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THE KRAMER CHRONICLES
12.18
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W ith the end of the year coming up, I often find myself thinking about the beginning — the beginning of the year, the beginning of my career, the beginning of my firm, and the beginning of everything else. In fact, as I meet with more clients and take on more cases with each passing year, I can’t help but reflect on my original office and my very first trial. I had been working at a firm for four years and was a partner at another for three years when I decided to venture out and open my own office. During my firm’s beginning stages, I shared an office space with another attorney. But I was the only person responsible for both my caseload and my clients’ success. I didn’t have any staff. It was just me. I remember moving my equipment into that tiny office. The room must have been only 10 by 11 feet, so as I unpacked, I desperately tried THE MISTAKES I MADE AND THE LESSONS I LEARNED MY VERY FIRST TRIAL
attorney who didn’t want it. And between an employee from the defense attorney’s office dropping off a huge stack of medical records on my desk just two days before the trial and a surprise testimony introduced that Monday, the case was over only two days after it started. I learned a lot of lessons from that first case, but the most important one was that I simply couldn’t do everything on my own. I needed help. I now have a great team made up of hardworking individuals who make sure my office runs smoothly and that clients are well taken care of. Even during these busier seasons, they consistently make themselves accessible to clients. My team members will even travel to clients’ homes to hand out disbursements or answer questions. They are the face and voice of my company. Their hard work means that I can take on more cases and help even more people. In the years since I started hiring staff members here at Kramer Law Group, I’ve met several other attorneys who haven’t learned the important lesson my first trial taught me. In addition to their caseloads, they function as their own secretary and office “ I LEARNED A LOT OF LESSONS FROM THAT FIRST CASE, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE WAS THAT I SIMPLY COULDN’T DO EVERYTHING ON MY OWN.”
to find space for my computer, files, desk, and chair. Besides being small, the room was also dimly lit, and the walls were
manager. They do supply runs, all the writing, photocopying, bookkeeping, and case management. I understand where these attorneys are coming from because I tried to follow the same path. Fortunately, I realized sooner rather than later that asking for help is not a weakness; it’s the best thing you can do for yourself.
painted a gross green color that made me nauseous every time I looked at them. Even with the poorly painted walls, the experience of starting my own business would have ordinarily been a fun transition.
But I unpacked my boxes in a hurry that Friday because I had my first trial hearing the following Monday. Needless to say, the trial didn’t go that well. I had inherited the case from another
–Ron Kramer
801.601.1229
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Imagine that you are on your drive home from work, and the cars on the road in front of you are barely moving. You are used to your commute taking a little longer, but today, it seems like you might be stuck in traffic forever. As you mindlessly switch between radio station channels, the vehicles in front of you start to move — finally! Now that you are back on your route home, you come across the scene that caused the traffic delay. In his rush to get through the stoplight, one man accidentally crashed into another man’s car. The drivers don’t appear to be injured, but all the glass and debris on the road indicate that their vehicles are completely totaled. While nobody ever wants to be in an accident, they happen all the time. According to the Utah Highway Safety Office, over 50,000 roadway accidents occur each year. These numbers skyrocket November to January due to holiday travel. The leading cause of these collisions is speed. People are just in too big of a hurry. While these crash numbers are high, they don’t account for other kinds of frequent accidents that occur, such as ones including long- haul trucks, bikes, motorcycles, or pedestrians. Because car accidents happen more often, people fail to realize that my team and I handle cases involving these other types of transportation. Accidents of any kind can WE HANDLE CASES INVOLVING ALL TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENTS THE DARKER SIDE OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON
HERE WE COME A-WASSAILING
In some families, caroling is an annual event, while others stick to watching the characters sing at the end of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” If you want to make Christmas caroling part of your holiday traditions, we have some tips to help make your outing the best ever. PLAN EARLY Calendars fill up fast around the holidays, so if you want to include people outside of your household in your caroling party, send out invitations early. You don’t want your caroling gathering to be a bust because all your guests had other plans. HAVE SONGS PICKED OUT Will your caroling group perform classics like “Silent Night” or something silly like “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”? Get everyone on the same page, print out sheet music, and practice before the big night. DRESS FOR SUCCESS Some carolers wear matching scarves, while others go out in full Victorian-inspired costumes. Whatever dress code you decide on, dress for what the temperature will be after dark. You don’t want your caroling to get cut short because of frostbite. If you are caroling outdoors, add reflective tape and flashing lights to your clothing so your party can be seen by passing cars. DON’T MAKE EVERYONE SING One of your kids may be ready to rock around the Christmas tree, but what if another would rather get coal in their stocking than sing in public? That’s okay! Nonsingers can still participate in caroling by ringing silver bells or handing out candy canes at the door. BRING GIFTS Small goodies like bottles of cider, homemade Christmas cookies, or candy canes are always sure to spread holiday cheer. PLAN YOUR FAMILY’S CHRISTMAS CAROLING PARTY KEEP THE PARTY GOING! After a night of singing your heart out, everyone deserves a treat. When you get back home, enjoy some traditional wassail or hot chocolate. Warm up, enjoy leftover cookies, and spend time with your loved ones. It takes a little planning to pull off a great caroling party, but don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Just try to have a good time. You don’t have to sound like a choir of angels to bring joy to the world.
leave you feeling angry, helpless, and scared. You might find yourself asking questions like these: What happened? Why did the other driver hit me? How can I pay my bills when I have to take so much time to recover from injuries? Here at Kramer Law Firm, we are here to help you answer those questions and get you the compensation you need and deserve after you’ve been in a collision as a result of another driver’s inattentiveness. If you’ve been injured in a traffic accident in Utah or have suffered a serious personal injury as a result of someone else’s negligent or intentional behavior, please don’t waste another second. Call Kramer Law Group at 801.601.1229 for a free and confidential consultation.
