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APRIL 2019
Legally Brief With Kevin Patrick Automobile accidents | Catastrophic injury | wrongful death
A Busy but Rewarding Spring How My Recent Trials Reaffirmed My Belief in Our Justice System
Since the day I decided to pursue a career in the legal field, I’ve always felt passionate about the work I do, the clients I have the opportunity to help, and the people I get to meet along the way. While I always find value in my job, there are certain events that reignite my enjoyment and reaffirm my belief in our country’s justice system. Fortunately, in the last couple months, I’ve felt extremely lucky to be able to experience three different events that left me and my entire team with a lingering sense of gratitude. I took on three cases that went to trial in February and March. Each client was truly a remarkable and strong person. The first case was in Rockdale County, the second was in Fulton County, and the third was in Athens-Clarke County. While it was great to travel to each of the courtrooms, I was especially fond of my visit to Athens. I haven’t been able to spend much time there since finishing my undergraduate degrees at the University of Georgia. It was nice being back! Although these cases had their own unique aspects, all three involved automobile accidents. In each case, both the client and I were uncomfortable with the insurance companies’ offers, and
the utmost respect for each judge we came before in regard to their understanding of the law and their decision to strictly follow and enforce it. For the vast majority of people, it’s easy to view a judge as being outside of the community, but I could tell that each of the judges truly cared
about the people in that room and in the community at large. Jurors often feel nervous when they are picked to serve, but the judges made sure everyone who entered the courtroom felt comfortable — they even brought in doughnuts, which is always a welcomed gesture! Of course, none of these cases could have gone as smoothly as they did without the help of our office team, as well as my own personal support system at home. I’m so thankful to my wife for
we thought that a jury might view the incidents differently. It’s always refreshing to have 12 neutral people from the community take the time to truly listen to the witnesses and doctors in order to generate an outcome based on their collective decision-making and wisdom. The jury members in all of these cases were focused and engaged; I could tell that being there and being present in the courtroom mattered to them. We were happy with the results too. Part of the jury members’ level of comfort heading into the courtroom stemmed from the capable judges presiding over the cases. I have
taking on more responsibilities while still being the best mother to our two kids that I could ever imagine. With trials, tasks are constantly popping up at the last minute, and she was unwaveringly understanding and helpful. In the upcoming months, I’m looking forward to spending more time with her and my baby daughter, Catherine, and to taking my son, Michael, to Chick-fil-A to share a milkshake! To the jury members, the judges, my team, and my family, thank you for making a busy spring season one of the most rewarding I’ve had. I’m looking forward to more trials to come!
WHILE I ALWAYS FIND VALUE IN MY JOB, THERE ARE CERTAIN EVENTS THAT REIGNITE MY ENJOYMENT AND REAFFIRM MY BELIEF IN OUR COUNTRY’S JUSTICE SYSTEM.
This publication is for informational purposes only, and no legal advice is intended.
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IN A PLANT’S DEFENSE
How to Stay Positive
When Legal Difficulties Leave You Feeling Frustrated
The Interesting Methods They Use to Fight Predators
Our mission is to work tirelessly for our clients to level the legal playing field against insurance companies and negligent parties. We don’t view clients as cases. We value each and every person we have the pleasure to serve, and many of our client relationships become lifelong bonds. These relationships make up the most rewarding aspect of our job, and it’s a major priority for us to understand the complexities and frustrations that clients endure following an accident. The recovery process following a serious injury includes so much more than physical therapy; it often causes a ripple effect, influencing every aspect of clients’ lives. If you’re finding it frustrating or stressful to cope with your legal issues, here are a few tips to help you maintain a positive perspective and focus on your goals. If you remain in a prolonged state of stress, you may cause long- term damage to your health and undermine your ability to make rational, informed decisions. To better cope, develop a ritual you enjoy. Perhaps you'll choose to meditate in the morning or spend more time with your friends and family members. If your physical rehabilitation program allows, you could start taking regular walks or sign up for an exercise class. These techniques can help you feel more empowered to handle the stress associated with legal issues. DEVELOP A COPING STRATEGY
Many trees and plants are beginning to bloom, which means that they will soon have to ward off various predators. Most animals have a fight-or-flight response when faced with a dangerous situation, but plants can’t run or physically fight the dangers they face on a daily basis. However, what they lack in claws and teeth, they make up for in chemical and mechanical defenses. EXTERNAL DEFENSES Many of us are familiar with thorns, prickles, and spines, which are all examples of a plant’s physical defense. But many other plants’ physical defenses are not as obvious. Trees protect themselves with thick, hard-to-eat bark, which is comprised of a natural polymer called lignin. Leaves are often coated in a natural wax, which deters most insects and pathogens. Some leaves have trichomes, which are sharp, hair-like features that stab or prick insects’ legs as they try to land or walk on its surface. Trichomes often also release toxins that can cause irritation and inflammation. Some plants contain microscopic, sharp crystals that puncture and inject chemicals into an animal’s mouth once they’ve bitten it. INTERNAL DEFENSES When a plant’s external defense fails, its internal protection takes charge. A plant lacks an immune system; instead, each cell is programmed to defend against any foreign object that comes in contact with it. If an insect or disease attacks the plant, the plant will thicken its cell walls with waxy plating, close its leaf pores, and kill off sections of itself to preserve the whole plant. Plants also have unique chemicals that are deadly to insects and microbes, some of which we use today as seasonings, medicine, or drugs. In addition to toxic compounds, plants can release hormones into the air that warn neighboring plants or even attract other insects to kill would-be attackers.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY
If you make your personal health a priority, you’ll be better equipped to navigate crisis situations. Eat a balanced diet and give your body the opportunity to get the sleep it needs. By improving your health, you’ll increase your self-control, memory, and emotional intelligence, which will help you respond well to difficult situations.
DISCONNECT
Pull away from the situation for a while, if only for an hour. When you give yourself time to process a dilemma and the attendant emotions, you’ll be able to approach the situation with a fresh perspective.
ASK FOR HELP
Trying to tackle legal challenges on your own will do nothing but amplify your stress. If you have any questions or concerns or need more advice on navigating legal complexities, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at 404-566-5880.
If you’ve decided to plant a garden this year, take some time to find out which natural defenses your plants wield.
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The Value of a Struggle Good Things Come to Those Who Persevere
April showers bring May flowers. It's a popular thing to say and hear around springtime, but one thing you might not know is where the rhyme originated. It reaches back to the mid-1500s, when it was written by Thomas Tusser in his collection titled “A Hundred Good Points of Husbandry.” The phrase “April showers bring May flowers” is a reminder that even the most unpleasant of things — in this case, the heavy rains of April — bring about very enjoyable things, like the abundance of flowers in May. The quote is also a lesson in patience that remains valid to this day. For Kevin, an experience that really embodied this notion was when he ran the Atlanta Marathon. Almost a year ago this month, Kevin was in the thick of the It is the second month of spring. It is a time of planting and spring-cleaning. In the Southern Hemisphere, April is the same as October in the Northern Hemisphere. Fun Facts In Ancient Rome, the month of April was sacred to the goddess Venus. The Japanese fiscal year for most businesses starts on April 1. In England, there are many cuckoo festivals. The arrival of the cuckoo bird in April is a signal that spring has arrived. April is the month when the professional baseball season begins in the United States. The diamond of April symbolizes innocence. The Boston Marathon is held during April.
recovery process following the longest run he’d ever taken in his life.
“Marathons are 26.2 miles, and during the race, my knee gave out at mile four,” Kevin explains. “But I knew I had to will myself through it in order to complete the goal I had set for myself. There were a couple of motivating factors that enabled me to put one foot in front of the other. No matter how exhausted my body was, I just kept thinking about the fact that my family was waiting for me at the finish line. I just kept reminding myself that I was running toward all of them.” Despite the struggle (and the pain) he endured during that race, Kevin was able to celebrate with his family the second he crossed the finish line. While he
claims that he has no intention of running another marathon, he is thankful for the experience. It reiterated his belief that many of life's greatest things come only to those who persevere, even when times feel especially difficult. After all, by patiently and happily enduring the downpours of April, you have a greater appreciation for the sights and smells of May.
Easy Bacon and Spinach Stir-Fry
This super easy stir-fry is the perfect weekday dinner. It manages to pack a ton of flavor using just a handful of ingredients.
Ingredients • 3 slices bacon • 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped • 2 bunches spinach Directions 1. Heat a large skillet to medium. 2. While skillet is warming, cut bacon into squares.
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper • Salt and black pepper, to taste
4. Add garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes.
5. Add spinach and crushed red pepper and stir-fry for 10 minutes.
3. Cook bacon until fat is rendered
6. Season with salt and pepper, and serve.
and bacon is almost to your desired doneness. If desired, you can remove bacon fat from skillet and replace with 1 tablespoon oil. However, keeping the fat is recommended for flavor.
Inspired by OhSnapLetsEat.com
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Inside This Issue 1 How My Recent Trials Reaffirmed My Belief in Our Justice System
2 An Unmoving Defense
Maintaining Positivity When Legal Difficulties Leave You Feeling Frustrated
3 The Value of a Struggle
Easy Bacon and Spinach Stir-Fry 4 3 Great Opening Days in Baseball
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Peanuts and Cracker Jacks The Best Opening Days in Baseball History
LOU, COMBS, AND BABE — OH MY! Considered one of the best teams in baseball history, the 1927 New York Yankees started their historic run and 25th season by dismantling the Philadelphia Athletics with a score of 8–3. The slugfest was true to form for the 1927 Yankees, whose players would go on to make up baseball’s famous “Murderers’ Row.” With sluggers like Lou Gehrig, Earle Combs, Babe Ruth, Mark Koenig, Bob Meusel, and Tony Lazzeri, it’s no wonder this team went on to win its fifth championship that year. THE HAMMER TIES BAMBINO For decades, no one could match George Herman Ruth. The Great Bambino’s all-time home run record seemed like an impossible feat of strength — that is, until Henry “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron came along. On opening day, April 4, 1974, Aaron smashed his 714th homer, tying Babe Ruth for the most home runs ever hit and extending the Atlanta Braves’ shutout lead over the Cincinnati Reds. A few weeks later, Aaron surpassed Ruth’s record, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd.
Baseball’s opening day has been an American holiday of sorts since the Cincinnati Red Stockings threw out the first major league pitch in 1869. To celebrate the start of the 150th season of professional baseball, here are three of the best opening days in baseball history. A NEW BEGINNING On April 15, 1947, an opening-day game changed the course of Major League Baseball. On this day, Jackie Robinson started for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African-American player to start for a major league baseball team. Robinson’s historic showing was lackluster, going 0-for-3 at the plate and making a solid showing on the infield at first base, but his mere presence in a Dodgers uniform had already broken history. Despite his nationally-recognized skills — Robinson was named MVP of the MLB farm team league in 1946 — the backlash that followed his rise to the pros, both from fans and teammates, was palpable. Still, as well-known sportscaster Howard Cosell said, “Suddenly, it was a new beginning.”
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