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OCT 17
Road to justice
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The Big Day Is Finally Here
Cutting the Ribbon at Our New Office
I recently returned from a wedding in Rockford, Illinois. It was a great experience, but I couldn’t resist talking about the law with the groom. You
see, before I went to law school, I worked briefly in IT, where I met the future groom. We stayed in touch, and he (foolishly) followed my lead into law school. I’m sure that everyone was less than thrilled to hear us talk shop, but we couldn’t resist.
“After securing all the permits, finishing construction, and
I came away from our conversation remembering that there’s always a bright side to the legal system in a particular state. No matter how much I might gripe about certain facets of the South Carolina courts, there are ways that lawyers in Illinois have it a whole lot worse. It was basically the opposite of a “grass is greener” conversation. We both acknowledged the challenges we have to deal with, but I certainly didn’t come away wishing that I practiced in Illinois. Speaking of greener grass, we are happy to announce that we are finally in our new building. It’s been quite the process — another thing I’m thankful for is that I’m not a contractor! The results, though, have made it more than worth all the headaches. We’re more than doubling in size, and we hope it will lead to a more comfortable experience for our clients. I welcome everyone reading this to check out our new space in downtown Lexington at 123 Harmon Street. Located diagonally across from the old mill, you may remember it as the lot where there used to be a golf cart dealership. After securing all the permits, finishing construction, and building the office, cutting the ribbon was a combination of excitement and relief. I think this space will be our home for years to come, and will allow us room to grow as a practice. Heaven knows I won’t miss making phone calls regarding zoning and dealing with solicitors. Nevertheless, I can’t help but look at this new building as a major achievement for our practice. We’ve been a part of the Lexington community for over a decade, and it means a great deal to be a part
of downtown. We feel more in tune with the community than ever, and it makes me think about how lucky we are to serve the people of this wonderful community. This might not be as big a deal as the ribbon cutting at Harmon Street, but October is also
building out the office, cutting the ribbon was
a combination of excitement and relief.”
when our office does one of our annual team-building activities. As Halloween approaches, we head up to Wompus Woods in Cowpens to be chased around by people dressed as clowns and wielding chainsaws. I think it’s the best haunted woods experience in the state, and while it might not be everyone’s idea of fun, we love it. It’s become a tradition here, and nothing brings the team together more than being jointly terrified.
I want to wish everyone reading this a very happy Halloween and a wonderful start to your holiday season. If you happen to be downtown soon, be sure to come stop by and check out our new not-at-all-haunted house. We look forward to seeing you! – Jim Snell
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Keep Your Trick-or-Treaters Safe This Halloween
You may wonder if trick-or-treating is safe, especially when stories of poisoned Halloween candy circulate every year. These terrifying tales have all been hoaxes, but beyond needlessly frightening parents, these urban legends take attention away from the real danger kids face while trick-or-treating. Safe Kids Worldwide reports that children are twice as likely to be struck by a car on Halloween than any other day of the year. Here’s what you need to remember before sending your little witches and knights out trick-or-treating.
in. If your little princess is absolutely in love with her high heels, have her wear the pretty, uncomfortable shoes for pictures at the door, then switch into comfy sneakers before hitting the sidewalks. KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE Masks can really bring a costume together, but they can also make it hard for young eyes to see where they’re going. Before trick-or- treaters head out to collect that sweet candy, swap out masks with face paint. It might take a few practice runs, but face paint can be just as cool. Make sure to test for allergic reactions first. KNOW THE RULES OF THE ROAD It is important for trick-or-treaters of all ages to know how to behave safely as they walk down the sidewalks. They should always look both ways before crossing the street, never run out between parked cars, and make sure oncoming traffic is completely stopped before they step out into the road. Kids under the age of 12 should be accompanied by an adult, and older children should stick with their friends and never trick or treat alone. Trick-or-treating is a wonderful childhood tradition, and it shouldn’t end in tragedy. Talk to your kids about the risks and make sure they know why these rules are necessary. When you keep safety in mind, your trick-or-treaters can focus on the best part of Halloween: getting the most candy!
LIGHT UP THE NIGHT Brightly colored costumes will make your child more visible in the dark. That said, if your ghouls and goblins have their hearts set on being a real creature of the night, flashlights, glow-in-the-dark bracelets, and reflective tape attached to candy bags can help trick-or- treaters remain visible to drivers. DRESS FOR COMFORT The cold might not bother Elsa, but your trick-or-treater may not be ready to sing after the sun sets and the temperature drops. Have them wear jackets and gloves as needed and insist on shoes they can walk
Vicki Koutsogiannis, one of the attorneys here at the Law Office of James R. Snell Jr., also happens to be the co-chair of the Lexington County Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (CLE) committee. Vicki organized a criminal law CLE seminar for October 4, which features some amazing speakers. We are passionate about continuing education, and we’re proud of Vicki’s hard work in organizing the event. Alan Wilson, South Carolina’s attorney general, will be speaking, as will 11th Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard. In addition to these big names, there will also be talks devoted to changes in domestic violence policy and appellate defense matters. This talk will give attorneys the tools they need to make sure they don’t compromise any potential appeals during a trial. The speaker we’re most excited for, however, is our friend and mentor Hugh Rodgers. Mr. Rodgers has been practicing law in South Carolina since 1953. Before then, he was a Magistrate Judge. In Mr. Rodger’s day that involved overseeing a Lexington sheriff’s office with three deputies. Today, that number is over 400. Needless to say, Mr. Rodgers has seen his fair share of change over the decades, and he will provide fascinating information about the history of law practice in our state. With talks ranging from history to the latest changes in the law, we’re sure this CLE event will provide valuable information to attorneys. We expect 50–75 lawyers to attend, and we love to see such enthusiastic participation. Obviously, we want to provide the best service for our clients, and that doesn’t happen without continuing education. But we also want to see South Carolina defense attorneys get better as a whole, and this event is a small way of raising the bar.
