Law Offices of Paul Levin - December 2018

Take a look at our newsletter this month.

LAW NEWS DEC 2018/JAN 2019

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THANK YOU, 2018!

The Year in Review

2018 has been an incredible year for us at the Law Offices of Paul Levin. We’ve been through some hard battles and seen some amazing success, providing us with invaluable perspective and experience. One of the biggest ways we aim to parlay our experience into knowledge is through the book we published this year. “Life-Altering Personal Injury Cases in Connecticut: Your Legal Roadmap” is a significant accomplishment for the firm because of the way it can help people. It provides a roadmap for those who experience trauma in their lives and need guidance and direction. Anytime you can empower clients through information, you’re going to provide a more comprehensive experience for them, and that’s precisely what we try to do as a team and as legal advocates. “WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON BEING KNOWLEDGEABLE LAWYERS WHO HELP THOSE IN NEED, BUT WE DON’T WANT OUR RELATIONSHIP TO BE CENTERED ON JUST A TOUGH TIME IN YOUR LIFE. IT’S IMPORTANT TO BRING VALUE TO YOU BEYOND WHAT WE DO IN A COURTROOM.” Our firm has seen substantial growth that displays itself in many unique ways, especially with our staff. When we were looking for ways to better serve our clients in their worker’s compensation claims, knowing where to turn was easy. Attorney Larry Brick is fantastic in all aspects of his field and has a breadth of experience that’s hard to find. The Law Buildings are happy to welcome someone who is competent and has workers’ compensation experience beyond reproach. In the same way, Sonya is irreplaceable in her service to our firm. With the ambition of Micah and Kyle, we are not bound by limitations, but rather flourishing with opportunity. While our attorneys are committed to aggressive representation, we all know a major part of what keeps them going. He’s everyone’s favorite part of the newsletter! That’s right — we can’t mention the team without bringing up Jack. Jack has been able to make a difference in so many lives this year. His work with Healers with Halos Therapy Dogs provides so much joy to our communities and helps many individuals who need the comfort only a dog can bring. From St. Bernard School to his time at the VA hospital

and many other venues, our unofficial mascot has been able to magnify brightness in the world. Everyone on the team contributes to Jack’s unique success in the community — everyone helps make it possible for Jack and Kelly to be out and volunteer. It’s a team effort, and while we love having Jack around for our own enjoyment, being able to share him with everyone (including all of you!) involves commitment on everyone’s part. Over this past year, we’ve covered a lot of topics ranging from lighthearted — like how the Hartford Yard Goats received their name — to gritty, like how crumbling foundations are forcing families out of their homes. At the center of these stories is you, our friends and clients. We pride ourselves on being experienced and skilled lawyers who help those in need, but we don’t want our relationship to be centered on just a tough time in your life. It’s important to bring value to you beyond what we do in a courtroom. For example, if you read June’s edition, you know that you can still get a DUI in a self-driving car. Any firm can provide a service to you, but as we mentioned in February’s edition, it’s not a commodity for us. We’ve seen success this year, fighting tooth and nail through difficult cases. Our clients need a voice to fight for them, which is why we do what we do. We love the State of Connecticut and the diversity of our people. When the good members of our community are harmed, someone needs to step up to help. Our mission is to fight for the rights and safety of our clients through competent and aggressive legal representation, and in 2018, we’ve done that — from high-profile cases to helping individuals find a traffic ticket lawyer. From all of us at The Law Offices of Paul Levin, we want to thank our clients, colleagues, friends, and families. Without your trust in our abilities and recognition of our passion, we would not be able to fulfill our desire to help make our community a better place to live and to help the people we represent through difficult and trying times. I hope everyone enjoyed a happy and healthy holiday season. Here’s to another great year in 2019! –The Law Offices of Paul Levin

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Ways to Use Leftover Candy During the Oh-So-Sweet Holiday Season

Sometimes we get a little too much of the sweet stuff. Between Halloween and New Year’s Day, candy is everywhere. It’s at home, at work, and on store shelves. Then, as the year comes to an end, many people start thinking about eating right and losing weight. When those are your New Year’s resolutions, you have to do something about all the leftover candy so it’s not around come Jan. 1.

