Absence and Arbitrations

It has been a while since my last post, I see. Not much has occurred. We are still settling in to our new house and last weekend I made a much needed trip to Memphis to see my neglected family and allow my husband time to paint the open areas of our house. I was able to see little friends I've missed alot, the panda exhibit at the zoo, an old friend that I have not seen in years, the parents of me, and (gasp) the mall. It was nice and I rented a new Impala so the trip was smoooooothe like a speed-boat ride.

I have a dread of driving because of a couple of wrecks (no such thing as a car ACCIDENT, people!) I've been in and the nice, big, car was a pleasure and lent me an air of confidence I wish I always had.

In 1996, husband and I (and a friend ) were on our way back from the meeting and a lady in a tan Nissan Quest decided to make her left hand turn across our lane w/out checking first. We smacked into her really hard and my purty new Civic was utterly destroyed. We received a little settlement and eventually another car but I was severely rattled by that. Then, in 2002, another friend and I were hit by a gentleman (this time I was driving the tan Quest...wierd huh?) who decided to run a red light in Memphis and though physically my injuries were limited to a mild concussion and twisted ankle, I was really messed up emotionally by the unpredictability of most of the drivers with which I'm forced to share the road! My attorney insisted that I pursue the matter and so here I am, in 2006, attending an arbitration for the very first time.

Technically, an arbitration is like a cross between a mediation and a formal trial. The arbitrator (or judge) sits at the head of a conference table and gets to decide the outcome of the proceedings.

I walked into the Court Square building in Nashville yesterday, well dressed and sweaty palmed, and not even a little sure of what was going to happen. My attorney is young but sounds old and bitter (like Joe Don Baker) so I was impressed. This time though, looked windblown and uncomfortable in his ill fitting suit , a fact that perturbed me since the arbitrator lady (whose named was Tracy) was also sure to notice.
But lo and behold! Tracy is a man...a sexy older man w/ piercing blue eyes and an understanding head-bob that was instantly appealing. Not at all what I'd imagine a judge to be like.
State Farm's attorney was also young but dressed immaculately w/ wire-framed glasses that I wanted to steal. He never looked at me (not used to that, I must say) and this was irritating, obviously. My attorney was quick w/ his opening statements but I was again impressed by how matter of fact he made the case sound. Hey, he convinced me.

I was asked a million questions about the accident, both by my attorney and the cross-examining one, and eventually the arbitrator asked for closing statements. Both attorneys were equally succint (unfortunately) and made a great case for themselves. State farm does NOT want to give me any money. But, we'll see the way that turns out. Blue-eyes is supposed to contact my attorney on Tuesday and finally this rediculously long ordeal will be over.

My feelings on court proceedings are a little more positive than previously. No longer are 'opening remarks,' 'objections', and 'closing statements' relegated to the realm of tv-land. I feel like I've been thru the trenches and come out w/ a better understanding of the weaponry.

But I hope to never have to go thru it again.