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THE Defender
MAY 2019
770-919-9525 • FRYELAWGROUP.COM
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK!
A TRIBUTE TO TRIAL LAWYERS COLLEGE AND ALL ITS AMAZING INSTRUCTORS!
Teacher Appreciation Week, which takes place May 6-10 this year, provides people the opportunity to acknowledge educators who have made a difference in their lives. This weeklong event is one that can be celebrated by everyone. Regardless of your background or experience, it’s safe to assume that you’ve had at least one teacher who helped shape your educational experience and impacted your life. This month, I’d like to honor a group of teachers I started working with in 2013, all of whom continue to significantly influence my life and my firm today: Gerry Spence and his team of instructors at Trial Lawyers College (TLC). I first heard about TLC during its inaugural years in the mid-90s. While I thought it sounded like an amazing opportunity, I was a prosecutor at the time, and since the entire TLC curriculum is centered around training plaintiff lawyers rather than corporations, they weren’t accepting students who represented the government. Several years down the road, a friend of mine who serves as a local attorney mentioned that he was attending a regional event. I had started my defense firm by then, and since I was a candidate for the college, I began to fully immerse myself in research. TLC’s vision is to train a new breed of lawyer they describe as “a warrior who has the courage to become a real person first and who then has the heart to fight for justice in their own compassionate voice.” Gerry Spence, the founder of TLC, still serves as Chairman of the Board and was joined by President John Sloan in 2014. Together, they have based their entire curriculum on psychodrama (putting words and stories into action). “TLC’s vision is to train a new breed of lawyer they describe as ‘a warrior who has the courage to become a real person first and who then has the heart to fight for justice in their own compassionate voice.’” The idea of attorney training tends to conjure up images of uncomfortable desks and boring PowerPoint presentations. But TLC is exactly the opposite. I started out participating in a 3-week course in the middle of Wyoming with no internet connection. I spent 9 hours a day in demonstrative sessions led by fellow attorneys with no phone service. While I anticipated driving away from the ranch with ample new strategies to implement in my own trials, I never imagined I would
learn as much as I did. Even though I’d been an attorney for
20 years at that point, the trip still had a profound effect on the way I’ve approached every single case since.
As a result of my initial experiences with TLC, I decided I wanted to help the organization reach as many fellow attorneys as possible. Now, I attend regional events and lead presentations as a member of the staff! In fact, I recently traveled to Austin, Texas, where I presented on “voir dire.” It’s been amazing to see the same joy and motivation that was ignited in me in 2013 in the eyes of the newer attendees, and I’m counting the days until our next event. The vision that TLC has created resonates with lawyers all over the country for an important reason: the emphasis on human connection. Bringing their strategies into my own practice has made a world of difference in every aspect of the cases I take on. To Gerry Spence and all the other instructors at TLC, I appreciate you so much!
–Kim Keheley Frye
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THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STEAL A PROTECTED ANIMAL
ANIMAL THEFT AND TRESPASSING DON’T GO UNNOTICED
In this country, there is an ingrained societal stigma against teens who’ve been forced to spend time in juvenile detention, regardless of the reason they were sent there. In many instances, family members, teachers, and members of the general public turn their heads away from kids who’ve had bouts of trouble, and we rarely take the time to understand what might have prompted it. Fortunately, organizations like the Northwestern Juvenile Project and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) are taking a closer look at the social, mental, and emotional situations that may have contributed to these teens’ decisions to commit a crime. According to the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, most young people placed in detention have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. In fact, reports indicate that in a sample of 900 young detainees in Chicago, 93 percent reported prior exposure to trauma, and approximately 84 percent reported experiencing more than one traumatic event. Many of them told stories of being repeatedly threatened with a weapon and fearing for their lives. As a result of their negative experiences growing up, many of these teens struggle with severe PTSD. Unfortunately, this emotional distress often coincides with the development of other psychiatric disorders, which leaves the teens more likely to struggle with substance and alcohol use disorders. In fact, the authors of this report You wake up slowly, still groggy from a raucous night out with your friends. As you look around, taking stock of your surroundings, you see the other inhabitants: a desk, your shoes, a penguin … a penguin?! While footage confirms that two young Welshmen stole Dirk the penguin from his SeaWorld Australia home, the men had little memory of the night’s misadventures the next morning — until they saw Dirk waddling around their rented apartment. The night before, after imbibing a hefty amount during their vacation in Australia, the men got the harebrained idea to break into SeaWorld and swim with the dolphins. After getting inside, video footage captured them stripping down to their skivvies and running around the facility — until they spotted the penguin enclosure. “Look at them!” one said. Distracted from their original plan, they made their way to the penguins, grabbed one, and left. Dirk, the 7-year-old fairy penguin (the smallest species of penguin), was bred in captivity and had never left his enclosure. The next morning, realizing what they’d done, the three young men panicked and released Dirk into a nearby canal. But Dirk’s misfortunes weren’t quite over. He was chased out of the canal by what onlookers believe was a shark, only to be chased back in by a surprised dog. Fortunately, concerned passers-by called authorities, and SeaWorld workers came to rescue Dirk and bring him back to his family. THE COMPLEXITY OF JUVENILE JUSTICE
Dirk returned unharmed to his partner, Peaches, but his kidnappers weren’t so lucky. Once a Facebook post recounting their misdeeds made its rounds, police traced the crime back to the two Welshmen. They were charged with trespassing, stealing, and keeping a protected animal, and there was no shortage of public shaming as their crime circulated the internet. Taking note of their letter of apology and admissions of guilt and regret, the judge enforced a heavy fine for the crime in lieu of jail time.
