This whole blog and much much more has turned into a BOOK! A touching story directed by God of two best friends and their incredible story of struggles with Life and Death and fun along the way!Self-Published for now and written by Ralph Zimmerman.The guy who helped put “Real” into reality entertainment in 1996.

Titled “I’m Okay Now” – is A Voice From Heaven

You can find it at my website

This blog is officially done. As my case has been finally settled, I have turned this into a RANT.

my rant is filed at ripoffreport.com

Here is the link:

http://www.ripoffreport.com/lawyers/mcdivitt-law-firm/mcdivitt-law-firm-very-poor-r-4b1cb.htm.

Please take a close look.

Friday 2011-09-30
Today I met with my attorney for probably the last time. I received my full and final settlement
which was the $10,000 offered by opossing consul during the settlement conference on May 23, 2011
for home improvements. Problem is the attorney took back $7116.81 in dispersements leaving me a 
whopping total of $2883.19. In dispuite on this settlement was a charge taken for $355.25. This
was supposed to pay a transpotation company who took me to Denver for my Division Independent
Medical Examination on July 19, 2010. This transport was in a private car with no air conditioning

who got me to my appointment 1 hour late. The doctor was agngry and said I’d get the short version
because I was late. I only spent 20 minutes with him. The paralegal at the firm said that we would 
not pay them for this shody trip but yet they charged me for it as a reimbursement for money
spent. 

Another mystery is my vascular Dr. There was no charge for his cancelled deposition. The doctor
had indicated to me he was going to give half of his normal $1200 fee back but there was nothing.
I asked the attorney about it and he said that they would deal with the doctor. To me, this is
very nearly an admissioin of screw-up! They never charged back any amount of this fee to me. 

On the final disbursement document there is the notation that $23,263.40 in Attorney’s Fees were
waived on my case. In my humble opinion this was only because they messed up my case and they know 
it. There is also the notation that an MSA account in the amount of $106,317.00 would be set up 
and of course the negative attorney fee notation included 20% of this fund which has not been set 
up as yet.

I received all my medical records back from the attorney so we are done. I am very unhappy with the 
way my case was handled from the time the original attorney handling the case left until the very end. 
They drag the case on for so long that you’re almost begging for money and would take
ANYTHING they put up to settle. In order to get this final check I had to sign below the following
statement:

By sigmature hereto, client acknowledges receipt of a copy of the foregoing disbursement schedule, 
agrees to the allocation set forth in the Disbursement Schedule and client is fully satisfied with the
services of XXXXXXXX LAW FIRM,P.C.

So, if you don’t sign you don’t get the check. Well, I signed but only because I was desperate for
the money no matter how small the amount. What I STRONLY disagree with are a total of $3370.25 of 
disbursement taken back to pay professional people that were hired at the wrong time and did not 
create a case strong enough to supoort my current level of disability. 

So, I endorsed the back of the check as I deposited it “WITH PREDJUDICE”. Meaning it’s not over
till it’s over. I remain mad as hell and I’m not going to take this sitting down. It’s just not right.
I have never been so angry in my life and never a bigger disappointment in my total case.

So, from the time I was injured on June 21, 2007 until September 30, 2011 I received as cash to my 
pocket a whopping total of $27,930.00 or about 548.00 a month for the 51 months since my injury.
Workers Compensation in Coloirado leave much to be desired as does the Firm that represented me.

August 19^th

The final mileage check finally has come this past Monday. And then on Wednesday August 17, 2011 I went once again to the Firm, this time to sign final partial settlement documents. I was expecting to get the final settlement check but to no avail. Seems like I was the first one to sign. Then my attorney signed but we still lack two signatures. The attorney for the insurance company has still to sign and then the judge must sign the order. Supposedly my attorney was going to use their expediter to carry the documents to Denver for the remaining two signatures. Then I am told the final check would be expedited. We will see. Gosh this has been a long and laboring process. 

