Jackson’s mother and his children have filed a wrongful-death suit against A.E.G., alleging that the company contributed to Michael’s death by pressuring him to go through with a concert tour he was physically unable to endure. (When asked about the allegations, A.E.G.’s attorney Marvin Putnam said, “This lawsuit is ridiculous. No one—least of all the Jacksons—believes the concert promoter A.E.G. caused Michael Jackson’s death.”)

On November 29, 2011, Conrad Murray was given a four-year sentence for involuntary manslaughter. In a documentary that aired earlier in the month, he portrayed himself as an unfortunate bystander at Jackson’s death, “entrapped” by his patient.

Klein says it’s up to him to fight for justice. “I have to set the record straight on Michael,” he told me. “Someone has to get money for the children. It’s not going to be the family. They are all too lunatic-y All of the money is going to be eaten up by all of these corporations, by the greedy pigs.”

Meanwhile, Klein continues to fight for his professional life. He is under investigation by the Medical Board of California. According to the Daily Beast, the board has questioned witnesses regarding Klein’s allegedly using aliases on prescriptions, distributing drug samples to his patients, and prescribing narcotics to himself.

On November 30, Klein posted on Facebook that a new patient had arrived at his office. “After I examined his skin he presented me with a subpoena from the California Medical Board [issued] by Kimberly Wilson [a senior investigator who had reportedly masqueraded as a new Klein patient herself, only to be told the doctor was not in the office] and paid me with a fraudulent credit card. For Kimberly Wilson to use such criminal and fraudulent means to serve me a subpoena is illegal and I feel she has proved herself unfit to evaluate any aspect [of] my medical practice or the Jackson Case.”

Klein has claimed that Wilson was guilty of “elder abuse” against him. In a Facebook post titled “The California Medical Board: A Novel by Kafka,” he claimed that Wilson had told his nurse, “I am going to get him.” He wrote, “If you are truly concerned with [my] ability to practice I suggest you discuss it with my physicians who will assure you I am both physically and mentally healthier than I have ever been in the last 15 years. AWKlein.” (A spokesman for the Medical Board of California says the board does not comment on investigations. He adds, “As to what Dr. Klein claims about the Medical Board or its investigators, I am happy to remind him that he can file a complaint or comment about us by simply going to our website.”)

Shortly after that, Klein posted a resignation letter from one of his attorneys, in which the lawyer suggested that Klein find new representation immediately and reminded him to appear for a scheduled meeting with the Medical Board of California in order to keep it from possibly suspending his license to practice.

In November, Klein held forth at a party to celebrate the opening of his new offices, smaller quarters a couple of blocks away from his longtime offices on North Roxbury Drive. At the Beverly Park home of Dr. Paul Nassif and his wife, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Adrienne Maloof, Klein sat on a throne-like chair, wearing a black evening jacket and an electric-blue scarf, greeting his fans. “We were told he had a skiing accident,” said Greg Milam, who interviewed him at the party for Sky News, referring to Klein’s having trouble walking on his own. Milam was given a video of Sharon Stone’s glowing testimonial about Klein. He was also given a guest list for the party, which included Warren Beatty, Charlie Sheen, and Carrie Fisher, none of whom showed up while Milam’s film crew was there. Klein’s later Facebook postings, however, reported the attendance of RuPaul and Dyan Cannon.

On January 23, as Vanity Fair was going to press, some of Klein’s possessions—ranging from a Bentley once owned by Cher to a set of diamond cuff links given to him by Elizabeth Taylor, to clothing and memorabilia of Michael Jackson’s—were scheduled to be auctioned off by Bonhams.

None of this has subdued the defiant doctor or silenced his remaining loyal patients. “I went to see him late last year,” an actress who has been a patient and friend for more than 30 years told me. “He was as marvelous as always. I trust him with my face.” Klein recently posted on Facebook: “I have survived the Murray trial (which was an absolute hoax), Botox lawsuit, my nurse’s marriage, and my bankruptcy. To all those who have imitated and will imitate me I wish you great luck I will only get better!”