Check out our July newsletter!
JULY 2022
Legally Brief With Kevin Patrick Automobile accidents | Daycare injuries | wrongful death
On the Fourth, I’m Proud to Be an Attorney! 25 LAWYERS HELPED US DECLARE INDEPENDENCE
It’s almost time for one of my favorite events of the year, the Peachtree Road Race. I can hardly believe it’s back! As you may know, running the Peachtree is my personal Fourth of July tradition. I started it when I was just 14 years old and competed in the 1-mile Anthem Peachtree Junior race for the first time. I can still remember the anticipation at the starting line and the thrill I felt sprinting through the cordoned-off Atlanta streets with my eighth- grade buddies. I’ve run the race almost every year since, with the exception of 2020 and 2021 when it was canceled. When I heard the race was back on in person, I felt incredibly blessed. Our city is getting back to normal, and I pray it stays that way! After two years of running alone in my neighborhood, I’m sure it will feel incredible to lace up my running shoes and hit the streets for the Peachtree with hundreds of other people. My family has already made plans to cheer me on and meet me at the finish line. Then, if my legs hold up well enough to leave the couch, we’ll celebrate the Fourth by lighting off a few legal fireworks in our driveway. (The kids love them, but of course, my wife and I will be very mindful of keeping them safe.) This year when I run the Peachtree, I plan to do it in appreciation of not only a return to normal but also the Fourth of July itself and the lawyers who helped make it possible. One of my favorite facts from
musician representing New Jersey; and Abraham Clark, a lawyer and surveyor also from New Jersey. One lawyer, George Walton, represented our very own state of Georgia! And, of course, there was also John Adams — a lawyer who later became president.
As a history buff, I love to imagine what it must have looked like when the members of the Second Continental Congress gathered to sign the Declaration. According to the National Constitution Center, many of the 56 members signed not on July 4, but on Aug. 2, 1776, almost a month after Congress approved the Declaration of Independence! It must have felt like such a momentous occasion for them, taking turns ceremoniously signing the document with their closest peers. The signatures are grouped by state delegation, ranging from the northernmost state of New Hampshire to the southernmost state of Georgia. As a lawyer, it makes me proud to think that more than two dozen of my peers were right there in the middle of the action on July 4 and Aug. 2. Lawyers often get a bad reputation, but these men are proof we’re not all self-centered: We’re patriots who care about our families, our clients, and our countries! That’s a tradition I’m proud to be a part of. I can’t wait to run on behalf of these folks from history on the Fourth, especially my fellow Georgia lawyer, George Walton.
history is that 25 of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 were lawyers by profession. Some of these men held several titles, like Robert Treat Paine, who was a lawyer and scientist from Massachusetts; Francis Hopkinson, a lawyer and
I CAN’T WAIT TO RUN ON BEHALF OF THESE FOLKS FROM HISTORY ON THE FOURTH, ESPECIALLY MY FELLOW GEORGIA LAWYER, GEORGE WALTON.
Happy Independence Day!
This publication is for informational purposes only, and no legal advice is intended.
KEVINPATRICK.LAW I 404.566.5880 • 1
Published by Newsletter Pro www.NewsletterPro.com
He’s So Fined
GEORGE HARRISON’S PLAGIARISM SAGA
In November 1970, George Harrison released his first solo single and biggest hit, “My Sweet Lord.” The song shot to No. 1 internationally and achieved the rare feat of bringing religious devotion to the pop charts. Only one problem arose — despite what the record label said, George Harrison didn’t write it. “He’s So Fine” was written by Ronnie Mack and recorded by The Chiffons only seven years earlier. It became a hit in its own right, with Billboard ranking it as the fifth-biggest single of 1963. Though Harrison had dramatically rearranged the song and written new lyrics, the similarities between “He’s So Fine” and “My Sweet Lord” were undeniable to even the casual listener. Despite Harrison’s lyric that “it takes so long,” the song’s owner, Bright Tunes, wasted no time filing a plagiarism lawsuit in February 1971. It also didn’t take Harrison long to realize his mistake. In fact, the “quiet Beatle” later confessed to the similarities in his book “I Me Mine,” asking, “Why didn’t I realize?” Harrison’s manager, Allen Klein, thought he could make the matter go away by throwing money at it. He suggested that the wealthy
Harrison buy Bright Tunes so that he would own the rights to both songs. Bright Tunes rejected the offer, and the case went to court. The judge found Harrison guilty of “subconscious plagiarism” in 1976 and ordered him to pay lost royalties. But Klein had a ruthless reputation and made an unexpected move. Having been fired by Harrison in 1973, Klein began pursuing a purchase of Bright Tunes on his own starting around 1975. By 1978, Klein owned the catalog and had effectively switched sides in the case, leaving Harrison stunned. It took several more years of legal wrangling (the case was finally resolved in 1998!), but in 1981, Klein sold Harrison “He’s So Fine” for $587,000. Many experts declared that price to be a steal. Despite the public spectacle, Harrison had few regrets about his copycat hit. “I don’t feel bad or guilty about it,” he wrote in his autobiography. “It saved many a heroin addict’s life. I know the motive behind writing the song in the first place far exceeds the legal hassle.” In fact, the ordeal served as inspiration for his tongue- in-cheek single, “This Song,” released in 1976 — proving that a good artist can find inspiration anywhere.
