Lloyd’s Sues Over Michael Jackson Tour

LOS ANGELES (CN) - No rest for the King of Pop even in death. Lloyd's of London sued AEG Live and The Michael Jackson Co., claiming its policy for the 2009 concerts, canceled by the singer's death, is void due to misrepresentations of Jackson's medical history and drug use.

The insurer claims in Superior Court that AEG and Jackson's company hid information about Jackson's medical condition and drug use, and refused to present him for required medical exams.

AEG and Jackson's company "failed and refused to provide Underwriters with necessary information, including but not limited to, information and documents regarding Dr. Conrad Murray, Mr. Jackson and AEG, which Underwriters are informed and believe are directly relevant to and necessary for the determination of whether AEG's claim is covered," the complaint states.

Lloyd's also claims that a medical exam in London never occurred, and that the company was never provided with a resulting medical affidavit needed under the policy. Defendants submitted a claim for $17.5 million, according to the complaint, but Lloyd's claims it granted policy based on misrepresentations about Jackson's medical history and use of prescription drugs, including Propofol, which was listed on his amended death certificate as the cause of Jackson's ultimate demise.

The policy called for a full review of the singer's medical history in the previous five years, according to the lawsuit, but defendants allegedly concealed the fact that "Jackson had seen doctors, other than cosmetic doctors, between June 2005 and the date of his death."

While Jackson's amended death certificate lists the cause of death as "homicide," the underwriters claim they have no duty to indemnify AEG and Michael Jackson Co. because the death was not an accident.

And no other "perils" were covered under the policy, Lloyd's claims, because Jackson never underwent a required medical exam in London that would have expanded the policy to include other "perils."

The underwriters are represented by Paul K. Schrieffer, Reid L. Denham and Wayne H. Hammack of P.K. Schrieffer LLP in West Covina, Calif.

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