Take a look at our newsletter this month!
JUNE 2019
150 E. PONCE DE LEON AVENUE, SUITE 200, DECATUR, GEORGIA 30030 // WWW.MARKSLAWGROUP.COM // 678-210-3954 ON THE MARK 24/7
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY MY ROLE AT MARKS LAW GROUP
M y name is Danette Eatherton, and I’m the senior paralegal and office manager for Marks Law Group. If you’ve been a client of ours before, I was probably one of the first people you worked with. I’m here to ensure that all the initial research pertaining to your case is sound, all relevant documents are in order, and that every T is crossed and every I dotted. I love what I do, and I love what I can accomplish for our clients by working at Marks Law Group. I’ve been the office manager and senior paralegal at Marks Law Group for about a year and a half, but I’ve known Aaron for a lot longer than that. I first met him when I was working for another personal injury law firm in 2008. He was a young lawyer eager to push his career forward. I could tell then he had the focus, interest, and temperament to become a successful personal injury attorney. Skipping ahead to 2014, my husband took a job in upstate New York, and it wasn’t feasible for me to continue working for my firm in Decatur from there. By that time, Aaron had started his own practice. My husband and I lived in New York for about three years before moving back to Decatur. I started reaching out to the Metro Atlanta legal community to see if one of them needed a paralegal. Aaron contacted me and asked me to help him take his firm “to the next level.” I worked part time for a while and eventually came on full time. Aaron needed someone who was already familiar with every step of the litigation process. I had decades of experience as a paralegal, and I knew how to take on new clients, organize all the relevant documents, and tie up loose ends. Many of the cases at Aaron’s firm were progressing more slowly than the client or Aaron wanted, so I had to figure out how
to “fast track” them. I have an eye for how to move cases forward, from the time a new client walks through the door until it’s time to settle or go to trial. The work of a paralegal has changed somewhat over the years. Digital record-keeping and the online availability of documents, like police reports, have streamlined the process. This means I can help people in a more timely manner than I used to, back when I first started. There was a slight learning curve when I moved from working primarily with hard-copy filing systems to electronic ones, but being able to help clients in a quicker and more efficient manner makes it worth it. Outside of work, I am a proud mother of five, with three children out of the house and two still at home. My oldest is in the Marines, stationed at Camp Pendleton in Southern California, my second oldest owns his own plumbing business, my oldest daughter just moved out on her own, and my two youngest children are both still in high school. Even though I’ve been in the legal business for so long, I’m a mother first. It’s taught me how to nurture people and help them more effectively.
At the end of the day, it’s my job to make sure no one is just a file number. By being present through every step of the legal process, I can ensure every person’s story matters. I’m with them each step of the way. –Danette Eatherton
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You need to eat more green foods. No, this doesn't mean green Skittles. Green vegetables comprise one of the most important food groups, and most people aren’t eating enough of them. But if you do decide to get more nutrients from green veggies, remember that not all greens are created equal. Dark leafy spinach is basically a superfood, offering protein, iron, vitamin A, and tons of minerals. Meanwhile, iceberg lettuce or celery may fill your stomach up, but they offer little to no nutritional value. Next time you’re at the grocery store, keep an eye out for these top-rated green vegetables that are both delicious and nutritious. AVOCADO They’re tasty, they’re trendy, and they’re great for your eyes. Avocados are a great source of an antioxidant called lutein, which improves eye health. They’re also rich in vitamin E. Researchers have recently noted that people who get most of their vitamin E from their diet tend to have a lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease. It’s all the more reason to enjoy that avocado toast! EDAMAME Looking for a filling mid-afternoon snack? Skip the potato chips and help yourself to some edamame. These Japanese soybeans are a familiar sight on sushi menus, but they’re also readily available in the freezer section of your local grocery store. Edamame is delicious and a great source of protein, making it the perfect snack. WATERCRESS Step aside, kale; here’s the real queen of green. With more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach, and more vitamin C than an orange, watercress is one of the best greens you’re not eating. With all of these extra vitamins, watercress has been shown to improve heart health, bone health, and even act as an antidepressant. Next time you need a pick-me-up, consider a watercress salad. Your whole body will thank you! Bad childhood encounters with canned spinach or steamed Brussels sprouts are why many people avoid green veggies. But the produce section is full of tasty, healthy options waiting to appear on your dinner plate and improve your well-being. IT’S ALL GREEN TO ME THE BEST GREEN FOODS TO ADD TO THE MENU
IS THERE A CAUSE THAT NEEDS SUPPORT IN THE ATLANTA AREA?
CHECK OUT THE MARKS LAW GROUP PAY IT FORWARD FUND!
Marks Law Group is here 24/7, not only for our clients but also for the entire community. We have never wanted to be a law firm that only shows up when tragedy strikes. Instead, we want to be active in our communities, supporting initiatives and efforts to improve the lives and futures of everyone who lives in them. With this in mind, we have established the Marks Law Group Pay It Forward Fund. We established this fund to support different charities, nonprofits, and volunteer efforts in our metro Atlanta communities. There are countless groups working hard at the grassroots level to better the lives of Atlantans all over the metro area. Every six months, we will grant up to $500 to a local initiative that has been doing important work in and around the city. If you work with a local nonprofit or know of a charity doing important work that has a financial need that has not yet been met, visit MarksLawGroup.com/pay-it-forward-fund and fill out the application. The deadline for the upcoming cycle is June 30, so now is the time to apply! The application process is simple. To put your local initiative, non-profit, or charity of choice in the running to get the grant, simply answer the questions on the website and submit the application. Think about what your organization of choice could do with a $500 grant, and let us know how it will make our communities better. We at Marks Law Group are proud of how we get to serve our communities daily. We may not get to serve everybody in every way, but we want to be a part of the effort to help the good people and organizations of Atlanta help others where help is needed. Please let us know who’s doing good so we can help them accomplish their mission!
