Popsquire

Dr. Conrad Murray Watch 2010 is on.  Popsquire’s entertainment reporter / legal expert, Russell Wetanson, will be on HLN’s “Prime News” at 2pm and TV Guide Network’s “Hollywood 411″ at 8pm PST.  Watch!

It’s official.  More than seven months after Michael Jackson’s death, Dr. Conrad Murray has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.  If convicted, Dr. Murray faces a four-year-maximum sentence.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

Technorati Tags: dr. conrad murray, involuntary manslaughter, legal expert, michael jackson, pop culture law

Following Friday’s will-he-or-won’t-he-surrender-be-arrested-or-be-arraigned nonsense, Dr. Conrad Murray is scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 pm today.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

At the arraignment, Dr. Murray will be advised of his charges, and his lawyers say he will enter a not guilty plea (most defendants plead not guilty at this first hearing).  The next major step will be the preliminary hearing, at which the prosecution must establish “probable cause” of two things: that a crime was committed and that Dr. Murray committed it.

I spoke with numerous people over the weekend who said Dr. Murray should not serve a lot of jail time either because he didn’t intend to kill Michael Jackson and because MJ was a drug addict.

What do you think?  Keep in mind that the maximum jail sentence for involuntary manslaughter is only four years.

Technorati Tags: arraignment, dr. conrad murray, involuntary manslaughter, legal expert, michael jackson, pop culture law, preliminary hearing

Like a typical layer, Popsquire loves a good feud.  Apparently, CBS knew this and created this hilarious Superbowl ad to fuel the late night fights and remind us of the infamous Oprah / Letterman controversy.

Technorati Tags: david letterman, jay leno, oprah, superbowl ads

Popsquire’s entertainment reporter / legal expert, Russell Wetanson, will be on a special LIVE edition of TV Guide Network’s “Hollywood 411″ at noon today.

We’re covering the Dr. Conrad Murray saga.  Watch!

This week in pop culture and law clearly belongs to Dr. Conrad Murray.

[Via You Tube]

Is he or isn’t he guilty?  Is he in LA to surrender to police or just to visit his baby mama?  Will he be arrested or arraigned?  The answers to these questions seemed to change by the second this week and, of course, that made it all the more fascinating.

So, let’s just list the top five reasons why the DA’s office has no choice but to charge him with involuntary manslaughter: (1) he administered Propofol to Michael Jackson; (2) not one expert has come forward to say that Propofol is OK to administer in a home setting; (3) the L.A. Coroner concluded that the cause of Michael Jackson’s death was “acute Propofol intoxication;” (4) Michael Jackson died, even though his autopsy says he was a healthy man; and (5) doctors are not supposed to give patients medicine just because they request it and/or pay top dollar.

Have a great weekend, Popsquire peeps.  Remember, don’t drink (alcohol or Propofol) and drive.

E! Online reports that the deaths of both Brittany Murphy and Casey Johnson were preventable.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

The Los Angeles County coroner announced that 30-year-old Johnson’s death was caused by diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition caused when a diabetic does not have enough insulin in her system.

Translation: she wasn’t taking her meds.

As for Brittany Murphy, the coroner announced that the 32-year-old died from a combination of pneumonia and prescription drugs. Pneumonia was listed as the primary cause, but secondary factors were iron-deficiency anemia and multiple (prescription) drug intoxication.

Translation: she was self-medicating and should have gone to the doctor.

This news also makes any wrongful death lawsuit against Warner Bros. contemplated by Brittany’s husband or mother even weaker.  The defense would jump all over the cause of death and convince a judge or jury that there is no causal link between her death and the studio, given that a doctor’s visit might have prevented the whole thing.

Technorati Tags: Brittany Murphy, case johnson, cause of death, coroner, death, legal expert, pop culture law, wrongful death lawsuit

After many days of silence, Dr. Conrad Murray’s attorneys are talking.

[Via You Tube]

Ed Chernoff, who has worked as Dr. Murray’s attorney since the beginning of this story, released this statement on his website today:

“We are presently negotiating with the District Attorneys’ office the surrender of Dr. Murray. The specifics have not yet been agreed to and when the agreement is complete we will report further on this website. Until then we will not be sharing agreement terms or conducting interviews with the media.”

