Doctor Files Lawsuit Against Don Imus

Newsday/AP ^ | 7-11-05 | SAMUEL MAULL

[Liberty Valance]

NEW YORK -- A doctor who once cared for sick children at Don Imus' New Mexico ranch has sued the tart-tongued radio personality for slander, claiming he made false derogatory comments about him on his "Imus in the Morning" show.

Dr. Howard Allen Pearson says in court papers that on at least four days last year, Imus said Pearson "was one of the worst doctors in the world and did not care if children suffered."

Pearson's lawsuit says Imus apparently misunderstood the physician's response to a morning call to treat a child for pain in July 2004.

Pearson left the main house and began a quarter-mile walk to the infirmary. Because the nurse had said there was no emergency, Pearson declined a ride offered by Imus' wife, court papers say.

The doctor says he gave the child pain medicine, and she resumed normal activities. About 45 minutes later, Imus, armed with a gun and a knife, pulled up in his truck, jumped out and began yelling and cursing at Pearson, the papers say.

[ItsForTheChildren]

You can imply she was somewhere else, but that's not indicated in the facts.

And neither is your contention.

[Tabi Katz]

So Imus pulled a gun on the man for refusing a ride? Either something is missing from doc's story, or somebody is hitting the bottle again, big time.

[Tunehead54]

Imus invites children who have been ill to visit his ranch in groups of 10 in the summer and spring.

---

I must admit I've tired of Imus because of his claimed conservative status but he ALWAYS overpowers his guest list with the likes of Dodd, Ford, etc. He's raised MILLIONS for this ranch and they do groups of 10? Nice in theory but maybe just give each kid $50K and tell them to have a nice vacation with their family? Just a thought.

[leadpenny]

It's good to know that others enjoy his show!

Other than C-SPAN's Washington Journal and FreeRepublic, it's the only adult entertainment around.

Seems to me you could put all the other morning shows at FOX, CNN, ABC, NBC and CBS in the same studio and you'd just have more goofy people cackling and giggling at one another.

As for all the Imus bashers around here and elsewhere, I suspect many are Imus watchers who just don't get the genius and wisdom of his show and don't want to admit it.

Concerning this latest dust-up - I'll wait until the lawyers quit picking' at it.

[leadpenny]

Thanks for the ping. More controversy that will only help his ratings. Not that he cares.

Imus is the best interviewer in the business.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

We're talking about a 5-minute walk. In a non-emergency situation, treatment within 5 minutes is immediate treatment. Imus is wrong.

[leadpenny]

Here comes the I Man.

[jaime1959]

I can't wait to hear Stern this morning.

[Liberty Valance]

Goodmorning Leadpenny. He is the best interviewer in the business. He just alluded to the fact that someone is suing him in his tue morning opening...no details.....yet :o)))

[leadpenny]

Imus says he welcomes this lawsuit and will talk about it in a few minutes.

[leadpenny]

I was hoping he'd have David Gregory on this morning. Gregory and others got quite animated yesterday at the WH news conference. He may have him on yet.

[leadpenny]

Explaining the event now.

[meema]

bump to read more comments later

[RetSignman]

Imus has stated many times his inability to breath while is on location at his 'ranch' because of his lung operation, yet, he brings a child who has had FOUR lung operations to WORK on his ranch.

This child was suffering all night and Mrs. Imus was applying oils on her body ( mentioned by Imus this morning.) Is she a qualified nurse ? Does she have some kind of certificate as a health provider? Why did she let the child suffer that long without consulting the doctor at the first instance of severe pain?

Imus claimed on his show that the doctor didn't have access to the proper pain killer's available at his 'ranch', so he gave the doctor his Vicodin to administer to the young lady. I was under the impression that his 'ranch' had all medical supplies and services on hand to treat any of these "ranch hands" who all have serious medical conditions when they arrive there.

In my opinion, this young lady should have been rushed post haste to the nearest medical center to be treated by professionals instead of having oil's applied by a woman with no medical background. They, obviously, don't have any confidence in their medical staff they have hired and they ( Mr. and Mrs. Imus) should be held responsible for any consequence of not providing proper care of their "ranch hands".

[jonsie]

You are absolutely correct, and isn't it illegal to give a prescription for someone to another?

[leadpenny]

According to Imus, that is what the doc did. He administered Imus' Vicodin to the child.

I'm not registered to read the entire article. Does it point out that the child died a few months after leaving the Ranch.

This lawsuit will go no where.

[wireman]

" You obviously know nothing about the toolkit of a rancher or timberland owner"

Rancher or timberland owner? That unfunny a-hole Imus is neither. He's a bum using a kid's charity as a front to build himself a fancy vacation home on other peoples money.

[bmwcyle]

Mr. ranch tax write off, Kerry supporting, old fool

[Mad Mammoth]

Thank you for that, it's funny the way documented facts and statements get in the way like that, eh?

[Hatteras]

"why would refuse a ride to the bunkhouse?"

Try this scenario...

Dimwitted wife driving around the ranch sees the doctor and pulls up alongside of him.

"Hey Doc, good morning!"

"Well, good morning to you too, Ms. Imus, how are you this morning?"

"I'm feeling pretty good, still a little crick in my neck though..."

"Well, Ms. Imus, why don't you give that palamino of yours a little rest for the next couple of weeks and see if that don't help that pretty little neck of yours?"

"Doctor's orders?"

"Doctor's orders..."

"Well, okay, I'll try and behave... Say Doc, where are you headed?"

"Aw, just over to the bunkhouse, seems that a young lady is feeling a little poorly this morning."

"Can I give you a lift?"

"Nah, it's right over there and besides, it's such a beautiful morning and being that I'm halfway there as it is, I'll just meet you there. Heck, by the time you park, I'll be walking in right behind you."

"Have it your way Doc, I'll race you there!"

Deirdre Imus walks in to the bunkhouse and sees her cranky old grandfa... er, uh, I mean, husband, Don Imus angrily pacing back and forth...

"Hi Honey!, beautiful morning for a ride isn't it! I'm leaving in an hour if you want to come along!

"I can't ride any stupid horses this morning, can't you see I'm agitated again?!"

"Well, what else is new dear?"

"Deirdre, have you seen the doctor this morning? I called him to come over and he's still not here yet..."

"Well, yes honey, I just passed him, he's on his way over right now."

"On his way? On his waaaaay?! He should have been here by now, I called him 8 minutes ago! Where is that toad-suckin' weasel?!"

"Well, don't blame me, honey, I offered him a ride..."

Personally, I just recently went to the emergency room with a severe ankle sprain. It took them 7 hours (Yes, that's right, SEVEN frickin' hours) from when I hobbled in the front door and crutched my way out the back door with a wrapped leg and my percoset prescription. Why should Don Imus expect anything better? Because he has money? Because he's rich, he should get whatever he wants, whenever he wants it? I've heard him spin the political news and recent elections enough to know that the truth is always a little south of what he's telling you. He has no problem calling anyone offensive names and bad-mouthing them across the national airwaves and unfortunately, things like that can effect a doctor's ability to earn a living. Sounds like the doctor is willing to stand up and fight back against the two-bit howdy doody cowboy with the nickel-plated microphone. Despite my 7 hour ordeal in the ER, I'll side with the doctor. Imus is an @$$.