$780K to be paid from Scrushy assets

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - A judge has ordered the payout of about $780,000 from the sale of Richard Scrushy's cars and other property to shareholders of HealthSouth Corp.

Part of the money will go toward taxes and upkeep on Scrushy's multimillion-dollar estates in Vestavia Hills and on Lake Martin. Shareholders of the rehabilitation corporation founded by Scrushy now control those properties and are sprucing them up for sale.

Proceeds from the eventual sales will help pay a $2.8 billion judgment against Scrushy. A judge ruled he was responsible for the fraud that nearly bankrupted HealthSouth and ordered him to pay damages.

Scrushy was acquitted on fraud charges in the HealthSouth debacle, but he is currently imprisoned for bribing former Gov. Don Siegelman in another case.