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TRANSFORMING PEOPLE’S LIVES DECEMBER 2024/JANUARY 2025
8880 Cal Center Drive #190 Sacramento, CA 95826 www.ranchodlaw.com
916-613-3553
I’m a big believer in setting goals, and as we approach the new year, I’ll be working on some New Year’s Resolutions in 2025. Like many, I’ve been setting resolutions and goals for myself for as long as I can remember. As human beings, we are meant and designed to grow. Stagnancy is not fulfilling, but it’s a gratifying feeling when we can accomplish something new or improve ourselves. As the new year arrives and I prepare to achieve my latest goals, I’m reminded of the power of small steps and breaking big ambitions into manageable parts. Over the years, I’ve learned that setting goals gives us direction. Resolutions can act like a compass or north star to help guide us through the complexities of life. It can be easy to drift along without a plan, but when we have something to strive for, we can feel motivated with a true sense of purpose. One key to reaching your goals or resolutions is to make them achievable. In the past, I was guilty of setting overly ambitious goals that eventually left me discouraged. Overloading ourselves with lofty goals or a massive list of resolutions can become stressful quickly, leading us to dread taking on new growth challenges. It’s important to celebrate the wins, big and small. Break your big goals down into small, measurable, and bite-sized pieces. I like to review my plans and check in with myself periodically. Not only does this help me stay on track, but it also keeps me accountable to myself. Make the process along the A FRESH START THE POWER OF SMALL STEPS FOR BIG CHANGES IN 2025
way enjoyable so accomplishing goals remains exciting instead of anxiety-producing. Great tools and apps out there, like Streaks, can help you manage and reach your goals. Like most years, my health is one of my big resolutions in 2025. I’ve decided to focus on recording meals — not to obsess over calorie counts, but to simply bring self-awareness to my eating habits. If I’m more aware of how I eat every day, it’ll be easier to modify my diet naturally as I go. I’m also aiming to exercise six days a week. As far as the office, one of my big goals in 2025 is to continue improving and growing our firm’s culture. A motivated team translates to our clients getting the best possible care from our firm. As an immigration lawyer, I have the unique privilege of working with individuals and families with dreams and aspirations that often intertwine with their immigration journeys. For many immigrants, the start of the new year is a chance to solidify their goals. Whether mastering English, securing a job in their field, or finally achieving citizenship, these resolutions can be life-changing. I know how challenging and daunting this process can be, but moving forward on your immigration dreams could be an excellent resolution this year. As we step into the new year again, I encourage you to embrace it with resolutions that resonate with your passions. It’s not always easy to accomplish your goals, but you can create lasting change in your life with small, intentional steps. We’re all navigating our own paths, learning and adjusting along the way. It’s not about perfection; it’s about growth. To my clients working toward new beginnings in a new country, know that your goals are admirable and within reach. Happy New Year!
REFER A FRIEND A referral is the greatest
compliment you could ever give us. If you know someone in need of our services, we welcome the opportunity to help. Please pass along this newsletter and tell them to give us a call at 916-613-3553 . We greatly appreciate it.
–Kaushik Ranchod
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Ranchod Law Group • www.ranchodlaw.com
CANINE COUNSELORS THE ROLE OF COURTHOUSE DOGS
they also greatly emphasize how schools treat their puppy pupils. To become accredited, a school must also employ humane training methods, have a valid health care regimen, and employ well-trained and evaluated trainers. The accreditation process is essential because courthouse dogs are only assigned to a handler after at least two years of training. If you think in dog years, that’s the equivalent of a Ph.D. in being a fluffy, adorable companion. Handling Business Once a dog has graduated from an accredited dog school, it is ready to be assigned a handler. The handler essentially adopts the dog and is responsible for housing, feeding, and caring for the professional pup. The handler is typically a victim advocate, forensic interviewer, police officer, or attorney, as they most often interact with people needing the dog’s expert care. Handlers also can’t have other dogs in the home who are overly aggressive, and most handlers provide support to the courthouse dog during off-hours. A secondary handler is typically necessary, as they can accompany the dog when the primary handler is required elsewhere. The Drawbacks Issues can arise if court employees or participants are allergic to dogs. Dog dander, a common allergen, can be on handlers’ clothing, making them a hazard to those with strong allergies. Care must be taken to avoid contact between handlers, their dogs, and those allergic to the animals. Similarly, some people have intense phobias of dogs; in this case, similar measures should be taken to avoid contact between the dogs and these individuals. The Benefits Courthouse dogs can seem alien in the stuffy courtroom environment, but their benefits greatly outweigh any breach in tradition or hindrance allergies or phobias may cause. They can help vulnerable witnesses regain the confidence to share their stories, no matter how difficult, and persevere through a challenging situation.
The courtroom can be an intimidating place. The formality, seriousness, and importance of our legal system — paired with potential trauma — can make it a challenging environment for those called to testify. Scared witnesses, victims of crime, and experts who are just having a down day can all have trouble when taking the stand. However, recalling a traumatic event can be easier with the help of a well-trained dog snuggled up against you on the witness stand, providing the mental nourishment to get through it. Courthouse dogs are used throughout the United States, providing an invaluable service often overlooked or unknown despite their noble purpose. They are professionally trained animals chosen from the most friendly and compassionate pool of dogs to provide reassurance in high-stress situations. Here is what you should know about these unsung heroes. Accredited Companions Not just any dog can become a successful courthouse dog. First, it needs to meet the professional standards. Only the friendliest and most adaptable dogs can cut it in an accredited assistance dog school. These hallowed nonprofit institutions are accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI), the world’s leading authority in the industry. ADI has been an integral part of the process since 1986 and only awards accreditation to organizations that meet its rigorous standards. While the ADI evaluates a dog school’s organizational operations, treatment of clients, safety, cleanliness, and compliance with legal regulations, “Courthouse dogs are used throughout the United States, providing an invaluable service often overlooked or unknown despite their noble purpose.”
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Picky Eaters
TAKE A BREAK
HOW TO HELP KIDS ENJOY MORE FOODS
No matter where you go in the world, most kids are picky eaters. According to a study published in Frontier, about 54% of kids are reluctant to try new foods. In the U.S., many kids will scoff at anything but peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. In France, it’s probably peanut butter and creme fraiche. And good luck getting Scandinavian kids to eat anything that doesn’t taste like black licorice or pickled herring! In all seriousness, parents everywhere have a similar problem. So, what’s the solution? Small Steps Kids go through many different dietary phases as they grow up. While frustrating, it is common for young kids to go through their “picky eater” phase. Some common tactics parents employ to counter this, however, are counterproductive . For instance, making kids eat everything on their plates can be stressful and make them even pickier than before. Instead, serving smaller portions is more helpful, especially when the foods are unfamiliar. Role Models When it comes to food, parents should lead by example. Eating together as a family and demonstrating how you enjoy the foods you are trying to introduce to your kids can go a long way to getting them to try new cuisine. While you’re at it, describing what you’re serving is a good idea so the textures and flavors don’t catch them off-guard. Introducing New Foods Building on the previous tips, introducing new foods, even in very small amounts, can help expand a child’s culinary boundaries over time. Even if the child does not eat the food the first time you put it on their plate, or even the fifth time, they will naturally become more familiar and comfortable with it. Studies show that you may need to feature new foods on their plates up to 15 times before kids are willing to try them!
Creamy Thai Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup Inspired by CookieAndKate.com
Ingredients
• 1/4 cup almond butter • 3 cups diced carrots • 3 cups peeled, diced sweet potatoes • Salt and pepper to taste • Cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 tbsp coconut oil • 2 cups chopped yellow onion • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger • 2 tbsp red curry paste • 4 cups vegetable broth, divided
Directions 1. Melt coconut oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and ginger and sauté for 5–6 minutes. Stir in curry paste. 2. In a small bowl, whisk 1/3 cup broth with the almond butter until smooth. Add the mixture to the pot, along with the carrots, sweet potatoes, salt and pepper, and remaining vegetable broth. Stir to combine. 3. Bring soup to a low boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15–20 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots are fork-tender. 4. Blend with an immersion blender until the soup is smooth. 5. Season with salt and pepper. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for more spice if desired.
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Ranchod Law Group • www.ranchodlaw.com
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Representing Clients Throughout the 50 States SACRAMENTO
8880 Cal Center Drive, #190 Sacramento, CA 95826
916-613-3553 916-220-3137 (Español)
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
New Year, New Goals
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How Canines Bring Comfort to the Courtroom
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Creamy Thai Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup
Conquer Picky Eating
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Hospital Loses Part of Patient’s Skull
ANYONE SEEN A SKULL? Hospital Misplaces Patient’s Body Part
repair Fernando’s skull for November 2022, issues arose that made it impossible for the hospital to fulfill its end of the bargain. The hospital made errors when identifying the bone flaps and had no idea which skull fragments belonged to Fernando. Eventually, hospital staff informed the patient they could not find his bone flap and, as a result, they would be unable to put the missing pieces back in his skull.
All of us have had to search underneath the couch cushions for a missing wallet or TV remote, or we’ve had to scour the mall parking lot in search of our somehow misplaced car keys. I would almost certainly lose my head if it were not attached to my body. Which, as it turns out, is why I definitely should not work at one particular Atlanta hospital. In September 2022,
the Emory University Hospital Midtown staff allegedly misplaced something more important than the contents of a patient’s pants pocket. Following his brain surgery, Fernando Cluster was horrified to discover that the hospital had misplaced part of his skull . What a Headache Fernando underwent emergency brain surgery after suffering a stroke and subsequent cranial bleeding. As part of the surgery, surgeons removed a portion of Fernando’s skull, known as a bone flap, with plans to reattach that portion of his skull after he healed from his surgery. While the hospital scheduled the procedure to
Suing Over a Skull Consequently, Fernando and Melinda Cluster have filed a civil lawsuit against the hospital. The Clusters claim the
hospital’s failure to find his bone flap led to an extended hospital stay, increased
medical debt, and undue pain and suffering. Not to mention, of course, the alleged negligence in misplacing a patient’s skull . If nothing else, the Clusters have a remarkable story to tell and, most probably, a large settlement headed their way instead of a fully functional brain cage.
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