Michael Jackson's Mother Seeks New Trial of Wrongful Death Lawsuit

By City News Service

In newly filed court papers, attorneys for Katherine Jackson say they will seek a new trial of a lawsuit alleging concert promoter AEG Live negligently hired the doctor who gave Michael Jackson a fatal dose of the anesthetic propofol.

In documents filed Monday, lawyers for the mother of the pop superstar say the grounds for the motion include alleged misconduct by the jury, newly discovered evidence, a lack of evidence to support the Oct. 2 verdict and "an error in law occurring at trial."

The two-page document states the motion for a new trial will be based on affidavits, declarations and citations of the law. The court papers do not offer any further clarification. No date has been set for a hearing on the motion.

After nearly 14 hours of deliberations over four days, the six-man, six-woman jury determined that AEG did hire Dr. Conrad Murray as Jackson's doctor, but it answered "no" to question No. 2, which asked if Murray was "unfit or incompetent to perform the work for which he was hired."

With that answer, the jury denied any damages to Katherine Jackson and the late singer's three children.

Katherine Jackson, the 83-year-old family matriarch who lives in Encino, sued in September 2010 on behalf of herself and her son's three children -- Michael Jr., Paris- Michael Katherine and Prince Michael -- claiming that AEG Live hired Murray to be Jackson's personal physician and failed to properly supervise him.

Murray, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for Jackson's death, has since been released from jail. Jackson died June 25, 2009, at age 50 of acute propofol intoxication.