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CaseBarnettLaw.com
949-861-2990
OCT 2017
The courtroom always feels so big. Whether you’re a defendant whose future hangs in the balance, a jury member who determines that future, or someone in the galley watching justice play out before your eyes, the courtroom is overwhelming. When you’re a kid and your dad stands up there in front of everyone, that courtroom becomes the whole world. At 12 years old, I watched my dad give his opening statement at the Rodney King case. Yes, that Rodney King case. He was the defense attorney for one of the police officers. Outside, people were shouting and protesting, but inside the courtroom, you could hear a pin drop. The room was charged, and my dad knew exactly how to channel all that energy. He spoke like a Shakespearean actor, each word clear and deliberate. In his right hand he held a police baton, periodically smacking it against his left palm. Each time the baton hit, it struck his wedding ring and the sound would resonate through the courtroom. My dad held everyone’s attention so completely, you’d swear there was a spotlight on him. That’s what being a lawyer all boils down to: We have a unique opportunity to tell a person’s story. THE STORIES I TELL What It Really Means to Be a Lawyer This was the first time I saw exactly what my dad did. As a little kid, I didn’t really understand what his job was. Once, I asked if juries held up score cards like judges at the Olympics! On that day, I was in awe as I watched him give such a powerful speech. To this day, I still get goosebumps when I think about it. At the time, I didn’t understand the broader context of that case, nor did I recognize the mental and emotional pressure my dad was under. This was a real opportunity to do something great … or fail spectacularly. In the end, my dad was great, and I knew I wanted to be a lawyer like him.
Dad at work in 1992
In the months leading up to that case, my dad’s client had been vilified by everyone. They all decided he was the bad guy without ever hearing his story. So, my dad stood up in that courtroom and told his client’s story. That’s what being a lawyer all boils down to: We have a unique opportunity to tell a person’s story. As my career developed, I saw there were many ways a trial lawyer can help a person’s life by telling their stories to a judge and jury. It’s easy to get weighed down by the technicalities and legal jargon of it all, but at the end of the day, my job is to tell stories anyone can relate to. Each case contains classic themes such as betrayal and pain, hope and love, and what it means to exist in this world. When a client comes to me, I get to learn about them and fight in their name with the stories they share. I hear some truly heartbreaking stories, sometimes from people who have been hurt by negligence or ignored by someone who was supposed to help them. It can feel like a real David and Goliath struggle when you go up against some soulless company that caused this grief.
But it is my job to get the bad guys to care and to force them to make things safer for everyone in the future. It’s a tall order, and trust me, there are peaks and valleys in every case, but when I remember I’m in that courtroom to tell a person’s story, it’s not so overwhelming anymore. –Case Barnett
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CaseBarnettLaw.com 949-861-2990 SIMPLE AND CREATIVE Halloween Treats to Make With Your Kids
To start, dye the almond slivers black to make “fingernails.” Cut the pretzel rods down to finger-length and dip them in frosting dyed the pale green of witches’ skin. While the frosting is still soft, stick an almond fingernail at the tip. If you want extra details, use a toothpick to make knuckles in the frosting. Spooky Oreos What you’ll need: Oreos, melting chocolate (white or bittersweet), decorations Melt your chocolate, dip America’s favorite cookies in it, and let them set. Ta-da! You’re left with the perfect blank canvas for your children (and you!). Run wild — from spider webs and ghosts to vampires and werewolves, you’ll have a unique treat for everyone at your party. Follow these simple instructions (don’t be afraid to get creative!), and you’ll delight kids of all ages this year.
Creating decked-out, bespoke costumes for your kids takes a lot of planning and hard work. If you want an easier way to make Halloween more creative this year, try creating some holiday-themed treats the whole family can participate in making. The results will be a lot more exciting than the standard fun-sized candy bars that you’ll have more than enough of after the holiday. Donut Monsters What you’ll need: glazed or plain donuts, M&M’s, plastic fangs These monsters require only brief assembly, and the effect is awesome. Simply buy your favorite glazed donuts, or make them yourself if you’re feeling adventurous, buy some cheap, plastic fangs, and decorate. You can use red food coloring for a blood effect and candy for eyes. You’re only limited by your imagination. Witch Finger Pretzels What you’ll need: large pretzel sticks, frosting, green and black food dye, almond slivers Attorney referral fees are permissible in California. The theory is that an attorney referring a client to another attorney will be motivated to send that client to the attorney who can best serve the client and maximize the case, thereby maximizing the return to the referring attorney. The attorneys must abide by California Rule of Professional Responsibility 2-200, which states the following: 1. The client has consented in writing thereto after a full disclosure has been made in writing that a division of fees will be made and the terms of such division; and 2. The total fee charged by all lawyers is not increased solely by reason of the provision for division of fees and is not unconscionable as that term is defined in rule 4-200. We handle referrals differently than other attorneys. Case Barnett Law makes it easy for attorneys to refer cases, and we keep the referring attorneys updated throughout the entire process. Our firm has developed something called the Case Barnett Law HitList™ which ensures that both our clients and the referring attorney are always in the know when it comes to their case. The referring attorney will know when a referral fee may be coming because they will always know what stage the case is in. Additionally, the great work and service Case Barnett Law provides reflects favorably on the referring attorney. This not only provides a direct and more immediate benefit to the referring attorney financially, but it also generates esteem Attorney Referral Fees
in the community through the development of a reputation as an attorney who gives good counsel.
