General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCan someone help me understand something about Abbott's disability? Would never make light of
anyone who is disabled, but can't figure out what happened in his case. The Texas Tribune in Aug. 2, 2013 explained that Abbott was "paralyzed by a falling oak tree in 1984...". Then Wikipedia explains:
On July 14, 1984, at age 26, Abbott was paralyzed below the waist when an oak tree fell on him while he was jogging following a storm.[6][250] He had two steel rods implanted in his spine, underwent extensive rehabilitation at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston and has used a wheelchair ever since.[251][252] He sued the homeowner and a tree service company, resulting in an insurance settlement that provides him with lump sum payments every three years until 2022 along with monthly payments for life; both are adjusted for inflation.[253] As of August 2013, the monthly payment amount was US$14,000 and the three-year lump sum payment was US$400,000, all tax-free. Abbott said he had relied on the money to help him pay for nearly three decades of medical expenses and other costs.[253]
Oak trees don't keel over quickly. It would've had to be falling as he jogged up to it and it would seem a runner would be past the tree by the time it fell. Even if he paused, it would be apparent that the tree was falling over. They make noise -- creaking and cracking as they fall. Just pondering how it could've happen.
Frasier Balzov
(2,654 posts)allegorical oracle
(2,357 posts)Frasier Balzov
(2,654 posts)He was in the public way.
You can rest assured that if the insurance company entered into a settlement agreement like that, they knew they would lose if the case went to judgment.
allegorical oracle
(2,357 posts)DURHAM D
(32,610 posts)Frasier Balzov
(2,654 posts)It's to make you whole for what has been taken from you.
unblock
(52,247 posts)If it's to cover medical expenses or damage to property, it's not taxable.
If it's for pain and suffering, punitive damages, or lost wages, it probably is taxable.
I am not a lawyer, but I did "win" a (much much smaller) settlement from a car accident a long time ago.
In this particular case, I have a very very tough time believing that 100% of a multi-million dollar settlement was solely for medical expenses.
If he really spent that much on medical bills, he'd have a slam dunk case for even more based on pain and suffering and lost wages and such.
Demovictory9
(32,457 posts)You lost something..get $$ in trade
Same with settlements related to injury
LetMyPeopleVote
(145,293 posts)It is written by a person who was a paralegal at the firm Greg started at. That firm had issues and fell apart in the early 1990s. There used to be a joke that Butler & Binion hired as many attorneys as Vinson & Elkins but few stayed with the firm.
There are some good details on the settlement Greg got due to a falling tree.
Link to tweet
https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/who-is-greg-abbott/
Moore was covered for $1 million or so in his homeowners policy, Riddle recalled. A million dollars didnt stretch that far if you were damaged for life, he said. But he discovered that Moore had paid a tree company that was part of a large national chain to do some work on the oak. Riddle could then assert that the repairs might have been done improperlythat more attention had been paid to caring for the trees canopy than to protecting and stabilizing the roots. Now Riddle had not one but two deep-pocketed defendants. Through what was then known as joint and several liability, a plaintiff could recover damages from multiple parties so long as some responsibility was established.
By 1986, Abbott had completed his rehab. He wasnt walking, but he was moving forward in other ways. Riddle had negotiated an impressive settlement that would support his client for the rest of his life. The estimated total of $3 million (about $8 million today) began with an initial lump-sum payment of $300,000 (about $770,000 in todays dollars), followed by another lump sum of $100,000 in 1989. Abbott would continue to get lump-sum payments every three years, with the last payment of $740,020 scheduled for November 1, 2022a nice supplement to his $153,750 annual governors salary. Additionally, in 1986 Abbott started receiving $5,000 a month (almost $13,000 today) with a built-in annual increase of 4 percent for the remainder of his lifetime. It was all tax-free.
I have never been impressed with Greg's intelligence and I am hopeful that Greg will continue to push homophobic policies that will help Beto.
