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1600 S. BRENTWOOD BLVD., SUITE 220 • ST. LOUIS, MO 63144 // FINNEYINJURYLAW.COM // 314-293-4222 // DECEMBER 2019
WE ARE ALL IN.
O ur office has made some recent moves to add more people to the team. It is an aggressive move, at least to me, because it requires me to put my money where my head is. But the message should be clear: We are All In. We are committed to being a jury trial practice, and we are not going anywhere. As we add members to our team, we are investing in the long-term potential and health of our practice. I hope every client and referring partner is as excited as we are for the coming decades. Yes, I do mean decades. We are taking steps to ensure our firm is positioned to provide elite service and results for years to come through all stages of litigation: the pre-suit handling with insurance companies, filing of lawsuits, motion practice, appeals, etc. Our goal is to make sure our clients are taken care of in every single step of the litigation process. In order to do that, we need to walk the walk. We have been fortunate enough to represent amazing people — real, breathing human beings who are more than paychecks and medical bills, and whose lives have been unnaturally altered through no fault of their own. In our own way, we are helping to put their lives as close as we can to how they were before.
commitment comes sacrifice. We will not be able to take every case. We will not be able to give our time to everyone who calls. Tough decisions will have to be made and sacrifices of short-term gain in favor of long-term growth will happen. I have never really thought that way before. It was usually just trying to get cases in and produce solid results for people while trying to treat them well. I rarely looked past the next 30–60 days. But as we grow, I believe the tunnel vision will have to be removed and long-term plans expanded. I believe what we are doing will produce amazing results for our employees, their families, our clients, and their families. It will require a lot of patience and trust. I also believe we have the best people at our firm to do all of this. We look forward to partnering with more injury firms to replicate the results we have already obtained. We look forward to improving our service and communication to clients and co-counsels. We are actively taking steps to implement these goals, and hiring Alex was one of them. I expect more things like that in the near future. I have never done this before, so it will be rocky. There will be mistakes, and there will be great ideas that won't be implemented. But we will keep trying because we are not in it for the next 30 days; we are in it for the next 30 years — and longer.
We can offer a lot of assistance in a variety of areas. I never want someone to feel intimidated calling our office. I want you and your family to feel welcomed and supported. I hope you enjoy this Thanksgiving and look forward to hearing about your future and your following ours. We are All In.
We are committed to moving forward in all of our cases. But, with that
So, please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or need help.
WHAT ABOUT DUNDER AND BLIXEM? THE STRANGE HISTORY OF SANTA’S REINDEER
We all know reindeer visit our rooftops every Christmas Eve, but what brings them there? Follow the unique and complicated history of Santa’s reindeer to find out. A VISIT FROM WHO ON WHAT NIGHT? In the 1820s, Clement Clarke Moore penned a holiday poem that became the foundation for a phenomenon still alive today. Commonly known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “A Visit From St. Nicholas” is a beloved story shared by every generation. It is in this poem that reindeer were first credited with powering Santa’s sleigh around the globe. Many popular songs, movies, and plays have preserved Moore’s vision of St. Nick, and his reindeer and their names are no exception. (Well, kind of.) Rudolph wouldn’t join the squad until
a department store added him as part of their promotions in the 1930s.
transportation, but it was actually Carl Lomen, an Alaskan businessman, who mass-marketed reindeer as Santa’s companions. In the late 1890s, the Sami natives of Northern Europe, who were longtime reindeer herders, made their passage from Norway to the U.S. with a herd of reindeer to invigorate the Alaskan landscape and help their native neighbors. Lomen saw the reindeer as an opportunity and partnered with the Macy’s department store company to create a promotional Christmas parade in which Santa, led by his reindeer, a sleigh, and Sami herders, were prominently featured. Lomen’s goal was to promote his massive reindeer conglomerate for the production and sale of reindeer meat. Instead, a holiday story was born.
WHAT’S IN A NAME? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, and Cupid were all brought to life by Moore, but have you ever heard of Dunder and Blixem? Though we now know the duo as Donner and Blitzen, Moore originally named them Dunder and Blixem — the Dutch words for thunder and lightning — but publishing companies wanted names that would rhyme better with the rest of the poem. Still, it was a few decades before Donner and Blitzen made their appearances in the version of the poem we know today. REINDEER BURGERS, ANYONE? Moore’s poem paved the way for Santa’s most famous form of
BE YOUR BEST ADVOCATE AND TAKE ACTION EARLY DON’T LET YOUR CASE SLIP AWAY
When you suffer a personal injury, it can be hard to focus on anything other than getting back to normal life again. With debilitating injuries and emotional stress, you may just want to wait things out while you heal. But now is not the time to wait. Now is the time to advocate for yourself because if you have a legal case, delay may jeopardize the compensation you deserve. If you’re questioning whether or not you have a case, the first thing you should do is reach out to legal counsel. They’ll review your situation and definitively say whether or not you have a credible claim. The benefits of doing so as soon as possible are numerous. As time passes, memories fade, stories change, and evidence disappears, which makes it that much harder to build your case. It’s also important to know your position before others try to establish it for you. In the case of personal injuries, insurance brokers move quickly. If you haven’t sought legal
counsel who can advise you on what’s appropriate to say, these agents will interject and try to pull and manipulate information. They’re trained to get you to say things that work in their favor and may be detrimental to you. Don’t give them that chance by allowing them to make the first move. Delaying any medical procedures can also negatively affect your legal case. Besides being detrimental to your health and recovery, if you delay treatment or gathering medical records and statements, the opposition will suggest your injuries may not be as severe as you claim, which will be used against you. Wounds may heal, but their impacts remain in more ways than one. The sooner you take action, the stronger your case will be. Delay only extends the stress on your family, well-being, and wallet. So, if you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury and want to take action, don’t wait. Call Finney Injury Law today at 314-293-4222 so we can help.
