Dr. Conrad Murray

Michael Jackson's father, Joe Jackson, has dropped his wrongful death lawsuit against Dr. Conrad Murray in a rare break for the imprisoned physician.

The suit was dismissed at his request. Murray's attorney, Valerie Wass, said:

"I was pleased ... It was always my opinion that Joe Jackson lacked standing to bring this action, and that eventually the case would be dismissed."

The case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning Joe can refile the lawsuit if the circumstances allow. Not sure how they would change, but so be it.

The 84-year-old Jackson family patriarch sued Murray in June 2010, adding concert promoter AEG Live and a Las Vegas pharmacy as plaintiffs.

Now that the former doctor was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to four years in jail, Joe apparently felt more at ease.

He initially claimed Dr. Conrad Murray and others were negligent in failing to provide adequate care, treatment, diagnosis, and resuscitation.

MJ died in June 2009. "As a result of that failure, Joe Jackson was deprived with the loss of companionship of his son," the suit charged.

Companionship. We're sure that's what he's feeling deprived of.

Dr. Conrad Murray, the terrible physician convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the 2009 death of Michael Jackson, is still not showing remorse.

Moreover, he's taking new shots at MJ's mother.

In a phone interview, Conrad Murray accuses 82-year-old Katherine Jackson of letting him down and "failing to be there" while he was alive.

Asked if he'd ask forgiveness from Katherine for giving the insomniac star a cocktail of drugs that led to his death, Murray was incredulous.

"Mrs Jackson does not have to forgive me because I am not responsible for his death," he said. "There is nothing for her to forgive me for."

"I would say this: Is anyone willing to ever forgive Mrs. Jackson for failing to be the mother she could have been for her son? Would Michael forgive his mother for not being the mother that he wanted to be there all the time?"

Yeah.

Now serving four years at Los Angeles County Jail, Murray said he would be more than happy to sit down and talk with Katherine Jackson.

Somehow we don't see that invite being extended.

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Conrad Murray is sitting in prison after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson.

Yet this doctor somehow thinks he's the one who can fix the ongoing Jackson family saga, which has centered around contention over the late singer's will and the whereabouts of his mother, Katherine Jackson, for nearly two weeks now.

Katherine is now back at home with her grandchildren, but even young Prince Jackson is suspicious over why she was taken by other relatives in the first place.

"I've been told that she has a desire to speak with me before she departs this life," Murray said in a statement released to CNN through his attorneys. "Seeing that she is up in age and in questionable health, and the fact that she is the mother of a very dear departed friend, it would give me great pleasure to sit with her one on one and answer any questions she might have."

Katherine Jackson spoke out this week and claimed she simply needed a vacation, but major questions still surround the situation, namely: Why didn't she contact her grandkids while away?

"I do not want Mrs. Jackson to suffer. She remains as dear to me as my own mother, unbeknownst to her," Murray added, saying Katherine is on his prison visitor list and referring to her as "extremely sad."

Dr. Conrad Murray is pleading with a judge to let him out of jail because it's been taking an extreme physical toll on his body and he will die behind bars.

This guy and Floyd Mayweather should form a support group.

Murray's not asking for house arrest, Mayweather style, but ironically is asking to be sent to a state prison, where he believes he'll get better care.

Okay ... this guy and Amber Portwood should form a group.

Murray's lawyer tells TMZ he wants to serve his time in the big house because in county jail, he's being treated like the absolute scum of the Earth.

Getting fresh air monthly, fresh underwear weekly, etc.

As a result of the alleged deprivation, Murray's health is failing, he says; he notably receives no medical attention for acute, persistent headaches.

Murray told his attorney, "I may not make it out of here alive. This is a very dangerous place. I'm in here dying. The system is intent on killing me."

The L.A. County Sheriff's Deptartment had no comment. Murray got four years in jail for involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson.

Dr. Conrad Murray in jail: A fair sentence?

James DeBarge, the ex-husband of Janet Jackson, has reportedly settled his major beef with Dr. Conrad Murray ... after the two talked things out behind bars.

Singer El DeBarge, James' brother, said that he and Murray buried the hatchet regarding Michael Jackson's death and all it took was an honest conversation.

James, understandably, held a serious grudge with Murray because he blamed the doctor for killing his friend Michael. Apparently, not as much anymore.

The two men managed to have a confrontation behind bars at the Men's Central Jail facility in L.A. in the past few days, and they "squashed the beef."

James' wife says that he was very impressed with Murray and that James has not only "made peace with what happened to Michael" but respects Murray.

DeBarge no longer believes Murray is an "evil" man or a murderer ... instead he told his wife Conrad is a "kind man" who made mistakes. So, that's that.

Either way, he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, so the two will likely have more time to chill. James is in for drug and assault with a deadly weapon charges.

Dr. Conrad Murray was just shot down in his request to be freed on bail while he appeals his involuntary manslaughter conviction in the 2009 death of Michael Jackson.

