CHARLESTON, W.Va. - John A. King, the osteopathic surgeon who generated 124 medical malpractice lawsuits during seven months at Putnam General Hospital in 2002 and 2003, now faces new problems in Birmingham, Ala.

King never paid $1 million in federal income taxes, according to a legal claim the Internal Revenue Service filed in federal bankruptcy court in Birmingham, Ala.

King filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 21. He provided more detailed financial information in lists filed on Dec. 4 that include $125,204 in liabilities and $500 in assets.

The only asset King listed was a 1993 Volvo.

Yet just one year earlier, in December 2006, King told Putnam County Circuit Judge Ed Eagloski that he owned several financial accounts, including: the Bone Maker Trust, the Bone Lover Trust and the Bone Crusher Trust.

Last month, King replied to the IRS claims, denying "each and every allegation of the claimant's [IRS] claim for the alleged unsecured obligation and the priority obligation."

In his reply filed Sept. 19, King asked the IRS for 90 days to "secure those tax and other records and documents from various parties to present evidence in support of his objection to the [IRS] claim."

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Thomas Bennett postponed King's bankruptcy hearing until Feb. 11, 2009.

Mark B. Ellis, King's attorney in Birmingham, said on Saturday, "I have no comment now or in the future."

King's mother and late father lived in Birmingham, where King apparently spends some of his time. He sometimes lists an Orlando, Fla. address when filing legal papers.

King could not be reached for comment.

On Sept. 19, King also filed an amended personal property schedule in bankruptcy court listing $52,547 in assets. The assets included: $49,747 in pension benefits and $2,000 in a trust fund, as well as his $500 Volvo.

King filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. That means his debts could be forgiven, and he will not have to make any payments to most debtors, if his bankruptcy petition is accepted. The court has not yet made any rulings.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - John A. King, the osteopathic surgeon who generated 124 medical malpractice lawsuits during seven months at Putnam General Hospital in 2002 and 2003, now faces new problems in Birmingham, Ala.

King never paid $1 million in federal income taxes, according to a legal claim the Internal Revenue Service filed in federal bankruptcy court in Birmingham, Ala.

King filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 21. He provided more detailed financial information in lists filed on Dec. 4 that include $125,204 in liabilities and $500 in assets.

The only asset King listed was a 1993 Volvo.

Yet just one year earlier, in December 2006, King told Putnam County Circuit Judge Ed Eagloski that he owned several financial accounts, including: the Bone Maker Trust, the Bone Lover Trust and the Bone Crusher Trust.

Last month, King replied to the IRS claims, denying "each and every allegation of the claimant's [IRS] claim for the alleged unsecured obligation and the priority obligation."

In his reply filed Sept. 19, King asked the IRS for 90 days to "secure those tax and other records and documents from various parties to present evidence in support of his objection to the [IRS] claim."

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Thomas Bennett postponed King's bankruptcy hearing until Feb. 11, 2009.

Mark B. Ellis, King's attorney in Birmingham, said on Saturday, "I have no comment now or in the future."

King's mother and late father lived in Birmingham, where King apparently spends some of his time. He sometimes lists an Orlando, Fla. address when filing legal papers.

King could not be reached for comment.

On Sept. 19, King also filed an amended personal property schedule in bankruptcy court listing $52,547 in assets. The assets included: $49,747 in pension benefits and $2,000 in a trust fund, as well as his $500 Volvo.

King filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. That means his debts could be forgiven, and he will not have to make any payments to most debtors, if his bankruptcy petition is accepted. The court has not yet made any rulings.

In his Dec. 4, 2007 bankruptcy filing, King stated he had no cash, no checking or savings accounts, no firearms, no clothing, no furs and no jewelry of any value.

King also stated he had no monthly income, collected no pension benefits and had no monthly expenses.

Some questions about his assets, however, remain unclear. During the December 2006 hearing about his medical credentials before Eagloski, King testified he had assets in 11 offshore and domestic financial accounts.

His offshore assets included a limited liability company and trust fund established in San Jose, Costa Rica.

King listed nine domestic trusts and accounts, including four based in Nevada and an "irrevocable life insurance trust."

The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners revoked King's license in that state on Sept. 17, in the wake of two medical malpractice suits filed by Alabama residents alleging King overdosed them with painkillers in October and November 2006.

King previously lost, or surrendered, medical licenses in other states, including: West Virginia; Florida; Georgia; Michigan; New Jersey; Ohio; Pennsylvania; Texas; and Virginia.

King typically avoided revocations by surrendering his licenses before state medical boards held any hearings.

The Alabama board's ruling is the first one that specifically questions King's credentials and abilities to practice medicine.

The revocation order stated King violated Alabama law when he:

The order concluded: "Dr. King is unable to practice medicine or osteopathy with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of a demonstrated lack of basic medical knowledge or clinical competency."

Dr. Jerry N. Gurley, chairman of the Alabama board, signed the order.

Earlier this year, the Hospital Corporation of America, based in Nashville, Tenn., which owned Putnam General when King was there, paid tens of millions of dollars to settle most of the 124 medical malpractice lawsuits filed by King's former patients in West Virginia.

Reach Paul J. Nyden at pjny...@wvgazette.com or 348-5164.