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FLORIDA CITY BATTLES TO END ‘EXTREME’ LIGHTS DISPLAY LIGHTS OUT
There’s nothing quite like the magic of twinkling Christmas lights. But for city officials in Plantation, Florida, Christmas lights are a stark reminder of a prolonged fight, nearly $500,000 in court fees, and continued drama. In 2014, Plantation sued residents Mark and Kathy Hyatt for their “Hyatt Extreme Christmas” lights display, claiming it was a “public nuisance.” Each year, the Hyatts decorated their yard with more than 200,000 lights, snow, a Christmas tree, a Nativity scene, a functioning Ferris wheel, and more. Their creation was featured on two nationally televised programs and attracted flocks of visitors. But, for the Hyatt’s neighbors, extreme didn’t even begin to explain the chaos. Neighbors complained to the city about increased traffic, litter in their yards, and potential injury or death to pedestrians due to the traffic. Police officers in Plantation were dispatched to the light display multiple times each season for complaints by neighbors, accidents, and traffic control.
After a two-year battle in court, a judge ruled in favor of the Hyatts, claiming the city could not prove the display was dangerous or a nuisance. The city had spent nearly half a million dollars fighting their case.
For the Hyatts, Christmas 2016 was a celebration, though their display was
restrained due to the timing of the court’s decision. By 2017, “Hyatt Extreme Christmas” was in full swing again, much to their neighbors’ chagrin. Mark Hyatt rode the wave of support for his display all the way to a vacant seat on the Plantation City Council in 2016, but the highs would soon stop there. Plantation news outlets reported in 2018 that Mark Hyatt filed for divorce, effectively ending any hope of another “Hyatt Extreme Christmas.” As the snow has settled, an extravagant lights display has instead become a story of nasty court battles with a sad ending for the Hyatts and their “extreme” Christmas devotees.
YOUR REFERRALS MEAN THE WORLD TO US There is no greater compliment we can receive than a client telling a friend or loved one about us. If you know somebody who has been injured and needs an attorney who will fight on their behalf and give their case the attention it deserves, please pass along this newsletter and have them give us a call at 314-293-4222. Thank you for spreading the word about Finney Injury Law.
GINGERBREAD DOGS
Inspired by GoneToTheSnowDogs.com
• 1 cup molasses • 4 tbsp honey • 1 cup water • 1/2 cup vegetable oil INGREDIENTS
• 6 cups all-purpose flour • 2 tsp baking soda • 1 tsp cinnamon • 1 tsp dried powder ginger
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. In a medium bowl, combine molasses, honey, water, and oil, and set aside. In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and ginger. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing well until dough forms. 3. Separate dough into four equal balls. Wrap dough balls in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3–5 hours. 4. On a lightly floured surface, roll out chilled dough to 1/4-inch thick. Use dog-shaped cookie cutters to cut out treats. 5. Bake for 20–25 minutes on baking sheet until cookies start to brown. Carefully remove treats from the oven and let them cool completely before serving to your dog.
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OUR OFFICE IS NOW PRACTICING IN BOTH MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS!
1600 S. BRENTWOOD BLVD. SUITE 220 • ST. LOUIS, MO 63144
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FINNEYINJURYLAW.COM // 314-293-4222
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
We Are All In.
2 2 3 3 4
How Santa Claus Became Powered by Reindeer
The Dangers of Waiting to Take Legal Action
Florida City Sues Family Over Extreme Christmas Display
Homemade Gingerbread Dog Treats
A Temporary Exhibit Commemorating the St. Louis Blues
SEE THE ‘HISTORY MADE’ EXHIBIT BEFORE IT’S GONE CELEBRATE THE BLUES’ STANLEY CUP WIN ALL OVER AGAIN
I f you’re a hockey fan living in St. Louis, 2019 was a pretty spectacular year. The Blues took home their first Stanley Cup ever in June after an amazing rise from having the worst record in the
Cup, but their motivation and achievements were also an inspiration uniting their community in the process. None feel more worthy of commemoration than they do. The exhibit features more than 20 artifacts on loan to the museum from the Blues, highlighting their historic playoff games. Items on display include the skates Vladimir Tarasenko wore when he scored the game-tying goal in Game 2 of the Final in Boston and all four scoring pucks from the Game 7 victory over the Bruins and championship title. You can even see the jerseys worn by some of your favorites, like St. Louis native Pat Maroon. With much more to marvel at, true fans won’t want to miss out. “History Made” will be on display in the museum through Jan. 26. Admission to both the Missouri History Museum and the Blues mini-exhibit is entirely free, so make sure you come see it before it’s gone. And don’t forget to keep cheering for our boys in blue this season.
NHL. Their harrowing climb to second in their division was followed by three close postseason series wins, then they beat the Boston Bruins in Game 7 to win their first championship in franchise history. Even if you’re not a hockey fan, it was a moment of communal pride for all St. Louis residents. To commemorate the accomplishments of the team’s 2018-19 season (and hopefully beyond), in October, the Missouri History Museum opened “History Made,” a mini- exhibit to commemorate the underdog team. Not only did the Blues take home the NHL’s highest honor in the Stanley
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OUR OFFICE IS NOW PRACTICING IN BOTH MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS!
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