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For The Ambitious Advocate BRIEF RECESS
FEBRUARY 2026
FROM THE LAW OFFICES OF J. PRICE MCNAMARA
Surprise Kids on the Farm
BABY GOATS AND BIG GRINS
What we’ve been up to … Can you tell who’s “Dot” and who’s “Fleece”?
We didn’t know that anyone in our really small goat herd was pregnant. Then, one recent morning, surprise! I guess we’re not too good at telling when a goat is pregnant. It’s not the first time we’ve missed it, either. In fact, we’ve missed all three times it’s happened. Since we started “farming” a couple of years ago in Greensburg, Louisiana, the four goats that came with the place have entertained us with newbies each January. After they wean, we give away however many it takes to get us back down to four, keeping one billy and three nannies. This year, we’ll keep newbies, Dot (a nanny) and Fleece (a billy), along with their mom and her sister.
Will you be my valentine?
If a fortune teller had told me three years ago that I’d soon be raising goats, I’d have died laughing. I would have bet big against it. But here we are, and I have to admit that we all love watching and playing with them, especially the newbies. And my little grandson is crazy about them. Proof above (and an excuse to show off my little buddy, who has a little brother or sister arriving in May)! At just three weeks old, they are jumping over each other, climbing up on the backs of the grown-up goats, and standing there as steady as can be. They are hilarious to have around while we’re doing outside chores and just hanging out. So, we are letting the cycle continue!
Hope all our referral partners are having a great 2026 so far!
Meet Fleece and Dot!
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(225) 201-8311
Does your office turn away calls about “long-term disability insurance” claim denials because you don’t handle administrative appeals or “ERISA litigation” in federal court? We want to hear from you! We happily share fees on referred ERISA long-term disability, life insurance, and accidental death insurance denial cases. Send us an email at BriefRecess@jpricemcnamara.com or call (225) 201-8311 to start the referral process! WE VALUE YOUR REFERRALS! He later ran off the road, struck a highway sign, and his airbags deployed. He then got out in his underwear, carrying a suitcase, and removed all clothing before running into the highway, where he was struck and killed by a truck. The insurer denied AD&D benefits under its suicide exclusion. Our appeal focused on three things: the presumption against suicide when the evidence is inconclusive, the insurer’s burden to prove an exclusion, and its duty to consider the entire record rather than cherry-picked facts. Suspicion alone is not enough. AD&D Denial Revers SUICIDE EXCLUSION FA We recently overturned a denied ERISA accidental death insurance claim where the insurer claimed the death was a suicide. The case is a reminder that insurers bear the burden of proving exclusions and that a carefully built record can get a denial reversed on appeal. The claim involved the death of a young husband and father after a late‑night roadside incident in Texas. Our client (his wife and beneficiary) had recently learned of his infidelity. Distraught, he left in his pickup truck with his two dogs on a cold night. Dashcam footage showed him playing their wedding dance song repeatedly, then stopping to let his dogs out along the interstate and driving off.
Something special happens when grandparents and grandkids open a book together. Sharing a story across generations can bring words to life and encourage young learners to develop a deeper love of reading. Whether you’re snuggling up with a picture book, exploring new worlds, or giggling over the characters in a classic tale, family storytime leads to cherished memories. With so many options on the shelves, we’ve compiled a list of age-appropriate books you and your grandchildren can enjoy together. 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt' A childhood favorite for more than 30 years, “We're Going on a Bear Hunt” feels more like playtime than simply sitting around for a story. This picture book will bring out your inner kid as you guide your grandchildren through wavy grass, cold rivers, and a dark cave to find a big bear. Make this a memorable and engaging read by singing along together, acting out the parts, and pausing over the colorful illustrations. Grandma’s house CHERISHED READS FOR GRANDKIDS AND GRANDPARENTS Books That Hug Back
shouldn’t be without a copy of this story that can turn any visit into a family outdoor adventure.
'Where the Wild Things Are'
One of the greatest joys of being a grandparent is getting to play and encouraging their grandchildren to use their imaginations. “Where the Wild Things Are” is one of the most beloved children’s books of all time. The story
follows Max, a wild child sent to bed for his mischief, who soon sails to an island of fantastical creatures. The captivating illustrations make this a page turner for little ones, and its message of love will touch a very familiar place in the hearts of grandparents. Invite your grandkids to grab a favorite stuffed animal as you journey into this vibrant world. ‘The Grandma (and Grandpa) Book’ The bond and love of grandparents are worth sharing, and there are books for little ones that truly celebrate the joys of this relationship. Though they haven’t been around as long as other classics on this list, “The Grandma Book” and “The Grandpa Book” are all about the many ways grandparents show they care. Every reading is a loving reminder that a child’s grandparents are there to provide comforting hugs, give sound advice, and nurture them.
ERISA is all we do!
