Michael Jackson’s family offered to settle lawsuit, lawyer says

A lawyer for Michael Jackson’s family said they offered to settle their wrongful-death suit against concert promoter Anschutz Entertainment Group, but that they never got an answer.

Kevin Boyle, an attorney for Jackson’s mother and three children, said the family made the offers in January and March.

Boyle would not provide details but said AEG’s insurance would have paid, “which means they could have settled the case without them paying a dime of their money.”

FULL COVERAGE: AEG wrongful death trial

He said AEG has never offered to settle “and they haven’t apologized.”

Marvin Putnam, an attorney for AEG, said it was inappropriate to discuss settlement discussions.

“We don’t settle matters that are utterly baseless,” he said. “We believe that is the case in this matter. I can’t see why we would consider a settlement as anything other than a shakedown.”

AEG was the promoter and producer of Jackson’s comeback concert series in London. The singer died June 25, 2009, at the end of rehearsals, of an overdose of the anesthetic propofol administered by Dr. Conrad Murray.

PHOTOS: Michael Jackson | 1958-2009

The Jacksons say in their lawsuit that AEG negligently hired and supervised Murray. AEG says Jackson hired Murray and that any money the firm was supposed to pay him would have been loans to the singer.

The trial, in its fourth week, is expected to take as long as three more months.

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jeff.gottlieb@latimes.com