There is no case our law firm enjoys handling more than a first-party insurance bad faith claim. Whether it be your property carrier, your underinsured motorist carrier or construction defect matters, there is a new insurance bad faith claim calling our office every day.

I received a call last week that from a client in our Myrtle Beach service area that really got my attention and as they told me their story my blood pressure went ski high!

Basically, this unnamed individual had a group health insurance policy with an employer and unfortunately needed another knee replacement three years after the first one was installed. Leaving aside that he may have a product’s liability claim against the implant manufacturer, he was infuriated because in order to have his surgery, the insurance company was requiring him to go to Indiana or Michigan or another mid-western state to have his surgery performed. Really?! Are you kidding me?! Even though a third-party claim will not be permitted in this case because it is governed by ERISA, since the health insurance is an employee benefit, if they do not reconsider, I think he is going to have a great case for us to process.

For any of your insurance bad faith claim questions, please call me or one of my fellow attorneys at the Mike Kelly Law Group and we can help!

 

Recently the world lost one of its most prominent and respected leaders, Queen Elizabeth II, monarch of the United Kingdom for the last 70 years. Born in 1926 and ascending to the throne at the age of 25, Queen Elizabeth was a global icon. Her dedication to diplomacy and her impact on international relations cannot be overstated.

Over the weekend to avoid focusing on the Gamecock’s loss and to show my respect, I watched some of the events surrounding the Queen’s death and caught a good part of the funeral and committal afterwards. I must say that I do not think like a subject of the monarchy, but I was very impressed by the pomp, the circumstance, the tributes, and the outpouring of public respect for Queen Elizabeth’s passing and legacy around the world. She was one of the most beloved and respected figures in my lifetime and she made an indelible imprint on the world. It is now up to Charles III to take over and may he be up to the task and show the same elegance and grace as his mother did.

 

I love the changing of the Seasons and I always look forward to their arrival. The first day of fall is officially Thursday, September 22, but you can already feel it in the air. This morning in Columbia the low was in the 60s and it felt wonderful outside. If work didn’t call, I think I would spend the entire day outside doing something fun, which really means playing a round of golf!

Fall is also the return of many festivals across South Carolina. The Mike Kelly Law Group will be out in full force at the Inaugural Beach Brews & Oyster Festival at Grand Strand Brewing in Myrtle Beach, on October 29, from 12:00pm to 7:00pm. My staff and I love getting out, setting up our tent, giving out swag and meeting lots of great people. Make sure you mark your calendar for this exciting event.

Of course, here in Columbia, we are lucky enough to have our Soda City festival 52 times per year every Saturday! I greatly enjoy going downtown to walk around and see the food vendors, the artisans, the local produce, and the beautiful Columbia community. There is probably one dog for every three people down there and lots of babies in strollers and frankly I just love it. If you have not been lately then I highly recommend going to check it out.

Columbia’s 35th Annual Greek Festival is also this weekend. It is September 15th – 18th at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Sumter Street. You cannot beat the culture, food, and entertainment.

College football has officially returned to South Carolina, and I couldn’t be more excited! Last weekend was our inaugural football kickoff here in Columbia and I must say, it was electric. The upgraded light and sound system in Williams Brice Stadium created an amazing atmosphere of excitement and pride here in Gamecock nation. And although I’m still wrapped up in the baseball Pennant Race in the National League East, South Carolina football has my attention.

In addition to attending the South Carolina vs. Georgia State game last weekend, I also attended the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and watched our Upstate rivals Clemson take on Georgia Tech in Atlanta. I must say the Mercedes Benz stadium (it was my first time there) was a super impressive facility, but the atmosphere (I am biased) was more exciting at Williams Brice with the new sound and light upgrades. I am certain our friends in the Upstate will not be too far behind in creating a similar experience. The NFL also kicks off this Sunday but for me personally it takes a distant second to college football. Although, I do plan on attending some Panthers games in Charlotte this year, my primary focus will be supporting my South Carolina Gamecocks!

Go Gamecocks and Go Braves!

For the last several years I have taken summer trips to Colorado that are partially for business, but mostly for fun and this year was no exception. I certainly love the weather, the lack of humidity, and most importantly the natural beauty of the great state of Colorado! Looking around at all its wonders just makes me appreciate the man upstairs and all his creation!

While on my trip I enjoyed a few rounds of golf at two magnificent courses, took the Cog Railway to Pikes Peak, and attended a Colorado Rookies baseball game. One of the best experiences I had on this past trip was dining at a lovely five-star restaurant in the Denver International Airport known as the Mercantile.

This renowned restaurant has its original famous location in downtown Denver, and recently opened their secondary location in the Denver airport! When I walked into the airport heading back to Charlotte, I was both surprised and delighted to see a five-star restaurant. I was served a lovely lunch by my waiter Daniel Layne, and since he was a sommelier, he not only ordered my food to his liking, but also brought me a wonderful selection wine. I was so satisfied and subsequently slept very well on my flight back to Charlotte.

If you have ever considered visiting Colorado, I would highly recommend it and if you ever find yourself in the Denver International Airport, please check out Dan the sommelier/waiter at the Mercantile!

 

As I have previously reported in a KellyGram, I am proud to serve on the MIRCI Board and given the Mike Kelly Law Group’s involvement in mental health issues through Disability, Personal Injury, and Workers Compensation, their mission is right up our alley!

I received the recent most Newsletter from MIRCI, and it explained how a South Carolina state agency had performed a detailed study of the costs savings that MIRCI saves our healthcare system in South Carolina. The 2022 study shows the following reductions to healthcare costs:

• Hospitalizations decreased by 41% the year after starting MIRCI services.

• Hospitalizations related to mental illness or substance use disorder decreased by 69% after starting MIRCI services.
• Emergency room visits where mental illness and substance abuse were the primary reason for the visit decreasing by 56%.
• Schizophrenic disorder, the most common reason for mental illness visits to the emergency room, dropped by 56%.
• Considering all hospital services combined (inpatient general, inpatient specialty and emergency department visits), total charges for services in the year following MIRCI enrollment were almost $5.7 million less than charges for services in the year prior to MIRCI enrollment.

MIRCI, led by Executive Director Julie Ann Avin told me that even during the pandemic these results affirm the quality of the mental healthcare MIRCI critical teams provide. Keeping people in their homes is so much preferred over hospitalization and it saves the healthcare system big money!

If you are looking for an opportunity to be involved as a volunteer or to donate to a worthy non-profit organization, then I highly recommend MIRCI. I know firsthand that mental illness is a devastating condition that affects your loved one and their families. MIRCI’s mission is truly divine, and I support it 1000%!

 

Here at the Mike Kelly Law Group, LLC we are very pleased to announce that 3 of our amazing lawyers have been selected for the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers is regarded as one of the premier guides to legal excellence. Therefore, it is no surprise that 3 of our lawyers are showcased on this prestigious platform for the 2023 edition!

“Best Lawyers was founded more than 40 years ago to recognize the exceptional accomplishments of top legal professionals,” and “we are proud to continue to present the most respected, unbiased legal awards worldwide.” says CEO Phil Greer.

Best Lawyers has earned the respect of the legal profession, the media, and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then it has grown to provide lists in over 75 different countries. For the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, more than 12.2 million lawyers voted to identify the top legal talent in their field. Now that’s how you get a solid recommendation!

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are categorized by region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers on a professional expertise basis and undergo an authentication process to ensure they are in good standing with their respective Bar Associations.

The Mike Kelly Law Group, LLC would like to congratulate the following lawyers named to the 2023 The Best Lawyers in America list:

• Brad Hewett – Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs

• D. Michael Kelly – Administrative / Regulatory Law and Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants

• Janet E. Rhodes – Employment Law – Individuals and Litigation – Labor and Employment

During my high school years, I started playing golf at a 9-hole County Club in my hometown of Emporia, Virginia. I would play with my best friend, Mike Wesson, who now resides in Charlottesville, Virginia and is retired. That “R word” does not resonate with me, LOL, and I am still going strong! Even before I had a driver’s license my mother would take me out to the Country Club and dump me off, where I would walk and play 45 holes, before jumping in the swimming pool and waiting on my ride until dusk. I doubt I could walk 18 holes now, and definitely not 45! Fast forward to the present. I took a break from golf for about four years and started back almost two years ago. I rejoined WildeWood Country Club, where I was a longtime member, and am absolutely enjoying my return to golf! I am working on my game and am happy to say I have seen improvement in recent months. So why do I love golf so much even though I am not particularly good?

Golf gets me outside and it temporarily takes my mind off everything that fills my thoughts! Having an inside job and not being a fan of yard work, it gives me some good old Vitamin D, some exercise, some competition, and especially enjoyment!

If you are currently involved in some sport, and are physically able to do so, I suggest you pick your favorite sport and enjoy the benefits including the fellowship that is available. For me it is Golf!

Lately I have noticed four instances of outstanding customer service coming my way. The medical providers here in my hometown of Columbia, for example, have really ramped up customer service. Through MyChart or other platforms, you can get your medical records instantaneously, schedule appointments online and speak to your doctor via telehealth. For the most part, wait times have been drastically reduced as the medical profession tries to put its best foot forward regarding doctor-patient relations.

We are trying to follow the lead of our brothers and sisters in medicine here at the Mike Kelly Law Group. We emphasize prompt returning of phone calls, emails, and other communications, and we work really hard to get clients seen, their needs addressed in a courteous manner, and put them on their way as soon as possible.

I am also seeing greater attention to the finer points of customer service at restaurants in Columbia and Myrtle Beach. This is particularly difficult given the staff/kitchen help shortage that currently exists in that industry, but the restaurants I frequent are really trying hard to do what they can.

I do not know about you, but I am loving the increased emphasis on customer service.

As most of you know, we handle a variety of legal matters here at the Mike Kelly Law Group but one of my personal favorites is the practice of Workers’ Compensation law. We represent injured workers (claimants) exclusively in our Columbia and Myrtle Beach offices. In recent years, Kimberly Cropper (Columbia) and Linda Willis (Myrtle Beach) and I have noticed that more and more claims are being outright denied as being not compensable when they clearly are and refusing to pay full benefits, particularly on the medical side. We literally spend half our workers’ compensation time getting carriers to pay for prescribed medical treatments, surgeries, prescriptions, etc. This can be frustrating to people who are not represented and frequently they give up and get medical treatment on their own. If they do not have health insurance, however, that can be a problem. It really feels like they refuse to pay anything in order for people to go away or accept a small settlement.

If you or anyone you know has an issue involving workers’ compensation do not hesitate to contact either one of our three offices.