Champion Firm, P.C. - October 2019
2675 PACES FERRY ROAD SE, SUITE 260 ATLANTA, GA 30339
Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Attorneys hampion Firm, P.C.
WWW.THECHAMPIONFIRM.COM 404-596-8044
OCTOBER 2019
THE BEST KIND OF CASE SET THE STORY STRAIGHT
This month, I want to share the story of a case that really captured why I became a lawyer.
accident doesn’t make your injuries any less severe. Of course Sandra would want to visit her family for Christmas! And while she still goes dancing, she now has to take pain medicine beforehand and can’t dance nearly as long as she used to dance. Due to her injuries, she’s not as spontaneous as she once was, no longer able to take a 3-mile hike with her friends at the drop of a hat. She might not be confined to a wheelchair,
On Oct. 14, 2016, our client, Sandra, was in a car crash. She ended up in the ER with a busted lip and reports of neck pain. Just over three weeks later, she sought additional treatment at a physical therapy clinic for more neck pain and pain in her left knee and lower back. Sandra later received a facet injection from a rehabilitation doctor. Between the doctor visits, MRIs, and injections, Sandra ended up with a little over $37,000 in medical bills. During the whole experience, Sandra, a preschool teacher, only missed a single day of work. When Sandra became our client, we sent a policy limits demand of $100,000 before filing a personal injury suit. The insurance company responded with an offer of $14,000. When we filed suit in DeKalb State Court, the insurance company increased the offer to just $19,600. It’s not uncommon for insurance companies to lowball us, but it never fails to be insulting. They were offering just half of our client’s medical bills! We didn’t hesitate to take them to court this past August. During the trial, the insurance company tried to undermine our client and make it seem like she was exaggerating, if not downright lying, about her injuries. The defense focused on how Sandra hadn’t complained about back pain during her initial visit to the ER and how she didn’t get follow-up treatment for nearly a month. They pointed out how she visited her family in London the Christmas after the accident and went on vacation to the Dominican Republic earlier this year. They questioned how she could have gone salsa dancing or taken Zumba classes shortly after her treatment ended. They even tried to use the fact that she’d only missed a day of work as a mark against her. This is a very common tactic. Juries are wary against people who try to cheat the system to make a quick buck, so insurance companies often go after a person’s character. They claim that anyone who is able to live their life after an injury must be lying about the injury altogether. But contrary to what the defense may claim after an accident, people aren't just disabled or well. Trying to live your life after an
but the accident negatively impacted her life, and she was entitled to compensation from the insurance company. In our closing argument, we asked for $300,000. After 30 minutes of deliberation, the jury came back with a question: "Can we award more than the plaintiff requested?" Even I was shocked. That almost never happens. We were able to prove to the jury that Sandra was a deserving person who needed help. The jury came back with a verdict of $322,434.33. The next day, we sent the insurance a demand and told them if they paid us $350,000 by Aug. 30, we wouldn't move for attorneys fees and expenses, which would make the judgment close to $390,000. They agreed to pay the $350,000 — 17 times more than their initial offer. It sounds cliche, but these kinds of cases are the reason I became a lawyer. When you get a case where someone is clearly not being treated fairly by the insurance company,
you have the opportunity to use your skills to make a difference. Getting that verdict for our client was so rewarding. That life- changing money will really be able to help her, and it totally vindicated all the hard work we put into the case. –Darl Champion
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Mythical Cats of the World
TAILS FROM THE PAST
Most owners will tell you their cats act like ancient deities. Majestic, scrupulous, and utterly unpredictable, these fascinating creatures have long captured our imaginations. Even before cat videos took the internet by storm, humans have been idolizing felines, placing them alongside some of their most important mythological figures. Of course, a list of mythical cats has to start with Egypt. While many people know the pharaohs and their followers thought cats were sacred, you may be surprised by how deep the connection goes. The earliest depiction of Bastet, the feline deity of protection, is a lion-headed woman in battle. But, over the course of 2,000 Bastet — Egypt
years, Bastet evolved to resemble the domesticated, pointy-eared cats we know and love today.
