Conrad Murray's Insurer Argues Against Paying for His Michael Jackson Defense CaseBy Ruth Manuel-Logan on Oct 21st 2010 11:10AMThe powers-that-be at Medicus Insurance Co. are adding to Dr. Conrad Murray's blues these days. The Texas insurer has requested that a judge rule that the company is not responsible for the legal bills that have piled up in the two high-profile cases that the good doctor is facing.
Dr. Murray's legal team is defending him against an involuntary manslaughter charge, where he is accused of administering a lethal does of the anesthetic propofol to the late pop star sensation Michael Jackson.
Jackson patriarch, Joe, also has a wrongful death lawsuit against Murray. The cardiologist also faces a possible suspension or limitation of his license in three states, Texas, California and Nevada.
According to Murray, he is heavily relying on four attorneys to represent him in his criminal and civil cases and needs his medical license in order to pay his legal bills.
On the flip side,
Murray only purchased his policy with Medicus about a month before Jackson's death in June of last year. The company contends that his policy did not cover incidents involving general anesthesia.
Medicus, who filed their case last August, is claiming that they are not required to defend Murray's medical license in three states. The company also claims that the investigation by Texas and California officials came as a result of allegations of wrongdoing in Jackson's death and that Nevada attempted to suspend Murray's medical license because he had lagged behind on child support payments, not for his medical work.
In a court filing Monday, one of Murray's attorneys Charles Peckham denied Medicus' claims and argued that the case should be stayed because defending it would violate the doctor's Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. Peckham also argued in the filing that the Medicus issue should be decided upon after the criminal case is over.
According to the Medicus lawsuit, Murray's policy only covers his actions in Texas. The company filed its case after Murray asked the insurer to pay for his defense in the California court cases and medical board hearings in other states, according to the complaint.
Meanwhile, Murray is due back in a Los Angeles court next week for the criminal case hearing.
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