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LEGAL BRIEF
JUNE 2023 FriedmanSimon.com 516-800-8000
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON MY DAD’S LESSONS ON PARENTHOOD
It’s said that we become our parents, and that certainly seems true. As Father’s Day approaches, I’ve been thinking about my dad and realized many aspects of my parenting style are derived from his. I do so many things with my girls because I fondly remember my father doing them with me. Dad owned a construction business and often took me to work with him. It would just be for a visit when I was little, but he also put me to work once I was old enough. Instead of attending summer camp, I got my hands dirty with some physical labor. I enjoyed working with him and always found trips to his job exciting. I can still remember the smell of the lumber yards we frequented. Although I ended up in a very different profession, I try to replicate that experience with my girls. They’re still small — Natalie is almost 6, and Carolyn is 3 — but I want them to understand what their father does for a living and bring them to the office regularly. It’s good for them to see my life away from home. It always felt like being let in on a little secret as a kid, and I cherish those times at my dad’s business. My parents also fully integrated my brother and me into their lives. They weren’t the type to go on couples’ vacations and leave us at home or go out to dinner by themselves. Our family trips were kid- oriented — like how my family recently visited Disney World. My mom ran her own business, and when she had late-night meetings, Dad would drive the minivan to the nearby Borders bookstore. We had a lot of fun hanging out while waiting for Mom to finish. I do something similar when my wife has an after-hours obligation. The girls and I go to dinner or do something else before picking her up. I appreciate that my dad valued my mom’s career and was happy to look after us when many would have hired a babysitter in those days. He instilled in me the importance of spending time with my kids. That’s why I never miss a soccer game or recital; I will move mountains to be there for my girls.
Michael with his two daughters, Carolyn and Natalie.
fun, but I didn’t fear it because I was sure he would always love me. No matter how bad the situation was, I knew getting my dad involved was better than trying to hide it. Dad would undoubtedly help me. Of course, he’d probably punish me, too, but I knew it came from a good place. Natalie and Carolyn are hopefully years away from getting into big trouble, but I hope to provide that same kind of stability. I know they’ll mess up, but I aim to be the kind of father they’ll trust rather than fear. Regardless of everything else, I always want them to feel sure of my love. It’s the No. 1 lesson my father taught me as a dad. Now, it’s my job to live up to it.
-Michael J. Mills
Above all, my dad gave me one gift I’ll never forget. I always had someone who loved me — no matter what. Getting in trouble wasn’t
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Personal injury cases sometimes reach an impasse. The plaintiff’s attorney knows what their client’s case is worth, but the insurance company’s defense team strongly disagrees. When each side’s numbers are too far apart for a reasonable compromise, a lawsuit can drag on for years before finally reaching a trial date in the courthouse. HOW EXPERT CALCULATIONS HELP WIN CASES It All Adds Up
Are You Emotionally Prepared for Your Kids to Leave?
As part of our trial preparation process,
3 Stages of Empty Nest Syndrome
Friedman & Simon often hires outside experts to calculate the total cost of our client’s injuries over a long-time horizon. An injured person may need special equipment, prescription medications, or ongoing procedures for years or even for the rest of their life. In order to build the most
Being a parent and following the intense schedule that comes with childrearing becomes your lifestyle, one you have adhered to for over a decade. Eventually, though, your children will grow up, move out, and possibly have their own kids. But getting accustomed to this immense change can be difficult and cause you to feel plunging sadness and grief at what feels like the loss of your identity. This is called “empty nest syndrome,” and you’ll be happy to know you won’t feel this way forever. You’ll likely experience three distinct phases, and we’re here to help you go through them! STAGE 1: DESPAIR Your children leaving home is a huge life change, and even the tiniest things can trigger a bout of crying. When you pass their old bedroom or find one of their belongings left behind, the tears might flow, and that’s okay! It’s only natural to feel lonely and as if you’ve suddenly lost your purpose. While you may want to withdraw from the world and wallow, now is the time to reconnect with friends and loved ones to remind you there’s more happiness in your life to be experienced. STAGE 2: RELIEF After a few months, the despair should dissipate, and you’ll feel a sense of relief. You’ll begin to enjoy not worrying about the various tasks and responsibilities once expected of you. No more preparing lunches, doing their laundry, or cleaning up after them! With all this free time now available, you can dive into past or new hobbies and discover your interests. STAGE 3: CONTENTMENT Finally, you can feel happy with your new circumstances. After experiencing the first two erratic stages of empty nest syndrome, you should settle comfortably into your new lifestyle. Regular yoga classes, summertime cruises, book clubs or whatever other activities you truly enjoy are now the new norm. You can finally sit back, relax, and know you’ve successfully raised your children to become independent adults.
compelling case to support the claim for our client’s damages, we need to precisely calculate the extended or, if indicated, lifetime cost of these treatments based on the person’s age and their statistical life expectancy. There are also lost earnings to consider. Those who can’t maintain previous employment will also see long-term consequences for their income and standard of living. An expert can calculate how much the client likely would have made before retirement to present to a jury. While these numbers are essential to presenting the strongest possible case in court, we’ve also found them to be an excellent negotiation tool with the at-fault insurance carrier and defense counsel. Once they see the complete itemized list of expenses and how compelling they’ll be to a jury, they’re more likely to come back to the table with a reasonable offer. Our office has been able to win excellent case settlements using this approach, with great benefit to our client. More specifically, a pre-trial settlement provides the client with a speedier case conclusion and certainty of outcome. Waiting for a trial and the trial itself can take a significant amount of time. Also, no one can ever say with absolute certainty what the outcome of a trial will be. A favorable settlement addresses both of these concerns. When a case settles for an appropriate amount, it’s over just as soon as the closing documents are signed and the injured person knows exactly how much they will recover. To protect their client’s interests, a personal injury attorney must turn over every stone and use every possible tactic to create a favorable outcome. Anything less does the client a disservice. Using expert estimates is just one of many tools that help us secure the compensation our clients deserve.
