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Artist News Legal
Emotionally damaged Michael Jackson fans receive 82p court payout
By Andy Malt | Published on Wednesday 12 February 2014
A court in France has ruled that five Michael Jackson fans should receive damages of one euro each from Conrad Murray for the “emotional damage” they suffered following the late king of pop’s death. Murray, of course, was found guilty in 2011 of causing Jackson’s demise by providing negligence treatment while working as the singer’s personal doctor.
A total of 34 members of the Michael Jackson Community fan club, which is based in France, sued the doctor, though a court in the city of Orléans yesterday ruled that just five of them – from France, Belgium and Switzerland – had proven that they had legitimate claims against the former doctor. Each was awarded symbolic damages of one euro.
The lawyer acting on behalf of the fans, Emmanuel Ludot, told AFP: “As far as I know, this is the first time in the world that the notion of emotional damage in connection with a pop star has been recognised”.
Ludot added that none of the five fans intend to seek their payout from Murray, but instead hoped that their legal status as victims of Jackson’s death would gain them access to his burial site. Yeah, good luck with that.
