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September/October 2023
THE HARMAN HEADLINE
HARMAN LAW
Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, and Employment Lawyers
HOW OUR TEAM BUILDS A CULTURE OF CARE
THE HARMAN LAW TEAM CONTINUES TO THRIVE!
No law firm can survive without a strong team supporting it, and I’m so grateful to have my small but mighty group! Labor Day is Sept. 4, and I could not let this opportunity pass by without showing how much I value my employees. We’re a modestly sized firm, and it’s taken some time to find people who were a perfect fit for our office, especially throughout the pandemic. But now I can confidently say that our team is the best group of employees I could ever ask for. This specific team has been exceptional because we all share similar values regarding our work here at Harman Law. We recently did an activity together to assess our core values as a firm, and what we came up with is a “Culture of C.A.R.E!”
for them. It’s visible in how we communicate with our clients and our genuine compassion for everyone who walks through our door. As someone who gets a behind-the-scenes look at how the team operates, I can confirm this warmth is genuine and extends to every person we speak to!
“I’m grateful for this team, especially when I look back at when I first started, and it was just me and my first employee, aka my sister!”
It’s no secret our clients are likely going through difficult times, and we understand the importance of showing kindness and understanding. Our team always puts in the effort to listen to our clients and help them, at the very least, to feel understood as a person, not just a client. When it comes to the E in C.A.R.E., every client wins means the client walks away with a sense of accomplishment or relief. This differs for each person and takes clear communication, understanding, and a solid relationship in order to understand their needs. I’m grateful for my team, especially when I look back at when I first started, and it was just me and my first employee, aka my sister! While in nursing school, she helped me get Harman Law started, and it took nearly eight months before I could hire actual employees for my team! We’ve been growing ever since and have recently hired a new paralegal and intake specialist. The team is still growing, and it is due to every employee’s dedication that the firm continues to thrive. Thank you to my team for your hard work uplifting clients and me! As someone who can easily get lost in daily work with my nose in the paperwork, my employees help me see the big picture and remind me how important our efforts are to our clients’ lives. Happy Labor Day to all the hard workers out there and to my outstanding team. I truly couldn’t do it without you!
C lear communication, A lways show you care, R esults-oriented (get it done!), and E very client wins.
We care for our clients, each other, and our firm’s reputation. It’s almost surprising how well every single employee here adheres to these core values with ease. I think our clients can see how much this team cares
–Michael Harman
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Unwavering Client Experience. Outstanding Results. – Call Us Today 704-237-6613
How a WWII Cat Survived 3 Ship Sinkings: The Story of Unsinkable Sam
You’ve heard the saying, “Cats have nine lives,” and while there are countless tales of cats falling from trees or high-above windows, one cat put this theory to the test, earning himself the name “Unsinkable Sam.” Sam’s original name was “Oscar,” and his legacy began aboard the Bismarck, one of the two first-class Nazi battleships in World War II. The Bismarck (with Sam) was launched on Feb. 14, 1939, and soon after engaged in battle with The Prince of Wales, an Allied battleship. The Nazi ship was severely damaged in this battle and ultimately sunk. Only 118 of the 2,200 crew members survived, plus Sam. The British destroyer HMS Cossack found Sam floating on a board hours later, and they promptly scooped him up and welcomed him aboard. Sam had officially switched sides to the Allied forces. Now on the right side of history, Sam lived with the British crew for the next few months as they performed convoy escort duties — until a torpedo struck the HMS Cossack in October 1941, killing all 139 members aboard. Except for Sam. Once again, Sam clung to a wooden plank and floated safely to the nearby shore of Gibraltar, a British
Overseas Territory. British service members who found him ashore put two and two together and realized the cat — the very one their fellow servicemen saved in 1939 — was the only survivor of HMS Cossack, earning him the nickname “Unsinkable Sam.” The group in Gibraltar was from the HMS Ark Royal crew, and of course, they loaded Sam aboard when it was time to launch. But as Sam’s luck would have it, a torpedo struck the HMS Ark Royal just a month later, leaving him once again clinging to a floating plank near a boat launch back in Gibraltar. Luckily, Sam’s boating days were over, and he was honorably transferred to the position of “mouse hunter” in the building of the governor-general in Gibraltar. Eventually, the British restationed their favorite floating feline to a “home for sailors” in Belfast, where he lived for the rest of his days until his peaceful passing in 1955.
Sam’s story may not officially prove cats have nine lives, but it makes at least three seem likely!
FROM SPIDERWEB DIPS TO SKELETON CHARCUTERIE The Haunting Delights of Our Halloween Potluck
One crafty and delicious food I remember was a spiderweb layered dip designed with a sour cream web and spiders. The dish was relatively easy to snack on, but I won’t forget the nightmarish charcuterie board I still see in my dreams from one year. The
If there’s one holiday we go all out for at Harman Law, it’s Halloween! Without realizing it, Halloween has become the one time of year when we deck out the whole office with ghostly decorations. We really go the extra mile when setting up a spooky atmosphere for October, and we’ve been doing it for almost four years now! I guess you can tell what our favorite holiday is! Along with the decor, I always look forward to our Halloween potluck, in which each team member brings their own ( oftentimes gruesomely themed ) snacks and cocktails. The potluck celebration is where I get to witness the true creativity of my employees and the creepiest creations that have me questioning if they are truly edible!
board was carefully orchestrated to resemble a skeleton, with the cured meats looking like muscles and tendons! Creative? Absolutely. Slightly terrifying? Yes, but still delicious! Of course, I don’t want to toot my own horn, but I did make a rather impressive cocktail one year that was a hit. I made a smoky blackberry cocktail with tiny fake spiders lining the rim that produced eerie mist. It looked like some serious witch’s brew!