By communicating only through the website, Chernoff is controlling the flow of information.  This is smart, especially when it comes to legal strategy.  Speaking too much or giving away information can sometimes prove detrimental to a case.

Of course, everyone already knows it’s going down tomorrow, but it’s still good for a lawyer to play coy a bit.

Technorati Tags: arraigned, arrest, dr. conrad murray, ed chernoff, legal expert, pop culture law

Despite all the frenzy that Dr. Murray might be arrested and arraigned yesterday, the date is now set for tomorrow.  He will surrender to the airport courthouse and likely will be released on bail.   Watch Popsquire’s Russell Wetanson discuss the process on yesterday’s “Hollywood 411″ on TV Guide Network.

Technorati Tags: arraignment, arrest, dr. conrad murray, involuntary manslaughter, legal expert, michael jackson, pop culture law

Popsquire’s entertainment reporter / legal expert, Russell Wetanson, will be on HLN’s “Issues With Jane” at 7:30 pm and TV Guide Network’s “Hollywood 411″ at 8pm.

We’re talkin’ MacKenzie Philips and Dr. Conrad Murray, respectively.  Watch!

Showbiz.com claims that Dr. Conrad Murray will be arrested today and that the Jackson Family will follow his arrest by filing a civil wrongful death suit.  Not so fast.

Although the web has been in a frenzy over the possible arrest, multiple sources now say it ain’t happenin’ today. Click here to find out what happens if/when Dr. Murray is, indeed, charged and arrested.

In terms of the wrongful death lawsuit, it could be an exercise in futility for the following reasons:

1. Only Michael Jackson’s heirs and dependents of the deceased can sue for wrongful death.  That limits the possible plaintiffs to MJ’s kids and Katherine Jackson, unless Joe or other family members can prove they were being supported by MJ while he was alive.
2. Civil lawsuits are about money.  Dr. Murray doesn’t have much and may have a hard time making a living for a long time, given all of the controversy surrounding MJ’s death.
3. Damages in a wrongful death case are about economic loss.  If the defense can show that MJ is making more in death than when he was alive, the case sinks.  Exhibit #1: iTunes sales charts.

The criminal justice system finally may be one step closer to determining whether Dr. Conrad Murray is bad.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

TMZ reports that the DA has a criminal complaint ready to file in the Dr. Murray / Michael Jackson case and is expected to charge the doctor with involuntary manslaughter.

So, what happens next?

Criminal cases have defined stages.  As soon as the DA files the complaint, Dr. Murray either will surrender or authorities will find and arrest him.  His first court appearance is called the “arraignment.”

At the arraignment, Dr. Murray will be advised of his charges and enter a plea of “guilty” or “not guilty” (most defendants plea not guilty at this first hearing).  The judge also may address Dr. Murray’s bail and release.

So, how much would you set his bail for?

Technorati Tags: arraignment, criminal complaint, dr. conrad murray, legal expert, michael jackson, pop culture law

To quote (and spell check) Ke$ha, “tick tock” goes the clock for Dr. Conrad Murray.  Numerous sources predict that he will turn himself into authorities as early as Wednesday morning.  Although authorities have interviewed him before, our only glimpse at Dr. Murray has been this self-produced You Tube video.

Technorati Tags: arrested, dr. conrad murray, legal expert, michael jackson, pop culture law, surrender

The Oscar nominations are out and, yes, even this event involves the law.  Feature film contracts often include monetary bonuses if the film or actor is nominated.  So, with the increase from five to ten nominees in the Best Picture category, more people are counting nominations and bonuses this year.

Watch Anne Hathaway announce the nominations below.  Enjoy!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Technorati Tags: best picture, bonuses, entertainment contracts, legal expert, oscar nominations, pop culture law

Insurance companies aren’t the only ones who deny claims based on pre-existing conditions.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

New developments about Brittany Murphy’s health may prove detrimental to any wrongful death case contemplated by her husband or mother.  TMZ reports that Brittany “was suffering from severe anemia and other conditions and was under a doctor’s care” during the final months of her life.

If true, it could be difficult to successfully sue Warner Bros. for her death.  Brittany’s family must prove a causal link between the company’s conduct and her death.  If she had pre-existing conditions, the defense will (and should) use this to show that the causal link cannot be established.

Technorati Tags: Brittany Murphy, legal expert, simon monjack pop culture law, wrongful death lawsuit