Jury Acquits HealthSouth Founder of All Charges By Carrie Johnson

Outside the courthouse, Scrushy told reporters that he was bolstered by the verdict. “There are a lot of wrongs that need to be made right,” he said. “Thank God for this.” …

Scrushy, who is white, preached at predominantly black churches and donated more than $1 million to the Guiding Light Baptist church, which he joined shortly before he was indicted in 2003. He invited black pastors, some wearing clerical collars, to occupy benches in the courtroom in the jury’s line of sight.

Defense lawyer Donald V. Watkins, a Birmingham fixture and owner of a local bank, entreated jurors in his closing to “send a message to Washington” and to remember the days of segregated water fountains and unequal treatment for blacks. …

HealthSouth’s new leaders restated earnings by more than $1 billion Monday to erase some of the fraud off the books.

Robert P. May, the company’s chairman, said in a statement that he was “appalled by the multibillion-dollar fraud that took place under Mr. Scrushy’s management and the environment under which such fraud could occur.” He said Scrushy would not be welcome at HealthSouth under any circumstances.

In Scrushy Trial, Jurors Chose Defense’s Portrait By Ben White

During the trial, Scrushy appeared on a morning television show in Birmingham called “Viewpoint” in which he and his wife read Bible verses. He began preaching in fundamentalist churches and invited pastors to the trial. Several jurors said in pretrial questionnaires that they attended church. …

Vanderbilt University law professor Larry D. Soderquist, a close observer of the trial, said defense efforts to highlight Scrushy’s connection to predominately black churches in Birmingham may have won points with the seven black members of the jury.

“Send a message to Washington” and to remember the days of segregated water fountains and unequal treatment for blacks.

Hmmm. Would that be the same Washington the smashed Jim Crow? What exactly is that message and what exactly do segregated water fountains have to do with a rich White crook who conveniently found god at the right time and place? mjh