Pubdate: Wed, 06 Jul 2005 Source: Palm Beach Post, The (FL) Copyright: 2005 The Palm Beach Post Contact: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/333 Author: Susan Spencer-Wendel Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone) JUDGE GIVES SOME LIMBAUGH RECORDS TO PROSECUTORS WEST PALM BEACH -- A judge handed some of Rush Limbaugh's medical records to prosecutors this afternoon in a blunt ending to the conservative talk-show king's battle to keep his medical records private and out of their hands. Circuit Judge Thomas Barkdull III also returned a thicker stack of files to Limbaugh's lawyer, Roy Black, at a brief hearing in open court. Barkdull had divvied up the records, deciding which would be returned to Limbaugh and which would be forwarded to Assistant State Attorney James Martz for use in the criminal investigation of Limbaugh. Black's stack was visibly thicker than Martz's. The brief handoff ends Limbaugh's 19-month battle through the courts of Florida, claiming his records' seizure was a violation of his privacy rights. Limbaugh, 55, of Palm Beach, has not been charged with any crime. He's been a target of investigators since his former housekeeper told the State Attorney's Office of his prescription drug abuse. Shortly after Limbaugh's public admission he was addicted, investigators got search warrants and seized records from Limbaugh's doctor offices. They alleged possible doctor-shopping -- seeking duplicate prescriptions from doctors -- a felony almost never prosecuted before in the county. Limbaugh was not in court for the hearing. Asked afterward how Limbaugh would respond when told of the handoff to prosecutors, Black paused before answering. "I'm just editing myself. I'd rather not comment on that one," he said. Black talked of constitutional rights being stripped away in today's society. "Now we have this case where the state has been given the right to seize our medical records mainly because they want to go after somebody who's a celebrity." Prosecutors have declined to comment citing an ongoing criminal investigation. Martz made a brief statement to reporters Wednesday, though, saying review of the records will go forward in earnest. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom