Rush Limbaugh Reaches Settlement with Prosecutors - Charge Will Be Dismissed In 18 Months

Friday, April 28, 2006 | Roy Black

[kristinn]

Rush Limbaugh's attorney has issued a statement announcing a settlement of the Florida prosecutor's investigation into alleged doctor shopping by Rush Limbaugh.

Details have been read by Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh. Basically, the charge of doctor shopping is dismissed, with some conditions.

In response to media and other inquiries, Roy Black, Rush Limbaugh's attorney, released the following statement today concerning a settlement agreement with the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office to end the investigation of Mr. Limbaugh:

"I am pleased to announce that the State Attorney's Office and Mr. Limbaugh have reached an agreement whereby a single count charge of doctor shopping filed today by the State Attorney will be dismissed in 18 months. As a primary condition of the dismissal, Mr. Limbaugh must continue to seek treatment from the doctor he has seen for the past two and one half years. This is the same doctor under whose care Mr. Limbaugh has remained free of his addiction without relapse.

"Mr. Limbaugh and I have maintained from the start that there was no doctor shopping, and we continue to hold this position. Accordingly, we filed today with the Court a plea of 'Not Guilty' to the charge filed by the State.

"As part of this agreement, Mr. Limbaugh also has agreed to make a $30,000 payment to the State of Florida to defray the public cost of the investigation. The agreement also provides that he must refrain from violating the law during this 18 months, must pay $30 per month for the cost of "supervision" and comply with other similar provisions of the agreement.

"Mr. Limbaugh had intended to remain in treatment. Thus, we believe the outcome for him personally will be much as if he had fought the charge and won."

The actions taken today are as follows:

-- The State Attorney has filed a single charge of doctor shopping with the Court. The charge is being held in abeyance under the terms of an agreement between the State and Mr. Limbaugh.

-- Mr. Limbaugh has filed a plea of "Not Guilty" with the Court.

The formal agreement between Mr. Limbaugh and the State Attorney will be filed with the Court on Monday. The terms of the agreement are substantively as follows:

-- Mr. Limbaugh will continue in treatment with the doctor he has seen for the past two and one half years.

-- After Mr. Limbaugh completes an additional 18 months of treatment, the State Attorney has agreed to drop the charge.

-- Mr. Limbaugh has agreed to make a $30,000 payment to the State of Florida to defray the public cost of the investigation.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060428/nyf133.html?.v=2

[chiller]

Limbaugh may well be the consummate broadcaster of all time.

Without a doubt, imho. Who else could possibly be in the running for that honor? Paul Harvey, perhaps.....15 minutes a day, scripted. No comparison. Not to trivialize Paul Harvery, btw.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Back pain is awful, not just because of the pain itself but because of the loss of mobility it causes. I had terrible sporadic back pain for several years, and spent most of my days walking with a lean like the Tower of Pisa or completely hunched over. And I'm not THAT old.

[Howlin]

But, you're more than "discussing", you're passing (a misguided) judgment against Rush Limbaugh.

Is it "misguided" because my interpretation of what has happened doesn't agree with yours?

Is that how it is now? Because I don't say it like you want me to, I'm misguided?

[OldFriend]

You have an interesting set of values. I leave you to them.

[machogirl]

payroll or not, friend or not, Rush is a human being, even though he's a well oiled machine, I can't believe all that he has accomplished in his life, let alone with the pain and deafness that he's had to deal with.

I first thought that he was full of himself, when he first was heard on KFYI, but I gave him the requesite 6 weeks, and I was hooked. I have Fibro with constant pain, so I know what he's going through and he still manages to sound so upbeat and happy. That is a treat to listen to. Go Rush!

[CyberAnt]

I'm so busy putting a marketing plan together, I don't have time to watch TV. This afternoon's computer time is for relaxation.

[Txsleuth]

Dang....your wings MUST be tired...LOL

BTW...Do you ever listen to Hugh Hewitt??

I just turned to him for a second...and he isn't bothered at all about the Spanish "national anthem"...

And, when someone called up and mentioned that this is on May 1st...Hugh started laughing at the caller and asked him if he "fell for this also...that is has something to do with communist/socialist groups"....

He said this is only a democratic "precinct walk"...and has NOTHING to do with what May 1st is about..and no "radical" groups are involved at all...and everyone is making too much about this.."no big deal"...

What do you think about that??

I have to say I am really very surprised at Hugh's take.

[onyx]

Roy Black on Greta -- top of the hour.

[Cheburashka]

Shouldn't the 'Charge Dismissed' be removed from the title of this thread, for clarity? They just now levied the charge (none existed before), and it won't be dismissed for months. I think 'reaching a settlement' is a more accurate description of this events.
---
The Free Republic rule is you use the headline the news outlet uses, you don't make up your own.

That makes it easier avoid multiple postings of the identical story from the identical source.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Pass the salt...........

[Fruitbat]

What???? He has to pay $30,000 for the witch-hunt THEY conducted against him??? UNREAL!

I can't imagine that he cares. $30K to him is like ten bucks to me.

[Law is not justice but process]

"Rush is at his lowest right now"

With all due respect, I disagree. Rush was at his lowest when he was addicted to the pain pills. He has had a hard road to overcome that addiction. I am sure he broke some laws to get all the pills he was alleged to have taken when he was addicted. In fact, it is illegal to get as many pills as he took in the time he took them, because of the limits on possession of prescription drugs. He has found a way to make amends for the laws he broke under the laws and the standard procedure of Florida. The only thing about the deal that bothers me is the $30,000 he paid. It makes me worry about the Florida system, because it looks like he was able to get a favorable outcome by putting out some baksheesh (it leaves the appearance that someone without the $30K would not do so well).

For the last eight months, I have been the assigned prosecutor for our local drug court program. I have seen first hand how difficult it is to overcome an addiction. Rush is to be commended for doing what he had to do to overcome his. He has the wherewithal to do what many have failed to do. It takes a strong personality to do it, and a real dedication to sobriety. Rush has done it despite the spotlight of publicity, despite the loss of his hearing, and despite the demise of his marriage. I have seen people throw away a chance to completely avoid 10 years in prison in order to get another hit of crack or another pill. It is amazing what people will do to get drugs when they are addicted. I would hold Rush up as an example of how addiction can be overcome, and how a person can return to a normal life despite addiction, the public spotlight, health problems, and marriage problems.

And he did all that without whining about being a victim of society or the pills.

Yeah, Rush broke the law. But he hasn't been given a pass. He earned it.

[OldFriend]

Judging from the classless comments from thatcher I'd say Rush is not getting his money's worth from his employee.

[Fawn]

Hey.....it's the truth...I admit it. Doesn't mean I'm bad at anything...he's just 'better' at alot of things. Hence the mansion and million dollar salary.

[Fawn]

Thank you.

[Purrcival]

Kewl! LOVE listening to Roy Black - he's always great on the air. I'll have to catch the replay at 3:00 AM ET, however...

[I still care]

I am a 24/7 member of Rush, and listen to him every night like other people watch TV before bedtime. Without fail.

My kids know no one goes to bed at night if my computer connection isn't working right. Evil mommy will get my techie son out of bed at 2 in the am if I can't get Rush. It's one of the idiosyncrasies of having a Rushbot mom.

I also am on regular pain meds for a bad back, and understand life in the pain lane. Rush should be the last person the DA is harassing. Life is tough enough when you can't even sit in a chair.

:) I love Rush.