News summary of Week 7 at the AEG trial

This summary of the news on week 7 of the AEG trial will be based on the ABC7 Court News tweets and a couple of media articles. I had a brief look at what the media is saying and found that their stories are completely irrelevant for the case. It is just some odd pieces snatched from here and there and having nothing in common with reality.

Indeed what can the article below have to do with the way AEG really treated Michael Jackson? 

AEG CEO: Michael Jackson ‘Mercurial’, ‘Impossible To Do Business With’

June 11, 2013 6:33 PM

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The top executive for concert promoter AEG testified Tuesday that Michael Jackson was “mercurial” and “impossible to do business with” as he took the stand for the fifth day in the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the late singer’s mother.

After enduring five days of questioning from lead Jackson attorney Brian Panish, AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips was questioned by attorneys defending the entertainment giant.

CBS2′s Randy Paige reports that Phillips was visibly relieved as AEG’s lead attorney Marvin Putnam took over questioning shortly before lunch Tuesday.

Putnam asked about the difficulties Phillips encountered working with the late singer.

“Michael was mercurial,” Phillips testified. “One of the things that made him great and one of the things that made him impossible to do business with.”

“He would change representatives like we change our socks,” Phillips went on to say. “You pretty much needed a scorecard as to who was managing Michael at any given time.”

“Why didn’t you put a stop to that?” Putnam asked. “Could you dictate anybody that he hire?”

“No,” Phillips testified.

Putnam told reporters last week that Jackson attorneys were trying to allege inconsistencies in Phillips’ statements that the documents did not support.

“They very pointedly decided they’re not going to show all of those things because they would like the record to reflect something it doesn’t,” he said.

Katherine Jackson attended morning sessions but did not return in the afternoon.

According to testimony Tuesday, AEG Live will produce a weekend of concerts this summer that will include a performance by The Jacksons.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/06/11/aeg-ceo-michael-jackson-mercurial-impossible-to-do-business-with/#respond

After the slap Phillips gave to Michael I think the above does not even require a comment and is closing the subject of the objective way the media is covering the trial once and for all.

Let’s go over to the tweets from the courtroom instead. All of them speak for themselves so I will draw your attention to a couple of facts only:

Monday June 10, DAY 26

• Randy Phillips says the goal of the meeting on June 20th was finding out what’s wrong with Michael’s health, but then (evidently by oversight) tells the truth. It was the same old thing again – making Michael attend rehearsals.

• Murray had Rhillips’s home number and called him before the meeting on June 20th. They spoke for 25 minutes. Phillips “does not remember” what they discussed, but immediately after the call he sent an e-mail to Kenny Ortega saying it was critical not to become amateur psychiatrists or physicians, the doctor is excellent, they check everyone out, etc. So he did not even wait for the meeting to take place to lie to Ortega. It remains to be seen who repeated whose words about “amateur physicians”.

• Phillips claims he was confused by conflicting reports from Bugzee and Ortega who were sending SOS e-mails the previous night and Conrad Murray’s assurances that everything was fine. Confusion did not stop him from siding with the doctor he knew nothing about and disregarding the information that was coming from people whom he knew very well. And that “confusion” thing is a lie – he reported the situation to his bosses the way it really was –   as “big trouble”, while to Ortega he said the opposite.

• The AEG emails to each other reveal what they thought about each other, Michael and those around him – Phil Anschutz is a paranoid scrooge (stingy person) and this email was probably what cost Tim Leiweke his job, Randy Phillips was “jittery”, Michael was having  a mental breakdown and they were in a big trouble, Arnold Klein was scaring them to death as he was “shooting him with something” (this explains all the media campaign against Klein that followed), Phillips wanted Murray exonerated, and Kenny Ortega was “beginning to concern them” evidently because at some point he began to defy the tough-love policy and express too much concern about Michael’s health.

• Things like Michael needed a “straight jacket” (a quote from Phillips’s email), threats that they would pull the plug and ideas evidently quoted from Murray’s interview that Michael was on skid row, would be homeless and lose everything including his children, speak for themselves.

