Michael Elam

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Michael Elam, stripped of his medical license last month by state regulators, has won an 11th-hour judicial reprieve that lets him keep practicing--under tight restrictions--while he contests the punishment. Elam was supposed to close up shop today at his chic Fashion Island office.

Corona del Mar plastic surgeon Michael Elam has filed a lawsuit against his longtime business partner, Louis L. Knickerbocker, accusing the president of L.L. Knickerbocker Co. of fraud, breach of contract and tampering with financial books. The suit, filed Tuesday in Orange County Superior Court, comes after Knickerbocker last summer stated that he was severing business relations with Elam, whose troubled past was seen as a liability to Knickerbocker's business.

The Medical Board of California, levying its harshest punishment, has stripped the license of a nationally known cosmetic surgeon in Newport Beach for his fraudulent treatment of a disgruntled former Mrs. California and another patient, officials said. Administrative Law Judge Rosalynn M. Chapman found that Dr.

L. L. Knickerbocker Co., a television marketer whose soaring stock has drawn the attention of regulators, has sold millions of dollars' worth of collectible dolls, jewelry and other items promoted by celebrities such as Marie Osmond and Farrah Fawcett. But the company has one product spokesman whom it would rather not publicize.

Corona del Mar plastic surgeon Michael Elam has filed a lawsuit against his longtime business partner, Louis L. Knickerbocker, accusing the president of L.L. Knickerbocker Co. of fraud, breach of contract and tampering with financial books. The suit, filed Tuesday in Orange County Superior Court, comes after Knickerbocker last summer stated that he was severing business relations with Elam, whose troubled past was seen as a liability to Knickerbocker's business.

Your series on cosmetic surgery has been well written and fair to the medical profession. I was, however, sorry to see Drs. George Brennan and Michael Elam depicted as spokesmen for cosmetic surgeons. They were plaintiffs in a suit against the Orange County Medical Assn. five years ago, which has been consistently misrepresented in your newspaper. The OCMA has long offered a referral service to the public providing names and addresses of physician members by specialty and location.

L. L. Knickerbocker Co., a television marketer whose soaring stock has drawn the attention of regulators, has sold millions of dollars' worth of collectible dolls, jewelry and other items promoted by celebrities such as Marie Osmond and Farrah Fawcett. But the company has one product spokesman whom it would rather not publicize.

A Newport Beach cosmetic surgeon, accused of giving a former beauty queen from Orange County a nose job and cheek implants that she never wanted, testified Thursday that "I just told her point-blank, if she didn't want to do the operation as I suggested, she shouldn't do it." But Dr. Michael Elam, contradicting emotional testimony last week from former Mrs. California Bonnie Luebke, asserted during his second day on the witness stand that the Trabuco Canyon woman responded: "Do the operation.

A Sacramento appellate court, dealing Newport Beach cosmetic surgeon Michael Elam the latest legal blow in his bid to salvage his reputation, has ordered him to stop practicing medicine while he appeals the state's revocation of his license, attorneys said Wednesday. Vowing vindication, Elam said he closed his office temporarily as of Wednesday. His Sacramento attorney, Richard Turner, said: "I don't even know where to talk about how ridiculous this decision is. . . .

In a Hollywood-style courtroom showdown over a face lift gone awry, a one-time Mrs. California pageant winner from Orange County broke down in tears Thursday as she testified that a Newport Beach cosmetic surgeon gave her a nose job and cheek implants that she "absolutely never, ever" wanted. Bonnie Luebke, 55, of Trabuco Canyon maintained that she went to Dr.

Your series on cosmetic surgery has been well written and fair to the medical profession. I was, however, sorry to see Drs. George Brennan and Michael Elam depicted as spokesmen for cosmetic surgeons. They were plaintiffs in a suit against the Orange County Medical Assn. five years ago, which has been consistently misrepresented in your newspaper. The OCMA has long offered a referral service to the public providing names and addresses of physician members by specialty and location.

"I'm down and out in Newport Beach," quips Michael Elam. He's no doubt "down"--losing your medical license after gaining national exposure as Phyllis Diller's cosmetic surgeon will do that to you. But "out"? Well . . . . The 43-year-old Elam still has his gated Corona del Mar home and pays rent at his lavish Fashion Island offices. He is still a frequent guest at Orange County black-tie galas. And he now has time to play golf almost daily--"anywhere people invite me and pay for it," he says.

A Sacramento appellate court, dealing Newport Beach cosmetic surgeon Michael Elam the latest legal blow in his bid to salvage his reputation, has ordered him to stop practicing medicine while he appeals the state's revocation of his license, attorneys said Wednesday. Vowing vindication, Elam said he closed his office temporarily as of Wednesday. His Sacramento attorney, Richard Turner, said: "I don't even know where to talk about how ridiculous this decision is. . . .

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Michael Elam, stripped of his medical license last month by state regulators, has won an 11th-hour judicial reprieve that lets him keep practicing--under tight restrictions--while he contests the punishment. Elam was supposed to close up shop today at his chic Fashion Island office.

Levying its harshest punishment, the Medical Board of California has stripped away the license of a well-known Newport Beach cosmetic surgeon who gave a disgruntled former Mrs. California a nose job and cheek implants she never wanted. The medical board declared 42-year-old Michael Elam of Corona del Mar--who rose to national attention in 1983 when he helped redo comedienne Phyllis Diller's face--to be both "dishonest" and "a dangerous person to be licensed as a physician and a surgeon."

The Medical Board of California, levying its harshest punishment, has stripped the license of a nationally known cosmetic surgeon in Newport Beach for his fraudulent treatment of a disgruntled former Mrs. California and another patient, officials said. Administrative Law Judge Rosalynn M. Chapman found that Dr.

A Newport Beach cosmetic surgeon, taking the witness stand for the first time to defend himself against charges of malpractice and insurance fraud, tried to show his expertise in the field Wednesday by suggesting that both the prosecuting and defense attorneys could use eyebrow lifts. Noting that drooping eyelids are often the first sign of aging, Dr. Michael Elam pointed to his attorney, Douglas Reynolds, and testified: "You have very sad eyes, Mr. Reynolds."

Levying its harshest punishment, the Medical Board of California has stripped away the license of a well-known Newport Beach cosmetic surgeon who gave a disgruntled former Mrs. California a nose job and cheek implants she never wanted. The medical board declared 42-year-old Michael Elam of Corona del Mar--who rose to national attention in 1983 when he helped redo comedienne Phyllis Diller's face--to be both "dishonest" and "a dangerous person to be licensed as a physician and a surgeon."

A nationally known cosmetic surgeon from Newport Beach threatened earlier this week to create professional and legal problems for his ex-partner if he did not change his testimony about a face lift on a former Mrs. California, the partner testified Thursday. The testimony threatens to severely undercut Dr. Michael Elam's defense against civil allegations of malpractice and insurance fraud and could also lead to criminal charges of witness tampering, said Deputy Atty. Gen.

A Newport Beach cosmetic surgeon, accused of giving a former beauty queen from Orange County a nose job and cheek implants that she never wanted, testified Thursday that "I just told her point-blank, if she didn't want to do the operation as I suggested, she shouldn't do it." But Dr. Michael Elam, contradicting emotional testimony last week from former Mrs. California Bonnie Luebke, asserted during his second day on the witness stand that the Trabuco Canyon woman responded: "Do the operation.