Jury clears promoter of liability in Michael Jackson's death

PERSONAL LIVES, LEGAL HEADACHES

Following the case, there also may be some changes in store for the entertainment industry as concert promoters and producers move to insulate themselves legally from stars they work with.

"The thing that is really going to change is the boiler-plate and liability waivers in contracts," said Gary Bongiovanni, editor of concert industry trade magazine Pollstar. "When contracts are written, they're going to be a little more clear."

Jay Gendron, a professor at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles and former legal affairs executive with Warner Bros film studio, said employers must draw a line in the sand with stars whose personal lives may later become legal headaches.

"At a certain point you just have to say, 'No,' because the risk is too high," Gendron said. "You have to look at your business template and ask, 'Is this something we're willing to risk?'"

Although AEG Live came out a legal victor, the trial did give the company a black eye, said Rich Tullo, the director of research at Albert Fried and Co who follows AEG Live's main competitor, Live Nation Entertainment Inc.

"I really kind of think this (trial) in the long-term benefits Live Nation with the artists," Tullo said.

"This is a people business and this is a bad people thing. Even if this is the doctor Michael Jackson wanted them to hire. ... Just from the optics of it, it looks awful," Tullo added.

"Where it could benefit Live Nation is in a 5 to 10 percent market share increase," he said.

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