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LEGAL BRIEF
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AUGUST 2025 FriedmanSimon.com
FROM BINGHAMTON TO THE COURTROOM
FINDING MY PATH TO LAW
August 30 is national college colors day, so I jumped at the opportunity to write about my college experience. I didn’t start college knowing I’d become a lawyer. When I arrived at Binghamton in 2004, I wasn’t sure what direction life would take me. I had grown up on Long Island, knowing only my family — here and in Greece — and the people I went to high school with, and I hadn’t seen much outside of that world. College felt like a big step. It was my first chance to be completely left to do things for myself, and meet different people from all over the world. As an added bonus, it allowed me to make lifelong friends (with a bit of luck — the people assigned to my dorm suite freshman year by chance are my best friends). My parents worked hard to give me opportunities, instilling the value of hard work coming from Greece and working to build a life here in the United States. My father is a cabinetmaker with his own business started within a few years of coming from Greece and learning the language, and my mom has always worked while also managing our family household, including many years for a school most recently. I was the first in my family to go to college, and Binghamton seemed like a wise choice. It was a respected, affordable school, drivable from Long Island, but far enough away for independence. While the first year was incredible in terms of the memories made – it certainly was a shock to my system from a scholastic stand point. In high school, everything came easily to me — but that was not the case in college. One professor gave a test on day one that we had to pass to stay enrolled; half the class failed and was booted from the class, something I will never forget. I passed the qualification test, but maybe
it wasn’t a good thing, as I ultimately did poorly in the class. The entire winter break I had nightmares about my poor first semester grades — which I used to fuel me to reset and return ready to tackle what was ahead of me. As I got comfortable with my new study routine and was exposed to different classes, my thoughts about the future shifted. At first, I thought I might want to be a history teacher. After taking philosophy of law classes and shadowing an attorney cousin back on Long Island during a school break, the idea of law started to take hold. To give myself a solid foundation, I chose a double major focused on economics, philosophy, politics, and law. Of course, school wasn’t the only thing going on. In addition to various activities around campus with my roommates (forgive my inside joke rambling — the four Gs, brave warriors, asocksination, dining hall cram jam, totally tortellini, the piano master, all of the creative games and local tournaments we would play, team cheezul, etc), I also served as president of the Greek Club and made a point of keeping the community close with diner trips, barbecues, and Easter week church for the other students in the club to feel at home while away at school. In addition
to all of that, I had a part time job as a server at a local restaurant. I may not have realized it then, but learning how to organize and lead in those settings gave me listening and people skills I’d use for the rest of my life. The scholastic difficulties of my first semester a thing of the past, I graduated and went straight to law school at Hofstra Law, moving back to my parents home on Long Island. I had to find a new gear in law school, working harder than I had ever had previously — spending hours on end in the law school library during my three years at Hofstra, often turning down social events to focus on the task at hand. With that said, Hofstra wasn’t just about grinding through the school work — it also provided an opportunity to meet many great people and have tremendous experiences and internships to help prepare me for my career. One memory that sticks out is from when my legal writing professor (whose citation lessons I still follow when preparing my legal arguments) took us on a field trip to the appellate division in Brooklyn. After watching arguments, he had us stop at his favorite deli nearby. It’s funny the details that remain. Just recently, I was back in that same courthouse for an oral argument, and those memories came right back to me as first, there were other law students watching my argument on a field trip of their own, and then next, as I walked past the same deli after my argument. While the real education that prepares you for your career comes after graduation, I’ve never stopped building on my experiences from my college and law school days.
