PLUMBER’S POST-INJURY WAGES COMPARABLE TO PRE-INJURY
NATURE OF CASE:
Personal injury litigation involving a plaintiff who injured his non-dominant left arm at work.
OUTCOME:
Plaintiff attorney originally demanded $150,000 to $200,000 to settle the case. Case was settled for $50,000
ATTORNEY:
Cary S. Macy, Esq. of McNulty & Saacke, Torrance, CA represented the defendant.
ATTORNEY COMMENTS:
“Mr. Andersen prepared a thorough and realistic evaluation of the plaintiff’s ability to return to work. He was able to identify four vocational training programs that would have eventually provided the plaintiff with comparable wages from his pre-injury occupation as a plumber.”
SITUATION:
The plaintiff was a 42-year-old male plumber who injured his left biceps muscle and left elbow on the job. He was restricted from vibratory movements and from lifting over 50 pounds. He was unable to return to work as a plumber. Although he completed vocational rehabilitation training as a Building Code Inspector through the Workers' Compensation system, the construction slump severely affected his job prospects.
With average pre-injury earnings around $13.00 per hour, it was difficult to see how he could match that level, given his physical restrictions. However, Andersen did a comprehensive evaluation and researched alternative training programs with positive labor markets. He found four, in addition to the training the plaintiff had already received, that would earn him wages higher than those prior to the injury. With these multiple options, the plaintiff had no future earnings loss.
ABOUT RICHARD ANDERSEN:
Richard Andersen is certified as both a Rehabilitation Counselor and Vocational Evaluator, with 25 years experience in vocational rehabilitation. VECTOR, Inc. specializes in vocational rehabilitation counseling and vocational expert testimony on personal injury, wrongful death, divorce and social security matters. The firm, founded in 1975, serves both the plaintiff and defense attorneys, providing the link between the physician and the economist to precisely determine damages.
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