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A collection of thoughts and stories to educate, entertain, and inspire. September 2023 P ACKARD P RESS The
IT’S OFFICIAL: WE’RE REPRESENTING MELISSA PEREZ’S FAMILY AGAINST THE SAPD Why Our Firm Took This Landmark Wrongful Death Case
You’ve probably heard about Melissa Perez. It’s a very sad case, both for the victims and the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD). Having been featured on CNN, “Good Morning America,” Univision, CBS News, NPR, and countless other national news outlets, this is a story about how things can go terribly wrong, even among our institutions designed to protect. On the evening of June 23, 2023, Melissa Perez was having a mental health crisis at her apartment and cut the cables leading to the fire alarm. Her neighbor called the police, and when they arrived, they found Melissa out walking her dog. The police followed her back to her apartment, drew their guns, and threatened to shoot her. Terrified, she tossed a glass candle at them. Police body cam footage shows that, instead of walking away and waiting for the mental health team, three SAPD officers pulled their guns and shot at least 15 rounds through the glass windows and door, killing Melissa in her own house. Anyone who watches the footage is left in horror, asking: “How could this happen here in San Antonio?” “We certainly appreciate our men and women in blue, but we know that tragic deaths like Melissa’s can and should be prevented, keeping more San Antonio families together and safe.”
The Packard Law Firm now represents Melissa’s four children against the San Antonio Police Department in a civil claim for wrongful death. Dan Packard is lead counsel, and he has explained that we seek “change in the way the police department operates. It needs to change its response to people who have mental illness so they receive compassionate care rather than a paramilitary response.” Even though our firm is best known for handling auto accidents and Social Security Disability cases, we’ve taken many complicated wrongful death cases in the past — including a 2018 case based on insurance fraud and murder, winning a $166 million dollar jury verdict. We are pulling out all the stops to fight for justice for Melissa’s family and to make San Antonio a safer place to live. My heart breaks for Melissa’s family, and I’m glad her four children found us, particularly my brother Dan. I know he’ll do everything he can to help them. We certainly appreciate our men and women in blue, but we know that tragic deaths like Melissa’s can and should be prevented, keeping more San Antonio families together and safe. If you want to learn more about Melissa Perez’s case and how our firm is involved, you can follow us on social media or watch our video, “Press Release From the Packard Law Firm on Behalf of Melissa Perez’ Family,” on YouTube. If you can, take a minute today to hug the people you love and think of Melissa and her family. And then, hug them again.
Signed,
– Michael Packard
Within 24 hours, SAPD had fired the three officers and arrested them for murder. The criminal process has now begun.
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THE REAL SEA MONSTER A Giant Whale That Terrified the Byzantine Empire Social media lit up in spring of 2023 with news that orcas were attacking boats off the coasts of Portugal and Spain. Experts can’t agree on the reason behind this aggressive behavior, but history tells us it’s not the first time whales have gone rogue against sea vessels in their midst. Citizens of the Eastern Roman Empire (aka the Byzantine Empire) dealt with a similar problem in the form of a fearsome giant whale they named Porphyrios. Porphyrios struck terror into the hearts of fishermen, merchants, and soldiers who frequented the waters around Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey) during the 6th century; he spent roughly 50 years attacking boats of all sizes throughout the area. Then he would disappear for years at a time, but the locals never knew when he would reappear to sink more ships. The whale caused so many problems for commerce and defense that Roman Emperor Justinian I reportedly prioritized capturing or killing him. But even the greatest war strategists could not devise a way to take Porphyrios down. He was like a natural disaster, and leaders could stop him no more than they could hold off a hurricane. As with today’s killer whales, experts are unsure what drove Porphyrios’ behavior. Since cameras would not be invented for more than 1,000 years, there are no photographs of Porphyrios, and it’s impossible to know what species he was. Due to his enormous size and apparent long life, many marine biologists believe he was a sperm whale. However, others point out that sperm whales rarely live in the region where Porphyrios caused his mayhem and think he was an orca — perhaps an ancestor of the modern-day boat bashers around Europe.
Watch Our Epic Family Music Video! You’ve probably noticed by now that I have a big family. I’m one of 13 Packard kids, and in addition to working at the firm together, we throw epic Packard Family Reunions. This year, we used some of our reunion time at Lake Buchanan to do something new: Record a family music video! My brother David wrote the song “We Are One” with help from my daughter Sabrina. Then, my nephew Samuel (a professional DJ) produced it while my niece Christina shot the music video. Even the editing was done by the family! It was amazing to see Samuel turn a cabin on the lake into a recording studio. He brought in a truckload of equipment, and we all took turns singing a line or two. As a Packard Law Firm client, you’re part of our family, too, so I want to share the video with you! You can find “We Are One” on YouTube by searching “We Are One Packard Legacy” or scanning the QR code on this page. After you watch the video, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Music runs in our family, and my daughter, Sabrina, definitely has the gift. She’s only 16, but she has already released three singles (“Hollow,” “Honey,” and “Summer State of Mind”) and is in the middle of producing her first pop album under her stage name, Sabrina JaNae! Sabrina truly loves what she does. Even after school, sports, and other activities, she plays the piano late into the night. I’ve often walked past to find her writing songs and coming up with lyrics, chord structures, and melodies on the fly. As her dad, it’s incredibly fun to watch! There’s nothing quite like the magic of an artist in action. Samuel is recording and producing Sabrina’s music, and she asked me to help her release her songs on all streaming platforms (Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, and a bunch more). How cool is that? If you enjoy music like Taylor Swift and Shania Twain, I highly recommend looking up Sabrina JaNae. THE PACKARD FAMILY REUNION TOOK A MUSICAL TWIST
Unfortunately for Porphyrios and animal lovers, the whale’s antics eventually caught up with him. While chasing a school of dolphins, Porphyrios beached himself near the mouth of the Black Sea and struggled unsuccessfully to push his
body back into the ocean. Meanwhile, Byzantines caught wind that their enemy was helpless and attacked with ropes and axes, giving Porphyrios a gory death and themselves a feast of whale meat.
Despite his inauspicious end, Porphyrios is still the only whale to threaten the Roman Empire. We can only hope he will be the only marine life ever to pose such a threat.
– Michael Packard
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It means a lot to our team when you leave us a five-star review or refer us to your friends and family. Here are just a few of the notes that made us smile recently! THANK YOU FOR THE 5-STAR REVIEWS!
“I highly recommend Packard Law Firm. I was involved in a hit-and-run accident while on the way to attend my granddaughter’s 3rd birthday party. The person that hit me drove off, not even considering that I was injured. I was uncertain how to handle the situation. I had heard of previous friends that worked with Packard and were pleased. It was the best decision I ever made. [My lawyer] made sure that my car was repaired and I received quality medical treatment. Brent Packard is an amazing attorney.” –Stac
“We used Packard Law Firm for a special needs trust and guardianship. Alison was amazing, providing advice and step-by step-instructions throughout the entire process. She was personable and took the time to answer all our questions. Alison went above and beyond with quick communication and care.” –Larry R.
“[I had an] incredible experience from the first phone call to the in-person meeting. The receptionist is extremely attentive and makes direct eye contact. She was very helpful and patient with the directions to the office when [Google Maps] was a fiasco. The attorney, David, is very caring, knowledgeable, and meticulous. I finally feel totally secure and confident this law firm will work hard for everything I should be entitled to with my benefits from Social Security. The Packard family is everything they claim to represent with the utmost integrity.” –Lonnie K.
Thank you, Stac, Larry, and Lonnie, for your kind words! We’re proud to represent you.
TAKE A BREAK
Honey-Pecan Chicken Breasts Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Ingredients
• 2 6-oz boneless, skinless chicken breast halves • 1/4 tsp salt • 1/4 tsp garlic powder • 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper • 1 tbsp butter • 3 tbsp honey • 2 tbsp finely chopped pecans
Directions
1. Pound chicken with a meat mallet to 1/2-inch thickness. Sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. 2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat butter over medium heat; brown chicken on both sides. Cook covered until chicken is no longer pink, about 6–8 minutes, turning once. 3. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with pecans. Cook covered until chicken is glazed, about 2–3 minutes.
Aster Blueberries Citizenship Grandparents
Homework Labor Leaves Moonstone
Prepare School Virgo Windy
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Packard Law Firm Advocates for Change at the SAPD Byzantine Empire Declared War … On a Whale? Listen to the Packard Family’s Star Singers! Thank You for the 5-Star Reviews! Honey-Pecan Chicken Breasts
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Truly Bizarre State Laws
The Packard Family Is Here to Help Your Family! Personal Injury | Social Security Disability | Car Accidents | Special Needs Planning
TRULY BIZARRE STATE LAWS
In every state, you must abide by laws whether you’re a legal resident or a visitor passing through. For the most part, state laws are understandable and make sense. However, some laws are so weird and absurd that they make you scratch your head in confusion.
a week, and they must be at least 48 hours apart. Furthermore, a bingo game cannot last longer than five hours per session.
Do you want false teeth? Women need permission from their spouses in Vermont! If you want to get dentures, implants, veneers, or other dental work done, as long as you’re an adult, you don’t need permission from anyone to have these procedures done. But in Vermont, if a woman wants false teeth, they first need permission from their husband before doing so. Thankfully, this law isn’t enforced but hasn’t been removed from the books, either! You can’t play pinball until you’re 18 in South Carolina. Pinball is a fan-favorite arcade game many people enjoy. However, anyone under 18 is prohibited from playing if you’re visiting
Here are some of the weirdest laws on the books in four different states.
No surprise deliveries or purchases in Louisiana! When you want to do something nice for someone, you may set up a surprise delivery of food, flowers, or other products or services to their doorstep. But in Louisiana, you cannot purchase goods for someone else if the person receiving the goods didn’t authorize the order. It’s also illegal if the recipient is required to pay for the goods or if you plan on poking fun at the person receiving the order.
South Carolina. The law dates back to the 1960s when pinball was used for gambling. Even though things are different now, the law is still intact. These are only a few of the bizarre laws on the books in the U.S. Do you know of any other absurd rules and regulations we missed? Let us know!
If you’re drinking, you can’t play bingo in North Carolina. Before the law was enacted in October 2016, you could serve or drink alcoholic beverages while playing bingo in North Carolina. But now, it’s strictly prohibited! You also can’t hold more than two bingo games
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