I hope that this helps
allegorical oracle
(2,357 posts)Treefrog
(4,170 posts)Are you serious here?
allegorical oracle
(2,357 posts)Beachnutt
(7,324 posts)crickets
(25,981 posts)and then pull up the ladder behind him? It's a shame what happened to him, but what a piece of work that he has so little regard for others in similar situations.
unblock
(52,247 posts)Tree have branches too you know. And if they fall from something other than having been cut down by experts, they can twist or change direction mid-fall, say if they fall into another tree.
Never mind the time to become aware of what's going on and realize you have to make a split-second decision.
allegorical oracle
(2,357 posts)don't fall like dominoes. Even the big branches signal they're coming down. And the roots can trip someone.
unblock
(52,247 posts)the acoustics in the forest here can be tricky. Not always easy to tell which direction a sound is coming from. Plus, if a tree is falling to the side, it's easy to see if you're looking at it. But if you're looking a a tree falling straight towards you, it might not be obvious what's going on at first
Hekate
(90,714 posts)Crunchy Frog
(26,587 posts)that nobody else who was similarly injured would ever be able to win the kind of financial settlement that he got for himself.
Beachnutt
(7,324 posts)Patterson
(1,530 posts)Hassin Bin Sober
(26,330 posts)As I was reading the story posted above I bet myself 10 bucks this clown was no doubt in favor of tort reform just like every other right wing douche bag who is not shy about cashing in when it comes to their own injuries.
Tom Delay sued the maker of some ball bearing that failed on his fathers home made Rube Goldberg trolley that sent his father head-first into a tree. Massive brain trauma ensued. He sued for amounts way in excess of what he later wanted to limit other litigants to.
Same with Rick frothy mixture Santorum. Sued his wifes chiropractor (in addition to her claims) fir loss of companionship for a supposed back injury. Again, collecting larger amounts than what he later supported as a cap.
gopiscrap
(23,761 posts)Scrivener7
(50,955 posts)CentralMass
(15,265 posts)day and a rotted tree suddenly fell somewhat vertically and hit the side walk just behind us.
Some of the debis as it struck the side walk and went into the road hit us in the back of the legs.. Had we been just a step or two slower we probably would have been severely injured.
Hekate
(90,714 posts)No particular reason. It was found to be healthy enough 6 years later its still beautiful. The tree was subsequently pruned, of course, as needed every handful of years.
Anyhow, given the size of all the remaining branches, and given the size of the trail it left through their yard and our fence, it had to have weighed several hundred pounds.
Eucalyptus are notorious for abruptly giving up the ghost. When I was working for County Public Works, I had a frantic phone call one morning from a man trapped in his house by a street tree across the road that fell into his front yard and blocked his front door and driveway on what was supposed to be his first day at a new job.
Another time I drove past Burger King and saw a new pickup truck in their lot crushed end to end by a fallen eucalyptus. All four tires flattened, windows blown out.
My in-laws had some nameless backyard tree that dropped a major branch one night, probably 200 pounds. They ultimately had the tree removed.
Like you, I dont know the particulars of Abbotts accident, if a whole tree fell on him or just a branch. I just know something like that has the capacity to kill you or leave you crippled.
Takket
(21,575 posts)nothing else to it other than that. no need to look for some conspiracy theory from 40 years ago.
rownesheck
(2,343 posts)to dodge a tree that was falling. Fuckin dumbass.
Of course later on, he changed the law so that no one else would be able to sue and get as much money as he got in his settlement
Fucking piece of shit. After trump, he is the second person I hope to live long enough to see die. That way I can piss all over his fucking grave
onenote
(42,714 posts)It happens:
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2003-12-10-0312100219-story.htmlhttps://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32314388
https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/01/18/mill-valley-man-hit-by-driver-evading-falling-tree-killed/
https://www.wtae.com/article/woman-dies-man-seriously-injured-after-being-hit-by-fallen-tree-branch-in-upper-st-clair/36766470#
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7347417/Jogger-crushed-falling-tree-rushed-hospital-critical-condition.html