JULY 2019 KunkelCase Files 800-467-5272 • www.KunkelLawFirm.com • GKunkel@KunkelLawFirm.com
FROM THE DESK OF
Gregory Kunkel, Esq.
DEALINGWITH THE NURSE CASE MANAGER
Many insurance companies assign a Nurse Case Manager (“Nurse CM”) to monitor the care provided to an injured worker and to report back to the insurance company about their condition. While some Nurse CMs provide genuine assistance to injured workers, a large percentage believe their job is to protect the insurance carrier’s bottom line and often try to convince your doctor to return you to work too soon or decide a recommended treatment is not necessary.
THE 2019 SUMMER FAMILY MOVIE GUIDE Beat the Heat by Heading to the Theater
Always exercise caution when dealing with the Nurse CM and keep these tips in mind:
1.
You have the right to demand a private examination without the Nurse CM being present.
In Hollywood, summer is known as blockbuster season. This is when the box office is at its busiest and the releases are most numerous. Amid the apocalyptic fare aimed at teens and adults, you can find plenty of films appropriate for the entire family. This summer in particu- lar, families heading to the theater are spoiled for choice. Nearly every week offers a new film to delight moviegoers of all ages. If you need a respite from the heat, consider taking your clan to one of these exciting options hitting the big screen this season.
2. The Nurse CM does not have the right to select which doctors treat you.
3. Keep your attorney informed about what is happening with the Nurse CM. We have dealt with numerous Nurse CMs and can easily spot red flag warnings if you’re dealing with a biased Nurse CM.
‘ALADDIN’ (MAY 24) AND ‘THE LION KING’ (JULY 19)
Two of Disney’s animated classics get live-action revamps this year, though how much com- puter-generated imaging is permissible in a “live-action”movie is a matter of some debate. Regardless of the semantics, both “Aladdin,”which debuted in May, and “The Lion King,” arriv- ing this month, are poised to be huge favorites with established fans and newcomers alike. Odds are you already know the plotlines of these iconic originals, but you may not be aware of all the details surrounding the new versions. Both movies will be huge spectacles with ornate scenery and updates of the songs you love. “Aladdin” stars Mena Massoud in the title role, along with turns fromWill Smith as Genie and Naomi Scott as Jasmine. The cast of “The Lion King” is truly star-studded and includes Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, and Beyoncé. If previous Disney adaptations are any indication, these movies will likely hew close to the originals.
As always, we are here to guide you through your workers’ compensation claim.
–Gregory
Continued on Page 2 ...
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... Cover story, continued
‘TOY STORY 4’ (JUNE 21)
The plot centers around Dora attempting to solve the mystery of a lost Incan city, so you can expect her to live up to her moniker. As the film poster states: “Explorer is her middle name.”
Sandwiched between those two beloved classics comes the fourth en- try in Pixar’s tentpole franchise “Toy Story.” Buzz, Woody, and the gang will be hitting the road, joined by a new toy in the form of Forky, who is a class project created by Bonnie. If you’ve grown tired of sequel fa- tigue, you may bristle at the idea of another entry in the series, but the folks at Pixar have never failed to deliver. Judging by early impressions, “Toy Story 4” will be a worthy addition to the canon. As has become increasingly obvious with each movie, “Toy Story” is a series for adults as much as children. The movies deal with mature themes but present them in ways that appeal to even the littlest ones. You’ll laugh, you may cry, and you’ll definitely learn a lesson or two. What more could you ask of a family film?
‘PLAYMOBIL: THE MOVIE’ (AUGUST 30)
Playmobil toys may not have the cultural cachet of Legos, but it was only a matter of time before they got a movie of their own. “Playmobil: The Movie” closes out the summer with a release just before Labor Day. In the film, two children are transported to the world of the toys and are transformed into figures. They need to find each other and save the proverbial day. In doing so, they’ll travel through many different worlds and meet a cast of plastic-bodied characters, both friendly and hostile.
Parents who grew up playing with these toys will find nostalgic delight in returning to a familiar world. Whether or not the movie begins a merchandising phenomenon remains to be seen, but if you’re taking your kids to “Playmobil: The Movie,” it may be worth it to see if you have some vintage relics kicking around in the attic.
‘DORA AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD’ (AUGUST 9)
Despite being the longest running series in the history of Nick Jr., “Dora the Explorer” never found her way to the multiplex until now. After 15 years and 179 episodes as a cartoon, she comes to life this summer in “Dora and the Lost City of Gold.” Isabela Moner stars as Dora, along with some voiceover assists from Danny Trejo and Benicio del Toro as Boots the Monkey and Swiper the Fox, respectively.
Amid the devastation of the wildfires that tore through California in the fall of 2017, a few heroic tales rose up to give people hope. One such tale was of Odin, a loyal Great Pyrenees guard dog. Along with his sister, Tessa, and eight rescue goats, Odin is part of the Hendel family. It was mid-October when the Hendels were awoken by the smell of smoke, a fierce orange sky, and sounds of destruction—urgent warnings from Mother Nature. Gathering everyone as quickly as they could, the Hendels got their human family members and Tessa in the car, but Odin, seated proudly next to the eight goats, refused to get in. Try as they might, the Hendels could not get him to come with them, and there wasn’t enough room in the car for the eight goats. With the firestorm quickly approaching and the risk of losing even more family members increasing with each passing minute, the Hendels made the heart-wrenching decision to leave Odin and the goats behind. THE GUARDIANWHO WOULDNOT LEAVE HIS WATCH Odin Lives Up to His Legendary Name
agonizing days, it was finally safe enough for them to return home and survey the destruction.
