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“Quality Is No Accident” FLATTMANN FILES
March 2026
The Case for Courtesy
Doing the Ordinary Extraordinarily Well Starts With Compassion
March 21 is National Common Courtesy Day, and I can’t think of a better reason to talk about something that sits at the very core of how we practice law. Courtesy isn’t a marketing buzzword for us. It’s not something we trot out when it’s convenient. It’s one of our pillars, and honestly, it’s one of the simplest and most powerful ways we try to do right by people. I’ve always believed in the Golden Rule. Treat people the way you’d want to be treated. In theory, that sounds obvious. In practice, you’d be surprised how often it gets overlooked, especially in our profession. Courtesy, to me, isn’t complicated or flashy. It’s returning phone calls promptly, even when there isn’t a big update to share. It’s understanding that when a client calls, they’re probably anxious, hurting, or overwhelmed. Sometimes, a simple “Everything is still on track. We’re just waiting on X, Y, or Z” can ease a lot of worry. That five-minute call matters more than people realize. It’s also greeting someone when they walk through our door. Offering a cup of coffee or a glass of water. Making eye contact. Listening without rushing. These things may seem small, but for someone dealing with an injury, medical appointments, and the stress of a legal claim (often for the first time in their life), they can make a difficult situation feel a little more human. We’re always looking for ways to add what I like to call “unexpected value.” That might mean helping organize paperwork, assisting with scheduling medical appointments, or simply making the process feel less intimidating. Our goal is to simplify what can feel like chaos and take some of the burden off our clients’ shoulders. We believe that exceeding expectations doesn’t require grand gestures. More often than not, it comes down to mastering the basics. Outside the office, though, I’ve noticed something else: Common courtesy feels like it’s becoming less common. I see it around town, in traffic, at the gym, places where grown adults really should know better. Here in Covington, we even have a famously contentious zipper merge, complete with public service announcements reminding people to be kind. And yet, every day, it feels like a life-or-death competition for some drivers to keep others from getting in. At the gym, people leave dirty towels behind, ignore sweaty clothes on benches, and blast loud phone calls in shared spaces. Sometimes, I wonder if it’s discourtesy, a lack of awareness, or people being so
wrapped up in their own worlds that they forget others exist. I’m sure it’s a mix of all three. What gives me hope, though, is seeing the opposite modeled well. My son attends my alma mater, St. Paul’s, here in Covington, and one of their mottos is “we do the ordinary extraordinarily well.” That idea stuck with me because it applies so perfectly to courtesy. Holding the door open. Letting someone merge. Offering a smile at the grocery store. These small, ordinary actions, done consistently and thoughtfully, add up. That philosophy guides our firm every day. Our clients are injured. They’re stressed. They’re navigating unfamiliar territory. Courtesy builds trust. It calms fears. It reminds people they’re not just a case file or a number. Ultimately, courtesy is about paying attention and slowing down just enough to recognize the person in front of you. Whether it’s in traffic, at the gym, or in a law office, doing the ordinary extraordinarily well makes life, and the legal process, a little better for everyone involved.
-Grady Flattmann
(985) 590-6182 • 1
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AI’S HIDDEN RISKS TO CONSUMERS DIGITAL DANGERS
If you’ve been to an airport lately, you likely have posed for a facial recognition camera before entering your security checkpoint. This technology is just one example of how artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to not only identify who we are, but also learn more about us than we might realize.
In some cases, this reality is not a great thing.
Sure, being tracked online by AI may be considered beneficial by consumers who don’t mind receiving alerts on new purchasing opportunities based on their past shopping habits. However, society’s growing dependency on this level of technology is problematic when it leads to innocent people being incarcerated on false charges. Here’s a look at some of the growing risks surrounding the use of AI … and what you can do to better protect your privacy and rights from the prying eyes of emerging technology. Amazon’s Data Defect Debacle Although AI is seemingly everywhere these days, its use in the corporate world has existed for some time … and has created considerable gaffes along the way. Amazon learned about machine learning’s potential missteps the hard way. As far back as 2015, the company discovered that its AI-generated tools for screening resumes were biased against female job candidates. The system, designed to assign a rating from one to five stars to each applicant, gave lower scores to women who had applied for technical positions. The reason? The system had been trained to review and recommend candidates based on trends identified in resumes submitted to the company over the past 10 years, a period when men dominated the majority of positions. Instead of advancing future AI technology, Amazon stumbled back into America’s cultural past, creating a PR nightmare and “When faulty tech threatens a person’s liberty, it’s clear that AI’s road to perfection still has plenty of potholes.”
raising serious questions about the potential long-term harm AI could cause in efforts to promote gender equality. AI’s Misadventures in Faulty Arrests Facial recognition technology may be all the rage at airports, but the same can’t be said for its use at police stations. According to research conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Asian and African Americans are up to twice as likely to be misidentified by facial recognition as Caucasians. This discrepancy has real-world consequences, including the 2023 arrest of a pregnant woman in Detroit who was charged with carjacking after AI technology mistook her for someone else. When faulty tech threatens a person’s liberty, it’s clear that AI’s road to perfection still has plenty of potholes. Consumers’ Best Practices for Data Privacy Naturally, everyday consumers may also find themselves in sticky situations as a result of AI’s still-imperfect processes. Banking giant JPMorgan Chase offers the following suggestions to help better protect your personal information from AI-driven data tracking: • Utilize a separate, dedicated email address when engaging with AI chatbots, and avoid using the same email associated with your banking or social media. • Log off after every AI chat session to help ensure the system is not tracking your subsequent online usage. • Use only generative AI platforms available through the Google and Apple App stores and other reputable sources. AI may be a fascinating new chapter in our technical evolution, but it’s not without causes for concern. Whether you’re ordering shoes online or checking your savings account, forewarned is forearmed when it comes to guarding your identity … and even your freedom.
