Check out the latest edition of our newsletter!
AUGUST 2023
4315 W. Lovers Lane, Suite A, Dallas, TX 75209 | 1900 W. Illinois Avenue, Suite 101, Midland, TX 79701 www.buttonlawfirm.com | 214-888-2216 HOT-BUTTON ISSUES
JACKY’S NEXT ADVENTURE
What She’s Doing to Make an Impact
Dallas ISD is lucky to be getting an awesome new teacher — in about a year or so, BLF paralegal Jacky Bejarano might be your children’s teacher! Jacky left our firm in April to pursue a career in education through the Dallas ISD Alternative Certification Program (DIACP). It was tough to see her go, but Ashley and I are incredibly proud she’s out there chasing her dream. While she was with us, Jacky was a hard worker, a real team player, and one of the fastest learners I’ve ever met. I’d hire her back in a heartbeat, but I don’t want to steal her from the kids! If she puts as much love and care into her work in the classroom as she gave to her daycare cases, she’ll be their favorite teacher in no time.
and started the research-based section of the DIACP program.
“We kept in touch, and I still go out to lunch with her to try and get tips from her about how to get into teaching and what sort of route I should take. She is my No. 1 mentor in this field and really my inspiration. She’s been a great teacher and a good person in the community for as long as I can remember. She was always there for all of her students and continues to be to this day,” Jacky said. “Hopefully, someday, I can give back to the kids in the same way my teachers have done for me!” “The area of Dallas I grew up in would be considered ‘undeveloped,’ and I’ve always wanted to give back to the community.”
“Once I get this out of the way, I’ll be able to start teaching an internship class — which basically means leading my own classroom under a monitor who has been teaching for five-plus years,” Jacky explained. When I asked Jacky why she decided to dive into teaching now, she told me the Texas teacher shortage inspired her. She saw a need and knew she could fill it. “The area of Dallas I grew up in would be considered ‘undeveloped,’ and I’ve always wanted to give back to the community,” she explained. Though she’ll start teaching at the elementary school level, she ultimately wants to teach English to high schoolers. “Specifically, I want to help more kids get into colleges and careers! I found a statistic about it — only 46% of Dallas ISD students end up going to college. That’s a really low number, considering we’re one of the biggest districts in the metroplex! … One of my biggest goals is to help more kids in the DFW area and make it the norm for them to get into college and find career paths that will be fulfilling to them and put them in a better financial situation.” Jacky credits her high school history teacher, Ms. Theiss, for helping her find a free path to teaching through the DIACP.
I can already picture Jacky leading a team of teachers as they mentor kids through the college application process. We’re in desperate need of good educators, and with her passion, I’m sure she will be one of the best.
If you have kids in the Dallas ISD district, you’re lucky to have Jacky in your corner!
Since it’s back-to-school season and Jacky is heading into the classroom, I called her up to ask how she’s doing. She told me she’d just passed her first round of tests
–Russell Button
1
214-888-2216
MEET THE DOGS OF BLF! AREN’T THEY ADORABLE?
The dog days of summer are almost over — so we can’t resist sharing snapshots of our pups! Russell’s four-legged sidekick Chuie has starred in the newsletter before, but you may not recognize the rest of these sweet faces. Next time you come into our office or email our team, feel free to ask for more dog pictures. We’re always happy to share!
HOW WE HELD A DANGEROUS DAYCARE ACCOUNTABLE One Food Allergy Case Unearthed Years of Illegal Behavior
A few months ago, our team secured justice for a Texas family we’ll call the Parkers. Their son, who we’ll call Jake, is highly allergic to nuts. Jake’s family poured years of time and energy into keeping his environment
weren’t properly trained to respond to a food-related emergency and didn’t have an emergency plan for Jake on file. They didn’t even have the correct phone numbers for his parents! The best they could do was call an ambulance.
The state of Texas conducted two inspections and discovered Jake’s daycare repeatedly broke the law. Jake’s allergy was documented, meaning it was illegal to give him trail mix. So, why did it happen? Well, the daycare worker who handed Jake the snack didn’t have a background check or eligibility letter on file — meaning they weren’t qualified for the job. When we looked deeper into the daycare’s records, we found more than two dozen citations from 2018–2021. Clearly, the facility had been poorly run for years. With that evidence, we held the daycare accountable and secured compensation for Jake’s trauma and medical bills. No parent should have to deal with a daycare nightmare. To make sure that you, your friends, and your clients choose safer facilities than this one, scan the QR code on Page 3.
nut-free and protecting him from potentially deadly anaphylactic shock. But in the summer of 2022, his daycare undid that work in an instant! On that fateful day, a daycare worker handed Jake trail mix as a snack — and the moment he chewed the first nut, he went into shock.