What did the Hendels find? Ashes, rubble, their barn and home burned to the ground — and Odin. There he was, still guarding his eight goats and some small deer that had sought shelter with the brave canine. Weakened, burned, and limping, but nevertheless steadfast, Odin had never left his goats, even as the fire raged around them. Odin wagged his tail as he saw his family, happy to see they were also safe. The Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue and the Goatlandia Animal Sanctuary provided temporary shelter for the goats and pups while the Hendels rebuilt their barn. Odin received all the care he needed, along with a lot of love and treats. Today, Odin and his goats are back with their family, rebuilding their lives after this devastating wildfire. But the Hendels, and anyone who’s heard the story, won’t soon forget the bravery of Odin, the amazing pup.
The family made it to safety with Tessa in tow, relieved to be together but heartbroken that Odin and the goats weren’t with them. After several
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Physical Therapy vs. Chiropractic
In the modern medical world, there’s no shortage of ways to treat your pain. Still, some rehabilitation systems work best for certain types of ailments, and understanding which recovery methods are available is invaluable. Two important options for any type of pain management are physical therapists and chiropractors. Depending on a number of factors, one may be more helpful than the other, but if they’re used together, you’ll have a much better chance of eliminating your pain. Let’s take a look at how each option can help you. Finding the Best Route for Pain Management A chiropractor is a physician who treats issues involving the musculoskeletal system, which can have an impact on your body’s general function. By manipulating certain areas, their treatment will help free up your muscles and tendons to alleviate pain and improve your mobility. This normally means stretching or resetting your problem areas. In addition to helping with the pain from certain types of persistent issues like soreness, chronic discomfort, or lack of mobility, chiropractors can also work to alleviate symptoms of certain types of infections and even asthma! Their treatments help you to avoid relying on dangerous pain medication or surgeries. CHIROPRACTOR
PHYSICAL THERAPIST
If you’re looking to recover from an injury or surgery, you may want to consider physical therapy. While there’s no end-all treatment for any type of pain, physical therapists work with you to strengthen your muscles and restore your range of motion. By fixing these underlying problems, you can get back to the things you love. While physical therapy is very different from chiropractic on paper, combining the two to treat your pain can generally be very helpful. Depending on what you’re suffering from, physical therapists may use new age technologies like deep-tissue lasers or hydrotherapy to get you back on your feet again. Whatever you’re looking for, the answer probably lies somewhere in the middle. Consulting a medical professional will allow you to understand the best option for your specific case.
Inspired by CookingLight.com
Take a Break!
WATERMELON CUCUMBER SKEWERS
Skewers are a Fourth of July favorite, but these are not your classic kebabs. They’re a fresh, light, and fun way to start a barbecue. Oh, and they don’t require any actual cooking.
Ingredients
•
1 medium-sized watermelon, cubed
•
1 block feta cheese, cut into small cubes 1 bunch fresh mint leaves
•
2 cucumbers, cut into 1/4- inch rounds
• •
Salt, to taste
Equipment •
1 packet of bamboo skewers
Directions 1. Assemble skewers by placing
2. Lightly season with salt and chill in fridge until right before serving.
one watermelon cube, one cucumber round, one feta cube, and one mint leaf on skewer in that order. Repeat until skewer is full.
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Kunkel Law Firm 800-467-5272
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, Suite 4300 Pittsburgh, PA 15219
INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Gregory Kunkel, Esq. PAGE 1 A Summer Movie Guide for Families PAGE 1 A Tail of Bravery PAGE 2 A Look at the Specialized Benefits PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Watermelon Cucumber Skewers PAGE 3 Did You Hear About the Dog Food Burglar? PAGE 4
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How Can a Thief Sue the Family He Robbed? Gone to the Dogs
Have you heard the story of Terrence Dickson? Even if you don’t know the name, you might have heard his strange tale. Dickson was a burglar in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. One day, after breaking into a house and helping himself to some valuables, Dickson decided to leave through the garage. After discovering the automatic garage door was stuck closed, Dickson turned around and was horrified to realize he’d locked himself inside. To make matters worse, the family he was stealing from had just left for an extended vacation, so Dickson lived off of soda and dried dog food for eight days. When the family returned and found the unlucky burglar, a lawsuit was filed — by Dickson! He sued for mental anguish, and the jury awarded him $500,000. There’s nothing that shakes our faith in the justice system quite like injustice being served. When Dickson’s story first gained notoriety in 2001, thanks to an email circulated by the now-defunct Stella Awards newsletter, which highlighted “outrageous lawsuits,” people were
rightfully enraged. There was just one problem: Terrence Dickson never existed.
In 2002, a reporter from Pennsylvania contacted the Bucks County prothonotary’s office, where all records for civil cases in the county are kept. He discovered there was no record of any cases involving such a burglar. It’s worth noting the original email where this story first appeared ended with a call for tort reform from a made-up law firm in Ohio. Likely, this hoax was an attempt to manipulate the public perception of the justice system. Despite being debunked 17 years ago, this tall tale still makes the rounds and often appears on lists of “outrageous lawsuits,”many of which are featured on the websites of legitimate law firms! There are plenty of wacky legal cases, but when a story is too ridiculous, there’s a good chance a few important details are being left out or the readers are being lied to. Don’t believe everything you read online!
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