Here are a few ways to get rid of your leftover candy ASAP.

Donate it. While you may have an abundance of sweets, not everyone does. Consider donating wrapped and packaged candy to your local food bank or other nonprofits, including local homeless or women’s shelters. You can also look into donating candy to nearby schools. Many teachers will gladly take candy off your hands to reward students (or themselves) with treats throughout the rest of the school year. Bake with it. Whether you have an excess of candy corn or candy bars, you can bake with your sweet leftovers. The next time you make chocolate chip cookies, swap out the chocolate chips for candy corn. Or the next time you make brownies, chop up leftover candy

bars and add them to the batter. From peanut butter cups to mint patties, there are so many different types of candies that can take traditional baked goods to the next level. Store it. Although not great for you, candy is fine to eat in moderation. A good way to moderate your holiday treat intake is to store your leftover sweets in the freezer. That way, you can pull a little from your supply each month to make sure you aren’t overdoing it. That said, be sure to check the expiration dates on all candy you save.

WHICH CRIMES WOULD SANTA BE CHARGED WITH? Is Santa a Hardened Criminal?

This month, the most cheerful of legends emerges from his wintry retreat at the North Pole and flies with his magnificent sleigh and reindeer to deliver presents to children all around the globe. To most people, the idea of Santa Claus sneaking in through their chimney with a heaping bag of gifts is the best thing to happen all year. But despite his noble intentions, the seemingly innocent old Saint Nicholas might not be that innocent after all. If “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” was a crime scene, which crimes would Santa be charged with? Breaking and Entering? One might think that Santa could be charged with burglary; however, this type of crime is defined as entering a home or building with the intent to commit a crime. Since Santa has never wreaked any havoc or caused mischief in years past, it’s unlikely that he will this year. While he won’t burgle, some homeowners might want to charge him with breaking and entering. Although Santa doesn’t “break” anything when he enters homes, a chimney is generally not designed for human access. In this way, he probably could be charged with criminal trespassing. Negligence? Because Santa and his nine reindeer use a roof as their landing zone, chances are that the combined weight of Saint Nick, his animals, the gifts,

and the sleigh is bound to do some damage. From the civil arena, if any damage occurs, Santa could be liable under a claim of negligence. DUI? While those of us in the states set out cookies and milk for Santa, families in other countries, like the

U.K., leave out mince pies and sherry to satisfy Saint Nick’s hunger pangs. According to the Office of National Statistics, there were 27.2 million households in the U.K. in 2017. Even if only half of the families in this single country left sherry out on Christmas Eve, it’s safe to say that Santa’s sleigh-flying ability would definitely be impaired. Even if police officers couldn’t fly high enough to issue him a Breathalyzer test, Santa’s rosy cheeks might give him away. All factors considered, Santa does many good deeds on Christmas Eve, and he has the best of intentions. So if he were sitting in front of a jury, chances are that he would be immediately acquitted of all charges.

Attorneys Paul Levin & Kelly Kasheta

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One of the Best Gifts We Can Receive

WHY YOUR REFERRAL MATTERS

What’s the best present you’ve received? Perhaps it was a bike, maybe a doll, or it could be something your child made that you hold near and dear to your heart. Regardless, each of us remembers the great gifts we’ve been blessed with over the years. Here at the Law Offices of Paul Levin, we consider it a gift every time we receive a referral. Christmas Holidays Are Only a Time of Year Dec. 25 comes just once a year. It’s a time for the community to come together and serve each other, but the calendar turns, and we lose the immediacy of the holiday giving season. A referral, on the other hand, is a gift that continues to give to us because it allows us to assist people all year long. And We Don’t Have to Return Them The gift of a referral doesn’t turn into an errand we have to return. This isn’t to say that we work with every referral that comes our way, but we can still help almost any potential client who contacts us. We have a network of attorneys who are experienced, results- driven, and proven to help in just about any area you, a friend, or a family member need representation. The Law Buildings network of attorneys is happy to make sure you, friends, family, and

acquaintances get the care they deserve. Feel free to refer anyone over to us for a free, no-commitment consultation, and we will do our best to assist.

