Despicable
Nov 20th, 2007 at 8:02 am by Susie
It may be legal, but it’s morally bankrupt:
JACKSON, Mo. — A collision with a semi-trailer truck seven years ago left 52-year-old Deborah Shank permanently brain-damaged and in a wheelchair. Her husband, Jim, and three sons found a small source of solace: a $700,000 accident settlement from the trucking company involved. After legal fees and other expenses, the remaining $417,000 was put in a special trust. It was to be used for Mrs. Shank’s care.
Instead, all of it is now slated to go to Mrs. Shank’s former employer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
before the accident.Two years ago, the retail giant’s health plan sued the Shanks for the $470,000 it had spent on her medical care. A federal judge ruled last year in Wal-Mart’s favor, backed by an appeals-court decision in August. Now, her family has to rely on Medicaid and Mrs. Shank’s social-security payments to keep up her round-the-clock care.
“I don’t understand why they need to do this,” says Mr. Shank on a recent visit to the nursing home, between shifts as a maintenance worker and running a tanning salon. “This girl needs the money more than they do.” Mrs. Shank, who needs help with eating and other basic tasks, spends more time alone since Mr. Shank had to let her private caregiver go. At some point, he says, she may have to be moved from a private to a semi-private room in the nursing home where she lives.
I work as an investigator for some attorneys and all companies are involved in subrogation. They take what little the family has left. The family has to have an attorney or the insurance company will run over them and then their health care provider (Kaiser is the worst) wants its money back. The loser is the injured person. It’s shameful and morally bankrupt.
thanks 4 this
[...] Just one more reason to hate Wal-Mart. Morally Bankrupt [...]