Jacko's dad sues doc
2010-03-29 22:35
Los Angeles - The father of Michael Jackson has sued the late pop star's doctor in a civil suit that alleges he caused Jackson's death by giving him drugs and not getting him to hospital sooner, CBS News reported on Monday.
The lawsuit comes just days after the disclosure of witness statements that Dr Conrad Murray halted resuscitation efforts in order to gather vials of drugs that he had given Jackson, and also delayed calling emergency services until he had cleaned the room of possibly incriminating evidence.
The 13-page lawsuit also alleges that doctors in the emergency room briefly managed to restart Jackson's heart and restore a faint pulse for several minutes, but were unable to sustain it.
"There were reports that he had a heartbeat, and that's true," said Brian Oxman, a lawyer for Jackson's father, Joe Jackson, "but the problem was Michael was long gone".
Murray is already facing criminal charges of involuntary manslaughter for his role in Jackson's death. The civil lawsuit could add a huge financial penalty to whatever is decided in the criminal case.
The lawsuit also claims that just hours before Jackson was given the powerful anaesthetic propofol, Murray was seen drinking in a club. "He was having alcoholic beverages," Oxman said, "the extent of it we do not know, but I can tell you for sure it's not something you want your doctor to be doing."
Oxman also rejected allegations that the lawsuit was just another attempt by Joe Jackson to cash in on his son's fame. "This is not really an effort to get monetary compensation," Oxman said. "Joe Jackson is looking for justice."
Murray has pled not guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter and his lawyer shrugged off the new lawsuit. "It's like throwing a bucket of water at a man drowning in the sea," lawyer Ed Chernoff told celebrity website.
- SAPA