Take a look at our September newsletter!
TRIALS & THEIR TALES
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12444 POWERSCOURT DR., SUITE 300 • ST. LOUIS, MO 63131 // FINNEYINJURYLAW.COM // 314-293-4222 // SEPTEMBER 2025
Putting the Right People in the Right Roles WHEN TALENT MEETS TRACTION
I just returned from a seminar this past week. It felt like it took two years to coordinate the travel, scheduling, and registering.
in the right seats to make them the most successful they can be. This requires constant tweaking.
This is a problem. Contrary to what some might think, my job should not be running a law office. It should be preparing cases for trial, learning about clients, and trying cases. We have very competent people who can run the office and handle the day- to-day. My best role is learning new techniques and practicing law, not dealing with vendors or managing the calendar. Intentionality needs to be more of a point. Things do not just happen. There must be some direction, some effort, some intention to do what you want to do. Rarely do we blindly stumble into great things or ideas. It happens, but we each need to be staying in our own lanes for the office to be putting out the best product. “As I look at our office makeup, we now have some of the youngest, brightest minds in the state. We are poised to do some great things.” Working only on cases seems like an aspirational goal. And it is not entirely realistic. Parts of our jobs cross over into other areas, no matter how stringently we try to guard against that. Overlap will happen, but the key is to somehow recalibrate back to the status quo we desire. In our case, how do we keep the office moving forward, keep people engaged, keep learning, and serve our clients best? We are constantly dealing with this question. We discuss it on a weekly basis, and we work intentionally to put people
We recently took personality tests to better understand where we all fit and how we can find the best role for each of us. It provided further affirmation of the need for defined roles for each employee, including myself. Unsurprisingly, the results of my test reaffirmed that someone else should be running the office. It was clear as day: A fact I know intuitively was clearly confirmed by the testing. With the help of AI, these tests have become more sophisticated than ever. The testing also provided confirmation that with some of our employees, we are on the right track — kind of like, “Okay, maybe we do make the right decision sometimes.” We have all this information and ideas about what we want to do. But this information means nothing if we do not implement it. That is where the rubber meets the road. How do we take this information we have and intelligently apply it to the inner workings of the office? How do we use it to maximize the experience of our employees and of our clients? The good news: This isn’t my job anymore. The bad news: I am still ultimately responsible for the outcomes in the office and how we perform. However, we have highly skilled people with unlimited potential helping make these decisions. As I
look at our office makeup, we now have some of the youngest, brightest minds in the state. We are poised to do some great things, and I am looking forward to it.
Time for the rubber to burn up the road.
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There’s something special about getting outdoors and hiking this time of year. The air is crisp, the bugs are (mostly) gone, and the trees show off their fiery red, yellow, and orange leaves. Whether you’re a seasoned trekker or just looking to enjoy leaf-peeping and fresh air, fall is the ultimate season to hit the trails. And the U.S. is brimming with stunning places to do just that. Aspen, Colorado Come September, the mountainsides come alive with beautiful golden aspen leaves, hence the name! Hikes like the Cathedral Lake Trail or Maroon Bells Scenic Loop offer beautiful views of alpine lakes with gorgeous foliage and snow-dusted peaks. Just be sure to bring layers — mountain weather can be moody! Acadia National Park, Maine If you want coastal charm mixed with fall colors, Acadia National Park delivers. Right along Maine’s gorgeous coastline, this park is full of color and stunning ocean views — a rare combination! THE ULTIMATE FALL HIKING BUCKET LIST Leaf Lovers Welcome!
Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee and North Carolina
The Smoky Mountains are a fall favorite known for their endless ridgelines and misty valleys. Mid-to-late October is peak foliage season, especially along trails like Alum Cave or Clingmans Dome. Columbia River Gorge, Oregon If you’re looking for some of the most gorgeous waterfalls you’ve ever seen, the Columbia River Gorge is the spot! Trails like Multnomah Falls or Eagle Creek offer pretty fall colors, mossy cliffs, and cascading waterfalls. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia Just a short drive from Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a hidden gem for fall hiking. The Dark Hollow Falls Trail offers a challenging climb with stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. For something gentler, the Stony Man Trail is perfect for families and still offers breathtaking scenery. With over 500 miles of trails, Shenandoah is a fall favorite on the East Coast.
Protecting Kids From Daycare Abuse SAFE, NOT SORRY
the staff for an explanation until, after four days, he finally learned the truth: His daughter had been mistreated by an employee of the center. After this dad reported the daycare facility to the state, he was horrified when officials discovered surveillance videos showing a teacher shoving food down his daughter’s throat and, when she started to choke, smearing food on her face. Also, other employees had been aware of the abuse and failed to intervene. This father has since retained us to take legal action against the facility and pursue justice and fair compensation for his family. Many daycare facilities have been hit by staffing shortages, and most employees make little more than the minimum wage. As a result, about 4 of every 5 daycare facilities nationwide have chronic staffing shortages, increasing the stress for employees.
care centers, each individual caregiver should not be assigned more than four children ages 0–2, eight children at the age of 2, or 10 children ages 3–4. Here are a few other positive signs: Employees have experience and/or training in child development. • All employees have been subjected to background checks. • •
Countless parents are enrolling their children in daycare centers this fall, hoping they will receive nurturing care. While most of the youngsters will be fine, a disturbing minority of child- care facilities are understaffed and unsafe, exposing children to potential abuse and injury. One St. Louis father was worried when he noticed bruises and scratches on his 1-year-old daughter’s body after bringing her home from a daycare center. He asked employees at the center what had happened, but they claimed the marks were harmless symptoms of a made-up illness. This father continued to press
Staff members use age-appropriate behavior management techniques. Caregivers show empathy and concern for children. Public inspection records show consistent compliance with safety regulations.
