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Six years ago, a forklift driver at Koop Sheet Metal in Spanish Lookout accidentally bumped into an elderly man at their work site. Since then 70-year-old Levi Reimer has been unable to work, and cannot walk without a cane.
It's been tough for Reimer, who has been struggling to survive. He'd been hoping to be compensated for the injury, but he still hasn't seen any money.
And that's exactly what's left him confused because the court ruled in his favor - his workplace, Koop Sheet Metal, was ordered to pay him over $116,000. They sent a cheque, but that cheque was made out to his law firm, and still hasn't reached Reimer's account.
Courtney Menzies visited him in Spanish Lookout today and has his story.
In 2017, now 70-year-old Levi Reimer had a workplace accident while being employed at Koop Sheet Metal. Since then, his life hasn't been the same. He's had to have surgery, walk with a cane, and is now living with constant pain.
Levi Reimer, Accident Victim
"When I was at work, there was a forklift driver, drove the fork onto my back. That's when I fell down and that's when I couldn't work anymore."
"I've been trying from the beginning, but I just can't, I suffer too much pain."
Reporter:
"What's that like, living with so much pain?"
Levi Reimer, Accident Victim
"Very stressful."
"I did carpenter work, I built all their big offices, two floors.
Reporter:
"And you said that you were about to take on a new job?"
Levi Reimer, Accident Victim
"This was basically done and I had a chance to take an even bigger job than this, I was 4 years with Koop Sheet Metal."
Reporter:
"And since the accident you were unable to do that.?"
Levi Reimer, Accident Victim
"I just had to call it off."
So with no steady income, Koop Sheet Metal agreed to assist with a loan for medical bills. And eventually, Reimer felt it necessary to get an attorney so that he could be properly compensated for the accident.
Levi Reimer, Accident Victim
"They supported me with tiny monies until the day they took me to surgery in Mexico, and that's where I begun to have spine surgery."
"The paper I signed, they wanted to take away my lot and house in Unitedville and my kids disagreed with this, can't work and take away that? Let's take an attorney."
"I won the judgement."
Reporter:
"And how much was awarded to you?"
Levi Reimer, Accident Victim
"They stated it as, in general, $116,000."
"And they were going to deduct what they loan me, about $37,600."
That decision was handed down in October 2022. Reimer says the outcome was never communicated. to him, and he says he has not seen a single cent of the money owed to him.
Levi Reimer, Accident Victim
"I have no money yet, even though I received a message on my phone, there is so much money in cheque for me, I can't find out where the cheque is."
"When I tried to find out where the cheque is, I called numbers of times to my previous attorney, they don't know anything about it, that's the answer I got."
Reporter:
"And have you spoken to the exact attorney that you had?"
Levi Reimer, Accident Victim
"No I haven't. Can't get them on the phone, only the secretaries."
Reporter:
"But you believe that Koop Sheet Metal has paid what they have to, to the law firm?"
Levi Reimer, Accident Victim
"That's a question to me in my mind."
And according this letter, Koop Sheet Metal paid the money to the firm of M. H. Chebat & Co., in April 2023. But 7 months later, the run around and dead ends have begun to frustrate Reimer.
Levi Reimer, Accident Victim
"I know that she did send my previous attorney a message twice. I haven't heard any action on it."
Reporter:
"When was the last time you spoke to your current attorney?"
Levi Reimer, Accident Victim
"Couple of weeks ago."
Reporter:
"And what did she tell you?"
Levi Reimer, Accident Victim
"She told me let's give it a couple of weeks."
Reporter:
"And how much longer are you willing to wait?"
Levi Reimer, Accident Victim
"I have no patience anymore. I've waited too long already."
Reporter:
"You work to sustain yourself and you can't work, you haven't gotten your money. How difficult has life in general been for you without this money?"
Levi Reimer, Accident Victim
"Awful difficult. There are day I don't even eat because I have nothing, nothing. Because I'm surviving yet so far, it's because there are some kind people. They help me off and on with a little bit."
"If this is continuing to go like this, I don't know, hard to say."
Reporter:
"And have your children given you any type of advice?"
Levi Reimer, Accident Victim
"I mentioned it to my children once already that I might just have to give up with everything and then they advised me, dad, don't do it, don't do it."
We reached out to Minister Michel Chebat. While has not been practicing law for the past three years since he was elected into office, the law firm still carries his name, and he told us that he will investigate the matter to find out where the breakdown happened, and committed that whatever funds are owed to Reimer will be paid.
We will continue to follow this story.
