Los Angeles ( CNN ) -- Claims of extortion and laughter-inducing testimony stemming from legal advice on e-mails highlighted Tuesday 's proceedings in the Michael Jackson wrongful death trial . Randy Phillips , the chief executive officer of AEG Live , disclosed that his lawyers advised company executives not to review old e-mails before testifying . That strategy could explain the high number of `` I do n't recall '' answers by Paul Gongaware , the concert promoter 's co-CEO , during his deposition and six days of testimony that have just concluded . Phillips , who followed Gongaware on the witness stand Tuesday afternoon , said he believed Jackson 's mother and three children were trying to extort money from his company , which he insisted bears no liability in the pop icon 's death in 2009 . The Jacksons ' lawsuit accuses the company of negligently hiring , retaining or supervising Dr. Conrad Murray , the physician convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson 's drug overdose death . AEG lawyers contend Jackson chose , paid and controlled Murray , who infused him with the surgical anesthetic propofol almost every night for a month to help the singer rest as he prepared for his comeback `` This Is It '' concerts . AEG exec : I did n't know Michael Jackson abused drugs . Jackson lawyer Brian Panish , who has been previously told by the judge not to argue with witnesses , quickly tangled with Phillips . `` Please do n't argue with me because then I will argue back and get in trouble , '' Panish told Phillips at one point . `` Then that 's an incentive for me , '' Phillips joked . The feisty chemistry between lawyer and witness promises to keep jurors , who often chuckle at Panish 's courtroom behavior , on the edge of their seats for the next day or so . Gongaware 's testimony was punctuated with so many `` I do n't recall '' responses that jurors began laughing at one point . He frequently said he could n't recall sending or reading key e-mails in the case , although his e-mail address was on them . Panish asked Gongaware whether he thought it would have been better for him if he had reviewed documents and e-mails before testifying . `` I relied on the advice of my attorney , '' he said . With his testimony concluded , Gongaware will resume his responsibilities as tour manager for the Rolling Stones . `` All this legal stuff , I do n't understand it , '' he said . What killed Elvis ? It 's a question at Michael Jackson 's death trial . Phillips , a law school dropout , seemed ready to rumble when he entered court after Gongaware . But he acknowledged that until two weeks ago , he had not looked at any of his old e-mails to refresh his memory . `` They felt it would be better if I went in without preparation , '' he said , referring to his lawyers . AEG Live lawyer Marvin Putman said outside of court that the volume of documents they would have needed to review was massive , making it impossible for them to prepare . E-mails that AEG Live executives sent and received in the months before Jackson 's death include one in which Phillips assures show director Kenny Ortega that the company has `` checked out '' Murray and found him to be very successful . AEG Live executives later acknowledged they did not do a background check on Murray , who a police detective testified was in debt for more than $ 1 million dollars and faced foreclosure on his home . `` I wrote it in the e-mail that I thought at the time he had been checked out , '' Phillips testified Tuesday . He wrote that Murray was successful `` because that 's what I was told , '' he said . `` In retrospect , it 's not 100 % true , '' Phillips said . `` There 's what I thought at the time versus what I learned afterwards . '' Phillips , Gongaware and other AEG Live executives ignored red flags that should have alerted them that Jackson 's life was in danger , the Jackson lawsuit contends . Murray signed and faxed his $ 150,000-a-month contract back to AEG Live , but with Jackson 's death the next day on June 25 , 2009 , Phillips did n't sign it . AEG lawyers argue that means it was not a fully executed agreement and Murray was never hired by them . Promoter grilled about 'smoking gun ' e-mail .
AEG Live CEO Michael Phillips is testifying in the Jackson wrongful death case . Feisty chemistry between Jacksons ' lawyers and Phillips should keep his attention . AEG lawyers tell him not to review old e - mails before testimony , exec says . The Jacksons accuse AEG Live of negligently hiring Dr. David Murray .