Number of disappointed people not named Murray or Nicole Alvarez: Zero.

During today's hearing, Judge Michael Pastor said Murray is still a flight risk as he does not have significant property or family ties in Los Angeles.

Judge Pastor also believes Murray is a danger to society, citing the MSNBC documentary in which Murray fails to show any remorse for MJ's death.

Pastor said "it scares me" that Murray believes it's okay to use Propofol in a home setting and insists he could pose a danger to the safety of other people.

Murray had previously asked for bail so he could spend time with his family (girlfriend Alvarez and their son) while he awaits the outcome of his appeal.

He is hoping to overturn his manslaughter conviction on grounds he never had a chance to prove MJ killed himself due to stress ... among other reasons.

Murray's appellate attorney Valerie Wass says she believes Murray is a "scapegoat" blamed for Michael's death because there's no one else to target.

A judge, jury and the general public almost unanimously disagree. Jackson was not without fault, but Murray also wasn't convicted of murdering him.

His actions as a doctor fit the crime of involuntary manslaughter to a T.

Dr. Conrad Murray's girlfriend, Nicole Alvarez, is begging the court to let him out of jail pending his appeal, claiming he's a "good father" to their toddler.

Somehow we don't see it happening.

Nicole Alvarez, who testified during Murray's involuntary manslaughter trial last fall, filed a declaration of support for Murray Thursday, in which she says if Murray is released, he will live with her and their two-year-old son in Santa Monica, Calif.

It's not the most powerful or emotional letter. Alvarez says, "Dr. Murray is the father of my child," adding, he "has been our primary source of support."

Moving stuff right there.

It's unclear how much support Murray can provide now, considering his medical license has been revoked and he's likely spent a fortune on legal fees.

Murray's hearing for bail pending appeal of his conviction is scheduled for Friday in L.A. The D.A. opposes bail, saying Murray is a danger to society.

Should be open and shut: No bail.

The L.A. County D.A. is far from pleased that Dr. Conrad Murray wants judge to spring him from jail while he appeals his conviction for involuntary manslaughter.

Prosecutors assert that Murray, who was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison for his role in in the death of Michael Jackson, is a danger to society.

According to court documents, the D.A.'s office says Murray's shown zero remorse for "reckless and criminal conduct that directly caused Michael Jackson's death."

In other words, the D.A. says Murray just doesn't get it, a key point of their argument, as they say he could engage in the same conduct again if he's set free.

The D.A. also claims Murray is a flight risk who is terrified of jail and who no longer has strong ties to California now that his medical license has been revoked.

As for Murray's grounds for appealing the conviction, the D.A. claims they bogus - the judge's decision to exclude Dr. Arnold Klein's testimony in particular.

Klein gave MJ Demerol shots in the months preceding his death, but the D.A. says no traces of the drug were found in MJ's body at the time of his death.

Thus, there's no evidence to suggest Murray's conviction was unfounded, at least in the eyes of the people who put him away ... and probably everyone else.

Michael Jackson's family has apparently realized the obvious:

As much as they want Dr. Conrad Murray to pay dearly for his role in the King of Pop's death, the physician is flat broke and the music icon is worth nine figures.

You can't get blood from a stone, and thus, prosecutors will no longer seek more than $100 million in restitution from Murray at the request of Jackson's family.

A rep for the L.A. County D.A.'s Office says prosecutors withdrew the motion and a hearing scheduled for Monday has been called off at the family's request.

Murray was convicted and sentenced for involuntary manslaughter last year.

Murray, who's already serving his four-year jail sentence for his role in the death of MJ, is basically broke, with a revoked medical license halting future income.

It's unclear how he plans to earn money once he's released, but he fought having to pay restitution and it appears MJ's family concluded it wasn't worth it.

The time and legal fees necessary to battle for scraps that wouldn't change the family standard of living, or more importantly bring MJ back, was fruitless.

Dr. Conrad Murray wants the judge in his criminal manslaughter case to deny Michael Jackson's family restitution, arguing that MJ was responsible for his demise.

Murray was convicted and sentenced for involuntary manslaughter already. That is set in stone. However, he is still fighting the restitution the star's family seeks.

Murray is asking for evidence the defense never received during the trial - evidence he claims could show Michael self-administered the fatal dose of Propofol.

Murray's lawyer, J. Michael Flanagan, argues that - guilty verdict aside - in deciding how much restitution the family gets, the victim's responsibility matters.

So Murray will concede he's partly to blame (he can't argue otherwise because of the conviction) but he still wants to prove that Jackson caused his own death.

The prosecution is asking for around $100 million in restitution, but the judge hasn't decided on a figure. The level of culpability will ultimately play into that.

Once the figure is set, if Flanagan gets his way and the judge were to decide MJ was 50 percent responsible, the judge would reduce restitution by 50 percent.

Also complicating matters? Murray is pretty much broke, and if anything, Jackson's family has profited from his death. So ... the judge has a lot to ponder.