Of course I never received a reply from the Dr. who rated my ability to do certain classes of jobs after not seeing me for 17 months. Professional people will never just admit their errors or mistakes. There’re always scared of a wrong action to be the basis of a lawsuit. In the case of this Dr. I certainly think so. At the very least, he should have wanted to examine me and perform some tests to see what my condition was when it counted. In Colorado there is a 20 day rule for opposing parties to have shared all of the information that might come up at trial date, that means 20 days before the trial date.. We had a trial date of June 10th, and settlement conference date of May 23rd. This year, May 23rd was on a Monday. I had an appointment with my attorney at the Firm on Friday at 1:30 PM.

At that meeting, my attorney presented me with the latest damaging material from the horrible Dr.  My attorney should have immediatly called me upon receiving this info as it was certain to unravel our chances at trial for permanent and total disability which is where I am between the leg loss and the horrible and limiting carpal tunnel that has set in. Instead, he just sat on it until I saw him next. Actually this poor excuse for a Dr. had two different and varying opinions to render. One that was faxed on May 19th and a second and more damaging opinion that was just faxed oin May 2oth, the day of my pre-settlement conference with my attorney. Talk about the last minute. It could not have been worse timing.  Baring this info, we had pretty much proven the case in my mind, but my attorney, I really believe, was never prepared to go to trial with my case and win. All he ever talked about was the small chance of winning( he always said that only about 20% of the cases ever win at trial. He never talked of me winning and what it would mean if we did win. Only of not winning was his mode of conversation. This information coming in at the last minute was a certain calculated dagger thrown by opposing consul and a dirty one at that. They knew we would not have time to challenge or investigate before the settlement conference on Monday. What a horrible weekend I spent wanting to throw that dagger back as hard and sure as I could.

By time the settlement conference was over I was totally drained emotionally and mad as hell at the same time. I had retained what I thought was experience. The 1st attorney at the Firm who handled my case was a vested partner in the firm with a glowing history of her abilities on the website. She and her experience along with that of the principals in the firm was why I chose them. By  November 0f 2009, she had left to go to work for the other side. Must have been about money. Then in November of 2009 we received an indication that the other side wanted to settle my case. So now, I was to finally visit the Firm and meet the new attorney, who from what I could gather as background on the internet, has no prior workers comp experience. . He spent all of 5 minutes with me and made a decision that we should wait until I was at Maximum Medical Improvement. Never even entertained that we should maybe see what they wanted to put on the table. So, I spent 3 hours round trip on a Metro Mobility Bus to meet an attorney who probably really knew nothing of my case who took 5 minutes to make a major decision. That was actually the first time I had aver been to the Firm’s office. Over two years after my injury! I 2was nothing more to them than file 9412.

The attorney at the Firm who finally wound up with my case was a very likable young man, but he was not an experienced workers comp attorney. In fact he had been admitted to the Bar on October 27, 2008, so he’d barely had solid foundation of  legal experience prior to my case and I could not find where he had been a workers comp attorney before being employed by the Firm. So, in the end I did not get all all what I had thought I would get and that is nothing more that the experience that I had contracted to get. In March of 2011 I wrote the President of “The Firm”  expressing my concerns about the way my case was being handled. He called the the same day he got my letter with a lot of lawyer hot air and said that he would look at the case from different perspectives. I had a meeting with the attorney handling my case the Monday after I sent the letter and I found little had changed. I wrote the President again on June 27th expressing how poorly I thought me case had been handleed. This time, not even a phone call. .

So now, here is August 1st, 2011, supposedly we have settled but I’ve not signed a thing. Last Wednesday I got an email from the Workers Comp supervisor (my paralegal has been promoted–good for her) say they had received my settlement documents and wanting to schedule a time. I picked Friday at 10 AM only to get a phone call on Thursday to cancel. There is still an outstanding mileage due me for 2714 miles of Dr. appointments from August 2007 until January of 2010. I had been paid for the mileage from February 2010 until May 23rd 2011, the date of the settlement hearing but not for the older mileage due. It took me a whole month of emails to get the Firm to admit they even had those earlier mileage sheets. I had been told that that check would be to me in less than two weeks. So the attorney handling my case canceled the document signing on the basis that he wanted that mileage check in my hands before we signed, otherwise it might not be paid. So, now, once more in just a holding pattern waiting for a clear runway to land on and be done with this. Hopefully things will finally get settled so I can get on with my life.

