“Whoever finds their way to your door will find compassion, competence, ethical treatment, and - above all - justice.”
My name is Diana Willoughby and I am from Claremont, New Hampshire. I was involved in an automobile accident in 2004 when my vehicle was struck in the rear by a careless driver. This began my journey through a quagmire of pain, orthopedic specialists, painful medical procedures, referrals, rigorous physical therapy, and additional hospitalizations stemming from the accidents.
As painful as these injuries and rehabilitation were, I truly did not consider them to be part of the nightmare, because they were, after all, accidents. The actual nightmares were delivered through the callous indifference of insurance companies and the sheer insanity of the Workers Compensation system. Insurance companies fought with each other and Workers Comp fought with me. My checks were often withheld for months at a time with no explanation and few options for recourse. During all of this fighting, my bills piled higher as my financial resources dwindled. I was confounded by the conflicting directions I was expected to follow, especially when my case worker’s name seemed to change on a weekly basis. When a Workers’ Comp doctor actually hurt me during an examination in order to prove that I was not really injured, I finally understood that these institutions were not invested in my well-being at all. It was all about saving them money.
After two years, I was finally well enough to return to work full time, although I would never be able to resume my normal duties, and it was time to discuss a financial settlement. My attorney referred me to Robin Curtiss of Van Dorn and Curtiss, PLLC. That same month, we learned that my sweetheart, now my husband, had cancer and was facing a battle for his life. I nearly despaired of the task before me: How could I get anyone to really understand the ordeal I’d been through, much less place a monetary value on it? Would these people understand that my energies needed to be devoted to helping my husband instead of my “case?” With much trepidation, I finally responded to their letter of inquiry.
As I reflect upon my experience with Robin and Shelly, his most capable assistant, I find myself thinking in superlatives. Words like integrity, honesty, and diligence flow effortlessly from my fingers, but even those hardly describe the courtesy and respect I was afforded by these remarkable individuals. They quietly and unobtrusively took my burden as their own, untangling my nightmare with all its complications, all while giving me the privacy and space I needed to deal with my husband’s illness. In a relatively short time, long-delayed medical bills were paid, insurance companies stopped calling me, and the Workers’ Comp demons simply disappeared. The dollar amount of my settlement was larger than I would have ever imagined, even in my wildest dreams. Thank you, Robin and Shelly, for your part in restoring serenity and peace of mind to my world. I know that whoever finds their way to your door will find compassion, competence, ethical treatment, and - above all - justice.
Diana Willoughby, Claremont, New Hampshire