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THE $4.69 BILLION SUIT JURY DETERMINES JOHNSON & JOHNSON’S TALCUM POWDER CAUSED CANCER
Last July, a group of 22 women won a landmark suit against medical-device giant Johnson & Johnson, claiming that minute quantities of asbestos in the company’s talcum powder caused them to develop ovarian cancer. The plaintiffs were awarded $4.69 billion — the largest amount ever awarded in a product liability case. This case was one of several similar cases that have been filed since 2016, and the suits show no sign of slowing down. Despite the over 11,700 claims that their talcum powder is cancerous, Johnson & Johnson continues to aggressively defend its product. Plaintiffs have obtained internal documents that appear to confirm J&J company officials have known since the 1970s that some of the talcum in their baby powder contained asbestos, establishing that consumers should have been warned of potential lethal
side-effects. J&J has determined to paint all of the plaintiffs as eager participants in the litigation, even though many victims have either endured years of cancer treatment, or have already
naturally in the same environment with asbestos, but asbestos has been banned from commercial products since the 1970s. Studies on the subject are far from damning, but one meta-analysis found there is a small but statistically significant association between talc usage and
died due to their illness. One strategy that seems to be paying off for some plaintiffs is to file suits in smaller groups, rather than en masse, to make it easier for the public to attach names and faces to the cases. With 21 cases on various court calendars throughout the country, one question still remains: Was J&J’s talcum powder the culprit behind so many people’s cancer? The mineral talc can be found
certain types of cancer. As more research continues to come out, it does not appear that a consensus is yet on the horizon. Marks Law Group is no stranger to fighting large corporations and winning settlements in court. If you ever find yourself in physical or financial duress as a result of a defective or harmful product, give our office a call to speak with our attorneys.
LAUGHING WITH AMANDA MARKS
Amanda Goldstein Marks is a quirky and endearing comedian, content creator, and super (tired) mom. She performs stand-up comedy, MCs events
CRUNCHY CELERY STICKS
throughout the country, and just finished touring with the Brisket Belt Comedy Show. She has opened for comedian Judy Gold at the City Winery and has performed at the Stardome in Birmingham, Zanie's Comedy Night Club in Nashville, Stand Up Live in Huntsville, and the Comedy Zone in Charlotte. Amanda was a finalist for "Best Comedian" for Creative Loafing's Best of Atlanta in 2018, and her and her sister Alison’s podcast “Sis and Tell” won "Best Podcast" for Creative Loafing's Best of Atlanta in 2017. Amanda's comedy is like your favourite barbecue brisket: both inexplicably Southern and Jewish. Amanda can be found dishing wisdom and humour at sisandtell.com.
INGREDIENTS
• 2 celery stalks, washed and peeled with a peeler • 2 tablespoons peanut butter or almond butter • 2 teaspoons granola
DIRECTIONS
1. Put the celery stalks on a plate. Using a spoon, scoop some peanut butter from the jar and stuff it into the celery. 2. Sprinkle with the granola, and then press down with your fingers or a spoon to make the granola stick to the peanut butter.
NOTES
If you are allergic to nuts, make this recipe with cream cheese instead of nut butter.
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150 E. PONCE DE LEON AVENUE, SUITE 200 DECATUR, GEORGIA 30030
WWW.247LAW.COM 678-210-3954
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Getting to Know Marks Law Group’s Head Paralegal
2
Are All Green Foods the Same?
2
The Pay It Forward Fund
3
The Most Expensive Product Liability Suit Ever
3
Crunchy Celery Sticks
4
Take a Deep Breath
AN ANCIENT SOLUTION TO MODERN PROBLEMS THE TRUTH ABOUT MEDITATION
Close your eyes and take a deep breath.
climb a mountain or pay for a week-long retreat to start meditating. That said, there are plenty of resources that help beginners build a strong foundation for meditation. Popular apps like Calm or Headspace are available on any smartphone and offer guided courses you can start anywhere, anytime. You could also check online or at your local community center for group classes if you would like some in-person guidance. Meditation isn’t a magical ritual that will cure all that ails you, but plenty of research suggests meditation does provide tangible benefits to our mental and physical well- being. Maybe one day, meditation will be as commonplace as daily exercise.
DOES MEDITATION WORK? It depends on what you mean by “work.” Will meditation allow you to defy gravity and hover above the earth? Probably not. But there are so many benefits that will leave you feeling lighter in another way. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that mindful meditation lowers stress levels, and patients who habitually meditate report less chronic pain. Another study published in the same journal found that regular meditation also fights depression. HOW DO I MEDITATE? Meditating is as simple as sitting in a quiet place, closing your eyes, and focusing on your breathing for a few minutes. Whenever your mind starts to wander, gently bring it back to your breath. You don’t need to
This is the first step in every meditation session. Though often associated with the New Age metaphysical movement, meditation isn’t all about incense and healing crystals. Meditation is an ancient practice that strengthens your mental focus, and recent research suggests that it offers real solutions to modern problems. WHAT IS MEDITATION? Meditation has strong roots in various religious and cultural traditions, but anyone can find value in practicing it. The purpose of meditation is to strengthen your mind by promoting mindfulness, focus, and awareness.
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