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JULY 2020
Legally Brief With Kevin Patrick Automobile accidents | Daycare injuries | wrongful death
Remembering My Time as a 13-Year-Old Referee HOW MY SUMMER JOB PREPARED ME FOR LAW (AND LIFE!)
One of the nicest things about summer is that it encourages self-reflection. When the weather warms up, I find myself thinking back a lot to my childhood and the freedom of those months when school was out. My summers were a mix of fun and hard work, and during one of them, I got a job that was a little bit of both: soccer referee. Though I was quite young at the time, I think that post shaped me as a person and as a lawyer. I got my first opportunity to be a linesman when I was 13 years old. It went well, and pretty soon I was refereeing regularly either before or after my own games. My dad would drive me to the soccer fields, drop me off for the day, and pick me up hours later when I was worn out from working and playing. I loved it! In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I kept refereeing through high school, college, and even law school, putting in 12 years in all. Spending the day exercising in the sunshine never got old, and it was a nice way to make some extra money to put toward my textbooks! The referee job taught me a lot of life lessons that still stick with me today, including the importance of hard work, how to take responsibility, and the value of a dollar. When I was a kid, my pay was around $8–$12 per game, which felt like a lot as a 13-year-old. The games could last an hour or two. I was grateful for the money then and even more
appreciative in college and law school when I put every penny I earned toward my education. Refereeing also showed me how to make difficult decisions, and the healthy respect I gained for people who make tough choices still lingers today. As any sports fan knows, the referee’s calls aren’t always popular. Even as a teen, I sometimes took heat for the decisions I made, and it got more intense as I grew older and started refereeing high school and adult leagues. Because of that experience, I started to think differently about the referees at the games I played in. Now, I apply that same thinking in the courtroom. Judges have the difficult job of weighing the arguments of the plaintiffs and defendants, and I think I have more esteem for the judiciary and their rulings than I would have if I’d never been a referee. Last but certainly not least, being both a referee and a player helped me understand what it feels like to put yourself in another person’s shoes. When I was playing, I gave the ref more sympathy than I otherwise would have. And when I was refereeing, I understood the player’s perspective because I’d been in their cleats, sometimes just hours before. That has been an invaluable skill for me as a lawyer. Not only do I have the empathy to step into the shoes of my clients, but with some work, I can also see the perspective of the lawyer and defendant on the other side of the
courtroom. This helps me anticipate their actions and protect my clients. Do you also find yourself feeling nostalgic when summer comes around? If you had a summer job as a kid that ended up changing your life, then I’d love to hear about it next time we see each other (in person or on Zoom). Whether you prefer to swap life lessons or funny stories, I’m always ready to chat.
Your Friend,
This publication is for informational purposes only, and no legal advice is intended.
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Fun Facts About the Month of July WHAT DO JULIUS CAESAR AND BUFFALO WINGS HAVE IN COMMON?
A Review of ‘Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations’ What’s Kevin Reading?
Most Americans associate July with Independence Day and everything the holiday entails, including traditional barbecue cuisine, fireworks, and summer vacations. However, in addition to the Fourth of July, this midsummer month has a rich history and offers fun opportunities for everyone to celebrate.
Every year on the Fourth of July, I try to reflect not only on fireworks and enjoying tasty barbecue but also on the spirit and history of Independence Day. This year, I’m doing that by diving into books by our country’s veterans. One I read recently and really enjoyed was “Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations” by Admiral William H. McRaven, a retired Navy SEAL and past commander of United States Special Operations Command.
‘WHAT’S IN A NAME?’ You’ve likely heard of Julius Caesar, the famous Roman dictator and general known for changing the Roman Empire’s political structure, innovating war tactics, and eventually dying after a legendary assassination. But did you know that July, Caesar’s birth month, wasn’t always called that? It was initially named Quintilis , which means “fifth” in Latin, because it was the fifth month of the ancient Roman calendar. Shortly after Caesar’s death, the month of Quintilis was renamed July in his honor. Of course, Caesar’s legacy didn’t end there. Before he died, he implemented the Julian calendar, which he based off of the Egyptian solar calendar, and it remained in place for over 1,500 years until the Gregorian calendar was introduced in the 16th century. RED, WHITE, AND WHO? Similar to the Declaration of Independence for the U.S., Canada’s Constitution Act of 1867, signed on July 1 of that year, marks the birth of Canada. The following year, Charles Monck, the 4th Viscount Monck and Canada’s first governor- general, signed a proclamation requesting that everyone in Canada celebrate their country’s independence on July 1. However, it wasn’t until 100 years later that the date officially became Canada Day. Most celebrations include fireworks and red and white attire, much like how Americans celebrate the Fourth of July. GOT WINGS? While chicken wings are a staple of Southern dining, they actually originated in upstate New York. In 1964, Teressa Bellissimo, co-owner of the Anchor Bar, started cooking leftover wings dipped in hot sauce for her son and his friends. After receiving enthusiastic feedback, Bellissimo put them on the menu. Over the next few years, the recipe’s popularity spread, and in 1977, former Buffalo mayor Stan Makowski declared July 29 to be National Chicken Wing Day. The reputation of the famous Buffalo wings continued to spread nationwide, and in the early ‘90s, wings became an international hit when McDonald’s, KFC, and Domino’s Pizza began selling them in the variety of flavors we know and love today.
McRaven is most famous for overseeing the raid that killed Osama
bin Laden, but he had a long and fascinating career before that. He was involved in the capture of Saddam Hussein and helped rescue merchant mariner Richard Phillips from Somali pirates. “Sea Stories” follows him through his entire adventurous life, from childhood to the military. Throughout, I was floored by his courage and leadership and the sacrifices he’s made for our country. I was also impressed by his life philosophies. In addition to reading the book, I watched a video of a commencement address McRaven gave at the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. In his speech, he told the class about some of the lessons he’d learned in SEAL training. One of them was this: “If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task, and another, and another. And by the end of the day, that one task completed will turn into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that the little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you’ll never be able to do the big things right. And if, by chance, you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made. That you made! And a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better. So, if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” I love that message and McRaven’s down-to-earth perspective. It’s inspiring to me to think every accomplishment, from winning a case to climbing a mountain, can be traced back to the little things you do along the way. I might just have to pick up McRaven’s other bestselling book, “Make Your Bed,” for my next read!
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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Need Resume Help? Meet Our Client, Writer Jasmine Upshaw!
One of the things we love about working in law is that we meet all kinds of incredible people, and after we help them with their cases, they often make the leap from clients to friends. That was exactly what happened with Jasmine Upshaw, a client who came to us for help after her car accident. “At first, I went with one of the TV lawyers because they told me I had a case,” Jasmine says. “Then, after they had me go to the chiropractor and wrack up medical bills, they decided to drop me because they got pushback from the insurance company. That’s when I found Kevin, and he was a lifesaver. He actually took on my case and helped me get a settlement. We’ve been friends ever since. Kevin did it the right way." Jasmine has dreamed of being a writer since the second grade when she wrote her very first book. It was nominated for an award at her elementary school, and she has hardly put down the pen since! For
the last 15 years, Jasmine worked 9-to-5 in a variety of fields, but she kept up her writing on the side. Finally, at the end of 2019, she decided to take the leap into writing full time and start her own business here in Atlanta, Smoove Sailing Services! “Smoove” was Jasmine’s college nickname, and she loves the play on words in her business title. Under the Smoove Sailing banner, Jasmine does all kinds of writing work for private clients, including scriptwriting, ghostwriting, copy editing, proofreading, and even polishing resumes. In the last few months, her resume services have been particularly popular, and she’s even offered specials for free or reduced-cost rewrites to help people who’ve been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. “If you have an outdated resume, you can send it to us and we can revamp it, reword some things, and generally make it more appealing to hiring managers,” she says,
adding that in this tough time, “I want to help any way I can.”
If you could use help polishing your resume, feedback on your novel, or a beautifully written article for your business, Jasmine can help. Visit Facebook. com/SmooveSailingServices/ or email SmooveSailingServices@gmail.com to schedule a free consultation!
sudoku
No-Churn S'mores Ice Cream
July is National Ice Cream Month, so why not cool off with some sweet, homemade s’mores ice cream? You don’t even need an ice cream churn!
Ingredients •
14 oz sweetened condensed milk
• • • •
2 tsp vanilla extract
10 graham crackers, crushed 1 chocolate bar, chopped 2 cups whipping cream, chilled
Directions 1. In a large mixing bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, graham crackers, and chocolate. 2. In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to beat whipping cream until peaks form, about 3 minutes. 3. Fold whipping cream into the condensed milk mixture. Transfer ice cream to a freezer-safe container, cover, and freeze for at least 8 hours. 4. Serve and enjoy on a hot summer day. It’s especially delicious in a waffle cone!
Solution
Inspired by GrainChanger.com
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Inside This Issue 1 Remembering My Time as a 13-Year-Old Referee 2 Enjoy July With These Fun Facts
Kevin Reviews ‘Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations’
3 Our Client Has Started a Writing Business!
Homemade S’mores Ice Cream
4 Planning a Family
Follow Us @KPatricklaw
Entertainment Room
Make Your Game Nights Extra Special With a Family Entertainment Room Families around the world are finding new ways to spend time with each other, and their homes are changing accordingly. Whether your family members are video gamers, movie enthusiasts, or board game fans, everyone can benefit from having a dedicated entertainment room. Here are some tips for putting one together. USE YOUR SPACE WISELY. Consider the advantages and challenges of your available space. You don’t want small spaces to feel cramped, and you don’t want large spaces to feel empty. If your room is small, then design the space to serve multiple purposes, like installing a bar with a TV on the opposite wall. If your room is large, then why not have two or more TVs to let visitors play multiple games or watch different shows? A projector can also be used to maximize a room’s space. It allows you and your guests to utilize an entire wall without requiring much physical space. SET UP SURROUND SOUND. Whether you’re using your entertainment room for movies, music, video games, or all of the above, investing in high-quality speakers will pay off instantly. You can set them up around the room for clearer, more immersive sound for movies and games, and by spacing out each speaker, you can eliminate cord clutter and tangle.
SOUNDPROOF YOUR SPACE. Trying to impress your guests with great sound doesn’t mean that your entire neighborhood has to hear what you’re watching! Soundproofing not only helps shield your neighbors from action game explosions and booming movie scores, but it also improves the sound quality in the room. Thick curtains and carpets, wall- mounted foam panels, or freestanding acoustic panels work for basic soundproofing, but if you plan to utilize your space every day and night, then consider hiring a contractor to help estimate materials and cost for a more sophisticated soundproof space. HAVE GREAT LIGHTING. There’s nothing more inviting than a well-lit space, and this also applies to your entertainment room. Whether you’re playing a board game or putting together puzzles with the whole family, mood lighting can make the experience feel even more cozy and special. Try experimenting with different, stylish lamps or overhead fixtures to light up your space.
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