$1M Offer Won't End Tube Fight

An effort to entice feeding-tube-dependent Terri Schiavo's husband into abandoning his authority to oversee her care has ended with a firm "no" from Schiavo.

Hours after a judge refused to delay the removal of a feeding tube from a brain-damaged woman, a California businessman offered her husband $1 million to settle the case.

"I have made an offer to Terri's husband in the amount of $1 million to relinquish his custody rights to Terry's parents," Robert Herring of San Diego told Gordon Byrd of CBS radio affiliate WHNZ.

Judge George W. Greer ruled Thursday that Florida's social services agency cannot intervene to delay the removal of the feeding tube from Terri Schiavo. That removal is scheduled for March 18.

This wasn't the first offer. Schiavo's attorney says he's turned down others, including one for $10 million.

Herring then tendered his offer to pay Michael Schiavo if he would let his wife's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, oversee their daughter's care. The Schindlers oppose removing the tube feeding.

The husband's attorney says his client won't take the money, reports Byrd.

Herring's offer is valid until Monday, according to a statement from his attorney, Gloria Allred. The money has been deposited into a trust account at Allred's Los Angeles law firm, the statement said.

Herring, who founded an electronics company and later a cable and satellite channel, said he felt "compelled to act."

He said he was inspired by a video shot by the woman's parents which he and they believe show her consciously responding to family members.

"I believe very strongly that there are medical advances happening around the globe that very shortly could have a positive impact on Terri's condition," Herring said.

The Department of Children & Families had asked for a 60-day delay in the March 18 date for removal. The agency said it wanted time to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect against Michael Schiavo.

The judge said the allegations had already been investigated and found to be groundless. He said the agency was apparently trying to pull an end run around the court by getting involved at this late stage.

"The Department of Children and Families is reviewing the judge's decision and we are weighing our legal options," DCF spokesman Tim Bottcher told WHNZ.

Michael Schiavo's attorney criticized the last-minute attempt by DCF to step in, saying that it was engineered by Gov. Jeb Bush and others who support her parents.

Some doctors say Terri Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state. She suffered brain damage in 1990 after her heart stopped because of a chemical imbalance believed to have been brought on by an eating disorder.

Michael Schiavo has gotten a court order to remove the feeding tube, contending his wife told him she would not want to be kept alive artificially. Her parents dispute that, and have fought their son-in-law in court for nearly seven years over their daughter's fate. They believe she can get better.

Gov. Jeb Bush said he was disappointed by Greer's ruling. In 2003, Bush pushed a law through the Legislature that authorized him to resume the woman's feedings six days after a court stopped them. The law was later ruled unconstitutional by the Florida Supreme Court.

"I don't know how DCF can't be involved," he said. "There's a law that says if the hot line is called and there's a warranted need for an investigation that there ought be an investigation."

The Schindlers' attorney, David Gibbs III, said they too were disappointed but are waiting to see how DCF will proceed.

The Schindlers still have two issues before the state's 2nd District Court of Appeal, which has said it will rule next week. They also are looking to the Legislature and perhaps Congress for help; both have bills in the works that lawmakers say could save Terri Schiavo's life.