招き猫 (Maneki-Neko) — Japan
Legend has it that in the 17th century, a monk living in a small temple in Edo (now Tokyo) was struggling to survive, but he still split his meals with his cat, Tama. One day, Lord Nakaota li got caught in a rainstorm while hunting and took shelter under a tree near the temple. Nakaota spotted Tama near the temple, and the cat raised its leg, beckoning the noble to come toward him. Curious, Nakaota complied, stepping out from beneath the tree just before a bolt of lightning struck it down. The lord’s life was saved, and to this day, the Maneki-Neko (the beckoning cat) is a symbol of wealth and good fortune. In Norse folklore, the goddess Freya had a unique means of travel: a chariot pulled by two cats. These were skogkatts, or Norwegian Forest cats, that were only a little larger than your average house cat. Still, these small felines towed Freya around battlefields as she gathered warriors to send to Valhalla. On top of being the goddess of war, love affairs, and magic, Freya may well have been Midgard’s first cat lady. Freya’s Skogkatts — Norway
A Celebration of Life DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
Full of Life
Despite the common misconception, Dia de los Muertos is not an offshoot of Halloween. While the two holidays often happen simultaneously, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday that originated with the indigenous people of Central America, including the Aztec and Mayan civilizations. Each year, they gathered and gave offerings to their dead. When the Spaniards came to Mexico, they fused the indigenous celebrations with their traditions of All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2).
Though the name might lead you to believe differently, Dia de los Muertos is a joyous time. If you visit Mexico during the holiday, the air is filled with music, and the streets are full of dancing and color. Instead of a sorrowful mourning of the dead, it is a vibrant, joyous celebration of life. Intricate altar displays, called ofrendas, honor the spirits of relatives who’ve passed. Families fill them with photographs and the relatives’ favorite food and drinks. It’s believed that during Dia de los Muertos, the boundary between the living and the dead is lifted, and for one night only, spirits come back to visit and enjoy what their families have set out for them. Today, the multiday celebration takes place throughout Central and North America. As tiny Batmans and Skywalkers add the final adjustments to their costumes, other families clean their homes and prepare to honor the spirits of their loved ones. And in today's beautiful blend of cultures, many families celebrate both holidays.
Ancient Beginnings
Ancient Mesoamerican civilizations viewed death as a beginning rather than an end. This was likely tied to agricultural practices and the seasons, with crops dying in the winter and being reborn in the spring. Dia de los Muertos evolved from those roots and is now observed throughout Mexico and the United States. It’s a time of remembering your loved ones by celebrating their lives.
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Rules for Safe Trick-or-Treating Is Halloween Candy Dangerous?
Rules for Parents • Children under the age of 10 should never trick-or-treat alone. Make sure your kids are with a trusted adult all evening.
Parents examining Halloween candy is almost as traditional as children trick-or-treating in the first place. Stories of poisoned candy or razor blades in apples have persisted for years, but the truth is that most of these stories are total fakes. There have been no cases of strangers poisoning children with Halloween candy. Except for one Minneapolis case in 2000, all reports of “pins and needles” in Halloween candy were either outright hoaxes or another child trying to pull a Halloween prank. The biggest risk of Halloween candy is a mouth full of cavities, but that doesn’t mean trick-or-treating is completely safe. Cars and crowded streets still pose a danger. Here are some rules to remember for a safe Halloween. Rules for Trick-or-Treaters • Follow the rules of the road. Stick to the sidewalk and only cross the street at curbs or crosswalks. Don’t step out into the street from between parked cars. • Make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of a car. • Wear comfortable costumes that won’t cause you to trip or block your vision. • Never go inside any houses while trick-or-treating.
• While it’s extremely rare for Halloween candy to be tampered with by strangers, parents should still check the sweet loot and throw out opened candy or homemade treats for sanitary reasons. Rules for Drivers • Drivers should always practice caution behind the wheel, but remember to be extra vigilant on Halloween. • Eliminate all distractions and keep your phone out of reach to resist temptation. • Slow down in residential areas. • Double-check for kids waiting at crosswalks, curbs, or medians.
