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SEPTEMBER 2025
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Impact How Positive Thinking Shapes Justice and Society
When 12 ordinary people walk into a courtroom, they’re not experts or elected officials; they’re just citizens — parents, neighbors, small-business owners, etc. — tasked with deciding what’s right and what’s wrong. That’s the power of the jury system. It’s also a perfect example of how a positive mindset can shape not just our lives, but our entire society. When you stop to think about it, optimism isn’t just some fluffy, feel-good concept. It’s radical. It’s a conscious decision to believe that we, regular, imperfect humans, can make choices that protect, uplift, and improve the world around us. And in a time when chaos and division can feel overwhelming, choosing to think positively isn’t naive — it’s necessary. Thinkers like Stephen Covey and Viktor Frankl share this fascinating idea. It starts with a truth we all hold dear: liberty. In the U.S., the Statue of Liberty stands tall on the East Coast, symbolizing our freedoms. But liberty without limits can spiral into anarchy.
THAT’S NOT JUST A LEGAL PROCESS. THAT’S A MINDSET.
Here’s where Positive Thinking Day, celebrated on Sept. 13, comes in. It’s a timely reminder that the way we think matters, not just for our personal happiness, but for the health of our communities, our justice system, and our shared future. Positive thinking isn’t just about keeping your chin up or visualizing success. It’s about believing that what you do matters, and that your values, like health, justice, safety, and fairness, are worth standing up for. Jury trials show this in action. When jurors say, “We value life,” or “We believe companies should act responsibly,” they’re making decisions rooted in hope — hope that the law can protect people, truth can be found, and change is possible.
That’s where responsibility comes in. Covey and Frankl believed that liberty must be balanced with accountability, something worthy of its own monument on the West Coast. They imagined two outstretched
That’s not just a legal process. That’s a mindset.
In a world where headlines are bleak and uncertainty is the norm, it can be easy to give in to cynicism, but optimism isn’t about ignoring what’s wrong. It’s about believing in your ability to do something about it.
arms: one hand reaching down, one reaching up. A visual metaphor for helping each other, for lifting one another up, and for remembering that with great freedom comes an even greater duty.
So, maybe today’s the day to start thinking differently because the way we think about responsibility, freedom, and each other shapes everything.
It’s a mindset shift. You’re not just free to do what you want; you’re responsible for how your actions affect others. That’s how we keep roads safe, build ethical businesses, and create communities that thrive.
–Case Barnett
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NO MORE MANIC MONDAYS Sunday Habits That Set You Up for the Week
but adding beneficial habits to the final day of the weekend can ensure every week starts on the right foot. DECLUTTER Decluttering and clearing your space will directly impact your mental state. This can be an overwhelming task at times, especially if you have a house full of kids, but you can make it manageable by keeping up with it every week. It might be easier once the kids go to bed, but take a few minutes every Sunday to walk through your house and pick up any items off the floor, on furniture, and anywhere else they may be lying. PLAN AHEAD Nothing will better prepare you for the week ahead than planning. Look through your work schedule and your kids’
calendars to make sure you’re aware of upcoming events, games, or practices. You could also consider meal prepping if the upcoming week looks busier than usual. To take it a step further, prepack your kids’ lunches, lay out clothes for the workweek, and write down additional responsibilities you’ll have throughout the week. LIGHT CLEANING As stated earlier, you don’t need to deep- clean every week, but your home will look much better if you establish weekly light cleaning behaviors. Wipe down the surfaces in your kitchen, clean the windows, and give your floor some love by mopping, vacuuming, or sweeping. If you have the time and energy, consider doing a load of laundry or two. These little tasks will add up, making your house consistently sparkle.
After a long week of work, many Americans relax, participate in their hobbies, and try to avoid increased responsibilities during the weekend. While this can be beneficial for your mental health, have you ever felt like your week was off to a rough start as soon as Monday rolled around? There’s nothing wrong with relaxing on the weekend, but putting aside your responsibilities for a few days can put you behind the eight ball.
You don’t need to set aside your Sunday to deep-clean the house from top to bottom,
WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING “Case Barnett took over our case. He was compassionate with our situation and started working to get our case to court. In just a few months, we were in court. Mr. Barnett presented our case with the simple facts. He was always
professional, knowledgeable, and truthful. The jury believed him after hearing the simple facts of the case as presented by Case Barnett. The defendant’s insurance company made a reasonable settlement, and now after over 10 years since the accident, my husband is getting the medical attention he deserved. Without Case Barnett and his professional integrity, compassion, and hard work searching out the true facts of our case, we would never have reached a settlement. All I can say is thank you, Case.” –Gladys S.
This publication is intended to educate the general public about personal injury and elder abuse. It is not intended to be legal advice. Every case is different.
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TURKEY AND HUMMUS COLLARD WRAPS WITH COCONUT CURRY SAUCE Inspired by ReclaimingYesterday.com
This month, we’re heading into two trials that couldn’t be more different in circumstance but share one thing in common: real people counting on the legal system to deliver justice. One involves a devastating brain injury from a car crash, and the other is a serious fall on a dangerously neglected sidewalk. Both are prime examples of why we fight hard even when the odds (and insurance companies) push back. TRIAL NO. 1: A TEENAGER, BRAIN INJURY, AND REFUSAL TO PAY In our first September case, we’re representing a teenager who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident. The situation is heartbreaking and made worse by the insurance company’s refusal to pay a reasonable settlement within the policy limits. In California, when an insurer ignores a fair demand like that, they open themselves up to something called bad faith liability. That means if we secure a verdict higher than the original policy, the insurer may be forced to cover the full amount, even if it exceeds the limit. This case is all about accountability. If insurers can dodge responsibility even when victims play by the rules, the system breaks down. We’ve already made the demand, and they said no. Now, we’ll let the jury decide. And for anyone reading this: Check your own coverage. Underinsured motorist (UIM) protection is often overlooked, but it’s incredibly important. Most drivers in California carry bare-minimum coverage. If you’re hit, your own UIM policy could be the only thing standing between you and financial ruin. It’s worth a phone call to your insurance agent today. TRIAL NO. 2: A SIDEWALK, FALL, AND A CITY THAT LOOKED THE OTHER WAY Our second case takes us to Santa Monica, where a client was seriously injured tripping over a sidewalk slab lifted by invasive tree roots. The damage had been there for a while. It was clearly visible and dangerous, but the city failed to act. Now our client is left dealing with the aftermath of a painful elbow injury and a long recovery. This is the kind of case where people shrug and say, “Accidents happen,” but cities have a duty to maintain public spaces. When they ignore problems, they put people at risk. We’re taking this case to trial to ensure our client gets justice and, hopefully, to push for safer sidewalks in every neighborhood. Why We’re Taking These Cases to Trial INJURED AND IGNORED
Ingredients
Sauce: • 1/2 cup organic full-fat coconut milk
• 1/4 cup almond butter • 2 tsp red curry paste • 3 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tsp honey • Pinch of salt Wraps:
• 4 large collard green leaves • 1/2 cup hummus, divided • 3/4 lb sliced turkey • 1/2 carrots, grated • 1/4 bell pepper, sliced thinly • 1 zucchini, sliced thinly • 1/2 avocado, sliced • 1/4 cup cabbage, thinly sliced
Directions
1. Mix all sauce ingredients until smooth. 2. Prepare collard leaves by cutting the stems off and trimming the thick vein that runs down the center of the leaf so that it lies flat. 3. Blanch collard leaves by dipping them into hot water, then immediately into cold water. 4. Dry leaves and lay flat, spreading 1–2 tbsp of hummus onto the center of each. 5. Add several turkey slices and sliced veggies. 6. Fold the right and left leaf sides in toward
each other. Roll the collard leaf tight and tuck in the edges. Secure with two toothpicks, slice down the center, and serve with sauce for dipping.
LAUGH LAWS
–Case Barnett
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Page 1 Liberty Needs a Counterweight — And It Might Be Your Mindset
Page 2 Turn Lazy Sundays Into Your Productivity Power Hour
What Our Clients Are Saying
Page 3 2 Cases, One Mission — Stand Up for the Injured Turkey and Hummus Collard Wraps With Coconut Curry Sauce
Page 4 When Plans Fail, Inventions Prevail
BUT EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED Not What They Meant to Make
SMOKE DETECTORS Poison gas was a defining feature of World War I, and because of this, Swiss physicist Walter Jaeger started looking into ways to detect poison gas during the 1930s. He created a sensor, but instead of detecting anything poisonous, it detected the smoke coming from Jaeger’s cigarette. Due to cost, it would
When you imagine the greatest inventors of our time creating their ingenious new products, you likely picture someone in front of a chalkboard full of equations. We like to think they had a specific idea and kept tweaking their processes and thoughts until they struck gold. While this does happen, it’s not uncommon for inventors to discover a completely different product, idea, or service when attempting to craft their intended invention.
Here are three life-changing inventions that were nothing more than happy accidents.
take decades for the invention to become mainstream. In the 1950s, smoke detectors became more common in industrial spaces, but it wasn’t until the ’70s that the devices became more prevalent in homes.
SUPERGLUE During WWII, Harry Coover researched
POST-IT NOTES Imagine creating one thing when you were trying to invent the complete opposite. That’s essentially the story
chemicals called cyanoacrylates while trying to find ways to make clear plastic for military gunsights. Unfortunately, these chemicals proved too sticky for that purpose, and scientists quickly moved on to a more realistic option. Years later, Coover worked in a Kodak chemical plant, where he researched heat-resistant polymers for jet airplane canopies. Cyanoacrylates entered the picture once again, and this time, Coover realized they required no heat or pressure to bond. His team applied the substance to various items in their lab, sticking them together. Thus, superglue was created.
behind Post-it Notes. Dr. Spencer Silver was trying to create stronger, tougher adhesives when he developed microspheres, an adhesive that retained its stickiness while being easily removable. He failed to find a use for his invention for years, but that
changed when he needed a bookmark that wouldn’t damage the page. From there, his creativity snowballed until Post-its became a reality.
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