Finney Injury Law - January 2020

Take a look at our newsletter this month!

1600 S. BRENTWOOD BLVD., SUITE 220 • ST. LOUIS, MO 63144 // FINNEYINJURYLAW.COM // 314-293-4222 // JANUARY 2020

WE PERSEVERE WHEN THE ODDS ARE STACKED AGAINST US

Appeals. One of our opposing counsels demanded $1,000,000 from us and a dismissal. Yes, they wanted us to pay for their attorneys’ fees. We had already mediated two days in Chicago, and I had stayed at my brother’s apartment to save money. The other side picked this mediator, some high-priced guy from Miami who cost something like $585 an hour. I disliked the mediator because it was clear he had not spent much time slogging in court rooms. He was raised in board rooms. We were here in St. Louis for one last effort to get this case settled. The federal judge in Chicago was all over me and my co-counsel. Her disdain for our case was palpable. She had used words like “gamesmanship” when talking about us. I still feel like vomiting when thinking of the Chicago Federal Courthouse. We started promptly at 9 a.m. I leaned over to my co-counsel and whispered, “Look what we’ve done. They are all here because of us. This is insane.” I knew we would get it done when I saw them all. Twenty lawyers don’t coordinate schedules unless something is going to get done. At 9:30 p.m. that evening, we got the case done. Our brain damaged client had gone to sleep on the floor of our caucus room, so I roused him. I told him. I hugged him. I cried. He didn’t. I hugged my co-counsel. I cried more. I went home. I hugged my wife. And I went to sleep.

W e were sitting in the lower level of one of the most prestigious firms in the state. They had former US attorneys and former governors on their roster of attorneys. They represented all the large corporations and outfits. I counted 16–20 lawyers in the room, aside from us. We were too many to sit in their conference room and fit around their conference table, so we sat in their education space. The tables were made into a large square with empty space in the middle. Lawyers from New York, Chicago, Indianapolis, and other cities I didn’t even know where there. Insurance reps who may have been lawyers were also there — from where, I don’t know. “We” were four of us: me, my co-counsel, our drafting/appellate attorney, and our client, the brain damaged ex-felon who sported faded tattoos up and down his arms and called himself one of those ironic nicknames, like “Tiny.” Our appellate attorney was brilliant. He had saved us too many times to count. He had held his bill because he knew we couldn’t pay it and didn’t need the stress. His mind is on another level — I struggled to follow his legal acumen in our strategy sessions, and it left me worn down over the years. My co-counsel is perhaps the nicest man I have ever met. To this day, I would step in front of a bus for him. I don’t

know how I was so lucky to find him to help on this case. And there was me. I guess all you need to know about our group is I was the tallest outside of our client. We didn’t exactly strike fear in anyone, but there we had them — all 20 of them — and us at the head. I remember counting the billable hours that ticked off for each six minutes. (That is how hourly firms keep track of time — every six minutes). The number was astonishing. The New York lawyer alone was $650 an hour. And given the slightest chance, he would tell you he was worth every penny. Our team had not been paid a penny. We are contingency lawyers, agreeing to take any case we believe in regardless of the client’s ability to pay. And we financed it ourselves. We had slogged through years of litigation. We had no money left to put into the case. We were tired. We had been outspent by triple, maybe even quadruple. My wife had birthed two children during this case. My co-counsel and I had been accused of at least two federal crimes (mail fraud and insurance fraud) and several other Indiana state crimes — all by the lawyer father of a kid I played high school football with. I’d been deposed by my opposition for four hours one day. We were litigating cases in Chicago federal court, Indiana federal court, and the Missouri Court of