IN looking back at the settlement conference and how my attorney let us get backed into a wall, I was most perturbed by the damaging info that came in at the last minute. It had to do with a doctors opinion of what jobs I could perform. The opinion was rendered by a Dr. who had overseen the rehab for my loss of limb and prosthetic use, tolerance etc. He never treated me for my carpal tunnel syndrome. Anyway, I am angry at this doctor and it caused me to draft the following letter to him:

VIA FAX (719)634-XXXX

Dr. Mxxxxx XXXXXX, M.D.
XXX X. XXXXX Blvd Suite 250
Colorado Springs, CO 809XX

RE: Workers Compensenation Follow Up, DOI 6/21/07

Dear Dr. XXXXXX,

On May 9, 2011 there was correspondence directed to you from Patrick XXXXXX of Rehabilitation
Consulting xxxxxxxx asking for your opinion on my physical/functional ability to perform
identified classes of jobs. According to my records, you responded first via FAX on 
May 19, 2011 with an indication that you opined I could perform  7 of the 18 jobs Mr.
RXXXXX had identified with a notation that I could weight bear for no more than 15 minutes
at a time using crutches. Then, the next day on May 20, 2011 you provided an updated version
with your opinion that I could do 15 of the 18 jobs Mr. Rxxxxx identified.

The descriptions of all of the jobs include such things as repetitive tasks, reaching,
handling and fingering on at least an occasional basis.

For your information, a Functional Capacity Evaluation was performed on March 3, 2011 by
Gail Gxxxxx, M.Ed, PT, CHT-retired. Among her findings she reported grip strength readings
significantly below mean and tripod pinch strength below mean bilaterally.
Her final conclusion was “Because of Ralph’s chronic extremity symptoms, wheelchair level
function, severely limited prosthetic use,severe bi-lateral hand symtoms which have
increased with overuse because of wheelchair/walker use…and current work restrictions return
to work does not appear feasible.”

Additionally, there was a Workers Compensation Evaluation on April 11, 2011 by O.T.
Xxxxxxxxx Inc. The evaluators were Mary Cxxxxxxxxx,OTR,CHT and Doris x. Xxxxxxx, OTR, FAOTA,
QRC, CLCP. The Summary and Impression of these Evaluators are “The injuries Mr. Zimmerman
sustained on June 21, 2007 have elimated work in the food delivery field or in any field 
in which he has prior vocational experience. If lifting, standing, walking and hand use are
essential functions for work, he cannot do it…..Worker traits are overall at the 10th 
percentile compared to other workers. The combination of his limitations renders him unable to
earn any wage. At this time Mr. Zimmerman is not a good candidate for vocational rehabiltation.
His chronic pain levels, as well as impaired tolerance of standing, walking and 
extended hand use, and endurance for activity make it impossible for him to tolerate the
vocational rehabilitation process.”

Would you please advise me and my attorney, xxxxxxx xxxxx at xxxxxxxx Firm, xxxxxxx St,
Colorado Springs, CO 809xx ((FAX (719) 471-xxxx))how it was that you felt fully qualified to 
render those opinions in May 2011 as you had not see me since Dec 17, 2009, a gap of 17 months
and have no knowledge of the progression of my bi-lateral carpal tunnel syndrome.
It seems to me that at the least you would have wanted to see me before rendering those 
opinions. Also, at no time while under your care, did
I use crutches, it was always a walker and an attempt at a 4-point cane.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Ralph Zimmerman

My workers compensation case got settled yesterday in a pre-arranged and scheduled conference call setting. I was here in Colorado Springs at my attorney’s office. The judge and opposing consul were in Denver . The judge made the first call. After introductions all the way around he gave a very detailed description of his background and credentials which I was very satisfied with. He had been an attorney for many years, most of which was on my side of the fence and about 7 years representing the other side of the table. We were then questioned by the judge and had ample opportunity to describe my injury and resulting medical conditions and or problems. We then needed to fax some documents to them (which we thought they already had) and give opposing consul a chance to review the docs. After another 15 minutes or so had passed we received an offer made by opposing counsel and relayed to us by the judge. It was a”take it or leave it offer” and of course a very, very long way from what I had hoped for.

