Bubba The Love Sponge Reaches Legal Settlement With Schnitt
March 15, 2013
A long-running feud between Tampa Bay shock jocks "Bubba the Love Sponge" Clem and Todd "MJ" Schnitt has reached a settlement. Both parties were in mediation talks for 13 hours on Thursday, finally reaching a settlement at midnight, according to ABC's Action News. Schnitt had sued Bubba in civil court for defamation over comments that Bubba made about Schitt and his wife, Michelle, during their time as morning radio competitors in the Tampa market, but a jury ruled in Bubba's favor. Schnitt then threatened to seek a re-trial of the case, but this agreement ended any further litigation.
"We have an agreement. It's over," Bubba commented, according to the Action News report. "I'm more upset now than I was when I walked in here with all the chicken crap games that are being played. I won, and that's all I really care about."
The agreement prevents Bubba from making any disparaging remarks about Schnitt's wife and children, according to Schnitt's attorney, Wil Florin.
"In the event there are any violations to the agreement with regards to Michelle, the damages are $5,000 for each violation," Florin said.
After the deal was reached, Schnitt appeared outside the negotiation room with his wife and attorney. Schnitt said he was prepared to handle any future remarks from Bubba, so long as his family was not involved. "I'm a public figure, and you can assail me. You can attack me. You can call me a short guy, say you don't like my hair, say my show is no good. That's fair game," said Schnitt. "This has been about protecting my family. My children, primarily."
Bubba promised to have plenty to say about Schnitt on the air. "I'll never take my boot off his neck, ever," the deejay said.
As reported back in January, Schnitt also reached a settlement with Cox Radio regarding the incident. Terms of that settlement were kept confidential.