Take a look at our February newsletter!
For The Ambitious Advocate BRIEF RECESS
FEBRUARY 2025
FROM THE LAW OFFICES OF J. PRICE MCNAMARA
A Heartfelt Valentine’s Message of Gratitude To Our Family, Team, and Partners
With February’s arrival, the season of love and appreciation is upon us — a perfect time to reflect on the meaningful relationships that bring our journey to life and make it worthwhile. We dedicate this Valentine’s edition of our newsletter to the cherished people who bring warmth, support, and collaboration into our lives: our families, exceptional team, and valued attorney referral partners. The Heartbeat of Our Success: Family Where would we be without the love and support our families provide? Behind every professional milestone stands a network of loved ones cheering us on, offering encouragement, and making sacrifices to help us succeed. From supportive spouses to patient children and caring parents, our families are the heartbeat of our success. They endure the unique challenges of our profession — long hours, emotional resilience, and the difficulty of “mentally clocking out” when we’re home. Through it all, their steady presence keeps us grounded. Their patience, understanding, and love empower us to pursue our passion for helping others. To our families, thank you for being the silent strength behind every victory and the inspiration behind our work. Your support is a constant reminder that true success is measured not only by professional achievements but also by the strength of our family relationships. The Glue That Holds It All Together: Our Team A great team is a treasure, and we are fortunate to have one. Each member of our law firm brings unique talents, skills, and dedication to our shared mission of serving our clients with excellence. Team members are the glue that holds everything together. Your hard work behind the scenes, attention to detail, and commitment to delivering top-notch service drive our success.
express our deepest gratitude for your loyalty, professionalism, and teamwork. Together, you make our firm not just a workplace but a family.
A Partnership Built on Trust and Respect: Our Fellow Attorneys In the same spirit of appreciation, we extend heartfelt thanks to our attorney referral partners. Your trust, collaboration, and shared commitment to justice mean the world to us. Each referral you send is a professional endorsement representing your confidence in our ability to serve clients with care and excellence, and it reflects the shared goal of achieving justice for those in need. The legal field thrives on collaboration, and our professional relationships help us deliver the highest level of service to our clients. Your referrals are a testament to the trust we’ve built together, and we don’t take that trust lightly. Our partnerships create pathways to better outcomes for those we serve. Beyond the business connection, we deeply value the genuine friendships and mutual respect we’ve built over time, enhancing our work and personal growth. Many of you have shared advice and insights that have broadened our understanding, and we are deeply appreciative. Continuing Our Journey Together As we move forward into the year, we remain committed to nurturing these relationships with gratitude and care. Together, we can continue to positively impact the lives of our clients and the community we serve. This Valentine’s season, we wish you joy, gratitude, and the enduring strength of the relationships that inspire us every day. Thank you all for being part of our journey.
We work together and share a vision and values that inspire us to grow, excel, and challenge each other to be better. This Valentine’s Day, we
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FOOD AND FUN FOR EVERYONE AT THESE LOUISIANA FESTIVALS SAVOR SPRING
Your Guide to a Family-Friendly Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day can be a difficult holiday for many parents. While they’d love to go out for a romantic dinner and enjoy a date night with their spouse, they have to think about the kids, too! Finding a babysitter for Valentine’s Day can be incredibly challenging, so shift gears and spend the day as a family instead of a couple. You can find plenty to do to ensure your Valentine’s Day is fun and exciting for every family member. Here are three activities to try that will help make Valentine’s Day memorable. Write love letters. Valentine’s Day is a holiday all about love and romance, making it the perfect time for your family to share what they love about each other. Give your kids and yourself time to write love letters to each family member, writing down what they love about that person and some of their favorite memories. It’s a great way to spread joy and show everyone how loved they are. Make some sweet treats. Valentine’s Day often includes desserts and candies; your event should be no different. Instead of taking the kids to the store to pick out their favorite chocolate bars or Valentine’s treats, consider baking something special. Make heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast, or bake sugar cookies and allow everyone to decorate their treats with sprinkles and frosting. You can even bake a red velvet cake or another Valentine’s favorite if you feel adventurous. Give gifts to each other. While Christmas and birthdays are often associated with gift-giving, you can also give your kids and spouse special gifts on Valentine’s Day to brighten their mood and ensure they feel loved. Flowers, stuffed animals, and chocolates are the go-to Valentine’s gifts, but you don’t necessarily
Spring is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to get out and enjoy the unique culture of Louisiana. From savory oysters and spicy crawfish to quirky festivals celebrating local traditions, March offers a lineup of events you won’t want to miss. Here are three exciting ways to savor the season and embrace Louisiana’s vibrant spirit.
