[Queen Mum]

TV judge's verdict: Amputee keeps legMan who found limb in smoker gets $5,000MARCIE YOUNGmyoung@charlotteobserver.comShannon Whisnant already has two legs. And on Thursday, Judge Greg
Mathis said that's enough.The leg, Mathis said when the decision aired Thursday evening on his
reality television court program, belongs to John Wood, who was born
with it.Whisnant walked away with $5,000."You're not getting that leg," Mathis told Whisnant. "I'm not giving you
the man's leg."Wood and Whisnant had been vying for ownership of the appendage since
Sept. 25, when Whisnant bought a barbecue smoker at a Maiden auction and
opened it up to find Wood's leg -- the foot, five toes, ankle and most
of the calf -- inside.Wood's leg was amputated after a 2004 plane crash, and he had been
keeping it in the smoker at the storage unit with his other belongings.
But after he failed to pay $550 in rental fees, the owner of the
facility auctioned off his things.And even though Whisnant got $5,000, which was paid through "Judge
Mathis," out of the deal, he would have rather walked away with two left
feet, he told the Observer on Thursday. He'd open a museum, he said,
displaying the leg for a fee -- $10 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for
kids and nothing for amputees -- and showcase other oddities.On Thursday, Whisnant refused to say how much he paid for the smoker
unless he was given money for the information.Decisions made by Mathis are binding, publicist Christine DeJoy said,
and Wood and Whisnant agreed not to file the same lawsuit in any other
jurisdiction.Wood asked for $5,000 for emotional distress the case has caused, which
Mathis denied."I think that you all, quite frankly, are enjoying this," Mathis said.Wood admitted as much."It's just crazy, I've been having a fun time with it," Wood said
Thursday. "But I apologize to the world for this, because I know a lot
of people don't want to hear about it."  
MAIDEN --Shannon Whisnant sees movie deals, book contracts, a museum and just
plain ol' bragging rights.That is, if he can convince John Wood to share his leg.It's been more than a week since Whisnant bought a barbecue smoker at a
Maiden storage facility auction and opened it to find Wood's leg -- the
foot, ankle and most of the calf -- wrapped in screen wire, setting off
a flurry of media attention that has circled the globe.Now, each man is saying the leg belongs to him.Whisnant said he has the receipt -- stored in a fireproof safe --
showing he bought the smoker and its contents. "I told him I'd share
custody of it," Whisnant said. "Kind of like young'uns."Wood was born with the leg, but it was amputated after a plane crash
that killed his father and injured two other family members three years
ago. "I want to be cremated as a whole man," he said. "It's nothing
macabre."It's been a rocky road since the men first started talking about
ownership of the leg last week, and their first in-person meeting
Wednesday didn't do much to smooth it out.The two seemed to have conflicting ideas and opinions about the leg and
never agreed on how to proceed.Whisnant said he assumed the leg was being stored at a Maiden funeral
home, where police left it for Wood because it was not evidence in a
crime.Wood, meanwhile, talked only cryptically about its location. "There are
a lot of uncertainties in my life right now," he said when asked
directly if he knew where his leg was being kept.But Wood's sister, Marion Wood-Lytle, said by phone that her brother
picked up the appendage from her home shortly before meeting with
Whisnant Wednesday."I don't know why he's being so secretive about it," she said. "I said,
`John, just take it and go.' "Later, Wood confirmed for the Observer that the leg "was in his control"
but would not say whether he was planning to take it with him.Whisnant has hinted that he would file several lawsuits if the leg isn't
returned to him.The men did not reach any agreement before Wood headed back to his home
in Greenville, S.C."I'm willing to share my story," Wood said, "but I won't let him profit
off finding my leg."But Whisnant said that in their telephone conversations, Wood has been
open to sharing the appendage. Whisnant hopes the publicity will turn
into more than a few bucks, he said, and wants talk with television and
movie executives and maybe set up some sort of viewing room.If he is able to convince Wood to share custody of the leg, Whisnant
said, he would set a viewing charge of $10 for adults, $5 for seniors,
$3 for kids and nothing for amputees."It'd be a great for tourism," he said. "Maiden could use some fresh
money. We've got nothing but old money around here, and we could use a
little extra cash flow."But Maiden Mayor Bob Smyre said he isn't so sure the legend of the
leg-found-in-a-smoker is a lasting one."He couldn't pay me a dollar to go see that leg," Smyre said. "Is it
going to turn into an international tourist attraction? I don't think
so." 

[Flasher]

This is the most ridiculous, retarded and stupid story I've heard in a long time.  I think they are both idiots.  The amputee for storing his leg in such a stupid place and the purchaser for being such a gross, money hungry pig.But, to answer you . . . the leg belongs with the amputee.  Period.  Unless of course the auction clearly indicated the leg as part and parcel, but I'm pretty sure it didn't.Edited to say, I take that back.  Apparently it was for the contents of the grill so . . . legally I guess the amputee loses.  However, it's really sad that the other jerk wants to keep the leg.  

[No1Mommy]

LOL...the story is a hoot.  Just when I think I have heard it all............

[Marie D]

Oh man! They even talked about this on Swedish national radio... I couldn't believe it!! There are just SO many wrong things in this story...... Storing an amputead leg? Not giving it back? PAYING to see the leg???? YIKES! Makes me cringe!

[Emsdancemom]

This whole story is just wrong....but it did make me smile!  

[FurBaby_Mom]

Ewww......this is funny - reminds me of something.  Eli is learning the bones of the body, so we have this skeleton that snaps together.  His name is Skelly and Skelly is always losing his body parts.  Just this morning I found his leg bone in Eli's bed.  I'm sorry - this is what I thought of when I saw this title!

[Queen Mum]

Do you think this was right?

[Renee]

I think this is stupid and I don't understand why on earth the man who found the limb would WANT to keep it?! I would have been so disgusted. Gross, just gross!!