Take a look at our December newsletter!
1600 S. BRENTWOOD BLVD., SUITE 220 • ST. LOUIS, MO 63144 // FINNEYINJURYLAW.COM // 314-293-4222 // DECEMBER 2023
Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze?
TRUSTING OUR PURPOSE
As it happens in trial work sometimes, the holidays are going to open up. The cases I wrote about last month are all settled — to my significant surprise. One was a very good recovery, and the other was adequate, but we had some risks. I am happy and bummed at the same time. We have a slower holiday season to get organized for the coming year. Still, I have a sneaking feeling that I am going to get rusty on my trial work. That feeling is something I am continually working on. I had heard a well-known football coach once say, “If you are coasting, you are going downhill.” Well, that quote has haunted me for decades. It has probably done more harm than good for me, but that doesn’t mean it has not produced any good. It has provided a good kick in the butt to get me moving at times. It has also scared the living hell out of me many more times. Since the trial we had in June, my approach to trial work has been different. Looking back over the last few trials, I can see a trend developing. The focus is less on the details and more on the general theme. The details are where fights happen. Where energy can be sucked away and depleted. The opposition loves to fight over all the details. It distracts us from achieving our goals. I am not saying we forgo preparation in our trials. Not at all. We will be prepared, but we are preparing with focus. Too often, we were coming into trials fighting every fight out of fear. Out of the idea that we don’t know what we are doing. Out of the idea of insecurity. The defense would bring up an issue, and we would immediately feel the need to fight them on it. I don’t think our firm is alone in these feelings. It is universal in the legal world and likely in other industries. But it is harmful to the plaintiff’s side. We cannot bill for silly fights. I hope we pause and ask ourselves: Does it really matter? Is the juice worth the squeeze on this? If it isn’t, there is no need to fight. Let them have it and think they got one on us. As long as we are intentional and take action with thought, we will be good.
I hope we are done with that constant fighting and fear. We need to trust ourselves in what we make the case about. We need to be confident in our course of action and that the jury will understand where we are coming from. If we cannot do this and are constantly unsure, we will expend time and energy without forethought. That is akin to the chicken sprinting around with no head. It is pointless. As one of my favorite judges said recently, it is like “a rudderless ship of chaos.” Not a good look. “Since the trial we had in June, my approach to trial work has been different.” There is no need to be chaotic in our prep and case workup. We can plan and be intentional and thorough. We can also be simple. We do not need to be complex to justify who we are and what we do. The simplest message is usually the one that resonates the most. The holidays are not just about getting the office in order. Not at all. This is about spending time with family and friends. To strengthen relationships and experiences. Our cases are all about experiences. The ones we are all hopefully going to enjoy this holiday season. I hope we all
experience this holiday season without fear or insecurity. That we all recognize our own strengths and trust ourselves. That would truly make for great memories.
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Deck the Halls With Handmade Cards 3 EASY IDEAS YOU CAN MAKE WITH KIDS!
Sending Christmas cards is a great way to tell people you’re thinking of them during the holiday season. However, like everything lately, buying enough Christmas cards for your loved ones is expensive. Store-bought cards can also feel too stiff and formal for our friends and family. That’s why you should consider making Christmas cards this holiday season! It is more cost-effective and a great way to give your cards a personal touch that lets friends and family know you care. The best part is that making holiday cards doesn’t have to be laborious or stressful — it’s quick, easy, and fun!
strips of the washi tape, starting with a longer piece (about 2—3 inches), and place it horizontally across the card near the bottom. Then, build upward using gradually smaller pieces of tape to make a triangle — and that’s it! You’ve successfully created a washi tape tree! You can also draw a tree stump under the longest strip or a star on top. Handprint Cards This Christmas card variation is a favorite for kids to make and family members to receive. Have your child place their hand on the blank card stock and trace their hand with a pencil. Then, cut out the shape of their hand using scissors. Finally, with the cut-out hand facing down (fingers to the ground), have your child decorate it as if it were a tree, drawing ornaments, lights, candy canes, or other decorations. Pipe Cleaner Cards For this card, you need green pipe cleaners and gold stars (like the ones you’d earn in school). Simply twist a pipe cleaner into a tree shape using a zig-zag pattern to form the widest branches at the bottom to the smallest boughs at the top. Glue the pipe cleaner to the card. Finish with a gold star as a tree topper!
Don’t believe us? Check out these three easy Christmas cards you and your family can make at home. Each card idea is built upon plain white cards! Washi Tape Cards All you need for this card is a roll of washi tape with any design you wish. Simply cut
WHEN ROAD TRIPS GO WRONG What to Keep in Mind When Traveling Out of State
This is it — the time you’ve been waiting for. You planned and packed, and it’s time to set out with your family on that long-awaited road trip. Unfortunately, as we all know, sometimes the road trip you’ve been looking forward to can take a left turn when an unexpected accident happens. An accident that occurs at any time is not ideal. But if you’re in an accident on the road while out of state, you should be aware of a few things. After all, it’s good to know what to expect, understand your rights, and communicate with your insurance provider and lawyer.
the time of the accident. Your rights to compensation or damages still continue, whether your accident is within or outside the state where you live. In general, when determining the legal jurisdiction of your accident, you will bring suit in the state where the accident occurred or where the driver who is at fault lives. Of course, some situations may involve multiple drivers, all living in various states. In that case, a lawsuit can be brought in any of the states of residence involved. Another factor to remember is jurisdiction involving an accident with a semi-truck or tractor-trailer. In those cases, you can sue in the state where the company that owns the truck is incorporated or does most of its business.