2 • FlattmannLaw.com
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If you’ve ever walked into your kitchen to discover your child’s mouth covered in chocolate while they insist they didn’t dip into the cookie jar before dinner, you know the importance of teaching little ones about being honest and taking responsibility for their actions. Here are a few tips for incorporating age- appropriate lessons on accountability into a child’s daily routine. Pathways to Responsible Preschoolers When teaching children the value of personal accountability, selecting tasks that match their abilities and level of understanding is essential. For children ages 3–6, this could mean having them take responsibility for setting the table (with supervision as needed to ensure safety with utensils and glassware), feeding their pets, or putting away their toys neatly after they finish playing with them. If they struggle or fail to fulfill a particular responsibility, use it as an opportunity for growth, rather than a reason to ground them. For example, if they forget to feed their dog or cat, show them their pet’s signs of hunger … and remind your child of how sad, tired, and cranky they would feel if they were hungry and FROM COOKIE JARS TO CAR KEYS Building Responsibility in Kids and Teens
TAKE A BREAK
SOLUTION
ST. PATRICK’S DAY SHAMROCK SWIRL PIE
had to wait a long time to eat. If they forget to pick up their LEGOs, remind them of how much it hurt the last time they stepped on a piece when they weren’t wearing shoes. Above all, be sure to maintain a positive
Ingredients
atmosphere and praise them whenever they complete a task (especially when they do it without being asked!) or put in their best effort to do so. Guidance for Goal-Driven Teens If your child has passed the age of picking up building blocks, you can help them manage and fulfill their pre-adult responsibilities. Encourage them to budget their spending money (especially once they start working for the first time), take an active role in maintaining their vehicle, and coordinate their own schedules for after-school or social activities. While it’s always wise to be available to help if or when they run out of gas or sleep through their alarm, giving them space to be more independent (and occasionally make mistakes) will go a long way in teaching them the real-world rewards and consequences of how they handle their responsibilities. By giving children room to learn, try, and even stumble, we help them build the confidence and character they’ll carry into adulthood. With steady guidance and age-appropriate responsibilities, accountability becomes a lifelong habit.
• 1 cup heavy cream • 8 oz cream cheese, softened • 1 cup powdered sugar • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1/2 cup mint chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup green food coloring, for vibrant color • 1 premade chocolate pie crust • 1/2 cup chocolate syrup, for drizzling
Directions 1. In a mixing bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form. 2. In a separate bowl, beat softened cream cheese until smooth. 3. Add powdered sugar and vanilla to cream cheese, mixing until well combined. Then, gently fold whipped heavy cream into the mixture. 4. Divide mixture into two bowls. In one bowl, add mint chocolate chips and green food coloring. 5. Layer mixtures into chocolate pie crust, alternating between mint mixture and the plain mixture. 6. Drizzle chocolate syrup over top. 7. Cover with cling wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours to set. Slice and serve chilled.
Inspired by MixUpRecipes.com
(985) 590-6182 • 3
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Flattmann Law (985) 590-6182 FlattmannLaw.com 213 W. 21st Ave. Covington, LA 70433 “Quality Is No Accident”
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
The Power of Simple Courtesy in a Complicated World
1
AI’s Hidden Risks to Consumers
2
St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Swirl Pie
3
Age-Appropriate Ways to Teach Children Responsibility
Fraudulent Fender-Benders
4
INSIDE UBER’S RACKETEERING RESPONSE BUMPER BETRAYAL
It’s a devious enough scam to make Tony Soprano blush.
Uber, which claims to have already spent millions defending itself against Loynaz’s suits, is suing the attorney under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. If he loses the suit, Loynaz may be subject to treble damages and attorneys’ fees. Interestingly, the case of the potentially crooked lawyer and his band of allegedly corrupt cronies is far from the only litigation of its kind. Earlier in 2025, Uber filed a suit in New York, alleging that another group of lawyers, medical providers, and clinics was carrying out a similar scheme in the Empire State. No matter how successful Uber’s battle against this level of fraud may be, the amount of allegedly criminal conniving taking place in Florida and New York is enough to make the most hardened mobster raise an eyebrow … and perhaps demand a cut.
Imagine orchestrating a series of intentional automobile collisions with the sole purpose of suing Uber for the recovery of car repair costs and medical expenses. This outrageous scenario is at the heart of the ride-share company’s 97-page lawsuit against a Florida attorney who it claims paid people to crash into each other to instigate fraudulent suits and attempt to rake in millions. Filed in Miami last June, Uber’s suit alleges that personal injury attorney Andy Loynaz, co-founder of the firm Law Group of South Florida, compensated drivers to stage accidents and later claim they were using the Uber app at the time. According to the complaint, these bogus bang-ups occurred near Hialeah, Florida, in 2023 and 2024, with Loynaz submitting $1 million insurance claims for each one and later suing Uber and its insurance carrier in four separate cases. Additionally, he allegedly coaxed representatives from Miami’s River
Medical Center, area auto body shops, and other medical clinics to falsely claim the accident had caused injuries and property damage requiring care and repairs.
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