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LEGAL BRIEF
APRIL 2023 FriedmanSimon.com 516-800-8000
THE THRILL OF A LIFETIME
MY FAVORITE MARATHON MEMORY
One of the wonderful traditions associated with April is the running of the oldest modern marathon race, The Boston Marathon. As I sat down to write this month’s newsletter, a special “marathon memory” of my own came to mind. In my youth, I loved long-distance running. However, at one point I was sidelined due to injuries and could not run. Nevertheless, I wanted to participate in an upcoming New York City Marathon. I learned of the work of Achilles International (AchillesInternational.org) , an organization dedicated to helping physically challenged people engage in sports. Even though I could not run, I could walk, and Achilles International paired me with “Carlos,” a disabled young man, to walk the New York City Marathon. Carlos was born with cerebral palsy and raised in a poor neighborhood in New York City. At one point, Carlos was the victim of street crime. He suffered a gunshot wound simply because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. But Carlos was one of those who always had a smile and was relentlessly positive. He walked with a very pronounced limp and had various other physical limitations, but he had decided to take on the marathon challenge. My job was to carry a pack with some snacks and assist Carlos in whatever way he needed. Carlos and I had lots of time to talk as we walked through the five boroughs, and my respect and admiration for Carlos increased with every mile. His courage was inspiring. His enthusiasm and positivity were contagious. Along the marathon route, as the runners come off the 59th Street Bridge (The Ed Koch Bridge) onto 1st Avenue in Manhattan, hundreds of thousands of people are lined up cheering. As we came off the bridge, I grabbed a piece of cardboard and a marker I spotted near a water station. I quickly scribbled, “SAY GO CARLOS!” on the cardboard, and I held it over Carlos’ head as we marched up the avenue. Thousands of people saw the sign and responded accordingly, shouting their support for Carlos. He was thrilled - the entire marathon felt like an eight-hour high, but this moment was definitely the peak. I was also incredibly moved. Seeing the outpouring of love for Carlos
and watching him being rewarded for his courage in rising to the challenge of the marathon was a peak life moment for me and a memory I will always treasure. When Carlos and I finally crossed the finish line in Central Park, we embraced each other joyfully. In this era of 24-hour news and ever-present social media, putting people down is so pervasive that we can become insensitive to the harm it does on many levels. My journey through NYC with Carlos reinforced the power and beauty of offering a hand to another person. I believe that doing so lifts the person receiving the help and the person offering it. The marathon has often been used as a metaphor for the spirit required to face life’s many challenges. In this way, each of our injured clients runs their own personal marathons as they work to rebuild their lives after suffering injuries caused by another person’s negligence.
I am grateful for the experience of completing the marathon with Carlos and the opportunity to cover the distance from injury to recovery with our brave clients. Whatever challenges you face, I wish you the strength to meet them and the stamina to overcome them. Please let us know if we can help.
–Eddie Friedman
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One of the advantages of retaining our firm is our concentration on one area of practice. We limit our practice to representing people injured by another person’s improper acts or failure to take proper action. In doing so, we’ve been privileged to help thousands of clients injured in car accidents, construction accidents, slip- or trip-and-fall accidents, dog bite attacks, medical malpractice, and nursing home neglect and abuse. We have also worked to obtain justice for many seriously or catastrophically injured as a part of mass tort actions. A mass tort arises when a large number of individuals have suffered harm from the same cause by the same party. These cases often, though not always, make the national news. Our firm has assisted clients with multiple forms of harm caused by high- profile actors. They include cases against Roundup weed killer and talcum powder companies for causing various forms of cancer. We’ve also worked on cases stemming from Camp Lejeune, where Marines in North Carolina drank toxic water and later developed cancer and other conditions. Most recently, we have been reviewing potential cases of hair straighteners and relaxers due to the negligence and carelessness of the women’s beauty industry. Approximately 90% of women who identify as non-Asian women of color have used hair straighteners in their lifetimes. An 11-year National Institutes of Health (NIH) study that followed more than 33,000 women showed those who use hair straighteners (also called smoothers or relaxers) four or more times in one year are twice as likely to develop breast cancer or uterine cancer. The NIH has also found a correlation between these products and infertility and severe fibroids. Ingredients like formaldehyde and phthalates, found in nearly all hair straightening chemicals, disrupt the body’s endocrine system, which regulates hormones, including estrogen and other reproductive hormones. We are proud of our mission to help people with all types of injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury, we invite you to call Friedman & Simon for a free case review. We promise to take your injury seriously and let you know all your options. BEHIND OUR MASS TORT CASES Widespread Harm
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! How to Properly Recycle Your Electronics
When you think of recycling, you may think of the blue bins you use to recycle plastic, paper, cardboard, or glass. But did you know that you can also recycle electronics and other devices? HERE ARE SOME STATISTICS ABOUT ELECTRONIC WASTE (E-WASTE). • Around 12% of our electronics are appropriately recycled each year. This means that over 80% of devices are put in the garbage or sent to Asia or Africa to be burned. However, burning these devices releases harmful toxins in the air that can affect us, other living organisms, and the environment. • The most hazardous electronic toxins are mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, selenium, chromium, and flame retardants. • E-waste is increasing yearly — we generate around 40 million tons worldwide. • Our cellphones are filled with precious metals such as gold and silver. The U.S. throws out $60 million worth of these metals each year. WHAT ELECTRONIC DEVICES CAN YOU RECYCLE? You can recycle computers, laptops, monitors, cellphones, TVs, radios, tablets, printers, and other devices. But that’s not all! You can also recycle air conditioners, heaters, microwaves, digital cameras, circuit boards, VCR/DVD players, calculators, and more. HOW CAN YOU REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE THESE DEVICES? If your electronics are still in good condition and function properly, you can donate them to friends, charities, or community outreach programs. Some cellular companies allow you to turn in your old phone when you buy a new one — and you can even get some money back if your phone isn’t in shambles! Just be sure your personal information and data are wiped from your devices before giving them away. You can also send your electronics to a specialized facility that will wipe your data and recycle your devices. Search online for electronic recycling in your area to find businesses and organizations that offer this service. However, ensure that whatever facility you use is environmentally friendly. So, the next time you upgrade to a new phone, tablet, or computer, or when you get a new microwave and other electronic devices, recycle or donate them! The environment will thank you for it.
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Increase Your Lifespan With the VILPA Method IT ONLY TAKES 6 MINUTES EACH DAY!
WHAT IS VILPA? VILPA stands for “vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity.” In other words: exercise. Specifically, VILPA involves doing short, intense bursts of challenging exercises like climbing stairs or jogging down a hallway — anything that gets your heart pumping. According to the study, you only need to practice VILPA for 1–2 minutes three or more times per day to get the protective effects! DO YOU NEED TO BE IN SHAPE TO TRY VILPA? Nope! The VILPA study JAMA reported involved more than 25,000 people ages 40–69 who identified as “non-exercisers.” They never hit the gym; the most strenuous exercise routine they reported was a leisurely walk once a week.
Picture this: You’re sitting in your doctor’s office at the end of a checkup, waiting for her final words of wisdom on your health.
“Things are looking good,” she says, nodding thoughtfully. “But you could do better. I know a way to increase your lifespan by doing a simple task for just six minutes each day. Do you want to try it?” That scenario might sound like science fiction — after all, we don’t have a pill for longevity yet — but according to the latest research, it could very well happen on your next doctor’s visit! This January, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that by practicing a method called VILPA, it might be possible to lower your risk of death from any cause, including cancer, by 38%–40%. The method may also decrease your risk of death from heart disease specifically by 48%-49%. Both of these effects essentially increase your lifespan!
HOW SHOULD YOU START? It’s easy to try out the VILPA method: Simply take the stairs instead of the elevator and carry your groceries to the car instead of pushing them in the shopping cart. That said, we recommend visiting a physical therapist before you jump in. Many PTs offer free or low-cost health
screenings that can identify problem spots and weak areas of your body. Scheduling a screening before you push yourself with VILPA can save you from injuries down the road. SUDOKU
Tasty Spinach Artichoke Dip Inspired by DinnerAtTheZoo.com
Celebrate Earth Day by eating a tasty and healthy snack — spinach artichoke dip!
Ingredients
• 8 oz spinach leaves • 8 oz cream cheese, softened • 1 cup sour cream • 3/4 cup chopped marinated artichoke hearts • 1 tsp minced garlic • 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided • Sliced bread, crackers, or tortilla chips for serving
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Coat a small baking dish with cooking spray. 2. In a medium pan, steam or sauté spinach until wilted. When spinach cools, wring out excess water, then chop coarsely. 3. In a large bowl, mix cream cheese, sour cream, spinach, artichoke hearts, garlic, salt, pepper, Parmesan cheese, and 3/4 cup of mozzarella cheese. 4. Spread the mixture onto the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. 5. Bake for 20 minutes or until the dip is bubbly. Turn the oven to broil and cook for an additional 2–3 minutes so the cheese will begin to brown. 6. Immediately serve with bread, crackers, or tortilla chips.
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516-800-8000 FriedmanSimon.com
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Helping Others Face Life Challenges INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 2 Our Landfills Are Full of E-Waste
Understanding Mass Tort Cases
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The Latest Way to Lengthen Your Lifespan
Tasty Spinach Artichoke Dip
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Never Doubt a Canine’s Senses
NEVER DOUBT A CANINE’S SENSES ONE SNIFF CAN SAVE A LIFE
Dogs are known for their keen sense of smell — on TV, you will often see dogs that can find missing people or even search for drugs and bombs. When dogs use their extraordinary senses for a particular job, they’re often trained for that one purpose, but even without training, dogs do seem to know something is wrong.
a spot of trouble. As he tried to exit his vehicle, his walking stick suddenly snapped in half. Unable to keep his balance, Cohen fell and became wedged under his car’s brake and clutch pedals. The man called for help several times, but unfortunately, no one could hear his pleas, and he remained stuck overnight. The next day, Roger’s owners let him roam around outside. Roger began sniffing around Cohen’s home (some believe Roger had heard the man’s calls for help), and once Roger found the elderly man, he didn’t leave his side for the rest of the day. After a couple of hours, Frances Wall, Roger’s owner, began calling for Roger. When he didn’t immediately come home when she called, she started looking for him, and that’s when she found Roger and Cohen. She immediately called emergency services, and three firefighters came by the home to free
Cohen. They quickly took him to the hospital because they worried about hypothermia.
Over a week later, medical staff released Cohen from the hospital, and now he gives Roger treats whenever he sees him. “I owe my life to that dog. They [health care professionals] said that if I would’ve been there for a few more hours, I would have been a goner,” Cohen told Bournemouth Daily Echo. Fortunately for Cohen, Roger’s amazing canine senses saved the day. It’s always great to have a furry friend around — you never know when their incredible skills will come in handy!
Roger, the Jack Russell terrier-poodle mix, is a great example.
Our story takes place in Ringwood, England, in December 2022. Winter was in full swing, with temperatures below freezing. No one wanted to find themselves outside in the cold for too long because it could be dangerous. Unfortunately, that’s what happened to 94-year-old Morris Cohen, and he almost died.
Cohen just got home and parked his car in the garage when he found himself in
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