Tag Archive: injury


This post is not for my dearest Heather (who really needs to stop reading this now) as she’s lived through this more than enough for five lifetimes.

I am still gathering thoughts and impressions over this. I also still fully intend to write a book on our experiences. But one can say that after three and a half years this part of the journey is over.

I am home recovering today because going back into work on the East Coast Monday morning after 10 days on the west coast and travelling roughly 8 hours on the day before with a 4am wake up and landing at midnight (Pacific) (an hour late) may not have been the wisest idea.

During the case we asked for $1.4(M). This was based on several things not the least was permanent spinal damage that was going to cause a life of pain managed by monthly prescriptions of closely monitored narcotics, MRIs every 1-2 years to assure the damage wasn’t getting worse, the loss of our ability to have further children (Narcotics really aren’t good for children in utero), and the general upheaval to our lives. (The breakdown was $1M for Heather, $300K for myself, and $100K for Aiden)

The testimony of the “Independent” Medical Examiners, which is legal talk for Doctors hired by the defense to destroy the credibility of the injured party, were horrifying. Both made Heather out to be someone who was suffering from Scoliosis from before the accident and overselling her pain. They also went so far as to say that narcotics were bad for her.

The closing argument from the defense attorney was horrid. Any desire I ever had for legal work evaporated as he bent the misinformation into truth and bent the truth into unreliability. It was in a word sickening. This included such statements as, “I’m an only child and I’m happy.” I do not know how this man lives with himself. And I hate the argument, “You were just doing your job.”

The jury came back and awarded fair damages for medical work done in Washington (<20K which will likely all go to repay subrogation), but once we moved it was considered unnecessary. I’m not really sure how leaving a state cures someone. They believed no future medical costs were necessary. There was some pain and suffering as Washington mandates its award if economic damages are awarded. On Aiden and my behalf they awarded chump change for pain and suffering. Of whatever we see, 25% goes to the lawyer as payment.

Our lawyer informed us that two jury members utterly believed our story and were prepared to offer us what we asked for. One elderly woman however utterly felt that Heather was a narcotics addict and believed everything else. And the rest of the jury… compromised in the middle. Well conservative side of middle.

We’ve now seen what works and what horrendously doesn’t work in the Justice system. We know the games and powers that insurance companies use to batter away at the will and confidence of victims.

Make no mistake, Heather has received permanent spinal injury from the accident that she was a victim of. The type of injury can cause an array of neurological damage that she as been blissfully spared (so far). At the same time it also causes pain that is on par with delivering a child 24/7 and will live with that forever.

The insurance company and the defense lawyer where solidly aware of that. But did their jobs to undermine her as a victim. That is their jobs. Ours is to learn and to change the system so that the innocent aren’t damaged to the level we were.

Aiden fell onto his butt today. this unto itself wouldn’t be too bad. But he bit his tongue when he landed.

So today I got to deal with my first look at “Aiden Blood”

Needless to say.. not the milestone I was looking forward to ever seeing.

guh.

Boy is okay. He got ice cream from shimmeringjemmy and elocinnuala… shook off the pain in minutes.

Daddy will shake off the trauma by 2014

Well, it’s another halloween. I love this holiday.

I still need to track down pictures for 2005’s furry costume. I know we took them. Just need to find’em

I seem to have gotten into a rotation of Make, Buy, Fake

As always… I should do some catch up:

This is oddly the 1 yr anniversary of the Microsoft interview that didn’t pan out.

Also… as you read… Sunday I managed to ding myself rather bad.

Interestingly, no one at work seems to want to ask. They look… they notice… But they never ask. Which was sad because my wife had two answers prepared:

Her: Did you tell them that I’ve been beating you?
Me: This? Oh.. um… The first rule is that I can’t talk about it.

no one asked. 🙁

So.. now the recap for the newer readers

Again.. I love Halloween:
2005: I went furry. Tiger mask, tail, fuzzy slippers. Pictures forthcoming
2004: Gene Simmons (AGAIN) (details)
2003: 70’s disco hell. This costume was sadly renamed ‘Ron Jeremy’
2001,2002 – My fuddy-duddy not doing Halloween Years
2000: My personal favourite: The scary conservative without a costume

Costumes in the 90s included: The Crow, Dream (Sandman), more Gene Simmons (better pictures eventually),
and a personal favourite: Wakko Warner

Wakko was exceedingly (and surprisingly) hard to do. Finding a powder blue turtleneck in September/October teaches you what fall colours and styles are. I did the ears by using pipecleaners and hairbands in my hair. A friend made the tail. I bought the hands and feet.

Sadly, however… Many people thought I was Mickey Mouse. Which (due to that link especially) is understandable.

So this year.

This year was my, “Throw money at it” year. I knew what I wanted to do… And I tracked down all the pieces online.

Personally, I’m certain security will ask me to remove an obvious part of the costume. (No, not weapons)… But I think it’s the best work I’ve done… Better pictures soon. For now…

Image from today at the office behind the cut.