	Monday, June 10 DAY 26
1	Hello from the courthouse in downtown LA? Jackson family vs AEG trial resumed this morning with AEG’s CEO Randy Phillips testimony.
2	Katherine Jackson is present in court and dressed in black polka dot jacket. This is her first appearance after Paris’ suicide attempt.
3	Panish showed an email from Tim Leiweke (CEO of AEG) to Dan Beckerman (CFO/COO of AEG) in which Beckerman described Phillips as jittery.
4	Trouble with MJ, Leiweke wrote in email to Beckerman on Jun 20. “Big trouble.” Beckerman responded: “I figured something might be wrong…
5	Cont’d: given how jittery Randy has been this week. Is it “pre-show nerves” bad or “get a straight jacket/call our insurance carrier” bad?”
6	Phillips said he was not jittery, but concerned with the show. Jittery mean shaking and he said he doesn’t think that’s how he was.
7	Phillips said Dr. Murray receiving $150k per month being the cause of MJ’s sickness in June of 2009 never crossed his mind.
8	Dr. Murray and Phillips spoke for 25 minutes. Phillips said he didn’t think the call lasted that long, doesn’t recall what they talked.
9	It’s very possible I might have even read him these emails, Phillips testified, referring to the “Trouble at the Front” chain.
10	I would not have discussed his health other than what it was in the content of the emails, Phillips said, doesn’t recall the conversation.
11	Panish: The doctor, show manager and director were telling you MJ was deteriorating? Phillips: I don’t remember what I talked to the doctor
12	Panish showed picture of the business card Phillips gave Dr. Murray with his cell number on the back. The card was found in the doctor’s car
13	Phillips testified that Dr. Murray called his home number. Phillips said he doesn’t know how the doctor had his home number.
14	Phillips said everyone in the This Is It” production got a list with everyone’s phone numbers. He doesn’t know how Dr. Murray got the list.
15	Panish talked about email Phillips wrote to Ortega on Jun 20:
16	Kenny, it’s critical that neither you, me or anyone else around this show
17	Email cont’d: become amateur psychiatrist or physicians. I had a lengthy conversation with Dr. Murray, who I’m gaining immense respect for
18	Email cont’d: as I get to deal with him more. He said that Michael is not only physically equipped to perform and, that discouraging him to,
19	Email cont’d: will hasten his decline instead of stopping it. Dr. Murray also reiterated that he’s mentally able to and was speaking to me
20	Email cont’d: from the house where he has spent the morning with MJ.
21	Email cont’d: This doctor is extremely successful (we check everyone out) and does not need this gig so he totally unbiased and ethical.
22	Email cont’d: It is critical we surround Michael with love and support and listen to how he wants to get ready for July 13th.
23	Cont’d: You cannot imagine the harm and ramifications of stopping this show now. It would far outweigh “calling this game in the 7th inning”
24	Cont’d: I’m not just talking about AEG’s interests here, but the myriad of stuff/lawsuits swirling around MJ that I crisis manage every day
25	Email cont’d: and also his well-being. I am meeting with him today at 4p at the Forum. Please stay steady. Enough alarms have sounded.
26	Email end: It is time to out out the fire, not burning the building down. Sorry for all the analogies. Randy
27	Phillips said he thought Dr. Murray was extremely successful based on the clinics he had and business he would’ve to close to go on tour
28	Panish: And that was not true, correct?
29	Phillips: In retrospect, that’s correct
30	It was an assumption I made, Phillips conceded.
31	As to the “we check everyone out” reference in the email, Panish asked if that was a true statement or untrue.
32	Phillips: It’s not, it’s hard to say yes or no on that. It is not true because everyone would imply everyone.
33	Panish: “We check everyone out” is a false statement you wrote to Mr. Ortega, correct?
34	Phillips: In retrospect, yes
35	Panish asked about the reference “he doesn’t need the gig”. “I made another assumption based on the information I had,” Phillips explained.
36	I didn’t have any basis to say he was unbiased and ethical, Phillips testified.
37	Phillips said at the time he thought the information he wrote was true, but agreed he had no basis for his opinion.
38	Phillips described that in a hardly-charged situation like the one they had, he just wanted to keep the situation under control.
39	I just wanted to calm things down until we had the meeting, Phillips explained.
40	Phillips testified he wrote email to Sony exec asking her to remind him to tell her where Dr Murray was the night he was to be caring for MJ
41	Judge only allowed plaintiffs’ attorney to say it was a social establishment, but the place was a strip club.
42	As to having mental health professional, “no one brought a psychiatrist,” Phillips said, “because MJ didn’t need one,” Phillips opined.
43	Lunch break almost over. We’ll tweet more of Phillips’ testimony as soon as we can. Remember, there’s no live tweet allowed in the courtroom
44	Phillips testified he had conflicting information coming from Dr. Murray and Kenny Ortega regarding MJ.
45	Panish pressed Phillips about the fact that he sent completely opposite emails to Ortega and AEG high ups.
46	It was because they were sent for different purposes, Phillips explained.
47	Phillips said he remembers the meeting on June 20th lasted at least an hour.
48	Dr. Murray and Phillips were sitting in one couch, MJ was in a bench and Ortega on another couch.
49	In his deposition, Phillips said Ortega talked about MJ’s physical and mental status.
50	On the stand today, Phillips explained Ortega did very little talking in the meeting. “He addressed Michael coming to rehearsals.”
51	I do not believe he talked about MJ’s physical condition and mental state. Dr. Murray did most of the talking, Phillips testified.
52	Panish pressured Phillips about him changing the testimony. “My memory is getting better about the events of four years ago,” Phillips said.
53	The purpose of the meeting was to find out what was happening with MJ because of the events on the 19th, Phillips said.
54	Panish: Did Mr. Ortega say he was concerned MJ was not getting enough sleep?
55	Phillips: I don’t remember if he asked that question
56	I know he asked about the food, but I’m not sure if he asked about the sleep, Phillips said.
57	Phillips testified that MJ’s lack of sleep was not material discussed, but admits it could’ve been.
58	Panish: Dr. Murray contradicted what Ortega said in the email, correct, sir?
59	Phillips: Yes
60	Dr. Murray, said there wasn’t anything wrong with MJ, Phillips expressed. “MJ said there wasn’t anything wrong with Michael Jackson.”
61	I don’t know if there was a mental problem, Phillips said, highlighting that at least Dr. Murray was a doctor.
62	He just assured Mr. Ortega that MJ was fine and was going to attend rehearsals, Phillips testified Dr. Murray said in the meeting.
63	Katherine Jackson did no return after lunch break. Panish resumed questing of Phillips.
64	Phillips said Timm Wooley’s reference that Phillips was responsible for MJ’s rehearsal and attendance schedule is mistaken.
65	Meeting on June 20th happened in the afternoon, Phillips said. Panish asked if MJ was shaking in that meeting. Phillips said no, not at all.
66	Vase was broken in one of production meetings, Phillips explained. He said Frank Dileo, Paul Gongaware, himself were present.
67	Phillips said he doesn’t know who broke the vase, but he thinks it may have been Frank DiLeo.
68	Panish: Did you have a meeting with MJ where you threatened to pull the plug and take everything he had?
69	Phillips: No
70	Panish: Did you tell him he would lose everything, including his children, if the show didn’t happen?
71	Phillips:That’s ridiculous, no
72	Phillips said MJ was a phenomenal father.
73	Phillips denied ever saying to anyone at the meeting that MJ was on skid row or going to become homeless.
74	Panish: Did you ever tell MJ you were paying for his toilet paper?
75	Phillips: No
76	In the deposition played to the jury, Tim Leiweke said the reference to “mental breakdown” in the email could’ve been Randy Phillips not MJ
77	Panish played depo of Dan Beckerman, in which he said he didn’t recall what prompted him to say Phillips was jittery.
78	Panish: Did you think that MJ needed a straight jacket?
79	Phillips: It was a generic comment
80	Phillips said it was a question of “stage fright and the show will go on” or “I can’t do this let’s cancel” scenario.
81	Panish: Do you think MJ needed a straight jacket?
82	Phillips: No, I don’t think MJ needed a straight jacket.
83	I wasn’t jittery, but I was nervous, Phillips described.
84	The meeting got a little bit heated when Dr. Murray was admonishing Kenny, Phillips recalled, but said hostile is too harsh of a word.
85	Phillips said lack of sleep was discussed in the June 20th meeting, but wasn’t the main focus.
86	Phillips said the reason of the meeting was to find out what happened in the night before, what was the issue and also MJ missing rehearsals
87	Phillips said MJ had the best two rehearsals after the June 20th meeting.
88	Kenny told Michael to take the next two days off, spend some time with the kids, Phillips testified.
89	Suddenly, judge decides to take a break at 2:24 pm PT and sent jury out of the courtroom.
90	Outside the presence of the jurors, judge admonished Phillips for not answering the questions asked.
91	Mr. Phillips you need to answer questions, said Judge Yvette Palazuelos, frustrated. “Lawyers are trying to getting the answers.”
92	Judge told Phillips that arguing with the lawyers isn’t really going to help his case, it will just lengthen his testimony.
93	She noted his testimony is taking much longer than expected, and at this pace he will be here for another week.
94	Phillips told the judge he’s just trying not to say the wrong things or be caught in tricky questions.
95	Judge: It seems like they are pretty straight forward questions, but when you offer info, it may not be good for you.
96	AEG’s attorney Jessica Bina defends Phillips saying the questions are compound, but that she believes he’s trying to answer the questions.
97	Panish said he wants to finish today, that he hasn’t argued with the witness or judge. “I really tried hard, for me, it’s hard!” Panish said
98	Phillips said he understood and wants to go back to work as well. Promised to be better.
99	Regarding the straight jacket email, Phillips said the way he read it he can’t tell if were are referring to him or MJ.
100	Panish pointed out that insurance was only if MJ had a break down, not Phillips. Thus, the email must’ve referred to MJ.
101	Phillips said the email he wrote saying “this guy is trying to concern me” was referring to Kenny Ortega.
102	I had two concerns: wanted Kenny to be open minded until the meeting and I didn’t want Kenny to quit, Phillips explained.
103	At this point they were about $30 million plus in advance, Panish said. Phillips said it was about $28 million, which was a lot of money.
104	Email on 3/13/09 from Leiweke to Phillips:
105	Phil (Anschutz) can be such a paranoid scrooge.  He thinks he’s smarter than everyone.
106	Phillips said again that his concern with Ortega was that he wasn’t going into the meeting with an open mind and that he was going to quit.
107	Panish played Phillips deposition where he said he didn’t remember what he was concerned about regarding Ortega.
108	I think my answer today is clarification, Phillips said, adding he did not change his testimony.
109	In his depo, played to the jury, Phillips said there were no discussions on June 20th about MJ taking a couple of days off.
110	However, in court today, Phillips testified Ortega suggested that MJ take two days off.
111	On Jun 23, Michael Kane wrote to DiLeo and Phillips:
112	Where does Arnold Klein stand on the list? (of doctors caring for MJ)
113	He scares us to death because he is shooting him up with something, Phillips wrote back.
114	Phillips said he maintains his position that he didn’t know what, if anything, any doctor was giving MJ prescription drugs.
115	Kane responded: Well since we owe him $48k and he wants payment maybe I should stop paying him and he’ll stop shooting him up.
116	Kane cont’d: I have the details of what he is doing.
117	Regarding the rehearsals on June 23rd and 24th, Phillips said he watched them in its entirety.
118	Panish: MJ never did the whole show, did he, sir?
119	Phillips: No
120	He wouldn’t have, they were not ready for that, Phillips explained.
121	Panish: Was MJ cold on the 23rd?
122	Phillips: I don’t remember
123	Phillips said he watched the entire rehearsal, which lasted about 3 hours. He said MJ was engaged about an hour and a half to two hours.
124	Phillips said he doesn’t remember whether MJ was chilled on June 24th.
125	Panish: Did you ever see MJ walking around in blankets?
126	Phillips: It’s possible, because the place was freezing. But I don’t remember.
127	On 6/25/09 the insurance broker wrote to Dr. Murray at 12:54:15 pm, probably London time (approximately 5 to 5am LA time):
128	Email: We are dealing with a matter of great importance and your urgent attention would be greatly appreciated.
129	The email talked about getting MJ’s medical records. Phillips said he learned from the media that Dr. Murray had been treating MJ since 2006
130	Panish: This is Dr. Murray doing something to help AEG get insurance, fair enough?
131	Phillips: Fair enough
132	On 8/18/09 Phillips wrote email to Michael Roth:
133	I think I know what MJ died of and this would exonerate Conrad
134	Lionel Richie’s ex-wife Brenda called Philips and said MJ died of a combination of other drugs and Propofol.
135	Phillips said he never told police, the DA or Dr. Murray’s attorneys about it because he thought the info was not reliable.
136	Panish: Did you want Dr. Murray to get exonerated?
137	Phillips: I’d always want an innocent man not to get convicted
138	Panish played video of Phillips’ deposition where he said he didn’t remember what the information was but his memory has been refreshed
139	Judge then adjourned session for the day. Trial resumes tomorrow morning at 9:30 am PT. Panish said he has one more hour of questioning.
140	The attorneys estimated Phillips will be done testifying by Wednesday afternoon. We hope to see you tomorrow for complete coverage!

CNN has splendid videos to show how AEG bosses were answering questions at their depositions. It is a great fun to see all these AEG people testifying.

Tim Leiweke’s deposition shows that he is suffering from compelete amnesia. I can’t tell you how many times he repeated “I don’t remember this specific email”:

Tim Leiweke’s name is pronounced as [lieweke]. We can also call him “I don’t remember this specific email” person

The video is here –

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2013/06/13/sot-mj-trial-aeg-leiweke.la-county-court.html

The man who replaced Leiweke Dan Beckerman was having an equally hard time. You can see his lies with a naked eye:

Dan Beckerman replaced Tim Leiweke as AEG CEO

The short fragment of his video deposition is here – http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2013/06/13/sot-mj-trial-aeg-beckerman.cnn.html

Tuesday June 11, DAY 27

• The day starts with an important tweet:  “Phillips said he was not sure if MJ was the sole signatory to approve the costs or if Dr. Tohme had power of attorney as well”. This makes me think that it was Tohme who was approving all those excess production costs thus deeping Michael’s debt to AEG without him knowing it.

• A Labor Commission is now looking into the dispute between Tohme and Michael’s Estate. Phillips testified there – surely in favor of AEG with the idea that  payment to Tohme was none of their business. Michael’s contract with AEG said that Tohme’s salary was not to be included into managerial costs covered by Jackson and were part of Production costs. But AEG overcame that problem by saying that all production costs were Michael’s responsibility.

• The fact that Michael signed a contract with Tohme is dubious. In your place I wouldn’t so readily believe it.

• On June 2, 2013 when Frank Dileo had been Michael’s manager for a couple of months already Phillips complained that there was no real manager in place. So they were not of high regard for Frank Dileo and that comment in Sullivan’s book is correct  –  when Tohme asked Phillips what that guy was doing there, Phillips replied something like “we keep him because he makes Michael laugh” . It seems that he was a sort of a clown – for AEG in the first place.

• Phillips’s answers to Putnam are impossible to listen to – if Michael were indeed “imperial” he wouldn’t be slapping him.  All of it is lies and only the way Phillips dealt with Michael (through Tohme) must be true, with one correction though –  Phillips did not deal with Michael at all,  he dealt only with Tohme.

• The four of them – Phillips, his lawyer Putnam, Tohme and his lawyer were seen having lunch together at the Polo lounge a month ago, in May 2013. Panish wondered what they discussed and Phillips said it was Tohme’s case against the Estate. So his idea that it was the Estate who asked him to testify in Tohme’s case is a big stretch of the truth again – how could they ask him to testify against themselves?

• Phillips’s hypocrisy is boundless:  “We live in a free society, they are not my slaves. If the artist doesn’t want to perform, there’s nothing we can do.”

• Participation of the  Jacksons in the Festival arranged by AEG  is mentioned as if in passing. It is only an overture, a prologue to the whole opera which is going to start the next day.

	Tuesday, June 11 DAY 27
141	Hello from the courthouse in downtown LA. Day 27 of Jackson family vs AEG trial is underway. AEG’s CEO Randy Phillips back on the stand.
142	Katherine Jackson is in present court, wearing fuchsia. She has no other member of her family accompanying her, just bodyguard.
143	Phillips said on Jun 25, the day MJ died, he was going to head to StaplesCenter, had no intention of going to Carolwood or pick up MJ.
144	After MJ died, Phillips said Jackson’s costs had exceeded $7.5 million. MJ was responsible for production costs, according to the contract.
145	Phillips said he was not sure if MJ was the sole signatory to approve the costs or if Dr. Tohme had power of attorney as well.
146	On the contract [between Tohme and AEG], it said the undersigned Dr. Tohme Tohme represents and warrants that he is an officer of the Artist.
147	Phillips said he didn’t have any information that anyone else could sign and approve the expenses on behalf of MJ.
148	Phillips said he received a note where MJ said Dr. Tohme was no longer his representative.
149	Panish: Did you get anything confirming that Dr. Tohme was back in as an agent?
150	Phillips: No
151	Phillips said he was concerned with MJ’s weight during rehearsals. He asked his friend Loeffler to assist getting Michael to eat.
152	Email on 7/16/09 from Phillips:
153	We all were worried about MJ’s weight which was 130 Ibs during rehearsal
154	Email cont’d: and encouraged him to eat properly since he was so obsessed with the creative on the show he would either meals or forget to eat
155	Email cont’d: Kenny Ortega used to personally feed him and I hired a person to be his “food” person.
156	Panish: It says you hired a person just to be his food person
157	Phillips: Didn’t hire him, just did it as a favor
158	Phillips said his friend never got paid to be MJ’s “food person”.
159	Email on 8/4/09 from Phillips:
160	Michael’s death is a terrible tragedy, but life must go on.
161	Email cont’d: AEG will make a fortune from merch sales, ticket retention, the touring exhibition and the film/dvd. I still wish he was here!
162	As to Dr. Tohme:
163	Phillips testified in the Labor Commission hearing in a dispute between Dr. Tohme and MJ’s estate.
164	Panish asked if it’s common to ask artist manager to follow promoter’s directions. Phillips responded it was done with MJ’s consent.
165	AEG had an agreement to pay Dr. Tohme $100k per month to be MJ’s manager.
166	Panish: Does it seem to be a conflict of interest for artist manager to take direction from producer?
167	Phillips: Actually no, because MJ signed this document, so he must’ve agreed to it
168	Phillips said he wanted Michael to have somebody to manage him, because they needed somebody to deal with on his behalf.
169	Panish asked if MJ became more anxious as tour approached. “In my opinion, I never witnessed Michael being anxious,” Phillips testified.
170	Phillips said Michael never told him he had sleeping problems.
171	After the lunch on May 4, Phillips said he had one phone call with Dr. Tohme, but they never discussed this case, Phillips said.
172	As to Frank DiLeo:
173	Phillips said Frank DiLeo asked AEG to advance him $50,000, and he believes MJ approved it.
174	Phillips wrote in an email: “I think we need to, but I am not sure how without a contract in place or MJ directing us to via signed letter.”
175	We just sign off and pray, Gongaware responded.
176	But what we apply it against, Phillips wrote back.
177	Phillips cont’d:  “I think we need MJ to acknowledge for our record and direct us. You know he has amnesia when it comes to paying people.”
178	Phillips said he believe MJ must’ve had a lawyer on June 2, 2009. He said MJ used different lawyers for different things.
179	On 6/2/09, Phillips wrote to Jeff Wald (maker coffee table books):
180	Jeff, remember getting MJ to focus is not the easiest thing in the world
181	Email cont’d: we still have no lawyer, business manager, or, even, real manager in place. It is a nightmare!
182	Phillips said he didn’t mean to say that Frank DiLeo wasn’t a real manager.
183	Phillips said he didn’t act as MJ’s manager. Panish asked if crisis management is responsibility of personal manager, he said lawyers do it
184	Part of the agreement with Michael was that AEG would buy a house in Las Vegas for the artist.
185	I did not deal with MJ’s affairs, but dealing with MJ was exhausting, Phillips explained.
186	Panish said he had no more questions at this time for Phillips. Now it’s defendant’s turn to question Phillips. Marvin Putnam is doing it.
187	Frank DiLeo was the person Phillips dealt with on behalf of MJ, the exec said.
188	Michael was imperial, which made him great but also impossible to deal with, Phillips explained.
189	Phillips: He (MJ) would change his mind, want different things at different times.
190	Phillips: He would change reps as he changed socks, we needed score card to know who was representing him.
191	Dr. Tohme was introduced to me as MJ’s manager, Phillips said.
192	Putnam: Could you dictate who MJ hired?
193	Phillips: No
194	Phillips said MJ and Dr. Tohme seemed to have a very close relationship and Dr. Tohme seemed to care very much about MJ.
195	Dr. Tohme was introduced to MJ by Jermaine Jackson, Phillips said. There was a familiarity between all of them, he said.
196	Phillips said MJ wanted to get ‘back on the saddle’, so Jermaine introduced him to Dr. Tohme.
197	He said Michael was determined to restart his career, Phillips said Dr. Tohme told him. “It was time for a comeback,” he recalled hearing.
198	The only way I dealt with MJ was through Dr. Tohme, Phillips said.
199	Phillips said AEG never paid Dr. Tohme because there were conditions in the contract, like getting insurance for the show, that were not met
200	Also, Phillips said he received MJ’s letter terminating Dr. Tohme. “Dr. Tohme obviously could not fulfill his obligations then.”
201	Phillips testified MJ told him Dr. Tohme was to handle some of his business affairs, like purchase house in Vegas, and work with Frank DiLeo.
202	MJ said DiLeo would be dealing with the entertainment part of his career and stuff MJ thought Dr. Tohme was not qualified to do.
203	After MJ died, Phillips said MJ’s Estate wanted a detailed expenditure of the production.
204	As to meeting at the Polo lounge, Phillips said he received a call from Dr. Tohme asking to meet since he had already met Jackson’s attys.
205	Phillips said he picked the Polo lounge because it was a convenient and public location.
206	Judge then broke session for lunch. Testimony resumes within half an hour. For complete coverage, watch @ABC7 and http://www.abc7.com
207	After lunch, Putnam resumed questioning Randy Phillips. Katherine Jackson is not in court for the afternoon session.
208	Putnam asked Phillips if he met with his attorney over lunch hour. All the jurors laughed loud. This is how Panish begins after lunch.
209	Putnam: Did they show you any documents?
210	Phillips: Just the menu
211	Phillips said Estate of Michael Jackson asked him to be witness for them in the Labor Commission dispute between Dr. Tohme and MJ’s estate.
212	Yes, I served as his manager for 10 years, Phillips said about his relationship with Lionel Richie. Brenda Richie is Lionel’s ex-wife.
213	Putnam inquired about email Phillips sent to AEG’s publicity rep on 8/18/09:
214	I think I know what MJ died of and this would exonerate Conrad
215	Brenda had called me to tell me that she was in communication with Michael either through a medium or directly, Phillips testified.
216	Panish objected: triple hearsay! Courtroom bursted into laughter.
217	Phillips said Michael told Brenda that it wasn’t Dr. Murray’s fault and he had killed himself. “I told you it was weird,” Phillips expressed
218	Putnam asked why he didn’t tell LAPD what Brenda said. “I didn’t want to be in that straight jacket Dan was talking about,” Phillips said
219	Phillips clarified he didn’t think it was relevant information.
220	Putnam showed a letter signed by MJ on June 9, 2009 requesting AEG to advance the sum of $50,000 to Frank DiLeo.
221	Phillips said his deposition happened three and a half years after MJ died. He believed there were over 9,000 email turned over.
222	In preparation for his testimony, Phillips said he watched his testimony given in Dr. Conrad Murray’s criminal case.
223	Phillips said he prepared himself prior to his deposition, but not like he did for testifying in court.
224	Phillips said he didn’t believe he knew what emails were going to be used, thus he didn’t want to read everything they produced.
225	Phillips explained he has had time to look over all the emails in detail since his depo, therefore he was able to remember the events better
226	We are not a very litigious company, Phillips clarified. “I did not realize there’s that ‘gotcha’ politics, ‘gotcha’ legal process.”
227	Even though you know the answer to a question, you want the person to use it wrong so you can use it against them, Phillips opined.
228	Phillips said he was not designated as PMK (person with most knowledge) or PMQ (person most qualified) for AEG.
229	Phillips said he’s the president and CEO of AEG Live.
230	Phillips said he made only one substantive correction to his deposition transcript.
231	Phillips said AEG Live has at least 10 divisions, deal, with talent, produce shows, international tours, festivals.
232	In college, Phillips became the director of special events for students association. He graduated from Stanford in Political Science.
233	Phillips promoted the Harlem Globetrotters. One of the stars asked to manage him.
234	He went to law school at University of Santa Clara.
235	Phillips said he thought it was a good move to start his career, moved to LA, transferred to LoyolaLawSchool.
236	He started management career with Management West International, then worked at Stiefel & Phillips through 1996.
237	He managed Rod Stewart and Matthew Brodrick. Then they repped Guns N Roses, Toni Braxton, Prince, Simple Minds, Morrisey.
238	Phillips worked with MJ at this point. He represented the artist in an endorsement deal and a line of sneakers.
239	He was hot as a pistol, Phillips described MJ. “This was in early 90s, right before History”.
240	It was one of the biggest endorsements made at the time, Phillips said. “The deal was a success.”
241	Phillips said the line of sneakers was not successful, though. The company he made the deal was LA Gear.
242	When MJ didn’t like something, he was less than demure, Phillips testified. “Some of the shoes was really quite hideous,” Phillips said.
243	Let’s stop this s**t, it’s ugly, they don’t know what they’re doing, this stuff is s**t, they’re going to ruin me Phillips said MJ reacted
244	Phillips described MJ as ‘incredibly sharp’ doing business.
245	After the LA Gear deal, MJ and John Branca asked Phillips to manage MJ. He said no. His next dealing with MJ was not until 2007.
246	Phillips left Stiefel and Phillips to work at Red Ant Entertainment from 96 to 99, continued to co-manage Toni Braxton.
247	Managed group called Dream on Puffy Combs Label. Then approached by John Meglan and Paul Gongaware to start Concerts West, now AEG Live
248	They wanted me to help them secure a tour with an artist named Britney Spears, Phillips explained.
249	Phillips said he had a very good relationship with her manager at the time. It was the first big break tour of Britney Spears.
250	Phillips was consultant on the tour and had a piece of the profits. After the tour, Leiweke asked Phillips to consider in-house position.
251	Phillips wrote the business plan over the weekend and became the president and CEO of AEG Live in 2001.
252	Phillips said AEG Live created Coachella festival. They used the infrastructure, equipment for another genre of music, Stagecoach festival.
253	Phillips talked about the residency shows AEG Live promotes in Las Vegas: Celine Dion, Elton John, Cher, Shania Twain, Rod Stewart.
254	Phillips said AEG Live promoted and produced Prince’s most successfully tour, “Musicality” in 2004.
255	Phillips testified they produced and promoted Prince’s 21 sold out Nights at the O2 arena and residency show in Vegas at Rio Hotel in 2006.
256	Artist management team: attorney, business manager, agent, broker, personal manager, generally four people, Phillips explained.
257	Phillips said there are two ways a tour begin: once artist releases new album, Phillips goes to the artist team and pitches the company.
258	My job is to go and actually sell the concepts and ideas, Phillips said.
259	Other way is management of an artist pitches the tour to AEG.
260	He described himself as “schmoozer in chief”.
261	Phillips said superstars who fill up big arenas, like Staples, work on a 90-10 split, where 90% of profits goes to artist, 10% to promoter.
262	Once he wins the bid, Phillips passes the deal on to someone else within AEG Live better prepared to handle it.
263	I don’t think I sit on this throne, Phillips explained. “We have a very open decision-making process at AEG Live.
264	I’m like manager’s promoter, I think like a manager, I think in term of the brand itself, Phillips explained.
265	Phillips has deal w/ AEG Live where he’s allowed to manage 2 acts, Dream and Lionel Richie. Dream dissolved, AEG allowed him to manage Usher
266	Phillips said Live Nation is about three times bigger than AEG Live. They are competitors when it comes to touring.
267	I think we’re a better company, Phillips opined. He said Live Nation is in the amphitheater business and AEG is strictly an arena touring.
268	In interview w/ Telegraph, Phillips said AEG Live was under assault by 800lb gorilla called Live Nation, planning to merge w/ Ticketmaster
269	Number 1 doesn’t necessary make you the most profitable, Phillips said.
270	Why take all this risk in deploy capital in this way if you’re not to make a profit? Phillips explained.
271	I don’t particularly love music, that’s not why I got into it. I love the deal, Phillips testified.
272	It’s difficult as it can the to deal with the artists, but Phillips said he loves the challenge.
273	Phillips said he is told all the time to just follow their business plan and not even look at Live Nation. It is a competitive business.
274	AEG Live is working on a BET Music Festival on June 28.
275	Sunday: Adult contemporary: R Kelly, Boyz to Men, The Jacksons.
276	Saturday: Snoop Miguel and Kendrick Lamar, younger crowd
277	Friday: Beyonce, more mainstream artist
278	We book them, Phillips said. Deal was done by someone else at AEG Live, who will be promoting and producing this festival.
279	MJ didn’t have touring team or money to produce “This Is It” tour.
280	Phillips talked about the difference between promoting and producing.
281	Phillips said it’s very expensive to keep everyone on staff if you’re not touring regularly. Jackson hadn’t toured for many years.
282	AEG Live is promoting Justin Bieber world tour. It will be 130 shows over 14-15 months. “It’s a very substantial amount,” Phillips said.
283	AEG promoted The Rolling Stones, 21 shows. Putnam asked why the difference in the amount of shows.
284	He’s 19, Mick Jagger is 70, Phillips responded. Rolling Stones sales is gigantic, so they don’t have to do as many concerts.
285	Putnam: Can AEG Live force an artist to perform on a show?
286	Phillips: No, the artist has the ultimate veto power
287	Phillips: We live in a free society, they are not my slaves. If the artist doesn’t want to perform, there’s nothing we can do.
288	Phillips said Peter Lopez, an attorney for MJ, asked for a meeting with AEG Live in 2007. It took place in Las Vegas.
289	I was told by John that Michael wanted to get back to work and that’s why we were there, Phillips testified.
290	MJ, for all the complexities of dealing with Michael, was one of the biggest stars in the world, Phillips testified.
291	Phillips said MJ talked about putting out new music, do something different, constantly putting music out, every 6 weeks, and tour around it
292	They also discussed the idea to do mini series on King Tut and do mini movies. Meeting lasted about 90 minutes, Phillips said.
293	He looked great, very animated, he talked a lot about what he wanted to do, Phillips described. “He seemed fine to me.”
294	Phillips said he didn’t think MJ was abusing prescription drugs at the time and he was not concerned with his health.
295	There was another meeting where Phillips said MJ showed a mini-film he called Ghost. They also discussed mini-series on King Tut.
296	He detailed scene of meeting where MJ threw a pencil at him, joking
297	MJ was great, animated, clear, like the star he was Phillips described
298	We picked London because his popularity was less diminished because of the troubles he had had, Phillips explained.
299	The most pressing thing for him, Michael, at that time, he was fixating in getting a house for him and his children, Phillips said.
300	Meeting happened in 2008 at the bar of the Bel Air Hotel at the request of Dr. Tohme.
301	Colony asked for a meeting with Phillips. That’s where he learned about Dr. Tohme, who Phillips says was MJ’s manager at the time.
302	They purchased the note of Neverland from a bank for $23 million and MJ wanted to start his career again and make money.
303	Phillips said Colony Capital, a real estate investment company, got involved with MJ’s finance.
304	MJ ended up not moving forward with the tour then. That was MJ,” Phillips explained.
305	He didn’t want to live in other people’s house anymore, Phillips expressed.
306	Putnam showed the email from Jun 13, 2008 with plans for MJ.(the not fast, need to be controlled as much as possible email)
307	Perfection is expensive, and incidentally impossible to achieve, Phillips opined, saying they tried to control MJ’s spending, nothing else
308	Putnam: How did you do controlling him financially?
309	Phillips: Not very well, but I blame Paul (Gongaware)
310	Court adjourned until 9:45 am PT tomorrow. Randy Phillips will be on stand again. We hope to see you all tomorrow!