To celebrate the Halloween potluck, we usually close the office a bit early to get the festivities started. Meanwhile, I always let my team head out early after the party so they can get started on their personal Halloween fun. So, if you were wondering if the Harman Law team enjoys October and the Halloween season, I think the answer is clear. It’s our favorite time of the year!
–Michael Harman
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Unwavering Client Experience. Outstanding Results. – HarmanLawNC.com
SUDOKU
CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH
THRILLS AND CHILLS! YOUR GUIDE TO FALL ACTIVITIES AROUND CHARLOTTE Since we love the fall season, we know exactly what to do in and around Charlotte this time of year. It’s not truly autumn if you haven’t gone to a pumpkin patch or haunted house! The region is filled with countless fall events to experience, whether with friends or family. As we get closer to Halloween, you should start planning your essential fall activities as soon as possible! CAROWINDS ALTERS INTO SCAROWINDS On select nights from Sept. 15 to Oct. 29, Charlotte’s ultimate amusement park transforms into the largest Halloween fest in all of North and South Carolina. If you’re looking for a good scare, this is the place to be this season. With creepy mazes, haunted houses, and live entertainment, there’s plenty here to keep you on the edge of your seat! CAROLINA HISTORY & HAUNTS SPOOKY TOURS If you want a more tame and educational activity, try going on a History & Haunts walking tour! Even if you’ve lived in North Carolina your whole life, you’ll learn something new on this spooky tour. A guide will walk you through some of Charlotte’s most haunted sites and lead the way with the eerie glow of a lantern. Visit CarolinaHistoryAndHaunts. com to learn more about dates and ticket prices! CARRIGAN FARM’S FALL FESTIVITIES Now, if you or your family aren’t too fond of scares and apparitions, head to Carrigan Farms for quintessential pumpkin picking, hayrides, and petting zoos! If you still have an itch for some haunted fun, you can visit Carrigan Farm’s Haunted Trail. On select October nights, the expansive 275-acre farm becomes one of the most terrifying haunted trails in the state. As the farm boasts, “If someone hasn’t peed in their pants by the end of the night, we know we haven’t done our job.” You can buy your tickets online at ScarriganFarms.com.
Solution on Page 4
With summer over and fall here, pecan and honey reign supreme in this sweet chicken recipe. The honey provides a perfect caramelization while pecans pack on the crunch factor! HONEY-PECAN CHICKEN BREASTS
INGREDIENTS •
2 6-oz boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
•
1/4 tsp salt
•
1 tbsp butter
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1/4 tsp garlic powder
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3 tbsp honey
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1/8 tsp black pepper
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2 tbsp finely chopped pecans
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1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
DIRECTIONS 1.
Pound chicken with a meat mallet to 1/2-inch thickness. Sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. 2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat butter over medium heat; brown chicken on both sides. Cook covered until chicken is no longer pink, about 6–8 minutes, turning once. 3. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with pecans. Cook covered until chicken is glazed, about 2–3 minutes.
We hope you take advantage of all the fall events Charlotte has to offer and have a happy Halloween!
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Unwavering Client Experience. Outstanding Results. – Call Us Today 704-237-6613
16507 Northcross Drive, Suite B Huntersville, NC, 28078 Offices in Lake Norman, Charlotte, and Hickory 704-237-6613 HarmanLawNC.com
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HARMAN LAW
Inside This Issue
A Labor Day Appreciation for the Heart and Soul of Our Firm Page 1
Sudoku Solution
Unsinkable Sam: The Feline Hero of WWII
How Harman Law Embraces the Halloween Spirit! Page 2
Honey-Pecan Chicken Breasts
Don’t Miss Out on Charlotte’s Best Fall Events Page 3 Keep Yourself Safe While Traveling Alone Page 4
KEEP YOURSELF SAFE WHILE TRAVELING ALONE
Traveling alone can be a memorable and adventurous experience — it’s a great way to step outside your comfort zone and continue learning about yourself. While solo travel is chock-full of exciting perks, staying alone in a hotel can be dangerous if you aren’t careful to take certain safety precautions. The next time you take a trip by yourself, keep these tips in mind! CHECK IN THE SMART WAY. When you check in to your hotel, always ask for two room keys — this way, hotel staff and anyone else in earshot will automatically assume someone else is traveling with you. If they ask how many guests will be staying with you, don’t admit you are alone. If you have the option, request a room that isn’t on the ground floor, as research shows they are the easiest to break into! INSPECT YOUR ROOM. As soon as you enter the room, make a quick sweep to ensure no one is present in closets, in the shower, or under the bed and that nothing appears to be amiss. It’s always best to be safe rather than sorry! KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED. Any time you leave your room, even if it’s just to scope out the vending machines, be alert for anyone watching or following you, and always keep your room number discreet. If you ever feel like someone is following you, get off on a different floor and avoid going to your room.
USE THE DEADBOLT. If the door in your room comes equipped with a deadbolt, use it! This extra safety measure keeps even those with a key from entering your room without your knowing!
SHARE THE HOTEL INFORMATION. Let your family and friends know where you are staying! Provide them with the hotel name, address, and phone number in case an emergency arises! Traveling solo is a thrilling experience, but it comes with some extra steps to stay safe! Trust your instincts and use these tips to ensure your trip goes down in the memory books as safe and exciting!
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Unwavering Client Experience. Outstanding Results. – HarmanLawNC.com
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