By Ernie Suggs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ATLANTA — Scott Eisenmann hasn’t worn socks in two years. The pain in his legs is so bad that he can’t even sleep under sheets. Sitting in his wheelchair on Wednesday, even his shorts were starting to irritate him to the point where he had to lay down.
Yet, the former Atlanta police officer has been deemed fit to work — according to a doctor working on his workers’ compensation case.
Eisenmann, along with his family, met with members of the Atlanta City Council’s Finance Committee, as well as Chief Operating Officer Peter Aman on Wednesday, to plead his case to get workers’ compensation, which has been denied to him since he was injured on the job in December 2008. At least three hearings have been canceled, and another one is scheduled for Friday.
Brenda Johnson, Eisenmann’s mother-in-law, said the family has had to pay for upgrades at their home to accommodate him, but more is needed — as is more extensive medical care, which they can’t afford.
In 2008, Eisenmann was attacked by a 300-pound prisoner who he was transporting to the city jail. The attack left Eisenmann with a broken right leg.
The bone healed, but the nerves in the leg were damaged with complex regional pain syndrome, a chronic progressive disease characterized by severe pain, swelling and changes in the skin. Having spread to his left leg, both are swollen purple masses that can suffer excruciating pain at the mere touch.
While the committee did not make a specific ruling, Aman said regardless of a doctor’s ruling, Eisenmann, who had to be sedated to ride in a car from Acworth to Atlanta, is not expected to return to work anytime soon.
“The systemic process the city has undertaken over the last several years has been unacceptable,” Aman said, speaking in general. “We need to fix that and do a better job honoring the service, not just of police officers but for all city employees.”
Copyright 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution