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.