The concert promoters behind Michael Jackson's doomed comeback shows have fired back at family allegations they were negligent when it came to the King of Pop's welfare.
The pop star's mother, Katherine Jackson, has sued bosses at AEG Live, the company in charge of the Thriller star's planned This Is It shows in London for fraud and negligence, but the promoters insist they're not the blame for her son's death.
In the court papers, Jackson has accused AEG chiefs of failing to undertake background checks on her son's personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray, who stands accused of administering the fatal dose of Propofol which killed the singer last summer (Jun09).
AEG Live's lawyers have now spoken out against the allegations, dismissing the claims as "inaccurate, unsubstantiated and meritless".
A statement reads, "Dr. Murray was Mr. Jackson's longtime personal physician. AEG did not choose him, hire him or supervise him. That said, and in honor of our professional relationship with Mr. Jackson and his Estate, we will have no further public statements."
Katherine Jackson, who is seeking unspecified damages, also filed the suit on behalf of her son's three children, accusing the company of causing Jackson's oldest son Prince emotional distress, because he witnessed his father's suffering.