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sed After Full Review AILS ON THE EVIDENCE The record showed behavior consistent with disorientation after the crash. Medical literature explains that airbag chemicals can irritate the skin and eyes and lead people to remove contaminated clothing. Other sources recognize “paradoxical undressing” as a phenomenon associated with hypothermia. GPS data showed he was headed to stay with his sister. His phone and Amazon records showed searches for pet-friendly hotels and a journal ordered for same-day delivery, all suggesting forward-looking plans. His widow and sister described recent conversations about faith, reconciliation, and his love for his child. No one believed he would harm himself, and no suicide note was found. The insurer leaned heavily on the truck driver’s account while discounting eyewitness statements that the decedent was waving or flailing his arms as if trying to flag down help. Confronted with the full administrative record and its failure to meet its burden, the insurer reversed its decision and paid the claim. We’re honored to have reversed this unfair suicide exclusion denial. Anyone facing an AD&D claim denial should be very cautious about treating the insurer’s first “no” as the final word.
I usually wake up at 5 a.m. with no alarm. But on New Year’s Day, after a long New Year’s Eve night, I planned to sleep in. It was going to be great. No plans and no schedule after two weeks of go, go, go. Then, at 5:03 a.m., the doorbell rang. My mind went straight to, “Something must be wrong!” I jumped out of bed, went to the door, and peeked out the window. Nobody there. I opened the door and saw a small package on the ground and a FedEx truck driving off. The package wasn’t important, and I crawled back into bed, ticked off, wondering who in their right mind rings a doorbell at 5:03 a.m. on New Year's Day. I couldn’t get back to sleep. Why not just drop the package and skip the doorbell? A 5:03 WAKE- UP CALL HOW I REFRAMED A BAD MORNING
Later that day, I read something that would have made that moment much better. It was about how easily we let small things we can’t control hijack our thoughts or moods. The fix is simple: Notice it, then walk through what you’re grateful for. For me, the list starts with unhurried time with my wife, kids, grandchild, and friends. It also includes getting to do work I love with people I enjoy, serving folks who need help.
With all that, why would I spend one second ticked about the 5:03 a.m. delivery guy? He probably needs sleep more than I did. It’s also pretty amazing that we can click a button and someone hustles our stuff to the front door within 24 hours, rain or shine. Here’s the part that matters to me. I decided to give that kind of moment a name. I call it “a 5:03 moment.” When something less than perfect pops up that I can’t control, and I feel that early morning doorbell feeling start, I can stop and say, “Aha, a 5:03 moment!” Giving it a name helps me recognize what’s happening, choose a response instead of a reaction, and hang on to my peace instead of handing it over to things I can’t control.
HAVE A LAUGH
Share the name with loved ones. When you see someone getting hijacked by “a 5:03 moment,” just say “5:03 moment!” to put them back on track. Try it!
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ERISA INSURANCE J. PRICE MCNAMARA Claim Attorney
9431 Common St. Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (225) 201-8311 WinMyBenefits.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Our Growing Little Herd in Greensburg
Family Storytime Made Extra Special
Holding an Insurer to Its Burden
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A Simple Trick for Daily Frustrations
Have a Laugh
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Meet the Canine Hero That Warns of Seizures
TRAINED TO PROTECT THE SERVICE DOG THAT CHANGED A CHILD’S LIFE
The family of JJ, a preteen troubled by debilitating seizures, was struggling to manage the condition and allay its devastating effect on his learning and well-being. They tried numerous treatments and therapies, but nothing worked well enough to stabilize JJ’s health. Then, JJ’s community stepped up in a way that changed his life forever. Military veterans at Sun Outdoors, an RV community where JJ and his family live in Sarasota, Florida, learned about the difficult situation his family faced and took the initiative to help.
fellow officers succumbed to the pain and took their own lives. As a way of coping with their loss, LaFlamme set out to help others by giving them access to the healing power of trained service dogs. Canines for Heroes has years of experience matching service dogs with individuals in need. So, Mark LaFlamme and his wife, Sandra, matched JJ with Ezra, a dog trained to detect oncoming seizures and provide emotional support. Ezra is a Czech shepherd, a Central European herding breed known for intelligence, alertness, intuitive ability, and loyalty. Service dogs’ sense of smell is more powerful than any machine and can detect changes instantaneously. They have been likened to a live-in medical alert system. They can also be trained to notice anxiety or discomfort and offer comfort and companionship, interrupting potential panic attacks by calming their human companions.
With training by Julie Madison of Top Tier K9, a professional dog-training company, Ezra learned to detect seizures by using his ability to sense subtle changes in scent or behavior. He was also taught to alert JJ and those around him before any visible signs of a seizure appeared, allowing a few crucial moments for JJ to take medications to curtail the seizures and ensure he was in a safe place. Ezra’s presence led to striking improvements. Not only did JJ experience a sharp decline in seizures, but the entire family felt less uncertainty and fearfulness. As the story of JJ and Ezra demonstrates, bonds between animals and humans can yield near-miraculous benefits.
Enter Ezra, the service dog.
The veterans reached out to Canines for Heroes, a Sarasota-based nonprofit founded by Air Force veteran Mark LaFlamme. As a highly decorated Air Force veteran of three combat operations in the Middle East, LaFlamme knew firsthand the challenges of dealing with post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); two of his
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