Check out our March newsletter!
CaseBarnettLaw.com
949-565-4886
MARCH 2018
Our family members are often the first people we lean on during hard times. A recent case we took on at the firm involved the wrongful death of a 20-year-old man. While working on the case, I saw how this young man’s family supported each other during their difficult time. It was heartbreaking to watch the pain these people were in. You could clearly see how important family was to them. They shared many stories about himwith me, wanting to honor his memory. This young man had a large family with roots in Mexico. Whenever they got together, he would cook up all the food. Many of my clients have taught me how important preparing and sharing food is to their cultural tradition. It’s a pillar of both the current family dynamic and a connection to past family members. Losing a loved one left a mark on the family, and in addition to leaning on each other, this family utilized their cultural traditions to help in the mourning process. With St. Patrick’s Day quickly approaching, I have been thinking about family heritage and how our origin influences who we are today. My mother-in-law’s side of the family hails from Italy and Norway. Meanwhile, ancestors on my father-in-law’s side and my own came to the United States from Ireland. For a long time, the most we did to celebrate our Irish heritage was eat corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day. But while I was in college, my momwent back to school to get her Ph.D in Irish studies at University College Dublin. CULTURAL TRADITIONS CELEBRATE OUR HERITAGE WHO WE ARE
people we met in Dublin were incredibly welcoming and friendly. They have even come to visit us in the years since our first visit.
I also loved the pub culture of Ireland. There’s a community in an Irish pub that you don’t often find in American bars. People in Ireland aren’t holed up at home every night. They go out to the pub to engage with their neighbors over a drink and to talk about government, life, and sports. While in Ireland, we stopped by a pub in this tiny town in the middle of nowhere. It was full of people from the surrounding farms, gathering to decompress after a long day and connect with each other through stories. We can learn a lot about a person by listening to their cultural traditions, from the food they enjoy to how they mourn the loss of a loved one. There is something completely beautiful about the traditions we inherit from our family. They are so integrated into who we are as human beings. Our traditions keep us
My mom always had an interest in her Irish heritage, and I thought it was amazing of her to become fully committed to the subject. Her passion inspired
connected to the family who came before us and to the family who will come after we’re gone. Shared values and traditions remind us we’re part of something greater, and whatever culture you come from, that’s worth celebrating. –Case Barnett
the rest of our family to embrace our roots a little more. While in Ireland, my mom got to know a lot of wonderful people, and we were able to meet some of themwhen we visited. I was blown away by the tradition of hospitality in Ireland. The
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949-565-4886 TO THE WALL From the Web
CaseBarnettLaw.com
Tools to Print Your Social Media Photos you can then browse PhotoAffections.com, where you can order a variety of custom products, including magnets, canvas prints, and phone cases. SOCIAL PRINT STUDIO Functioning as both a website and a stand-alone app, Social Print Studio is a small company based in San Francisco that has been printing social media photos since 2010. While this company is capable of printing photos of your social media posts, they can do so much more with your digital memories. Social Print Studio’s products are divided into four categories: photobooks, the classics, wall art, and everything else. You can order your photos printed in soft, hard, or layflat book form. Their classic options include postcards, mighty prints, and photostrips. Or, turn your photos into beautiful wall art with metal prints, canvas prints, and wall calendars. You can even get greeting cards, stickers, and buttons. Pricing varies by item, but one thing remains constant: Social Print Studio is dedicated to offering the best products possible. The app is free and available for iPhone, iPad, and Android. While sharing photos on social media accounts is an easy way to store your memories, these apps will help you keep and display those memories for years to come. The next time you need to spiff up your walls or give an extra-special gift, pay them a visit!
According to Gizmodo, Facebook users upload 300 million photos per day. Similarly, 95 million photos and videos are shared on
Instagram daily. Social media is a great platform for sharing and storing, but what if you want to literally hold on to those memories? That’s where Free Prints and Social Print Studio come into play. FREE PRINTS The most attractive aspect of the Free Prints app is right in the name. Users can download 85 free 4-by-6-inch photo prints a month (up to 1,000 a year). But you can only print one free copy of each photo. Additional prints will run you 9 cents each. Standard shipping costs $2.99, and your photos arrive within five to 13 days. Or, for an additional dollar, they can arrive in four to six days. If you choose to print photos in sizes other than 4-by-6 inches, you will have to pay more for the service. The app is well-designed and easy to use; you can print photos from your device’s library or link your accounts to print directly from Facebook, Instagram, Dropbox, Flickr, and Picasa. The app is free and available for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and Windows 8. Once your photos are uploaded and saved,
4 Ways to Show Love
A Little Appreciation Goes a Long Way TO YOUR EMPLOYEES
employees can credit each other or you can provide a public forum for verbal encouragement. Either way, receiving wider recognition will mean a lot to your staff. Let Them Take Charge If you see a team member taking the reins on a project, you need to reward their initiative. Employees who feel empowered to bring their own ideas into the fold are often the most productive and satisfied staff members. When you notice somebody going above and beyond, don’t let them toil in silence. A little acknowledgment and confidence will inspire other team members to bring their A-game, as well. Little Tokens That Make a Difference What if every one of your employees walked in on Valentine’s Day to find some candy hearts on their desk? And what if a few randomly selected boxes had a slip for a few hours of paid time off? It costs almost nothing to you, but it shows you’re thinking of them. Little, creative bonuses like this can be a huge pick-me-up. Don’t announce your plans in advance. The surprise will make the gesture all the sweeter.
Spreading a little positivity will raise employee morale, and it doesn’t require a grand gesture on your part. Here are some easy, meaningful ways to let your employees know you care. Have a Staff Dinner This one sounds obvious, but too few companies take the time to break bread with their teams. Eating is a fundamentally communal activity, and getting everyone together for a meal will boost spirits. Put a moratorium on any shop talk and use the meal as a chance to learn more about your employees’ lives. If you have a larger staff, it’s better to break into teams. Your staff dinner shouldn’t feel like a work event. The goal should simply be to have a good time. Make Acknowledgment Public Sometimes, a simple high-five and “Job well done!” is enough to remind your employees of your appreciation. But if you want to take giving props to the next level, create a shared space where employees can spread the love around. You can create a wall in the break room where
“This publication is intended to educate the general public about personal injury and elder abuse. It is not intended to be legal advice. Every case is different.”
CaseBarnettLaw.com
949-565-4886
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FROM PROSECUTION TO DEFENSE Brian Gurwitz Defends His Clients’ Rights
F or 13 years, Brian Gurwitz prosecuted criminal cases in Orange County as a senior deputy district attorney. In that time, he played a key role in some of Orange Country’s most high-profile cases, arguing cases before the California Supreme Court and testifying before both houses of the legislature. Gurwitz also saw firsthand how police misconduct, brutality, and corruption can affect the highest levels of law enforcement. While working as a prosecutor, Gurwitz investigated a number of prison inmates’ appeals, discovering new evidence which proved their innocence on more than one occasion. Influenced by his own experiences, Gurwitz has said, “A strong criminal defense is a critical check against the misuse of government power.” Today, Brian Gurwitz is one of Orange County’s best criminal defense attorneys and runs his own firm. From misdemeanors to serious felonies, Gurwitz avidly protects the rights of all his clients. With over 20 years of experience under his belt and ample firsthand knowledge of the strategies used by the prosecution, clients who call Gurwitz find themselves in good hands. Brian Gurwitz is also one of our firm’s referral partner attorneys and has sent us numerous cases over the years. Most recently, he referred us a premises liability case. Gurwitz’s client was being investigated
for potential criminal wrongdoing, but the client ended up having a civil claim against a landowner. We expect this case to settle in a few weeks and we wanted to publicly thank Brian for sending the case our way. We are grateful to Mr. Gurwitz and for all our referral partners. Get to know The Law Office of Brian Gurwitz for yourself at gurwitzlaw.com.
LAUGH! Have a
Zesty Zucchini Enchiladas
For a lighter take on enchiladas, go carb-free by swapping tortillas for zucchini!
Ingredients
• • • •
2 teaspoons cumin
• • • •
4 large zucchini
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 tablespoon olive oil or ghee
3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
1 large onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups shredded cheese
Directions
the zucchini “tortilla” and place on baking sheet. Repeat until all zucchini and chicken is used. 3. Cover the enchiladas with remaining sauce and sprinkle with cheese. Bake 20 minutes, and enjoy!
1. Heat oven to 350 F. In a large skillet, heat oil. Add onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and salt to taste. Stir to combine. Add chicken and 1 cup enchilada sauce. 2. Use vegetable peeler to thinly slice zucchini.
Lay out three slices, slightly overlapping, and spoon chicken mixture on top. Roll
Adapted from delish.com.
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949-565-4886
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
245 Fischer Avenue, Suite B4 Costa Mesa, CA 92626
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Page 1 What Keeps Us Connected
Page2 Hold On toYour Memories
Page 2 Your Employees Need Love, Too!
Page 3 Defending Clients’Rights
Page 3 Go Carb-Free for Dinner
Page 4 AreYou Keeping UpWithYour Goals?
KEEPING UP WITH YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO STAY ON TRACK AND PUSH FORWARD
March is the month of spring time and rejuvenation. It’s also the time when most people have forgotten about the resolutions and goals they set earlier in the year. Have you neglected or given up your goals? If you have, you are far from alone. Most people let their goals fall to the wayside at least by March, if not long before. It comes down to four simple reasons.
The best way to stay on track is to be as specific as possible. Understand what you need to do to accomplish your goals. Make sure you have access to the appropriate resources that will help you make progress. Resources come in all forms. Look to the people around you for accountability — your family, friends, neighbors, or colleagues. If you don’t want to involve anyone else, keep a notebook or diary to track progress. Or if you are learning a new skill, such as a foreign language for a trip next year, the resource you need may be an app on your phone. When you bring specific goals together with the necessary resources, achieving your dreams becomes more possible than ever before. You just have to take steps to avoid falling into the mistakes listed above. Set attainable concrete goals, track your progress, and check in with someone to keep you accountable. Since it’s been a few months, take a moment to review how far you’ve come since January. What do you need to do to make 2018 your best year yet?
• They set goals that were out of reach or unrealistic.
•
They had zero accountability.
•
They set abstract goals.
•
They didn’t track progress.
Setting goals is the easy part. A lot of people say they want to lose weight, eat better, learn a new skill, or try a new hobby, but they don’t define their goals any further. Vague goals aren’t really goals at all.
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