Emails could be key in Michael Jackson wrongful death suit

LOS ANGELES, May 18 (UPI) -- A lawyer representing the estate of Michael Jackson's manager has emails the pop star's lawyers said could be key in the wrongful death trial against AEG Live.

The emails from Jackson's last manager, Frank DiLeo, were presumed lost when DiLeo's laptop went missing after his death in 2011.

David Regoli, a Pennsylvania lawyer representing DiLeo's estate, said the laptop had been recovered and he would submit any emails pertaining to the case after combing through them, CNN reported Friday.

Lawyers for Jackson's mother and three children hope the emails will support their claim DiLeo was beholden to concert promoter AEG Live and not the pop star, the report said.

Jackson's family is suing AEG for wrongful death, alleging the company was at fault because it failed to hire an appropriate physician for Jackson, and then neglected to supervise the singer properly.

AEG has maintained Jackson handpicked Dr. Conrad Murray -- who is serving a four-year prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter for administering lethal levels of propofol and sedatives to the singer in an effort to help him sleep as he prepared for a high-profile concert residency in London. AEG said Jackson kept his sleeping problems a secret.