Wednesday, June 12 DAY 28

• While Phillips tells us to take information published in the English press with a grain of salt (which is probably correct), let us not forget to take with a grain of salt the stories he is telling about Michael, including his tears upon hearing that Michael wanted to do the tour to be able to buy a house.

• Tohme  was indeed the one who found Michael a house through “an agent of his”  for $100,000 a month. I wonder how much money Tohme made on it.

• Randy Phillips’s version of  the scene before the press-conference makes it clear that Michael’s unwillingness to attend it was not a surprise to him. Michael did not even want to go on a plane to the UK, and this is why Gongaware was saying “We’ll do it with him or without him”. So what else did Phillips expect then? Michael was quite consistent in his refusal to go, so it’s no use pretending now that it was something extraordinary.

• Michael never agreed to 31 shows. Even in that dubious contract of theirs it was only an option which was still to be discussed.

• Phillips says he learned that Michael wanted a doctor when they moved to the Forum (on June 1). But the contract with Murray was dated May 1. I highly doubt they started drafting it without duly informing the CEO of the company.

• Phillips clearly wants to connect the hiring of Murray with Frank Dileo’s  name and this is why stresses that Murray appeared only much later. Tohme said in Sullivan’s book something like  “if he had been around Michael at that time he would have never allowed it to happen”.

