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Saturday, May 31, 2014

SETTLEMENT!!!

Oh my gosh, we settled today at mediation! What a darn long stressful day it was --- 7 hours, ga! And at one point, we were ready to walk out the door because of their piss poor offers....

But, somehow, our attorney pulled it off!

Afterwards, the Hospital Executive (who was there representing The Hospital) hugged me, and told me she hoped that this settlement would make our lives better! (Though she glared at our attorney and refused to shake his hand. ha!) Also the mediator hugged me with tears in her eyes! weird... but nice.  (OK, no hugs from the defense attorneys... just shook hands.....)

Our attorney congratulated me, afterwards, for a great job, and I said what? great job? and he said that I didn't flinch, even when they threw "a lot of money" at me, I held out for what I knew Bob really needed.  And he said, he felt The Defense paid out more than they wanted to.

Our attorney drove me home and went in the house to see Bob. He told Bob "We won!" and Bob said, "I won?!!" and our attorney told Bob that he had a "good wife" who "fought hard" then Bob started to cry. I was a bit confused, i.e. why was Bob crying? Did he understand? so I went to Bob and hugged him and said "Are you OK?" and he said "Happy".  Later, I wrote out in BIG NUMBERS on a piece of paper with a Sharpie the amount of our settlement to show Bob (he seems to understand numbers better if they are written really big) and he said "That much? Wow!")

I had to sign a "confidentiality" agreement, so can't tell you the amount, and actually it was not as much as I hoped, and we would have probably got a lot more at a trial, but there are risks to that --- but will say, once invested in a Special Needs Trust, it's enough to take care of Bob for the rest of his life. And that's what it's all about.

And we will still be poor for a few months before everything is sorted out...

Our attorney is happy! Which he should be with 40% of the take.

And I think I will be happy, too, once the shock and numbness wears off, right now I am still quite shocked and it's not really sinking in....

Thanks everyone for your prayers!

19 comments:

oc1dean said...

Congratulations

MikeF said...

:)

David said...

Well done. As we say repeatedly to ourselves and other stroke survivors 'Never give up'.

Rebecca Dutton said...

OMG! OMG!

SSTattler said...

Great!! /John A.

Theresa Loder said...

OMG I am so happy for you and Bob .. I cried when I read this.. And I know Bob understood when he cried.. You are one tough lady Diane..
Your win for Bob was more than for just the two of you.. It was a statement for all the patients in hospitals and nursing homes.. That sometimes there are loved ones who will go the extra mile no matter what.. To see that their loved one is not just passed off as another number on a piece of paper .. That these patients have rights and feelings and deserve more..
Yes Diane I would say it's a great day !
Now you go ahead and cry when it sinks in

Love and hugs
Take care
Theresa and Rick

Can't wait to tell Rick when he wakes up..

Anonymous said...

I'm happy for Bob and you, think will get better for both of you.
Hugs
Yadira

Lynne in CT said...

Wow, that's so exciting. I mean, I know you'd much rather have Bob back to healthy, but it could have gone to trial and resulted in the hospital "winning" so this outcome is wonderful in comparison. So glad things turned out this way!

Grace Carpenter said...

I am so happy for you two!!!! Fantastic!

Anonymous said...

Such fantastic news. I'm so happy for you and Bob. It was good it was settled out of court, because even with a court settlement, the defense could have appealed and stretched the payout even longer. This way that can't happen. Your strength and tenacity along with your deep love for Bob was what made it happen.

Continued hugs & prayers. Dan

Anonymous said...

CONGRATS Diane & Bob. It is about time! So glad you will finally be able to get some much needed help. We are so happy for you both. Love Ed & Neta

Anonymous said...

That is fabulous news!!! I'm so happy for you and Bob!

Janet H.

Anonymous said...

I am so happy for you both. I hope sincerely you will now get some help to make your life a little easier...Many hugs...
Alice

Anonymous said...

So happy for you! Your Mom and Dad called to tell us the news. I haven't been on your blog for the month of May, because I have been out of town. Enjoy life to the fullest now! You deserve everything you have got coming and MORE! Love and hugs, Aunt Rose and Uncle Arnie

Shelly R said...

Good job Diane.
When you get a chance look up sportsmobile. We are getting a sprinter low top, with the pop up. A UVL lift. And of course everything needed for camping. We should have it by the middle of July. Then we are going to fill our bucket list, or at least start with Randy's. It's 19'4" long. So around town driving will work too.
Hope you guys can start living again.

Barb Polan said...

WOW!! What a relief!! I hope it's a bigger amount than any of us imagine - you both deserve it.

J.L. Murphey said...

WTG! That was faster than I expected. I guess it's bye-bye green machine and hello to a conversion van with a lift. And you will finally have HELP! Yeah!

Elizabeth, John, Jack, and Luke said...

I am so happy for you and Bob!!

Anonymous said...

I am so happy for you and Bob!!! Now you can just work on getting more improvement in Bob and maybe getting someone in to help you so you can get a break for a day.

Peggy