Opinion ID: 1846468
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Testimony of Betty Sockwell

Text: Sockwell testified at the trial. She testified that at the time of the accident she was working as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and that she was attending school to become a registered nurse. She lacked six months completing her nursing degree. In 1992, Sockwell had surgery to remove a malignant tumor from her spinal cord; that surgery left her with some pain and muscle weakness on her left side. She underwent radiation and chemotherapy and was able to return to work as an LPN later in 1992 or 1993. She worked continuously as an LPN until this accident. This accident in March 1997 rendered Sockwell unconscious. When she regained consciousness, she was unable to move her left arm or leg for three days. She was examined by a neurosurgeon, who informed her that her spinal cord had been injured to the point that, if she suffered even a minor injuryfor example, a too tight hugshe faced paralysis. In order to stabilize her spinal cord and neck, she underwent a circle stabilization in which metal rods were implanted on either side of her spinal cord. Sockwell also wore a surgically attached metal halo apparatus around her head for approximately eight weeks to further stabilize her spinal cord. Sockwell testified that, as a result of the automobile accident, she suffered a loss of rotation in her neck; she testified that she can turn her head to the right about 40% and can turn her head to the left only 15%. She testified that after the accident her lingering pain from the cancer worsened and that she went from taking one prescription medicine to taking four prescription medicines daily. She was unable to return to work as an LPN. Sockwell testified that she encountered difficulty in obtaining compensation for her lost wages in the months following the accident and that she did not receive any compensation for lost wages until seven months after the accident. She stated that after only a few months, the compensation ceased and she did not receive any further compensation for a year. Sockwell testified that, as a result, she was unable to cover certain obligations she had incurred solely in her name and she was forced to depend on her husband to pay those bills for her. She testified that her husband had to work 70-80 hours a week to compensate for the loss in income. Sockwell testified regarding the emotional distress these events caused her: A: I was under a lot of stress dealing with the workers' comp. I had been told I could no longer work. I had lost a career, a career I loved, that was a part of me. And I had lost my independence because I had to turn to my husband. And I was dealing with that, dealing with the fact that I was having to change my life, dealing with new pain that I had not had to deal with before. And yet that presented a lot of stress. . . . . Q: How did it make you feel to learn they had denied your claim a second time? A: First, it confused me because I couldn't understand why a company that I had put my faith and trust in, you know, to be there for me when I need them. And, you know, to turn me down a second time, hurt. It really hurt, and then I became angry. And that posed another stressful situation. Q: Did it make you mad? A: Yes. Q: Betty, the feelings that you had about this, the emotions that you experienced, how did they affect you physically, if at all? A: I couldn't sleep. I would get tired, and this would cause my problems to get worse. The pain would get worse. ThatAnd that would mean having to take extra medication to try and keep the pain in control. That would make me tired and sleepy. And I didn't feel like doing anything. So I just, basically, just, kind of, had to lay around and take medication to try and keep things under control.