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A Cashew King’s Compelling Rise From Couch to Culinary Star
A little over a decade ago, Joshua D. Velasquez called his aunt’s sofa in the Bronx his home while attempting to make something of himself in New York City. At the same time, he struggled with a health issue affecting more than 30% of the U.S. population: lactose intolerance. One day, he had an epiphany: Why not address both problems simultaneously by going into business as a plant-based cheesemaker? Fast-forward to 2025: Velasquez and his partner, Adam R. Hamilton, lead one of the nation’s most respected plant-based food companies … and it all started by finding inspiration in a popular snack. FROM CRUNCH TO CAPITAL In 2014, Velasquez transformed his parents’ basement in Harrisville, New Hampshire, into an ad hoc fermentation lab to develop the perfect non-dairy cheese. After four years of research and development, he succeeded in fermenting plant-based cheese using an uncommon source: cashews. Soon, he and Hamilton launched Clean Simple Foods, Inc. — New England’s first plant-based cheese producer — and brought their creations to market under the brand Nuttin Ordinary. Last year, the duo rebranded their products as Shire’s Naturals.
Unsurprisingly, the clearest sign of the company’s growing success was that Velasquez could finally stop couch surfing. Now based in Peterborough, New Hampshire, Clean Simple Foods, Inc. manufactures its ever-popular items out of an 8,000-square-foot facility. Shire’s Naturals products are available at over 300 food retailers in the Northeast, including Whole Foods and Market Basket. Last year, the company’s sales rose 96% from April through December, marking a dramatic increase in market recognition and profit. A HEALTH-FOCUSED HONOREE With plant-based diets growing in popularity across the U.S., Clean Simple Foods, Inc. continues to generate sales and accolades by delivering goods that live up to its name. Last spring, the company was named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Small Business Manufacturer of the Year for New Hampshire. In addition to honoring the company for its ingenuity and rapid growth, the SBA’s announcement on the award also credited Velasquez’s resourcefulness in seeking “SBA-backed funding provided by Mascoma Bank, support from the Monadnock Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) [and] the Community Development Finance
Authority (CDFA) funds, and the backing of local investors” to help make his goals a reality.
In addition to consistently seeking financial assistance when needed, Velasquez also benefited from admirable economic foresight. In 2019, long before COVID-19 and today’s concerns over tariffs, he negotiated locked-in rates from his cashew suppliers in Vietnam and South Africa. REVOLUTION THROUGH RAVIOLI Based on its astronomical sales in 2024, it's no surprise that Clean Simple Foods has major plans for the rest of this year and beyond. Its dairy-free ravioli line is set to expand significantly, and the company intends to increase employment opportunities in New England. By focusing on finding solutions to his physical and financial needs, Velasquez began an animal-friendly entrepreneurial adventure that shows no signs of slowing down. If there’s one critical lesson from his meteoric rise in the retail food world, it’s this: Never count out the person living on your couch.
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I didn’t plan on working in personal injury law, but an internship during law school showed me how vital this work is. You’re not just moving papers around or working for a big corporation — you are helping real people through difficult, often life-changing situations. Listening and connecting with people can be as crucial as knowing the law. You learn those skills over time, but the foundation for me was built upon in those days at Binghamton and Hofstra, as well as through all of the part time jobs and internships I had during those years. I ended up finding full time work as a personal injury attorney in 2013 after graduating Hofstra and have not looked back ever since.
Now, life has taken another turn. I have a brand-new baby at home, and some of those old Binghamton friends and I are already talking about a 20-year reunion trip to Binghamton coming up in 2028. Time
really does fly by. If nothing else, it reminds me that the lessons and friendships from your college years stick with you, sometimes in ways you don’t expect. -John G. Papadopoulos
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Thinking Outside the Box
A $400K RECOVERY AFTER A SUBWAY INJURY
Not every injury case begins with a clear path forward. Some require creative thinking to secure the result our client deserves. A recent case from our office is a great example. Our client, a young woman, was walking through the Times Square subway station, transferring between trains, when something completely unexpected happened. A moped driver — who should never have been riding in the station on a platform filled with people in the first place — sped through the crowd and struck our client in the head. The impact knocked her unconscious. She suffered a fractured orbital socket, a serious concussion, and other lasting injuries. At first, the situation looked bleak. The moped driver fled the scene. Without a known defendant or clear insurance source,
the family and client feared they would be left without any recovery options. That’s where creative thinking came in. Our team explored every possible angle and discovered that the client qualified as a resident of her parents’ household in upstate New York, even though she was apartment hunting in New York City at the time of the accident. Her parents' uninsured motorist (UM) policy protected all members of the household and provided coverage for incidents involving ‘qualified’ vehicles. Under the policy, a moped that can travel over a certain speed qualifies as a vehicle that would lead to protection from the policy. When we submitted the claim, the insurance company pushed back. They argued that because our client had been unconscious and it was a hit and run, she couldn’t verify what type of vehicle hit her.
