AUGUST 2020
Legally Brief With Kevin Patrick Automobile accidents | Daycare injuries | wrongful death
An Old-School Guy in a Digital World CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE’S NEW LOOK!
Like some of you might have, I grew up in the “Dark Ages” before the dawn of social media. I still remember when Facebook first showed up and came into vogue. I’d just graduated from college, and to be honest, I was a bit unsure about the platform. One of the majors I’d graduated with was Classical Culture, so as you can imagine, I wasn’t all that big on technology. Books were my main focus. I was also a little bit shy. Basically, I was the kid in class who still used a pencil and paper to handwrite all of my notes, even while everyone else was using laptops. Diving into the world of “social networking” just didn’t sound appealing to me as a 20-something. That said, I was definitely in the minority.
These days, I use social media both personally and professionally. (If you’re not already following our firm, you can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.) I have separate accounts for work and family, but occasionally, I’ll post something more personal on one of the firm’s social media pages. That’s because I think it’s way too easy for lawyers to fall into the trap of over-advertising and over-corporatizing on social media. I want people to see beyond Kevin the Lawyer to Kevin the Human Being, even on Facebook! The work we do goes deeper than quippy captions about settlement checks, and I think our posts should, too. I’m also proud of the leaps my team has made to embrace technology this year. I’m not talking about social media (we’ve had that for much longer) but our innovations in response to the coronavirus pandemic. We now offer virtual depositions and meetings over Zoom, and the strategy has a lot of perks. The technology is really efficient and cost-effective. It lets us connect with clients all over the country, and it has also made us better environmental stewards. We’re saving emissions from travel and waste from excess paper — it’s a win-win-win.
This summer, we made another leap into the digital world when we updated and refreshed our website, PatrickTrialLaw. com. Time really has flown since it was first designed in 2015, and in my opinion, the facelift was definitely necessary. Now, our home page looks much better and points you straight to our social media. If you haven’t checked out the new version of the website yet, consider this your invitation. I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions! With all of these improvements, I might look pretty high-tech to you now, but rest assured I’m still a Classics major deep down. I do most of my work on an iPad, but occasionally, I still feel compelled to turn off my phone and computer to do things longhand. It’s nice to work on a brief or motion the old-school way sometimes. Even though I’m embracing the future, I never want to lose sight of my roots. Sincerely yours,
WITH ALL OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS, I MIGHT LOOK PRETTY HIGH-TECH TO YOU NOW, BUT REST ASSURED I’M STILL A CLASSICS MAJOR DEEP DOWN.
Later, I changed my mind about social media. Somewhere between college graduation and having kids, I realized it’s a nice way to interact and connect with people. Online, the geographic barriers melt away. Facebook has helped me keep in touch with my friends and family. I like being able to pull up the website and check in on their kids, pets, hobbies, and accomplishments with a few clicks.
This publication is for informational purposes only, and no legal advice is intended.
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Meet the Man Who Stole the ‘Mona Lisa’ THE MOST FAMOUS ART HEIST YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF
Kevin Built a Firepit!
This National Campfire Day, Try His Signature S’mores
One hundred and nine years ago this month, one man — or was it three? — fled from the Louvre Museum in Paris, carrying what would quickly become the world’s most famous painting: Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.”
Did you know that Aug. 10 is National Campfire Day? Kevin just found out about the holiday a few months ago, but the timing couldn’t be more perfect! This summer, he and Tracy installed a firepit in their backyard. That means that this National Campfire Day, the Patricks will celebrate in style. “My son Michael is almost 5, so I told my wife the firepit was for him, but to be honest, it’s also for me!” says Kevin. “I’m looking forward to a lot of backyard adventures and easily accessible s’mores.”
Historical accounts of the theft agree only on who was the ringleader: 30-year-old Louvre handyman Vincenzo Peruggia. He was a house painter, an immigrant, the bearer of a glorious Monopoly Man mustache, and a vehement Italian patriot. At some point on the morning of Aug. 21, 1911, Peruggia lifted the glass case he himself had constructed to house the “Mona Lisa” and smuggled the painting from the building. Some versions of the story say Peruggia was assisted by two brothers, fellow Italian handymen Vincenzo and Michele Lancelotti. NPR reports the trio spent the night preceding the theft huddled in one of the Louvre’s supply closets, lying in wait to steal the portrait. In his documentary about the theft, director Joe Medeiros claims Peruggia acted alone, driven by an obsession with the work and a dream of returning the painting to Italy. Either way, we know that Peruggia successfully spirited the painting back to his one-bedroom apartment. There it lay concealed in a false-bottomed trunk for more than two years. This period of mysterious absence (during which police grilled and dismissed Peruggia as a suspect in favor of J.P. Morgan, Pablo Picasso, and playwright Guillaume Apollinaire) is what made the “Mona Lisa” world famous. Peruggia was eventually caught attempting to sell the painting in Italy. He pleaded guilty and spent eight months in jail. After his release, he enlisted in the Italian army to fight in World War I, surviving the war only to die of a heart attack on his 44th birthday. Though Peruggia married after the war, some suspect that the true love of his life was the “Mona Lisa” herself. In a CNN article, author and art history professor Noah Charney speculates that over his two years with her, Peruggia developed romantic feelings for the portrait. Perhaps he fell victim to a kind of “reverse Stockholm syndrome,” Charney suggests, the captor falling in love with his hostage. “In this case,” he says, “the hostage was a work of art.”
When it comes to s’mores, Kevin has a trick up his sleeve.
