I've got a story to tell. Imagine for a moment this happened to you. It can. It is happening to me.
July 15
I
was offered a permanent full time job with a warehouse store. After
discussing this opportunity with the Warehouse Manager, and admitting
to him my genetic disposition to back trouble, He still asked me if I'd
like to take the job. Of course I accepted.
July/August/September
I
worked and frequently complained that my back ached. The only response
I ever got from my immediate supervisor was, " If you wanna quit then
quit otherwise get to work."
October/November/December
Continued to work even though my back ached. I needed the money to help pay bills and buy necessities.
January
My
longtime girlfriend kicks me out of her apartment. Of course I continue
working, especially now I need to cover all my own bills. Back is
aching almost daily.
February/March
I continue the daily work
lifting heavy boxes of flooring tile, carpet remnants, and vinyl
flooring. I'm frequently left to do most of the work myself because my
co-worker/boss is out running something somewhere for someone. He's
gone sometimes 2 — 3 hours, only to return in time for his "Lunch" and
he's gone again for another hour.
April
My back aches all the
time, but now I'm about to step into a fatherhood role for a 3 year old
and a 6 year old. I can't quit or give up now!
May 22
I come
home at the end of the day and I can barely manage to climb the stairs
into our apartment, upon arriving upstairs, I'm unable to pick up my 3
year old step-son. I report to the emergency room. At the E.R. the
doctor orders an x-ray, he then comes into the room after the x-ray and
tells me he can see that obviously the discs in my back have problems
and he can "see" where the vertebrae are hitting. The official reports
says, "probably a normal variant". The doctor writes me a prescription
and tells me flexeril and Tylenol. Take 3 days off work. So i call work
and tell them I'm out for 3 days. those 3 days subsequently run in to
my "weekend" off. I end up out for 5 days.
May 27
I return to
work on "light duty". As usual my co-worker/boss takes off again! I'm
left in the warehouse working "work orders" and filling installer's
trucks on my own. I'm asked to pull a rather large remnant from the
wall and cut it for a customer, I'm not supposed to be lifting, BUT,
this is my job. I return home and then to the emergency room. The
doctor there prescribes Tylenol #3 and continue the flexeril. He takes
me out of work for 5 days. I call work to tell them I'm now going to be
out for an additional 5 days.
May 29
I went to work today to pick up my paycheck and was handed a :
Termination Notice,
Reason: Back Problems
with my check.
September
I
was brought into court on claims that I was "detached from the
workforce". It's fairly difficult for able-bodied people to find work
and I'm having to request light duty. Who do you think gets the jobs?
July
I
request a prescription for a "Rolling walker with a seat". My
Step-son's love to go for walks and to the playgrounds. I'm beginning
to feel very unsteady on my feet.
August
Pain Management
doctor performs a "Discogram" and proves I have disc tears at 2
different levels in my back, Previous M.R.I.'s have shown bulging and
herniated discs at multiple levels. Herniation noted as "Impressing on
the left dorsal nerve root ganglion".
September
Once again we are back in court on the "Workforce Detachment" issue.
May
Insurance
lawyer files Section 114a Fraud charges against me. has video from last
September showing me "not using my walker". Doctors have never stated
"Needs walker" and do say "for extended trips" I walked my boys to the
bus stop maybe 100 yards from my home, without the walker.
June
Back
in court with the actual video and the P.I. My lawyer is too busy to
join me in court so he sends his partner. We go through almost an hour
of video pointing out that I'm walking here and there without my
walker. Never am I seen going more then 100 yards but this is
"conclusive evidence". I've testified that I'm a parent and I take care
of my step-children. They videotape me carrying my stepson, all 26
pounds of him, who was sick, and opening a store door. Is this "fraud"
also? I'm a parent and I think any parent would do the same, just
because you have pain doesn't mean you can stop being a parent!
July
The
Judge renders his decision stating that claimant "threw walker into his
vehicle". I submit to you the public I drive a Conversion van, there is
maybe 3 feet of space between the back doors and the back seat, There
is no room and no possible way to "throw" anything bigger than a 2
liter of water! I call my lawyer, obviously I want to appeal the judges
decision. My lawyer flat quits on me.
August
I file my own appeal complete with official paperwork and copies sent to all "Parties of Interest".
September
Insurance
lawyer finally files their rebuttal. It's reminiscent of a 3 year old's
argument, "The judge was right and this shouldn't be retried."
They
have no rebuttal against the claims in the Appeal. They lied to
influence the judge's decision, they misquote my doctors, they misquote
the Workers Compensation Medical Guidelines 1996, and they claim the
videotape is unedited. I have proof, they lied about almost everything,
made false statements, edited the video, and misquoted many things.
This is fraud!
I've been fighting the Workers Compensation
Board for benefits since 6/2007. I was injured at work, lower back
injury with evident disc tears, and subsequently was fired. I've been pursuing this case in the WC court to little avail.
I'm classified 75% disabled. I'm not supposed to lift over 10
pounds repetitively, not supposed to walk "extended" distances, not
supposed to climb stairs. I'm disabled, the city acknowledges it, the
doctors acknowledge it, workers compensation see's 88 minutes of video
split between 11 different days over the course of 8 months, and decides
I'm not disabled and I'm a fraud.
Your call New Yorkers, this is the cold hard truth. Nothing more, nothing
less. It's never on your mind until you are the one who just got hurt.
Speak up and Speak out.