It was a nightmare scenario for Jake and his family. His mother didn’t even find out what happened until she arrived at the daycare to pick up her son. Fortunately, the hospital saved Jake’s life, but the incident traumatized him and broke his family’s trust in their daycare. They turned to our team for help holding the facility accountable — and you won’t believe what happened next.
His throat closed, hives popped out on his skin, and he started throwing up.
Jake’s caregivers panicked. They
2
www.buttonlawfirm.com
MAKE BACK-TO-SCHOOL SAFER FOR YOUR FAMILY Use and Share Our 10 Safety Tips!
have to choose a new facility. At that point, one of your biggest concerns as a parent is finding a place that’s safe and staffed by people you can trust. Unfortunately, not every daycare fits the bill — but we’re here to help you find a good one. If you’re sending one of your kids to daycare this year (or have a friend or family member going through the process), you can download our free guide, “10 Tips for Finding a Safe Daycare: A Guide for Parents and Families.” It’s packed with advice based on our years of experience representing families of kids neglected and injured at daycare. We’ve seen what terrible daycares look like, and we can help your family avoid them!
For example, did you know that you should ask potential daycares for a list of references so that you can check in with other parents who use the facility? If a daycare won’t happily and immediately provide this information, it may be hiding a poor track record. Quality daycares will also offer live and recorded camera feeds and permit you to view their footage if you need to.
Rena’s kids, Annlee going into 5th grade, Ryen going into 2nd grade
Cristina’s daughter, Harley, 8 y/o, 3rd grade
As we write this, our team members are running all over Texas buying backpacks and pencils in time to send their kids back to school. Cristina’s daughter Harley is about to start third grade, Rena’s daughter Annlee is going into fifth grade, and Rena’s son Ryen is about to become a second grader. Maybe you can relate to the chaos!
You can get more tips like these by scanning the QR code on this page and downloading our free “10 Tips for Finding a Safe Daycare” guide. You can also find it under “Free Resources” on our website. Once you have your copy, share it with friends
It’s just as hectic preparing younger kids for preschool or daycare, especially if you
or send them our link! The more families we can help during this crazy time, the better.
BLF HIGHLIGHT REEL
CLIENT REVIEW
“We have known Russell for over six years. He is incredibly kind and understanding with the customers he works with. If you ever need of any help or questions, they are knowledgeable and caring. In the future, if I am in need of a lawyer, Button Law Firm would be the first one to contact. The Button Law Firm team is amazing.”
–Betty P.
3
214-888-2216
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
4315 W. Lovers Lane, Suite A Dallas, Texas 75209
www.buttonlawfirm.com | 214-888-2216
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2
A Big Win for Dallas Kids
Cute Dog Photos Just for You
We Held a Dangerous Daycare Accountable The Back-to-School Guide Your Family Needs
3
BLF Highlight Reel
Client Review
4
Help Your Kids Survive the 100 Deadliest Days
THE 100 DEADLIEST DAYS ARE HERE 3 FAQs About This Scary Time of Year
We’re currently over halfway through the 100 Deadliest Days. It’s the dangerous period from Memorial Day to Labor Day when more Americans die in crashes involving teen drivers than any other time of year, and we’re right in the middle of it. Q: ‘WHAT MAKES THE 100 DEADLIEST DAYS SO DANGEROUS?’ A: School is out of session, so there are more inexperienced teenage drivers on the road right now. Plus, as a group, teens tend to do three big things that cause crashes: zip over the speed limit, skip buckling their seat belts, and text, chat, and post on their cellphones. Q: ‘MY KIDS ARE DRIVING — HOW CAN I PROTECT THEM?’ A: Last year, the city of San Antonio launched a teen driver safety campaign
to keep Texas kids out of harm’s way. In addition to the usual safety tips (buckle up, don’t text, avoid drinking and driving, etc.), the city recommended parents limit the number of passengers their kids can have in the car. It also advised teens not to drive at night because they could fall asleep behind the wheel after one too many summer sleepovers. Q: ‘IF SOMEONE I LOVE DIES ON THE ROAD, CAN I GET JUSTICE?’ A: Yes, you can. Depending on the circumstances of your loved one’s death, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim. (You can even do this up to two years after the date of their passing — so if you lost an immediate family member in a car crash recently, it’s not too late.)
accountable, and ensure you have the financial stability to cover funeral expenses, your loved one’s medical bills, their lost income, your family’s emotional damages, and more. Hopefully, you never need to file a wrongful death claim, but if you do, call our team at 214-888-2216 . We’re always here to help.
This process will help you find closure, hold the person who caused the crash
www.buttonlawfirm.com 4
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator