West Brookfield, MA
Interview 6:66 PM
August 19, 2002

Were you glad you hired Cline & Migner? 

Oh yes!

What was your case about?          

I had a back injury to my L4-L5 disc. It was a worker’s comp case.

How did you hear about Cline & Migner?

I started off with a different lawyer. The other lawyer didn’t want to handle my case. (I think he felt he wouldn’t get paid enough…) My husband’s sister worked at the [worker’s compensation] agency in Boston and she gave me Channing’s name.

How did it work out?

It worked out in a very positive way. Channing was very, very, very  understanding. He knew all about my injury. He fought for me all the way. More so than any lawyer would.

We both knew I needed surgery to get better.  He fought for that and won. Even after my case was finished, Channing fought to get me vocational retraining to help me get a different job. 

Even the judge had compassion. He had compassion for me, the victim. Going through the whole process  proved to be really worthwhile. I was hurt and the system was able to help me. 

What can you tell me about the process you went through?

I had a double injury. That made it harder to prove.  But I had kept notes and all. And I followed through with everything they wanted me to do.  Channing referred me to a doctor, who referred  me to another doctor at UMASS.  I had surgery. It was anterior interbody fusion of L5.  Mass Health had to pick up the bill while the insurance company fought against paying it, until we won and they had to pay.

Channing really worked to get me everything I needed.  He went further to fight for me to get IDET (Intra discal electro-thermal therapy) for me.  That’s like a shrink-wrap of the disc in my back.  The surgery cost  an extra $7000.  It was secondary surgery to help with the pain, so we had to fight for and appeal for it and Channing fought for it.  We won and I got surgery  and the surgery  worked so well!  I am no longer in pain.   But, it wasn’t without a fight, every step of the way.  He fought tooth and nail for me.

You had to change jobs?

Yes. I had been an LPN in a nursing home in Wilbraham.  It was a very physical job with a lot of lifting to it with a lot of different patients. After my injury, I couldn’t lift like that anymore.

Channing helped me get vocational retraining. I went back for training at Quinsigimond College.  Now I’m a surgical technician. I work at UMass Medical Center and I do one patient at time.   I like my new job a lot better than the old job.  It all worked out so well. 

Would you refer other people to them?

Absolutely! I don’t think someone could find anyone better.  In fact, he was also much nicer than my first lawyer.  It’s very good to have a lawyer who cares about the injured person and he definitely does.  From the beginning,  when it’s settled, and then even afterwards.  It was a long and drawn out process. Step by step. Filling  out so many papers… a ridiculous system.   It was hard, but I kept a positive attitude through the whole thing and in the end, it really worked out for the best.