Passing the Buck?

The story, thus far: Around two years ago I applied to ACC for counseling. It was recommended by the Police due to a pending historical sex abuse case. I went to an assessment. Seven months later, I was still waiting to hear back from ACC. I emailed. Nothing. I called. Nothing. I went into a horrible state of depression. Around two years passed.

Less than a month ago, my first contact with ACC was legal action from Dr Peter Jansen, a senior medical advisor for ACC. I apparently defamed him by calling him an "incompetent" prick on this here blog. Interestingly, he never thought it was defamatory to call him a prick, just an incompetent one and equally interesting, at the time of posting, I had only 15 followers - all friends I had probably bribed with emotional blackmail to follow me on my blog. Yeah, so hardly the FBI files, right?

For nearly three weeks I was not allowed to say the word 'incompetent." I had to listen to radio stations claiming there was a "tirade of abuse" about Jansen on my blog. I was not allowed to say, it was hardly a tirade. It was the word... incompetent.

Media started hounded me for personal details, in particular the whereabouts of me and my daughter. Apparently that's News. They even got some crony to pose as my ex-husband in an interview, anyone that would slag me off and attest to things like - I'm an alcoholic, a compulsive liar, a bludger, beneficiary, a professional victim, and have a mental illness. Well I think ACC should hire this crony cause it's a lot less than the $3000.00 they paid for an assessor to come up with PTSD!

I decided to fight back.

I Goggled two of those most respected lawyers in New Zealand - John Millar (http://www.jmlaw.co.nz/) and Steven Price (http://www.medialawjournal.co.nz/).

For the next 25 days, they worked to provide one of the most comprehensive defenses I have ever seen. Aside from the four legal defenses against "defamation", they also went on to include a "tirade" of documentation on the handling of ACC's Clinical Pathways - what I fondly refer to as the Government Assisted Suicide Package.

I hoped like hell that Jansen's ego would get the better of him and he'd proceed to Court because, as his spin doctors would have told him, his case opened up the whole ACC debacle for debate and hundreds of other claimants would come forward. Well someone, somewhere, told Jansen to pull his head in, that his ego was writing cheques ACC couldn't afford, cause within hours of submitting my defense, he dropped his action, and his lawyer issued the previously posted insanely pious statement.. pious meaning: To make a hypocritical display of virtue.

The Media called for my response. I guess calling Jansen a chicken shit doesn't wash with most conventional news people cause nothing I said was published.

I emailed Nick Smith - After all, the Court case was over but where was Jansen's pious claim that "Jax's recovery must take precedence now," as if that was the ONLY reason he was withdrawing legal action - a definite Tui advertisement here.

No response from Nick Smith.

But wait.... I got this today.

Hi

I'm ACC's General Manager for Claims Management and I would very much like to talk to you personally about how we've handled your claim. I'd like to hear your thoughts and concerns directly and discuss with you what we're proposing to put in place to support your recovery.

I've tried a couple of times to call you but the telephone number we have on file (XXXXXXXXXX) no longer appears to be in service. Is there another number I can use? Please feel free to email or call me on 04 816 7146 (my PA, Eleni Simons will answer) and also to suggest a time that would suit you to talk to me.

I look forward to hearing from you...

Kind Regards

Denise Cosgrove

General Manager Claims Management

First question.... so where did you get my personal email address from Denise? Obviously Nick Smith. I don't have any problems with that - just as long as we all recognised that information does get shared when it serves a mutual goal.

Secondly, interesting to note that you couldn't find me, other than via Nick Smith, so pray do tell, what (obviously unorthodox) methods did your colleague use to find me under a confidential address etc?

Okay. Maybe it's an olive branch... maybe I'm naive? Best Google the chick first:

First up: http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/4569193/Raw-deal-from-ACC-upsets-city-woman A we story about some ACC Claim being refused. Denise Cosgrove saying: "We are not saying people don't need surgery, it's just that it's not ACC's responsibility."

Second search: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/4425366/ACC-backs-down-over-giving-client-the-boot. A teenage girl shot in the face, who was told to "get off the couch" and go back to work by claims management general manager Denise Cosgrove.

Third link: http://www.3news.co.nz/Marches-against-changes-to-ACC-sexual-abuse-counselling/tabid/419/articleID/126023/Default.aspx

Marches protesting changes to ACC's criteria for counselling for sexual abuse victims have been held in the major cities. Denise Cosgrove says "The changes will mean the "right people" make the diagnosis and they will be "certainty up front".

Change of search engine... YouTube, first hit....A presentation given by Denise Cosgrove where she is heard saying "the most significant was the underpinning cultural change in the organisation, shifting the focus of our people from customer service essentially, to focusing on cost and liability management and I've been impressed....." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AG2kPi-cV8) 

Well this should certainly be interesting As they say in "Blog land"... will keep you posted.