Take a look at our June newsletter!
12444 POWERSCOURT DR., SUITE 300 • ST. LOUIS, MO 63131 // FINNEYINJURYLAW.COM // 314-293-4222 // JUNE 2024
ENJOYING THE FEELING OF THE GOOD DAYS When Things Click
“Done by 11 a.m. The client was ecstatic. If only it were this easy all the time.”
Some days just click in this business. It is probably the same in every business. Yesterday was one of those days. Things worked. We had a mediation scheduled in the morning. It was a good case but one the carrier was not really seriously considering. The defense lawyer was working hard on it. You can tell when they are by their requests of you and their activity as you get closer to the mediation. He is a good guy and recognizes the risk, but he doesn’t call the shots. The best offer we received was $100,000. And that was a long time ago. I have little hope in mediation. I actually dislike it. But we had a mediator who cut to the chase, and I liked that. I got there at 9 a.m.; Alex was in traffic and showed up soon after. They offered us $400,000. I told the mediator we weren’t moving. He laughed. He said you can’t mediate without moving! I laughed and said, “Show me why we should move?” He said, “Okay, let’s get to it — what number do you need?” We told him, and he said, “Let me get to work.” Within about 60 minutes, the case was settled at over $1.7 million. We made one move. We chatted with the defense lawyer afterward and exchanged pleasantries. Done by 11 a.m.
The client was ecstatic. If only it were this easy all the time. If only.
But the day didn’t end there. I immediately got in my car, drove home, changed, and headed to a scene inspection with an engineer. We looked at a lot of stuff, and he documented even more. We discussed some theories and questions that needed to be addressed. I learned a ton and kept thinking about how we can show what we need to show to win. I kept asking questions. The case looks promising. I am hopeful we can do well for the client. They need it. That lasted about two hours. I left with more questions but put them on hold. Then, I headed back to the office. We had a Zoom scheduled with a doctor to discuss some medical imaging. This involves some complicated medical stuff, and I was looking forward to it. Unfortunately, lines got crossed and he had the wrong time so we rescheduled. I am disappointed but we will catch him and learn some more. All the while, the people in the office kept things churning and burning. It was chaotic, but the frenzy was energizing. People are moving and doing things. It creates momentum and inertia. It is a great thing to be a part of.
I left to go home a little bit in a whirlwind as I needed to head by the new office to check some of the construction. We then had a baseball game for one of my sons. A full day indeed, but one that leaves you tired but fulfilled. We suffered no losses yesterday and we learned even more. We were out in the field and getting things done. Those are great days. I’m seasoned enough to know this is not always the case. I still feel the sting of reading appellate decisions that erase hard-fought verdicts. I can hear the judge read defense verdicts. I feel the emotion and inadequacy when a potential client opts to go with someone else. Bad days happen, and they will still happen. But good days are
tough to beat. We need to enjoy more of them.
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MOONLIT MOVIE MAGIC Hosting the Ultimate Outdoor Movie Night
Whether it’s blocking pucks during a street hockey game or checkmating chess hustlers at the park, traditionally indoor activities take on an entirely new feel and flavor when taken outside. While a rare sight these days, movie-goers worldwide used to enjoy cinema from the comfort of their cars at drive-in theaters. These made a brief resurgence during the pandemic, but now that movies are rolling in theaters again, the fad has begun to die off. These days, if you want to watch a movie, it seems like you are limited to three options: Watching it at the theater, on your TV, or on your phone or tablet. Now, I think we can all agree that watching a movie outside on your phone does not make for a great cinematic experience. Debtrette, a TikTok influencer and mom, has a suggestion. She put a
spin on an old classic — family movie night — by holding it in her backyard with all the conveniences you would expect at a movie theater — like an air mattress, pillows, and blankets! If you are looking for a fun way to spruce up a traditional movie night, what better way than to bring it outside under the stars? Here are some necessities to make your moonlight movie night truly magical: • A portable projector screen, like a sheet on a clothesline • Portable movie projector • Candy, popcorn, and beverages • Some outdoor seating and cushions • Lamps, lanterns, or candles • Warm blankets • The perfect movie to bring it all together
You can find screens and projectors to fit any budget, and your movie selection will depend on the crowd. Just make it fun: Lie back on the grass and watch “Antz” or lounge in the pool while watching “Jaws”! The key is to make the experience unforgettable, and all who share in it will be thankful for your effort to make it all possible.
While you’re enjoying holiday fun this summer, beware the biggest spoiler of all — the risk of injury in a holiday-weekend highway crash. Three long-awaited summer holidays — Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day — consistently rank among the five most deadly periods for driving. When careless, drunk, or fatigued drivers pull onto highways jammed with heavy traffic, the result is a lot of accidents waiting to happen. Some 37% of fatal crashes during Memorial Day are linked to drunk driving. Many other fatalities occur because someone failed to follow other basic safety rules. The number of people running red lights is rising sharply, and the person killed in the resulting crashes is usually not the driver, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Also, more than half of traffic deaths occur when someone in the car isn’t wearing a seat belt. The Risks of Holiday Weekends Behind the Wheel Hazard Alert
Holiday risks depend to some extent on the day of the week when each holiday occurs. While Memorial Day and Labor Day are always on Monday, resulting in the usual three-day break in people’s workdays, Independence Day may be more deadly this year because it falls on a Thursday, extending the holiday by a day or two for many people. An estimated 469 people are likely to die in highway accidents during Memorial Day weekend, based on past estimates by the National Safety Council. Another 619 individuals are likely to perish over the Independence Day break. An additional 455 people are expected to die in Labor Day accidents. The automobile has a higher fatality rate per passenger mile than any other major mode of transportation, according to the National Safety Council. To guard against harm, designate one sober person to drive home after parties, or arrange a rideshare or cab. When driving, always buckle up, avoid distractions, and pull over if you feel fatigued. If misfortune strikes and you are injured in an accident while traveling out of state, your rights to damages or compensation are not any different than if you were close to home. Securing those rights may be more complicated, however. Regardless of where your injury occurred, it’s important to take immediate action on your own behalf. This gives you the best chance of protecting yourself and your loved ones.
