Michael Jackson’s doctor faces media battle with star’s family
Las Vegas media-relations expert Mark Fierro has handled his share of big cases lately, but nothing compares to his latest assignment.
Fierro, who has worked as a press liaison on behalf of Dr. Michael Kaplan and embattled construction defect attorney Nancy Quon in Las Vegas, has just been hired to represent the defense in the involuntary manslaughter trial in Los Angeles of Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray.
Set to begin May 9, the trial is expected to last until mid-July. Jackson died of a drug overdose on June 25, 2009, with Murray present.
Fierro was retained by attorneys Ed Chernoff and Michael Flanagan for an assignment that has drawn international interest. He also is up against a formidable press spin machine in the media-savvy Jackson family.
If Fierro is to try to help balance the scales in the court of public opinion, he better start early. Just Thursday Jackson's mother, Katherine, made herself available to raise the issue of her disappointment that Murray faces no worse than a four-year prison sentence if convicted.
"Sometimes I think, why have a trial if the maximum sentence is only four years," she said in an Associated Press story.
Included in the article is the news that the bereaved Mrs. Jackson plans to attend the trial daily.
She told AP, "I'll be there, but it just hurts me because my son is gone and for forever and this man is trying to get away and get off. He needs to be punished."
Make that a very early start.
"Nobody should discount his chances," Fierro said after being briefed by defense counsel. "This is a very strong case. This isn't a 5 or a 6. For the defense, this is a very strong case."
CANDLELIGHTERS HEROES: They call it the Evening of Hope, but the annual benefit mixer and auction generates donations that help the folks at Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada spread hope all year long.
This year's event is scheduled for 6 p.m. today at Rumor, and Gary and Cindy Ellis are being honored by the local charity with its Founders Award. Tireless Todd Radwanski is due to be honored as the Volunteer of the Year.
Candlelighters relies on many volunteers and a small paid staff to provide services to kids with childhood cancer and their families.
It's never too late to donate online at candlelightersnv.org.
WEDDED BLISS: Interesting that Steve Wynn took time to publicly blast a lowly local wedding chapel for having the audacity to sell its recording of the casino man's recent Vegas hitchin' shtick with fiancée Andrea Hissom.
Shame on the chapel for denying Wynn the opportunity of exploiting that slice of self-promoting vaudeville before he had the chance to do it himself.
BYRON'S TEAM: Little-known Democrat Byron Georgiou continues to show he is serious about making a run for the U.S. Senate. On Thursday, he announced the hiring of a team of experienced political consultants. At last check, political consultants aren't known for their pro bono work.
On the team: Joe Trippi, Dan Hart, Paul Maslin, Lyn Utrecht, and Eric Kleinfeld.
In a long career, Trippi is probably best known for his work with Howard Dean.
Georgiou was also active at the recent Democracy Alliance gathering in San Francisco, where he gained support and now reports $1.1 million in his fledgling campaign account.
Dean Heller was appointed this week to fill the Senate seat previously abused by John Ensign.
ON THE BOULEVARD: It was a smart move by Cosmopolitan officials to apologize to the transgender guest who was 86'd for using the women's room.
The complaint, which first surfaced on a tour and travel blog, HotelChatter.com, was the kind of fire-starter story that could have turned into a nightmare for the new resort.
Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.
