Re: [General Discussion] AEG files their summary judgment motion asking to dismiss Katherine's lawsu
Putnam questioned why their lawyers would call them to testify, suggesting it was "for the emotional response."
"I can't understand why bringing them to the stand has anything to do with whether or not Dr. Conrad Murray was hired by AEG or hired negligently. But perhaps they're bringing them to the stand for different reasons."
I think he hit the nail in the head with this one.
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He bristled at the allegation, made by the Jackson lawyers in a court filing last month, that he was "behaving aggressively and erratically" in his questioning of Prince Jackson.
"We went out of our way to ensure we did precisely not that," Putnam said. "They may want to try to make the world believe that AEG Live is doing something inappropriate as to these children, but I'd ask the world to pause for a moment and look at what's actually happening here. They're the ones who are bringing this lawsuit and they're the ones who are saying they're going to put these children on the stand, something that I'm relatively certain their father would never, ever want to occur."
Jackson lawyers, he said, "are trying to sensationalize things that never happened" with their allegations about the way Prince was treated, he said. "I think in that scenario they're going to try to whip things up into a frenzy in the hopes that justice will not be served."
I agree with this one too.
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While Murray has indicated he would invoke his Fifth Amendment right to avoid answering questions, Putnam pointed to the interview the doctor gave to police two days after Jackson's June 25, 2009, death. Murray told detectives it was his understanding that he was Jackson's employee, not AEG Live's, even though the concert promoter would be the party cutting his paychecks.
"He was chosen by Michael Jackson," Putnam said. "He was brought to Los Angeles by Michael Jackson. He had been Michael Jackson's long-time physician and continued in that capacity and was directed by him and could only be fired at will by him."
AEG Live became involved with Murray only after Jackson had persuaded him to join his "tour party" for the "This Is It" concerts, Putnam said. "Then what happens is AEG starts to go back and forth with him and his attorney, Dr. Conrad Murray, with drafts of contracts."
The unsigned contract and the oral understanding with Murray called for the doctor to be paid $150,000 a month while he served as Jackson's personal physician while he performed 50 shows at London's O2 Arena in the second half of 2009 and into 2010.
AEG's role was like MasterCard, lawyer says
AEG Live's role with Murray was only to "forward" money owed to him by Jackson, just as a patient would use their "MasterCard," Putnam said. "If you go to your doctor and you pay with a credit card, obviously MasterCard in that instance, depending on your credit card, is providing the money to that doctor for services until you pay it back. Now, are you telling them MasterCard in some measure in that instance, did MasterCard hire the doctor or did you? Well, clearly you did. I think the analogy works in this instance."
In fact, Putnam said, he learned during the discovery process that Michael Jackson was paying Murray during the last two months of his life. "He was paying for him during his entire time in Los Angeles and during the time we're talking about, Dr. Conrad Murray was being paid by Michael Jackson," he said. "We know this. We know this because the plaintiffs have said so."
They have a strong argument here, and that is a new revelation that MJ was already paying him.
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The revelation that Jackson paid Murray during that period has not been reported. Jackson lawyers declined to comment, citing ethical limitations to their ability to talk to the media about the case.
:doh: That didn't stop them leaking emails or giving scoops to their chosen tabloids and AD.
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"Mr. Jackson was not in a position to get up on the stage and do the rehearsal because he had flu-like symptoms," Putnam said. "He was cold, he was shaky and as a result he didn't perform that evening."
"People were worried about that flu," so AEG Live executives called a meeting with Jackson and Murray the next day at Jackson's home to discuss it, he said.
To be honest, who would have thought that MJ symptoms were caused by CM giving propofol and other drugs to MJ in nightly bases?
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"So Mr. Phillips went to that meeting at Mr. Jackson's home, that would be on the 20th of June, that's five days before Mr. Jackson passed," Putnam said. "And they got there, and Mr. Jackson was emphatic about the idea that he was great. 'You guys are all worrying about nothing. Look at me. I am fine.'"
I wonder if they have witness, other than AEG employee that witnesses what MJ said?
If they have, Jackson's case looks weaker and weaker.
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If there had been a health problem with Jackson, AEG Live would have had no problem postponing the start of the tour, he said.
"AEG Live had already moved the concerts because they weren't going to be ready in time for early July because of the number of set pieces Mr. Jackson wanted," he said. "There would be no rush for AEG Live to have to get to the stage by, I think at that point, by July 13th. If there was a problem here AEG wanted to know there was a problem because they could simply move the concerts."
The 50 shows were to be spread out over a year in the O2 Arena, which AEG owned and controlled, he said. "AEG had no interest in rushing to get to July 13th. On the contrary, if there was an issue they would have wanted to know."
Another thing that speaks on AEG's behalf. AEG already postponed some of the concert dates, and RP in his smoking gun email never said anything that they are not going to postponing concerts dates, he wrote they cannot be forced to cancel the gigs, but nothing about postponing them, so they can use that for their defense.
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"Mr. Jackson is a person who was known to doctor shop," Putnam said. "He was known to be someone who would tell one doctor one thing and another doctor something else."
The child molestation trial is relevant because it "resulted in an incredible increase in his drug intake," Putnam said.
Jackson's eccentricities are fair game, AEG Live says
"We're talking about Michael Jackson," Putnam said. "This is a man who would show up in pajamas. This is a man who would stop traffic and get out and dance on top of his car. This is a man who would go to public events with a monkey named Bubbles. This is a man who said he slept in an oxygen chamber."
How nasty!
I wonder is this really what that lawyer said or is this CNN editing at work? MJ never said that he slept in oxygen chamber, or did he?
