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DECEMBER 2023
W ith K evin P atrick Automobile accidents | Daycare injuries | wrongful death
Embrace the Gift of Giving Bringing Hope and Legal Aid to Atlanta’s Most Vulnerable
Similar to how I don’t want to be grateful just on Thanksgiving, I don’t want to be charitable just during the season of giving. While it can be easy to fall into the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping
I once had the pleasure of volunteering in the AVLF’s Saturday Lawyer Program, where I met with clients in need of representation on Saturday mornings. If I knew I could help them, I’d take their case, represent them, and do my best to bring them the justice they so dearly deserved.
and travel, I try to remind myself that the meaning of this season is to cherish those around us and
give back, including our community. One organization I support throughout the year is the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF). The AVLF is a nonprofit organization that offers pro bono services for low-income Atlantans who need legal assistance. Everyone deserves to stand up for their rights with all the resources they
It was heartbreaking to see these people taken advantage of, and I knew they needed a professional on their side to turn their lives around. Those were some of the most enriching experiences of my entire career. Now, I’m proud to sponsor AVLF and offer my assistance as best I can! As an attorney, it’s my duty to give back to my community and not only support those who can afford legal services but also anyone in need. This season, I can’t help but feel grateful for the position I am in that allows me to be that helping hand. There’s no better feeling than uplifting another person.
need to succeed. AVLF serves clients during diverse struggles ranging from fighting for safe and fair housing to escaping intimate partner violence.
With attorneys, paralegals, law students, and other helpful citizens volunteering, they offer a wide variety of experience and expertise to those who need it the most. With the community’s help, over 5,000 Atlantans received first-rate legal services from over 500 volunteers at no cost in just a single year.
I hope you, too, can take a moment to give back and be there for someone who needs it. If you’d like to learn more
about AVLF, visit AVLF.org to see how you can support this fantastic organization. Happy holidays, and see you in 2024!
What also makes this organization such an incredible resource is that the team meets clients wherever they are, both geographically and emotionally. They not only travel to clients to make the process easier, but they also adjust to the exact needs of their clients. For those needing emergency services, AVLF also offers financial assistance. In 2019, the organization provided $386,523 in emergency financial services to Atlanta families.
This publication is for informational purposes only, and no legal advice is intended.
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Your Bridge to a Resolution Without Litigation The Gentle Art of Mediation Most clients seeking a resolution don’t know much about a benevolent part of the legal process — mediation. Many often picture lawyers and their clients in courtrooms with loud debates and heated arguments. This is undoubtedly a highly dramatized version of the courtroom, but trials aren’t always a walk in the park. Litigation can feel confrontational. Fortunately, most cases are settled before litigation through mediation. WHAT IS MEDIATION? This is when both parties come together to figure out a resolution to their disagreement in perhaps the most civil way available. There does not have to be a winner and a loser. Instead, both parties can discuss different alternatives and come to a mutual agreement that hopefully aims to benefit everyone involved. No judge or jury makes a final decision, only the parties involved do. The process requires a mediator or someone who is entirely neutral and impartial to the situation. The first step is for both sides to meet with the mediator and discuss their concerns about the issues at hand and plan how they will assess each point to resolve it. Once the agenda is clear, the mediator meets with each party alone. This allows both sides to explain their perspective and goals further. After that, everyone reconvenes to work together to create a solution. BENEFITS OF MEDIATION Mediation is an excellent way for clients to stand up for themselves and what they’ve been through without the pressure of being in a courtroom. The process is less confrontational, and all matters are handled as smoothly as possible without malice, intimidation, or conflict. Everyone wants a resolution, and mediation helps clients do just that without the need for litigation.
The story of how Michael Oher went from a young homeless boy to an NFL star captured the hearts of many and inspired the critically acclaimed 2009 film “The Blind Side.” However, behind the heartwarming tale lies a complex legal battle between Michael Oher and the Tuohy family, who adopted him during his teenage years. Oher alleges that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy misled him into accepting a conservatorship instead of adoption and that he never received fair compensation for his portrayal in the movie. In his petition filed in a Tennessee court, Oher seeks to end the Tuohy family’s conservatorship over him and requests a full accounting of any funds he should have received. In response to the petition, the Tuohys expressed their heartbreak over the situation while accusing Oher of demanding $15 million and threatening negative press coverage if they didn’t comply. Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy claim they have always been upfront with Oher about the conservatorship and that they have split all profits from “The Blind Side” equally with Oher. Still, the heart of Oher’s lawsuit lies in the claim that they led him to believe he was signing adoption papers when, in reality, they were for a conservatorship. This legal arrangement gave the Tuohys significant control over Oher’s life, his story, and the substantial financial gains resulting from it. Oher asserts he did not receive what he was rightfully owed. Oher’s lawsuit is not only about financial matters but also the emotional stress that came with recently learning he was not legally a member of the Tuohy family, which he had believed for years. Furthermore, the case brings into question the safeguards for young individuals who may enter into legal agreements without a complete understanding of their implications. Seeing how this blockbuster lawsuit shakes out in the coming months and what the verdict means for other young people in similar situations will be interesting. The Tuohy Family vs. Michael Oher: A L egal S howdown
A few other benefits of mediation are that it’s less formal than litigation, completely confidential, less time-consuming, and much more cost-effective.
We wanted to highlight this option, as it supports pursuing a case in goodwill and peace between both parties. If you’d like to learn more about how this process works or have a potential case you’d like to discuss, call our team at (404) 566-5880 . We want to help you find a resolution with as much peace and understanding as possible.
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.)
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Rediscover the True Spirit of Christmas
‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’ AND THE POWER OF KINDNESS
The holidays are all about togetherness and a time to be with those we love most. I cherish this season because I can be with my family and appreciate the riches of the holidays with them. We have plenty to see and do during
December here in Atlanta, and one of my family’s all-time favorites is to see “A Christmas Carol” live at Alliance Theatre.
Not only is it a cherished holiday essential for my family, but it is also a tradition for so many here in the city. The show transports you back to those snowy streets of old London as you witness the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge. I love taking my family to this show during the holidays because it’s a spectacular performance and reminds us of the real reason for Christmas. Scrooge finds redemption, embraces happiness, and reunites with his family, who lovingly welcome him back with open arms. It reminds us of the importance of togetherness, family, and grace toward one another. I must also love “A Christmas Carol” because it spotlights the underserved and emphasizes kindness to all. We all have a social responsibility to help others and offer compassion to those we encounter. Even Scrooge, the selfish curmudgeon, transforms and recognizes the importance of kindness and service to others! If you missed this year’s performance, I urge you to check out the show in 2024! I hope your Christmas and holiday season was filled with warmth, joy, and love. I wish you a happy new year and look forward to what 2024 brings.
TAKE A BREAK
Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
The perfect winter dinner, this chicken pot pie doesn’t disappoint!
Ingredients •
1/2 cup butter
• • • • • •
1/2 tsp pepper
• •
4 cups cooked chicken 1 package frozen puff pastry, thawed
• • • • •
1 cup chopped onion 1 cup sliced celery 2 cups sliced carrots
1/2 tsp celery seed 1 tsp garlic powder
1 cup milk
•
1 egg
1/2 cup flour
2 cups chicken stock
1 tsp salt
2 cups peas
Directions 1.
Heat oven to 425 F.
2. In 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat, melt butter, then add onion, celery, and carrots. Sauté for 5 minutes. 3. Add flour, salt, pepper, celery seed, and garlic powder to pan and stir. Sauté for 2 minutes. Slowly incorporate milk. 4. Add stock and bring to a simmer, whisking until mixture thickens. Add peas and chicken. 5. Roll out pastry sheet into 16-inch square on floured surface. Cut into 3-inch squares and place overlapping onto chicken mixture. 6. In a small bowl, whisk egg with 1 tbsp water. Brush egg over pastry and place in oven for 25 minutes or until golden and bubbling.
Solution
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Inside This Issue
1 A Heartfelt Commitment to the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation 2 Michael Oher’s Fight for Justice in ‘The Blind Side’ Controversy
A Peaceful Approach to Legal Disputes
3 The Magic of ‘A Christmas Carol’
Skillet Chicken Pot Pie 4 A $14,000 Christmas Miracle
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Truck Driver Received an Emotional Secret Santa Surprise
When truck driver Carl opened his trailer door to a news crew in 2022, he did not appear to be in the mood for company. The 72-year-old East Idaho resident initially seemed standoffish
on four additional cards from a local supermarket so he could purchase groceries. In shock, Carl responded, “Holy crap!”
years prior but still worked four days a week at age 72, sometimes clocking 14-hour days.
He’d also suffered more recent setbacks; his wife died from a brain aneurysm in 2010. Meanwhile, he had three COVID-19 infections in less than three years. Despite worsening health and pain caused by his amputated lower leg, Carl continued to begin work at 2 a.m. while also making time to attend his grandchildren’s sports games.
and skeptical of the unexpected correspondent and his camera, asking several questions about why they were visiting him. But when reporter Nate Eaton handed Carl an early
He began to tear up at the unexpected generosity and shook the reporter’s hand in gratitude when Eaton announced he had one more surprise left. He then handed Carl a cashier’s check worth $10,000 to
Christmas gift from “an anonymous person,” he warily relented and invited the crew inside.
spend however he wanted. “Thank you so much,” Carl replied emotionally before trailing off, “You don’t know …”
Carl explained the gift meant he could finally retire.
He repeatedly requested the identity of his Secret Santa, but East Idaho News refused to say. So, Carl instead thanked his anonymous gift-giver through the camera. His hard exterior melted away, leaving only gratitude and awe behind. In his last words in the broadcast, Carl promised to “pay it forward” by finding a way to help someone else.
When he opened the gift box, Carl found a stack of gift cards inside. He appeared surprised and puzzled, so Eaton
It’s unclear how East Idaho News and their Secret Santa chose Carl as the
explained that four gift cards were worth $500 each for gas for his truck. Another $2,000 was included
subject of this generosity, but the selection was no accident. Carl had lost a leg above the knee 37
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