Take a look at our November newsletter!
For The Ambitious Advocate BRIEF RECESS
NOVEMBER 2024
FROM THE LAW OFFICES OF J. PRICE MCNAMARA
What’s Not to Love About November in Louisiana?
For starters, hurricane season is officially over come November! Thank goodness we skirted a couple of bad ones, and prayers are out for our neighbors to the east. Beyond that, like many other Louisianians, while summer is synonymous with fishing in the great outdoors of the Louisiana Gulf Coast, fall and winter mean prowling the great outdoors hunting. It means sweet relief from the sweltering Louisiana heat and cooking a good chicken andouille gumbo in weather cool enough to enjoy it. What an awesome state Louisiana is! Wrapping Up 2024 For lots of us who own law practices, and who are wrapping up the final quarter of 2024, November is a great month to set aside some time to be alone and really think — free from family or work distractions, and with electronics turned off. What do I want to do differently (better) in 2025 in my personal life in terms of spirituality, health, relationships, service, and my law practice? How can I cause my law practice to evolve in a way that is no longer chaotic, but instead aligns with and serves these other life priorities? Better yet, how can it evolve in a way that all team members similarly benefit? Asking the Tough Questions It’s hard work to think through these things. Hard enough to force ourselves actually to take the time, rationalizing that we’ll just fall further behind on deadlines and that work will pile up. It can seem easier to delude ourselves into thinking it’s impossible to change the nature of our practices anyway. They’re untamable. It’s just the nature of the beast, so why even try? Well, if you don’t put time on your calendar to just think and plan, nothing will ever change. A Thought Experiment Try this experiment. Before the end of the year, block a full day for thinking and planning. What are just four big things you can put in place — one for each quarter of 2025 — that will improve your enjoyment of your law practice? It may be a new hire to delegate certain activities that drain you and monopolize your time. It may be creating and documenting new
Grandbaby Finn, hunter-in-training
systems that automate repetitive tasks, or pursuing a new marketing avenue that’s been on the back burner, such as creating FAQ videos or writing a guidebook for potential clients that they can download from your website. Videos and guidebooks can establish you as the go-to authority in your practice area to potential clients before they even meet you. Wishing You Happy Holidays! Whatever these four things are for you, put a completion deadline for each at the end of each quarter, then monthly and weekly deadlines for the steps needed to reach each quarterly goal. You’ll have
a better 2025! Wishing you a happy and successful new year and a relaxing holiday season for 2024.
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Fighting Denial: Securing Victory
When Marine William “Bill” Lins returned home from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, he felt ruined. He wasn’t the same man anymore and felt like he didn’t fit in anywhere. After sustaining multiple injuries and witnessing the horrors of battle, he never thought he would be able to go back to living a normal life. How a Rescue Dog Changed a Veteran’s Life A WARRIOR’S BEST FRIEND
Our client, who we will call Mary, a New York Google software engineer, suffered from severe narcolepsy, a common cause of long-term disability from work. Narcolepsy symptoms range from mild to severe, and it can be difficult to prove that a particular case is truly disabling. Disability insurance companies commonly deny these claims, but appealing can be successful if done carefully. Long-term disability claims for narcolepsy are hard to prove. Mary’s treating physicians told her that she was unable to work until she got better. The MetLife Insurance Company ignored their opinions, instead favoring the opinions of its own physicians who reviewed Mary’s medical records without ever meeting her. MetLife claimed that the evidence she presented was insufficient to prove her case, despite her treating physicians’ opinion. Mary was used to a steady wage of $160,000 per year and was scared she would lose everything. Learning Mary’s Story We worked closely with Mary to help her build her claim with new, undeniable evidence — far beyond what she had presented previously. In helping her gather evidence for her case, we needed to learn her entire story. We quickly realized that Mary simply needed to tell her story more vividly and effectively.
That is until the nonprofit K-9s For Warriors helped him find his missing link — a rescue dog appropriately named Link.
K-9 For Warriors has been pairing highly trained service dogs with military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and military
sexual trauma since 2011. The free program strives to better the lives of veterans through special canine bonds and ultimately end veteran suicide, which claims the lives of roughly 20 veterans every day. When Bill returned from deployment, he had to recover from two surgeries and realized he had PTSD. He had developed severe alcoholism, drinking every day nonstop as his only coping mechanism. In a hopeless place, the Marine
For years, Mary was a dynamo for Google. Her position involved cognitively demanding roles, such as project management, design
Does your office turn away calls about “long-term disability insurance” claim denials because you don’t handle administrative appeals or “ERISA litigation” in federal court? We want to hear from you! We happily share fees on referred ERISA long-term disability, life insurance, and accidental death insurance denial cases. Send us an email at BriefRecess@jpricemcnamara.com or call (225) 201-8311 to start the referral process! WE VALUE YOUR REFERRALS!
felt like he was losing every piece of his identity and had nothing left. After seeing a friend at the VA bring in his service dog, he noticed a remarkable change in him and decided to apply for the program. Bill felt an instant connection to the goofy rescue dog Link, who was recovering from his own trauma after living a rough life in a kill shelter. Bill said his canine companion is his 24/7 therapist, providing him with support and safety at all hours. Link doesn’t just impact Bill’s life; he makes a difference with everyone he encounters, from Bill’s children to the youth athletes he coaches.
“Together, we kind of make each other whole,” Bill said. “He makes everyone’s world better, and he makes it seem effortless.”
Link has inspired Bill to help others and spread a message of awareness that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a symbol of strength. Bill has since earned his master’s in social work and provides mental health services with his tail-wagging companion by his side for every session.
ERISA is all we do!
Together, the pair are showing veterans everywhere that there is hope and that life can get better with a little help from a four-legged friend.
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HOW OUR NATIONAL HOLIDAY CAME TO BE A Brief History of Thanksgiving Turkey — light or dark meat — with cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, bread rolls, and, to top it all off, a delicious slice of pumpkin pie. The Thanksgiving feast is one of the most iconic parts of any of our national holidays, up there with trick-or-treating on Halloween and opening presents on Christmas morning. But why do we celebrate Thanksgiving with a hearty meal, with a focus on turkey? Here is the origin of one of our nation’s most beloved holidays. The First Thanksgiving In 1621, the Pilgrims of Plymouth and the Wampanoag tribe met together for one of the most iconic and influential dinner celebrations in American history: the first Thanksgiving. What they ate hardly resembles what we eat now. Despite there being no evidence turkey was consumed during what ended up being a three-day feast shared between settlers and Native Americans, their camaraderie — if not their diet — has persevered to this day.
in a Narcolepsy Disability Appeal
work, and programming. However, the exhaustion from Mary’s narcolepsy caused her to become overwhelmed by her required roles. As Mary put it, “It would simply be too much to hold in my head at once, and too much to grasp because of the result of excessive daytime sleepiness.” In a downward spiral, the stress from having to perform any of her responsibilities would severely exacerbate her sleep issues, thus significantly worsening her symptoms. How Mary Won Her Case With Mary’s help, we were able to present a vivid day-in-the-life account of her deep struggles. Her account was corroborated by a family member who helped her daily and verified by her physician as credible. Thankfully, presented with undeniable evidence during the appeal, MetLife finally did the right thing. It paid all of her past-due benefits and began paying her the $8,000 per month that was owed to her under the policy going forward. Why You Should Keep Fighting Because Mary continued to fight, appealing the insurance company’s denial of her disability claim rather than just accepting it, she was able to maintain her financial security. Unfortunately, disability insurance companies deny legitimate claims every day. But anyone faced with an unfair claim denial should continue to fight and appeal. These unfair denials can be overturned with stronger evidence that is properly presented.
Exquisite Lemon Bars
Ingredients • 2 cups all-purpose flour • 1/2 cup powdered sugar • 1 cup butter, softened • 4 large eggs
• 2 cups granulated sugar • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice • 2 tbsp grated lemon zest • 1/4 tsp baking powder • 1/4 tsp salt
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease a 9x13-inch baking pan. 2. In a medium bowl, combine flour and powdered sugar. 3. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. 4. Press mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. 5. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, baking powder, and salt. Pour over crust. 6. Bake for 25 minutes or until set. Allow to cool before cutting into bars.
“So! You admit that this is, indeed, your banjo the police found at the scene, but you expect this jury to believe you were never in the kitchen with Dinah?”
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(225) 201-8311
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
ERISA INSURANCE J. PRICE MCNAMARA Claim Attorney
10455 Jefferson Hwy. Suite 130 Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (225) 201-8311 WinMyBenefits.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
What’s Not to Love About November in Louisiana?
2
Paws of Hope
How We Won an Appeal for a Person With Narcolepsy
3
How Thanksgiving Got Started
Exquisite Lemon Bars
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Flavorful Meals to Keep You Active and Fit
EAT TO ENERGIZE Ever wonder how you can turn your meals into a nutritional powerhouse without feeling stuck on a diet? Our metabolism naturally slows down as we age, but that doesn’t mean we must accept sluggishness as the new norm. Imagine enjoying delicious foods that tantalize your taste buds and give your body’s calorie-burning engine a turbocharge. Hope you have an appetite because these metabolism-boosting foods are perfect for anyone looking to stay energetic and vibrant. Metabolism-Boosting Foods for a Vibrant You benefits of this healthy option by simply swapping out your regular cooking oil. Some researchers have even found that drinking a shot of olive oil regularly can help you lose weight.
Salmon Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, boosting metabolism and weight loss. It is also low in calories and can make you feel full, so you won’t be tempted to snack as frequently. This tasty fish is also high in vitamin B-12, which plays a significant role in fat metabolism. Along with helping you feel more energetic and reducing your appetite, salmon is an excellent ingredient for heart health and lower blood pressure. So, why not add these metabolism-enhancing foods to your menu and savor their flavor and benefits? By incorporating these foods into your diet, you’re treating yourself to delicious options while giving your body the boost it needs to stay active. Embrace these tasty, nutrient-packed choices and watch as they transform your metabolism and elevate your energy levels. Here’s to enjoying every bite while fueling your journey to a healthier, more energetic you!
Greek Yogurt Greek yogurt is an easy breakfast or snack to help you shed unwanted pounds. This type of yogurt contains the most protein, and your body burns more calories digesting protein than carbs. So, while you’re enjoying this tasty and filling treat, your body is melting fat. Add fresh fruit, like blueberries, to enjoy even more benefits like fiber and antioxidants. Olive Oil Olive oil is a cooking essential and can add an extra boost to your metabolism. It contains monounsaturated fatty acids, which increase metabolism, suppress appetite, and reduce body fat. You can reap the
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