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BUILD IT. PROTECT IT. PRESERVE IT.
student. I was told I didn’t pass the test, and their recommendation for me was that I should take three classes a semester instead of the normal five. If you have a full course load, law school takes three years, and I did not intend to stay any longer than that. I took five classes per semester the whole time I was there. I graduated in three years, cum laude, in the top 20 percent of my class. Then I passed the Ohio bar exam — on my first try.
The phrase “April showers bring May flowers” makes me think of a part of my experience that I’ve been trying to share more. Just like rain is required to make flowers grow, sometimes you have to go through some hardship to reap rewards later. That was something I learned firsthand when I was about to graduate Capital University with my bachelor’s degree and continued to learn as I applied to law schools. Since high school, my dream had been to get into Capital University Law School after I finished my undergraduate degree. My application was initially rejected, so I asked my academic advisor if she would write me a referral. She wouldn’t do it. And while it bothered me that my academic advisor would not write me a letter of recommendation, it bothered me more that she told me I should give up on my dream of becoming an attorney and just become a paralegal. She told me it would take less time and that it would be more manageable for me. I was dumbstruck. I wasn’t going to give up on my dream that easily. I began applying to law schools everywhere, and it seemed like just as soon as I’d started, the rejection letters began flowing in. All the rejection really started weighing on me. I began to wonder if I had what it took to get into any law school. Finally, I received an acceptance letter from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan and another school in New Hampshire. I choose Thomas M. Cooley, but my struggles were not over yet. TO GET TO THE MAY FLOWERS ENDURING THE APRIL SHOWERS
I went out and started my own law firm, and now Littlejohn Law, LLC is one of the fastest-growing law firms in our area. I’ve authored two books, with a third on the way, and in 2018 and 2019 I was nominated as one of the top 10 best real estate attorneys in Ohio. I was successful in achieving my dream, but I had to press through hardship and challenge to get here. Through it all, I had people backing me who believed in me. My parents were both very supportive and that helped, but they couldn’t get me into law school — I had to do that myself. Through karate, I learned about self- discipline, self-control, confidence, and
determination. It helped me develop a “yes I can” attitude. Any time I was discouraged, I would fall back on my training. In Karate, it’s just you on a mat by yourself. If at first you don’t succeed, you keep trying. My dad would always tell me, “If you fall down seven times, get up eight.” Throughout my experience, I don’t remember a time when I ever felt like giving up. The rejection was challenging and discouraging, but I knew what I wanted to do, and I kept going. The April showers were tough, but they were worth it for the May flowers I got as a reward for my endurance. We use the same approach when helping our clients. We keep going to fight through the challenges and setbacks to help our clients get on a path to success.
Edward Littlejohn
Before I began my classes, I was given an aptitude test to determine how successful I would be as a law
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Scamming older adults has become big business. According to the American Journal for Public Health, an estimated 5 percent of seniors are hoodwinked by criminals every year, and that statistic is thought to be a steep underestimate since so many scams go unreported. To stem the tide of seniors unknowingly giving $36 billion to scammers annually, it’s important for retirees and their loved ones to get savvy on the subject. THE 2 MOST COMMON WAYS CRIMINALS STEAL FROM SENIORS ADVANCED FEE FRAUD The most common con in 2017 and 2018 was the classic “You’ve won a sweepstakes!” scam. Victims are told they’ve won some exorbitant amount of money, but they must pay a fee to receive the prize. After the “fee” is paid, victims receive a fake check in the mail, but by the time it bounces, the scammers are gone and they’ve taken the money. If you ever receive a contract from an unknown entity out of nowhere, you should start seeing red flags. Unless you remember entering a contest, there is no chance you’ve won something. And it’s vital to understand that it is never safe to give out financial information over the phone or via email. COMPUTER SOFTWARE SERVICE FRAUD This type of scam is slightly more sophisticated. First, a hacker will call a victim and claim to be a member of a tech support team AND HOW TO SPOT THEM Here are the two of the most common scams older folks fall prey to — and how to avoid them.
or an employee from a trusted company like Microsoft or Apple. Then, they’ll tell the victim there is a problem with their phone or computer and that if they cooperate with the “tech support” representative, they can sort it out. They may also ask you to install a piece of software on your device or provide credit card information to “validate your software.” The fact is that well-known tech companies will never send unsolicited emails to ask for your personal or financial information, and they definitely won’t ask you to install some shady software on your computer. If you ever receive a call out of the blue from “Microsoft,” hang up the phone immediately. The first step to stopping these criminals in their tracks is to be aware of their tactics. With these tips in your arsenal, you’ll be able to defend yourself and your bank account effectively.
LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
M&M HARDWARE
M&M Hardware is run by Scott Campbell and family. It is a local, family-owned business providing supplies for your everyday projects. The best thing about M&M Hardware is their friendly atmosphere and their willingness to help out. If you need help with an upcoming Spring Project, give M&M Hardware a call at 740.264.5574.
This newsletter is for informational purposes only and no legal advice is intended. Be sure to consult with this law firm if you have a specific question about your situation. And remember Edward and Jeff don’t take any unplanned inbound telephone or in-person meetings, we believe that each case deserves our undivided attention.
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When you’re buying or selling a home, one of the most important things you can do is make sure any issues with the title are resolved. According to a 2016 Washington Post article, title companies reported that in one- third of all real estate transactions, title issues required extraordinary effort to resolve. Title problems can turn what seems like a simple transaction into a complicated mess if you don’t know what to look for. Fortunately, there are a few common problems you can spot and hopefully prevent from complicating your purchase or sale. UNSATISFIED LIENS A lien is a legal right to financial compensation granted by the owner of a property to guarantee payment for an underlying obligation. Without the legalese, a lien is a bill related to the property that must be satisfied before the home can be sold. Some common liens property owners can incur are mechanics liens (when the owner owes money to a contractor for work done on the property), judgment liens (when a court gives a creditor the right to take possession of an owner’s property if they don’t hold up their end of the contract), and tax liens (when the IRS can take possession of a property if they are owed property taxes). Before purchasing or selling a home, it is crucial to make sure there are no liens on the property. TITLE ERRORS When filing away important documents associated with property titles, clerical errors happen. A deed or property survey might get lost or misfiled, so it is important to make sure you know exactly where all your important documents are and how to obtain them before you get too far along in the transaction. TITLE FORGERIES As much as we want to believe otherwise, people can be dishonest. The seller might not actually own the property they are selling, names on deeds could be forged or signed under duress, the prior deed could have been made by an undocumented immigrant or a minor, and any other number of additional problems could hinder the transaction. Some of these situations might not come to light until long after a buyer has purchased the property. Real estate transactions, with all their complexities, are not something you should navigate alone. At Littlejohn Law, LLC, our skilled attorneys can help you sort out property title issues and so much more. Give our office a call today for a free consultation. WATCH OUT FOR THESE COMMON PROPERTY TITLE ISSUES HOMEBUYERS AND HOME SELLERS
CALENDAR OF EVENTS UPCOMING VIP EVENTS
These SEMINARS AND TELECONFERENCE CALLS are FREE. That’s right — there is no charge. We just ask that you pre-register so we can make sure there’s enough space. We want to make sure that people make good decisions about their legal situations. • April: Business call — It’s the end of the first quarter. What adjustments do you need to make for your business?
• May: Real estate call — Short sales: What are they and how do you find them?
• June: Business Seminar — Business Basics: How to start a new business?
If you see a seminar or teleconference that’s interesting to you or your family, be sure to pre-register by calling 740.314.4829 or visiting LittlejohnLawLLC.com. We’ll send you more information as we get closer to the meeting, but only to those who have pre-registered. If you have a topic you would like to learn more about, be sure to attend one of our seminars or teleconferences. Send your email requests to office@elittlejohnlaw.com.
PASTA PRIMAVERA
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large pot, liberally salt water and bring to a boil. Add fusilli and cook according to package directions. Add broccoli, carrots, and bell pepper during the last 2 minutes of cook time. 2. Drain the pasta and veggies, reserving 1/2 cup of cooking liquid. Return pasta and veggies to pot. 3. In a large skillet, heat olive oil to medium heat. Add garlic and cook until translucent and golden, 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, red pepper flakes, about 2 minutes. Stir in reserved pasta water. 4. Add tomato mixture to pasta pot, stirring to coat evenly. 5. Divide into bowls, top with Parmesan cheese, and serve. and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook until tomatoes are wilted,
• 12 ounces pasta, ideally fusilli • 1/2 pound broccoli florets • 2 carrots, shredded • 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into strips • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, ideally Parmigiano- Reggiano • Kosher salt, for pasta water and to taste
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Inspired by Food Network
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2
HOW I BECAME AN ATTORNEY
2 TACTICS CRIMINALS USE TO STEAL FROM OLDER ADULTS
M&M HARDWARE
3
COMMON ISSUES WITH PROPERTY TITLES
UPCOMING VIP EVENTS
PASTA PRIMAVERA
4
LETTING YOUR KIDS HAVE FUNWITH SOME HEALTHY COMPETITION
ACTIVE SEARCHING FOR ACTIVE PASTIMES Finding the Right Time to Get Your Children Into Sports
to choosing the right sport. Some children might not show interest in organized sports at all. If your child does not seem interested in any sports, even though they are old enough to understand the rules and are coordinated enough to play, you might want to consider other activities like art or music classes. Still, it is essential that they are active for at least an hour every day, no matter their interests. them), and they might want to quit. If your child doesn’t seem to like the sport, encourage them to finish the season. They might just need more time to warm up to it. If they still aren’t enjoying it at the end of the season, help them find other activities they might like better. Ultimately, when a child is ready to play sports, it is important to know what they enjoy and what keeps them mentally and physically healthy. Sometimes kids will get frustrated with the sports they play (even if they like playing
Whether you were the star player or the kid who picked flowers for the whole game, almost everyone has memories of playing sports when they were young. Some lose interest over time, while others find they enjoy the sport, have a talent for it, and keep playing. Whatever the case, parents should consider a few things when determining if their child is ready for sports. If they start too early, it might turn them off to the sport before they really understand it.
sports like T-ball, soccer, or karate. My father has taught tae kwon do since 1977, and I began learning karate at 4 years old. I was a little younger than the recommended age, but that is mostly because my dad wanted me to have a lifestyle built on principles of discipline and respect. Soon we’ll be introducing Kyzlee to some activities as she becomes more active. If your child does not seem to enjoy team sports, you might see if they like a more individual approach to sports, like running or swimming. Their personality can be just as significant as their age when it comes
Most experts believe that the proper age to introduce children to sports is between 6 and 9 years old. When children are younger than 6, they should be active, but their motor skills are not developed enough to play competitive sports. At that age, it might frustrate them and make them dislike a sport before they can fully engage in it. Even when children are between 6 and 9, they probably won’t be ready for sports that require more coordination — like football or hockey — until they’re 10 or 12. Instead, try
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