	Wednesday, June 12 DAY 28
315	Hello from the courthouse in downtown LA. Day 28 of Jackson family vs AEG just concluded. Randy Phillips testified all day.
316	Marvin Putnam resumed questioning AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips. Katherine Jackson was not in the courtroom this morning.
317	Phillips recalled his first meeting in the summer of 2008 with Dr. Tohme in the bar of the Bel Air Hotel.
318	Phillips said his understanding was that Dr. Tohme went over expenses and signed the checks for Michael. Meeting lasted 2 hours.
319	Dr. Tohme described Michael’s circumstances, his life, career, where he was living, finances. They mostly talked about restarting his career
320	Phillips said the the idea came off proposal from Ramone Baines, that the best starting point would be in London.
321	Phillips explained a residency tour was easier than full blown tour, living out of hotels.  Michael had not toured in so long.
322	We thought it would be a great city for people to come from around the world to see him, Phillips testified.
323	Phillips said Dr. Tohme thought it was important to explain why Mr. Jackson wanted to go back to work.
324	Michael explained one of the biggest motivations was that he wanted to earn enough money to buy a house for his family.
325	Dr. Tohme spoke with an accent, came from another country, Phillips explained.
326	Putnam: Did it seem that MJ was ready to go back on tour?
327	Phillips: Only from what Dr. Tohme told me. The meeting was very positive.
328	Phillips then asked for a meeting with the artist. Had a meeting at MJ’s suite in Bel Air near street near Bellagio.
329	Phillips said he believed that was the 2nd meeting. The 1st meeting was a parlor above his suite.
330	That was more about the dates and how we would put them on sale, who he wanted to work with, Phillips explained.
331	I was told by Dr. Tohme that MJ was living in LV. He stayed at Bel Air when in LA.
332	When we relocated to London, we would make it a larger than life event, Phillips testified.
333	When we built the 02 just Timberlake did 6 night, Beyonce did 8 nights, Phillips explained. “In London, people love to go out.”
334	Population changes too because there are a lot of visitors from other countries, Phillips said. The Arena was built for entertainment, music
335	Phillips said MJ was an ideal candidate, probably an ideal place for the come back. Michael was very receptive, since he liked London.
336	He had friends there, just felt comfortable there, Phillips told the jury. He loved that idea which made everything else that much better.
337	In Oct 2008, Phillips said he felt MJ was ready to go. “He was dressed well, his eyes were clear, he is very sophisticated 50 year old man”
338	Phillips: I don’t believe anything I read in the press, especially the English press. I take a lot of those stories with a grain of salt.
339	He is a very smart, articulate young man who had control of his life, Phillis testified.
340	Phillips talked about not noting anything atypical in meetings. He was not concerned about MJ’s health, physical condition or drug problem.
341	MJ moved from LV to  home in December 08 or January 09. He was bone-weary from traveling, Phillips recalled.
342	MJ said he was tired of living like Vagabonds, wanted the kids to have a permanent place to live, a sense of community, Phillips testified.
343	The exec said the meeting got emotional. “He teared up he said he wanted a residence for his family that they could call their own.”
344	That was the primary reason he wanted to go back work, Phillips said.
345	Phillips testified MJ wanted to tour one more time since he was young enough to do it and the kids were old enough to appreciate it.
346	I felt incredibly bad that this incredible star was trying to earn enough money to buy a house, Phillips recalled. “I cried also.”
347	Putnam: Any concern about his mental well being?
348	Phillips: No, he was just emotional.
349	Phillips said he tried to talk MJ out of purchasing a $93 million house in Beverly Hills.
350	AEG advanced $3 million to Jackson to settle a lawsuit.  “He could not enter contract with us until he settled with Bahrain,” Phillips said
351	Phillips said Dr. Tohme was the one who secured the Carolwood home, not AEG.
352	The tour agreement was signed in the living room of Carolwood house. There was no press because wanted maximum impact at the news conference
353	After contract was signed, they popped a champagne to celebrate. Michael read the entire contract, Phillips said, asked questions.
354	MJ wanted to make sure of AEG’s commitment about the movie in the contract, Phillips recalled.
355	Also MJ wanted to know how many shows. “It was 31” Phillips said. “He came up with the number.”
356	Prince had done 21 shows. “MJ and Prince were incredibly competitive, he wanted to do enough shows that Prince could not catch up with him”
357	Putnam: Was Mr. Jackson excited?
358	Phillips: Yes, he hugged me.
359	Phillips said he too was excited.
360	Phillips: MJ was one of the biggest stars in the world, the idea of him getting on the stage again was one of the biggest parts of my career
361	Phillips said MJ held the glass of champagne but I didn’t think he drank it. “Meeting ended with a toast and everybody high-fiving.”
362	Phillips explained it would be better to have press conference since MJ had been gone so long and there were credibility issues w/ consumers
363	One of the hardest things is creating demand for tickets, Phillips said, since it is an expensive proposition.
364	When your consumer isn’t sure and they have a limited amount of income, they hesitate; and our aim was to eliminate that hesitation.
365	But Phillips said in his gut he knew that people wanted to see him perform again.
366	Phillips said there was a breakdown with Dr. Tohme about an auction that Dr. Tohme had set up involving memorabilia.
367	Phillips: I was concerned because Dr. Tohme lost contact and he was our only way to directly connect to MJ.
368	At this point in time I was flying blind because I didn’t know what was happening in Michael’s camp Phillips explained.
369	Paul always thought it was going to happen, Phillips said. “I was never as sanguine as him.”
370	Phillips said he had one experience with MJ that was helping secure the LA Gear deal, a disaster for LA Gear, but great for Mr. Jackson.
371	In late Feb 09, if Jackson decided ‘I can’t do this’ or ‘I can’t go forward, don’t want to’ it would not have hurt AEG Live, Phillips said.
372	Phillips said at that point they only had put out $5 mil advance.
373	Putnam: Did Dr. Tohme get on plane to UK with MJ?
374	Phillips: Yes
375	Putnam: Did press conference happen as scheduled??
376	Phillips: Chuckles … it was on the same day.
377	Phillips described the drama behind the scenes before the press conference. He said he wasn’t sure that they were going to get on plane.
378	Phillips was in Miami covering the opening of Britney Spears’ a Circus tour. “It was one of the top 5 tours of the year,” Phillips responded
379	I am the CEO of the company it would remiss of me not to be there, Phillips explained.
380	Phillips arrived in London on March 5. He travelled with David Loeffler, since they were also producing the Lionel Ritchie tour.
381	Phillips said he was in the room for about 20 minutes watching TV and Dr. Tohme went to MJ’s suite.
382	Phillips said he wanted to get to the arena early because of London traffic. “I assume Dr. Tohme would help get MJ ready,” Phillips recalled
383	Phillips said Dr. Tohme exhibited no concerns about getting MJ ready on time.
384	Dr. Tohme was gone for what it seemed like an eternity, Phillips said.
385	Don’t worry, he just needs a little more time, Phillips said Tohme told him. “I started to freak out.”
386	I am completely freaking out, Phillips said. “I was in the hallway pacing back and forth.”
387	Tohme told Phillips: “We have a little issue. Michael got drunk, I think he said he was trying to sober him up, but he was going to be late”
388	Phillips said he became even more anxious. He was receiving emails and phone calls from people at the O2 arena.
389	Phillips to Leiweke: MJ is locked in his room drunk and despondent. Tohme and I are trying to sober him up & get him to the press conference
390	It didn’t make me less freaked out; I needed to pass on what was happening to Leiweke Phillips said. Leiweke responded: are you kidding me?
391	Phillips said he told MJ’s bodyguard, Alberto Alvarez, that it was a crisis situation and needed to get into the room.
392	Time was slipping away, I was sweating bullets. For me at the time it felt like a crisis, Phillips remembered.
393	Phillips said he received 25 phone calls in 5 minutes. Phillips entered MJ’s room.
394	He had a robe on, and his pants. I remember seeing an empty bottle of booze at the couch, maybe vodka or gin, Phillips recalled.
395	To me, he looked hungover, Phillips testified.
396	Phillips: I said Michael, are you ok? That’s when he said to me that he was really concerned no one was going to be there
397	Phillips said he told MJ things were quite differently, there were 3,000 adoring fans waiting for him and all top news organizations.
398	Dr. Tohme talked about hiring or renting a crowd, we didn’t do that, we just had to leak that MJ was coming and fans got the word.
399	MJ got up, Phillips said, and went to the bathroom with Dr. Tohme and makeup artist. The children were watching tv in another room.
400	Phillips: MJ had black slacks on and boots, white V-neck shirt. Someone was holding 3 different shirts, one black, one blue and one red.
401	They were asking me what he should wear, I suggested black since the background was red, Phillips recalled.
402	Phillips described how MJ wanted to wear a sequin armband but didn’t have a way to attach it to his arm. Phillips said he got angry.
403	Phillips: I admit to being a drama queen. MJ wouldn’t leave unless he had sequined armband on. At that point it was more than I could take
404	I raised my voice and said guys, that’s enough! Phillips recalled.
405	In the van ride, news helicopters were following and press could see he was coming, Phillips remembered.
406	He was chagrined, he knew that what he had done wasn’t the coolest things, Phillips recalled.
407	The mood in the van changed, Phillips said. Michael was quite funny. He told Phillips the exec had lost a lot of weight.
408	Phillips responded to MJ that he too would’ve lost weight if he were pacing in front of the hotel room like he was. Everyone laughed hard.
409	Phillips said MJ was to write his own remarks the night before the press conference, but didn’t do it. Phillips wrote a few lines for him.
410	He started a little hunched over, Phillips said of MJ in the news conference. “When he went through that curtain, there was MJ.”
411	Putnam showed a clip of the press conference, where fans we’re screaming and MJ was saying “this is it.”
412	He was so nervous and really concerned about how people would have reacting to him, Phillips said.
413	He became MJ again, they were telling him they still loved him. It underscored that he was a human being, Phillips opined.
414	I thought it came out fine, Phillips said about the press conference. They announced 10 shows initially.
415	I was ecstatic. He was elated, Phillips said. “Because his worse fears and trepidations, they didn’t happen.”
416	They stayed in London to watch Oliver Twist. Phillips got MJ and his kids the best seats in the house.
417	When we arrived at the theater, it was kind of pandemonium. When MJ walked in he received standing ovation, Phillips recalled.
418	Phillips said they had to have police on the way out due to the thousands of people in the streets.
419	Phillips was not concerned with MJ’s physically. He said he was concerned the day before when MJ drank prior to the presser.
420	Phillips: This wouldn’t be the first time I’d dealt with an artist who had drank a little too much.
421	Per the contract, they had agreed upon 31 shows. The pre-registration kind of gave them first look of how the show would sell, Philips said.
422	Paul Gongaware called him, Phillips said, alerting him that the shows were going to be sold out and needed to add more shows.
423	Dude, we’re going to sell out ridiculous amount of tickets, Gongaware told Phillips.
424	Phillips called Dr. Tohme asking to add more shows, MJ agreed to 50 with two conditions. He wanted house out in countryside.
425	House needed at least 16 acres, rolling streams, horseback riders and wanted a guest house for the writers to work on Thriller 3D.
426	He didn’t want to be trapped in a hotel in London with the kids, Phillips said.
427	After the 50th show, MJ also wanted the world record to document his record, since he knew no one had done 50 shows, Phillips explained.
428	Putnam showed a frame of the video showing Phillips and MJ in the golf cart going to the presser.
429	Phillips said they had a meeting with Bravado regarding merchandising and were going to open a store at the arena to sell MJ’s merch.
430	Most meeting happened at MJ’s house in Carolwood, some were at Center Staging, Phillips recalled.
431	Phillips said he had one meeting at Carolwood he went downstairs to the movie room when Michael showed him the movie Ghost he was working on
432	The exec went to the powder room and kitchen, but never went to the upstairs level of the house.
433	Phillips said he never saw MJ drink, under the influence, using prescription drugs, inebriated, hungover, slur speech during the TII period
434	Did you at anytime have any reason to believe that MJ couldn’t perform at the O2 arena?
435	Phillips: No
436	Phillips learned MJ wanted to bring his own doctor on tour. This was right at the beginning of rehearsals at the Forum.
437	Phillips expressed he was concerned not about the doctor, but the cost it would be to bring the physician on tour.
438	This was the time where Dr. Tohme was no longer in MJ’s life, Frank DiLeo was back in the game, Phillips explained.
439	It was probably kind of the most tense, one on one, phone call, Phillips testified. The exec said he told MJ that London had great doctors
440	Would you consider that we hire a doctor, that you hire a doctor, in London for this tour? Phillips said.
441	Phillips said MJ told him his body is the machine and the engine of the machine drives this entire venture and needs a physician 24/7.
442	Phillips: It’s Michael, when he wanted something, he wanted something, if he wanted his own doctor, I was in no position to tell him no.
443	Tour was sold, there was no question if tickets were going to go, Phillips said, “I just wanted to keep the most money in his pocket.”
444	Phillips said AEG Live was advancing money to pay Dr. Murray, but they would recoup it 100%. He said it was MJ’s money.
445	I thought I was going to be able to reason with him, but he insisted to have his own physician, Phillips said.
446	Because it was MJ’s decision, MJ’s money. I took my shot, Phillips said.
447	Phillips said he didn’t think it was red flag because it was MJ.
448	After this, Phillips never again discussed Dr. Murray going to London with MJ.
449	Phillips never had any discussions about an independent contract agreement for Dr. Murray.
450	Phillips said Dr. Murray was going to be paid $150,000 a month plus expenses.
451	I thought it was high, but not crazy, Phillips said.
452	Phillips said he never hired Dr. Murray and no one ever told him the deal was finalized..
453	Putnam showed the video of the Sky News interview. Jackson’s attorneys objected, they went to Judge’s chamber to talk.
454	In the interview, Phillips explained that Dr. Murray was MJ’s personal physician and MJ wanted him on tour.
455	Phillips said AEG never paid MJ.
456	Putnam: Did you hire Dr. Murray?
457	Phillips: No
458	Putnam talked about a meeting at Carolwood with MJ, Dr. Murray, Gongaware, DiLeo, Ortega in May.
459	I was concerned about Michael’s weight, personally. I believe Kenny wanted him to show up at rehearsals more often, Phillips recalled.
460	Putnam: Was this an emergency meeting?
461	Phillips: No
462	Putnam asked if this was an intervention. Phillips said no, he used this term as idea for all to get together, but not related to drugs.
463	Dr. Murray was there because he was Michael’s physician, Phillips said. The exec talked to Dr Murray about MJ losing weight, his only agenda
464	Michael said that he always had problem keeping his weight, Phillips recalled. “When he performed he lost 2-4 pounds, needed Dr. Murray”
465	He had a high metabolism, he burned calories very quickly, Phillips said.
466	Dr. Murray told Phillips MJ was working out with Lou Ferrigno.
467	The doctor didn’t tell Phillips he was going to the house every night and that he was giving him Propofol.
468	It was a very positive meeting, Phillips said
469	Phillips said he never had conversation with Dr Murray about drug abuse of treatment of MJ.
470	Phillips said he carry his business cards at all times and it’s not abnormal for him to write his cell phone on the back of it.
471	Putnam: Do you think the fact Dr. Murray had your business card you hired him?
472	Phillips: No
473	On June 19, MJ went to rehearsal but was sent home sick. The only concern Phillips said he had was with MJ’s weight.
474	Phillips: There was a production meeting at Carolwood house, I noticed that Michael was sitting at the couch and staring at the dining room
475	He wasn’t engaged, Phillips said. “I asked Michael Amir Williams what was going on, and he said he had seen Dr. Klein.”
476	Phillips didn’t think he was abusing prescription drugs at this point. Dr. Murray was not in this meeting.
477	Phillips recalled receiving a chain of emails on June 19, Trouble at the Front.
478	The meeting Tim Leiweke requested didn’t take place because if it was superseded by the June 20th meeting, Phillips explained.
479	Phillips talked about the chemical imbalance that happened with Britney Spears and that she was treated for that during one of her tours.
480	Phillips said he’s not 100% sure what he meant when he wrote the problems with MJ could be chemical or physiological.
481	Court adjourned until tomorrow morning at 9:30 am PT. There will be only morning session tomorrow, since two jurors have personal business.
482	AEG Lice CEO Randy Phillips resumes on the stand. He may not be done until Monday, the lawyers said.
483	For all the latest, watch @ABC7 and go to http://www.abc7.com . We hope to see you all tomorrow! Have a great night.
484	Hello from the courthouse in downtown LA. Day 27 of Jackson family vs AEG has concluded. There was only morning session today.

