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CaseBarnettLaw.com
JULY 2018
WHO INSPIRES US TO DO MORE? WHAT MATTERS
I knew I wanted to be a lawyer the first time I saw my dad give his opening statements in court. I was 12 years old at the time, and I still get goose bumps thinking about how intense he was. My dad demanded the attention of every single person in that room as he fought for his client, and it was then I realized the true responsibility of an attorney. This month, I want to introduce you to my father, John Barnett, a man who has always inspired me to fight the good fight.
When the law works the way it should, when attorneys do their job, and when both sides are represented fairly, everyone benefits.
Grandpa with Harlow and Finn
–Case Barnett
moment for me. The stakes were high, the courtroom was packed, and my family was right there watching the process unfold.
We have a lot of lawyers in our family. My father was a prosecutor and a defense attorney in the Marine Corps and then later in the JAG Corps. He inspired my sister and me to become lawyers, which, I suppose, led to Case and his sister going to law school, too. What you grow up around has a large influence on what you do, and I am proud to come from a family where what we do matters. That has always been a big part of why I wanted to be a lawyer, even as a little boy. The results of what I do at work matter. Someone either goes to jail or they get to go home to their family. Every day, an attorney deals with high stakes, and when I handle an especially complicated case, the results don’t just matter to myself or my client — they matter to society as a whole. When the law works the way it should, when attorneys do their job, and when both sides are represented fairly, everyone benefits. I feel really honored and blessed that I get to do what I wanted to do with my life; not everyone gets that opportunity. In over 40 years as an attorney, I have tried a number of cases that had some notoriety, but there is one case that will always stand out: the Rodney King case. I was hired to defend one of the policemen involved in that case who had already been vilified on national television. It was a very significant
John Barnett in the Courtroom
As I spoke to the jury, defending a client whom the public had already deemed guilty, I could look over and see Case sitting there with my wife and daughter. It was like Take Your Kid to Work Day — but to the extreme. That case captured everything I love about being an attorney. We had a lot at stake; what would happen in that courtroom really mattered, and my family got to watch it all. I’ve tried a lot of cases in my career, but the ones where my son was there hold a special place in my heart. That wouldn’t be the last time I was in a courtroom with my son. I’ve tried cases with him after he was no longer in short pants, and it has been a pleasure to watch my son become the man he is today: taller, smarter, better looking, and a better lawyer than I am. And isn’t that what any parent wants? To know you’ve raised a kid who became better and will go further than you ever could?
–John Barnett
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C A S E C LO S E D ! Westerly School Pays Millions for Failing to Protect Student
This is not the only case we have handled recently involving a child who was the victim of another person’s wrongdoing. We recently settled a wrongful death case in which our client, a young child, was hit by a car at his apartment complex. The parking lot of the apartment was clearly dangerous, but the complex failed to address the problem and our client lost his life as a result. This case was settled for $3.25 million. Other cases we’ve closed recently include five separate auto accidents, with payouts totaling over $380,000, and a premises liability case involving physical assault, in which our client was awarded $60,000. We are proud to represent clients in a number of difficult, often painful cases, in hopes of helping them get the justice they deserve.
School should be a safe place for students to learn and grow. When a child walks into
class, their biggest concern should be the math test they have to take that afternoon. Tragically, this was not the case for our client, who became the victim of sexual abuse at the hands one Scott Durzo, a man who oversaw school programs at Westerly School in Long Beach. Our client attended home studies on the Westerly School campus and worked as an assistant for Durzo’s after-school program. Durzo took advantage of the then 15-year-old’s trust, molesting him several times a week for almost a year. Despite concerns raised by parents and other teachers regarding Durzo’s familiar behavior with our client and other students, the school administration failed to act. The jury awarded our client $25.3 million. $16.4 million is to be paid by Durzo for his heinous acts, and $8.9 million is to be paid by Westerly School for their negligence in failing to protect students. Durzo is facing 20 felony counts of child molestation.
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Auto Accident $85,000.00 Auto Accident $62,500.00 Premises Liability: Physical Assault $60,000.00 Auto Accident $35,000.00 Auto Accident $25,000.00
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Premises Liability: Abuse of Minor at School $25,300,000.00 Wrongful Death: Pedestrian Accident $3,250,000.00 Auto Accident $175,000.00
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SUCCESS STORY
“Look no further! We all have preconceived ideas about lawyers, but when our child was involved in a traumatic accident in California — 1000 miles away from home — we needed help. We needed someone who could help us in understanding specific legal details and insurance issues involved in California, and even more importantly, someone who would be an advocate for our child and help get life back to normal. We were very fortunate to find Case Barnett. He and his team were immediately there for our child, assisting in all of the details big and small necessary to deal with the difficulties following an accident. Our relief was immediate and incredible that we’d found someone who cared about our child’s well- being first and foremost and who was going to help us ‘make it right’ again. If you’re in need of
an outstanding and caring legal team in Southern California to help you with an accident or personal injury situation, call Case Barnett.” –Terri
Reminder About Our Firm’s Communication Policy: Our promise to you is that we don’t take inbound calls or emails while we are working on your case. Case Barnett 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 949-861-2990, and schedule an in-person or phone appointment, usually within 24-48 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 scheduled into the calendar. So, if it’s really important, don’t email — call the office instead.
