On October 2, 2013, a jury ruled in favor of concert promoter AEG Live LLC, finding it was not liable in the death of mega-star singer, Michael Jackson.

Katherine Jackson, Michael Jackson’s mother, brought the case against AEG Live, the giant concert promoter that was producing the singer’s comeback concerts, arguing that the promoter was negligent in hiring the physician who administered the drug that killed him.

While the jury unanimously agreed that AEG Live hired the doctor, they concluded that Murray was competent and awarded no money to the pop star’s family.

This lawsuit is likely not the last legal battle related to the late singer.  Jackson’s estate still needs to be settled, and one of his longtime supporters has accused the singer of sexually abusing him while he was a child.

If this case were to happen in British Columbia, Katherine Jackson would have brought a claim against AEG Live under our Family Compensation Act.  The Act allows an action for damages to be brought for the benefit of a spouse, parent, or child of a deceased person whose death was caused by a wrongful act, neglect, or default of any person, partnership, or corporation.  Liability can only be found if the deceased would have been entitled to damages from the wrongful act, neglect, or default had death not occurred.  The Act thus allows families of deceased persons to potentially recover damages from those responsible for a relative’s death.