19," Phillips said. Panish pointed at deposition Phillips said he read it after sunrise
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Next Panish referred to the email with the subject "Trouble at the Front" from Bugzee saying MJ went home without stepping foot on stage.
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"Most of the artists we don't deal with their personal physician," Phillips explained.
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Panish: Do you normally carry around all the contact numbers of your artist's personal physicians?
Phillips: Absolutely not!
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Panish went thru some of the calls Phillips made. On 6/18/09, Gongaware sent an email to Phillips with all of Dr. Murray's phone numbers.
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Panish asked Phillips who subpoenaed his phone records. The exec confirmed it was LAPD.
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Neither Katherine Jackson nor any family members attend trial today. No one talked about Paris Jackson.
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Day 25 in trial of Jackson family vs AEG wrapped up. AEG's Randy Phillips resumed testimony. Jackson's attorney Brian Panish questioned him
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Hello from the courthouse in downtown LA. We only had session in the afternoon today, since a juror had a graduation to attend.
 
CEO testifies about emails on Jackson condition
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY | Associated Press – 29 mins ago
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The head of the company promoting Michael Jackson's ill-fated comeback concerts says he didn't bring in a mental health professional for the singer despite two high-level workers on the tour suggesting it was necessary.
AEG Live LLC CEO Randy Phillips told jurors Thursday about a series of emails he received six days before Jackson's death that described the singer's health as "deteriorating" and describing him as incapable of rehearsals.
Phillips and AEG Live are being sued by Jackson's mother, claiming they negligently hired the doctor convicted of giving Jackson an overdose of an anesthetic.
AEG denies it hired the physician or pushed Jackson to rehearse.
An email displayed in court showed Phillips wrote to Jackson's business manager that the singer may have already breached his contract five days before his death.
 
CEO TESTIFIES ABOUT EMAILS ON JACKSON CONDITION
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY
— Jun. 6 8:20 PM EDT
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The head of the company promoting Michael Jackson's ill-fated comeback concerts told jurors Thursday that he never consulted a mental health professional to help the singer despite two high-level show workers suggesting it was necessary.

AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips testified about emails he sent and received in the week before Jackson's death, including a production manager's characterization that the entertainer's condition was "deteriorating."

Phillips is testifying in a negligent hiring case filed by Jackson's mother against AEG Live LLC, claiming the company failed to properly investigate the doctor convicted of giving her son a lethal dose of an anesthetic. Her lawyers also contend that Phillips and AEG Live executives ignored signs of Jackson's poor health and pushed the entertainer to perform.

Emails displayed to jurors hearing the case show that Phillips told Jackson's business manager he believed the singer might have breached his contract by missing rehearsals. The email was sent June 20, 2009, five days before the "Thriller" singer died from an overdose of propofol.

"And I thought it couldn't get worse," the business manager, Michael Kane, responded. Phillips said Kane had been seeking a $1 million advance for Jackson against the earnings of his "This Is It" shows.

Phillips' email to Kane came hours after the tour director, Kenny Ortega, and production manager, John Hougdahl, emailed Phillips telling them that Jackson was in such a poor emotional state that he couldn't rehearse that night and had to be sent home.

"I have watched him deteriorate in front of my eyes over the last 8 weeks," Hougdahl wrote. "He was able to do multiple 360 spins back in April. He'd fall on his ass if he tried it now."

In a later email, Hougdahl told Phillips he believed Jackson needed a mental examination. "My layman's degree tells me he needs a shrink to get him mentally prepared to get him prepared to get on stage," he wrote.

Ortega also wrote to Phillips hours later, urging that Jackson get some psychological help.

Earlier that night, Jackson had been "trembling, rambling and obsessive," according to Ortega, who wrote to Phillips that the singer seemed unable to rehearse due to "real emotional stuff."

Phillips has yet to testify about a meeting he had with Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray.

Jackson died before signing Murray's $150,000-a-month contract to accompany him for 50 shows planned at London's O2 Arena. AEG denies it hired Murray, and several of its executives have testified that the former physician's fee would have been deducted from Jackson's earnings for the "This Is It" shows.

Phillips is the highest-ranking AEG Live executive to testify in the trial, which has concluded its sixth week. He denied Thursday that he ever threatened Jackson over missed rehearsals.

"We would have never dealt with Michael that way," he said.

He also rejected the idea that he was responsible for Jackson's health.

"I'm not responsible for his medical needs," Phillips said. "We're promoters — that's what we do."
 