We took the issue to court and won, utilizing incident reports made in the regular course of business of responding officers and medical evidence documented by first responders, securing her right to uninsured motorist coverage under the policy of her parents. In the end, we negotiated a $400,000 settlement just before the scheduled arbitration hearing — a life-changing result in a case where many would have seen no recovery path. Cases like this show why it’s so important to have experienced legal advocates in your corner. Even when things seem impossible, the right team can help find a way forward. Contact us if you or someone you know is facing a difficult injury case. We’re here to explore every option and fight for the result you deserve.
SUDOKU
Summer Chickpea Salad Inspired by HowSweetEats.com
Ingredients • 2 (15-oz) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed • 4 green onions, thinly sliced • 2 ears grilled corn, kernels cut from the cob • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered • 3 tbsp chopped fresh basil • 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
• 1/4 tsp salt • 1/4 tsp pepper • 3 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar • 1 1/2 tbsp honey • 3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed • 1 lime, zested and juiced
Directions
1. In a large bowl, combine chickpeas, onions, corn, tomatoes, basil, and chives. 2. Toss well with salt and pepper and set aside. 3. In a small saucepan over low heat, add oil, vinegar, honey, garlic, lime juice, and zest. 4. Whisk until the mixture is warm and garlic begins sizzling. 5. Pour over the chickpea mixture and toss well to coat. 6. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
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College Friendships and Career Foundations INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 2 3 Plant-Powered Profits Turning a Complex Case Into a Win
Summer Chickpea Salad
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Retain, Reward, Repeat
RETENTION REAPS REWARDS TIPS FOR BUILDING BRAND BELIEVERS
REPEAT CUSTOMERS OFFER MORE THAN MONEY. Along with better ensuring regular sales, building a retained customer base enables you to gain feedback on what keeps them returning or may deter them from returning. Do they utilize one product/service while ignoring another? Have you asked them for their thoughts on how to refine your services? Have you adequately addressed any negative feedback? Input from those familiar with your services is often more valuable than attempting to draw in new clientele through a new product or promotion that doesn’t have a proven track record of generating sales. FREQUENT CONSUMERS ARE YOUR TRUE MARKETING PROS. A frequent customer’s free praise for your business is worth more than any marketing budget could ever achieve. In addition to considering adding incentives in your loyalty program for referrals, encourage satisfied returning customers to post positive feedback on their social media about why you’re their preferred provider. In the age of Facebook and Instagram, a photo of a happy customer using your product, accompanied by positive words about their experience, will tell your story more convincingly and effectively than promoting your brand yourself.
If you think gaining new customers is the most critical goal of any business, you’d be wrong. While attracting revenue through new sales is key for continued growth, retaining new customers is equally crucial to building your bottom line. Here are three essential considerations to remember when trying to keep customers coming back. IT’S CHEAPER TO KEEP EXISTING CUSTOMERS THAN TO ATTRACT NEW ONES. An existing customer generates more income for your business than you may realize. In addition to spending money on your product or service, they save your business money since you’ve already done the heavy lifting to get them there and don't need to spend the same amount to get them to return. What you do need is a game plan to ensure their ongoing patronage. Implementing a loyalty program is one way to appeal to potential repeat customers at a minimal cost compared to winning them over the first time. Elements of successful loyalty programs include giving existing customers early access to new products, service offerings, exclusive discounts, special prize drawings, and point systems that award free items for frequent purchases.
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