Insurer contests Jackson tour payout

The insurer of Michael Jackson's cancelled comeback tour has said it should not have to pay out on a policy taken out by promoters as it was not provided with an accurate account of the singer's health.

Lloyd's of London sued AEG Live and Jackson's company on Monday, according to legal papers filed in a Los Angeles court. The documents claim the concert promoter failed to provide necessary medical information and details about the physician charged in the singer's death.

Lloyd's issued a non-appearance and concert cancellation policy in April 2009, two months before Jackson died. It was issued under an alias, "Mark Jones", and covered up to $17.5m in liability.

The promoter should have told Lloyd's what it knew about Jackson's medical history, including "his apparent prescription drug use and/or drug addiction," the lawsuit states.

Within days of the singer's death, a lawyer for AEG submitted a claim with Jackson's death certificate.

The insurer states that a medical examination of Jackson required by the policy was never conducted, and that it should not have to pay out for the cancelled shows.

Lloyd's claims it has been seeking information from AEG about Jackson and his physician, Dr Conrad Murray, who is due to go on trial later this year for involuntary manslaughter, since December 2009.