“My secret to the tastiest s’mores is swapping out the chocolate for a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup,” he says. “That’s my signature twist. It’s amazing.” You don’t need to have a backyard firepit to celebrate National Campfire Day or try Kevin’s s’more recipe. If you have a gas stove, then you can roast marshmallows right in your kitchen! Another option is to head outside and take advantage of one of Georgia’s great campsites, which often come complete with fire rings. Plenty of beautiful state parks near Atlanta have camping setups, including Panola Mountain State Park, Red Top Mountain State Park, and Fort Yargo State Park. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, Fort Yargo even has yurts for rent. A bit farther afield, Explore Georgia lists The Rock Ranch and Historic Banning Mills as two of Georgia’s coolest camping spots. At The Rock Ranch, you can stay overnight in an Old West- style covered wagon, and Historic Banning Mills offers amazing treehouses to sleep in. Hopefully you can find some time to get away and experience the outdoors this National Campfire Day. Just be sure to check online for park or venue closures before you pack up your car, as things are still subject to change due to COVID-19. If you have to cancel your out-of-town plans, remember that you always have Kevin’s stovetop s’mores to fall back on!
You can always reach Kevin directly at 404.566.8964 or Kevin@PatrickTrialLaw.com. (If you ever need it, his cell phone is 404.409.3160.)
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The Truth Behind the Driver's License Drama Georgia’s COVID-19 Rule Changes Explained
If you have friends or family with teenagers or are a parent yourself, you’ve probably heard a lot of speculation over the last few months about changes to Georgia’s driver’s license testing rules. On April 23, Governor Brian Kemp issued an executive order that apparently waived the road-test requirement for the majority of new Georgia drivers. This created a lot of confusion and put our state in the national news. Since April, more than 20,000 teenagers have been able to skip the road test requirement and gain provisional drivers licenses. According to an official from the state’s Department of Driver Services, these kids still had to comply with the rest of the usual licensing requirements. Even so, people were understandably worried about the impact of having so many untested drivers on Georgia roads. The goal of the new policy was to catch the state up on its testing backlog and help people practice social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. However, it
didn’t take long for state officials to realize they needed to provide more clarity on the policy. Soon after his first intervention, Kemp issued another order to clarify that the test exemption wasn’t permanent. As of this writing, new drivers who’ve received their licenses without taking a driving test will still have to take the test eventually. Right now, the deadline for that is Sept. 30. Anyone who doesn’t pass a road test by then will lose their license. This is important to know if you’re a parent, but it’s only marginally reassuring if you’re sharing the road. As of right now, thousands of teenagers driving through Atlanta haven’t passed their roads tests, and it’s always possible that the Sept. 30 deadline could be extended as the pandemic situation evolves. With that in mind, please be extra cautious on the road this summer. Keep an eye out for young drivers and drive defensively. We’d hate to see an increase in car accidents due to this new rule.
If you are unlucky enough to end up in a car crash through no fault of your own, our team can help. Visit PatrickTrialLaw.com to schedule a complimentary consultation.
sudoku
Peach and Arugula Pasta Salad
Ingredients • 8 oz penne or fusilli pasta • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes • 1/2 tsp sea salt • Pepper, to taste • 2 tbsp lemon juice • 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese • 2 large fresh peaches, diced or sliced
• •
1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced 1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup corn • 6 cups arugula, packed
Directions 1. In a large pot of boiling water, cook pasta for approximately 9 minutes or until al dente. Drain pasta and place in a separate bowl.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Drizzle the dressing over the pasta and toss with the feta cheese.
Solution
3. Add peaches, red onions, tomatoes, corn, and arugula to the pasta mixture. Lightly toss to mix well. Add more olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste.
Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com
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Inside This Issue 1 An Old-School Guy in a Digital World 2 Meet the Man Who Stole the ‘Mona Lisa’ Kevin’s Signature S’mores 3 The Truth Behind the Driver's License Drama Peach and Arugula Pasta Salad 4 Engaging Indoor Activities
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Stuck Inside? 3 Activities to Keep You Busy Summertime means getting out of the house to enjoy the sunshine and the bright blue sky. But even during this great time of year, you may have to spend some of these precious days inside, not outside. Rather than scrolling through social media or reminiscing about better days, here are a few ideas you can use to turn a day spent indoors into a fun summer memory! GET CRAFTY You’re bound to have a few materials floating around the house that you can use to create a new art project or even start a new hobby. If you have extra sheets of paper lying around, then give origami a go. Do you have a shirt you don’t wear anymore but still love? Turn it into a new pillow cover or a bag. You can also create fun garden decorations by painting rocks, making a wind chime, or repurposing an old boot into a new plant holder. You never know — whatever you choose to do could become your next passion. PLAN YOUR NEXT VACATION Spending the day inside might just be the perfect time to plan your next vacation (after, of course, things return to normal.) Use this time to calculate the expenses of the trip, such as travel, board, food, and souvenirs. You can also research and figure out where
you’re going to stay ahead of time, whether that be a hotel or an Airbnb, to optimize your experience. Once you have the groundwork done, you’ll have a better idea of how your trip will go and be able to focus on the fun stuff when the time comes! CHANGE IT UP If you’ve been putting off rearranging or reorganizing a room in your house, then a day at home is a great chance to get started. Switching up the layout of your stuff gives your home a fresh new look and provides you with an opportunity to deep-clean your space. If you have a patio or porch, then try sprucing up those outdoor spaces with new furniture, potted plants, or trendy decor. Just imagine how satisfying it will feel once everything is in a new place and sparkling clean. Even when you’d rather be outside enjoying the last days of summer, these indoor activities will keep you entertained and give you something fun to look forward to!
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