Thursday, June 13. DAY 29

• Now Randy Phillips says what we’ve been saying all along – Michael was absolutely not obliged to rehearse. His only obligation was to give a first-class show. Enrique Iglesias did not attend a single rehearsal either.

• Phillips also says he never told Kane that Michael was in breach of the contract as he was not rehearsing and therefore would not give him a $1mln. advance to cover his bills. And Panish said he had an email about it.

• ABC7 News made an enquiry about the Jacksons and AEG responded with a long statement (which they no doubt had specially prepared for the occassion). Every single thing they did for the Jacksons was meticulously recorded and displayed for public view. Low demand for the tickets was also mentioned. Hopefully this humiliation will teach Jacksons a lesson not to enter into deals with the evil.

	Thursday June 13 DAY 29
485	AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips back on the stand. AEG attorney Marvin Putnam resumed questioning him.
486	Jurors viewed a lengthy clip of Michael Jackson as he rehearsed “Billie Jean.” some jurors could not help but smile. Phillips wiped his eyes
487	Jackson performed his iconic gyrations. Phillips testified that video, shot weeks before Jackson died, showed no signs of health problems.
488	Putnam showed “Trouble of the Front” email chain that Randy Phillips forwarded to MJ’s team at the time saying we have a real problem here.
489	Phillips: I thought it was essential they got this information, I wanted to be completely transparent with his management team.
490	I wanted everybody to be in the loop of the information I was getting, Phillips said.
491	I didn’t know what the problem was, Phillips said, adding MJ never told him he wasn’t ready or didn’t want to perform.
492	Phillips said that he never said nor had any discussions about pulling the plug on the tour.
493	Michael’s only obligation was to show up and perform a class act show at opening night, Phillips explained.
494	Phillips said he never mentioned a substance abuse could be the problem. John Branca, MJ’s lawyer, inquired if it could be the issue.
495	Phillips said he does not remember ever seeing a contract where the artist is required to rehearse.
496	The only requirement an artist had is to deliver a class act show, Phillips explained.
497	Enrique Iglesias never showed up to rehearsals in the last tour Phillips did, the exec said.
498	I thought it was odd, but Enrique Iglesias showed up in Boston, did an amazing show, got great reviews.
499	Phillips said he expected MJ to rehearse because he hadn’t been on stage over 12 years.
500	As everything with MJ, this production was the biggest, the best, the greatest the world has ever seen, Phillips explained.
501	Phillips testified MJ told Kenny Ortega he did not need to rehearse because he had been dancing his songs all his life.
502	Putnam: Did you ever tell MJ or his management team he was in breach of his contract?
503	Phillips: No
504	Putnam: Did you discuss MJ’s medical treatment with Dr. Murray?
505	Phillips: No
506	Phillips said he never discussed substance abuse or use of Propofol with Dr. Murray.
507	Phillips explained in the 25-minute conversation with Dr. Murray he recounted  information he received from Kenny Ortega and John Hougdahl.
508	It was actually very confusing, Phillips said. “had emails from Kenny and Hougdahl and then Dr. Murray assuring me MJ was fine.”
509	Phillips said Dr. Murray told him MJ was fine, he wasn’t sure what was wrong with him in the rehearsal the night before, maybe the flu.
510	Putnam: Did you know what was going on?
511	Phillips: Not a clue, I was very confused
512	After that, Phillips said he sent an email to Ortega detailing his conversation with Dr. Murray.
513	He (Dr. Murray) was just so calm on the phone, and sure of what he was saying, he was very believable, Phillips said.
514	That’s why Phillips wrote in the email he was respecting Dr. Murray more and more.
515	Phillips: I think it’s important to give him love, support, not second guess, give diagnosis of what we think the problem is
516	Putnam: At the time you wrote ‘the doctor is extremely successful’, did you believe this to be true?
517	Phillips: Yes
518	Phillips: I was told he had asked $5 million to buy out clinics in 3 different states. To me, hearing that, meant he was a successful doctor
519	We check everyone out reference in Phillips’ email:
520	Putnam: Did you mean you performed financial background check on Dr Murray?
521	Phillips: No
522	That referred what in my mind is the process we go through when we do business with third party vendors, Phillips explained.
523	Phillips said at that point he had sufficient information to believe what he wrote was true.
524	Phillips said he wouldn’t even think of checking a doctor’s finance to determine whether he’s fit to practice medicine.
525	Phillips: Never occurred to me if a doctor was a good business man or not, a doctor could not perform his functions because he’s in debt
526	Phillips said by knowing Dr. Murray was in debt, he could’ve said to MJ to pay less for the services since the doctor needed the job.
527	Putnam: Were you in any position to tell MJ what he needed to prepare for the shows?
528	Phillips: No
529	Phillips said that if they stopped the show at that point, he is not sure MJ could ever resume his career.
530	Phillips explained he wanted Ortega to be open minded about what was going on with MJ and the exec didn’t want him to quit.
531	I think he’s one of the most creative, artist-oriented director and I understand why MJ loved him show much, Phillips said about Ortega.
532	I was concerned, confused, I had Dr Murray’s information and prospective and I had Kenny’s information and prospective Phillips explained.
533	I was completely baffled as to what was going on, Phillips said.
534	The only person in charge of Michael Jackson’s health is Michael Jackson. He was a 50 year old man, father of three, Phillips opined.
535	Putnam: Was there any reason to believe MJ wasn’t capable of making his own medical decisions?
536	Phillips: None whatsoever
537	Meeting on June 20th was between Kenny Ortega, Dr. Murray, MJ and Phillips.
538	Putnam: Was Dr. Murray attending because AEG wanted him there?
539	Phillips: Frank DiLeo wanted him there
540	He was MJ’s personal physician, Phillips explained.
541	Ortega opened the meeting and didn’t get very far, Phillips recalled. Dr Murray interrupted him and told him to stop being an amateur doctor
542	Dr. Murray told Ortega he should leave MJ’s health in his hands, Phillips recalled.
543	Ortega was a bit surprised that Dr. Murray admonished him. “Basic stay in your lane, this is my lane, I have it,” Phillips said.
544	Michael looked great, he was fine in this meeting, Phillips testified.
545	I’ve been doing this choreography most of my career, have muscle memory, don’t need to rehearse all the time Phillips said MJ told Ortega.
546	You build the house and when you’re done, I’ll come and put the door on and paint it, Phillips described MJ said.
547	MJ agreed to start coming to rehearsals, he understood Kenny needed him since it was such a complex production, Phillips told the jury.
548	MJ needed to learn his cues, this was a massive effects show, Phillips said.
549	It was incredible, they loved each other. MJ told us he wouldn’t do This Is It this is it without Ortega directing it, Phillips recalled.
550	Phillips: Michael looked great, the doctor was reassuring, Kenny interacted with MJ, Kenny was was on board and Michael seemed to be fine.
551	All I thought at this point was that he (Dr. Murray) and a Michael had a fabulous relationship, Phillips said.
552	Phillips said he thought the emails Ortega sent were a little judgmental, since they had not had the meeting to find out what was going on.
553	Phillips explained he also had great relationship with MJ and Ortega thought if the exec was around they could resolve any issues that arose
554	Phillips said he watched the rehearsals on 23 and 24.
555	Michael and Kenny agreed to resume rehearsals on June 23, Phillips said.
556	How do you describe the best entertainer in the world? I had goose bumps, it was fantastic! Phillips described the rehearsals.
557	Phillips said the three execs looked like three babies, with goose bumps. “It was phenomenal!”
558	I thought he did an incredible job, Phillips described, saying there was no reason to be concerned anymore with the trouble at the front.
559	Putnam: Did he lose his ability to do 360s?
560	Phillips: Considered he did multiple 360s, no
561	Phillips spoke with MJ on 24th, asked how he was.
562	He, Kenny and Travis had a communal hug, went back to dressing room to get ready to leave, Phillips said.
563	Frank DiLeo and I were standing outside the dressing room waiting for MJ, Phillips recalled.
564	You’ve gotten me this far, I can take it from here. I got this, MJ told Phillips. “It felt like a million dollars,” Phillips explained.
565	I was totally shocked, Phillips said about MJ’s passing hours later. Phillips last spoke with MJ around midnight.
566	Ortega was elated with rehearsal, it was his work and MJ’s work coming alive on stage Phillips testified. “He knew we were over the hump.”
567	Phillips said he didn’t see MJ in the hospital, only saw the gurney he was on behind the curtains in the emergency room.
568	After MJ passed away, I think Dr. Tohme was standing next to me, Phillips recalled.
569	Putnam: Did you talk to Dr. Murray?
570	Phillips: Yes, he was hysterical, he was crying, I tried to calm him down, but there was no conversation
571	I was in the hallway with Frank DiLeo and the head nurse came out, Phillips described.
572	Nurse said ‘ I’m sorry to tell you Mr. Jackson’s passed away,’ an emotional Phillips recalled.
573	Frank collapsed, Phillips said, holding back tears. “I had to grab him. We were devastated.”
574	Being an artist means you have to reinvent yourself all the time, Phillips explained. “You can’t give up on people, that’s not our job.”
575	Phillips said when they make a deal with an artist, they are not part of their inner circle, they don’t control what they do after rehearsal
576	Phillips said he knew Dr. Arnold Klein was a famous dermatologist, he had gone to him many years ago.
577	Phillips: I had a concern the way Michael seemed that day (when he came back from Dr. Klein), but never saw him like that again.
578	He had cosmetic work and had vitiligo, Phillips said. It seemed normal for MJ to go to a dermatologist prior to touring.
579	I didn’t know what Propofol was at the time, Phillips explained.
580	Phillips said he asked Dr. Murray whether he knew MJ was seeing Dr. Klein for some type of treatment. Dr. Murray responded he was aware.
581	As to email Phillips wrote that Dr Klein was shooting MJ up, Phillips said MJ’s manager asked for a million dollar advance to pay MJ’s bills
582	One of the bills, Phillips said, was from Dr. Klein for $48,000 for restyling, Botox and dozens of things that said IM, IM, IM.
583	Phillip said he didn’t know what IM meant, but MJ’s manager said it was intramuscular, meaning injections.
584	All Phillips knew about Propofol was when he was administered it during a colonoscopy. He learned from media MJ died of Propofol overdose.
585	Putnam: AEG Live make a fortune after MJ’s death?
586	Phillips: No
587	No more questions from AEG attorney.
588	Panish asked Phillips if the exec used derogatory terms to refer to Mrs. Jackson, like the B word. He said no.
589	Panish referred back to the meeting at the Polo Lounge between Randy Phillips and Dr. Tohme.
590	Phillips and Panish argued about the fact that Phillips said Panish was following him around with photographers.
591	Phillips said it was Panish who told him that, and Panish replied he never said it.
592	Panish: Did you point to me and accused me of following you at the Polo Lounge?
593	Phillips: Yes, I speculated, yes, yes
594	Panish: You will say anything, won’t you?
595	Phillips: That’s outrageous!
596	Panish asked if Phillips thought he was still following him. He responded he didn’t know, he’s not sure what Panish is capable of.
597	Judge adjourned the session for the day. Trial resumes tomorrow at 9:00 am PT with Phillips back on the stand for more re-cross.
598	AEG attorney responded to our inquire about Jackson’s brothers working with AEG. It’s a long statement with their explanation.
599	Statement: For at least the third time since Michael Jackson’s death and the filing of Katherine Jackson’s lawsuit against AEG Live,
600	Statement cont’d: Michael Jackson’s brothers, the Jacksons, have chosen to work yet again with AEG Live
601	Statement cont’d: (one scheduled event, last year, unfortunately had to be cancelled due to low ticket sales). Most recently, they agreed to
602	Statement cont’d: perform as part of the BET Experience scheduled to take place at LA Live later this month.
603	Statement cont’d: In fact, just this past week the Jacksons specifically requested AEG Live provide them with VIP suite during BET Experience
604	Statement cont’d: AEG Live has worked to put on concerts with Janet Jackson 4 times since MJ’s death and filing of her mother’s lawsuit.
605	Jackson’s attorney said the artists have no choice, they are just using AEG’s venue and are working with BET.
606	For all the latest and complete coverage of the trial watch @ABC7 and go to http://www.abc7.com . Hope to see you all tomorrow!

