Good News for Principal Shot in the Face: He Will Get North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Benefits After All
Last year, 38 year-old James Hunt, a former Principal for Fairmont Middle School in Southeastern NC, got shot in the face with a shot gun while driving to school. Fortunately, Hunt survived (albeit with ongoing pain and chronic injuries), but his North Carolina workers’ compensation battle had just begun…
The Robeson County School System initially refused to pay his benefits — which included $60,000 a year and medical expenses — in spite of the fact that Hunt had been driving to school when he got shot and that the shooter almost certainly committed the attack in response to Hunt’s attempts to rid his school of gang violence. An official from the North Carolina Industrial Commission, Philip Baddour III, said that the shooting attack almost certainly “arose out of [Hunt’s] employment because the shooting was more likely than not related to his anti-gang activities as school Principal.” Furthermore, Baddour said that Hunt had been talking on a cell phone issued by the district about Middle School business. Hunt remains disconcerted by the attempt on his life, and the mystery shooting prompted Hunt’s supporters to create the website www.whoshotprincipalhunt.com to ferret out the truth.
Per the terms of his North Carolina workers’ compensation agreement, Hunt will get his wages compensated as well as his medical/surgical bills. In a statement, Hunt said that: “it’s just unfortunate we had to take this route to get the help I need… I really felt like my school system, my employer, let me down on this. They left me hanging.”
If you or someone you care about has similarly faced frustrating issues collecting benefits or dealing with an insurance company, get good help from a qualified and compassionate North Carolina workers’ compensation law firm. You likely have many rights and resources available that can help you resolve your troubles with minimal stress and maximal efficacy.
More Web Resources:
www.whoshotprincipalhunt.com
Ex-principal wins workers comp; Sues school system over 2009 shooting
