comma before present participle: he would spend..., overcoming a drug

[wizard8451]

In 2004, the project was brought to a halt when James Hetfield checked into a California rehab facility, where he would spend the next six months, overcoming a drug addiction.

I though it should be there because I think it's a praticiple phrase modifying 'he', but it doesn't seem like it belongs.

 

[BabyDracule]

If you took out "Where he would spend the next sixth months", the sentence would look like this:

"In 2004, the project was brought to a halt when James Hetfield checked into a California rehab facility overcoming a drug addiction."

The remaining sentence is completely valid and legit. The "where he would spend the next sixth months" is extra information that the reader doesn't really need.

In this case, yes, the comma is used correctly.

 

[Palcan]

If you took out "Where he would spend the next sixth months", the sentence would look like this:

"In 2004, the project was brought to a halt when James Hetfield checked into a California rehab facility overcoming a drug addiction."
This sentence doesn't sound right to me. I would say : "In 2004, the project was brought to a halt when James Hetfield checked into a California rehab facility to overcome a drug addiction."

As for the original sentence, I wouldn't put the comma if I'm using 'overcoming'. However, I'd keep the comma if I'm using 'to overcome': "In 2004, the project was brought to a halt when James Hetfield checked into a California rehab facility, where he would spend the next six months, to overcome an addiction."

 

[BabyDracule]

Nice catch Palcan.

I was not paying attention close enough to the verb used.

 

[Blues Piano Man]

In 2004, the project was brought to a halt when James Hetfield checked into a California rehab facility, where he would spend the next six months, overcoming a drug addiction.

I though it should be there because I think it's a praticiple phrase modifying 'he', but it doesn't seem like it belongs.

The purpose of a comma is to denote a short pause. There should not be a pause following "...six months..."

So I agree with the original poster. I would write the sentence...
"In 2004, the project was brought to a halt when James Hetfield checked into a California rehab facility, where he would spend the next six months overcoming a drug addiction.