Friday, June 14. DAY 30

• Phillips is talking about ethics. Funny.

• An interesting question from Jacksons’ lawyer had an interesting answer: Panish asked Phillips what Michael Jackson, Peter Lopez and Frank DiLeo have in common. “They’ve all passed away,” Phillips responded.

• On the last day of his testimony Phillips is enjoying himself tremendously – he is joking and saying to Panish that he will “miss him”.

• Katherine Jackson’s response to AEG’s statement is one of the worst things I’ve ever read. It would be better if she simply said, “I have my own opinion about it, but they are big boys now and bear their own responsibility for what they are doing”.

• Speaking about Randy Phillips’s ethics and his lies – here is an important update from Laura Messina on Facebook:

“Yesterday Randy Phillips turned white when one of his uncountable lies on the stand came out. He met Tohme Tohme after a week of testimony in the trial denying to ever discussed about that. But there was someone loyal to MJ seated close to them and he heard EVERYTHING. He tweeted live about their meeting and Panish showed the screenshot of the tweet.

Panish asked: Did you call Mrs Jackson a word beginning with B?  The person who witnessed their meeting will be called to testify soon. ” https://www.facebook.com/groups/112835465428699/permalink/545967915448783/

This incident was brought up in Katherine Jackson’s statement on Friday:

	Friday June 14, DAY 30
607	Hello from the courthouse in downtown LA. Day 30 of Jackson family vs AEG trial. AEG CEO Randy Phillips resumes testimony.
608	Jackson’s attorney, Brian Panish, resumed questioning AEG CEO Randy Phillips. The exec is an adverse witness called by the plaintiffs.
609	Phillips denied again using derogatory terms to refer to Mrs. Jackson while meeting with Dr. Tohme at Polo Lounge on May 4th of this year.
610	Panish asked Phillips what MJ, Peter Lopez and Frank DiLeo have in common. “They’ve all passed away,” Phillips responded.
611	Panish: Are you aware of articles quoting you saying you hired Dr. Murray?
612	Phillips: I don’t recall
613	Panish pressed asking if he had testified earlier in the week saying he was not aware of articles quoting him.
614	It’s been a long time the articles have been written, Phillips testified, saying he doesn’t remember whether he gave any other interviews.
615	Phillips: If articles were written from interview with Sky News it’s possible, I just don’t remember giving interview about AEG hiring Dr. Murray
616	Earlier, Phillips testified Michael Roth, AEG’s PR person, set up interviews, so most likely he had talk with Roth about hiring Dr. Murray.
617	I don’t remember, you have to show me the articles, Phillips explained when Panish asked if he gave other intvs says AEG hired Dr. Murray.
618	As to Dr. Murray hiring, Phillips said all he knew in beginning of June when they met at the Forum, there was no agreement with Dr. Murray
619	Phillips said ‘he’ didn’t want to hire an American doctor due to the costs.
620	There were two issues: one was cost, the other was the ability to practice in the UK, Phillips explained.
621	Phillips testified he doesn’t know whether his home number is unlisted or not. He said he rarely uses it due to cell phones.
622	The exec explained again he felt very confused, Dr. Murray was saying MJ was fine, but emails from Ortega and Hougdahl said it differently.
623	Dr. Murray reassured Phillips on June 20th that MJ was fine, the doctor wasn’t sure what was going on the day before, perhaps the flu.
624	Panish attempted again to “impeach” the witness, which is a legal technique to put in question his credibility.
625	But you said it was fantastic, Panish inquired.
626	He looked really good, Phillips said about MJ rehearsals on June 23 and 24.
627	Phillips said he was as confused as anyone, since the MJ he expected to see after the chain of emails was very differently from what he saw.
628	The MJ sitting in that living room looked great, Philips recalled.
629	Panish showed pic of MJ on Jun 19th wearing t-shirt looking very skinny. The atty asked if that MJ looked really good in Phillips’s opinion
630	Phillips explained that his description of MJ looking really good was from what he saw on June 23.
631	Phillips recalled that MJ didn’t look like the picture from the 19th, the day he went home sick.
632	On the 23rd, Phillips said MJ was not wearing t-shirt, had hair and make up done, looked great.
633	Panish: I want to finish, you answer the questions, ok?
634	Phillips: We got a deal
635	Today is the 8th day of Phillips on the stand.Some days have been half session, though.
636	Panish asked the “Chinese Wall” comment Phillips made on the stand if it meant he was mediating conflicts. Phillips said it was ethical wall
637	I didn’t do Travis’, but I was involved in material terms of Kenny’s deal, Phillips said.
638	Panish: Was there an ethical wall between AEG Live and Dr. Tohme?
639	Phillips: I felt that it was
640	This is MJ’s picture from June 19, 2009. How do you think he looked? pic.twitter.com/PFO5ARZe5Z
641	Panish asked if Phillips had the “ethical wall” in writing. “I don’t know those things are in writing, it’s figure of speech,” Phillips said
642	The exec said the ethical wall is not set up. “It’s about behavior, it’s not a real wall, it’s about behavior,” Phillips explained.
643	Phillips: I’ve never seen one (ethical wall) set up formally
644	Panish: You don’t know how to set up one?
645	To me it’s how you behave, you behave ethically with each other Phillips described saying the ethical wall existed between AEG Live and MJ
646	Phillips: Frankly, I believe interests merge after deal is struck between 2 parties.
647	Panish: How does AEG employees know about ethical wall?
648	Phillips explained that ethical wall is not something that’s build, tangible, or in a document, but it’s about the behavior of the parties.
649	Panish: Did you tell Mr. Gongaware there was an ethical wall?
650	Phillips: It’s not something you discuss, it’s how you behave
651	Panish asked about potential conflict of interest with AEG and Dr Tohme. “MJ directed us to do that agreement and he signed it,” Phillips said
652	Panish asked if there was doc saying there’s a potential conflict of interest with AEG Live hiring Dr. Tohme to be MJ’s personal manager.
653	Mr. Panish, it’s the artist who directed us, I didn’t know who Dr. Tohme was, Phillips responded.
654	Panish: Did you advise in writing potential conflict of interest?
655	Phillips: No
656	Panish: Did the artist sign a release of potential conflict of interest?
657	Phillips: The artist may have created the conflict, so no
658	About ‘changing the socks’ comment, Panish asked Phillips how many times a day he changes his socks. He said 2-3.
659	Panish asked Phillips how many managers MJ had from 2007 until his death.
660	Dr. Tohme initiated the deal, Phillips said, then Frank DiLeo, a period of time Arpac Hussain, then, subject to dispute, Leonard Rowe.
661	Panish asked if DiLeo and Tohme were the main managers. Phillips agreed but said that wasn’t what Panish asked him.
662	Lopez did a Pepsi deal for MJ as his manager, Phillips explained.
663	Phillips added Ramon Baynes and Peter Lopez as MJ’s managers.
664	I don’t know who our attorneys sent the contract to, so I can’t say, Phillips said about emailing Dr. Murray’s contract.
665	As to creating AEG Live: “I absolutely did, I invented the company based on biz plan i created and I also named it,” Phillips testified.
666	Panish: You said whomever MJ had as his own manager was his own business, correct?
667	Phillips: Correct
668	Phillips explained when he received email from Kathy Jorrie questioning Dr. Tohme he forwarded it to Peter Lopez, MJ’s attorney at the time.
669	Panish inquired about the fact that Phillips thought Dr. Murray asking for $5 million as payment automatically made him a good doctor.
670	Panish: If he wanted $10 million, he would be more successful?
671	Phillips: Absolutely true
672	Panish: For $20 million the most successful doctor around?
673	Phillips: Correct
674	I wasn’t alarmed by the number because it was Michael’s doctor and Michael was paying for it, Phillips explained.
675	Phillips said John Branca had been hired by MJ on June 18th, two days prior to the 20th meeting.
676	Panish: Did you ever tell Branca you brought the doctor to the fold?
677	Phillips: I think there was some logical communication, otherwise they would’ve been hanging.
678	Regarding the email John Branca asked if MJ’s problem was related to substance abuse, Phillips said he didn’t know one way or the other.
679	Panish concluded his questioning. Putnam was back at it. Phillips joked: Your honor, is this really over after this? Courtroom laughed.
680	Phillips reiterated that AEG never paid Dr. Tohme because some conditions of his contract were not fulfilled.
681	Putnam: Did Dr. Tohme have anything to do with Dr. Murray?
682	Phillips: None whatsoever that I know of
683	Putnam: Are you aware of any articles were you are quoting saying we hire him (Dr. Murray)?
684	Phillips: No
685	Regarding the video shown yesterday of Mr. Jackson’s spinning, Phillips testified it was production rehearsal, not even full dance rehearsal
686	The other video shown to the jury yesterday was MJ performing in the early 80s.
687	Phillips said MJ did 360s spins, and he was 50 years old.
688	Then it was Panish’s turn again.
689	Phillips: You are back?
690	Panish: Just a couple of questions
691	Phillips: I’m gonna miss you
692	Everyone laughed
693	Phillips said MJ didn’t do multiple 360s spins that he remembers, but he didn’t know if the choreography called for it.
694	Phillips said he’s not a choreographer. “I’m flat footed, there’s a reason I’m in this side of the business.”
695	Phillips said if he tried a 360 spin he’d be on the jury’s lap.
696	Phillips was finally excused, subject to recall. Session is over for the day. Trial resumes at 9:45 am PT on Monday.
697	On Monday, Jacksons attorneys will tell the judge how much time they have left in their case in chief. We don’t know yet who next witness is
698	For complete coverage and interview with the attorneys watch @ABC7 and go to http://www.abc7.com . Hops you have a great and safe weekend!
699	“I know what a 360 is, you don’t need to be a choreographer to know that,” Phillips explained.
700	Panish: Who’s more competent to judge choreography you or Hougdahl? Phillips: Could be me since he hadn’t worked in pop production before
701	As promised, response from Jackson’s attorney Kevin Boyle regarding MJ’s brothers: Response from Kevin Boyle. Also long:
702	Mrs Jackson fully supports her children performing wherever they wish to perform, even though many of the world’s venues are owned by AEG
703	Cont’d: Mrs. Jackson is involved in lawsuit where evidence shows that AEG made a mistake in hiring, supervising an unfit doctor for her son.
704	Cont’d: There is no reason the Jackson family needs to ban AEG venues because of AEG’s prior mistake, and so the family has not done so.
705	Cont’d: Despite that Jacksons have acted civilly toward AEG in this litigation, AEG has chosen to attack Mrs. Jackson for bringing this suit
706	Cont’d: AEG has threatened in open Court to bring out “ugly stuff” about Michael. It is unfortunate that AEG cannot act civilly
707	Cont’d: toward Mrs. Jackson and Michael, as other corporations across the country who commit negligence act toward their victims.
708	There is no reason for AEG to go after victims of AEG’s mistake. The Jacksons are willing to continue to take high road, even if AEG isn’t”
709	Both sides, as promised. Have a great weekend everyone!

The only article worth mentioning in closing is the one by Alan Duke again. It has all those funny videos of depositions of the AEG bosses plus a video of Michael’s spins in 2001 and 2009 shown to the jury. It was when watching that video in the courtroom that Randy Phillips shed one of his crocodile tears.

Here is the video: http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2013/06/14/hln-evening-express-alan-duke-michael-jackson-trial.hln.html

The video of Michael doing spins in 2001 and 2009 was shown to the jury. The stage manager said that in April 2009 Michael could do multiple 360 spins but two months later he would fall on his a** if he tried it.

Lawsuit evidence: Michael Jackson lost dance moves in last days

By Alan Duke, CNN

June 15, 2013 — Updated 1242 GMT (2042 HKT)

Alan Duke

Los Angeles (CNN) — Michael Jackson’s health deteriorated so badly in the last weeks of his life that he couldn’t perform some of his trademark dance moves, according to evidence presented in his family’s lawsuit against a concert promoter.

Jurors in the wrongful death trial Friday watched a comparison of Jackson’s performance of “Billie Jean” from 2001 with rehearsal video from June 2009, when he was preparing for his “This Is It” comeback concerts.

“I have watched him deteriorate in front of my eyes over the last 8 weeks. He was able to do multiple 360 spins back in April. He’d fall on his ass if he tried now,” production manager John “Bugzee” Houghdahl wrote in an e-mail to AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips on June 19, 2009.

Show director Kenny Ortega sent Jackson home from a rehearsal that night because of his strange behavior.

“He was a basket case and Kenny was concerned he would embarrass himself on stage, or worse yet — get hurt,” Houghdahl wrote. “The company is rehearsing right now, but the DOUBT is pervasive.”

The e-mail chain — titled “trouble at the Front” — is key evidence in the trial in which Jackson’s mother and three children contend AEG Live is liable for the singer’s death because it negligently hired, retained and supervised Dr. Conrad Murray.

Murray, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson’s death, told police he used the surgical anesthetic propofol to treat Jackson’s insomnia so he could be rested for rehearsals. The coroner ruled Jackson’s June 25, 2009, death was caused by an overdose of propofol.

AEG Live lawyers argue it was Jackson who chose and supervised Murray and that their executives had no way of knowing about the dangerous propofol treatments being administered in the privacy of Jackson’s home.

Houghdahl’s e-mail came during a “highly charged time” when there was doubt the show would be ready for its London debut in July of that year, Phillips testified Friday.

Phillips met with Dr. Murray, Michael Jackson and Ortega at Jackson’s home a day after getting the Houghdahl e-mails, according to testimony.

While Jackson lawyers argue that meeting was intended to pressure Murray to make sure Jackson was ready for rehearsals, AEG lawyers contend Dr. Murray assured producers nothing was wrong with him.

AEG’s lawyer showed jurors a clip Thursday of Jackson performing several non-consecutive 360-degree spins while rehearsing his song “Billie Jean” on June 5, 2009.

Phillips described them as “multiple 360 spins,” although conceding he was not a choreographer.

Jackson lawyers, in their rebuttal Friday, showed the jurors the side-by-side comparison of the routine in 2001 and the one weeks before Jackson’s death that was seen in the “This Is It” documentary made from rehearsal video.

“Anywhere in the movie does it show Michael Jackson doing multiple 360 spins?” Jackson lawyer Brian Panish asked Phillips.

“No,” Phillips said.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/14/showbiz/jackson-death-trial/index.html?sr=sharebar_twitter

And here is the final piece of news – from now on the number of seats for the public and media at the AEG trial will be cut.  It  looks like they think that too much truth is dangerous or detrimental to people’s health:

Fire marshal cuts public, media seats for Jackson trial

By Jeff Gottlieb

June 14, 2013, 6:25 p.m.

The Los Angeles fire marshal has ordered the number of people in the courtroom where the Michael Jackson wrongful-death suit is being tried be reduced immediately, cutting the number of seats for the media by nearly two-thirds and leaving only one spot available for the public.

That does not mean the news media or the public will be shut out of the trial, which finished its 30th day Friday. Since the early days of the proceedings, a closed-circuit feed has been shown in another courtroom that seats 63 people.

The new rule means that media will alternate days in the courtroom. The Times, for instance, will have a seat on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but will have to watch the proceedings in the overflow room other days. Other media, including CNN, KTLA-TV (Channel 5), the Associated Press, the New York Post and Agence France Press, are also part of the rotation.

The number of spectator seats in the courtroom is being reduced from45 to 34.

Before the trial started, Judge Yvette Palazuelos ruled that no cameras would be allowed in the courtroom. CNN’s request to broadcast the proceedings was denied.

Mary Hearn, a spokeswoman for the court, said the plaintiffs and defendants each get 12 seats, which can be filled with members of the legal team and guests. Another seven are reserved for the media and the rest for court staff. If the parties to the suit bring fewer people, their seats will be taken by media or the public. There is a daily lottery for the public.

Hearn said that 15 to 20 reporters have been in the courtroom most days.

A small group of Jackson fans have been attending the trial. Michael Jackson’s  mother, Katherine Jackson, has been in the audience most days, along with her nephew. Janet Jackson attended for half a  day.

But if Michael Jackson’s children or one of the celebrities on the witness list, such as Prince or Diana Ross, testify, the number of people wanting a look at the trial would probably grow.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-fire-marshal-jackson-20130614,0,7244669.story

The fantastic TeamMichaelJackson has posted all transcripts of Randy Phillips’s testimony. Hopefully if we have time enough for it we will be able to pull through the jungles of his lies. Please help them to help us learn the truth: http://teammichaeljackson.com/archives/8530

Here are Randy Phillips’s performances during week 7 of the trial. To be frank, I am disgusted to even look at his face:

June 10th, 2013

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June 11th, 2013

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June 12th, 2013

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June 13th, 2013

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June 14th, 2013

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