Michael Jackson's doctor says concert promoter owes him $300,000 [Updated]

Michael Jackson's personal doctor, who was interviewed Saturday by police detectives over the circumstances surrounding the pop star's death, is owed $300,000 from the concert promoter planning Jackson's comeback concerts, his attorney said today.

Dr. Conrad Murray had been selected by Jackson to be his physician for the tour, but entertainment giant AEG was paying his bills. Murray was at Jackson's Holmby Hills home when he was stricken Thursday and tried to revive him.

Coroner's officials said Jackson had been using prescription drugs, and the investigation is focused on whether he overdosed. A law enforcement source told The Times there was "no red flag" and "no smoking gun" revealed in the interview to suggest criminal wrongdoing or the possible cause of death.

Matt Alford, Murray's attorney, told MSNBC this morning that Murray is a witness -- not a suspect -- in the case. He said Murray planned to go with Jackson on the tour. And since AEG was paying his bills, the company owes him $300,000 in back pay.

[Updated at 9:12 a.m.: AEG's chief executive has said that the company had not yet finalized the arrangement with Murray or advanced him money.]

-- Shelby Grad and Harriet Ryan

Comments

[Missing the Whole Story?]

Is there a surcharge for overdosing him?

[AJ]

Michael had a huge debts. He was more worthy dead than alive. Pehaps his death was the best solution to his promoter AEG , doctors, managers, lawyers, creditors. THEY WANT TO COLLECT INSURANCE MONEY; and of course, they need a scapegoat to put the blame for Michael's death. Is Dr. Murray a scapegoat? We shall see.

[Drake Bischoff]

This is a very good example of how unaffordable and inaccessible health care has become to in the US. This doctor has only been his physician a very short while and has already accrued $300,000 in fees. No surgery, no anesthesia, no hospital stays. Just the cost of doctor's visits themselves. $300,000.

[Tariq]

This doctor needs to be in prison, not demanding back pay

[steve]

I'm not sure he did such a great job.

[Fulltime247]

Nice Move Doc! - Give Mike a HOTSHOT then get mad cause he's dead and cant pay you. Jerk!!

[Pamela Q]

MJ has "beat it"!! Our feelings are "off the wall" and it didn't matter if he was "black or white". To some he was a "smooth criminal" and that made him feel sad about "the man in the mirror" and this side of "human nature" made him cry "leave me alone". But as "dirty Diana" and "Billie jean"said, he was "bad", he was "dangerous" but he gave us a "thriller" of a time.
RIP MJ!

[Cheryl]

Sadly, this shows just what persons close to Michael have been saying, Michael has not even been buried yet and he is already talking about money he should receive. i hope that at the end of this, if it is proven that Michael died from an overdose of prescription drugs, and that he gave him some, I hope that he gets sent to prison.

[cl]

I can't believe this doctor won't meet with the family. He owes them that. He was the last person with him. He won't even return their calls. What I hate is that there are no other witnesses. It is his word. He could say anything.

[elle matt]

If I were there I would quickly have advised Michael to drink a very warm water almost hot, to open up the the veins around the heart if he felt very tight in his chest.. This is quite effective. Michael should have taken aloe vera juice or parsley juice regularly to get rid of the toxins in his body. Painkillers or any drugs prescribed or not prescribed by doctors if taken for a very long period of time can cause toxin to accumulate in our blood stream and cause heart problems and even death. It is too late now Michael should have taken natural supplements or ayuverdic herbs to get rid of his pain which have least side effects instead of taking drugs and poisoned himself for many years.

[Denise]

I don't think this doctor should be paid anything until the toxicology report is completed. And why is is fee $300,000. What all did he do? Did he not live with Jackson at his home?
This is why we need healthcare reform. I dobt this doctor did any sort of medical procedre that amonted to $300,000. This is an outrageous fee. Let him produce receips.

[Sapere Aude]

Owed $300,000 for performing as a needle-jockey to keep MJ able to move at his age and condition just earn all his hangers-on a couple of million in up-coming concerts??

Yeah right - on the other hand, he'll probably need it for his legal defense team when the truth of his enabling MJ's acquired pharmacological dependencies while on his watch to reach critical mass.

[Jason]

If the doctor was really a friend then he wouldn't care about the $300,000. He obiously has money if he was Michael Jackson's personal physician. Hey Doc, Michaels gone, you're not gonna get your $300,000 stupid dollars.

[LC]

To leave the scene and not speak with the family gives great pause. But to do that and then immedately, as opposed to next week or next month, demand money, is shocking. The entire regime of wealthy prescription-addicted stars and their for-hire boutique doctors needs to be re-thought, hopefully to make court supervision orders readily available to concerned family members to prevent further tragedies. The public also needs full disclosure of all prescription medicine deaths.

[Renata]

Who called 911? When did this person arrive? Has this person been interrogated as well?

[Fred]

Jackson died immediately after the Demerol injection. There should be a murder investigation. Was the doctor disgruntled because he was oqed $300,000 ?

[tito chirawu (zim)]

Michael Jackson you are the greatest thing that ever happened to music and entertainment. Together with Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Thiery Henry i rate you as the most naturally talented human beings of our time. Its sad that you made one or two mistakes along the way but dont we all. Rest in peace Michael, you will always be my hero and just like there will only ever be one Elvis Presley they can only be one Wacko Jacko and you are the man. All this talk about debt bankruptcy should be taken with a pinch of salt, Your glove was worth 60000 usd man and your tickets broke a record(fastest ever selling), people paid 20000pounds black market for your tickets originally worth 75pounds. In japan people paid 10000usd just to be in the same room with you. You could make money faster than you could spend it. Rest In Peace. I guess your death reminds us of our mortality. If you Michael can die what about a lesser mortal like me?

[gisele]

I an a nurse and I can't believe that a physician will not know to that to perform CPR one has to be on a hard surface. If in bed either you palce the patient down on the floor or place a bedboard underneath the patient's back. Further more, why didn't the DR. ride in the ambulance? he is Our beloved Michael's personal DR. The DR. is a cardiologist, I want to give him better of the doubt, but things are very suspicious.

thanks
gisele

[OMEN]

how about the doctor just shuts up and go to jail for ever.

[Camille Renk]

Dr. Murray was apparently a "friend" and his personal doctor for only a little over a month, according to his attorney. Quite mysterious how Dr. M was nowhere to be found since Thursday. Wouldn't meet with the police until he had his attorney who on CNN was stumbling throughout his interview....

It's ashame as John Landis put it, MJ shouldn't be dead, he shouldn't be in debt and the media should back off...

Hopefully the truth will be found on why he died, and hold those accountable!

[CC]

I am wondering if by claiming he was paid by AEG, it somehow relieves him in the possibility of monetary damages if anyone is sued for this matter. I mean, you can sue anybody for anything but people are more likely to go after deep pockets. I think this may have been a legal maneuver by the physicians legal advisors. AEG is already disputing any kind of firm contractual arrangement.

Lawyers are having a field day from every angle.

[pop]

if hes so much is a good doctor so then why is micheal jackson dead just because your a doctor does not make you god