Improving Lawyers Countywide Vicki Koutsogiannis’ CLE Seminar
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Be Wary of Cold Calls Fake Lawyers Scam South Carolina Residents
Catfish may be a South Carolina specialty, but there is a different kind of catfishing that is much more dangerous. This type of catfishing is an internet scam designed to make you give up your personal information and eventually your money. If you aren’t aware of these scams, it’s easy to fall prey to them. Traditionally, catfishing scams involved impersonators on dating sites targeting individuals for emotional manipulation. Using a fake identity, they would develop a connection with an innocent person. These scammers were sometimes just playing an elaborate prank designed for humiliation. Other times, the endgame would involve asking for money to “pay for bills” after a relationship had been established. Now, like all internet schemes, catfishing has taken on a new form. The first part of the scam is still the same, with a fraudulent account initiating communication. Once a target gives up contact information, however, the scammers use it for another end. They will call the target, pretending to be a lawyer or another type of authority figure, and pressure the target into giving up information.
If you receive a phone call from someone purporting to be a lawyer, do not give up information willingly. Ask them for their firm’s name and address, and tell them you’ll call back on their office line. Any hesitancy on the part of the caller is a huge red flag. Also, be wary of a caller trying to pressure you, as that may be a sign of malicious intent. Lawyers meet with their clients in person, and anyone who won’t do that is worthy of your skepticism. Legitimate, upstanding attorneys do not use scare tactics to earn clients.
As a law office, we hate to see innocent people being victimized by these criminals. The attorney- client relationship should always be based on trust and honesty. If you get a whiff of impropriety from someone who claims to be an attorney, do not provide any information.
MEMEs
Orange-Balsamic Lamb Chops
Impress any dinner guest with this surprisingly quick and easy-to-make meal.
INGREDIENTS
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1 teaspoon kosher salt
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4 teaspoons olive oil, divided 2 teaspoons grated orange rind 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice 8 (4-ounce) lamb rib chops, trimmed
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1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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Cooking spray
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3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
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INSTRUCTIONS
with cooking spray. Add lamb and cook 2 minutes each side. 3. Place vinegar in a small skillet over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Cook 3 minutes or until vinegar is syrupy. Drizzle vinegar and remaining teaspoon oil over lamb.
1. Combine 1 tablespoon olive oil, rind, and juice in a large zip-top plastic bag. Add lamb to bag; turn to coat well. Let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes. Remove lamb from bag and add salt and pepper. 2. Heat a large grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan
Recipe courtesy of CookingLight.com.
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Inside this Issue
The Big Day Is Finally Here PAGE 1
Keep Your Trick-or-Treaters Safe This Halloween Improving Lawyers Countywide PAGE 2 Fake Lawyers Scam South Carolina Residents Orange-Balsamic Lamb Chops PAGE 3
The Origin of the Snickerdoodle PAGE 4
The Mysterious Origins of the Snickerdoodle
Did you know that October is National Cookie Month? That’s right! You have a full month to celebrate one the world’s most popular desserts. Who doesn’t love a good cookie? After all, they come in all sorts of flavors, shapes, and sizes. Take the snickerdoodle, for instance. The exact origin of this cinnamon-and-sugar-covered cookie is unknown, and, not surprisingly, there are many cookies with mysterious origins. Many recipes were passed down from home bakers, the unsung inventors of today’s classics. The name “snickerdoodle” suggests it may have come from Germany or was crafted by a German baker in the United States. Interestingly enough, the cinnamon-and-sugar cookie is hard to find outside of the U.S. and Canada. The entry for snickerdoodle in the “Joy of Cooking” cookbook references a German pastry called the Schnecknudel, or “snail noodle.” It’s possible the name snickerdoodle was derived
from the word Schnecknudel ; however, they are very different baked goods.
The Schnecknudel gets its name from its appearance — a snail shell. Not unlike a traditional cinnamon roll, the Schnecknudel is a sweet yeast dough roll. It’s certainly not a cookie. According to “The Food Lover’s Companion,” a Barron’s publication, the word “snickerdoodle” may stem from New England bakers who love to name their culinary creations with words that sound whimsical. Consider other New England treats such as jolly boys (a sweet, doughy fried bread) and tangle breeches (a sweet, flaky fried bread). No matter where the name comes from, one thing is for sure. You can’t beat the buttery, cinnamony, sugary delight that is the snickerdoodle!
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