Tampa, Florida -- More problems for Tampa Bay radio shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge.
Two months ago, Nielsen Audio filed a federal lawsuit against Bubba for "ratings tampering."
This week the company filed a new complaint claiming it has more damaging evidence proving Bubba did it.
At a news conference in October, Bubba said, "I take full responsibilities for what happened and what will happen here forward."
That's what Bubba said this year when he admitted he paid someone to manipulate the ratings by saying he listened to his station more than he did, but the amended complaint filed by Nielsen, the ratings people, alleges Bubba did not pay one person to manipulate the ratings -- the suit says it was several.
Bubba's attorney, Todd Foster, is firm in saying, "The news conference related one individual, that's far different from what I've seen in the complaint so far."
Foster told 10Investigates WTSP from Miami he has no idea how Nielsen came up with more ratings participants that it says Bubba manipulated. However, Nielsen says through tweets and private texts -- which we don't know the company received -- alleges Bubba implicates himself and the scheme.
The suit says In a May 15 tweet Bubba contacts one person he wants to manipulate the ratings.
"Can u talk?" he asks, "need to tell u how to do it."
Nielsen says Bubba was worried he would be caught and sends a text on July 31.
"U have to PROMISE NOT TO SAY A WORD" This could ruin, me "I trust u."
And then in an Augu. 9 text Bubba says: "Got raw numbers today. We went down. It's so important you get up Please Buddy. Please. I'm paying u."
10Investigates asked Foster are there possible criminal penalties with this? He said, "I am not aware there have been any investigations."
And in a motion to dismiss, Foster argues the case doesn't belong in federal court and Nielsen admits the tampering didn't affect the ratings. However, the incident did affect Bubba
At last month's news conference he somberly admitted, "There are no excuses. The buck stops with me and I cannot tell you how humbled and embarrassed I am."
Besides being embarrassed, Bubba could feel more pain as Nielsen is seeking a million dollars in damages.
The attempt to shoot to the top of the ratings completely back fired as Nielsen excluded Bubba's ratings from its September and October reports.
Past reports on the case:
