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1600 S. BRENTWOOD BLVD., SUITE 220 • ST. LOUIS, MO 63144 // FINNEYINJURYLAW.COM // 314-293-4222 // NOVEMBER 2019
MEET OUR NEWEST LAWYER
We had another “first” at Finney Injury Law in the last few weeks: We hired another lawyer. As a solo practitioner, I have never done this. I never wanted to bite that off — the extra overhead, the extra meetings, etc. It’s just not my way of working. But, over the last five months or so, I began to realize the ship was getting heavier and harder to steer. The level of service showed signs of dropping. I was focusing on the short term rather than the long play, and I needed to invest in the future of my office, my clients, and my family. So, I put the word out I was looking to add an associate, someone to assist not only our clients but also our co-counsel relationships. We needed someone who could bring value to the services we already provide to clients and other lawyers. It was really just word of mouth, and I was able to narrow it down to two fantastic candidates. In all sincerity, if I could have, I would have hired both. But that would have been too much, too soon. I did not like making the tough decision and wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing.
A person I have grown to become really good friends with, Peter Sullivan, called me and said, “You should talk to this one guy. He is very solid.” Since Pete is someone I trust (he is my personal lawyer for certain things — yes, even lawyers have lawyers), I was interested. I also enlisted the help of a couple friends around the country, one in Dallas and one in South Carolina. My local attorney friends here offered their input — some so impressed with one of the candidates that they went out of their way to call me and say, “Hire him!” They all pitched in and selflessly offered advice. They are truly amazing friends. I am lucky to know such great lawyers. Tough decisions would have to be made. I offered the job to one of the candidates. He accepted. So, without further delay, we now have Alex Ledbetter as an attorney in our office. I could not be more excited about the future now that we have Alex’s skill set in house. Why am I so excited? Because he brings a much different perspective to the cases than I do. He had his own practice for a bit, which shows me he knows what it’s like to be out there pushing cases. He also turned down other jobs, very good jobs at great firms, because he knew it wasn’t the work he wanted to be doing. In just a few weeks, I have noticed a significant change in the cases moving. He has jumped in and started to initiate progress in cases I had not been able to get to. And the results are there. This is great news for our clients.
So, please check out our website to learn more about him. He’s married and a father of three. We now have seven kids in the office. He is a fellow Man for Others — something not taken for granted. And he’s also a former race car driver. I have no doubt we will do big things at the office. We will fight for people who need it. We will continue to help anyone in any courtroom. Now, we can just do it better and more
comprehensively. Let’s keep moving forward.
ENGAGE YOUR KIDS
ON THANKSGIVING WITH THESE GRATITUDE-THEMED GAMES
Thanksgiving is an excellent time to teach children about gratefulness. By planning some fun, gratitude-themed games, you can impart a valuable lesson and spend some quality family time together. Get your kids in the holiday spirit by adding a Thanksgiving twist to these classic games. PICTIONARY Want to bring out your kids’ creative sides? Pictionary is the perfect way to encourage artistic expression and grateful thinking. Try adding a rule where players have to draw something they’re grateful for. This will get your kids thinking beyond turkey and stuffing and give them an imaginative way to express their gratitude. Plus, who doesn’t love a good art contest? GUESS WHO? To play gratitude-themed Guess Who?, have each participant write down their name and something they’re thankful for on a slip of paper and put it in a bowl. Then, at
the dinner table, have each person draw a random slip and read what it says without saying the name while everyone else tries to guess who wrote it. While Pictionary may get your kids talking about what they are thankful for, Guess Who? will tune them into what others around them are thankful for, too. PICK-UP STICKS Like regular pick-up sticks, the goal is to remove a stick from a haphazard pile without disturbing the others. However, by using colored sticks that represent different kinds of thankfulness — such as places, people, or food — you can make players think outside the box. This will ensure you get a wide range of creative, thoughtful answers whenever the kids pick up a stick. These modified games are great for helping your kids realize how much they have to be thankful for. Use these to spend some fun, educational, quality time with your family this Thanksgiving.
HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN YOUR CHILD’S WELL-BEING? WHEN THE BUS MAKES A WRONG TURN
We’re well into the school year now, and that means your kids may be out of your sight for up to eight hours a day in class and after-school activities. When they arrive on campus, they become the responsibility of the school. But what about the time in between leaving your home and arriving at school? If your child takes a school bus to and from school, on class field trips, or even to sporting events, who assumes the liability of a vehicle accident during which your child is injured? As we’ve covered in past issues — articles discussing liability of injury for children when they’re out of your care — the ability to take legal action is most often based upon circumstance. In the case of school transportation, bus drivers have a burden of care for the children entrusted to them during transport. These drivers are expected to follow state transportation laws, thoroughly inspect their vehicle before driving, and maintain safety protocols for the students within the bus.
If the driver is found to be at fault for any of these, it might seem like the case is open and shut. But liability for vehicle accidents can be nuanced, and even the best drivers may not be able to avoid certain circumstances on the road. Factors like who is involved in the accident, the location of the accident, and the status of the vehicle itself all play an important role during an investigation. If there were multiple vehicles involved in the crash, liability may fall to a different driver. If the crash occurred due to faulty equipment, then the bus manufacturer may be the responsible party. It might even come down to a question of the child’s behavior inside the bus at the time of the incident. Whatever the case, no detail should go unexplored when it comes to the safety of your children. If your child has been seriously injured in a school bus accident and you think you’re entitled to compensation, don’t wait to take action. Let us explore the details of your case and determine what your next best steps should be. Give our office a call at 334-314-1814 for a consultation.
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THE CRAZY CASE OF JACOBS V. KENT NOT YOUR ORDINARY TURKEY SHOOT
It began like any other hunting excursion. Neil Jacobs was walking softly through the bushes, looking for a spot to hunker down and watch for a flock of turkeys. The only problem was that someone beat him to that neck of the woods. James Kent had established a hunting spot for himself, and, when he heard rustling and gobbling in some nearby bushes and saw a flash of red, he took aim and fired. Unfortunately, the movement in the bushes was not a turkey. Kent was horrified to find that he had shot Jacobs. Jacobs promptly moved for a partial summary judgment against Kent on the basis that he had failed to determine that Jacobs was not a turkey but, in fact, a human being. Kent cross-moved for summary judgment, saying Jacobs should have expected risks when he stepped into a popular hunting environment. When their case came before the Supreme Court of the 4th District of New York, the courts denied both the motion and the cross-motion. They agreed that Jacobs had assumed the inherent
risks of hunting — just not the risks it would be unreasonable to assume, like getting shot by another hunter who thought you were a turkey. Beyond that, the courts did not pronounce judgment because they did not have enough verifiable facts. Jacobs asserted that turkey hunters should not shoot unless they can see the turkey and verify its gender. The court could not determine whether Kent had failed to follow this rule when he shot Jacobs. They also could not determine whether the doctrine of primary assumption of risk, which Kent pointed to in his defense, was even applicable. The court also called into question whether Jacobs had also been negligent. Ultimately, the case didn’t move forward.
Maybe next time, they should just try getting a turkey from the supermarket.
YOUR REFERRALS MEAN THE WORLD TO US There is no greater compliment we can receive than a client telling a friend or loved one about us. If you know somebody who has been injured and needs an attorney who will fight on their behalf and give their case the attention it deserves, please pass along this newsletter and have them give us a call at 314-293-4222. Thank you for spreading the word about Finney Injury Law.
LEFTOVER THANKSGIVING DOG TREATS
Inspired by TwoHealthyKitchens.com
• 1/2 cup cooked sweet potatoes, plain and mashed • 3/4 cup water INGREDIENTS
• 1 egg • 2 cups cooked turkey, finely chopped • 2 cups whole wheat flour
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. In a medium bowl, combine sweet potatoes, water, and egg. Add turkey and flour and stir again until dough is thick and sticky. 3. Use a rubber spreader to spread dough evenly on parchment-lined baking sheet, about 1/2-inch thick. Cut dough into small rectangles using a knife or pizza cutter. 4. Bake for 30 minutes, until the dog treats are lightly golden brown. 5. Remove from oven and let treats cool completely. Break treats apart along score lines. 6. Serve fresh or store in refrigerator for up to two weeks.
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OUR OFFICE IS NOW PRACTICING IN BOTH MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS!
1600 S. BRENTWOOD BLVD. SUITE 220 • ST. LOUIS, MO 63144
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
FINNEYINJURYLAW.COM // 314-293-4222
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Meet Finney Injury Law’s Newest Lawyer
2 2 3 3 4
Gratitude-Themed Games for Kids
School Bus Safety
Not Your Ordinary Turkey Shoot
Post-Feast Dog Treats
What’s Left of the 1904 World’s Fair
RELICS OF THE 1904 ST. LOUIS WORLD’S FAIR HISTORY YOU CAN SEE
T he 1904 World’s
all those years ago, fascinated by the architecture and captivated by all the spectacle it housed within its walls.
Fair in St. Louis was an incredible event
that occurred over the course of seven months and featured exhibitions and attractions from more than 60 countries. It was attended by nearly 20 million people
SAINT LOUIS ZOO The Smithsonian Institution constructed what they called a “Flight Cage” for the World’s Fair, an enormous, walk-through bird cage where guests could view a variety of exotic birds at close range. Even though the Smithsonian intended to dismantle the cage after the fair, St. Louis citizens were adamant about keeping it. So the city purchased the Cage and used it as the foundation for the Saint Louis Zoo, where it still stands today. Washington University, Francis Field holds a lot of personal history for me in addition to the astounding history it has with our city. Not only was it constructed in time for use during the World’s Fair, but it was also used as the main stadium for the 1904 Summer Olympics, the very first to be held in the Western Hemisphere. It’s one of the oldest sports venues west of the Mississippi and still actively hosts a variety of sporting and social events. FRANCIS FIELD As a member of the football team when I attended
and still has long-lasting effects on the fields of art history, architecture, and anthropology. Here are just a few locations you can visit today to get a glimpse of one of the largest events on the globe in 1904.
SAINT LOUIS ART MUSEUM Formerly known as the Palace of Fine Arts, the
architecture of this immense hall was inspired by the Roman Baths of Caracalla in Italy. The main building looks much the same as it did over 100 years ago, but it’s now a museum with works spanning five millennia and six continents. You can almost sense the crowds that meandered through its exquisite gardens and grand halls
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OUR OFFICE IS NOW PRACTICING IN BOTH MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS!
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