Dr. Conrad Murray’s Case Headed For Civil Court

Dr. Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the case of Michael Jackson's death on Monday (Nov. 7); and while there is a chance that Murray won't go to prison in favor of a county jail or house arrest due to California prison overcrowding and that fact that he's a non-violent offender, Murray is hardly in the clear.

His case is headed to civil court, where he could be found liable for medical malpractice and his days of practicing medicine are likely over for good. In that case, his malpractice insurance, provided he has it, would allow him to settle civil suits. He is also likely to lose his medical license as part of the conviction from the criminal trial.

Civil suits are pending against Murray and AEG Live LLC, the firm behind Jackon's This Is It Tour. Michael Jackson's father Joe filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Murray in November 2010, while his mother Katherine Jackson filed a wrongful death lawsuit against AEG in September 2010. These cases will zero in on AEG's knowledge of propofol and its consequences as related to Jackson, according to ABC News. Given AEG's resources (read: deep pockets as a corporation), they'd be held accountable much quicker than Murray, who has considerably less resources at his disposal.

The main difference between civil and criminal cases is simple. In a criminal case, a jury goes on reasonable doubt. In a civil case, the judge or jury has to find more than 50 percent chance that the defendant was negligent. There are plenty of pieces of evidence that could prove Murray negligent in the civil case.