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There is nothing more terrible than watching your child suffer. Some pains are part of life, like a skinned knee after falling off a bike or the pain of first heartbreak. But pain that is the result of another person’s negligence or cruel intentions should be avoided at all costs. Parents strive to protect their children from pain as much as possible, but some things are out of their control. Children suffer the most when parents put their trust in the wrong person. That person could be a day care employee who failed to be as attentive as they should be, a school administrator who didn’t take necessary steps to protect their students, or someone you thought you could call a friend. When schools, day cares, churches, business owners, or motorists fail in their duties and let an accident happen, innocent children can suffer from serious physical and psychological injuries. WHEN INNOCENTS SUFFER
Case Barnett Law Protects Children in Orange County
The team at Case Barnett Law has experience protecting the most vulnerable members of our society, especially in the following types of cases:
• School bus accidents • Drowning • Field trip accidents • Physical and sexual abuse
• School-related injuries • Day care and preschool injuries
• Bullying and assault • Toy/product safety
We give our all in every case, but circumstances involving children are particularly near and dear to our hearts. Case and Nicole have two little ones of their own and are passionate about representing children and teenagers in times of crisis. If a child you love has suffered from abuse or neglect, get legal help by calling 949-565-2993. We are dedicated to helping our clients see justice and find some semblance of peace.
SEARCH Word
Charred Chili-Cheese Corn
You’ll find all of the flavors of elote, Mexican street corn, in this dish, without any of the mess. It’s the rare side that can outshine any main course. Ingredients
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1/4 cup fresh lime juice
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4 ears of corn, husked
2 ounces fresh cotija cheese (or feta), crumbled
4 tablespoons high-smoke-point oil, such as canola or vegetable
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1/4 cup cilantro
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1 large shallot, thinly sliced
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 red chili (such as Fresno) or jalapeño, thinly sliced
Directions
1. Heat grill to medium. 2. Brush corn with 2 tablespoons oil and grill until visibly charred, 10–12 minutes. 3. Cut kernels off cob and combine with shallots, chilis, lime juice, cheese, and remaining oil. 4. Season with salt and pepper, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
Independence Day Barbecue Freedom America Washington Revolution
Parade Fireworks Colonial July USA Congress
Inspired by Bon Appetit magazine
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
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.
245 Fischer Avenue, Suite B4 Costa Mesa, CA 92626
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Page 1 It Runs in the Family
Page 2 Jury Demands School Pay Millions for Negligence
Hear From Our Clients
Page 3 Who Looks Out for Your Child?
Charred Chili-Cheese Corn
Word Search
Page 4 The History of Hot Dogs and Burgers
THIS AMERICAN GRUB
H O W H O T D O G S A N D H A M B U R G E R S B E C A M E N A T I O N A L T R E A S U R E S
a nation suddenly living on a tight budget. By the 1930s, hot dogs had become so unquestionably American that Franklin Roosevelt famously served them to King George VI during his royal visit in 1939. THE BURGER Like the hot dog, the exact origin of the beef patty’s eventual “sandwiching” is lost to history. Once again, it was German immigrants who brought their recipes for “Hamburg steak” with them across the Atlantic, but reports vary as to who first sold the meat patty inside a bun. Multiple diners and fairgrounds across America claim to be the home of the first hamburger. All of these claims date to the turn of the 20th century, a time when our nation was faced with feeding a growing working class quickly and cheaply. By the 1950s, the burger had become a symbol of the American everyman. Both the hot dog and hamburger embody the history of our nation. Immigrant traditions merged with blue-collar needs to create two uniquely American foods. It’s fitting that we celebrate America’s birthday with the grub that has grown along with it.
If your plans for this Independence Day involve firing up the barbecue, you’ll probably be cooking two American classics: hot dogs and hamburgers. Come the Fourth of July, families will be grilling up burgers and dogs from sea to shining sea, but it wasn’t always this way. The story of how beef patties and sausages became culinary symbols of our nation will give you plenty of food for thought. THE HOT DOG It was German immigrants who brought the “frankfurter” and the “wienerwurst” to American soil in the 1800s. There is much debate over who first decided to place one of these franks in a bun, but by the opening of the 20th century, hot dog stands had popped up all over the Eastern Seaboard. We do know the identity of the man who took the hot dog’s popularity to a national level: Nathan Handwerker. A Jewish immigrant from Poland, Nathan sliced buns for a hot dog stand on Coney Island. After scraping together enough money, he quit his job and opened a stand of his own, undercutting his former employer’s prices by half. Not only did Nathan’s hot dogs outsell the competition, the Great Depression made them the perfect food for
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