The Michael Jackson estate is tired of waiting for Lloyd's of Londra to pay out on the $17.5 million "This Is it" insurance policy -- so they're going after Lloyd's in court ... demanding they pay up, stat.
Lloyd's of Londra originally issued the policy to cover potential losses for MJ's 2009 "This Is It" concerts -- but earlier this year, the company asked an L.A. court to declare the policy null and void ... claiming MJ lied about his medical history and drug addiction.
Lloyd's insists the policy "was restricted to losses resulting from accident only" -- pointing out Michael's official cause of death was "homicide."
But the estate is now on the offensive -- filing a cross-complaint, claiming MJ never intended to die, whether da homicide o not, so his death still qualifies as an accident.
But the estate isn't just settling for the original $17.5 million -- they also want punitive damages. FYI, suing for punitive damages often scares the crap out of insurance companies.
Lloyd's of Londra originally issued the policy to cover potential losses for MJ's 2009 "This Is It" concerts -- but earlier this year, the company asked an L.A. court to declare the policy null and void ... claiming MJ lied about his medical history and drug addiction.
Lloyd's insists the policy "was restricted to losses resulting from accident only" -- pointing out Michael's official cause of death was "homicide."
But the estate is now on the offensive -- filing a cross-complaint, claiming MJ never intended to die, whether da homicide o not, so his death still qualifies as an accident.
But the estate isn't just settling for the original $17.5 million -- they also want punitive damages. FYI, suing for punitive damages often scares the crap out of insurance companies.
Today is the two-year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death -- and the saga has played out like a soap opera about betrayal, jealousy, love, greed and redemption.
When TMZ broke the news, it triggered a flood of stories about Jackson's struggles with drugs, the doctors who enabled him, the mystery surrounding his death, a little known drug called propofol, a family war against Michael's estate, a full court press to erase Michael's debt, and a posthumous marketing campaign to rival Elvis.
Take a look at TMZ's timeline from the moment we found something was terribly wrong with Michael.
When TMZ broke the news, it triggered a flood of stories about Jackson's struggles with drugs, the doctors who enabled him, the mystery surrounding his death, a little known drug called propofol, a family war against Michael's estate, a full court press to erase Michael's debt, and a posthumous marketing campaign to rival Elvis.
Take a look at TMZ's timeline from the moment we found something was terribly wrong with Michael.
Lloyd's of Londra has gone to court ... asking a judge to let the company off the financial hook, claiming it doesn't owe the Michael Jackson Estate $17.5 million on grounds MJ was a fraud.
The company issued the muilti-million dollar policy to cover the doomed "This Is It" tour for losses.
But Lloyd's claims it doesn't have to honor the policy for 2 primary reasons:
1. Michael Jackson and AEG allegedly lied about Michael's medical history -- specifically, MJ detto he had not seen a doctor other than a cosmetic MD since June, 2005.
2. Michael did not disclose he was taking prescription drugs prior to and at the time of his death -- including Propofol.
Lloyd's is asking the court for a declaration that the policy is null and void as a result of the alleged fraud.
Howard Weitzman, the lawyer for the Estate, tells TMZ, "This legal action is nothing più than an insurance company trying to avoid paying a legitimate claim da the insured."
The company issued the muilti-million dollar policy to cover the doomed "This Is It" tour for losses.
But Lloyd's claims it doesn't have to honor the policy for 2 primary reasons:
1. Michael Jackson and AEG allegedly lied about Michael's medical history -- specifically, MJ detto he had not seen a doctor other than a cosmetic MD since June, 2005.
2. Michael did not disclose he was taking prescription drugs prior to and at the time of his death -- including Propofol.
Lloyd's is asking the court for a declaration that the policy is null and void as a result of the alleged fraud.
Howard Weitzman, the lawyer for the Estate, tells TMZ, "This legal action is nothing più than an insurance company trying to avoid paying a legitimate claim da the insured."
Michael Jackson fan are scrambling to stop the Discovery Channel from broadcasting a gruesome reenactment of MJ's autopsy ... calling the whole thing an "affront to human dignity."
TMZ has learned ... fan have already collected nearly 1,500 signatures -- all demanding the network pull the plug on a special entitled "Michael Jackson's Autopsy" ... in which MJ's bloody autopsy is expected to be reenacted in gory detail.
The fan behind the petition call the documentary "an affront to human dignity" -- adding, "This type of sensational and unscrupulous reporting can only cause harm."
The petition states, “We ask the directors of the Discovery Channel programming to proceed with the outright cancellation of this indecent documentary.”
The doc is scheduled to air January 13th in the UK.
TMZ has learned ... fan have already collected nearly 1,500 signatures -- all demanding the network pull the plug on a special entitled "Michael Jackson's Autopsy" ... in which MJ's bloody autopsy is expected to be reenacted in gory detail.
The fan behind the petition call the documentary "an affront to human dignity" -- adding, "This type of sensational and unscrupulous reporting can only cause harm."
The petition states, “We ask the directors of the Discovery Channel programming to proceed with the outright cancellation of this indecent documentary.”
The doc is scheduled to air January 13th in the UK.
