Re: Settled my Worker's comp case

[Guest guest]

Ren RenCarr1@... wrote:

" I just wanted to let you know that I did finally settle my Worker's Comp

case.

The place I worked in is undergoing a total renovation. They are stripping

the different stores out and

replacing all the duct work, replacing anything damaged by water that

has mold and other smells in it. So, if nothing else, what happened to me

and by my speaking out.

The Mall that I worked in that almost killed me is being made safe for

others!

I feel lucky to be alive, even if I am not the same healthy, strong

person that I was before. If people can learn from what happened to

me and prevent it from happening in other store's, then my suffering

is worth it. "

Dear Ren: This is great news. The whole process of worker's compensation

can be very upsetting and stressful - especially if you have an unethical

employer like mine who lies and conspires to cheat it's employees out of

their benefits - so it is great that it's finally over and you can get on

with healing and living your life. I have been trying to work with my

employer since August of 1993 when I became totally disabled but the Board

of County Commissioners continues to try and duck their responsibilities by

allowing the county attorney and county administrator to lie to them and

steal their sole authority to settle claims. Everyone keeps asking me how

much longer I am going to put up with it. I have finally hired an attorney

and he has drafted a complaint to be filed in federal court within the month

charging Leon County with violating my civil rights by negligent supervision

of their employees. I have learned a lot from the way Melinda Ballard has

handled her own lawsuit and plan to hire a public relation's firm to handle

all the press coverage. It is worth the cost if the truth gets out about

the lying little weasels who are running the county and making financial

decisions and settling claims (for a pittance) behind the commissioner's

backs. Hopefully there will be another investigation by FDLE like there was

recently when one of the commissioners was charged with sexual harassment.

For those of you who don't know about Ren (she hardly never posts) - she

became totally disabled as a result of working in a mall clothing store in

which the HVAC system never worked right because the ventilation ducts were

rusted out with " holes large enough for the maintenance man to almost fall

through, " she said. When the maintenance man came to replace the filter, he

went up to check out the duct work. Before long, Ren heard calling out for

help. She literally had to help him back to the ladder because he almost

fell through a large hole. He told her that the reason the store's HVAC

never worked right was because of the large holes in the ventilation duct

pipes, then he pulled out moldy, black dust bunnies ( " black gook " ) that

reeked of the " new clothes smell " and other chemical odors, telling Ren the

mold alone could make people sick! Whatever he dislodged from the ducts

that smelled like mold and formaldehyde was potent. Ren said the smell was

so strong it " almost knocked him down and me too. "

Shortly after this exposure, Ren's symptoms went from burning eyes, throat,

lungs, nausea, rash, to an apparent immune system failure.

Ren wrote:

" The symptoms started with headaches, nausea, rashes, and in the heat

of the Spring and Summer's here it would get so stuffy that you could

literally see the chemicals rising off the offgassing new clothes!

Burning eyes, nose throat. Even my lungs felt like they were

burned. The fatigue I fought for weeks, taking vitamins and when I

could exercising. But finally, I almost died in that store!

September, 1996, I was hanging a shipment and assisting a part timer

with questions about the register. I'd gone to the back to the stock

room, and picked up what I needed. I made my way back to the front of the

store and the part time

employer asked me a question. That is all that I remember, because at

that moment in the middle of the store " The lights went out! "

My husband came and thought that I was dead. He could not believe

that the store had not called the paramedics! The part time employee

told my husband that the District Manager told her not to call the

paramedics, just to call my husband! So my husband took me to the

E.R. Of course, the E.R. doctor assumed it was a migraine, LOL! I

just love people who ASSUME! Don't you? "

When Ren was seen by her regular Doctor, he did blood work and tests. His

tests confirmed the sick building had made her seriously ill. Now,

everytime she is re-exposed - especially to the chemicals in new clothes

like formaldehyde, she has the same response. Can you imagine if she had

been pregnant at the time? Just the thought gives me the willies. She was

left with paralysis on her right side, which she says makes her look like

she has suffered a stroke, and her speech is slurred. She says it is

encephalitis of the brain and memory loss.

The mall where she worked is being totally gutted and new duct work is being

installed - thanks to Ren. A new HVAC system is being installed as well.

She is using what strength she has left to reclaim as much of her life as

she can. She still gets angry at her senseless loss - who wouldn't? - but

is determined to move forward.

Ren - we congratulate you for sticking this out and managing to keep your

sense of humor. Let us know if the employer is going to be paying for your

rehab and if so, what therapy will you be given. Are there any medications

to help get the toxins out of your system or to reduce your sensitivity?

Barbara