Published by Newsletter Pro // www.newsletterpro.com
Hero Husky Saves the Neighborhood
On Dec. 15, 2023, pet owner Chanell Bell of Philadelphia was taken aback when she noticed that Kobe, her 4-year-old miniature Alaskan husky, had dug a hole in her home’s front yard. This was a stark departure from Kobe’s usual behavior, which Bell initially dismissed as boredom and promptly refilled the hole. However, when Kobe began to dig again in the same spot, Chanell realized something was amiss. “We’ve been here at our home for a while now, and he never digs holes,” Bell told USA Today. “So, I knew something was up.” She investigated further, reviewing footage from the family home’s security camera overlooking Kobe’s newfound digspot. Then, she witnessed Kobe sniff the air around the area before digging the hole in the same spot again.
crew out to investigate. The engineers discovered that the gas lines beneath the Bell household were old, dilapidated, and beginning to leak. After fixing the issue, the company told Bell that if Kobe had not discovered the leak, the line would have posed significant health and safety concerns for the whole neighborhood. “They told me something as simple as a light switch turning on could’ve caused an explosion,” Bell told USA Today. After Bell shared Kobe’s story on social media, it caught the attention of PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, who awarded the young husky the Heroic Dog Award. Inspired by Kobe’s efforts, Bell wrote a children’s book dedicated to him called “The Dog That Saved the Block Before Christmas.”
Thinking something Kobe smelled must have alarmed him, Bell phoned Philadelphia Gas Works, which sent a
YOUR REFERRALS MEAN THE WORLD TO US There is no greater compliment we can receive than a client telling a friend or loved one about us. If you know somebody who has been injured and needs an attorney who will fight on their behalf and give their case the attention it deserves, please pass along this newsletter and have them call us at 314-293-4222. Thank you for spreading the word about Finney Injury Law.
Last Chance to Apply for the Finney Injury Law Scholarship!
Education is a key to success, but it can also be expensive. That’s why Finney Injury Law is proud to continue our scholarship program. This year, we’re awarding two (2) $10,000 college scholarships! About the Scholarship The Finney Injury Law Scholarship was established in 2020. It is open to high school seniors, current college students, and law students from historically underrepresented groups looking to pursue their educational dreams and establish a career in a legal profession.
You must be a resident of Missouri or Illinois, have a minimum 2.5 GPA, and be enrolled in an accredited college or university within the U.S. to apply. For more information about scholarship eligibility requirements and how to apply, scan the QR code or visit our website at FinneyInjuryLaw.com . All applications must be submitted via the website by July 1, 2024.
Practicing in Missouri and Illinois
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FINNEYINJURYLAW.COM // 314-293-4222
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Life’s a Roller Coaster … Enjoy the Ride!
2
Host a Movie Night Under the Stars
2
Drive Smart, Arrive Safe: Avoid Holiday Crashes
3
How a Pet Husky Prevented Disaster
3
Apply for the Finney Injury Law Scholarship
4
The 26th Amendment: Old Enough to Fight, Old Enough to Vote
YOUNG VOICES, EQUAL CHOICES HOW 18-YEAR-OLDS WON THE RIGHT TO VOTE
Fifty-three years ago this month, Missouri became the 33rd state to ratify the 26th Amendment to the Constitution, lowering the minimum voting age from 21 to 18. The amendment passed with surprising speed after several years of mounting public protest over the alarming death toll in the Vietnam conflict. Many soldiers in that war were drafted into service as soon as they turned 18, and 58,220 Americans died in Vietnam. Protesters objected that the same citizens who were required to fight and die for the country had no voice at the polls. Youth activists rallied behind the slogan, “Old enough to fight, old enough to vote,” a motto Sen. Ted Kennedy, among others, found compelling.
Efforts to lower the voting age weren’t new. The first push in that direction came during World War II. After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941, Congress passed legislation requiring men ages 18 and up to register for the draft. Men 18 and up also were required to serve during the Korean War. By the 1960s, tens of thousands of young men each month were being drafted into the armed forces to serve in Vietnam. Amid mounting public protests, the drive to lower the voting age gained momentum. When the courts struck down a congressional effort to lower the voting age by amending the Voting Rights Act of 1965, lawmakers quickly proposed and passed the 26th Amendment in
March 1971. By July, the measure was ratified by the minimum 38 states required to amend the Constitution. For Missouri, ratifying the 26th Amendment was a historic step by a state known as the site of many 19th century voting rights rallies and the birthplace of such noted suffrage advocates as Phoebe Couzins. Some observers, including then-President Richard Nixon, asserted that Ohio was the 38th state to ratify the amendment, while others say South Carolina and Alabama beat Ohio to the punch. Whatever the case, the 26th Amendment was soon ratified by five more states, bringing the total number to 43 — a fitting response to the groundswell of appreciation for the sacrifices young draftees had made.
Practicing in Missouri and Illinois
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