By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham AL – A legal blow has been dealt to former HealthSouth chairman Richard Scrushy as pretrial motions continue in his government corruption case. Federal magistrate Charles Coody today rejected arguments from Scrushy's attorneys that accused prosecutors of misconduct. They were trying to get charges against Scrushy's thrown out based on claims that federal prosecutors misled them into revealing their defense strategy. Magistrate Coody's ruling says dismissal of an indictment is an extreme sanction used only for flagrant misconduct ... and he says that's something the defense failed to show. The ruling will be sent as a recommendation to U-S District Judge Mark Fuller, who will make the final decision. The trial for Scrushy, former Governor Don Siegelman and two of his former Cabinet members begins May first in Montgomery.