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JUNE 2022
Legally Brief With Kevin Patrick Automobile accidents | Daycare injuries | wrongful death
This Book Changed Me HAVE YOU READ ‘TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD’?
Every day when I walk into my office, one of the first things I see is my copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” It has a place of pride on top of my bookshelf, and I consider it one of my most precious possessions — both because of the story and the way that copy came into my hands. You may have read “To Kill a Mockingbird” in high school, which is where I was first introduced to it. The classic book by Harper Lee tells the story of the lawyer Atticus Finch and his children, Scout and Jem. Atticus is a truly inspirational figure. He treats everyone equally, with dignity and respect. In the story, he defends a local man falsely accused of a crime and fights for justice even though the rest of the town is against him.
with dignity and respect. He even motivated me to become an active member of the State Bar of Georgia’s Committee on Professionalism! Seeing Judge Sizemore’s copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird” on my bookshelf reminds me of why I practice law. Plaintiff work allows me to meet people with different backgrounds and experiences. It has made me a more well-rounded person. And while our civil justice system isn’t perfect, under it all people are treated equally.
The book really started to resonate with me when I interned with Judge Lamar W. Sizemore Jr. during my third year at the Mercer University School of Law. Judge Sizemore was a superior court judge for the Macon- Bibb County judicial circuit. I shadowed him for weeks, helping him however I could
WHEN HE HANDED IT OVER, HE LOOKED WARMLY AT ME. ‘KEVIN,’ HE SAID, ‘DO YOUR BEST TO READ THIS BOOK EVERY YEAR.’
As Atticus puts it, “Our courts have our faults, as does any human institution, but in this country, our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts, all men [and women] are created equal.” I think we can all learn a thing or two from Atticus. He’s willing to go the distance, even if sometimes things look bleak. His story helps me during my car accident cases, which can easily make people feel hopeless due to the health challenges they cause. “To Kill a Mockingbird” reminds me that even when things are tough, there's always hope. I hope it’s reassuring that when you refer friends or family to me for a car crash case, you’re sending them to a lawyer who strives for the integrity of Atticus Finch. To read about one problem I can help with, turn to Page 2. And if you haven’t read “To Kill a Mockingbird” yet, I’d highly recommend trying it out.
and learning the nitty-gritty of legal work. I reviewed motions, went to hearings, and overall familiarized myself with the practice of law. During those weeks, Judge Sizemore spoke highly of Atticus Finch’s morals and professionalism. At the end of my internship, he gave me a copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird” with a personal inscription. When he handed it over, he looked warmly at me. “Kevin,” he said, “do your best to read this book every year.” I made Judge Sizemore a promise and I’ve tried my best to stick to it. Over the years, rereading “To Kill a Mockingbird” has made me a better lawyer. Atticus Finch inspires me to treat everyone
This publication is for informational purposes only, and no legal advice is intended.
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Falsely Accused and Condemned
THE SALEM TOMATO TRIALS
Surely, you've heard about the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts, but did you hear how the people of Salem, New Jersey, put tomatoes on trial in the 1800s, believing that they were poisonous? It sounds like a fictional movie plot, but it really happened! Even back in the 16th century, people were very suspicious of tomatoes. As if enough confusion didn’t already surround the tomato — is it a fruit? Is it a vegetable? Deemed a fruit but treated as a vegetable, the tomato is a bit
their toxicity. But, there’s always one who goes against the grain. Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson, a farmer and historian, refused to believe that the tomato was harmful and ate them on a regular basis. In fact, he even hosted tomato competitions, granting a prize to the person who could grow the largest tomatoes. People thought he was simply mad.
To prove his point and redeem his reputation, he showed up at the Salem tomato trial with a giant basket of tomatoes, frantically eating them in front of the crowd. He ate the entire basket full and stood before everyone, as healthy as can be, hoping to coax the crowd into dropping the “charges” on the healthy fruit. When he maintained his health days, weeks, and even months later, tomatoes were no longer regarded as evil and poisonous.
of a contradiction. To make matters worse, in the 1800s, it was discovered the stems and leaves of tomatoes contained tomatine, a toxin. Within the fruit itself, a small amount of the toxin exists in a much lower concentration. However, people feared being poisoned if they were to consume any part of a tomato. Today, we know there isn’t nearly enough of the toxin to create a problem for us.
Today, the tomato is actually the fourth most popular “vegetable”; after all, how could we live without
In 1820, wary of the poisonous red fruit, tomatoes were put on trial in the town courthouse, made to answer for
salsa and marinara sauce?
How to Handle a Hospital Lien STEP 1: CALL KEVIN!
Imagine you’re injured in a car accident and taken to the hospital. The doctors help you, even though you don't have insurance or any way to pay for your treatment. Then, after you get home, a scary letter comes in the mail: The hospital is filing a lien against you! The letter basically says, “If you win any money in court for your accident, we’ll take a big chunk.”
car, or other possessions if you don’t pay them. They only have access to money you might win in your personal injury case.
HOW CAN YOU FIGHT IT? Like we said, hospital liens are totally legal. But sometimes with the help of a good lawyer, you can negotiate them down. For example, the hospital may have made a mistake or might be asking for too much. Our team will make sure their lien is valid, look into your insurance situation, and negotiate for you if we can.
This is an intimidating situation, but you shouldn’t panic! Keep reading to find out why.
WHAT IS A HOSPITAL LIEN? Here’s the simple way to think about a lien: It’s the hospital’s method of collecting their debt. The way the hospital sees it, you owe them for your treatment — so they can take the money they’re owed out of your car crash settlement. It’s totally legal for hospitals and nursing homes to file liens here in Georgia. The good news is that a hospital lien doesn’t attach to any of your assets outside of your personal injury case. That means the hospital can’t seize your house,
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO FIRST? If you get one of those scary letters in the mail, the first thing you should do is call Kevin and the rest of our team here at Kevin Patrick Law. We’ll take the entire situation off your plate and deal with the bills and liens while you focus on your treatment, your work, your family, and getting better. Hopefully, you never end up on the wrong side of a hospital lien. But if you know someone in that situation, refer them to us for help.
You can always reach Kevin directly at 404.566.8964 or Kevin@PatrickTrialLaw.com. (If you ever need it, his cellphone is 404.409.3160.)
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3 Ways to Spend Father’s Day Atlanta Dad Style! Stuck on what to do for Father’s Day? We’ve got you covered.
work up an appetite, there’s also a sports bar on sight with all of the pizza and wings a dad could ask for. Visit TopGolf.com/us/ atlanta for all of the details.
GET YOUR DIY ON Hours vary
CRUSH THE DOPE DADS RUN Saturday, June 18, at 9:30 a.m.
The best thing kids and dads can do on Father’s Day is spend time together — and what better way to do that than by working on a project? Maybe your dad loves cars and you can volunteer to spend a day in the shop with him, or he loves woodworking and you can start on a fresh log with him. The memories you make will be both free and priceless! If you really want to go all-in, consider springing for a class at Woodcraft of Atlanta. This month, they’re teaching courses on how to build Adirondack chairs and carve wood spirits, among other practical skills ( Woodcraft.com/stores/atlanta/classes ).
You know Kevin loves to run, so we couldn’t leave this Father’s Day race off our list! The 40-minute Fun Run/Walk is sponsored by the sustainable shoe brand Allbirds. It starts at 9:30 a.m., but dads and kids can meet up at the Allbirds store (675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Suite W115B) as early as 8:45 a.m. for a free fitting and stretch session. Afterward, enjoy free drinks and snacks, music, and shoe and apparel giveaways. Organizers hope the event will be “a force of hundreds of fathers, families, and community supporters showing the world that we are present and active in the lives of our loved ones.” If these ideas don’t hit home for you, consider attending a Braves home game (there are several coming up this month) or planning an outdoor adventure like camping, hiking, or fishing.
TAKE A TOPGOLF TRIP Open daily
If you have (or are) a golf-loving dad, TopGolf is a great place to spend Father’s Day. You can bring your own clubs or borrow some to aim balls at targets on the high-tech driving range. If you
Take A Break
Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chicken Skewers
Summer is here, and you know what that means: It’s time to break out the barbecue and meat skewers! Ingredients For the Marinade • 1 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp soy sauce • 2 tbsp chili garlic sauce • 2 tbsp rice vinegar Directions 1. In a bowl, whisk together marinade ingredients. 2. In a reusable freezer bag, combine cubed chicken and all but 1/4 cup of the marinade. 3. Seal bag and massage marinade into the chicken. Chill in the fridge overnight. 4. The following day, preheat the grill to
• 3 tbsp honey • Juice of 1 lime • 3/4 tsp smoked paprika • 1/2 tsp salt For the Skewers • 2 lbs chicken breast, cut into bite-size cubes • 1 small pineapple, cut into 1-inch cubes
400 F. Thread chicken and pineapple onto skewers, adding two cubes of chicken for each cube of pineapple.
5. Grill the skewers for 3–4 minutes per side, brushing with the reserved marinade in the final minutes. 6. Serve over rice or with your favorite barbecue sides!
Solution
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Inside This Issue 1 Kevin Shares His Favorite Book 2 The Salem Tomato Trials Facing a Hospital Lien? Hope Isn’t Lost 3 3 Local Ways to Spend Father’s Day Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chicken Skewers 4 Is Travel Insurance Worth Your Money?
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Travel Insurance: Scam or Savior?
If you’ve ever booked a plane ticket or hotel stay online, you’ve probably been offered an opportunity to "protect" your purchase for an additional fee. Since you’re spending big dollars on your trip, you may have hovered over the option, wondering if it’s a wise investment or a quick money-making scheme.
restrictions, so always make sure you understand the terms and buy coverage that offers the protection you want. It can be hard to swallow the idea of paying more to insure yourself against an event that probably won’t happen. So, can you skip it? The risk you’re willing to take is up to you, but remember the amount of money you’re spending on travel and consider whether it’s worth protecting your investment. While you may decide against travel insurance for your weekend trip two states away, experts recommend always purchasing it for international travel or cruises due to the higher cost and potential for things to go wrong. The price, they say, is usually worth the peace of mind. If you’re going to purchase travel insurance, you should take the time to shop around, just like you did with your accommodations. Not all plans are created equal, so read the fine print and make sure you understand what is covered — and what is not. The last thing you want is to spend your hard-earned money on a policy that leaves you holding the bag.
Before you buy, you should know that trip protection and travel insurance are different. When you book directly through the airline or hotel or on a travel website like Travelocity or Expedia, they offer you trip protection. These plans often provide nothing more than a voucher you can use to reschedule in the event of a cancellation — something you won’t need if you book refundable accommodations.
But you can also purchase travel insurance through a reputable third party, and these policies offer cash refunds if your trip is canceled or interrupted. They also typically cover lost or damaged bags, and high-quality policies will cover medical emergencies that occur at your destination. But there may be
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