October 2002 Newsletter
Dear Friends:
Autumn is upon us. The weather is cooling and the fall colors are beginning to appear. Autumn is one of my favorite seasons. It reflects a time of harvest and of thanksgiving. I enjoy, as you probably do, the outdoor activities that autumn brings. Be sure and take a moment to appreciate the beautiful displays that nature provides during this wonderful time of year.
You probably have noticed that in my letters to you, I now identify myself as “counselor at law”, instead of “attorney at law”. I have made this change to accurately reflect my goals within the practice of law to deliver 10/10 service and provide full and complete informed consent to each of you. With my medical background as an anesthetist, I want to closely associate my practice of law with the medical model of care and service. Thus, the counselor at law salutation accurately reflects these goals. I will continue to provide high quality, legal counseling, and representation.
have discussed with many of you one method of resolving cases, that being mediation. Mediation is a private and confidential way of attempting to resolve disputes, short of trial. The people who are involved in litigation hire an independent, neutral, third-party, often an experienced attorney, to “mediate” the underlying dispute. Each person to the lawsuit sits in a separate room with his or her attorney. The mediator goes between the various rooms trying to find common ground and a reasonable settlement area where all the parties can agree to settle the dispute. This often saves people from going to trial, as well as the risks of trial and the risk of an outcome at trial. I am so pleased to report that a law firm which is often my opponent in large, complex medical negligence actions, has asked me for my availability to serve as mediator in a five-party, complicated medical negligence action. I enjoy serving in the role as mediator and look forward to using my legal and medical skills and abilities to help all of these people settle their claims short of trial.
In providing high quality, legal representation and counseling, we are pleased to report an existing resolution of a case which might be of interest to you. Ms. S. was a passenger in a car that was dramatically smashed into by a car making an illegal left hand turn. Not only was Ms. S. hurt, but she was severely injured and suffered a broken neck and pelvic fractures. These were not diagnosed at the time that she went to the emergency room, but were diagnosed several days later. Upon the diagnosis of these severe fractures, she was rushed to Harborview Medical Center where she was placed in halo traction and received other medical care. We are also pleased to report that she has made a full recovery and has no permanent deficits.
Ms. S. initially went to an outside attorney. Letters were written and demands were made. Nothing happened. No settlements were achieved. The insurance company for the negligent driver would not pay. Ms. S. was then referred to me. We obtained her medical records, put together a demand package, sent out the demand, and received not only a policy limits settlement from the negligent driver, but also received a policy limits settlement from the underinsured motorist coverage which Ms. S. had purchased. We did this and were able to distribute funds to her in approximately two and a half months, which is very fast in legal time. Ms. S. was also very happy that we obtained for her a refund on her automobile insurance premiums, since her car had been totaled and the insurance company had continued to bill her and she paid for insurance she did not need. Finally, we are having her personal injury protection (PIP) pay the medical bills under that policy of insurance, and since she received policy limits offers, she will not be responsible for paying back any portion of the medical payments.
While each case is unique and must be judged by its own separate facts, we want each of you to know that Ms. S.'s case is reflective of the type of service that we are providing and intend to provide into the future. We truly welcome the opportunity to work on your matter for you and welcome new cases and new referrals from you. We believe that you can refer your friends, family, and acquaintances to us with confidence, knowing that they will be well cared for, receive personal attention and service, and know that they are having competent and caring attorneys and staff working for them. We welcome your referrals in the area of medical negligence, automobile collisions, negligently-caused injuries, wrongful death, and property line dispute matters.
You will recall from the last newsletter our welcoming of Pat Ransom as a paralegal to the law firm. Again, Pat is a dynamite paralegal and fully supports the goals, the clients, and the attorneys of this office. Many of you having spoken to Pat, either in person or on the phone, realize that she is originally from England. A copy of the last newsletter was sent to Pat's father, who still resides in England. Pat's father is 91 years old and is just about to celebrate his 92nd birthday. Pat has reported nice things about our law office to her father. We are pleased to report that we received a personal letter from Pat's Dad. With his permission, we reprint his letter in full below:
“I feel I must write to you and express my sincere thanks for the sincere tribute you paid to my daughter Pat. It is natural of course that she should be an asset, bearing in mind that old man of 91 being her father! We talk to each other at least once a week and she always tells me how happy she is working for you. I have a wonderful caring family and I give thanks every day for them. I have always maintained that to give yourself out to people is the epitome (see dictionary!) of living. My other two daughters forbid me to travel over to Seattle and of course they are right in so doing.
All best wishes for your continued success, and once again, many thanks.”
Yours sincerely,
/s/ Wilfred Ransom
I found this letter very moving, and was appreciative of receiving it. We are having this letter laminated so that we protect it and place it in our permanent personal memorabilia. After just a short six months with this law firm, Pat has truly established herself and has made herself invaluable. She truly has qualities of loyalty, commitment, dedication, honesty, integrity and hard work. Again, please welcome her with me to this firm.
At any time you have any questions, want a simple update on your case, or wish to stop by for a cup of coffee or look through your file, please give us a call. We welcome the opportunity to serve as a counselor at law for you and your family and friends.
Very truly yours,
Robert A. Zielke
