Doctor charged in Michael Jackson's death seeks dismissal of his father's wrongful death case
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Attorneys for the doctor charged in Michael Jackson's death asked a federal judge Wednesday to dismiss the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the singer's father.
Attorneys for Dr. Conrad Murray argued in a court filing that Joe Jackson's complaint should be dismissed because the Jackson family patriarch is not a beneficiary of the singer's estate.
The filings note that he dropped his bid to receive a stipend from his son's multimillion dollar estate. Michael Jackson omitted his father from his 2002 will.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Murray's attorneys also argued that the wrongful death lawsuit is rife with improper arguments and statements that should be stricken.
"At its essence, (Joe Jackson's lawsuit) is a press-release that is intended to prejudice and inflame the jury pool and the public" against Murray and his medical practice, the lawyers argued.
The motions will be considered by a federal judge during a hearing scheduled for Oct. 18.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Joe Jackson sued Murray on June 25, the one-year anniversary of his son's death at age 50. His lawsuit claimed the doctor acted negligently by providing the pop singer with a mix of sedatives, including the anesthetic propofol.
The lawsuit is seeking more than $75,000 in damages.
Murray pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in criminal court.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Joe Jackson's attorney, Brian Oxman, said the lawsuit was properly drafted.
"It sets out facts," Oxman said. "It doesn't set out anything other than the day-by-day, moment-by-moment description of what happened."