Non-attorneys cannot receive the benefit of a referral fee because the state bar prohibits attorneys from paying referral fees to non-lawyers. What we hope at Case Barnett Law is that even non-attorneys will send us cases, not for the referral fee, but simply because we provide the best possible service. We prioritize the empowerment of our client and want clients to understand the process and feel comfortable with the handling of their case. An informed client is usually also a happy client. And a happy client usually means a happy referral source. Everybody wins.
CaseBarnettLaw.com
949-861-2990
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SLIP AND FALL (Premises Liability) Questions
Who is responsible for my injuries? The person responsible is potentially the premises owner, store owner, or land owner. This person has a duty to maintain their premises in a safe fashion. This includes an affirmative duty to look for and make safe potentially dangerous conditions. Who pays for my injuries if someone else is responsible? The insurance company for the person responsible is usually the first line of payment. What should I do immediately after a slip and fall? If you’re not too badly injured, it is important to investigate right away. An attorney can help you arrange for an investigator who will access the property immediately, take photos, and interview witnesses. You also want to be sure of any deadlines that require notice be given to a party soon after the accident occurs. A letter should be sent to the premises
owner stating that you have been injured on their property and that they were negligent. You must request their insurance information and then contact their insurance company. If they do not respond, a civil case must be filed. How would a premises owner be responsible for my injuries? They failed to make their premises safe. Do other people get hurt this badly in slip and falls? Yes. Slip and falls have a bad reputation because insurance companies make us think that these types of accidents are made up by “sue- happy” people looking to cash in on their accident. The reality is that many people are hurt daily because of the negligence of facilities and people who get the benefit of a customer’s business but don’t take the necessary steps to protect that customer.
LAUGH! Have a
Orange-Balsamic Lamb Chops Impress any dinner guest with this surprisingly quick and easy-to-make meal.
Ingredients
Directions
1. Combine 1 tablespoon olive oil, rind, and juice in a large zip-top plastic bag. Add lamb to bag; turn to coat well. Let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes. Remove lamb from bag and add salt and pepper. 2. Heat a large grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add lamb and cook 2 minutes each side. 3. Place vinegar in a small skillet over medium- high heat; bring to a boil. Cook 3 minutes or until vinegar is syrupy. Drizzle vinegar and remaining teaspoon oil over lamb.
• • • • • • • •
4 teaspoons olive oil, divided 2 teaspoons grated orange rind 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice 8 (4-ounce) lamb rib chops, trimmed
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Cooking spray
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Recipe courtesy of CookingLight.com.
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949-861-2990
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Let Me Tell You a Story | Creative Halloween Treats | Attorney Referral Fees Slip and Fall (Premises Liability) Questions | Orange-Balsamic Lamb Chops
245 Fischer Avenue, Suite B4 Costa Mesa, CA 92626
HOW FARMERS GROW Those Giant Pumpkins
Before the gourd starts growing, flowers on the plant need to be pollinated. Farmers will usually take it upon themselves to pollinate, using pollen from plants with proven genetic lines. Winning pumpkins usually claim their “father” plant and “mother” seed, like racehorses. Growing a great pumpkin is practically a full-time job, with some farmers reporting spending 40 hours a week on it. Using heated soil, installing fences to reduce wind, adding sand, and other specific cultivation techniques give the pumpkin a fighting chance to grow into a monster. But, in the end, there’s an element of luck. The competitive growing industry is getting bigger (pun intended). In 1979, the largest pumpkin on record was 438 pounds. Since 2008, the world record has been broken every year. The reigning heavyweight champion, grown in Germany last year, weighed in at 2,623 pounds. That’s as much as a 2018 Toyota Yaris or 1,748 standard pumpkin pies.
Forklifts and cranes may be used mainly for construction work, but every fall, thousands of backyard gardeners use them as gardening tools — or rather, harvesting tools — for their largest single crop. Massive pumpkins aren’t practical, but they can become a minor tourist attraction in your hometown and even win a few thousand bucks if they’re really huge. However, with the time and effort it takes to get them that big, farmers aren’t in it for the money. They’re in it for the glory. Growing these monstrous fruits (yes, they are technically fruits) is kind of like breeding a racehorse. It takes practice, cultivation, and even good genes. Competitive growers will often purchase the seeds of the previous year’s champions for their plant. After preparing the soil to make it extra fertile, they’ll plant the pumpkin in late winter or early spring.
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