Berlin Law Firm - August 2019

LEX CANIS THE Lee Berlin Kyle Killam

Local Matters Why I Buy Small ... and so Should You

Well, it’s almost school season, which means we’ll all be seeing ads for backpack and binder sales from the big box stores, regardless of if we have kiddos at home or not. While I’m not a father, these nationwide sales from the likes of Walmart get me thinking about an issue very near and dear to my heart, which is why this month, I’m challenging everyone to buy local. Coming from a small town, I was raised in a time when this wasn’t a choice. There wasn’t a Kmart or OfficeMax for 60 miles. All the shops we’d go to were one of a kind, owned and operated by members of the community. Asking people to shop local back then would be like reminding someone not to breathe underwater. In truth, I didn’t fully see the importance of this until I started my practice in Tulsa. I was getting eye glasses for the first time a few years ago, and my eye doctor only gave me a few choices for frames. None of them felt right, so I did my research and found a little boutique shop in town called Eye Candy. What originally caught my interest was that the owner, Gretchen Denslow, was once a lawyer herself! Simply put, I knew she’d understand the demands of a working professional and be able to find me a pair of glasses that fit my lifestyle. What I found at Eye Candy was so much more than I bargained for. They had brands and styles I couldn’t find anywhere else in the city, and Gretchen proved adept at helping

me find the exact pair for me. She explained how glasses are often the first thing people notice about a person and how important it is to frame your face correctly. Thanks to her passion and attention to detail, she won a lifelong customer.

Beyond the excellent selections and expertise these small businesses offer, there is a level of customer service you just can’t get at a national chain. I’ve become friends with Gretchen and her optician, Wes; Travers and his office manager, Keri; his son, Tanner; and his wife, Lori. They know my needs and always make me feel so welcome when I walk in. Owning a local law firm, I can’t help but take notes. Indeed, our office is a boutique itself. We focus all our energy on one practice area and dedicate ourselves to being the best of the best. We also strive to build real relationships with our clients. After all, we’re representing you; you deserve to work with people you know and trust. No matter your needs, there are so many reasons to shop local. If you value having a strong local economy, shop local. If you want a personal relationship with service providers, shop local. If you want to reduce unemployment, shop local. And if you want a stronger community, shop local. In this day and age of online shopping and megastores, it’s never been more important to make an effort to keep your money where you live. Since we’re about to get a huge tax holiday this August, I can’t think of a more perfect time to get out and explore some of our truly great small businesses here in the greater Tulsa area. – Lee Berlin

Another local favorite of mine is Travers Mahan, a high-end haberdashery. The owner, Travers, hand selects every article of clothing and piece of fabric in the store and knows each one well. Were I shopping at Dillard’s or online, I’d be flying blind, but Travers can tell me how a suit lives and breathes. He even makes sure to only order two of every tie to ensure you almost never bump into someone with the same darn tie. That sort of thing happening in court can be embarrassing.

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What It’s Like to Have Lee Berlin

in Your Corner

GONE CAMPING

While summer is winding down, families are looking to go on a few end-of-season adventures, camping trips included. Before you head out into the wilderness with your family, it’s important to be prepared. In fact, “be prepared” is the best piece of advice when it comes to braving the great outdoors. But what does being prepared entail? Here are four key tips. HAVE A FIRST-AID KIT NEARBY. A good rule of thumb is to keep one in your car at all times. You never know when you’ll need it. Kids may get a few bumps and scrapes while out hiking, or you might encounter poisonous plants, such as poison ivy or poison oak. Having quick access to cold water, soap, antiseptics (hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol), and calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream can keep infections at bay. TEACH FIRE SAFETY. When you build a fire, especially with kids, teach them about fire safety. This includes building the fire itself. Pick a spot away from brush and overhanging branches and create a pit surrounded by rocks. Before lighting a fire, have a bucket of water and a shovel nearby so you can quickly extinguish it when ready. Finally, remember to only build a fire as big as you need. A larger fire can be difficult to manage and keep under control. KEEP AN EYE ON THE SKY. Weather can change at a moment’s notice, and sometimes, it doesn’t give notice at all. Keep a close eye on the sky and monitor the weather on a radio. If a storm appears, seek shelter immediately and stay out of low-lying areas. When you’re in mountainous or hilly terrain, a little rain is all it takes for flash floods to occur. If you’re in a ravine when it starts raining, get out immediately. ALWAYS STICK TOGETHER. It’s a good idea to hike with a buddy and keep a whistle around your neck or in your pack. You never know what you might encounter or when you’ll need help. Hiking with kids is also a great time to teach them to recognize landmarks and be aware of their surroundings. If you have a digital camera or smartphone, show kids how to create a trail of digital breadcrumbs or pictures to help them find their way back to camp. 4 Things to Keep in Mind on Your Next Family Camping Trip

