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September 2022
HAKUNA MATATA Jordan Pendleton’s Broadway Adventure Continues
Where in the world are Christina and Damon Pendleton? Great question!
This role was Jordan’s first experience with a live audience. After so many shows, the magic hasn’t worn off and he still loves every performance. Jordan explains, “I know my mom was very nervous during my first show, but I was confident from the start. I don’t get stage fright like most people. I think other cast members feel more comfortable performing with me since they know what to expect from me now. It’s still very magical to be a part of ‘The Lion King.’” The staff members at Mary Munford Elementary School communicate with “The Lion King” tutor to make sure Jordan stays on track with his school work. “I have school with the other cubs on the show. There are three other kids on tour, because there are two Young Simbas and two Young Nalas who rotate going on stage. School is done backstage with our tutor. We go to school 15 hours a week and sometimes we squeeze in school during the second half of the show before curtain call.” Although Jordan misses his classmates and friends back home, he does keep up with his tribe back home via FaceTime and online gaming. “We play Roblox and Minecraft, and we talk about random stuff. Some of my friends came to watch me perform in different cities, so it was super fun to hang out with them before and after the show.” Jordan had a learning curve with choreography. “I’m not a dancer, and never danced before Broadway. I had to learn everything from scratch in rehearsals.” That being said, there’s no doubt he’s having a blast. “The most exciting part of the show is when I get to ride the ostriches during ‘I just can’t wait to be King.’ It’s the most fun!” Jordan’s contract with Disney was extended into 2023, so naturally he is thinking about his future ahead of him. “Maybe I could continue acting, but I have three jobs I’m considering for my future at this time and in no particular order: 1. Paleontology (I love dinosaurs and dinosaur bones); 2. Deep ocean explorer (I want to discover something new, and much of the ocean floor has yet to be explored); and 3. Psychologist (I like to understand the inner workings of the human mind).”
For the last year, Christina traveled with her son across the country as he is one of the lead roles as Young Simba in Disney’s Broadway musical of “The Lion King.” Meanwhile, Damon is holding down the fort with their other young children, Isaiah, Christian, and Hannah. The eldest of the Pendleton children, Jordan, is now 10 years old and recently renewed his contract into 2023! Both Christina and Damon continue working remotely and keeping busy with the law firm, and the firm is continuing to grow and thrive. While we miss seeing our managing partners in person, we couldn’t be more excited and prouder of Jordan and the entire Pendleton family. For Jordan, this adventure began last year when he was introduced to show business through acting classes with the Weinstein Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Richmond, Virginia. Jordan performed the role as a “Narrator” for a play at the JCC, but because of COVID, there was no live audience. He also took voice lessons with his teacher, Nicole Pearson, for nearly two years. When Jordan was 9, he tried out for the role via Zoom after finding out “The Lion King” was holding open auditions. He felt like the role of Young Simba fit his personality perfectly. “We both are adventurous, playful, energetic, and we both adore our dads.” It didn’t come easy for Jordan; his first audition resulted in a rejection, but he tried out again and landed the role! “I was so excited! I was running around and screaming because I was so happy!”
Follow Jordan on Instagram: @Jordan_d_pendleton
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Thinking Outside the Bun Leads to Legal Action The Story of 50 Cent vs. Taco Bell
In 2008, rapper 50 Cent filed an unlikely lawsuit against the fast- food chain Taco Bell. Was it an endorsement deal gone wrong? Quite the opposite. According to the rapper, the company had implied an endorsement deal in the media when there was none. Taco Bell, known for their quirky and humorous ads, had released a print ad formatted as a faux “letter” to 50 Cent, requesting that 50 Cent change his name to 79, 89, or 99 Cent as a part of their latest promotion. The letter reached the national press and even television … except for 50 Cent’s actual mailbox. In fact, 50 Cent had no idea Taco Bell used his name. By releasing the letter, 50 Cent became the face of Taco Bell’s whole campaign, too. The letter was part of a larger hip hop-themed campaign, and customers could go to the Taco Bell website and participate in a “Rap Name Creator” to discover their rap name. They also had a “Why Pay Mo’ Rhyme Generator” that played hip hop music and a montage of “hip hop-themed scenes,” according to the rapper’s lawyer, Peter D. Raymond.
— filed a federal lawsuit saying they featured the rapper in an ad campaign without his permission and profited directly from his celebrity status without paying him a multimillion-dollar fee. Raymond said his client sought $4 million in damages.
In response, Taco Bell Corp. spokesman Rob Poetsch issued a statement saying: “We made a good faith, charitable offer to 50 Cent to change his name to either 79, 89 or 99 Cent for one day by rapping his order at a Taco Bell, and we would have been very pleased to make the $10,000 donation to the charity of his choice.” In the end, both sides settled, keeping the terms of the settlement confidential and paying their own legal fees. So, it’s possible that 50 Cent was paid after all, but we’ll never know the exact terms of their legal agreement, except “both sides are satisfied,” according to Raymond. Since then, more companies have been careful about using celebrity names in their marketing without permission. It pays to think inside the bun, after all.
As soon as 50 Cent found out about the letter on the news, he wasn’t happy. On July 23, 2008, 50 Cent — whose real name is Curtis Jackson
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Step 2: Consider hiring an attorney.
