Jackson's mother may sue over singer's death

Michael Jackson’s mother is considering filing a wrongful death lawsuit over the circumstances surrounding her son’s demise, a lawyer said today.

Burt Levitch, a lawyer for Katherine Jackson, said after a court hearing in Los Angeles that the idea had “been floated” and that the main name that had been mentioned was Dr Conrad Murray, the singer’s personal physician.

Authorities investigating Jackson’s death on June 25 have been focusing on Dr Murray and the possibility he may have improperly administered a powerful anaesthetic to the 50-year-old King of Pop.

Asked whether concert promoter AEG Live might be also be a defendant, Mr Levitch refused to comment.

He noted that AEG hired Dr Murray at Jackson’s behest and was also paying the rent at the mansion where Jackson lived.

Miranda Sevcik, a publicist for Dr Murray's lawyer Edward Chernoff, said she had seen the press conference with Mr Levitch, but it did not mean a lawsuit "is imminent''.

“Whether or not the Jackson family decides to proceed with a civil suit is up to them,” she said.

Earlier, a judge approved a deal that would soon bring official Michael Jackson merchandise to store shelves, but the fate of a proposed tour of the King of Pop’s memorabilia remained in limbo after his mother expressed renewed concerns.

Lawyers for Mrs Jackson withdrew their objections to an agreement with merchandiser Bravado to bring everything from Jackson trading cards, apparel and mobile phone themes to consumers.

But her objections remain a roadblock to a deal that would put some of her son’s prized items on display later this year. That tour was intended to coincide with the release of a major movie featuring his final rehearsals for a series of London shows.

Mr Levitch said Mrs Jackson’s primary objection was that it was not open to competitive bidding by companies other than AEG.

He also said he believed the deal that was negotiated, which would provide a 50-50 split between AEG and the estate, was insufficient.

He said Mrs Jackson had recently reasserted her desire to either be named a co-executor or have a member of the family, designated by her, as an executor.

Jackson’s will named long-time lawyerJohn Branca and music executive John McClain as the sole executors of his estate, with Katherine Jackson, the singer’s children and unnamed charities as beneficiaries.