Jack?

BUTTERY

Where’s

Roasted Chestnuts

Ingredients

Jack and Kelly are a certified therapy dog and handler team with Healers With Halos Therapy Dogs. Jack is a 6-year-old rescue collie adopted from Collie Rescue of the Carolinas. He is certified by the Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program and attained his CGC title from the American Kennel Club. Jack works

• 2 pounds fresh chestnuts, unpeeled • 2–3 sprigs rosemary • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, or more to taste

• Pinch of freshly ground nutmeg • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

many venues, bringing comfort and happiness to the young and old.

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 450 F. 2. Place a large sheet of foil on a rimmed baking sheet. 3. On a large, flat workspace, place chestnuts flat side down. Using a sharp knife, carve an X on the rounded side of each chestnut. 4. In a large bowl of hot water, soak chestnuts for 1 minute. 5. Pat dry and transfer to a medium bowl. Add rosemary, butter, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Toss to coat and transfer to baking sheet. Arrange in a single layer. Gather the edges of the foil together, leaving an opening at the top. 6. Roast until peels curl up, about 30–45 minutes. 7. Transfer to a platter and serve while hot or warm.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY 2019 FROM JACK

Attorneys Paul Levin & Kelly Kasheta

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40 Russ Street | Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 560-7226 www.connecticutinjuryhelp.com Inside THIS ISSUE • 2018 Was a Year to Remember

The Best Ways to Use Leftover Candy

Is Santa a Seasoned Criminal?

The Gift of a Referral

Buttery Roasted Chestnuts

Antiquing in the Age of eBay

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ANewsletter for Clients and Friends FromAttorneys Paul Levin and Kelly Kasheta

Antique stores are not as common as they used to be. Thanks to online shopping and websites like eBay, it has gotten slightly harder to find quality antique items and good deals. All too often, it seems like sellers rely on eBay and similar websites as a point of reference to price their items, even if eBay isn’t the best avenue to gauge the market. For those of us who love antiques, this can be discouraging, but don’t fret! In the era of mass-produced, low-quality home goods, antiquing is very much alive, and it is still possible to find the unique items you’re searching for. The styles of yesteryear can still be found tucked away in dusty little shops — if you’re willing to put in the work to find them! Here are a few tips for finding those treasures in the age of eBay. Inspect the Item Good, old-fashioned antiquing comes with one major perk you won’t get on eBay: You get to inspect the item personally before making a purchase. You can investigate the condition of the piece and ask questions about its authenticity. If you notice certain flaws in the item, you can bring that up when it comes time to haggle. HOW TO SCORE THE BEST DEALS Antiquing in theAge of eBay

Haggle! Don’t forget to bargain with the seller! Being able to negotiate the price of an item is another huge benefit of visiting an antique store in person. While some sellers can ask for a “best offer” on their online listings, many don’t, giving buyers next to no flexibility. A lot of people may be too intimidated to haggle, but when you take the time to do it, you will almost always save a little money. Do Your Research As a buyer, you want to have reference points regarding authenticity, condition, and price. If you find an item you’re interested in, take some time to research it further. It’s great to have your smartphone on you so that you can do some digging before extending an offer or making the purchase. The more informed you are, the greater the chance you’ll get a good deal. Have Fun Antiquing is about discovering hidden gems and having fun along the way. When you’re traveling or exploring an area you’ve never been to, visiting antique shops can be a wonderful experience chock-full of history and one-of-a-kind items you wouldn’t otherwise come across. When you go in with an open mind, that’s when you find the greatest treasures!

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