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AUGUST 2020
WHO WAS YOUR VERY FIRST DOG? DOG DAYS The hottest weeks of late summer are known as the dog days of summer. Contrary to popular belief, these days aren’t named after canines that are so hot they just lie around on their backs. The name comes from the rising of the Dog Star, Sirius. Though the dog days of summer don’t have anything to do with real dogs, this is still a great opportunity to share stories about the dogs who have starred in our lives. I grew up in a rural area with a whole bunch of dogs. Most of our neighbors had horses, but we had dogs. At one point, we had 12 dogs at once. In our defense, that wasn’t entirely planned out on our part. At the time, my aunt lived in Paris, so we took care of her dogs. Then two of our canines decided to each have a litter of puppies — at the same time! It was certainly a wild time. All of the dogs I grew up with had a lot of personality, but the one who really stands out was Yankee, a Lab who loved to swim. When we’d get home, Yankee would dive straight into the pool. She knew she couldn’t come into the house if she was soaking wet, but she’d go for a swim anyway. Yankee loved to float on her back and let us tug her around. After being around dogs all my life, I certainly consider myself a dog person. They are just rad, and I really appreciate the connection humans can have with their dogs. Coming home to a loving dog can really turn your day around.
Our dog cuddled up and helping Finn take care of Harlow after a recent accident that left her with six stitches in her foot.
That’s a long window of time, and they went through so much together. When Stella passed away, it was really hard on Nicole. To be honest, it was really hard on the whole family. Stella really impacted us. She was the kind of dog who knew when you needed a quiet snuggle. If you were really stressed out, she’d magically appear. When we were first building the firm, Stella really helped us get through that stressful time. She was a very calming breath of fresh air. When you’re cuddling a dog — or any pet, really — it reminds you that there’s more to the world than whatever problem you’re fixating on. The problems don’t go away, but you certainly feel like you have more energy to deal with life after cuddling a dog. Today, our dog Fiji makes sure to take up cuddle duties. We’ve had Fiji for over 10 years, and Finn is obsessed with her. He loves to sit on the couch next to Fiji and drink his juice in the mornings. Both the kids love the fact that Fiji gets to go on trips with us. Fiji doesn’t like to be alone for substantial periods of time, so she saw the Southwest with us, joining us on our adventures from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. It was pretty fun to have her along for the ride.
I think we’re really lucky to have dogs in our lives. They have the amazing ability to add a little more joy and love to every day. Who could ask for more?
That reminds me of Stella, perhaps the most amazing dog I’ve ever known. Nicole had Stella for 17 years, from when Nicole was 21 to 38 years old.
–Case Barnett
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DOES IT FEEL LIKE YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE IGNORING YOU?
Use StoryBrand to Get Their Attention
W hat if one small shift in your messaging could change the way you do business and make you more successful? No, it won’t cost you thousands of dollars in your marketing budget. In fact, it will save you money in the long run because it will make your marketing more effective. Though it may not feel easy at first, this simple shift accomplishes a big task: It makes your customer, not your business, the star of your advertising. That’s the concept behind StoryBrand, a marketing framework developed by author Donald Miller that has changed the game for thousands of companies. StoryBrand helps businesses clarify their message by making
them answer the crucial question of how their company will help customers survive and thrive.
As Miller has figured out, the easiest, most engaging way for humans to digest information is in the form of a story. Think about some of your favorite high school teachers. Did they spice up a lecture about American history with anecdotes of George Washington or Benjamin Franklin? Did your biology teacher regale you with stories of their trip to the Galapagos? Chances are when someone has your attention, it’s because they’re telling a story, and StoryBrand teaches you how to use stories to do the same for your business. At its core, every story contains a hero, something the hero desires, an obstacle the hero must overcome, and a guide who helps the hero on their journey. These are elements you can utilize in your messaging. To do so effectively, your business must address three crucial questions: 1. What does the hero (your customer) want? 2. Who or what is opposing the hero’s journey to get what they want? 3. What will the hero’s life look like if they do (or do not) get what they want? By recognizing your customer’s journey and positioning them as the hero and your company as their guide, you can create messaging they actually hear rather than marketing that simply sounds like the rest of the noise out there. Learn more about the StoryBrand process at StoryBrand.com.
OUR CLIENTS SAY IT BEST
“Case gives attorneys a good name. He helped me out with my car accident lawsuit. He called me before we met in person to give me some information and to let me know what to expect at our first meeting. When I came into his office, I was greeted and given a welcome packet that had a ton of helpful information. After our first meeting, his team was in constant contact with me, giving me updates and walking me through the process. The paralegals and other attorneys were supportive and always let me know what to expect. They were so on top of things that my case settled for the policy limits in less than six months. Thanks to Case and everyone at Case Barnett Law!” –Judy B.
This publication is intended to educate the general public about personal injury and elder abuse. It is not intended to be legal advice. Every case is different.
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WRONGFUL DEATH, POLICY LIMIT CASE CASE CLOSED
PEACH AND ARUGULA PASTA SALAD
Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com
Nothing says summer like a pasta salad filled with your favorite fresh fruits and vegetables, and this combination is the perfect way to cap off a warm summer day!
Ingredients
Settlement Amount: $300,000.00 Referral Fees Paid: $19,980.00
• • • • • • • • • • • •
8 oz penne or fusilli pasta
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp sea salt Pepper, to taste 2 tbsp lemon juice
Case Barnett Law is always willing to help those in need and will do everything we can to ensure wrongs are set right. Recently, we received a referral from an attorney we’ve worked with in the past. This attorney trusted us to take care of the people who matter the most to him. When he found himself in a terrible situation, he knew that our team could help. This attorney lives in an apartment complex, which was left in poor condition. Its neglect was the result of the landlord who did not ensure that the building and property were in good condition. One day, an older gentleman was found dead at the bottom of the stairs leading out of the attorney’s apartment! After he had first contacted us, we immediately sent a building codes and construction expert out to examine the property. The expert determined that the apartment was violating several building codes, which ultimately resulted in the older gentleman’s death. The most significant violation the expert found was failure to have handrails on the stairs.
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 large fresh peaches, diced or sliced 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced 1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup corn
6 cups arugula, packed
Directions
1. In a large pot of boiling water, cook pasta for approximately 9 minutes or until al dente. Drain pasta and place in a separate bowl. 2. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Drizzle the dressing over the pasta and toss with the feta cheese. 3. Add peaches, red onions, tomatoes, corn, and arugula to the pasta mixture. Lightly
Within two short weeks, we also had the police reports and had sent a demand letter out to the violator.
The case was settled — within 30 days — for the apartment owner’s policy limit. We’re grateful that now the family can move on from this tragedy and have a little more peace of mind.
toss to mix well. Add more olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Page 1 Memories of Man’s Best Friend
Page 2 How StoryBrand Can Clarify Your Message and Attract Customers
Our Clients Say It Best
Page 3 Setting Wrongs Right
Peach and Arugula Pasta Salad
Page 4 Are Your Thrift Store Donations Being Thrown Away?
ARE YOUR THRIFT STORE DONATIONS BEING THROWN AWAY?
Mexican traders, who account for 30% of business at thrift
Are you thinking about donating your kids’ old clothes or that slow cooker you haven’t used in months? Though donating your unwanted items is a great thing to do, amid the pandemic, many people have not considered the future of secondhand shopping and charity-based thrift stores like Goodwill. In 2018, Goodwill funded nearly $5.3 billion in charitable services, like educational assistance, job training, and work placements. But now, Goodwill and similar organizations are facing a unique problem: They’re receiving too many donations. To prevent your items from ending up in a landfill, consider the following before you donate. Under the circumstances, this situation is understandable. Thanks to nationwide stay-at-home orders, many took advantage of their newfound spare time to spring-clean and subsequently donate unwanted items to charity. However, with the confusion about how long the COVID-19 virus can live on clothing, secondhand shoppers have been staying home, worried about the health risks of buying used goods. Famously, thrift stores still keep unsold goods out of landfills. Up to 75% of Goodwill’s merchandise, for example, isn’t sold in their stores. Instead, it’s sent to discount outlets and then into global markets. However,
stores close to the U.S. southern border, and Kenya, the world’s largest buyer of unsold secondhand clothes, have stopped buying during the economic shutdown. Meanwhile, some good-intentioned Americans are leaving their goods outside thrift stores’ front doors, not realizing that without enough space to house the excess donations, many of these thrift stores will have to pay disposal fees, costing the business potential revenue and sending your items into local landfills. However, Goodwill still wants your donations! You just might have to hold on to your items for a little bit. Check to see if your local thrift stores are open for donations. Many recommend waiting until the influx slows down, but others have expanded their inventory storage and are ready to keep up. Just make sure to follow their guidelines on acceptable items because any broken or worn items only add to their costs. Happy donating!
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