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HOW SANTA CLAUS BREAKS THE LAW EVERY YEAR
BUT WE LOVE HIM ANYWAY
T his month, the jolliest of legends emerges from his wintry hideaway at the North Pole and flies with his magical sleigh and reindeer to deliver presents to children all around the globe. To most people, the idea of Santa Claus sneaking in through their chimney with a heaping bag full of gifts is the best thing to happen all year. But despite his noble intentions, the seemingly innocent Saint Nicholas might not be that innocent at all. In fact, Santa might be breaking a few laws to get all the way around the world during a single night’s sleep! FLYING UNDER THE INFLUENCE While those of us in the U.S. set out cookies and milk to help keep Santa nourished on his flight to all corners of the Earth, families in other countries, like the U.K., observe the tradition by leaving out mince pies and sherry to satisfy Saint Nick’s hunger pangs. According to the Office of National Statistics, there were 27.2 million households in the U.K. in 2017. Even if only half of the families in this single country left sherry out on Christmas Eve, it’s safe to say that Santa’s sleigh-flying ability would definitely be impaired. Even if police officers could fly high enough to issue him a Breathalyzer test, Santa’s rosy cheeks would give him away.
AIRSPACE VIOLATIONS The reindeer fly his sleigh through the airspace of every single country. But there is no evidence of Santa ever submitting to a customs search, which is unusual considering the quantity and variety of goods he is known to be carrying. He also does not share radio transmissions with the pilots flying planes full of people across the world so they can be with their families on Christmas Day. In this way, Santa’s invisibility only heightens the possibility of accidents.
ILLEGAL SURVEILLANCE When families set up their plates of cookies and milk — or mince pies and sherry — they are effectively inviting Santa into their homes, so he couldn’t be accused of breaking and entering. However, in the process of compiling his naughty-or- nice list, Santa has to do surveillance on over 1.9 billion people. While doing so, he probably violates every single privacy law ever created.
TAKE A BREAK
BUTTERY ROASTED CHESTNUTS
INGREDIENTS
• Pinch of freshly ground nutmeg • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 pounds fresh
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, or more to taste
chestnuts, unpeeled • 2–3 sprigs rosemary
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 450 F. 2. Place a large sheet of foil on a rimmed baking sheet. 3. On a large, flat workspace, place chestnuts flat side down. Using a sharp
knife, carve an X on the rounded side of each chestnut. 4. In a large bowl of hot water, soak chestnuts for 1 minute.
5. Pat dry and transfer to a medium bowl. Add rosemary, butter, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Toss to coat and transfer to baking sheet. Arrange in a single layer. Gather the edges of the foil together, leaving an opening at the top.
6. Roast until peels curl up, about 30–45 minutes. 7. Transfer to a platter and serve while hot or warm.
Inspired by Bon Appétit
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8783 S. REDWOOD RD. SUITE C WEST JORDAN, UT 84088
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2 2 3 3 4
My Very First Trial
The Ultimate Christmas Caroling Checklist
The Darker Side of the Holiday Season
Is Saint Nicholas a Hardened Criminal?
Buttery Roasted Chestnuts
Everything You’ll Need for an Ugly Sweater Christmas
UGLY SWEATER PARTIES
A FUN TREND YOU CAN EASILY FOLLOW!
I t's speculated that the first ugly sweater party took place in Vancouver, Canada, back in 2001. Since then, the trend has become one of the most popular holiday party themes. Come Thanksgiving, you’ll start to see racks in all types of clothing stores lined with hideous sweaters. If you’re ready to jump on the ugly-sweater- party bandwagon this Christmas season, here are a few things to keep in mind.
WHAT EXACTLY IS AN UGLY SWEATER PARTY?
It's rather simple — slip on your favorite Christmas sweater, gather all your friends and family members, make sure there are plenty of refreshments and games, and you’re guaranteed to have a top-tier party. A few ugly-sweater- themed games that should be on the agenda include an ugly gift exchange, which is similar to the white elephant exchange, except with
the gaudiest gifts you can find; an ugly photo booth, complete with terrible, tacky props; and, of course, an ugly sweater contest. This is the only time of year when slipping into a lurid red sweater with a stuffed Santa sewn on the front is considered trendy. So adorn yourself in the frumpiest, tackiest sweater you can find, and have some fun this December!
YOUR VERY OWN UGLY SWEATER
Ugly sweaters come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. You can head to H&M or a local thrift store to pick one up. However, if you have a sweater that’s been cozied up for years in the back of your closet or a drawer, now’s your chance to give it new life. Arm yourself with a hot glue gun, thread, and needle, and patch Santa, Rudolph, or Frosty on it. And let it be known that an ugly sweater isn’t complete without sparkles, beads, and sequins galore.
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