Georgia Inventions Changing Lives COULD YOU NAME THEM ALL?
The U.S. patent office first opened its doors almost exactly 232 years ago — on July 31, 1790. It was a huge
We’ve been drinking it ever since. You can learn everything you’ve ever wondered about Coke (including the secret formula) at the World of Coca-Cola. THE COTTON GIN — For decades folks believed inventor Eli Whitney out of Savannah, Georgia, designed the cotton gin because he patented it in 1794. However, according to the History Channel, it’s possible we should be crediting the woman he was living with: Catherine Greene. The gin changed the textile industry by offering a quicker way to remove seeds from the cotton plant. According to the Georgia Research Alliance, dozens more groundbreaking inventions are coming out of Georgia universities: • A new method for detecting autism in infants • Groundbreaking treatments for HIV • Super-efficient solar cells • Sensors that can detect an oncoming heart attack • Hydrangeas that bloom multiple times per season Pretty amazing, right? We’re so proud to live in the Peach State and can’t wait to see other innovations the coming years might bring.
step for American innovation. With patents, inventors could protect and monetize their ideas. This led to some truly creative products and services, like traffic lights, hearing aids, and even microwave ovens. Here in Georgia, we have hundreds of creative people working away on their own inventions, and some of them have been smash hits. Here are a few of our state’s most famous innovations from over the years! COCA-COLA — Ahh yes, the biggest soda company on the planet. As every Atlantan knows, Coke was first invented right here in our city in 1886 by pharmacist Dr. John S. Pemberton.
You can always reach Kevin directly at 404.566.8964 or Kevin@PatrickTrialLaw.com. (If you ever need it, his cellphone is 404.409.3160.)
2 • KEVINPATRICK.LAW I 404.566.5880
Save Your Precious Time With a Personal, Virtual Car Accident Lawyer!
WHERE YOU ARE. Since we started offering case management over Zoom, Teams, and other platforms, we’ve helped more clients than ever outside of Atlanta. We can also meet while you’re traveling, or invite your out-of- state family to join us virtually. 4. A VIRTUAL LAWYER KEEPS YOU DRY WHEN IT RAINS. This seems small, but it’s always nice to avoid driving in bad weather! With a virtual lawyer, you don’t need to get wet. When you or a friend starts a case with us, you can choose a totally virtual lawyer or a hybrid approach where we meet in person when you want to. It’s up to you! To learn more about this, reach out to me. We can meet on Zoom to talk all about it.
“Hi! My name’s Kevin, and I’m your personal, virtual car accident lawyer.” That might sound like one of my jokes, but it’s actually a line I could use with my clients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, my team discovered we can conduct our car accident cases virtually. That means if you’re in a car crash, I could very well pop up on your home computer screen and introduce myself that way. The discovery that we can accomplish everything from depositions to mediations on Zoom was one of the few silver linings of the pandemic. Here are just four of the perks of a virtual attorney. 1. A VIRTUAL LAWYER SAVES YOU TIME. As I like to say, one of the most precious things we have in life
is time. None of us know how much of it we have, and once we’ve spent it, we can’t get it back. A virtual lawyer is mindful of that. If you choose to conduct your case virtually, you won’t need to spend precious minutes fighting traffic or looking for the right office. You can simply open your laptop and “meet” me in seconds — without paying a babysitter! 2. A VIRTUAL LAWYER SPEEDS UP YOUR CASE. The more time you save by meeting virtually, the more time you can spend on other parts of your case like gathering paperwork and talking with your family. This will speed up the entire process. 3. A VIRTUAL LAWYER CAN MEET YOU (AND YOUR FAMILY) NO MATTER
Take A Break
Red, White, and Blue Tiramisu
Your friends will see fireworks when they taste this all-American dessert at the Fourth of July barbecue. Ingredients
Directions 1. In a large bowl, gently mix all berries with 1/3 cup sugar, orange zest, and orange juice. Cover and refrigerate for 45 minutes. 2. In a medium bowl, beat the cream until soft peaks form. 3. In another medium bowl, mix mascarpone cheese, vanilla, and 1 cup sugar. Gradually fold in whipped cream. 4. Over a shallow bowl, drain the berries. Dip the ladyfingers in the leftover juice and allow the excess to drip off. 5. In a 13x9-inch dish, place half the ladyfingers in a single layer. Add a layer with half of the berries and then half the mascarpone mixture. Repeat layers, starting with ladyfingers. 6. Cover and refrigerate overnight before serving.
• 3 cups raspberries • 3 cups blackberries • 2 cups blueberries • 2 cups strawberries, sliced • 1 1/3 cups sugar, divided • 4 tsp orange zest • 1 cup orange juice • 1 cup heavy whipping cream • 2 8-oz cartons mascarpone cheese • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 2 7-oz packages crisp ladyfinger cookies
Solution
KEVINPATRICK.LAW I 404.566.5880 • 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
2860 Piedmont Road N.E. • Suite 140 Atlanta, Georgia 30305
Inside This Issue 1 25 Lawyers Helped Make History 2 Ex-Beatle Sued for Plagiarism 7 Groundbreaking Georgia Inventions 3 4 Perks of a Virtual Lawyer
Red, White, and Blue Tiramisu 4 How Distractions Are Hurting Us
Follow Us @KPatricklaw
Overcoming Inattention
Strategies to Fight Distraction
With our phones always on standby, we’re more easily distracted than ever. Then there are also interruptions by coworkers or family members, emails or instant messages that divert our attention, household chores that will “only take a minute,” coffee breaks, and daydreams. Constant distraction hurts us more than we realize, creating a feedback loop of inattention. It’s time we understand what all this multitasking is doing to our minds and figure out how to break the cycle. No matter how good you think you are at it, multitasking doesn’t exist. What we’re really doing is called task-switching. Our brains can concentrate on only one thing at a time, and the quicker we go back and forth between tasks, the less we pay 4 • KEVINPATRICK.LAW I 404.566.5880
attention, and the more likely we are to make mistakes. Even worse, research says it takes us a whopping 23 minutes to regain our concentration after being interrupted. But what can you do? If you’ve ever been on a diet, you know that willpower has its limits. Simply promising you won’t check your email or phone
And mental tricks can still have their place. You probably tend to become productive when you’ve got a deadline crunch, and there’s a reason for that. Tasks have a way of stretching out unnecessarily when we don’t have to follow any restrictions. So, make some! Determine how much time you need to complete a task, and then don’t allow yourself anymore. Ask a colleague for help staying accountable. You’ll be amazed at how much you get done. Though we each have to fight our own battles, this isn’t entirely our fault. Popular apps make billions of dollars by sucking our attention away from everything else, so we’re automatically at a disadvantage. And there may be even more than meets the eye. If you have difficulty concentrating, stress could be the underlying culprit. Get that under control, and distractions might suddenly lose some of their allure.
rarely results in long-term success. But if technology is a big part of the problem, it can also be part of the solution. Try putting your email or phone notifications on silent. Or, consider a
website blocker to keep you off distracting websites and an app that will lock distracting features on your phone. Low-tech solutions like a “do not disturb” sign and putting your phone in another room can also help.
Published by Newsletter Pro www.NewsletterPro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator