The insurers of the intended comeback “This Is It” tour concerts by Michael Jackson have asked an L.A. judge to invalidate concert promoters’ policy for non-appearance.
They claim that they should not have to honor the policy as they had not been advised that the now deceased pop star was taking drugs at the time, “including, but not limited to, his apparent prescription drug use and/or drug addiction,” as well as the anesthetic, propofol, which has been blamed for Jackson’s death.
Lloyd’s of London underwriters have also sued Jackson’s company in addition to the promoters of the concerts, AEG Live, for having failed to inform them with important details and medical information relating to the singer’s doctor, who has now been charged with his death. This lawsuit involves the policy issued in April 2009 – approximately two months before Michael Jackson died – by Lloyd’s of London for concert cancellation or non-appearance.
According to the Insurer, the necessary medical exam, which is a policy requirement, was never performed on Jackson, and that the insurer should not have had to pay a compensation for the fifty shows that were cancelled and that had been scheduled to play in the O2 Arena in London.
The law suit that Lloyd’s of London is seeking to void is worth approximately $17.5 million. It is a lawsuit that has been building since 2009 after the death of the singer. Should the insurers be unsuccessful, they are facing an owing of about $175 million. Attempts have already been made to try to settle the matter out of court, but they have been entirely unsuccessful, leading the underwriters to ask the judge to nullify the policy.