Los Angeles ( CNN ) -- A judge rejected AEG Live 's request that she dismiss the Michael Jackson wrongful death lawsuit , but two executives were dropped as individual defendants on Monday , a ruling that had each side claiming a measure of victory . The trial , which is in its fifth month in a Los Angeles courtroom , is expected to conclude with closing arguments as soon as next week . But before AEG Live lawyers rest their defense case on September 16 , they may call Michael Jackson 's mother back to the witness stand , attorney Marvin Putnam said . A decision will be made on the need for more testimony from Katherine Jackson after the judge rules on several issues regarding possible damages on Wednesday , Putnam said . The Jackson family matriarch delivered two days of dramatic testimony in July , which included a heated cross examination by Putnam . `` She was trying to answer the questions the best she could , '' Jackson lawyer Brian Panish said after she left the stand . `` I think maybe she lost her temper a little bit and she tried to restrain herself in a very Christian-like way . '' Jackson 's 83-year-old mother and three children accuse AEG Live of negligently hiring , retaining or supervising Dr. Conrad Murray , the physician convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the pop icon 's death . The company 's executives missed several warning signs that Jackson 's health was deteriorating under Murray 's care , they contend . AEG Live argues that Jackson , not its executives , chose and controlled Murray . Judge : Jurors will decide the case . Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Yvette Palazuelos ruled on Monday that the case against AEG Live will be sent to the jury . The company had filed a `` nonsuit motion '' that argued the Jacksons failed to present enough evidence to warrant jury deliberations . `` Substantial evidence has been presented at trial from which a jury can reasonably infer that defendants ( AEG Live ) knew or should have known that Dr. Murray presented an undue risk of harm to decedent ( Jackson ) , '' she said in her ruling . AEG Live lawyers contend that their executives had no way of knowing about the dangerous -- and ultimately fatal -- infusions of the surgical anesthetic propofol the doctor was using to treat the singer 's insomnia . The coroner ruled Jackson died of a propofol overdose on June 25 , 2009 -- just days away from the premiere of his `` This It It '' tour in London . The judge also ruled that the Jacksons `` presented substantial evidence '' that AEG Live 's `` conduct was a substantial factor in causing '' Jackson 's death . Pain was real , doctor testifies . `` A jury may logically infer from the evidence that ( Jackson ) died because Dr. Murray , who was adversely affected by a conflict of interest created by his contractual arrangement with AEG , treated a deteriorating insomniac who was not ready to perform , causing Dr. Murray to make bad medical decisions that caused ( Jackson 's ) death , '' the judge wrote . The Jackson case contends AEG Live created a medical conflict of interest by agreeing to pay the debt-ridden Murray $ 150,000 a month to serve as Jackson 's personal physician . Murray 's agreement said he could lose his job if the tour was postponed or canceled , leading him to make unsafe medical decisions , they argue . Murray told investigators he treated Jackson with propofol most nights for the last two months of his life . The Jacksons contend the treatments began once AEG Live co-CEO Paul Gongaware agreed in a phone call to Murray 's demands for $ 150,000 a month . `` The timing of when Dr. Murray ordered propofol is a matter of factual dispute ( as to whether that means Dr. Murray used it prior to AEG 's retention of him ) , '' the judge wrote . `` The court finds that plaintiffs presented sufficient evidence that Dr. Murray 's treatment of decedent was connected to Murray 's employment by AEG . Therefore defendants ' motion for nonsuit is denied . '' AEG Live execs dropped from suit . AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips and co-CEO Paul Gongaware were dismissed as individual defendants in the case . The two executives in charge of producing and promoting Jackson 's comeback concerts `` did not assume personal liability '' when dealing with the hiring of Murray , Palazuelos wrote . `` Rather , they acted solely as an agent of AEG Live . '' A Jackson lawyer downplayed the significance of the dismissal of the two men as defendants , saying the plaintiffs previously offered to drop them from the case but AEG Live lawyers refused . Closing arguments could come as soon as September 19 , after Jackson lawyers offer several witnesses next week in rebuttal to the AEG Live defense . Testimony was suspended for this week because a female juror traveled out of the state on an emergency trip to visit a seriously ill close relative , Palazuelos said Monday .
AEG Live lawyers say they may call Michael Murray 's mother back to the witness stand . Notes : Enough evidence to ` ` reasonably that '' AEG should have known Murray was a risk . " Live execs David Phillips and Paul Gongaware dismissed as individual defendants . Trial resumes September 16 with closing arguments soon after .