Check out our December newsletter!
THE KONECKY
DEC 2017
JOURNAL
561.671.5995 | 954.272.6187 | www.matthewkoneckypa.com 110 SE 6th Street, Suite 1700, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 4440 PGA Blvd, Suite 600, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 A LOOK BACK
AT AN INCREDIBLE YEAR
T he past year came with many great achievements. We worked with a lot of new clients and were very successful with our cases. I owe so much of that success to my staff and my clients. My clients, especially, are incredible people with incredible stories. One of our biggest accomplishments came earlier this year when we were able to wrap up a case we’ve been litigating for the past five years. It seemed we had a lot going against us, but we continued to push until that final day. At the end of that day, everyone on our side of the case walked away happy, not to mention relieved. It’s a good feeling to get through something so challenging that it lasts five years. It says a lot about the resilience of the team and the people who put in the time and effort to get to the end. It was hard-fought and hard-won. There was another notable and successful case we were able to bring to an end without filing a lawsuit. Our client was going through a major surgery, which made the case more challenging. We worked with the insurance company to get the client the result they needed. Again, the client walked away happy with the results. In a third case, we wound up in a blown-out trial. It was a domestic violence injunction in which the opposing counsel tried to file an identical injunction in multiple states. As a result, things shifted in our favor and we ended the trial with positive results. This handful of cases only represents a small fraction of what we’ve accomplished this year, but they signify something bigger — the work we do for our clients. Our clients are my motivation for every accomplishment. And it’s not just an accomplishment for me or my team. It’s an accomplishment for our clients. You may have noticed in the past year that we’ve really ramped up the law firm, with more emails and videos on the website. I wrote two new books. Even the newsletter has played a big
role in helping us do more to keep in touch with you and the community.
At the start of the year, I made it a goal to give you access to more resources and more insight into the areas of law we practice. Law can be difficult to navigate at times, but when you have strong resources at your side, finding your way becomes much easier. If you haven’t fully explored these resources, I invite you to take a look. Feel free to share these resources with family and friends. I’m grateful for the feedback our clients have left for us online. I read the reviews clients post on Google, Avvo, and elsewhere. Seeing so many five-star reviews is touching. It’s significant. I’ve worked hard to become the highest-reviewed attorney in Palm Beach Gardens — I don’t take that lightly. I want to end the year by thanking everyone who helped us get where we are today. Thank you! –Matthew Konecky
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IS YOUR CALENDAR CHRONICALLY CRAMMED? Try This Must-Do Resolution In her book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” Marie Kondo gave us a transformative method for decluttering our homes. Based on feng shui principles and Kondo’s own study of organization, the KonMari Method has led thousands of devotees to new heights of tidiness. Kondo instructs participants to assess each of their possessions, item by item, category by category, and then dispose of those that do not provide joy. It’s touted as a simple, though not easy, guide to long-term organization. What would happen if this approach were applied to your calendar? Entrepreneur Christina Wallace calls her 10-month experiment in doing so an “unqualified success.” Most of us could benefit from trimming our jampacked schedules. Those various calendars synced to our phone, each emitting noisy reminders about the upcoming hour’s plans, aren’t exactly harbingers of harmony. Get a jump-start on your organization resolution by applying the KonMari Method to your calendar. Step 1: Assess First, envision the life you want to lead. Next, assess all the items listed on your calendar within a two-month period. Organize each commitment according to categories — social, work-related, doctor’s appointments, etc. Be thorough. Including each commitment, no matter how minor, is the key to this process. “I don’t have enough words to describe how amazing the experience with this firm was. Matthew worked very hard to make sure my case was dropped and closed. I could not have asked for better services. From the moment I first met him until my case was over, I was at ease. His confidence gave me peace of mind, and the results speak for themselves.” –Neolie “Matthew Konecky helped to make one of the worst nights of my life a little more bearable. After a costly mistake whilst driving, he was recommended to me by someone who had previously utilized his services. Upon meeting with him, I felt relieved. His expertise, knowledge, and sincerity have helped me successfully navigate my legal situation, and I can’t endorse him enough to anyone who finds themselves in need of a skillful lawyer and a genuinely decent human being. In a bind? Call him!” –Bree IFYOU HADAGREAT EXPERIENCEWITH OUR FIRM, WEWOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROMYOU. HERE’SWHAT SOME OFOUR HAPPYCLIENTS HAD TO SAY. Step 2: Joy Test Do these commitments bring you joy? Are they part of your ideal life? When you look at “Lunch date with Margot” from last week, are you
reminded of her unfriendly comments about your waiter and her negative attitude toward your renovation ideas? Consider each commitment and its impact on your joy.
Download These 2 Books Today ! YOUR LEGALRESOURCE By considering each commitment and its impact on your life, you will make room for those that bring you joy. To read more about the KonMari Method, check out Kondo’s “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” and its companion book, “Spark Joy.” Of course, not all commitments will live up to the joy standard. You may not love your annual check-up, but it is important for your health. When you encounter non-negotiable items like these, consider the long-term impact they have on your well-being. Step 3: Discard Put an end to commitments that are not bringing you joy. This might mean having tough conversations with clients or friends. No one said the KonMari Method is easy. Decluttering entails getting rid of items that do not pass the joy test. Step 4: Apply! Follow through. Cancel commitments and long-standing obligations that are not benefiting your life. Have the difficult conversation. Apply the joy test as new commitments come up.
When it comes to the legal process, you have a lot of questions. Well, I have answers! Right now, I am offering my two resource books for free. “My Loved One Has Been Arrested: What’s Next?” Get questions answered and find insight into the criminal defense process. “What the heck is my Personal Injury case worth? And, Why Billboard Advertising is So Deceptive” Learn what goes into a personal injury case and how those attorney billboard ads are designed to mislead. Head over to matthewkoneckypa. com today for your free downloads!
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SHOULD DASHCAMS BE MANDATORY
for All DUI Cases?
South Carolina law requires police officers to record any investigation where an officer believes someone was drinking and driving. The state has a lower conviction rate for DUI cases compared to the country as a whole. MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) believes that the laws are too strict for prosecutors, which leads to dismissals and reduced charges. The law helps support the officer’s testimony that the person was behaving as the officer reported. It also makes it difficult for an officer to introduce video of field sobriety exercises if the video is incomplete. An example of this is the walk-and- turn exercise. This exercise (not test) should be done on a flat surface in a well-lit area, and a demarcation line should be used. If dashcam footage does not show the line on which the person is walking, how do we know they are doing it properly? It only makes sense that if you are going to have a dashcam to support your evidence, it should be recording all of the evidence. In fact, this is a safeguard for those individuals who may be wrongly accused of driving under the influence. Should Florida adopt this law? I believe South Carolina is being very progressive by mandating dashcams. This technology is becoming so readily available that private individuals actually have their own dashcams. I have personally seen it in two cases. My clients were involved in accidents that private citizens recorded on their own dashcams.
If private citizens are doing the work of the police, that is a far bigger problem than DUI convictions. A picture is always worth 1,000 words, and video is worth more. Why shouldn’t we use this new, readily available technology to ensure that justice prevails?
MEME CORNER
Crustless Spinach Quiche Cooking With Ashley
Ingredients •
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• • • •
5 eggs, beaten
• •
1 onion, chopped
3 cups shredded cheese
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
¼ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 9-inch pie pan. 2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium- high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft. Stir in spinach and continue cooking until excess moisture has evaporated.
3. In a large bowl, combine eggs, cheese, salt, and pepper. Add spinach mixture and stir to blend. Scoop into prepared pie pan. 4. Bake in preheated oven until eggs have set, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Start to finish: 50 minutes; prep: 20 minutes; cook time: 30 minutes
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(Recipe courtesy of Allrecipes.com.)
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INSIDE 561.671.5995 | 954.272.6187 www.matthewkoneckypa.com 4440 PGA Blvd, Suite 600 Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
page 1
Reflecting on 2017
page 2
Go KonMari on Your Calendar
page 2
Testimonials
page 3
Dashcams and DUI Cases
page 3
Crustless Spinach Quiche
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Magic Kingdom’s Most Magical Season
IS JANUARY the Best Month for Disney World?
Let’s Talk About the Weather For most out-of-staters, Florida’s humidity during the summer can be a major turn-off. Of course, even for the locals, it’s not a lot of fun to spend an extended period of time outdoors during the summer. In January, things are a bit different. The average temperature hovers in the 60s and rain generally isn’t an issue. But check up on weather reports. Worst case scenario, you’ll need to pack an umbrella. Even with a little rain, chances are it won’t detract from your Disney World experience. Though, if you really want to take your planning to the next level, download the My Disney Experience app to your smartphone. This makes it easy to track wait times and meet your favorite characters. So, what’s the best month to visit Disney World? It’s a trick question. The real answer is whatever month you go. Disney World is pure magic! But if there is one month that’s better than the rest, we’ll say it’s January.
January isn’t known for many things — broken resolutions and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, mostly. But if you’re looking to escape from routine or take your family on a post-holiday adventure, next month might be the best time to visit the Most Magical Place on Earth. The Best Crowds The first full week of January through the middle of February is typically the slowest time of year at the park — though an “off-season” for Disney World is quickly becoming a thing of the past. In January, visitors report never spending more than 20 minutes waiting for a ride, though it can vary throughout the day. Compare that to the Fourth of July, however, when visitors wait upwards of two hours for many of the Magic Kingdom’s attractions. In winter, Disney World often closes a higher number of rides for maintenance. For the most part, they try to coordinate closures so many popular rides stay open, meaning you’ll probably only miss out on one or two of your favorites.
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