Halloween is meant to be fun. These rules can help make sure all our trick-or-treaters get home safely.
THE CHAMPION POP QUIZ Want a chance to win two tickets to the Broadway musical “Wicked” at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta? Show off your Halloween knowledge by answering this question: What is the last name of the three witch sisters who terrorize the town of Salem in the movie “Hocus Pocus”? Email your answer to tamsie@ thechampionfirm.com for a chance to win. Submissions must be received by Halloween (Oct. 31, 2019) to qualify.
LEFTOVER CANDY SNACK MIX
This recipe from Momofuku Milk Bar chef and “Master Chef” judge Christina Tosi makes great use of those extra Halloween goodies. It’s a quick and easy way to both elevate and get rid of unwanted leftovers.
Ingredients
• 2 cups mini pretzels, coarsely broken • 1/4 cup light brown sugar • 2 tbsp granulated sugar • 1/3 cup dry milk powder 1. Heat oven to 275 F. 2. In a large mixing bowl, fold together pretzels, sugars, milk powder, and butter. 3. Spread mixture on a baking sheet lined with Directions
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted • 12 oz mini candy bars, such as Snickers, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
parchment paper and bake for 20 minutes. 4. Let cool for at least
30 minutes and mix in candy bar pieces before serving.
Congratulations to our August pop quiz champion, DeAngelo G. , who scored a $50 gift card to Target!
Inspired by Food & Wine Magazine
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Attorneys hampion Firm, P.C.
2675 PACES FERRY ROAD SE, SUITE 260 ATLANTA, GA 30339
WWW.THECHAMPIONFIRM.COM 404-596-8044
M: 9AM—5:30PM, T: 9AM—5:30PM, W: 9AM—5:30PM, TH: 9AM—5:30PM, F: 9AM— 5:30PM
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
A Win 17 Times Over 1
2 2 3 3 4
Amazing Cat Tales
The Meaning of Dia de los Muertos
The Real Dangers of Trick-or-Treating
Leftover Candy Snack Mix
The Real Legend of Sleepy Hollow
TITLE WILL GO HERE HAYRIDES AND HEADLESS HORSEMEN
In 1790, a school teacher named Ichabod Crane was riding home alone from a harvest festival in the village of Sleepy Hollow when he
attraction, and Irving isn’t the only spooky celebrity buried there. Fans of the Gothic soap opera “Dark Shadows” will be delighted to enter the crypt of famed vampire Barnabas Collins. Another highly anticipated stop for many guests is Sleepy Hollow’s premier annual attraction, Horseman's Hollow, an experience not for the faint of heart. During the event, the 300-year-old Philipsburg Manor is transformed into a living nightmare, where vampires, witches, ghouls, and undead soldiers lurk in the shadows. They all serve the dreaded Headless Horseman and are determined to make sure guests don’t leave alive! But it’s not all scares in Sleepy Hollow. There’s plenty of Halloween fun for all ages. Sleepy Hollow boasts relaxing hayrides, tours of Irving’s home, live readings of famous Halloween stories, performances of a brand-new musical based on Irving’s spooky tale, and the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, an incredible exhibition of over 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins.
encountered a mysterious rider on horseback. Crane, horrified by the horseman’s missing head, turned
and ran in the opposite direction. The Headless Horseman gave chase, hurling his own decapitated head at the terrified teacher. Ichabod Crane was never heard from again ... or so goes “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving. This story, first published in 1820, has become a Halloween favorite. The legend is so beloved that in 1997, the village of North Tarrytown, New York, where many events of the story take place, officially changed its name to Sleepy Hollow. Today, the town becomes one big Halloween party during the month of October. Sleepy Hollow is home to many historic landmarks, including the Headless Horseman Bridge and the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where Washington Irving himself was laid to rest. Evening lantern tours of the cemetery are a popular
If you want a real Halloween experience, you can’t go wrong in Sleepy Hollow. Just be careful not to lose your head!
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