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Another wrinkle in the Gene Burns "mild stroke" story

Something new to add to the Gene Burns "mild stroke" story.

I have heard that:
--He won't be back on the air
--He did suffer a mild stroke
--He is unable to speak
--He is currently hospitalized
--Rich Lieberman, described as a "stalker" by some inside KGO, was told to retract his story because of possible litigation against the station as well as him. (Wasn't his source a KGO employee?)

This is info culled from several different people, all of whom have some part of the story, and their version of it is based on who they are in the employee chain, where they learned their information and so on. If you're familiar with the Japanese film, Rashomon and the Rashomon effect after which it is named, you have some idea of what I've "heard."
I don't know if anyone knows the real story and it's likely we never will, at least not for a while, but Mr. Burns has had his share of health difficulties in the last year and I raise this latest wrinkle here in case others know something more concrete.
For what it's worth, I have the highest respect for Mr. Burns, and hope he's well enough to return to the air. For someone with his mind and talents to lose the power of speech would no doubt be devastating for him, and a loss for fans of intelligent talk radio.
 
kinetic said:
--Rich Lieberman<>was told to retract his story because of possible litigation against the station as well as him. (Wasn't his source a KGO employee?)

Litigation??? For anyone to sue for libel, the story has to be: 1. Untrue, and 2. Cause defamation of character (against Mr. Burns or his employer). This sounds like journalism to me. Something lacking in our "mainstream media" nowadays.

Disclaimer: No, I'm not a lawyer, but I did take business law in college. 8)
 
To defame a public figure like Gene, you have to show actual malice. NYTimes v. Sullivan. This is extremely hard to prove...if it wasn't, reporters and news organizations would be sued every 5 minutes.
 
I wonder how many of you have SEEN Mr. Burns in the last six months. I have. He looked awful in November, the last time I saw him. I mean, really awful. He always was frail, but when I saw him last, he had the look of one not long for this earth. I saw him at KGO.
 
Gene's off again Next week same four guest hosts plus Ed Baxter. Joel Riddell will fill in on Dining Around for the next two weeks. :-\
 
johndmartin said:
Gene's off again Next week same four guest hosts plus Ed Baxter. Joel Riddell will fill in on Dining Around for the next two weeks. :-\

Joel Riddell did an excellent job with fill-in when Gene was indisposed before.
 
If Gene Burns talked about his medical issues, he would not have time to talk about anything else because he has been through hell and back from the boat trip fall to the this and the that, I'm glad he has Medicare.
 
MC said:
If Gene Burns talked about his medical issues, he would not have time to talk about anything else because he has been through hell and back from the boat trip fall to the this and the that, I'm glad he has Medicare.

I'm not sure of the proper medical term but Gene has a fused neck & has for 20 plus years so when he falls he can't defensively move his body the same as able bodied people which makes a fall worse. I think Gene just fell & hit his head I don't believe didn't have a stroke.

GB is actually a neighbor of mine I pass his home almost daily.
 
Having had a stoke myself, I am going to mention that a minor stroke is a big deal. Even a TIA, which is often labeled a "mini-stroke" is a big deal, as a TIA is often a precursor to a major stroke.

Whether Gene suffered a minor stroke or TIA, this is a big deal, if indeed he did suffer either of those maladies.

We all need to wish him well.
 
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