When you’re looking for a lawyer to fight serious criminal allegations, it pays to do your homework. Not all attorneys are created equal, so before you decide to spend time and money to bring someone on as your representative, you want to make sure they can get the job done. That’s why our firm is putting our money where our mouth is and releasing this FREE book, “Client Testimonials, Attorney Endorsements, and Case Stories.” This is our way of putting all the information you need to know about Berlin Law Firm in one place. You’ll hear directly from clients we’ve represented, giving you a window into how we helped clear the names of people just like you. You’ll also learn about our reputation in the legal community through the ringing endorsements we’ve received from other firms. Best of all, the book provides you with an inside look at some of our biggest cases. These case stories offer you the chance to understand how we operate, the magnitude of the cases we take on, and the specific skill sets we bring to the table. As a firm solely focused on sex crimes and crimes against children, we know how intimidating these charges can be. Many people in these situations feel that their cases are hopeless. That’s why we’ve included these detailed success stories to show you that victory is possible with the right attorney by your side. Most law firms don’t provide such a comprehensive look at their track record. But with the number of accolades we’ve received from clients and peers alike, we have no problem being an open book! If you’re facing serious legal charges, visit DefendingTulsa. com or give us a call! We’d be happy to send you a FREE copy of this informative guide to our firm. Reminder About Our Firm’s Communication Policy Our promise to you is that while we are working on your case, we don't take inbound phone calls, faxes, or emails. Lee Berlin takes no inbound unscheduled phone calls whatsoever. It makes him much more productive and helps get your case resolved faster. You can always call the office at 918-384-0850, and schedule an in-person or phone appointment, usually within 24 to 48 hours. This is a lot better than the endless game of "phone tag" played by most businesses today. Remember, too, that email is "quick" but is checked no more than twice a day. Replies are then sheduled into the calendar. So, if it's really important, don't email. Call the office instead.

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THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME

There is no shortage of crazy cases that come through a court of law, but those revolving around personal injury can be especially surprising. Whether it’s a slip-and-fall accident or something a

to know the details of her injuries to understand the extent of her grievances. Some forms of suffering are better left to the imagination, especially if the aggressor was a literal stink bomb. She sued the building’s landlords for anxiety, pain, and medical expenses, but it’s hard to determine which party was truly at fault without more information.

little more eccentric, there are a million ways to hurt yourself while simply going about your day. The problems arise when it’s determined to be another party’s fault. Let’s take a look at some notably strange cases where bizarre miscalculations led to injuries and ailments.

IT’S RAINING CATS AND DOLLARS You can’t predict the weather, no matter what your weather app says, but some people tend to forget that. A few years ago, an Israeli weatherman was faced with a lawsuit by a woman who claimed his inaccurate forecast caused her a great deal of

AS BELOW, SO ABOVE Time spent in the restroom is inherently private. We don’t normally talk about it, but that’s not the case for a Pennsylvania woman who experienced a traumatic event

suffering. She claimed he misrepresented a particularly harsh day in the forecast, and it encouraged her to wear insufficient layers that left her health to the whim of the elements. As a result, the woman caught the flu from the downpour and missed work for four days. Citing lost income, large medication costs, and tremendous anxiety, she sought reparations from the fraudulent weatherman and was amazingly awarded a four- figure settlement!

during a routine trip to the lady’s room. In 2007, a schlocky horror plot came to life in a building along Philadelphia’s famous Market Street. The culprit was a

faulty plumbing system. The woman was inside a restroom stall on the eighth floor, and, as she sat on one of the old toilets customary in the building, pressure building from inside the tank caused a massive explosion that sent her body hurling out of the stall. You don’t need

Inspired Be

Roasted Corn Salsa Ingredients 2 medium ears of corn, shucked

Inspired by Bon Appétit magazine

1/4 bunch cilantro leaves, sliced

Juice of 1 lime

1 jalapeño or Fresno chile, seeded and thinly sliced

Kosher salt, to taste

1/2 red onion, diced

1 large tomato, cored, seeded, and finely chopped

Directions

1. Heat a cast-iron skillet to high. Char corn, turning occasionally, for 10–14 minutes until kernels begin to blacken in spots. 2. Using a sharp knife, remove corn kernels from cobs and transfer to a large mixing bowl. 3. With a wooden spoon or potato masher, gently crush corn to release starch and juices. 4. Add jalapeño, onion, tomato, and cilantro. Mix to combine.

5. Top with lime juice and season with salt. 6. Serve alongside your favorite tortilla chips.

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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

8516 E. 101st Street, Suite A Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133

Phone: 918-770-0172 DefendingTulsa.com

Inside This Issue

Why I Don’t Use the Big Box Stores Page 1 Stay Safe While Camping What It’s Like to Have Lee Berlin in Your Corner Page 2 Bizarre Personal Injury Cases Roasted Corn Salsa Page 3 We’re well into the dog days of summer, the hottest, most humid days of the year. These weeks have nothing to do with real dogs; they were nicknamed after the “dog star” Sirius by the Greeks to reflect the hottest time of the year following the star’s heliacal rise. Still, it’s a pretty good excuse to escape the heat with a dog movie marathon. Here are the films we recommend. ‘AIR BUD’ Most people remember “Air Bud” for the wild loophole, “Ain’t no rule says a dog can’t play basketball,” but this movie is about much more than a dog playing ball. After the death of his father, 12-year-old Josh Framm feels depressed and distant from his family. Enter a stray golden retriever named Buddy, who teaches Josh how to open his heart again. The two bond and learn lessons in overcoming loss, fighting for what you love, and, yes, playing basketball. “Air Bud” spawned a number of sequels and spin-off movies, but this first film is a true classic.

DOG MOVIES FOR DOG DAYS Beat the Heat With a Canine Movie Marathon

‘LADY AND THE TRAMP’ “Lady and the Tramp” is the classic story of two dogs who come from different worlds: the refined, loyal Lady and the rogue with a heart of gold, Tramp. This movie has music, laughs, and a spaghetti scene that rivals the balcony monologues from “Romeo and Juliet.” One of the few animated Disney classics about animals that won’t have you in tears, this is a movie the whole family can enjoy together. Looking for a bit more action in your animal movies? “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey” delivers! After three beloved pets are left behind when their family goes on vacation, they trek across the Sierra Nevada wilderness to be reunited with the humans they love. Their adventure has thrills, close calls, and a heartwarming ending that will make you want to hug your pets close. ‘HOMEWARD BOUND: THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY’

When it’s too hot to go outside, make some popcorn and enjoy these great movies with your family. Don’t worry, none of the dogs die at the end.

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