Louise was employed as a senior work comp examiner at Chubb Services in Downtown Los Angeles at the time of her passing.  It appears that she died from a reaction to the chemotherapy treatments she was having as a follow up to a breast cancer surgery. But, she also had a heart condition that made her life vulnerable.  Henceforth, the precise cause of her death is not certain at this time.

A Memorial and a Viewing Service is set for Sunday, October 25th, 2009 from 1 pm to 4 pm at:

Woods-Valentine Mortuary
1455 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
Pasadena 90013
626-798-8941

A Funeral Service is set for Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 10 am at:

First AME Church of Pasadena
1700 N. Raymond Ave.
Pasadena 91103
626-798-0503

Louise's husband, Todd, extends his heartfelt invitation to all claims industry loved ones to please feel welcome to attend the services for Louise this coming Sunday and Monday.

Louise was considered to be a highly competent workers' compensation claims examiner by her colleagues industry-wide.  She began her California comp adjusting career at Republic Indemnity in 1976. 

In 1977 to 1979, she worked for ESIS as a claims consultant, reviewing files according to contract and critiquing them prior to State of California audits.  By 1979, she became a supervisor at Allianz Insurance Company in Los Angeles.

In 1981, I remember my very first recruiting assignment as a self-employed recruiter. It was to find a competent and skilled examiner for INA (Insurance Company of North America) at 4050 Wilshire Blvd, in L.A., for the Firestone account.  I recruited Louise Mitchell out of Allianz for claims manager Lew Eisenberg.  That office was right across the street from the illustrious Perino's restaurant, and occationally, we'd jay walk across Wilshire Blvd. and stop in for a chat at Perino's.  We thought we were all that and a bag of chips hanging out at Perino's.  And we certainly were!

Then, in 1985, Louise worked as a reserve analyst for Johnson and Higgins, and by 1989 she was doing temporary assignments at Associated Risk Services, American International, Argonaut Insurance Company, and Gates McDonald.  In 1995, she went to Cal Comp & Fire in Woodland Hills as a senior claims examiner on a 3rd party subrogation desk.  

Starting in late 1996, Louise worked for two self-insured, self-administered entities back to back: The City of Glendale and The Los Angeles Times. By 1997, she was a temporary examiner for Presidium, Inc., and then worked for five full years for Travelers Property & Casualty Company in Van Nuys from 1998 to 2003.  From 2003 to 2006 she did some more temporary assignments at Crum & Forster in L.A. and at Cambridge Integrated Services Group in Pasadena.  Then, in 2006 she went to Chubb Services in Downtown Los Angeles as a senior claims examiner.

The news of Louise's passing caused me great sadness and sorrow.  Last night, I couldn't even get into the Angels-Yankees baseball game where my friends were gathered because I just wanted to drive home alone and shed my tears by myself in the car. I woke up this morning thinking about Louise. I remember all the good talks we had and what a pleasure it was to work with her.  Louise Mitchell will be missed by so many. My heart is full.

Readers may write to writer Lonce LaMon at lonce@adjustercom.com