So now it was our turn to think about it and call the judge back. We thought long and hard and involved another attorney and paralegal in the firm. We had to weigh the pluses and minuses and there were many. All was complicated by, and previously unexplained to me in detail, was the fact that I was 66 years old and a Medicare participant. This came into play because the Federal Government always has the upper hand. Medicare only comes into play when there is no other insurance available to pay and they have first claim of any monetary award in this type of case. So, the bulk (nearly all) of the “take it or leave it offer) would go to a “CMS” account from which any further medical treatment as a result of my accident would come from that account. When we called the judge back, I asked for and received a very detailed account of how the CMS account is structured and why. We were arguing for more of course but it seems as though the case law was against what we were hoping to seek.

The other side of this particular coin was the “leave it” side. We had prepared to go to trial in my case and felt good about our chances. The only outcome before an administrative law judge in this case that would benefit me is a finding of total and permanent disability. We had made great headway in preparing our case until last Thursday. On that date we received a response from the doctor who oversaw my rehab and found me at Maximum Medical Improvement in December 2009 to an inquiry made by a rehab counselor hired by opposing consul to give an opinion as to whether or not I could any of 18 jobs that the rehab counselor thought that I could do. This doctor had not seen me since November of 2009 and was not up to speed on the progression of my carpal tunnel syndrome and the results of other professional types who had examined me. Yet, he found 6 or 7 jobs that he thought I could do and we found this to be very damaging. Since only about 20% of the cases that go to hearing ever win, we were looking at a six figure gamble right now. If we go to the hearing and loose, we loose everything. If we accept the offer on the table I get a CMS account that I manage and my home mods paid for in the form of cash to me where I could perhaps get an extremely small (very, very small in comparisons to my expectations) cash position that would leave my Medicaid still in place. This would make a difference of about $600 a month in extra help to me for the prescription drugs I use and give me an opportunity to use some of the CMS account funds for other things if all the medical benefits in a year are unused.

So, we accepted the offer on the table. I was more than very greatly disappointed but there were simply too many strikes against me. As the old saying goes, one in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Screwed by the government in this case and by an incompetent attorney in my view. So, if you’re going to have a major accident on the job, be sure you are young, paid all of your taxes and reported all your tips (if you work for them) and don’t do in Colorado. It is not a worker friendly state when it comes to workers compensation.

Sunday May 15, 2011

My carotid artery surgery was this past Tuesday and it went off without any problems. I do have a small bit of swelling on the top of the site but the rest is well. Even the hole where a drain was placed has covered up nicely. I told my surgeon that he does pain-less surgery, since once again, I am needed no pain medication. When I saw him the day after surgery he said that all went well with no surprises and that my brain tolerated the procedure well. Prior to being wheeled into the operating room I was hooked up well to a 24 lead EEG machine that a neuro diagnostic person would use to monitor me throughout the surgery. They had my head wrapped up like a mummy and I had to forgo the usual “party hat” that is placed. I did have a chance to chat with the crew in the OR before they knocked m,e out and I was very pleased at the awesome team that was assembled to look after me.

This was a major operation, but very common and my surgeon has done hundreds of them. Good part was just overnight in the intensive care unit and I was home the afternoon after the surgery. I feel just fine – no pain but just some tightness when I move my head from side to side and some numbness around the site. Sure glad this is done now. I was quite worried and apprehensive about it all.

On the workers comp front, there is little change. I received a report from the therapists in Denver that my attorney sent me to. I agreed with the assessment totally as it supports and documents all that has happened. Opposing counsel had a rehab counselor interview me a few months back for nearly 3 hours. I received his “report” also, which consisted nothing more than a list of 18 different jobs that he thought I could do. He then sent this list to my rehab doctor asking his opinion about those jobs he thought I could do. My take on looking through the list is that they would all be excluded due to my advancing carpal tunnel syndrome which has been a direct result of overuse of my hands from being in a wheelchair for so long. My attorney has sent a copy of his “report” to the therapist in Denver for their opinion on each of the jobs.

