According to the Associated Press, Michael Schiavo sued medical professionals who he said failed to recognize symptoms that caused his wife's heart to stop beating, causing her brain damage. As a result, he won a $1.2 million settlement.
At the time, Michael sought the funds with the promise to use the money for Terri Schiavo's care and rehabilitation.
As part of the settlement, Michael Schiavo received $300,000, the rest being earmarked for Terri's care and rehabilitation.
His attorneys say today most of the money designated for Terri is gone, spent on her care and legal bills.
One of his lawyers, Deborah Bushnell, told the AP that more than half of the $700,000 designated from the malpractice award for Terri's care has been spent for that purpose, with the rest going toward litigation.
But that statement is at odds with records that show that lawyers - not medical care - ate up most of the expenditures and have been paid directly from Terri's Medical Trust fund, with the approval of Judge George Greer:
Here�s where most of the money went:
Atty. Gwyneth Stanley: $10,668.05
Atty. Deborah Bushnell: $65,607
Atty. Steve Nilson: $7,404.95
Atty. Pacarek: $1,500
Atty. Richard Pearse (GAL): $4,511.95
Atty. George Felos: $397,249.99
Other - 1st Union/South Trust Bank: $55,459.85
Michael Schiavo: $10,929.95
Total: $545,852.34
These funds, the result of a malpractice suit, were intended solely to provide for Terri Schiavo�s care and rehabilitation, not to pay lawyers to help Michael Schiavo kill his wife.
Schiavo�s primary attorney, George Felos, a professional advocate of mercy killing, has received upwards of $400,000 since Schiavo hired him. This same attorney, at the expense of Terri�s medical fund, publicly likened Terri to a "houseplant" and has used Terri�s case on national television to promote his newly published book.
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