Charges for kidnapping a protected animal vary from state to state, but the Endangered Species Act ensures perpetrators face harsh penalties, including fines and maximum sentences. The Animal Legal Defense Fund also provides free legal assistance and training to help protect animals from harm. Be careful on your next night out, and please, enjoy wildlife without stealing it!
AND THE TRUTH ABOUT TROUBLED TEENS
claim that the number of young people with psychiatric disorders in the juvenile justice system is “extremely alarming.” While the stigma associated with troubled teens still exists, some states have made great strides in reforming their
juvenile justice system, moving away from incarceration to community-based alternatives. Hopefully, with more funding and resources, they’ll be able to legitimize juvenile correction methods and help these young people. They have often already endured more hardship in their short lives than some seasoned adults, and they’ve made consequential life decisions as a direct result. Here at Frye Law Group, we understand the complexities associated with cases involving teens. We take pride in fighting for young people so they don’t have to enter adulthood with a criminal conviction. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to give our office a call.
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CHECK OUT THESE CLIENTS’ EXPERIENCES WORKING WITH KIM SAVING A YOUNG PERSON’S FUTURE
We have a lot to celebrate this month at Frye Law Group. We recently worked with three young clients who found themselves mistakenly in trouble with the law. After diligently learning all the details of their cases, our team determined that because this was their first altercation, they all absolutely deserved to have a second chance. Even in minor scrapes with the law, a young person might face legal consequences that could stain their record permanently, haunting them for the rest of their lives. Fortunately, Kim was able to intervene prior to these young people being criminally charged by convincing the authorities involved not to move forward with these cases. While each was different in nature, they all involved young people who were just beginning to dabble in adulthood. We would never want a small mistake to negatively shape the rest of a person’s life. To that end, we’d like to offer our readers a gentle reminder this month. Because Cinco de Mayo has become nearly synonymous with roistering parties, it’s also the cause for a major spike in alcohol related crashes and DUIs. If you’re planning on celebrating by going out with your friends, make sure you make plans ahead of time (such as using alternative transportation like Uber or Lyft) to ensure that you are able to enjoy your evening completely worry-free. If you have not downloaded the LYFT app, you can get a $10 LYFT credit by using the code KIM289808.
That being said, our team here at Frye Law Group understands that you can’t plan for everything. If you are arrested for a DUI, we want you to know that you have options for your defense. We will aggressively work to help you avoid a conviction and minimize the consequences to your life. If you have any further questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out!
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE WITH SOME MOVIE TRIVIA
Even the best students hate taking tests, but here at Frye Law Group, we love a good trivia question.
Check out the following film quote below: “No intensity, no victory.”
No matter your child’s education level, the administrators at his or her school have much broader power than the average government official (like a police officer). As a parent, you want your child’s school to serve as a form of protection, but what happens when a school’s resource officer, a uniformed guard meant to ensure students’ safety, aims to prosecute students instead? Check out Kim’s Facebook live video to learn about your child’s rights on school premises. CHECK OUT OUR NEW FACEBOOK LIVE VIDEO!
Do you know the movie this quote is from? If so, send an email to news@ fryelawgroup.com as soon as possible, including your phone and the title of the film. The first three responders to answer correctly will win a free gift card to Jack’s New Yorker Deli!
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Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
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170 Anderson Street Marietta, GA 30060 770-919-9525 FryeLawGroup.com
Inside this Issue
In Honor of Teacher Appreciation Week! page 1
The Price You Pay for Stealing a Penguin
The Truth About Troubled Teens page 2 Check Out These Clients’ Experiences Working With Kim
Facebook Live Video page 3
How to Travel Sustainably page 4
GET OUT THERE WITH THESE ECO-TOURISM TIPS GO GREEN
Vacations can come with great expense, and not just for your bank account. According to a 2018 study published in Nature Climate Change, travel accounts for 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Cut through the greenwashing and do your part to lessen these emissions by traveling sustainably. TRAVEL GREEN When possible, trains, hybrid buses, and carpooling are great alternatives to larger, more environmentally intrusive travel methods. Large cruise liners are detrimental to oceans, and airplanes emit large amounts of toxins into the air. However, you can cruise and fly with the earth in mind. Some cruise lines are working to reduce their impact by installing more eco- friendly lighting and materials, and flight experts recommend using “green” airports, choosing fuel-efficient airlines, staying longer, and traveling less. If anything, it’s an excuse to extend your European vacation! STAY GREEN Where you stay impacts the environment as much as how you get there. Hotels use copious amounts of water for bathing and laundry, and they struggle to reduce energy because guests leave their lights and televisions on. However, many luxury resorts, woodsy cabins, and even entire countries have opted to make eco-tourism easier. If you’re looking for a region of the world committed to preserving nature, look no further than Iceland, Finland,
and Sweden, which are ranked the three most environmentally friendly places in the world.
DO GREEN Man-made attractions like the Egyptian pyramids and Machu Picchu are some of the world’s greatest wonders, but Earth itself is pretty breathtaking. Check out natural attractions while hiking or camping in preserved forests, or soak up all the Caribbean has to offer by snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. When you’re mindful of your surroundings and remain unobtrusive, there are endless outdoor activities you can explore. Some locations even partner with environmentally conscious organizations you can donate to or volunteer with.
Opt for a green vacation and know that while you relax, the earth is getting a little relief too.
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