The Connection Magazine AIM MUTUAL Fall 2019 | Page 27

LISA BATTIS
Lisa Battis, AIC, Regional Claim Specialist
Supervisor, has been involved with
workers’ comp claims for A.I.M. Mutual
since 1994 and has been supervising
the regional team since 2014. Prior to
A.I.M. Mutual, she worked for Hanover
Insurance, holding positions of increasing
responsibility. Fluent in Portuguese,
Lisa represents the company at
Boston-area conciliation hearings.
2011. Following this alleged work injury, the employee
was hospitalized for extreme lumbar pain on several
occasions. With prescriptions for Percocet becoming
routine, we conducted an additional investigation which
led to litigation and subpoena requests for past records.
We discovered a history of opioid dependence going back
to 2009 following a motor vehicle accident, which was
not work-related. What’s more, she was filing workers’
compensation claims with multiple employers, with most
of her injuries resulting in settlements, followed by a quick
return to work with a different employer.
By late 2012, a court hearing determined there was
persuasive medical evidence to support that narcotics
were a driving force behind the employee’s history of filing
for workers’ compensation injuries. The officer terminated
both her indemnity and medical benefits.
I often use this case in training. It made me realize that
you always need to do your due diligence and investigate
every claim thoroughly even when the “facts” seem
straightforward. Even though this claim has been closed
due to inactivity for several years now, I still periodically
run an insurance claim report out of curiosity. Since the
2011 work injury, she has reported five other claims with
different employers.
ARAM KALASHIAN
Aram Kalashian, Claim Supervisor,
has supervised workers’ compensation
claims for over 7 years. He joined A.I.M.
Mutual Insurance Companies in 2001
as a claim service representative and
held various positions within the claim
department. Aram has successfully
completed and participated in several
training programs and industry seminars
focusing on fraud identification, litigation,
and settlement negotiations. Aram holds
an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice
from Northern Essex Community College.
KEITH MAILLOUX
Inspiration and Perspective
By: Kathryn Kelley, Senior Claim Supervisor
Keith Mailloux, Claim Supervisor, has
worked on workers’ compensation claims
for A.I.M. Mutual since 2003. Prior to
being promoted to a supervisor in 2017,
he held the position of Claim Technical
Coordinator and was responsible for the
training needs of the claim department.
Keith, who is licensed in New Hampshire
as well as Massachusetts, is also
responsible for Longshore and Harbor
workers’ compensation claims. Keith
holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in History
and English from Merrimack College.
Even today, I’m still amazed when I think of “John” and
how he came to terms with his devastating work injury.
He’d fallen out of a tree, sustained a severe spinal cord
injury, and was now a quadriplegic.
I visited with him at home shortly after his release from
a rehabilitation facility. I was struck by how positive his
attitude was. He seemed to accept what had happened
and was moving on. He would be in a wheelchair for the rest
of his life, yet he accepted that without complaint. His ex-
wife also helped to care for him in the early months, taking
him in to live with her. I thought that was a remarkable and
unselfish thing to do.
I couldn’t help but contrast this case with those I’d
handled previously in my career as an auto claims adjuster.
I handled total vehicle losses for a while, and so many times,
people were irate, rude, and even depressed over the loss
of a car. It may not be a fair comparison, but it puts things
in perspective.
John was kind, easy to work with, and very appreciative
of all we did with his injury management and workers’
compensation benefits. It was an eye-opening experience
for me. It added to my compassion and understanding of
what workers with serious injuries must overcome.
KATHRYN KELLEY
Kathryn Kelley, Senior Claim
Supervisor, supervises third-
party recovery, second injury fund
recoveries, and reinsurance reporting
and updating. Prior to joining A.I.M.
Mutual claims in 1997, she worked
extensively in workers’ comp and
multi-line claims as a procedures
auditor, adjuster, and in supervisory
roles. Kathy holds a Bachelor of
Arts degree in Psychology from the
University of Massachusetts at Lowell.
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