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OPENING STATEMENTS JANUARY 2023 WWW.LAWYERSREADYTOFIGHT.COM 317-934-9725 | INFO@RDLAWOFFICE.COM
FROM THE DESK OF
THINK BEFORE YOU POST
John Razumich
January Holidays
1 - New Year’s Day 2 - Run up the Flagpole and See if Anyone Salutes Day 3 - Fruitcake Toss Day 4 - National Spaghetti Day 5 - National Bird Day 6 - Cuddle Up Day 7 - Old Rock Day 8 - Bubble Bath Day 9 - Make a friend Smile Day 10 - Houseplant Appreciation Day 11 - Learn Your Name in Morse Code Day 12 - National Hot Tea Day 13 - Make Your Dream Come True Day 14 - Dress Up Your Pet Day 15 - National Hat Day 16 - National Nothing Day 17 - Ditch New Years Resolutions Day 18 - Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday, celebrated on the third Monday 19 - National Popcorn Day 20 - National Cheese Lover Day 21 - National Hugging Day 22 - National Blonde Brownie Day
HOW SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS CAN AFFECT YOUR CASE
Social media has connected our world in a way that would have been hard to imagine just a few decades ago. If you are an avid social media user, every little thought, passive- aggressive comment, and proud accomplishment you’ve made can be shared on the internet for everyone to see. But sometimes, posting too much can actually do more harm than anticipated. It is a good rule of thumb to assume that nothing on the internet is private, and when it comes to posting on social media during a legal case, I have found that this couldn’t ring more true. The information documented on these platforms is often spontaneous and inspirational; sometimes, it can even be a place to vent your frustrations about life events.
23 - National Pie Day 24 - Compliment Day
But social media sites are increasingly becoming the focus of discovery, and such information may be significant evidence in legal proceedings.
25 - Opposite Day 26 - Spouse’s Day 27 - Chocolate Cake Day 28 - Fun at Work Day 29 - National Puzzle Day 30 - National Inane Answering Message Day 31 - Inspire Your Heart with Art Day
Whether your court case relates to personal injury or family law matters like divorce or custody, posting the wrong things on social media — even if your accounts are private — could negatively impact your case. The fact is that insurance companies and investigators can find posts on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. This evidence can then be manipulated during litigation, and the opposing party will try to use it against you.
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I like to think of it this way: If you have been in an automobile accident and claim that you were severely injured but are posting pictures of yourself soaking up sun at the beach, chances are you may not be as seriously injured as you claim.
set to private or if you have blocked involved parties, the chances of a judge seeing them are still exponentially high.
The other party can request the submission of your social media posts as part of the discovery process. In addition to this,
Even the seemingly “good” posts can be turned negative depending on the context. Posts about everyday life — going out to a nice dinner, meeting friends in town, etc. — can be easily misconstrued. This is why
any outright negative statements may make you appear impulsive and angry — which never looks good in court. Despite that, these posts don’t even need to be negative in an obvious way to become an issue. There was a custody case in 2015 when a judge allowed a man to use his wife’s Facebook profile as evidence. The wife constantly posted updates about her professional
we advise clients to stay away from social media in general to avoid any of those possibilities. When it comes to divorce and custody cases, it can be an arduous legal process. Overwhelming emotions tend to follow, and many people turn to social media to vent their feelings or message
travels, and her husband believed it showed she didn’t have time to be a primary caregiver for their young children.
friends or family to discuss what is happening. I have seen plenty of clients post derogatory statements about their situations. Even if those accounts are
The best way to prevent your social media from becoming evidence in court is to not post anything at all. It
is better to be safe than sorry — so think before you post!
BEFORE ALARM CLOCKS, KNOCKER-UPS HELPED PEOPLE How These Early Morning Heroes Roused the Sleeping
Until the 1940s, alarm clocks were a luxury few people in the English working class could afford. Unfortunately, some of these devices could be unreliable and caused people to miss appointments or oversleep. This ultimately gave birth to “knocker-ups,” the human alarm clocks people hired to wake them up. Being a knocker-up became popular during the Industrial Revolution, especially in cities where technical innovation boomed, and many citizens were due at factory jobs before the sun came up. In some towns, residents set slate boards against
Typically, this job was taken on by older men who were past their working age or women who needed income to support their families. Police officers also considered this a good side job to earn extra money. Many of them simply completed their morning patrol, then stopped by to wake clients living along their regular routes. However, the most famous knocker-up, and allegedly the last to exist, is Mrs. Molly Moore. Her mother was a knocker-up, and Molly continued her legacy after she passed. This mother-daughter duo became known for their unique knocking methods; instead of long poles, the two used a rubber tube as a make-shift pea shooter and pelted clients’ windows with dried peas. Whatever the method, a knocker-up wouldn’t leave until their client came out the door and headed on their way to work. While history may have long forgotten about these early-morning heroes, their reliability and commitment are what ultimately allowed thousands of employees to make it to work on time.
their outside walls to write their weekly work schedule; this way, any knocker-up would know when to wake them. These boards became so common that people referred to them as “knocky-up boards” or “wake-up slates.” Knocker-ups were paid a few pence each week to wake their clients before work, and each knocker- up generally had a route full of clients to wake at different times. The thing is, they didn’t just stand at the door and knock. Knocker-ups became famous for using poles to tap on clients’ second-story bedroom windows. Some even attached soft hammers or rattles to the ends of the rods to create a more startling sound when they tapped.
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HOW BANGLADESHIS USE OTTERS TO HARNESS THEIR CATCH The Furry Friends of the Fishing Industry
If you wander down a riverbank in southwest Bangladesh, you might happen upon a squealing, squeaking crate of river otters. The otters aren’t in danger. In fact, they’re the pampered helpers of the region’s fishermen and women, who’ve trained them to herd fish. Yes, that’s right — just as we use herding dogs to corral sheep and cows into pens, people who fish in Bangladesh use otters to drive fish, crabs, and prawns into their nets. The practice dates back hundreds of years — and it’s impressive to watch. First, in the dead of night, the Bangladeshi anglers load crates of otters onto their boats and head out to fish. Each otter wears a small rope harness and leash attached to a wooden pole. As soon as the boat reaches the fishing area, the fishermen release the otters. They dive into the water and paddle furiously after schools of fish, encouraging them to swim into their owners’ nets. According to the publication Roads & Kingdoms, Bangladeshi fishers can catch more than 20 pounds of fish per excursion thanks to their otter helpers. Locals breed otters specifically for this purpose, raising them just like Westerners raise dogs and cats. This otter-human partnership is an important part of Bangladeshi culture. The fish the otters bring in sustain their owners through lean times and help them survive periods of famine. However, according to the BBC, the tradition is slowly fading away. Rivers in the region are drying up, pollution is surging, native fish are disappearing, and families are getting out of the otter business.
One third-generation fisherman told Roads & Kingdoms that as of 2015, only 12 families in Gopra Village, where he lives, continue to fish with otters. That’s a tiny fraction of the 100 families that fished when his father ran their family business. However, he told the reporter he “will continue to work with otters as long as there are fish to catch.” To learn more about this fascinating human-animal partnership and see a video of the otters in action, head to YouTube and search “Bangladesh otter fishing.”
Thermometer! Take a break!
Air Fryer Roasted Salmon With Sautéed Balsamic Spinach
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Ingredients
• 3 tsp olive oil, divided • 4 salmon fillets (6 oz each) • 1 1/2 tsp reduced-sodium seafood seasoning • 1/4 tsp pepper • 1 garlic clove, sliced
• Dash of crushed red pepper flakes • 10 cups fresh baby spinach (about 10 oz) • 6 small tomatoes, cut into 1/2- inch pieces • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
Directions
1. Preheat air fryer to 450 F. Rub 1 tsp oil over both sides of salmon, then sprinkle with seafood seasoning and pepper. In a greased air fryer basket, place salmon. 2. Cook about 10–12 minutes until fish flakes easily. 3. In a 6-qt stockpot, place remaining oil, garlic, and pepper flakes. Heat over medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high. Add spinach and cook until wilted. Stir in tomatoes; heat through. 4. In a small saucepan, bring vinegar to a boil. Cook until vinegar is reduced by half, then remove from heat. 5. Arrange spinach on serving dish. Place salmon over spinach mixture and drizzle with balsamic glaze.
Cocoa Fleece Frost Gloves
Hibernation Igloo Layers Penguin
Scarf Sledding Tradition Wonderland
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of John Razumich PAGE 1
The Dangers of Social Media in Legal Proceedings PAGE 1 All About Knocker-Ups: England’s Human Alarm Clocks PAGE 2
The Furry Saviors of Bangladesh PAGE 3
Air Fryer Roasted Salmon With Sautéed Balsamic Spinach PAGE 3 The Dirty Truth About TikTok Ads PAGE 4
CELEBRITY LAWSUIT CALLS TIKTOK ‘BREEDING GROUND FOR SCAMS’ Are the Ads You See Real or Fake?
Imagine you’re scrolling through your social media feed when an ad pops up starring one of your favorite celebrities. Maybe it’s quarterback Tom Brady talking about his favorite brand of beer or actress Julia Roberts showing off her new shoes.
If you use TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook, Frankel’s story should serve as a warning: The ads you see sliding by on your smartphone screen may not be legitimate. To protect yourself from scammers, take these three steps. 1. Go to the source for celebrity endorsements. Visit the celebrity’s official social media page and/or website. Any products they’re advertising should be visible there. 2. Avoid in-app purchases. It’s easy to buy products on Instagram with a single click — but should you? To avoid scams, leave the app and visit the company’s official website to ensure you’re purchasing the real thing. 3. Look for signs of photoshopping, editing, and manipulation. Does the celebrity’s face look tacked onto another person’s body, or does their phrasing sound broken and clipped together? Is the celebrity sponsoring the ad, or is the brand just using their name (perhaps misspelled) for cachet? Look for these signs before you buy. Ultimately, when buying online, just remember to think before you click. Skepticism is a TikTok user’s best friend.
You’re intrigued enough to buy the product. But when it arrives, your jaw drops. This isn’t the hottest new luxury item! It’s just a cheap knockoff of Budweiser or Jimmy Choo. How would you feel about your celebrity “friend”? According to Page Six, this exact situation happened to fans of “Real Housewives of New York City” actress and Skinnygirl founder Bethenny Frankel. A scam artist stole clips of her promoting a designer product and edited them, making it appear as if she were selling knockoff cardigans. Frankel posted her own video decrying the scammer, only to watch TikTok remove it for “abusive content.” In a last-ditch attempt to protect her reputation, she sued the platform for failing to protect her reputation and allowing users to post fake ads, calling it “a breeding ground for scams.”
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