February 2018
1436 Royal Palm Square Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33919 7955 Airport-Pulling Road N. Ste. 202, Naples, FL 34109 3841 Tamiami Trail Port Charlotte, FL 33952 4830 West Kennedy Blvd., Ste. 600 Tampa, FL 33609 37 North Orange Avenue, Ste. 500 Orlando, FL 32801
239-939-0900
239-403-3011
941-624-4454
813-670-7588
Attorneys for Personal Injury, Bankruptcy, Foreclosure Defense, & More!
407-720-9200
1436 Royal Palm Square Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33919 • 239-939-0900 • www.DellutriLawGroup.com
Celebrating 20 Years How Dellutri Law Group Came to Be
I immediately started planning my departure and the startup of my own practice. When I got back into the office after the holidays, I put in my two-week notice. I was excited to start out on my own, but I was also a little sad to be leaving such a great boss and staff. I learned so much in the time I was there, and he was a great mentor to me. He respected and supported my decision, and I worked my butt off until I clocked out for the last time. In the beginning, I was so bored when I went to work. I rented a space in another attorney’s building, and I placed my first ad in the yellow pages for the Law Offices of Carmen Dellutri. At first, I spent most of my days sitting around waiting for my phone to ring, but eventually, the other attorneys in the office started throwing cases my way. I often covered hearings and trials, and even though I got paid, I did a lot of work for free too. I kept my focus on the future, and although I only made $11,000 that first year, I built up my name and reputation. There were days when I wondered whether or not I had made the right choice in going out on my own. But Marjorie’s faith in me was always there to keep me motivated. I didn’t take any cases from my previous employer, so all I had was my laptop, a couple of bookcases, and a printer that Marjorie had gifted me. However, after a lot of hoping, praying, and taking good care of the clients that called in response to my ad, my practice started to grow. Eventually, I was able to hire someone (this is a great story as well) to make us a team of two, and we continued to expand into the Dellutri Law Group we know today. This month, we celebrate our 20-year anniversary. Talk about time flying. I am so thankful for everything I have experienced these last 20 years, and I am forever grateful to Marjorie for loving me, believing in me, and taking a risk on me, back then and every day as we move forward. She gave me the opportunity to start a law firm that lives our vision of what a law firm should be. It’s a debt I hope I can someday repay. Happy Anniversary, Dellutri Law Group, and happy Valentine’s Day, Marjorie. I love you.
Twenty years ago, the Dellutri Law Group was a dream. After graduating from law school, I started working full time at another firm. It was a good way to get my foot in the door and gain some experience before opening my own practice. Since I knew that someday I was going to open my own practice, I started planning my future.
“In the newsletter, I referenced the Law Offices of Carmen Dellutri. This is a sign that my mom and dad had made for me when I first open my firm. I had to pull it off the wall of the building when I left.”
That future included going back to school for an MBA (Masters in Business). Law School doesn’t teach you anything about running a business, and let’s face it, a law practice is a business. While getting my MBA, I met my wonderful wife, Marjorie. I like to joke and say that I was there for my MBA and she was there for her MD (Marjorie Dellutri). We actually graduated with our MBAs together. After almost two years in private practice, I was feeling fully confident in my abilities, and I started planning to go out on my own. Marjorie was on board with the idea. The issue was this: I worked for a really great guy, who was, and still is, one of the best attorneys I have ever met. Plus, everyone on the team treated me like family. So, I wasn’t so sure I wanted to leave them just yet. The idea of going out on my own was much easier than deciding to leave, but I knew I couldn’t do both. Marjorie and I attended the firm’s Christmas party that year in Tampa. On the way home, we weighed the pros and cons and made the big decision. My dream was about to come true. She told me that she would support me while I got the practice up and running, so we made a deal, and from that moment, I had exactly 12 months to get the show on the road.
–Carmen Dellutri
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Police Reports:
What You Should and Should Not Say
2. Take the time to read the report. After writing a police report, an officer may ask you to look over the report. Even though you might be stressed, tired, or unable to concentrate, make sure to take the time to review the report. If anything is missing or has not been recorded properly, tell the officer on the spot. It is very hard to change a report after it has been filed. 3. Do not argue with the other person involved in an accident. You may hear that other person telling the police a different story, and you may disagree with what they are saying. However, it is best to simply file your own account of what happened without starting an argument. Police officers are recording every detail of what happens after an accident, and you do not want to be reprimanded for disorderly conduct. 4. Do not admit to anything that you did not do or that you do not know to be the truth. If an officer suggests something, think clearly about it. If you do not feel right about that detail, ask that it not be included in the report or that the officer make a note that you did not agree with said statement. If you feel that you are not being given a fair report, it is important to call your lawyer immediately.
When any type of accident occurs, it is a wise idea to file a police report (in fact, it’s the law in many states). Filing this type of report can ensure that your story is completely documented at the time of the accident. Following an accident, you (or your lawyer) may use this report to determine what really happened or how an accident occurred.
What should you say when the report is written? What should you do after it is written? Here’s what you need to know.
FILING THE REPORT
1. Make sure you are honest. The one thing that many people do all too often is lie on a police report. Sometimes, this happens because a person is frazzled after an accident, or that person does not want to be blamed for an accident. Other times, it seems like a good idea to bend the truth in your favor, but trust me , this is not a good idea! Not only is it far too complicated to think ahead and attempt to look innocent on a report, it’s also something that will trip you up in court (if an accident ever goes to court). Whatever you have lied about will come to light, and it will immediately look like you can’t be trusted.
Hopefully these steps can help you the next time you are responsible for filing a police report!
HERE’S WHAT OUR CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY:
“My husband and I used the Dellutri Law Group for some legal matters and were very pleased with our results. The law group as a whole handled our case swiftly and professionally. They put great care into every detail and made sure we had a satisfactory outcome. We felt they gave us the compassion and respect that we may not have experienced had we used another law group. We are incredibly pleased with Dellutri Law Group and our dealings specifically with Carmen Dellutri. I would highly recommend this company to anyone in need of legal assistance.”
VERIFY THIS TESTIMONIAL! ALL OF OUR TESTIMONIALS ARE VERIFIABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.
WWW.DELLUTRILAWGROUP.COM/TESTIMONIALS
–Heather
“Attorney Carmen Dellutri takes the time to listen and understand your situation. He is very kind and helpful. The professional attention and service was the best. I would recommend him to anyone! Thank you again!”
–Samantha
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Small-Business Spotlight
ANDREA DILLON AND NOACK & COMPANY
example. Say an individual’s home suffered $2,500 worth of hurricane damage. Their insurance company agrees to pay for $1,000 of the damage, which leaves the homeowner responsible for $1,500 out of pocket. Because of this tax break, this individual will pay for the repair, and then they will receive $1,000 as a tax credit. Homeowners aren’t the only ones who can receive aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Business owners, we know you suffered too! If you at any time paid your employees while you were not operational, you may be eligible for an extra credit on your taxes for those wages. We also know the taxation laws can be confusing, and it is easy to miss out on relief programs simply because they are not advertised well. If you have questions regarding Hurricane Irma tax relief, contact Andrea Dillon, CPA CTRS at Noack & Company! Andrea is also passionate about helping those with back
Everyone, meet Andrea! Andrea is a senior tax manager with expertise in business accounting and taxation. Like most of Southwest Florida, Andrea was affected by the devastating path of Hurricane Irma back in September of 2017. Watching her friends and family face extensive damage to their homes was gut-wrenching, especially when most of their insurance policies did not always cover the natural disaster home repairs in full. However, Andrea had some good news for them, and maybe now for you, if you did not already know this secret. Relief options do exist for taxpayers who have had to pay out of pocket for those annoying Irma home repairs! According to tax laws, individuals who have paid out of pocket for hurricane damage repairs may be eligible for a tax write- off after the first $500. You can still be eligible for this tax break even if you didn’t file an insurance claim! Let’s look at an
taxes find their path to resolution, and she would be happy to discuss Hurricane Irma tax relief with you. Contact Andrea at 239-936-6144 or andrea@cpaofflorida.com.
Team Spotlight: Lauren Horton
Sweet and Zesty Detox Salad
Ingredients For the Salad: •
You may remember us introducing you to our amazing bankruptcy paralegal, Lauren Horton, last January. She is approaching her two-year anniversary with us here in May! Since then, Lauren has
For the Dressing: •
1 large carrot, roughly chopped
3 cups chopped kale leaves 2 cups chopped broccoli florets 2 cups chopped red cabbage
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1/4 cup rice wine vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil
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1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger 1 tablespoon honey
1 cup matchstick carrots 1 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds
1 tablespoon white miso 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil Salt and pepper, to taste
been doing so many amazing things in and outside of the firm. She just welcomed her first niece into the world a few months ago and has been enjoying spending time with her family. Not only is Lauren active in their lives, but she is also an active fitness fiend. Lauren goes to the gym every morning at 6 before coming to work at 8. Now that’s dedication! We asked Lauren what life has been like after starting at the Dellutri Law Group in May of 2016. She said, “Life since joining DLG has been full of hope, excitement, positivity, and even better people. This team is pretty amazing!” We sure do love Lauren, and we hope to have her around for many years to come.
• •
1/3 cup sliced green onions
1 diced avocado
Directions 1. To make the salad, add all ingredients to a large bowl; toss to combine. 2. To make the dressing, add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Pulse until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper or add extra honey for a sweeter taste. 3. Drizzle dressing over salad and serve immediately.
Recipe inspired by GimmeSomeOven.com
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Inside This
Issue
The Origin Story of Dellutri Law Group
1
2
Do’s and Don’ts of Police Reports
Testimonials
Small-Business Spotlight
3
Whip Up This Winter Salad in a Flash!
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Exercise for 2?
FALL IN LOVE WITH FITNESS THROUGH DANCE
Don’t have a partner willing to join you on the dance floor? No problem! Many dance classes anticipate having solo students and arrange for partners to cycle through, so everyone has the opportunity to practice. Of course, ballroom dance isn’t your only option for a fun workout. If relying on a partner isn’t your style, there are plenty of other dance genres you can groove to. Consider trying K-pop (Korean pop music), Zumba, hip-hop, ballet, tap, and even belly dancing, if you’re feeling adventurous. With dance, exercise becomes an activity you look forward to. You no longer need to treat exercise as a dreaded chore week after week. Even if you have two left feet, remember that dancing is an acquired skill. With a willingness to learn, over time, you could dance circles around Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Get your groove on today and search for dance studios in your area, look for lessons at your local community center,
When you get ready to exercise, the last thing you probably think to wear is a bow tie or evening dress. If that’s the case, then it’s time to broaden your approach to fitness and step out onto the dance floor. The wide world of dance might hold the secret to exercise that you — and your partner — will actually enjoy! Whether you enjoy a romantic waltz, an intimate salsa, or a fun swing, dance promises a full-body workout. Your legs, glutes, back, core, and even arms are engaged when you feel the music. A study from the University of Brighton in England found that dance can burn 600 calories per hour, depending on the intensity of the dance, which is as much as running for an hour! In addition to toning your muscles, dancing also improves balance and coordination. Your brain is engaged as you memorize the steps and spins, a health perk you miss when you’re on the treadmill or lifting weights.
or find instructional videos online and bust a move right in your living room. When it comes to dance, if you’re having fun and moving, you’re doing it right.
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