HELP YOUR KIDS ACHIEVE MORE THIS YEAR WITH SIMPLE AND ACTIONABLE GOALS

With every new year comes an opportunity to reinvent ourselves or start down a new path toward self- improvement. Making resolutions is a big part of many families’ New Year’s traditions, and parents often have a desire for their kids to take part in that tradition when they’re old enough. Following through on resolutions is tough, especially for young children, but with your help, they can achieve their goals. PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH. You are your children’s role model for almost everything, including following through on New Year’s resolutions. So, ask yourself if you follow through on your own resolutions. When you proclaim that you will read more books or finally get a gym membership, do you actually try to do it? Your kids will assign as much importance to New Year’s resolutions as you do, so by sticking to your own commitments, you can help them stay on track, too. KEEP THINGS SIMPLE AND ACHIEVABLE. When your kids are forming their resolutions, their first attempts will probably be very broad. Statements like “I

want to be more kind” or “I will try to help more around the house” incorporate good values but don’t include any actionable steps. Help your kids think of tangible ways to act on those goals. For example, if they want to be tidier, a good resolution might be for them to clean their room once a week or take responsibility for one household chore every day. DON’T DO ALL THE WORK FOR THEM. While it’s important for you to help your kids formulate their goals, be sure that you aren’t taking over. If they’re ultimately responsible for their resolutions, they’ll feel more compelled to keep them. Instead, suggest different goal areas they could improve, such as home, school, or sports, and let them elaborate. When it comes to creating habits, nobody is perfect, so even if your kids falter on their goals in the middle of February, don’t worry. The important thing is that you continue to encourage them every step of the way.

HIRE A LAWYER TO FIGHT YOUR CASE WISE UP ABOUT BRAIN INJURIES

Hiring a lawyer to help you fight any personal injury case you might suffer is a good thing to do. But when it comes to traumatic brain injury cases and the added pressures associated with them, hiring legal counsel becomes even more crucial. After a brain injury occurs, the injured party may not be in the right state of mind to make necessary decisions for themselves. When this happens, it’s up to their loved ones to step in as their proxy. Because this added stress is the last thing you need when you’re already trying to nurse your loved one back to health, a lawyer is necessary to provide clear thinking and the experience needed to make sure you receive adequate compensation.

First, a lawyer will educate and coach you on the proper ways to interact with insurance adjusters who act quickly. These agents are often looking to take advantage of your lack of legal prowess and trick you into making statements that might jeopardize the settlement you’re entitled to. A lawyer will not only advise you on what’s appropriate to say to them

to gather, you may not build a strong enough case. Lawyers know what’s important to have, like physical evidence from the accident, witness statements, photo evidence, and medical records. They know the tactics needed to secure these items quickly and properly assess them to determine the type of settlement to secure.

but even step in as their direct point of contact on your behalf.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic

brain injury, reach out to our office so we can review your case and determine how best to help you heal.

You’ll also need to gather adequate evidence to prove your case and achieve the settlement you’re seeking. But, if you don’t know what’s important

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THE HISTORY OF THE DRINKING STRAW HOW A SUCKY INVENTION CHANGED THE WORLD

People don’t often wonder about everyday objects, like the seemingly inconsequential drinking straw, but National Drinking Straw Day falls on Jan. 3 and gives people a chance to scrutinize the growing concern over the straw's contribution to global pollution. THE STRAW’S ORIGIN. While the drinking straw has been around for centuries — dating back nearly 5,000 years to ancient Sumerian times — it wasn’t until 1888 that the first drinking straw was patented. Marvin C. Stone, a manufacturer of paper cigarette holders, created a prototype straw by wrapping strips of paper around a pencil, gluing them together, and removing the pencil to create a hollow cylinder from which people could drink. THE STRAW’S INDUSTRIAL BOOM. By 1890, Stone Industrial was producing Stone’s paper straw in massive quantities, surpassing the production of cigarette holders. Stone’s straws were effective for glasses or containers that were difficult to drink from, and as a bonus, they didn’t leave any gritty residue like previous prototypes. Their popularity grew, especially among children and hospital patients who found it challenging to drink directly from a glass. Straws became even more accessible in the 1930s when they were manufactured with the ability to bend.

THE STRAW’S CONSEQUENCE. It wasn’t long until the rapidly growing plastic industry saw an opportunity. Not only were plastic straws more durable than their paper counterparts, but they were cheaper to make. Unsurprisingly, the mass production of plastic straws starting in the 1960s contributed to worsening pollution. Today, the National Park Service estimates that Americans use nearly 500 million straws every day. Most of these straws are then discarded, joining millions of tons of plastic materials that wash up across the world’s beaches. To help reduce the amount of plastic in use, people are taking action. Several cities across the U.S., including Seattle, have banned plastic straws in bars and restaurants. Many alternatives have also taken to the market, such as metal or silicone straws that can be used more than once. If you want to help contribute to alternative solutions, most local grocery stores, as well as big manufacturers like Amazon, sell metal or biodegradable straws for less than $10.

YOUR REFERRALS MEAN THE WORLD TO US There is no greater compliment we can receive than a client telling a friend or loved one about us. If you know somebody who has been injured and needs an attorney who will fight on their behalf and give their case the attention it deserves, please pass along this newsletter and have them give us a call at 314-293-4222. Thank you for spreading the word about Finney Injury Law.

SIMPLE PANCAKES FROM SCRATCH

Inspired by The New York Times

• 2 cups all-purpose flour • 2 tsp baking powder • 1/4 tsp salt • 1 tbsp sugar, optional INGREDIENTS

• 2 eggs • 1 3/4 cups milk • Unsalted butter or canola oil, to grease skillet

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat a griddle or skillet to medium-low. 2. In a mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients (including sugar if you like a sweeter pancake). In a separate bowl, beat eggs into milk. Gently stir the liquid ingredients into the dry ones. Mix only until flour is moistened. Clumps are fine. 3. Add some butter or oil to the skillet. If the butter foams or oil shimmers, the temperature is correct. Pour in a pancake of any size, cooking until bubbles form, about 2–4 minutes. 4. Flip and cook other side for 2–4 minutes. Serve warm.

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OUR OFFICE IS NOW PRACTICING IN BOTH MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS!

1600 S. BRENTWOOD BLVD. SUITE 220 • ST. LOUIS, MO 63144

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FINNEYINJURYLAW.COM // 314-293-4222

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1

Perseverance Against All Odds

2 2 3 3 4

Helping Your Kids Make New Year’s Resolutions

Let Your Lawyer Fight for Your Brain

Do You Know the History of the Straw?

Simple Pancakes From Scratch

Tower Grove Winter Farmers’ Market

THE TOWER GROVE FARMERS’ MARKET GETS WINTERY

T he Tower Grove Farmers’ Market has been a staple of the St. Louis community since its

was only a monthly affair, but by popular demand, it’s now a weekly affair. So, from early December through early April, you can visit the Koken Art Factory to enjoy local foods all winter long. They will continue to feature over 40 vendors every week with fresh produce and ready-made local food and beverages. If you had a chance to visit during December, you likely picked up a few handmade gifts for loved ones on your Christmas lists or enjoyed the holiday lights, singing carolers, and roasted chestnuts. If you didn’t have a chance to indulge in their holiday festivities at the end of 2019, look forward to 2020! Be sure to mark your brand-new calendar for this jolly event you don’t want to miss. The Tower Grove Farmers’ Market will resume its regular market location and offerings in early April, but it’s a fun destination for the whole family at any time of year. Come support your local community, see some friendly faces, and indulge in some delicious food you can’t get anywhere else.

humble beginnings in 2006. With an outpouring of community support, it went from just 13 vendors per week to now over 60. Co-founders Patrick Horine and Jennifer Ryan wanted to exemplify everything they love about their Tower Grove neighborhood, so they went above and beyond to create the largest grower-only farmers’ market in St. Louis.

The market has won multiple prestigious awards, including a Quality of Life Award from the city. As an ongoing incubator for new small businesses, it has stayed true to its community spirit for nearly 15 years. During the winter months, the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market turns into the Winter Market. For 14 years, the Winter Market

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OUR OFFICE IS NOW PRACTICING IN BOTH MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS!

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