The Lyman Firm - August 2020

Everything’s Peachy The Storied History of the Peach The Truth About Lyman Beginning a Journey Starts with Dedication to Transparency 2860 Piedmont Road, Suite 275, Atlanta, GA 30305 lymanf irm.com The Lyman Firm Newsletter TELEGRAPH Amicus Curiae www.LymanFirm.com 404-267-1986 February 2019 The Lyman Firm Newsletter T: 404 267 1986 F: 470 745 0699

AUGUST 2020

G eorgia is a blue-collar state — a grassroots mix of farmland,

August marks the peak of peach season, so there’s no better time to talk about the decadent stone fruit and its history. mountains, and urban development representing ever-expanding opportunities. Being a native of North Atlanta, I have spent most of my life in this fair state, cultivating both my character and my profession as I grew up. Now, I have a distinct opportunity to help those around me in ways I hadn’t anticipated For many people, peaches are the ultimate summertime fruit, right up there with watermelon and strawberries. They’re in season between June and August, but it isn’t until August that peaches are said to be at their most flavorful. One state in particular has a close affinity with the peach. Just as Florida is associated with the orange and Hawaii is associated with the pineapple, Georgia is all about the peach. Every summer in Georgia, you can find peaches around every corner and in almost every culinary creation, including pie, cobbler, tea, and even salsa. But how did the peach come to be associated with Georgia? Well, it’s a long story that spans several thousand years and countries across the globe. in my younger days. I lead The Lyman Firm as a proud curator of justice for the everyday person, somebody who might not have gotten a fair shake before they met me. I believe one person can be the face of a greater movement, and these are the everyday people — the heroes — I work for as I drive our cases forward to the fullest extent within our legal system, fighting for what’s right.

By the year 300 B.C., the peach entered parts of Europe. There are tales of Alexander the Great bringing the peach to Europe after discovering the tasty fruit during his quest to conquer the Persians, but these stories are largely untrue. The peach simply found its way around the globe thanks to good old-fashioned trade. It wasn’t until hundreds of years later in the 1500s that the peach made its way to the Americas. It was brought to North America by Spanish explorers. Interestingly enough, the peach wasn’t introduced to England and France until the 1600s. As the peach gained popularity, it became a status symbol. It was difficult to get, which drove the price up. But it wasn’t long until the peach found its way into the American colonies where even Thomas Jefferson planted peach trees around his estate, Monticello. But back then, it wasn’t being broadly or commercially cultivated. On top of being difficult to get, peaches spoiled easily. Anyone who has had peaches can attest: Fresh peaches don’t last long once they’re harvested. Because of this, peaches remained expensive until the 1800s when the growing U.S. population began providing more opportunities to take this fragile fruit to market. In response, farmers began planting peach groves in many eastern states —which have temperate climates, ideal weather for a long peach season — to make a profit. While peaches can be grown anywhere in the United States, the best peaches come from temperate states, like Georgia, which is why it’s nicknamed “The Peach State.” Oftentimes, I ask a client to share the names of the attorneys they’ve worked with on other cases. Almost none of them are able to muster James and three-year-old daughter Cleo — I am fully immersed in the fun-loving, homely, and exciting life of my family. They are my foundation, and without them nothing would be possible. But I also have a second family of sorts in my clients, whom I treat with the respect and attention a person is owed whenever they find they’re backed in a corner and need help. The pleasure I get from representing good, honest people in the courtroom is unrivaled when compared to the other fields of profession I’ve engaged in life.

I began to look for a new avenue to pour my passions into.

As we grow older and further away from our teens and 20s, we begin to realize that life isn’t always about going fast, both literally and metaphorically. It was during my post racing downtime that I realized I wanted to go back to school at Georgia State. After spending years as a writer and editor, I discovered and followed my newfound calling and began practicing law after graduating from law school. After years of unparalleled grit, drive, and success in the field of law, I was fortunate enough to be able to open my own practice in January of 2018. This new venture has even allowed me to work alongside my brother, a paralegal and case manager, in what has been one of the most exciting periods of my life. For now, our plans for the future include an imminent expansion of the firm and growing the company in ways that still allow us to keep our fundamental values and operations in check.

In 2014, researchers confirmed they had discovered major archaeological evidence that the peach was being cultivated in China around 6,000 B.C. They published their My passions weren’t always for courtroom thrills, though. Growing up in Smyrna, I sought to chase a different kind of rush: the roar of the racetrack. I wasn’t half bad either, eventually taking my hobby for auto racing from amateur status in 2004 all the way to semi-pro in 2007. Unfortunately, like so many other things that went down along with the economy the following year, my racing career crashed in 2008. Shattered by the abrupt end to my racing journey due to a lack of financing, findings in PLOS One, a peer- reviewed journal published by the Public Library of Science. Up to that point, most evidence suggested that the Chinese began cultivating peaches only around 2,000 B.C., but it seems that humans and the peach go even further back. “I believe one person can be the face of a greater movement, and these are the everyday people — the The fruit, native to China, found its way to Japan around 4,500 B.C. By then, it was starting to become the peach most of us are familiar with today: a juicy yellow- or white-fleshed fruit packed with flavor. Through trade and travel, the peach made its way across Asia and the Middle East. heroes — I work for as I drive our cases forward to the fullest extent within our legal system, fighting for what’s right.”

This summer, as you bite into a sweet, juicy peach, you’ll know that single piece of fruit comes with a history that spans the globe and several millennia. That’s when I tell them that there are a million different lawyers out there doing a million different things, but when I take on your case for a serious injury or a wrongful death suit, you’ll remember me as a man who gave you the best possible chance while shooting you straight every step of the way. an answer — the names of their lawyers completely lost in the tides of life’s trials.

At home with my wife Lindsay beside me, and our two children — our five-year-old son

-Thomas J. Lyman

www.LymanFirm.com | 1

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THE LASTING IMPACT OF THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL LEGAL IMPLICATIONS WE CAN STILL SEE TODAY

the U.S. justice system. However, protecting data across borders poses an increasing challenge. Cooperation among international government regulators may be more common for private plaintiffs’ counsel, but globalization and shifting feelings about nationalism can interfere with the strict standards of electronic data privacy and security. This means complex cases must rely on a proactive and professionally managed data strategy plan. Second, due to tremendous political polarization over the past few decades, local relationships are more important than ever . U.S. states, counties, and municipalities have become more independent, and “it’s more common for ills to be litigated independently at all levels of government,” Neath says. The affected U.S. Gulf Coast states and surrounding counties each influenced the outcome of the Deepwater Horizon claims. Since the oil spill, we have recognized the importance of carefully considering the relationships between each party. Third, Deepwater Horizon has popularized the creation of internal business functions

Although not many people realize it, the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill greatly affected many aspects of the legal systemwe rely on today. The head of litigation for BP at the time, James J. Neath, says the case was a “life-changing event.” For over a year and a half, BP’s large internal and external legal teams worked continuously on the crisis response 16 hours a day, seven days a week. Neath describes the workstream as “devoted to identifying, preserving, and ‘live- streaming’ video footage of the ongoing leak.” On top of the overwhelming data, public actors from every level of government were involved. Furthermore, the case affected international claims ranging, according to Neath, from “class actions in Mexico to U.K. pension fund securities claims to litigation in the Ecuadorian Constitutional Court.”Neath adds that the sheer scale and reaction to this crisis pushed the legal industry in ways we can still see today. For one, the practice of law has rapidly globalized. Because the Deepwater Horizon oil spill case affected people nationally and internationally, it’s more common for victims outside the U.S. to seek compensation within

for investigating internal business safety and integrity. These departments are often established separately from the business to avoid any profit bias. Fourth, speed, professionalism, and expertise when handling data and technology in a legal operation have become more crucial than ever before. While investigations are “growing [in] importance,” even Neath believes that the “greatest challenge is data.”While he acknowledges that data experts often speak different languages, seasoned data professionals with legal backgrounds should still manage the data. With the lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the U.S. legal system is better prepared to handle future hurdles that may come its way.

HOLD THE SALT Don’t Let Food Seasonings Sabotage Your Health

With so much emphasis on what foods you should eat to be healthy, it’s easy to overlook an important element of the cooking process: seasoning. You can find thousands of premixed seasonings on the market, and although adding dashes to your food seems inconsequential, the seasoning may actually turn your healthy foods into unhealthy foods. And the main culprit, in this case, is salt. Salt is a popular component of many premade seasonings because of its flavor-enhancing abilities. The label on your favorite mix should tell you exactly how much salt it contains. If it’s high on the ingredient list, you’re better off finding a substitute. High-sodium seasonings will promote water retention if used too liberally, which may lead to weight gain. The American Heart Association recommends consuming no more than 2,300 mg of salt a day. Ideally, adults would consume only 1,500 mg of salt daily. Removing salt from your seasoning repertoire may be difficult because it does enhance flavor. But alternative spices, when paired with the right food, can be great substitutes and have numerous health benefits. Here are a few. • For beef: bay leaf, marjoram, nutmeg, pepper, sage, thyme • For chicken: marjoram, oregano, paprika, rosemary, tarragon, chili powder • For pork: garlic, onion, sage, pepper, oregano

• For fish: curry powder, dill, dry mustard, marjoram, paprika, pepper • For vegetables: pepper, parsley, cumin, dill, chives, basil, paprika

Try not to use more than 1/4 teaspoon of dried spice or 3/4 teaspoon of fresh spice per pound of meat or veggies. And for the best flavor, add ground spices to your food about 15 minutes before the end of cooking time. Add whole spices at least one hour before. Remember, salt doesn’t have to be the enemy — in moderation, it helps your body stay properly hydrated and helps deliver nutrients more efficiently. But too much can quickly lead to negative side effects, and with granules that are hard to see, it can be easy to go overboard. Instead, experiment with the hundreds of incredible spices available, and you might just open up a whole new world of great flavors and healthy habits.

TAKE A BREAK

You see fun quizzes on Facebook all the time. What kind of dog breed matches your personality? What Disney princess are you most like? These can be fun to pass time or learn new things about yourself. However, did you know that social media quizzes aren’t actually safe? The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently warned people that distractions on social media aren’t all harmless. In order to collect personal information, scammers can’t knock on your door and ask about your mother’s maiden name or the name of the street you grew up on. Intentionally, they design scams to attract your attention so you voluntarily give your information to them. They will ask common security questions that seem to relate to the subject matter, but in actuality, your answers are recorded for scammers to hack and steal your personal information later on. That’s why it pays to be skeptical . If you’re about to take a quiz, first ask yourself who created it. Do you trust them and the website it’s on? Even if the quiz seems outwardly innocent, it’s a risk. To prevent quizzes and potential scams from popping in your newsfeed, adjust your privacy settings and monitor friend requests . Is one of your friends adding you on a second account? Sometimes, scammers make imposter secondary accounts of people just to have access to their friends’ timelines. Not everyone monitors how much they post on Facebook; anyone can amass lots of invasive information just from scrolling down a profile. This brings us to our next point: Remove personal details from your profile . Nobody needs to know your phone number and home address by clicking around on your profile. Let the important people ask! It’s safer that way. Lastly, never give answers to common security questions . Why would a quiz need to know the name of your high school? No matter what, when you volunteer information online, there’s always risk. Best of luck, friends! There are lots of safe, authentic quizzes out there. How else are you supposed to know what Disney princess or dog breed you really are? ARE YOU QUIZ SAVVY? Beware of Social Media Quiz Scams

RESTAURANT-STYLE FETTUCCINE ALFREDO

Inspired by The New York Times

Ingredients

•

Salt

•

1 lb fresh fettuccine

•

2 tbsp butter

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1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano- Reggiano

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1 clove of garlic, finely chopped

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Freshly ground pepper, to taste

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1 1/2 cups heavy cream

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Fresh parsley, chopped, to taste

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1 large egg yolk

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1 lemon wedge

Directions

In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of generously salted water to a boil. In a large, deep skillet, while the water heats, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant and sizzling (about 2 minutes). In a bowl, whisk heavy cream and egg yolk until blended and pour into garlic butter. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir until hot, not boiling. Keep warm on low heat.

In the large pot, cook pasta until al dente. (The pasta will float once it’s done.) Reserve about 1/2 cup pasta water and drain pasta. Pour hot pasta into creammixture and toss to coat on low heat. Add Parmigiano-Reggiano and keep tossing gently until cream is mostly absorbed. If the sauce is absorbed too much, toss with extra pasta water. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with parsley and a squeeze of lemon.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE INSIDE

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My Life in the Courtroom, the Home, and the Racetrack A Peach for the Ages 3 Wild Divorce Settlements Ways to Invest in Yourself After Retirement Bistecca Alla Fiorentina The Most Iconic Super Bowl in NFL History Restaurant-Style Fettuccine Alfredo Don’t Fall for These Social Media Quiz Scams Legal Lessons From the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Is Seasoning Sabotaging Your Health?

Let’s Retire These Health Myths

Meet the Man Who Stole the ‘Mona Lisa’

The 5-Second Rule Will Make You Sick 3 Health Myths You Probably Believe THE MOST FAMOUS ART HEIST YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF Meet the Man Who Stole the ‘Mona Lisa’

We live in the golden age of information. The answers tomany of life’s questions are just an internet search away. Despite this readily available wisdom, we still have a bad habit of believing health-relatedmyths. Here are three popular health“facts” that are total works of fiction. Historical accounts of the theft agree only on who was the ringleader: 30-year-old Louvre THE 5-SECOND RULE KEEPS FOOD SAFE 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. Obviously germs and bacteria don’t really wait five seconds to pounce, but snatching your chip off the floor fast keeps most of the germs away, right? Not according to a 2006 study published by Dr. Paul Dawson. He found conclusive evidence that when food comes into contact with a contaminated surface, bacteria are transferred immediately. Even one second spent Some versions of the story say Peruggia was assisted by two brothers, fellow on tile, wood, or carpet is enough to infest your food with salmonella or another serious contaminant. 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 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.”

BOTTLEDWATER IS SAFER THAN TAP WATER 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 Seeking out safer water alternatives increases the sales of bottled “spring water” each year. However, bottled water is more expensive, bad for the environment, and, as Dr. Morton Tavel of the Indiana University School of Medicine pointed out, over 50 percent of bottled water is just filtered tap water. The same effect can be achieved with a home filtration system. Of course, if the tap water in your area has been contaminated, bottled water is a safer alternative. However, in most circumstances, bottled water is no healthier than tap water. 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. CRACKING YOUR KNUCKLES CAUSES ARTHRITIS 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 WorldWar I, surviving the war only to die of a heart attack on his 44th birthday. The connection between knuckle-cracking and arthritis came from studies where participants self-reported their habits. Modern medical research has shown these results to be false.

The official stance from the John Hopkins Arthritis Center states, “There is no evidence that cracking knuckles causes any damage such as arthritis in the joints.” Still, chronic knuckle- cracking can lead to reduced grip strength, so you might want to break the habit anyway. You’ve probably heard these myths for years, but just because something is common knowledge doesn’t mean it is true. With information so easily available, always take the time to research the facts, especially when it comes to your health. 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.”

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