Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
June 2017
601 East 5th Street, Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28202 • 704-377-7677 • Toll-free: 1-866-326-3090 • www.BollingerLawFirmNC.com
A Suit for My Father A Tribute to the Quality My Dad Appreciates
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I n my family, we aren’t prone to buying expensive gifts for each other. It’s not really our style. But a couple of years ago, I decided to go all out for my dad on Father’s Day by having him fitted for a tailored suit.Why the exception? To understand, you need to understand my father. My dad, Bob Bollinger, Sr., has always been a hard worker. He only had a high school education and did physical labor all his life, first as a boat motor mechanic and then as a nurseryman and landscaper. During his lifetime, there’s one thing my dad always appreciated: quality. He really noticed when something was well-made.After my dad got married, he learned construction and carpentry to build the house I grew up in.The house was put together thoughtfully, and you could see it in the details. My dad built the house with a full basement, hardwood floors, cedar-lined closets, and a pit for indoor grilling. He learned all he could about carpentry, sheetrock, roofing, and bricklaying before building his home, and he even built a bridge over the stream at the front of our house that still stands today. I’ve always taken pride in doing things right. I worked very hard and graduated with honors from law school, and as the owner of a law firm, I want to work with other people who do their best every time. I’m proud of all I do for my clients. My dad taught me this work ethic by example. Dad appreciates good workmanship, but he hasn’t always been able to afford it. My dad put all four of his kids through college, and for his birthday and Father’s Day, I decided to shell out for something every man needs: a suit.And not just any suit — a tailored one made of quality materials. Dad takes pride in and has high standards for his own work, and taught his kids to do the same.
• Speeding ticket?
• Child support problem?
• Criminal charge?
• Buying a house?
If you need a lawyer for anything, anywhere in the world, call us first. We have these nifty lawyer directories, and we know a lot of lawyers anyway. We can help you choose a good lawyer in North Carolina, South Carolina, California, or anywhere else. We do this at no charge to our clients, former clients, friends, and anyone who reads this offer. So if you need a referral for another lawyer, contact Bob Bollinger, and he will find you a good lawyer. Call 704-377-7677 or email BBollinger@BollingerLawFirmNC.com Where to Find Us Online ...
704-377-7677 • Toll-free: 1-866-326-3090 • 1 – Bob Bollinger To all the hard workers and fathers of the world, happy Father’s Day! I enlisted the services of Calvin McAlister, a clothier from Hickory whom I’ve worked with for years. He came over to Dad’s, measured him for the suit, and talked to him about materials and details. Calvin was pleasant, meticulous, and responsive to my budgetary constraints. If you’re ever in the market for an extraordinary suit, I encourage you to give him a call at 828-323-9741 or visit his website at PersonalClothier.com. The result was a classy, conservative, grayish blue suit that looks great on Dad.We did the package deal and got some custom shirts with a monogram on the cuff and a couple of ties as well. When it was all put together and ready, I wrote Calvin a check. My mom pointed out that it was a lot of money to spend on a gift, and she was right. But I wanted to get it for my dad because I knew he would appreciate the quality. Plus, he makes great use of it. Every wedding, funeral, special occasion, or church service we see him at, he’s wearing the suit. In the end, it’s only a suit, but I am glad I had the ability to give it to him. I wouldn’t be the man I am today without watching my dad work so hard all those years, and my law firm wouldn’t be the same either.
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Audiobooks Inspire a Love of Stories in All Ages Summer Reading for Busy Families
For Family Bonding “Half Magic” by Edward Eager, read by Words Take Wing
A beloved family favorite since 1954, “Half Magic” tells the story of four siblings who discover a magic coin. They soon realize the coin only grants half of what they wish for, and an unplanned vacation to the Sahara, followed by chaos in King Arthur’s court, is just one of the hilarious misadventures this family must overcome together.
For Something Entirely New “The Wild Robot” by Peter Brown, read by Kate Atwater
For the Long Road Trip “The Bad Beginning” (A Series of Unfortunate Events) by Lemony Snicket, read by Tim Curry When a terrible fire destroys the Baudelaire mansion, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny find themselves orphans. Convinced their awful new guardian is only after their fortune, the Baudelaires must use their intelligence and skills to stick together and (maybe) overcome their sad circumstances.
Summer reading lists are always popular, but most families rarely have time to have dinner together, let alone sit still reading for hours. Luckily, the ever- growing popularity of audiobooks means you don’t have to wait for school to start again for your kids to get back into literature. Here are a few great audiobooks you can introduce to your family this summer.
When lonely robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she finds she’s trapped on a wild island. Struggling to survive and befriend the island’s hostile animal inhabitants, Roz must eventually face her mysterious past, which threatens to tear her home apart. These are just a few of the many titles your family can enjoy this summer. Find even more by visiting Audible. com or checking the audiobooks catalogue on iTunes.
Your Referrals Are Very Important to Us
Bob Bollinger is a board-certified specialist in workers’ compensation law with over 25 years of experience. Here is a case that Bob recently handled.
When you refer us, we want you to be the “hero” in the story.We want that person you referred to come back to you months later and say, “I am so glad you referred me to the Bollinger Law Firm! They were so nice to me, and they took great care of me and my case. They got me a better outcome than I imagined possible! Thank you so much for telling me to call the Bollinger Law Firm!” In 2016, our firm obtained over $3.2 million in disability compensation for our workers’ compensation clients. Just during the first four months of 2017, our firm has obtained approximately two million dollars in settlements for our clients. And we will keep pushing.
Case Results. On April 19, Bob Bollinger received a favorable decision from the Full Industrial Commission for a client who injured his shoulder at work on May 7, 2015.The client was a delivery manager who was called out onto the lot to help load merchandise into a customer’s car. On the way back to his office, the client was in a hurry, and instead of taking the stairs, he grabbed the handle on the back of a truck that was backed up to the dock and pulled himself up onto the dock.When he did that, he tore his bicep tendon and the rotator cuff in his shoulder.The insurance company denied the claim, asserting that it was not an “injury by accident.” Bob tried the case before Deputy Commissioner Tillman in Charlotte and won.The insurance company appealed, but Bob obtained a win — a 3-0 decision — for the client from the Full Commission on appeal.
Everyone’s case is different, so these results are not indicative of future results.
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A Judge’s $1 Ruling
Does Your Lawyer Keep Proper Records?
The North Carolina Court of Appeals recently gave a law firm, which I will call “MDM,” a fee of $1 after the firm was fired by an unhappy client. This is the story of why — and why it’s an important lesson for lawyers and the people who hire them. The client who fired MDM hired a new law firm, which I will call “SLF,” and they settled his case for $100,000. According to the court, MDM’s fee agreement provided that in the event the injured client terminated his contract with MDM after an insurance carrier had made an offer of settlement, the client “would be responsible for 95 percent of plaintiff’s award had a settlement been reached.” MDM apparently received a settlement offer of $85,000 from the insurance company, but the client rejected the offer. Shortly thereafter, he fired MDM and hired SLF. Approximately nine months later, SLF obtained a settlement offer of $100,000 from the insurance company, which the client accepted. After learning that the client had accepted, MDM notified SLF that it had a claim for attorney’s fees and, according to the Court of Appeals, MDM demanded “95 percent of the $85,000 settlement offer” that was presented when MDM was representing the client.
However, SLF refused to pay MDM any amount of the attorney’s fees.
MDM then sued SLF in Mecklenburg County Superior Court, seeking a portion of the fee earned by SLF using a legal theory of “quantum meruit,” or reasonable value of the services rendered. A trial was held before Superior Court Judge Tanya Wallace, who awarded MDM a legal fee of $1. Yes, one single dollar! The trial judge had found the MDM firm had made no accounting of the time spent working on the case and had no notes to prove it had performed the work. Lesson for Lawyers and Potential Clients The lesson for lawyers is that we should document, in our files, the work that we do for a client, so that if a client becomes dissatisfied and fires us, we have some basis on which a court can award us part of the attorney fee that the client’s second lawyer obtains. But this case tells a consumer that some law firms may not keep any notes or records of the work that it is doing for the client. Why would a law firm not document the work that it was doing for a client? That question in this particular case is not answered by the Court of Appeals, but the question is certainly worth asking if you are looking for a lawyer.
You can find the actual decision at appellate.nccourts. org/opinions by looking for case #COA16-899, filed on April 4, 2017.
Summer Crab Roll
Photo of the Month Sit a Spell by the River I started taking photographs when I was 12 years old. I love to take photos of scenic views and nature. I took this photo of these adirondack chairs on Water Street at the Old Wilmington City Market by the Cape Fear on July 24, 2012. If you would like a copy of this photo, suitable for framing, let me know, and I will send you a free copy of it — up to an 8-by-10.
Ingredients
• • • •
8 ounces fresh or canned crabmeat
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2 soft rolls, split down the center like hot dog buns Green leaf lettuce leaves (for serving)
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• •
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
Freshly ground white pepper
Instructions
1. Mix crab and mayonnaise in a small bowl and season with salt. 2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. 3. Butter opening of buns and cook until golden, about 2 minutes per side. 4. Place a large leaf of lettuce in each bun. 5. Add crabmeat mixture and season with pepper. 6. Enjoy!
– Bob Bollinger
Recipe inspired by BonAppetit.com.
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601 East 5th Street, Suite 250 Charlotte, NC 28202 704-377-7677 Toll-free: 1-866-326-3090 www.BollingerLawFirmNC.com
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INSIDE This Issue
A Different Kind of Suit
Audiobooks Your Family Will Love Testimonials
Judge: ‘You Get $1.’ Summer Crab Roll
DIY Foods That Save Money
DIY Foods That Save Money
How to Cut Out Expensive Premade Staples
Food is one of the biggest expenses for every family. An easy way to cut down on costs is to make items you normally buy premade. Here are some of the biggest offenders when it comes to an inflated grocery bill.
They are a lot cheaper. And making hummus couldn’t be easier. Place one can of chickpeas, ¼ cup of tahini, the juice of one lemon, and two tablespoons of olive oil in a blender. Mix until smooth and add salt to taste.
Salad Dressing Savings per bottle: $3
Granola Savings per box: $5
Not only is bottled dressing expensive, but it’s often packed with additives you want to avoid. Dressing is a simple formula: oil, plus acid (vinegar or lemon juice), plus other added flavors. You’ll be shocked how easy and delicious it is to make.
It’s a great breakfast option, and one that comes with a steep markup, but granola doesn’t even require cooking. Combine oats, dried fruit, and nuts, and you’re done.You can also add honey and bake the mixture, and then you have homemade granola bars.
out. Cube it, toss in some olive oil, and bake it into croutons. Alternately, crush it up and use it to bread meats or make stuffing. The next time you’re at the market, ask yourself which items in your basket can just as easily be made at home. Put in the effort to do it yourself, and your checkbook and taste buds will thank you.
Hummus Savings per tub: $3.50
Breadcrumbs and Croutons Savings per jar: $2.50
Hummus pairs with nearly everything, but can cost $5 per tub. Canned chickpeas and tahini paste?
The price of breadcrumbs is outrageous. When your loaf of sourdough goes stale, don’t throw it
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