STATE HIGH COURT REJECTS LIMBAUGH APPEAL

The Florida Supreme Court said Thursday that it would not consider an
appeal from conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh over the prosecutors'
seizure of his medical records during an investigation into whether he
illegally purchased painkillers.

The 4-3 order did not explain the court's reasoning.

Prosecutors seized Limbaugh's records in 2003 for their probe, but they
have remained sealed pending the outcome of Limbaugh's appeals.
Investigators say Limbaugh "doctor shopped," or illegally visited multiple
doctors to receive duplicate prescriptions.

Limbaugh, who has not been charged with any crime, lost at the
appellate-court level and wanted the Florida Supreme Court to overturn a
ruling that would open his medical records and possibly allow prosecutors
to build a case against him.

The court said it would not consider any motions for a review of the order,
so it was unclear whether Limbaugh has any further legal recourse to stop
the investigation. Limbaugh's spokesman, Tony Knight, said attorneys were
considering their legal options.

Mike Edmondson, a spokesman for the Palm Beach State Attorney's Office,
described the case as an "ongoing criminal investigation." He would not say
how soon prosecutors might review the medical records, which are being held
by the court, and would not comment further.

Limbaugh has maintained his innocence throughout the investigation and
argues that the case threatens the privacy rights of all Floridians -- a
point that has drawn the support of the American Civil Liberties Union.

"The consequences of this ruling affect the privacy of medical records for
every person in Florida," said Howard Simon, executive director of the
Florida ACLU. "Some of the most personal things in our lives are contained
in our medical records, and if they're not related to what a government
agency is investigating, then it should remain nobody's business."

Limbaugh did not comment on the ruling.