• Legal representation. If you have an attorney — and a debt collector knows this — they aren’t allowed to contact you. They must contact your attorney instead. If you are called by a debt collector while you have legal representation, make sure to give them your attorney’s information. When a debt collector calls, they should identify themselves as a debt collector. Afterward, they’re required to state the amount owed, that you can dispute the debt, and that you can request the name and address of the original creditor (if different from the current
You may want an attorney as soon as you can, so you can receive the best guidance possible. A lawyer will be your advocate when collectors engage in harassment or communication that is abusive, threatening, or deceptive. What is harassment? It includes using profane language; threatening bodily harm; misrepresenting what you owe; making false claims that you could be arrested; threatening your property; making repeated attempts to contact you or calling you anonymously; or, as mentioned earlier, failing to state debt and creditor information on the call as required by FDCPA.
creditor). They should also tell you that any information provided to them in your calls, emails, or other communication will be used in their efforts to collect the debt. There are even more restrictions on who they can call, so make sure to research for yourself if your loved ones begin receiving calls from your debtor.
Step 3: Report any violations to the FTC.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has an online website for reporting FDCPA violations, but your attorney can help with this as well. Take a look at FTCComplaintAssistant.com . We hope this helps our readers to stay safe from abusive collectors. Although debt can make us feel vulnerable, never forget that you do have rights.
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TAKE A BREAK
Workers shouldn’t have to choose between the job they need and the family members they love. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was created to allow employees to take reasonable unpaid leave for a particular family or medical reason so they can maintain a work/life balance. What does it provide? The FMLA provides eligible employees up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave a year with the requirement of group health benefits to be maintained during the leave as if employees were continuing to work. They are also entitled to resume their same or equivalent job at the end of their FMLA leave. Who is eligible for FMLA? FMLA applies to all public agencies, all public and private elementary and secondary schools, and companies with 50 or more employees. Employees can be eligible for FMLA if they have worked for their employer for at least 12 months, worked at least 1,250 hours over the past 12 months, and work at a location that employs 50 or more employees within 75 miles. When can I use FMLA leave? An eligible employee can be granted up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period for the following reason(s): LIFE CAN BE UNPREDICTABLE Preserving the Balance of Work and Family Life
GOULASH, HUNGARY’S NATIONAL DISH
Ingredients
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 1 yellow onion, chopped • 2 cloves of garlic, minced • 1lb ground beef • Salt and pepper, to taste • 1 tbsp tomato paste • 1 1/4 cups beef broth • 1 15-oz can tomato sauce
• 1 15-oz can diced tomatoes • 1 tsp Italian seasoning • 1 tsp paprika • 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese • Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
• Birth of and/or bonding with a newborn child
• The placement of a child for adoption or foster care with the employee
• To care for an immediate family member with a serious condition (child, spouse, or parent, but does not include parent in-laws)
Directions
• To take medical leave when the employee is unable to work due to a serious health condition
1. In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and wait for it to heat. 2. Once heated, add onion and cook for 5 minutes, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute. 3. Next, add the ground beef to the skillet, and cook until no longer pink. Drain the grease, then add salt and pepper. 4. Stir in the tomato paste, beef broth, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes. Season with Italian seasoning and paprika. Add macaroni to the skillet. 5. Bring mixture to a simmer and let it cook for 15 minutes. Stir the pasta occasionally. 6. Mix in the cheddar cheese and remove from heat.
• For qualifying exigencies arising out of the fact that the employee’s spouse, child, or parent is on covered active duty or call to covered active-duty status as a member of the National Guard, Reserves, or Regular Armed Forces The FMLA exists so employees can tend to their families without worrying about their job, allowing them to provide the best care for their loved ones. For more information regarding whether or not your company is eligible for FMLA, check out your local government agency for more details.
Inspired by Delish.com
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1506 Staples Mill Rd., Ste. 101 Richmond, VA 23230 www.virginiasinjurylawyers.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Jordan Pendleton’s Broadway Adventures
1
Why Did 50 Cent Sue Taco Bell?
2
Goulash, Hungary’s National Dish Your Guide to Family and Medical Leave
3
Can Collections Go Too Far?
4
Know Your Legal Rights! When Collections Go Too Far …
Did you know that millions of Americans have debt in collections? Anyone who has ever dealt with a collection agency can attest that it’s no fun. Luckily, there are laws that limit what collection agencies can and cannot do.
Step 1: Know your FDCPA rights.
• Time. Debt collectors are only allowed to call you between 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in your local time zone. Any calls outside these hours are an FDCPA violation. • Place. You may be contacted by phone, mail, fax, or email; however, collectors can’t contact you in “unusual places,” such as hospitals, schools, or restaurants. Although they can call your home or office, you have the right to tell them not to contact you at your workplace.
If you ever fall behind on paying your mortgage, credit card debt, medical debt, student loans, or auto loans, it’s important to know your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Especially for individuals, FDCPA covers all kinds of debt — but specifically targets third-party debt collectors such as collection agencies, debt buyers, and lawyers who practice debt collection as part of their business.
When, where, and who can contact you to collect your debt? There are some limitations, such as:
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