My attorney also suggested that apply for some jobs so that I could testify at trial that I had indeed applied and heard nothing. So, I used an on-line service to help draft a “very honest resume” and posted it online to monsterjobs.com and careebuliders.com. Given all the restrictions, my age, education and experience, I am not very hopeful. Here’s what’s been drafted and posted:

Ralph A. Zimmerman`
2879 Swale Run
Colorado Springs, CO United States 80916
(719)393-0750
ralph.zimmerman895@gmail.com

http://realatc.net

Objective
I am seeking an entry level position in Colorado Springs, CO to build upon 25 years of direct customer experience  that would allow full or part time employment given my following physical limitations. I was rated at Maxiumum Medical Improvement following an industrial accident in June of 2007.

I am an above the knee amputee with a simple walking prosthesis that requires the use of a wheelchair or walker for mobility with moderate to severe carpal tunnel syndrome. I have been released to a sub sedentary level. I cannot weight bear for more than 15 minutes at any one time. I am precluded from climbing, squatting, kneeling, running and jumping. I am precluded from work at heights and from stair climbing. I am precluded from lifting over 10 pounds on an occasional basis and 5 pounds on a frequent basis. Bending is limited to occasional. I am precluded from repetitive and sustained gripping and grasping and from repetitive or prolonged fine manipulation activities.

A functional capacity evaluation in March 2011 has recommended that the following tasks be completely restricted based on testing: Sustained Grasp/Pinch, Repetitive Upper Extremity Motions. Balance, stooping, reach at shoulder level, reach above shoulder level are all restricted for daily living only. Simple Grasp/Handling is limited to occasional with equal work/rest ratio; within ergonomic box; from a seated wheelchair position; no production rate.Finfering: occasional, equal work/rest ratio, within ergonomic box from a seated wheelchair position with no production rate.
Work Experience
PJCOMN Acquisition Corporation dba Papa Johns, Pizza, Colorado Springs, CO United States
Delivery Driver
05/2005 – 01/2007
Excelled in my position as a delivery driver due to my ability to learn the delivery area in order to be extremely efficient. Took phone orders with good up sell ability and assisted in all phases of the store operation including pizza making, box folding and food preparation.The position required an attention to detail, following established guidelines and procedures to ensure accuracy, concentration on routine work details and organizational skills. It required a willingness to commit to the hours it took to get the job done. Cash management skills were also required. Specific duties included answering the phone, taking orders, prepping food and dough for the days business, folding boxes, cleaning, sweeping,  moping, lifting heavy buckets of sauce, bags of onions. Climbing on a ladder to clean high up objects. Use of sharp knives and tools. Computer skills required to take orders.  My private automobile was used to deliver the products to the customers location (home or business) while being reimbursed for gas and oil on a per delivery basis. Had to climb lots of stairs to 2nd and 3rd floor apartments and office suites. The positions required the ability to work in all weather conditions and many times the environment in the store was noisy, there were dangerous moving mechanical parts and a constant exposure to fumes, odors, dust and chemicals.

GSG Entertainment, Inc, Colorado Springs, CO United States
Owner
10/2001 – 07/2004
Bought a bar and pool hall as a retirement investment with no prior experience in the industry. The business failed as I was unable to hire competent management and there was a general downturn in the economy as many customers were military and the exodus of Ft Carson personel to the Iraq was bled our customer base.

Akso had a candy machine vending routes that was sold due to again a poor economic climate and a friends rapidly failng health

Hungry Howies Pizza & Subs, Orlando, FL USA
Delivery Driver
02/2000 – 02/2001
Excelled in my position as a delivery driver due to my ability to learn the delivery area in order to be extremely efficient. Took phone orders with good up sell ability and assisted in all phases of the store operation including pizza making, box folding and food preparation.The position required an attention to detail, following established guidelines and procedures to ensure accuracy, concentration on routine work details and organizational skills. It required a willingness to commit to the hours it took to get the job done. Cash management skills were also required. Specific duties included answering the phone, taking orders, prepping food and dough for the days business, folding boxes, cleaning, sweeping,  moping, lifting heavy buckets of sauce, bags of onions. Climbing on a ladder to clean high up objects. Use of sharp knives and tools. Computer skills required to take orders. In all positions my private automobile was used to deliver the products to the customers location (home or business) while being reimbursed for gas and oil on a per delivery basis. Had to climb lots of stairs to 2nd and 3rd floor apartments and office suites. The positions required the ability to work in all weather conditions and many times the environment in the store was noisy, there were dangerous moving mechanical parts and a constant exposure to fumes, odors, dust and chemicals.

Little Caesar’s Pizza, Orlando, FL United States
Delivery Driver
04/1998 – 02/2000
Excelled in my position as a delivery driver due to my ability to learn the delivery area in order to be extremely efficient. Took phone orders with good up sell ability and assisted in all phases of the store operation including pizza making, box folding and food preparation.The position required an attention to detail, following established guidelines and procedures to ensure accuracy, concentration on routine work details and organizational skills. It required a willingness to commit to the hours it took to get the job done. Cash management skills were also required. Specific duties included answering the phone, taking orders, prepping food and dough for the days business, folding boxes, cleaning, sweeping,  moping, lifting heavy buckets of sauce, bags of onions. Climbing on a ladder to clean high up objects. Use of sharp knives and tools. Computer skills required to take orders.  My private automobile was used to deliver the products to the customers location (home or business) while being reimbursed for gas and oil on a per delivery basis. Had to climb lots of stairs to 2nd and 3rd floor apartments and office suites. The positions required the ability to work in all weather conditions and many times the environment in the store was noisy, there were dangerous moving mechanical parts and a constant exposure to fumes, odors, dust and chemicals.

The Filling Station, Orlando, FL United States
Delivery Driver
04/1996 – 03/1998
Excelled in my position as a delivery driver due to my ability to learn the delivery area in order to be extremely efficient. Took phone orders with good up sell ability and assisted in all phases of the store operation including burger and sandwich making, box folding and food preparation.The position required an attention to detail, following established guidelines and procedures to ensure accuracy, concentration on routine work details and organizational skills. It required a willingness to commit to the hours it took to get the job done. Cash management skills were also required. Specific duties included answering the phone, taking orders, prepping food and dough for the days business, folding boxes, cleaning, sweeping,  moping, lifting  bags of onions. Climbing on a ladder to clean high up objects. Use of sharp knives and tools. My private automobile was used to deliver the products to the customers location (home or business) while being reimbursed for gas and oil on a per delivery basis. Had to climb lots of stairs to 2nd and 3rd floor apartments and office suites. The positions required the ability to work in all weather conditions and many times the environment in the store was noisy, there were dangerous moving mechanical parts and a constant exposure to fumes, odors, dust and chemicals.

Little Caesar’s Pizza, Las Vegas, NV United States
Delivery Driver
04/1994 – 03/1996
Excelled in my position as a delivery driver due to my ability to learn the delivery area in order to be extremely efficient. Took phone orders with good up sell ability and assisted in all phases of the store operation including pizza making, box folding and food preparation.The position required an attention to detail, following established guidelines and procedures to ensure accuracy, concentration on routine work details and organizational skills. It required a willingness to commit to the hours it took to get the job done. Cash management skills were also required. Specific duties included answering the phone, taking orders, prepping food and dough for the days business, folding boxes, cleaning, sweeping,  moping, lifting heavy buckets of sauce, bags of onions. Climbing on a ladder to clean high up objects. Use of sharp knives and tools. Computer skills required to take orders. In all positions my private automobile was used to deliver the products to the customers location (home or business) while being reimbursed for gas and oil on a per delivery basis. Had to climb lots of stairs to 2nd and 3rd floor apartments and office suites. The positions required the ability to work in all weather conditions and many times the environment in the store was noisy, there were dangerous moving mechanical parts and a constant exposure to fumes, odors, dust and chemicals.

