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September 2025
From Panic to Perfect Fit How April Rejoined the Team and Made It Stronger
When you’re a small-business owner, few things are more terrifying than having to replace a key employee. However, when I hired April Larsh to be my legal assistant six years ago, I knew immediately she would be better than anyone else who might apply. After all, it would mark the beginning of her second stint as my legal assistant! Sept. 1 is Labor Day, which means now is the perfect time to brag about April and all her great work at our firm. She’s been with us for the last six years and, in that time, has garnered many positive reviews and comments from our clients. Maybe you’ve been one of the clients who complimented her, in which case, you already know how awesome April is! However, you might not know how she came to work as my legal assistant in the first place (or, the second place). April just celebrated her six-year anniversary with Schuelke Law a few months ago, but she wasn’t really a new employee. Why? April worked as my legal assistant about 20 years ago. (In fact, April’s husband also worked for our firm for a while during her first stint.) April eventually left to pursue another great opportunity. Shortly after that, she left the workforce to have kids and raise a family. For the 15 or so years April was gone, I had another great legal assistant. When that assistant told me she was leaving to work at her husband’s business, I panicked. I was distraught at the idea of finding another reliable legal assistant who was both great with clients and at getting
the job done. After a little while, I faced reality, put up a job listing on a job search website, and then added a link to that listing on my personal Facebook page.
That’s where April saw it.
At first, April reached out as a joke. She lived two hours from our office, but she messaged me to say that if I were willing to move the office to her town, she would come back to work for me! We joked around a little more before April texted me that she was serious — she would come back to work for me if she could do it remotely, only coming into Austin for a day every week or two. Really, it was a no-brainer. I hired April immediately, and we got to work figuring out how to make her role remote. And the timing turned out great. When everyone started panicking, trying to figure out how to do remote work for the pandemic, we’d been set up for over a year. Now, I could write all sorts of nice things about April and the work she does, but just so you know, it’s not just a lot of talk coming from me; here are some actual client reviews that mention just how awesome April is. “April was super responsive while helping me navigate the appropriate documents needed to get started on my case.” “If you call his office, April answers the phone … If you have a question and she does not have the answer, she will make sure to find the answer and call you back promptly. Thank you, April!”
“Mr. Schuelke’s paralegal, April, worked closely with me throughout my case and extended the same professionalism and care that I received from Brooks. She always worked effectively to find the answers to my questions and had an upbeat, positive attitude along the way. I truly cannot express how grateful I am for their help and kindness through the entire process.” Even though I’m saying all this in observance of Labor Day, I appreciate April and the work she does every day. Frankly, I don’t know how we’d function without her, and I hope we never have to find out.
Happy Labor Day to all of you!
- Brooks Schuelke
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Insurance After Impact
What to Say, Do, and Avoid After an Accident
Nobody leaves their home intending to get into a car accident, but thousands of collisions still happen every day. They happen when people drive to work, pick up the kids from school, travel across the country on vacation, and in almost any other driving situation you can imagine. Statistics show that most Americans experience 3–4 accidents in their lives, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we know what to do immediately after the event. This can be especially daunting and stressful for young or new drivers. The aftermath of an accident can be complicated, partly because of insurance companies. Regardless of whether you’re at fault or another driver is to blame, you must report the accident to your insurance company and maybe even the other party’s insurance to get everything straightened out. If it’s been a while since you last reviewed your policy, set aside time to review it. Familiarize yourself with important terms and understand your policy to the best of your ability. Awareness of your coverage will help when dealing with an adjuster. Let’s walk through what you should do immediately after an accident and how to set yourself up for success when dealing with insurance companies. Document as much as you can. After an accident, you must do everything possible to protect yourself. Even if the other driver was obviously at fault, you never know what they will claim when talking to the police or their insurance carrier. Take pictures or record videos of the accident scene, any vehicles involved, and visible injuries. After speaking with police officers, request a copy of their report, which may include information stating who was at fault. If you need to see a medical professional, then obtain records of any treatment, prescriptions, or doctor’s visits for injuries from the accident. Lastly, gather contact information for any witnesses to
the accident if possible. All of this documentation will serve as evidence should insurance push back.
Watch what you say. You’ll often hear attorneys say you should be very careful when speaking with law enforcement to ensure you don’t admit guilt or say something that lands you in trouble. They’re not the only group you need to be cautious of when expressing your thoughts. You’ll likely have to speak with an insurance adjuster whose sole job is to minimize the amount the insurance company pays on claims. It’s vital that you don’t speculate or admit fault when speaking with an adjuster. Anything you say on this call could affect your potential compensation. Cooperate as much as you can, but avoid giving a recorded statement until you know the full extent of your injuries. Another thing to remember is that the insurance company will likely try to settle this matter quickly. Their initial offer may be tempting, but don’t jump the gun. Wait until you know the full extent of your injuries and the situation before accepting their offer, or else you could receive less compensation than you need. Know when to turn to legal help. Not every car accident will require legal counsel or involvement. Ideally, you won’t suffer a severe injury or deal with an uncooperative insurance company. If you aren’t so lucky, you should hire a lawyer to represent you and fight for your rights. There’s a good chance the insurance company will take your claim more seriously once it realizes you have legal representation. An attorney can provide guidance and advice regarding communication and signing documents. Your lawyer should be able to break down the terms of any document your insurance company sends. Even if things go your way initially, you may need to stay on top of your own or the other party’s insurance carrier to ensure they don’t drag their feet. Follow up regularly to ensure your claim continues to move forward!
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TAKE A BREAK
When You Lose Your Cool, Find Your Courage
Strong Parents Say I’m Sorry
Parenting is one of the most challenging responsibilities anyone can undertake. A parent must be a strong role model, providing guidance, structure, and support. However, everyone still makes mistakes even with the best intentions and dedicated effort. Sometimes, you might take it too far and get mad at your kids for something that isn’t their fault or isn’t a big deal. Nobody is perfect, but how you respond to mistakes shows your true character. In today’s society, apologizing is considered a sign of weakness when in reality, it’s one of the most efficient and effective ways to take responsibility for your actions. All parents have experienced a moment when their children did something that upset them and responded in a manner that leads to a guilty conscience a few hours later. You don’t have to let those feelings fester. Instead, apologize for how you reacted. By reaching out and acknowledging your mistakes, you’re building trust with your children, fostering a healthy relationship, and teaching them the importance of accountability. Apologizing to your children isn’t as simple as giving a half- hearted “I’m sorry.” Start by showing empathy and recognizing their hurt feelings. They may feel scared or upset that you were mad at them or believed they did something wrong, and it’s perfectly okay for them to feel that way. Make sure they know that before explaining the situation and accepting responsibility for your actions. After explaining the situation, you must put your child’s mind at ease so they don’t develop a fear of you. Commit to never making that mistake again, and try to be as clear as possible when discussing your actions. They likely have more understanding than you realize. If lingering tension or apprehension remains, find a way to connect with them, such as taking them to their favorite restaurant to discuss the situation further. Possibly the most important part of this process is actually saying the words “I’m sorry.” Through their educational journey and children’s media, they’ve learned the importance of those words, so make sure you use them. Apologizing to your kids will strengthen your relationship and help them grow emotionally. Don’t dismiss the power of a good apology!
Grilled Teriyaki Flank Steak
Inspired by TheShortOrderCook.com
Ingredients
• 1/4 tsp black pepper • 1/4 tsp ginger powder • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Marinade • 2/3 cup red wine • 1/2 cup soy sauce or tamari
• 1/3 cup brown sugar • 1/4 cup sesame oil • 1 tbsp sesame seeds • 1 tsp minced garlic
Meat • 1 1/2 lbs flank steak
Directions 1. In a large bowl, whisk together marinade ingredients. 2. Place the flank steak in a large, rimmed dish. Pour the marinade over the meat. 3. Refrigerate and allow to marinate for 15 minutes. Flip and let marinate for another 15 minutes. 4. Preheat grill to 400 F. 5. Add the meat to the grill and cook for 3–5 minutes on each side. Leave the grill lid open to avoid overcooking. 6. For a medium-rare steak, remove from grill at 130 F internally, and for medium, remove at 140 F. 7. Let the meat rest on a cutting board for 5–10 minutes. Then, slice against the grain into thin pieces and enjoy!
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1100 B Guadalupe Street Austin, Texas 78701 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
When the Right Person Comes Back at the Right Time
1
Your Game Plan for Post-Accident Chaos
2
Grilled Teriyaki Flank Steak
3
A Parent’s Guide to Meaningful Apologies
Chris Brown Sued for Alleged Defamation
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WHEN FANDOM TURNS TO FURY Chris Brown’s Superfan Sues Over Online Shaming
Since social media became mainstream, fans have had constant access to celebrity idols. These fans can keep up to date on any projects the celebrity is involved in, monitor their private lives, and even attempt to communicate with them. Some fans have taken it to the next level, creating fan pages to share their thoughts and feelings about their celebrity crush or fascination. It’s usually all in good fun, but occasionally, a celebrity will take the attention the wrong way and put the individual in the limelight. Chris Brown recently did this to a superfan, causing her to retaliate with a lawsuit. Angela Reliford frequently posted online about Chris Brown, his music, and his dancers under the name chrisbrownzwife777. Reliford claims to have met Brown at a meet-and-greet in Canada last year. She attended the event’s afterparty, where Brown’s security
team asked her to leave after an incident between Reliford and Brown’s lead dancer. She immediately went live on Instagram to speak of fantasies of killing Brown’s dancers (which probably wasn’t a good idea, either). Brown eventually reposted that video with extra graphics, alluding that Reliford was a stalker making threats against his crew.
Brown has quite the online tribe, with over 144 million followers on Instagram. Many followers saw his response video about Reliford and took it upon themselves to defend their favorite singer. Reliford claims she has been relentlessly attacked online, with many comments misgendering her. She also has stated that someone attacked her at her workplace after viewing the content. Reliford filed a $30 million lawsuit against Brown this past May. She alleges defamation, slander, libel, copyright infringement, invasion of privacy, emotional distress, and negligence over the video. “You threw me to 145 million people, and I was destroyed, ripped apart, and for what? Because I no longer wanted to support you?” stated Reliford. Chris Brown and his team have not publicly responded to the lawsuit at the time of this writing.
Photo: Pelpa Time Production
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