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The experienced attorneys at our firm have seen the heartbreaking
consequences of daycare abuse, and we are dedicated to holding negligent and abusive caregivers accountable. If you believe your child has suffered from harmful treatment in daycare, reach out to us right away.
Parents choosing child care can watch for several markers of quality. In child-
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Fast Food, Faster Drivers THE RISKY RISE OF APP-DRIVEN ROAD WARRIORS
The next time you drive your car onto the highway, be wary of a growing risk: You are sharing the road with an army of food-delivery drivers who may be distracted, extremely rushed, or both. DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and other third-party delivery services are posting annual sales gains of nearly 30%, and the trend shows no signs of slowing. A staggering 21 million U.S. customers downloaded DoorDash in 2023, and at latest count, the app had 7 million couriers racing through the streets. Those numbers don’t include the millions of drivers working for other, smaller apps — all competing to get meals to customers’ doors quickly! Some delivery services expect couriers to make seven or more deliveries per hour — a chilling quota given that they often must navigate congested streets.
Watching out for food delivery drivers is important for several reasons. Many are prone to getting lost and paying more attention to navigation apps than the road. The time pressure they face can trigger errors in judgment, such as speeding, driving distracted, or failing to stop for traffic lights or stop signs. Many depend on customer ratings, which are based in part on speed of delivery. They may also be pushing hard for tips, since they typically earn only $13–$17 an hour. In Arizona, a pedestrian was killed in 2022 by a car driven by a Grubhub driver who was allegedly looking at his phone, searching for a customer’s house, when he ran a red light and hit the woman in a crosswalk.
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 call us at 314-293-4222. Thank you for spreading the word about Finney Injury Law. injuries, but the individual driver’s insurance may have to be exhausted first. Also, if you are involved in an accident with a delivery driver, insurers may try to intimidate you or bluff you into believing you don’t have a case. If you or someone you care about has been injured in an accident with a delivery driver, contact us for a free consultation. We will be happy to help defend your rights and help you win the compensation you deserve.
Most delivery-service companies carry liability insurance to cover victims’
Turkey and Hummus Collard Wraps With Coconut Curry Sauce
Inspired by ReclaimingYesterday.com
INGREDIENTS Sauce: • 1/2 cup organic full-fat coconut milk • 1/4 cup almond butter • 2 tsp red curry paste • 3 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
DIRECTIONS 1. Mix all sauce ingredients until smooth. 2. Prepare collard leaves by cutting the stems off and trimming the thick vein that runs down the center of the leaf so that it lies flat. 3. Blanch collard leaves by dipping them into hot water, then immediately into cold water. 4. Dry leaves and lay flat, spreading 1–2 tbsp of hummus onto the center of each. 5. Add several turkey slices and sliced veggies. 6. Fold the right and left leaf sides in
• 1 tsp honey • Pinch of salt
Wraps: • 4 large collard green leaves • 1/2 cup hummus, divided • 3/4 lb sliced turkey • 1/2 carrots, grated • 1/4 bell pepper, thinly sliced • 1 zucchini, thinly sliced
toward each other. Roll the collard leaf tight and tuck in the edges. Secure with two toothpicks, slice down the center, and serve with sauce for dipping.
• 1/2 avocado, sliced • 1/4 cup cabbage, thinly sliced
Practicing in Missouri and Illinois
12444 POWERSCOURT DR., SUITE 300 ST. LOUIS, MO 63131
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
FINNEYINJURYLAW.COM // 314-293-4222
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Right People, Right Roles: Rubber Hits the Road!
2
5 Stunning Fall Hikes to Take This Season
2
How to Protect Your Child’s Safety at Daycare
3
Hot Meals, Hazardous Roads: The Delivery Boom’s Dark Side
3
Turkey and Hummus Collard Wraps With Coconut Curry Sauce
4
Recalling the 2018 Duck Boat Disaster
The choice of a lawyer is an important one and should not be based solely upon advertisements.
Remembering the Duck Boat Disaster of 2018 ALEX RECALLS A HISTORIC TRAGEDY
A few weeks ago, my wife took our kids down to Branson, Missouri, for an impromptu summer getaway. It was short, but those last-minute trips always seem to bring the best memories. When I went down to join them for a night, my oldest daughter asked me about duck boats. She had seen an advertisement, and she wanted to know more. As a history buff, I was glad to tell her the story. Our visit took place near the July 19, 2018, anniversary of the horrific duck boat incident on Table Rock Lake near Branson. The boat sank during a severe thunderstorm with 31 people on board. The National Transportation Safety Board investigated and found several problems — including the duck boat’s low freeboard (the space between the water line and the top of the boat), buoyancy issues, and fixed canopies that trapped passengers. Seventeen people lost their lives. Three employees of the duck boat company were federally indicted, but the charges were later dismissed because the lake did not meet the definition of a navigable waterway under federal admiralty law. The state brought charges in 2021,
but those charges were dismissed in 2022 by a Missouri judge who ruled that the facts did not rise to the level of criminal intent under Missouri law. The attorney general again brought charges, which are still pending.
Multiple civil wrongful death claims also were filed on behalf of family members. All 31 lawsuits brought against the duck boat company were settled for undisclosed amounts. The duck boat involved in the accident was a refurbished DUKW vessel built in 1944. DUKW was a military code representing features of these amphibious vehicles. They were used during World War II in the Normandy beach landing on D-Day, and also in the Pacific Theater. Later, the DUKW vehicles were redeployed in the Korean War. The U.S. Coast Guard in 2023 issued new safety mandates for amphibious vehicles, requiring safer canopies, life jackets for all passengers, and additional pumps and alarms on board. Meanwhile, the DUKW boats remain in use, in retrofitted formats, for various tourist attractions.
Practicing in Missouri and Illinois
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