Pizza Hut, Denver, CO United States
Delivery Driver
05/1989 – 04/1994
Excelled in my position as a delivery driver due to my ability to learn the delivery area in order to be extremely efficient.  Assisted in all phases of the store operation including pizza making, box folding and food preparation.The position required an attention to detail, following established guidelines and procedures to ensure accuracy, concentration on routine work details and organizational skills. It required a willingness to commit to the hours it took to get the job done. Cash management skills were also required. Specific duties included answering the phone, taking orders, prepping food and dough for the days business, folding boxes, cleaning, sweeping,  moping, lifting heavy buckets of sauce, bags of onions. Climbing on a ladder to clean high up objects. Use of sharp knives and tools. Computer skills required to take orders.  My private automobile was used to deliver the products to the customers location (home or business) while being reimbursed for gas and oil on a per delivery basis. Had to climb lots of stairs to 2nd and 3rd floor apartments and office suites. The positions required the ability to work in all weather conditions and many times the environment in the store was noisy, there were dangerous moving mechanical parts and a constant exposure to fumes, odors, dust and chemicals.

Dominos Pizza, Denver, CO United States
Delivery Driver
11/1985 – 05/1989
Excelled in my position as a delivery driver due to my ability to learn the delivery area in order to be extremely efficient. Took phone orders with good up sell ability and assisted in all phases of the store operation including pizza making, box folding and food preparation.The position required an attention to detail, following established guidelines and procedures to ensure accuracy, concentration on routine work details and organizational skills. It required a willingness to commit to the hours it took to get the job done. Cash management skills were also required. Specific duties included answering the phone, taking orders, prepping food and dough for the days business, folding boxes, cleaning, sweeping,  moping, lifting heavy buckets of sauce, bags of onions. Climbing on a ladder to clean high up objects. Use of sharp knives and tools.  My private automobile was used to deliver the products to the customers location (home or business) while being reimbursed for gas and oil on a per delivery basis. Had to climb lots of stairs to 2nd and 3rd floor apartments and office suites. The positions required the ability to work in all weather conditions and many times the environment in the store was noisy, there were dangerous moving mechanical parts and a constant exposure to fumes, odors, dust and chemicals.
Education
Electronics Correspondence Course Washington, DC United States
1975 – 1975
Studied electronics to qualify me for an Amateur Radio License (WA4EDQ)

AMF Pinspotter School Wiesbaden Germany
1964 – 1964
Learned repain of AMF bowling machines.

National School of Aeronautics Kansas City, MO United States
1963 – 1963
Learned about airline ticketing, reservations and weight and balance – all manual entry before computerization.

Dreher High School Columbia, SC United States
Diploma
1962
General academics courses.
Skills
Profecient in map reading.
Good customer relations skills with 25 plus years in direct cutomer relations.

Sunday May 8, 2011

Last month I sent a letter to my vascular surgeon asking him to document to my attorney at “The Firm” what he might see down the road with regards to vascular issues on my left side.  Specifically to keep the blood flow to my stump at a level that I need it to be in order for it to be functional was what I was most interested in.

So, two days after I got the call setting up the settlement conference, I received a copy of my surgeon’s letter. Here is what he said:

At the request of my patient, Mr. Ralph Zimmerman, I have been asked to suggest what may be necessary down the roads in terms of medical care for Mr. Zimmerman’s left leg stump. Unfortunately, this is a nearly impossible task to predict. There a huge number of possible scenarios and potential outcomes and given all the problems that Mr. Zimmerman has had as well as his own specific anatomical issues, I cannot give much of an answer that would be accurate. On one end of the spectrum it is certainly possible and absolutely my hope that he never requires another intervention to improve the blood flow to his left stump. On the other end of the spectrum a worse case scenario would be complete failure of the arterial tree at the groin which would result in subsequent left hip disarticulation. This would be a major operation with high morbidity and mortality, and it would result in a prolonged hospital stay, prolonged rehabilitation stay and indeed may end up in lifelong institutionalization. Of course, there are many possibilities in between which include re-do profunda endartectomy, an axillo-profunda femoral bypass or possibly even an endovascular procedure. All of these procedures could occur one time or multiple times in the future.

I regret that I am not able to be more specific or helpful regarding the odds of these eventualities or potentials. Unfortunately, the nature of this type of medicine is that we are unable to give conclusive data regarding what will happen in the future.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Since we have the obligation to exchange information with the other side right up to 20 days prior to the hearing date which is set for June 10th, I wonder if this letter from my surgeon was helpful in setting a settlement conference.