A little over a year ago, I took some heat from when I stood up for INTEGRIS Health during their much publicized legal battle with Garth Brooks.
If you remember correctly, Garth Brooks donated $500,000 to a hospital in Yukon thinking they would name a hospital wing after his mother. INTEGRIS claimed naming rights weren't part of the deal, and then Brooks asked for his donation back. INTEGRIS refused, Brooks took them to court, and a Claremore jury of country music fans, hillbillies and Garth Brooks autograph seekers (pictured above) ruled in his favor.
Here's what I wrote at the time:
When did Garth Brooks become the mean banker from the Dirt Bike Kid? The guy’s worth $325-million and he’s suing a hospital for $500,000 because they didn’t name a hospital wing after his mom. That would be like me driving back to Taco Bell and asking for a refund because they didn’t leave the red sauce off my bean burrito.
Seriously, what a tool. I hope the thunder rolls and the lightning strikes him right on the head. Maybe INTEGRIS did lie and maybe they are a “not for profit” system that generates billions of dollars in revenue, but who cares. Live with it and move on! This is a hospital. You don’t donate something to them and then ask for it back. That’s such an Indi…uh…uhh…uhhh…taker backer (!!!) thing to do. Thanks Rugrats!..
Anyway, I hope Garth Brooks loses this case. Sure, INTEGRIS is loaded, but the money went to construct a hospital and/or pay ridiculous executive salaries and/or to write off bad debt owed by poor people without insurance. That’s money well spent if you ask me.
Anyway, I bring this up because I'm apparently not the only one who thinks Garth Brooks is a greedy, shady tool. Check out this lawsuit that a former business partner filed against him.