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Bring on the Bonding! IDEAS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR KIDS
Spending individual quality time with your children is critical to a strong bond. Conversations you might not otherwise have are easier to initiate when you have one-on- one time. Every kid wishes to spend time with their parent and have their full attention, so devoting one-on-one time to bond with your children is vital. When you spend individual time bonding with each of your children, you’ll learn even more about them than before! Of course, set aside the same amount of time and effort for each child to ensure no one has hurt feelings. Creating a colorful, sticker-filled calendar with everyone’s special bonding time mapped out can keep everyone in the loop and excited about their respective activities! Here are some outing ideas to consider. POTTERY NIGHT AT HOME (OR A STUDIO) A crowd-pleaser for all ages, pottery can be a creative and fun activity to share with your child or teen. You can keep it simple
by sticking with clay, sculpting tools, and paints. Or, you can take your kid to a pottery studio where an instructor can guide you both. Whatever you choose, you and your child will enjoy letting your creativity flow while spending quality time together. You might even make your new favorite cup or bowl along the way! ARCADE FUN NEAR YOU While many kids spend much of their time with their eyes glued to screens already, an arcade allows you to turn that video game passion into quality family bonding. Have your kids show you the hip new games available while you school them with old- school classics like pinball or Skee-Ball. Most arcades have prize counters, so you can get souvenirs to remember the trip! A NATURE WALK Easy and affordable, a nature walk lets you and your child get some fresh air. Inspect all the plants, animals, insects, and leaves
you find on your path. This can be a great learning experience for younger kids and a fun afternoon activity for you both. Take it to the next level by having a picnic with snacks and drinks! LUNCH AND A MATINEE The phrase “dinner and a show” has been around for a long time, but lunch and a matinee turns the date classic into a family bonding experience. Going earlier in the day makes the food and tickets cheaper, and theaters tend to run more kid-friendly movies earlier in the day. Taking the time to go to one of your child’s favorite pit stops, followed by a movie you can both enjoy, is the recipe for meaningful bonding! When you take the time to bond one-on- one with your child, they’ll be excited to go to new places and make new memories with just the two of you. Make these outings unforgettable by giving your child your full attention and enjoying each other’s company.
SUDOKU
Goat Cheese and Thyme Stuffed Chicken Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com
Ingredients
• 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts • 3.5 oz firm goat cheese • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, plus 2–3 sprigs
• 4 pieces of thin-sliced bacon • Olive oil • 2 zucchinis, thinly sliced • 1 large tomato, thinly sliced
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. Split the chicken breasts almost in half along the long side, open them like a book, then flatten the sides out. 3. Put the goat cheese on the “open book” side of the chicken and sprinkle with thyme leaves. Fold the chicken over to enclose the cheese, then wrap each breast in 2 slices of bacon. 4. Lightly oil a shallow gratin or casserole dish, then arrange overlapping rows of zucchini and tomatoes on the bottom. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then set chicken on top. Place thyme sprigs on chicken. 5. Bake for 40–45 minutes until the bacon is crisp and golden and the zucchini is tender.
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516-800-8000 FriedmanSimon.com
390 N. Broadway, #210 Jericho, NY 11753
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
Why Michael Strives to Parent Like His Dad INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 2 The Emotional Roller Coaster of an Empty Nest
A Winning Negotiation Tactic
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How Can I Bond With My Kids?
Goat Cheese and Thyme Stuffed Chicken
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A Furry Hero in Mexico
RESCUE DOG’S LEGACY LIVES ON HOW THE WORLD FELL FOR FRIDA
Dressed in protective goggles, blue booties, and a matching vest, this incredible rescue dog became a symbol
While the nation was devastated by the disaster, this smiley rescue pup brought worldwide attention to the tragedy. Frida’s dedication (and impeccable style) quickly made her an internet celebrity, and soon, murals of the lifesaving canine graced the walls of Mexico City. Even Captain America, aka Chris Evans, gave Frida a shoutout on Twitter, adding, “What did we do to deserve dogs?” The hero dog then traveled the world, helping countries suffering from the aftermath of disastrous earthquakes. Frida saved lives in Haiti and Ecuador before retiring from her position in 2019 at 10 years old to live the rest of her days in comfort and love. Sadly, the Mexican Navy announced Frida’s passing in November 2022 due to old age. She was 13 years old. In her honor, a magnificent bronze statue of Frida, clad in goggles and boots, stands in front of the Mexican Navy office in Mexico City. On the day of her death, the Mexican Navy changed their Twitter banner to an illustration of Frida and spread the hashtag “#HastaSiempreFrida.” Frida will always be remembered for her lifesaving work and the hope she embodied for the entire world.
of hope in Mexico. Frida, a cheerful yellow Labrador retriever, was a devoted member of the Mexican Navy known for her
search and rescue skills. Trained to find people trapped under rubble after earthquakes, Frida always worked hard to save lives.
Frida became a national hero when a devastating earthquake hit Mexico City in 2017. The 7.1 magnitude earthquake took more than 300 lives and injured many more. While sifting through dangerous debris and aftershocks, Frida saved 12 people after finding them alive while uncovering more than 40 bodies during her lifesaving career.
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