Legal woes mount for Jackson doctor

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

Jail time is not the only problem looming for the doctor convicted in Michael Jackson’s death. Lawsuits, medical licensing issues and possible payments to Jackson’s family await.

Some of the matters have been on hold since Dr. Conrad Murray was charged with involuntary manslaughter in February 2010, and the cardiologist’s attorneys have so far fended off attempts to end his ability to practice medicine.

Now, with the jury’s guilty verdict announced Monday, the efforts to hold Murray accountable in civil courts will speed up and the loss of his medical privileges are all but guaranteed.

The Houston-based physician is being sued by Jackson’s father, embroiled in a fight with the provider of his medical malpractice insurance and may be ordered to pay restitution to Jackson’s family when he is sentenced for involuntary manslaughter on Nov. 29.

But Murray won’t go quietly. His civil attorney said that if the lawsuits proceed, they will delve into territory unexplored during the doctor’s six-week criminal trial, including possible culpability by other doctors. Murray’s team will also look into options for Murray to relinquish his medical license in Texas — with an eye on trying to return to medicine within a year.

Brian Oxman, who represents father Joe Jackson in a wrongful death lawsuit against Murray, said his civil case “will absolutely focus on what happened before the last few hours of Michael’s life.”

Oxman is also working with Murray’s attorney, Charles Peckham, to possibly expand the case to include other physicians who treated Jackson, namely dermatologist Arnold Klein.

Murray’s criminal attorneys frequently mentioned Klein to jurors and presented evidence about Demerol treatments he gave Jackson.