When someone dies and negligence on the part of another person is to blame in the matter, it is possible that the negligent party will be held responsible for the death via a wrongful death lawsuit. In some cases it is possible that an entity will be named as a defendant in a case. Such is the case in a wrongful death lawsuit the three children and mother of Michael Jackson filed against AEG Live, the promoter of the concert he was preparing for when his death occurred.

Pittsburgh area fans of Michael Jackson are likely well aware of the circumstances that led up to his premature death in 2009. While involved in the rehearsals for a highly anticipated comeback tour, Dr. Conrad Murray was providing medical care. It was while Jackson was under his care that he died, apparently of a drug overdose. Dr. Murray was allegedly hired by AEG Live.

After Jackson's death, Dr. Murray was criminally charged. As readers may recall, it was hard to avoid news coverage of the trial as it played out. Ultimately Dr. Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

Recently, this civil lawsuit, which contends that the hiring of Dr. Murray by AEG Live constituted negligent behavior, was deemed to be set for trial. Accordingly, Dr. Murray will deposed in the matter likely at some point in March.

The amount sought in the lawsuit is unclear. Some may wonder why individuals who compared to most are quite well off would pursue a lawsuit in an effort to secure monetary damages. While we may never know, some find that wrongful death lawsuits provided a sense of closure regarding the matter.

Source: CNN, "Jackson kids' lawsuit in dad's death cleared for trial," Alan Duke, Feb. 25, 2013

• We handle personal injury cases including those related wrongful death. If you would like to learn more about our practice, please visit our Pittsburgh wrongful death page.