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 4m
Randy Phillips also tried to make the point before the end of the day that The Murray meeting was set up because of Dileo.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 4m
Judge tentatively rules the voicemail couldn't be played for this jury on hearsay grounds.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 5m
Panish wanted to play a Frank Dileo voicemail that was played during Murray trial trying to set up a meeting and get Jackson tested.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 6m
Phillips' testimony ended for the day before he discussed meeting with Murray, Ortega and others.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 8m
Other AEG witnesses have said there was no requirement for Jackson to rehearse.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 9m
Phillips was asked what he meant about the "breach" statement.
He said he felt Jackson was obligated to rehearse.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 11m
The manager, Michael Kane, quickly replied, “And I thought it couldn’t get worse.”
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 12m
"This is why it is impossible to advance any $$$. He may, unfortunately, be in anticipatory breach at this point" _ Phillips wrote.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 12m
There was one email from Phillips from morning of June 20, 2009 that I hadn't seen before in court. It was sent to MJ's business manager.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 13m
Phillips said he thought Jackson was joking, but seemed to back off after Panish reminded him he wasn't at the rehearsal.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 13m
Hougdahl relayed a quote from Jackson that night, in which he said, "You aren't going to kill the artist, are you?
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 14m
Phillips and then-CEO of AEG Tim Leiweke planned a meeting for June 20th with Conrad Murray.
(We didn't hear testimony about mtg today)
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 15m
Panish showed the sequence of emails that Phillips received from Hougdahl and Ortega. Phillips informed other AEG execs that night.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 16m
This was sent the night Jackson was shivering and had to be sent home.
"We have a real problem here," Phillips wrote his boss that night.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 17m
Bugzee's email titled 'trouble at the Front' opened with him saying he didn't want to be a "drama queen."
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 19m
He focused on emails we've seen before from production manager John "Bugzee" Hougdahl and director Kenny Ortega.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 19m
Panish focused almost all his questions on emails that Phillips received or sent on June 19th and 20th 2009.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 21m
Phillips said he spent about 2 hours and 15 minutes preparing for today's testimony.
Today's testimony was very focused on emails.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 21m
Plaintiff's attorney Brian Panish started out by asking AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips about his preparations for today.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 22m
The big points from today's Jackson vs AEG Live testimony were covered in my story link. A few updates coming...
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 50m
"I'm not responsible for his medical needs," AEG Live CEO tells jury about Michael Jackson today: http://bit.ly/12vcS63
View summary
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 59m
CEO tells jury he didn't consult with psychologist for Michael Jackson despite warnings of 'deteriorating' condition: http://yhoo.it/10U472b
View summary
Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 3h
I've got to arrange some notes on a short break. I'll have updates from trial later this afternoon.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 3h
Panish had a number of questions about Phillips’ emails on the period of June 19 and 20th. MJ had to be sent home from rehearsal on the 19th
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 3h
AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips continued to be questioned by Katherine Jackson’s attorney Brian Panish.
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Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 3h
We’re back in session in Jackson vs AEG Live trial. No Jackson family members at court today.
 
Re: Jacksons vs AEG - Day 25 - June 6 2013 - News Only (no discussion)

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AEG exec feared Michael Jackson would sabotage his comeback tour
By Alan Duke, CNN
updated 9:40 AM EDT, Fri June 7, 2013

Michael Jackson is seen here arriving at the 2006 World Music Awards at Earls Court on November 15, 2006 in London.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
AEG Live CEO testifies he thought Jackson breached his concert contract
Randy Phillips cut off money to Jackson in his last week of singer's life
Phillips is testifying in the Jackson wrongful death trial, now in its sixth week
Los Angeles (CNN) -- AEG Live executives feared Michael Jackson would sabotage his comeback concerts five days before his death, the company's CEO testified Thursday.
Randy Phillips refused to advance money to help Jackson pay his staff because he believed the singer was "in an anticipatory breach" of his contract because he had missed rehearsals, he testified.
Phillips testified in the sixth week of the trial to decide whether the concert promoter is liable in Jackson's death for the negligent hiring, retention or supervision of Dr. Conrad Murray, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
The lawsuit filed by Jackson's mother and children contends that Phillips and other AEG Live executives pressured Jackson to attend rehearsals despite his deteriorating health and ignored red flags that should have warned them about the dangers posed by Murray.
Jackson lawyers questioned Phillips about his e-mail exchanges with Michael Kane -- Jackson's business manager -- when Kane asked for an advance, which was provided for in Jackson's contract with AEG Live for his "This Is It" tour.
Phillips said he was concerned that because Jackson had missed so many rehearsals, the show would not be ready for its debut in London on July 13, 2009.
"This is why it is impossible to advance any $$$," Phillips wrote to Kane on June 20, 2009. "He may, unfortunately, be in an anticipatory breach at this point."
"And I thought it couldn't get worse," Kane replied.
"It could," Phillips said. "(Show director) Kenny Ortega could quit."
Phillips' testimony that he believed Jackson was contractually obligated to attend rehearsals contradicted AEG Live Co-CEO Paul Gongware's previous testimony that Jackson was not required to rehearse.
Phillips acknowledged that by June 20, 2009, he was worried the production would not be ready on time
Kane, in an e-mail to Phillips, offered to help motivate Jackson to get to rehearsals. "Would a financial coming to Jesus speech help or add to his pressure?" Kane asked.
"It would help," Phillips replied. "At this point, we need to break through. I'm going to call his doctor to discuss."
Later that day, Phillips and other AEG Live executives met with Murray and Jackson at the singer's home. The Jackson lawyers contend at that meeting they put Murray in charge of having Jackson at rehearsals.
AEG Live lawyers claim the company executives had no way of knowing that Murray was giving Jackson nightly infusions of the surgical anesthetic propofol to treat his insomnia.
The Los Angeles County coroner ruled that Jackson died from an overdose of propofol on June 25, 2009.
 
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