Calif. court rejects Jackson doctor child support deal; Nevada medical license at risk

CA court rejects Jackson doctor child support deal

LAS VEGAS — A doctor charged in the death of Michael Jackson lost a bid Thursday in a California court to resolve a child support issue that threatens his Nevada medical license.

Santa Clara County Superior Court Commissioner John Schroeder denied Dr. Conrad Murray’s request for a court order relieving Murray of an obligation to pay about $16,000 in back child support to the mother of his 12-year-old son.

“We didn’t get the court order that we were seeking,” Charles Peckham, a Houston lawyer representing Murray, told The Associated Press. “This puts Dr. Murray’s ability to pay future child support at risk, if the state of Nevada pulls his medical license.”

A prosecutor in Las Vegas had said Nevada would stop efforts to revoke Murray’s license for failure to pay the support if Murray got the Santa Clara court order approving the deal.

Murray, 57, has pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles to a felony charge of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson’s death. The cardiologist, with practices in Las Vegas and Houston, told Los Angeles police he administered the anesthetic propofol to Jackson for insomnia.

“Losing his medical license would jeopardize his legal defense,” said Miranda Sevcik, a spokeswoman for Murray’s Houston-based criminal attorney Edward Chernoff. “He’ll essentially still be in the same creek but will lose his paddle.”

Nenita Malibiran, the mother of Murray’s child, offered to forgive Murray’s back debt as long as he remained current with the payments of $1,003 a month he has been making since November, Peckham said.

However, Malibiran balked at a requirement by the California Department of Child Support Services that she also relieve the state agency of jurisdiction in the case, Peckham said.

John Vartanian, a chief attorney for the child services agency, said he couldn’t discuss any specific cases. But he said giving up child support that is owed generally isn’t in the best interest of a child.

Malibiran’s court testimony was taken by telephone, and Murray was not required to appear at the hearing.

There was no answer after the hearing at a telephone number listed for Malibiran.

Murray is due for a hearing June 25 before a Clark County Family Court hearing officer in Las Vegas, where Murray lives. The date marks the first anniversary of Jackson’s death in Los Angeles.

Murray will be represented by Las Vegas lawyers Kristine Brewer and Robert Blau, after attorney Christopher Aaron withdrew on Wednesday. Blau declined comment.

Gerard Costantin, a deputy Clark County district attorney, said Murray could face suspension of his Nevada medical license as early as August, depending on the hearing master’s recommendation and possible appeals.

Nevada law allows Family Court judges to order suspensions of medical, professional and recreational licenses for nonpayment of child support. A hearing master postponed action on a similar request earlier this month, pending the California court action.

Murray had his license to practice medicine in California restricted by the Los Angeles County judge who presided at his February arraignment in the involuntary manslaughter case.

Murray is free on $75,000 bail pending trial.

Murray was at Jackson’s bedside when the 50-year-old pop star was found unresponsive. Murray had been hired as Jackson’s personal physician at $150,000 a month for a planned series of comeback shows in London.