Jackson’s father refiles wrongful death lawsuit, adds Las Vegas pharmacy
LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson’s father refiled a wrongful death lawsuit Tuesday against the doctor charged in his son’s death and added as a defendant a Las Vegas pharmacy that records show sold the physician a powerful anesthetic blamed for his death.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages against Dr. Conrad Murray, who has pleaded not guilty in the separate criminal case to involuntary manslaughter in the singer’s June 2009 death.
Joe Jackson initially filed his case against Murray in federal court on the first anniversary of his son’s death. A judge, however, refused to hear the case and said it should be handled in state court, where it was refiled Tuesday.
"This has been a long process and the facts of Michael’s death have been way too slow in emerging," said Joe Jackson’s attorney, Brian Oxman. "There is still much to discover and we’re going to find it out."
The lawsuit also names Applied Pharmacy Services, which court records show sold Murray the anesthetic propofol during the month before the singer’s death. The pharmacy is accused of selling Murray excessive quantities of the anesthetic, which is normally administered in hospital settings. Authorities have said the sale was legal.
A receptionist at Applied Pharmacy Services declined comment and refused to give her name. Miranda Sevcik, a Murray spokeswoman, said the refiling of the case was expected.
"We’d like to remind people that Dr. Murray has not been found guilty of anything, and we believe his innocence will be proven in a court of law," Charles Peckham, an attorney for Murray, said in June when the case was initially filed.
The Los Angeles County coroner has blamed Jackson’s death on propofol intoxication and ruled it a homicide.