Amite Oyster Festival When: March 14–16
Where: Amite, Louisiana Admission: Free to enter Website: AmiteOysterFestival.com
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! Celebrate the Gulf’s finest oysters and honor Louisiana’s vibrant oyster industry at the Amite Oyster Festival. First held in 1976, the event features three days of live music, carnival rides, and plenty of oysters prepared in every way imaginable. The festival’s music lineup spans Cajun, country, rock and roll, and even reggae, offering something everyone can enjoy alongside the great food.
have to stick to the script. Your family will be thrilled by any gifts they receive!
ERISA is all we do!
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NEW EVIDENCE SECURES LUMP-SUM SETTLEMENT When James (not his real name) was diagnosed with a severe seizure disorder, his life changed overnight. As a control panel operator for Valero, his job required working from heights and with hazardous equipment — tasks his doctors deemed too dangerous given his condition. Despite clear medical opinions, UNUM Insurance denied his long-term disability claim, stating that the evidence provided was insufficient. The denial was devastating for James, who had been earning $114,000 annually. He feared losing everything he’d worked so hard for, all while managing a debilitating condition. Building a Stronger Case When James turned to us for help, we got to work gathering additional evidence to strengthen his appeal. We collaborated with his doctors to craft detailed, signed statements highlighting his condition’s severity. We also helped James create a vivid sworn statement describing his unpredictable seizures, the dangers of his job, and the physical toll of his condition. To further support his case, James’ wife, father, and mother provided affidavits detailing the impact of seizures on his daily life. These combined accounts painted a compelling picture of how James’ condition made it impossible for him to perform his job safely — or any job requiring sustained focus and physical effort. A Just Outcome Faced with overwhelming new evidence, UNUM reversed its decision. They paid James all the past-due benefits and awarded him a lump-sum settlement for future payouts under the policy. James’s persistence paid Fighting an Unfair Disability Denial
Iowa Rabbit Festival When: March 20–22 Where: Iowa, Louisiana Admission: $12–$20, kids 12 & under free Website: IowaRabbitFestival.com
Hop into spring at the Iowa Rabbit Festival. Featuring a rabbit cook-off, live zydeco music, and a vibrant atmosphere, this quirky and entertaining event is a true Cajun celebration. Since it started in 1986, the family-friendly festival has become one of the biggest events in the area — attracting over 20,000 people over the weekend. More than just fun, the Iowa Rabbit Festival raises money for local civic groups and schools, making it a wonderful way to support the community while having a great time.
Louisiana Crawfish Boil Championships When: March 29 Where: Marrero, Louisiana Admission: $18–$30 Website: Bit.ly/3Wim38g
Nothing says Louisiana springtime like a crawfish boil, and the Louisiana Crawfish Boil Championships are where the best of the best compete. Now in its 23rd year, the event has been sanctioned as Louisiana’s “official” crawfish boil championship. Watch as over 60 teams compete for cash prizes and the coveted Louisiana Championship Belt, and don’t miss the chance to enjoy all the crawfish you can eat.
Ginger-Glazed Mahi Mahi Inspired by AllRecipes.com
Ingredients • 3 tbsp honey • 3 tbsp soy sauce • 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 tsp grated fresh ginger root
• 3 cloves garlic, minced • 4 (6-oz) mahi mahi fillets • Salt and pepper to taste • 2 tbsp vegetable oil • Cooked brown rice, for serving
off. By appealing rather than accepting UNUM’s denial, he secured the financial support he needed and was able to focus on healing and exploring alternative vocational options.
Directions 1. In a shallow bowl, mix honey, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, ginger, and garlic. 2. Season fish fillets with salt and pepper, then place them skin-side down in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 25 minutes. 3. Add vegetable oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove fish fillets and add to skillet, reserving marinade. Fry fish for 4–5 minutes on each side, turning only once, until fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove fillets to a serving platter and keep warm. 4. Pour the reserved marinade into the skillet. Simmer over medium heat until reduced to a glaze. Spoon glaze over fish and serve over brown rice.
James had paid premiums for years to protect himself in the event of a disability, and he received the benefits he had deserved. It
was an honor to help such a determined individual overturn an unfair denial.
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
ERISA INSURANCE J. PRICE MCNAMARA Claim Attorney
10455 Jefferson Hwy. Suite 130 Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (225) 201-8311 WinMyBenefits.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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A Valentine’s Reflection on Relationships
Family Activities That Will Make Valentine’s Day Special
3 Louisiana Events to Enjoy in March
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Ginger-Glazed Mahi Mahi
The Power of Evidence in Disability Claims
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A Lawyer's Valentine
hIa vheo paegyr eoaut Valentine’s Day! but in no way guarantee twenty-four (24) hours from the time of receipt of this card ^
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