Take a look at our March newsletter!
The
Digest
MARCH 2022
DeWittLaw.com
407-245-7723
TO ENJOY OUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND LIVES Using the Holiday as a Reminder
Throughout the month of March, you may notice that businesses across the country add shamrocks, leprechauns, and shades of green inside and outside of their locations. St. Patrick’s Day is often the most celebrated holiday in the month of March by those with and without Irish heritage. While many of us gather at our local pubs or bars to drink a pint of Guinness or green beer, there’s actually quite a bit more to the St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
the orange symbolizes the Orangemen of the north, and the white symbolizes peace. Today, even those who aren’t Irish, such as myself, continue to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day simply because sometimes we need something to celebrate. Earlier this year, my family and I went on vacation to the Bahamas. While it wasn’t a holiday, it was nice to enjoy the family and take a breather for a moment. As we get older, life seems to go faster and faster. We are all so busy with work, and everything else in our lives, that time just flies by. It seems that just yesterday, we were bringing my son home from the hospital and this month he will be 3 years old. There are so many situations that we take for granted because it’s often difficult to live in the moment. We have constant life stressors revolving around work, social gatherings, and more that keep us from appreciating all of the gifts in our lives. We often look toward Thanksgiving as a time to show gratitude but nearly every holiday offers a similar opportunity. You just have to take advantage of it. While St. Patrick’s Day may not be a holiday focused on family, it is still a reminder to enjoy our lives, our loved ones, and the time we have together. Whether you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day or not, take a moment to reflect on life — and truly enjoy it. Drink a green beer, eat some great food, or just take a moment to have a good meal with friends and family. These opportunities don’t come often enough; enjoy them while they’re here.
St. Patrick’s Day is the feast day of St. Patrick, a patron saint of Ireland. Originally celebrated with religious feasts and services, St. Patrick’s Day became a secular celebration of Irish culture when it reached the United States alongside Irish immigrants. Currently, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by wearing green, eating Irish food, and enjoying a good pint of Guinness (for those who imbibe). Irish Americans originally wore green as a reminder that they were nationalists first and foremost. The colors of the Irish flag are green, white, and orange. The green symbolizes Irish nationalism, While St. Patrick’s Day may not be a holiday focused on family, it is still a reminder to enjoy our lives, our loved ones, and the time we have together.
– Moe DeWitt
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It’s More Than Just Tidying Up 4 Health Benefits of Spring-Cleaning
IT PREVENTS ILLNESSES. Doorknobs, refrigerator handles, light switches, countertops, and remote controls are all things we touch many times a day. Cleaning anything that’s used often is one way to reduce the spread of germs. By keeping household surfaces clean, we help thwart the spread of viruses and illnesses. SPRING-CLEANING HELPS YOU BREATHE BETTER. Spring often brings pollen that triggers allergies for many. But pollen isn’t the only thing to blame when people have difficulty breathing. When dust and pet dander build up in your home, your respiratory system is greatly affected too. Deep-cleaning your air filters and vents can make breathing effortless — and it’s truly amazing how this can improve your well-being. IT KEEPS YOU MORE ACTIVE. Off the couch and on your feet! Even just running the vacuum and clearing the clutter from the dining room table will get you up and moving, which is healthy for your heart and body. This spring season, putting some elbow grease into your cleaning will benefit you in more ways than one. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later!
Sunday, March 20, is the first day of
spring — which means it’s time
for some spring- cleaning. Did you know that cleaning is not just about
tidying up a physical space? It’s also about improving overall well-being. Here’s how organization and cleanliness
can help you in more ways
than you might expect.
SPRING-CLEANING REDUCES STRESS AND DEPRESSION. Tidiness and mental health are actually connected. Studies have found that having a clean home is directly correlated to happiness and your ability to focus. Anxiety can spike when laundry is piling up, items are strewn everywhere, and papers get scattered on various surfaces within the home. Clearing the clutter is a great way to boost your mood and increase those feel-good hormones.
You May Be Entitled to Compensation USE 3M COMBAT ARMS EARPLUGS WHILE SERVING?
We are evaluating claims that veterans and active-duty military personnel experienced major hearing damage because they wore defective 3M Combat Arms Earplugs (Version 2 — CAEv2). If you served in the U.S. military between 2003 and 2015 and used 3M earplugs, you may be entitled to compensation. The defective earplugs may have caused partial or complete hearing loss in members of the military. These earplugs were originally designed by Aearo who produced them from 2003 until 2008 when they were bought by 3M. Though Moldex won the military contract from 3M in 2012, 3M continued to produce its dual-ended Combat Arms earplugs until 2015. According to a 2008 article by D. Scott McIlwain and colleagues in the American Journal of Public Health, combat operations, extended training periods, and powerful noises from aircraft, vehicles, and weapon systems increased the risk of hearing loss in soldiers. 3M supplied several military bases across the country during this time, and in 2003, the U.S. Marine Corps ordered over 20,000 pairs. In 2004, the military issued Combat Arms earplugs to all deploying soldiers,
which means thousands of soldiers received dual- ended Combat Arms when they were deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq during the 2000s. Any current or former U.S. military service member who was issued and used 3M earplugs while on duty, and who later suffered any form of hearing loss, tinnitus, or damage may qualify to be a part of the lawsuit.
If you think you or a loved one may qualify to be a part of this lawsuit, please give us a call to discuss your rights and find out how we can help you.
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Could Permanent Alimony End This Year? There is another effort to reform Florida’s alimony law that is picking up momentum. For a number of years, there’s been a push to end permanent alimony in the state of Florida, but this year, it might actually be made into law. Permanent alimony involves indefinite payments and typically does not end until the recipient spouse remarries or one of the spouses dies. While alimony can be modified upon retirement, this usually requires the filing of a modification action, which can be costly and time consuming. can seek to lower or end their alimony payments. While this is part of the initial proposal, this could change as the alimony bill progresses. For up-to-date information on the bill, tune in to the DeWitt Law Review every Sunday at 10am on 580 AM and 107.3 FM WDBO. While the bill is seen as more favorable this year than in previous efforts, there is still
a controversial provision. The proposed bill includes a presumption that both parents will share time equally for child custody purposes. Under current Florida law, a judge will evaluate 17-20 factors to determine child custody. These would still remain with the new provision but would come after the 50-50 presumption. The sponsor of the bill, state Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka stated that the goal of the bill is “To ensure that this leads to a better system that provides predictability, that provides certainty and fairness.” If the bill is passed, the legislation would go into effect in July.
The state is seeking to replace permanent alimony with a formula based on the length of the marriage that would ideally make things fairer. If the marriage lasted for less than three years, there would be no alimony. If it was between three and 10 years, alimony would last for 50% of the marriage. If the marriage lasted for more than 10 years but less than 20, alimony would last for 60% of the marriage and if the marriage lasted more than 20 years, alimony would remain for 75% of the marriage length. Additionally, once a spouse reaches retirement age, they
Easy March Madness Chili
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Cheer on your favorite team and chow down in minutes with this easy chili recipe!
INGREDIENTS
• • •
2 lbs ground beef 2 tbsp chili powder
• • • •
1 tsp ground cumin
2 16-oz cans diced tomatoes 2 16-oz cans small red beans 2 8-oz cans tomato sauce
1 tbsp Creole seasoning
DIRECTIONS
1. In a deep pot, brown the beef, stirring often. 2. Once beef is cooked, add chili powder, Creole seasoning, and cumin, cooking for 1 minute. 3. Stir in diced tomatoes, beans, and tomato sauce and bring the mixture to a boil. 4. After the mixture boils, reduce the heat to low and let chili simmer for 15 minutes. 5. Serve with toppings of choice, like cheese, sour cream, or chives.
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Using the Holiday as a Reminder
1
Get Healthy While Spring-Cleaning!
2
Use 3M Combat Arms Earplugs While Serving?
2
Potential Changes to Alimony Payments
3
Easy March Madness Chili
3
Create a Keepsake for Good Luck Year Round
4
MAKE A 4-LEAF CLOVER KEEPSAKE BUT FIND THE ELUSIVE GOOD-LUCK CHARM FIRST
One of St. Patrick’s Day’s most popular symbols is a four- leaf clover. In Ireland, these clovers represent luck and good fortune. Each leaf on the clover has a different meaning — faith, hope, love, and success. It’s a tradition to find a four-leaf clover on St. Patrick’s Day and do activities involving this lucky leaf. So, how do you find these good-luck charms, and what can you do with them? HOWTO FIND A 4-LEAF CLOVER Although it may seem difficult, it’s easier than you might think. First, find a dense patch of white clover — near it is where four-leaf clovers reside. They are different from the rest and are often smaller, so keep that in mind when you look for the lucky green clovers. Instead of staring at the patch in close detail and counting leaves, search the patch without focusing on the tiny details. This increases the odds of eyeing a four-leaf clover because the different patterns, shapes, and sizes of these clovers
will jump out at you. If you find one, keep looking! There’s a chance another one might be nearby. CLOVER CRAFT Once you find your clover, preserve the luck in it all year by placing it in a picture frame. First, gently press the clover leaves between the pages of a large book for several days to flatten them out. After pressing, you can add green food coloring to your clover to enhance its color. Once it’s dry, clean it and let it sit overnight. Then, place your clover onto acid-free paper, cut to fit the size of a picture frame of your choice. Next, use acid-free glue to keep your clover in place, and finally, seal your frame shut. You now have your personal good luck charm! Searching for a four-leaf clover and creating a keepsake will be a great bonding experience for you and your family. We wish you luck! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
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