Refund and Reparation

cc: Dir Legal Affairs, OSA Flag
cc: OSA INT—Legal Dept.

(2) Captain FSO
(1) Captain's Yeoman FSO
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Caroline Reinertsen
P.O. Box 96
Clearwater, FL 34617

Dear Tim:

This follows my letter to you of 14 March, 1999. Did you receive that letter?

Today, I received the attached letter from the BFO FSO. [1] As per my last letter to you, the Purser's position is that the Church is not responsible for the medical bills and has so informed at least one of the creditors on this cycle, in writing.

I still have received no answer to my CSW [2] to the Captain. As you know, I also have a petition to the Dir Legal Affairs, 0SA Flag, due to the legal aspect of this sit. A copy of that petition was included with the CSW received by you and sent to the Captain, FSO.

As time goes on, the likelihood of legal action becomes greater. You see, a creditor, in order to protect his interest, must file a lawsuit within one year of the date of occurrence or service. The hospital in my case has already demonstrated that they intend to pursue whatever avenues necessary to collect their fees, including hiring an attorney as well as a collection agency. Likewise, at least one of the doctors involved intends to pursue legal action if necessary in order to collect on their bill.

As a further R/factor [3] to my physical condition at the time the bills were incurred, I was very sick and could barely sit up without fainting. I could not walk, and I would faint on practically any physical exertion, like rolling over in bed. It was necessary for the MLO [4] to take care of me when I was not in the hospital. I was bedridden from June, 1988 until well after I routed out of the SO in October, 1988. My point here is that I utterly depended upon the MLO to take care of the admin of my medical handling, as it is her hat, and I was given no indication at all that there was going to be difficulty on finance lines. Furthermore, on the second admittance to the hospital, I personally witnessed the MLO make a promise to the hospital's bills dept. that the Church would honor all medical expenses for both of the hospitalizations.

I am in disagreement with the BFO's recommendation that I work this out with the Dir I & R and Purser. This is not a matter which is open for negotiation, with either HCO or the Purser; neither is it an ethics situation, as is being implied.

If there was any financial irregularity, it was committed by the MLO, by promising that the Church would pay. I did not violate any purchasing policy; I made no purchase orders on my own and I will not accept any condition commensurate with such an action.

The LRH policy on the subject of medical expenses for staff is very clear. References are given in my KR of 4 Dec, 1988.

The Church is named as the party responsible for payment right on the hospital records, as authorized by the MLO. As I have no attachable assets and as I am still not working, the Church would be the likely target in any lawsuit, in my opinion.

Furthermore, all the bills were on the Bills Summary until approximately mid-November, which is evidence that the FSO was going to honor the bills. I routed out on October 21, 1988. Apparently, there was an arbitrary entered in that I could be made liable for the bills since I was no longer in the SO. Not Okay. Besides, as you know, even the attorney's involvement predated my departure from the SO. I routed out after an FB turndown due to illness.

Please attach this letter to my CSW to the Captain and ask that the CSW be answered and returned to me ASAP.

Thanks Tim.
Best,