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SEPTEMBER 2022
4315 W. Lovers Lane, Suite A, Dallas, TX 75209 | 1900 W. Illinois Avenue, Suite 101, Midland, TX 79701 www.buttonlawfirm.com | 214-888-2216 HOT-BUTTON ISSUES
HALF A DECADE WITH BLF
Ashley Celebrates a Milestone
I’m not afraid to admit it: Button Law Firm wouldn’t be the company it is today without my friend and fellow attorney, Ashley Washington. This month, she’s celebrating five years with the firm — and I couldn’t be happier about it. To mark this awesome milestone, I’ve invited her to share her story with you. Here it is in her own words.
Russell was one of the CLE instructors, and on the second day, he listened to me give an opening statement. I was the youngest, least experienced attorney in the room — and one of only three women. My pulse was racing, and I thought, “Do I even deserve to be here?” After my statement, I soaked up everyone’s feedback and rushed back to my desk to take notes. My pen was still racing across the paper when Russell found me a few minutes later.
–Russell Button
Usually when you get a new job, you don’t think, “This is it — I’m going to be at this company forever.” That’s a little extreme in the 21st century! Still, it’s exactly how I felt when I spoke to Russell about joining the BLF team five years ago. I knew in my gut that I would be at BLF for the rest of my legal career. Looking back, it’s funny that I felt so certain about the future in 2017. On the day I met Russell, I wasn’t even looking for a job. I had just graduated from law school, and the firm I was working for sent me to a two-day continuing legal education (CLE) seminar in Austin. They hoped it would help me prepare to join the trial team for an upcoming case. “2017 was a monumental year in my life, and the five years since have been even more incredible.”
“Hey, Ashley,” he said. “I have more feedback for you if you have a moment.”
I did know someone — me! Even though I lived in a different city and didn’t need a new job, every instinct I had was telling me that I should join BLF. So, even though I initially played it cool, I eventually threw out the option, and Russell accepted! All of this happened just days before my wedding. My husband and I tied the knot, we went on our honeymoon, and I started with BLF the day we got back. 2017 was a monumental year in my life, and the five years since have been even more incredible. BLF is everything I knew it would be. I’ve helped Russell grow the firm from three people in a shared workspace to a thriving firm with 10 team members; I’ve found my confidence as a lawyer and overcome my imposter syndrome; and I’ve become a strong communicator and fighter for our clients. This firm is ever-evolving, and so am I. I’m looking forward to another five years of growth, and many more!
“Of course,” I said. “Do you mind waiting a minute?”
I wanted to write down every word of advice I’d gotten so I wouldn’t forget it. Amazingly, Russell stood there waiting for five solid minutes. When I was finally ready, he sat down to chat with me about my statement. He gave insightful advice and even went further, suggesting topics I could look into for my upcoming case. I was impressed by his patience and expertise and still remembered it when he emailed me a few months after the CLE. He was working on a case similar to the one we’d discussed back then and wanted to pick my brain. The email turned into a phone call, and at the end of it, he told me that he wanted to expand his firm in Dallas. I was incredibly impressed by his vision.
–Ashley Washington
“If you know anyone looking for a position, send them my way,” he said.
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WE’VE OUTGROWN OUR CONFERENCE ROOM AN UPDATE ON THE BLF TEAM
Like Ashley said on the cover of this newsletter, when she started at BLF, we were a tiny team crammed into a shared workspace. Now, we have 10 amazing people in our office — more than a conference room’s worth.
manager Elizabeth Bauman, paralegal Rena Piper, and operations assistant James Cook. You’ve already met Jessica and Elizabeth in past newsletters, and you’ll hear more about the rest of the team soon. Because we have so many new faces, our team got together this summer for one of our BLF Days. We started the day with a team training, gave our book reports, then enjoyed an afternoon baseball game at Globe Life Field, the new Rangers’ stadium. It was an awesome outing, and I can’t wait for the next one. This has already been an exciting year for BLF, and we’re just getting started. Stay tuned for more updates and adventures in the coming months.
Sometimes I can’t believe how lucky we’ve gotten
Last time the BLF team got together to share our quarterly reports on the self-development books we’re reading, something amazing happened: We overflowed our biggest conference room! I actually had to grab chairs from a different room of the office to give everyone a place to sit.
with our BLF family. As I write this, Labor Day is just around the corner, but the work we do here doesn’t feel like labor. When you love your work, it becomes more than just a job — it’s a passion. Every person on our team operates that way, from the folks like Ashley and Rosie who helped me build this firm to our new hires.
–Russell Button
That moment was a testament to just how much our team has grown this year.
This year, we’ve welcomed four of them: trial lawyer Jessica Davis, operations
A PASSION FOR AUTO REPAIR AND COMMUNITY Meet Tony, Our Neighbor and an Expert Mechanic
Every time Tony Uyinmwen and his team at Snappee Auto Care do an oil change, tuneup, battery replacement, or transmission flush on a client’s car, they’re not just helping their customers — as they see it, they’re also helping the community! Tony connects his spiritual life and work life together. In the lobby of his shop, he has donation bins for food and hygiene products that are donated, through his church, to people experiencing homelessness. “I came to a point in my life where I discovered what’s called ‘work as worship,’” Tony explains, “That no matter what you are doing in life, what you’re doing at that moment is your ministry. You must see it as an opportunity to worship God and bless others.”
“My grandfather had a Mercedes-Benz, and he took me for a ride a couple of times. I really, really loved those cars,” he recalls. After high school, he went straight into technical school to learn the ins and outs of car repair. Tony and his dad started Snappee Auto Care more than 12 years ago. Now, his kids are involved too, making it a true family business! Snappee Auto Care is just down the road from the BLF office at 5111 West Lovers Lane. When one of our team members stopped in to have her car serviced, Tony and his staff sprang into action! We were really impressed by their positivity, passion, and good work. Like us, Tony feels blessed to be part of the Dallas community.
Tony, his daughter, and his father in front of their family business, Snappee Auto Care.
love the idea that at the end of the day, the customers leave smiling and happy!”
Snappee Auto Care offers auto repair and maintenance services, including oil changes, tuneups, fluid services/exchanges, brake maintenance, battery replacements, transmission flushes, tire repair and rotation, pre-trip inspections, and more. They’re also a licensed state inspection station. To see what Tony and his family can do for you, visit SnappeeAutoRepair.com or call them at 214-956-8040.
Tony found his ministry at an early age in the backseat of his grandfather’s car.
“We’re changing the narrative of what it is to go to an auto repair shop,” he says. “We
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THEY HELP US BUT CAN ALSO HURT US The Deadly Truth About Tow Trucks
Here in Texas, we set a terrible record in 2021: the Texas Department of Transportation reported there were more than 4,480 deaths on Texas roads last year, the deadliest year for fatalities since 1981, with 4,701 deaths. Many of these crashes were car-on-car collisions or smashups with semitrailers. But there’s another dangerous vehicle on our roads that gets a lot less press: the tow truck. THE TRUTH ABOUT TOW TRUCKS Tow trucks seem like the friendly helpers of the automobile world, but in fact they’re heavy,
as much force as a tractor-trailer. We’ve seen tow truck collisions kill people and cause serious injuries like brain damage, lacerations, and crushed limbs. Sometimes the tow truck itself does the damage, but the car it’s pulling can also come loose and slam into another vehicle on the road. EXPLAINING THE STATISTICS Overall, tow truck collisions are rare, but they happen more often than you might think. We also wouldn’t be surprised to see those numbers climb this year because of the labor shortage in the
if they’re driving while drunk, drowsy, angry, or distracted. Add in other factors like aging trucks, poor roads, and bad weather, and a tow truck becomes a disaster waiting to happen. HOW THEY’RE HELD ACCOUNTABLE From a liability standpoint, tow truck accidents can be tricky, which is why you don’t want just any lawyer on your side. It’s vital to engage an experienced attorney who can find out whether the company, the driver, or another party is at fault. Because Texas requires tow trucks to carry liability insurance, you may have a chance at compensation after being seriously injured in a tow truck wreck. If you or someone you love is injured in a tow truck crash, don’t give up hope: Call our firm at 214-888-2216.
industry. A lot of things can
go wrong on a tow truck if the driver isn’t
unwieldy vehicles that can careen off the road with just
well trained or
BLF HIGHLIGHT REEL
CLIENT REVIEW
“Russell and his entire team have been amazing since day one. Almost two years ago, I had a traumatic experience with my oral surgeon in which a drill bit was left in my jaw. I called around until someone referred me to the Button Law Firm. I’m so grateful for that referral because the entire team have worked tirelessly and, more importantly, intelligently on my behalf. Russell and his team have spent so much time gathering the discovery that was needed and preparing me for what lied ahead. I never felt frustrated or unsupported once. If you are going through any kind of issues with malpractice, this is the team for you. They will tell you it exactly like it is and work with all the right experts in order to be completely prepared for your case. They don’t take every case that comes to them, so consider yourself lucky if they are the team you get.”
–Indee M.
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4315 W. Lovers Lane, Suite A Dallas, Texas 75209
www.buttonlawfirm.com | 214-888-2216
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Why Ashley Took a Chance on BLF
The BLF Team Gets Bigger — Again!
Local Auto Repair — God’s Way
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Tow Trucks: Are They Deadly?
BLF Highlight Reel
Client Review
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The Avengers, Lawyer Style
THIS TEAM WOULD MAKE THE AVENGERS JEALOUS!
How We Joined Forces to Help a Client
“Two heads are better than one” — the old saying is particularly true when it comes to legal representation. That’s why when our firm takes a new case, our whole team works together to solve it. It’s also why we love partnering with other law firms to help our clients. When we work with other attorneys, we bring twice the amount of expertise and industry knowledge to the table. This can make a huge difference in complex cases — like the serious car wreck case we just settled along with attorney Adewale Odetunde at Witherite Law Group, PLLC. The crash happened right here in Texas. Our client (we’ll call him Jim) was driving north on the interstate when an 18-wheeler appeared in front of him. The driver was barreling the wrong way! Jim was paralyzed with fear. While he watched, the 18-wheeler sideswiped
another truck, then jackknifed across the road and slammed into Jim’s car.
On impact, Jim was thrown violently from side to side against his seat belt. The airbags exploded against his body, and his neck, right shoulder, and back immediately lit up with pain. He was hurting so badly he could hardly talk to the police when they arrived. Jim quickly sought treatment and racked up medical expenses expected to total more than $90,000. It turns out the driver of the 18-wheeler who smashed into Jim was under the influence of drugs when he started driving the wrong direction. Still, it was an uphill battle for our team and Adewale to get the insurance company to pay for Jim’s human damages. Thanks to excellent teamwork and outstanding cooperation, we finally succeeded!
The insurance company settled, offering Jim enough money to cover his medical bills and move forward in life. He is still in pain, but thankfully, he was able to return to his job and lifestyle he had before the crash. The resolution provided him closure on this traumatic event. It was a pleasure to work with Witherite Law Group, PLLC to resolve Jim’s case. If you run a law firm and could use a second head on a personal injury claim or day care matter, give us a call. We’re here to help.
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