In most cases, you can’t sue within the state where you live unless the defendant also lives there. The reason is that the lawsuit needs to be governed in the state where the accident occurred. One thing to keep in mind is that if you carry auto insurance in your state of residence, you are insured nationwide. That’s because almost all car insurance policies sold in the United States provide you and your family coverage no matter which state you’re in during an accident.
While we send every wish for a safe and relaxing road trip, we’re here to answer
questions and help you if things don’t go as planned.
First, you have rights that travel with you, no matter your physical location at
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The Guard Squirrel Who Went Nuts on a Burglar
Anyone robbing a house must know they’re getting into a dangerous situation. But the teenager who burgled Adam Pearl’s Meridian, Idaho, home had no idea what consequences were in store. Many homeowners have a guard dog, but Pearl got his home security from Joey, his pet squirrel. One day in 2017, Pearl came home and saw that something seemed amiss. Joey was excited, and the doors he’d left closed were now open. After finding scratches on the lock of his gun safe, Pearl knew there’d been a robbery and called the police. Officer Ashley Turner couldn’t help but notice Joey’s presence in the house but didn’t believe he was connected with the case — at first. A few hours later, Turner returned to Pearl’s house with his missing belongings and a story to tell. She’d partially identified the perpetrator by the suspicious scratches on his hands.
During questioning, Turner said the burglar confessed to the home invasion and explained why he’d left sooner than intended: Joey attacked while he was attempting to break into the gun safe. Unsurprisingly, the rodent’s violence was frightening. “He wasn’t expecting to have, you know, a squirrel come flying out of nowhere at him,” Officer Turner said. The thief reported that leaving was the only way to stop Joey’s aggression. After learning of his bravery, Pearl rewarded Joey with his favorite candy, Whoppers. But he then had a difficult choice
Ultimately, they let Joey decide. After he started playing with other squirrels through the home’s sliding glass door, the Pearls installed a cat door so he could come and go as he pleased. Joey spent several weeks outdoors with other squirrels by day and returned to the Pearls by night. Eventually, he requested one final scratch behind the ears before disappearing into an apple tree and leaving the Pearls’ house behind forever.
Though Joey
returned to the great outdoors to live with his kind, his legend is a warning to
ahead. When Joey was still a tiny baby, Pearl and his wife had taken in the
abandoned squirrel. They had intended to release Joey back into the wild when spring came, but they were no longer sure.
humans. When you break into someone’s home, you never know what you might find.
TASTY HOLIDAY CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
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 give us a call at 314-293-4222. Thank you for spreading the word about Finney Injury Law.
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
• 10 oz semisweet
1. In a medium heatproof bowl, add chocolate and butter. Set the bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water and stir until chocolate and butter are melted and blended, then remove from heat and let cool slightly. 2. In a medium bowl, beat egg yolks until thick. Then gradually add melted chocolate mixture, stirring until blended. 3. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Then gradually add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. 4. In another bowl, beat cream until stiff peaks form; fold egg whites and then cream into the chocolate mixture. 5. Pour into individual serving dishes and chill for 3 hours or until set.
chocolate, chopped
• 4 tbsp butter • 4 large eggs, separated • 2 tbsp granulated sugar • 1/2 cup heavy cream
Practicing in Missouri and Illinois
1600 S. BRENTWOOD BLVD. SUITE 220 • ST. LOUIS, MO 63144
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FINNEYINJURYLAW.COM // 314-293-4222
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Planning With Intention and Confidence
2
From Your Heart to Theirs: Handcrafted Christmas Cards for Loved Ones
2
Facing an Accident Out of State
3
Guard Squirrel on Duty: The Rodent Who Sent a Burglar Running
3
Tasty Holiday Chocolate Mousse
4
Holiday Highlights
Ideas for Holiday Fun in the Gateway Region KEEP THE SEASON BRIGHT
You don’t have to look very far to find examples of why this season is known as the most wonderful time of the year. That’s because we have a long list of entertaining and unique activities you and your family can enjoy in St. Louis this holiday season. First, you and your family can take the Polar Express at St. Louis Union Station, which runs through Dec. 30. You can also carry on the time-honored tradition of viewing light displays, and we have plenty of remarkable options in the region: the WonderLight’s Christmas display at World Wide Technology Raceway, the Way of Lights and Winter Wonderland in
Tilles Park, Santa’s Magical Kingdom, and the Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Garden. If you’re looking for entertaining options, check out “The Nutcracker” at Touhill Performing Arts Center, “A Christmas Carol” at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, “’Twas the Night Before” by Cirque du Soleil, and “Rudolph the Red- Nosed Reindeer — The Musical” at The Fabulous Fox Theatre. The Christmas tree is one of the central symbols of holiday fun through time. With that in mind, see outstanding specimens at Eckert’s Christmas Tree Farm, Christmas Traditions Tree Farm, or Meert Tree Farm.
For a change of pace, get into the action with ice skating at Steinberg Skating Rink or by making a trip to Winterfest at Kiener Plaza. And don’t forget to take in some premier New Year’s Eve activities, too. Ring in the new year with the New Year’s Eve “Neon Nights” Celebration and Fireworks, New Year’s Eve at Noon at The Lodge Indoor Pool, or the New Year’s Eve Celebration with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. No matter how you choose to celebrate the wonders of the season, here’s wishing you and your loved ones the brightest and merriest of holidays.
Practicing in Missouri and Illinois
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