Check out our June newsletter!
06/23
THE MOTTLEY CREW REVIEW
www.MottleyLawFirm.com | (804) 823-2011
SMALL ACTIONS CHANGE LIVES
In April’s edition of The Mottley Crew Review, I talked about how a few people gave me great advice that helped me get into law school. The message was that the little things you do — and your relationships — matter a lot. Don’t let your subconscious, or others, tell you that something small “doesn’t matter.” Trust me, it often does! Since writing that article, I’ve been thinking about the people who’ve made a difference in my life over the years. These include my parents, of course, but also relatives, friends, coaches, teachers, and professional colleagues. I wonder — do these folks realize that they’ve made an impact on me? One thing I can tell you for sure is that I didn’t appreciate my mentors in the moment. I was just a kid at baseball practice, a college student hoping to win class president, or a young lawyer trying to pay my bills and squeak by. Other people were there with me, helping me every step of the way, but I didn’t truly notice until years later. I think that’s a two-way street. Most of us fail to recognize the impact other people have on us, and we also don’t believe that our mundane routines and actions have an effect on our friends and neighbors — even though they do! These thoughts hit me hard recently when I attended the funeral of my Little League baseball coach, Marshall Dowell, Sr. When I was a kid, I played a lot of baseball, and Mr. Dowell coached me for six consecutive years between the ages of 8 and 14. He was unquestionably one of the best “father figures” in my life as a youngster, whether he knew it or not. Mr. Dowell lived large. He served as a Green Beret in the Vietnam War (something he never spoke about), piloted airplanes, ran an extraordinarily successful business (the Dowell Pontiac Buick GMC dealership in Emporia, Virginia), and raised thoroughbred racehorses so masterfully that one
(Scrappy T) came in second in the Preakness Stakes. Most importantly — at least to me — he took the lives of the youngsters he coached in baseball seriously. I looked up to Mr. Dowell. He was a larger-than-life figure who was always doing something interesting, and when he paid attention to me, my confidence soared. One of those memorable moments took place on June 30, 1984. That day, I pitched a great
game of baseball and led my Little League team to an 8–7 victory. Afterward, Coach Dowell handed me the winning ball! I asked my whole team to sign it, and I’ve kept it for almost 40 years. I left Mr. Dowell’s team at age 14, but I never forgot him. I still think of those Little League days often. Then, last summer, I ran into his son (Marshall Dowell, Jr.) in Spain, of all places! We’d played baseball side by side for many years but hadn’t seen each other for three decades. Eventually, our conversation turned to his dad, and Marshall invited me to have dinner with them when we all got back to the States. We did just that last June, one year ago. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to see Mr. Dowell again and tell him what he meant to me after all those years — it turned out to be my last chance. At his funeral, a gentleman who Mr. Dowell mentored as a young businessman during those same years I was playing Little League baseball gave the eulogy. When I heard what he said about how Mr. Dowell impacted him, it hit me that Mr. Dowell knew exactly what he was doing all along. He realized his life was impacting others. Mr. Dowell was one of many people who positively impacted my life, and he didn’t do anything drastic or heroic to leave that mark. He changed me just by being there, living large, and taking an interest in me as a youngster. Those little things mattered. Thinking back on this at his funeral, it hit me that changing lives is easier than we think. You probably do it every day. If that isn’t a reason to live well, I don’t know what is!
–Kevin Mottley
www.MottleyLawFirm.com | 1
GET IN BETTER SHAPE WITHIN 6 WEEKS THE POWER OF CROSSFIT
What do you hope to accomplish when you start a new exercise routine? Many of us aim to become stronger, lose weight, or improve our overall health. What if there was a way to accomplish these goals in six weeks of training? That’s what CrossFit does when properly performed. For those unfamiliar, CrossFit is a form of high-intensity interval training that combines elements of weightlifting, gymnastics, and metabolic conditioning. It was designed in 2000 to help athletes improve their cardiovascular and respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, coordination, and agility. Since then, many gyms have become fully dedicated to CrossFit programs and classes. Walking into a CrossFit gym or class for the first time can be intimidating. For years, the thought was that CrossFit was intended for bodybuilders and athletes only, but anyone can benefit from these activities if they make a dedicated effort. When you initially begin CrossFit, the best results occur through two or three exercises per week. If you’re already in great shape, you can benefit by increasing your frequency, as long as you maintain a rest day between each workout day. If you fail to leave yourself enough recovery time, you’ll overwork your body and become susceptible to injuries. It doesn’t take long to see results once you start a CrossFit program. Many CrossFit classes include some form of weightlifting and resistance training,
which will help you build muscle and grow stronger. Since these exercises are often high-intensity, you’ll burn even more calories than you would during a standard workout. Many of the activities will increase your heart rate, which improves cardiovascular health. CrossFit has risks, but you can have a safe and enjoyable workout by taking proper precautions. Don’t push yourself too hard; stop the activity if you notice pain. CrossFit training can be incredibly rewarding and beneficial when done right!
DJ Casey Kasem Died Surrounded by Family Drama AN ESTATE BATTLE WORTHY OF ‘SCOOBY-DOO’
There weren’t any ghosts or masked real estate agents involved in the battle over DJ Casey Kasem’s estate, but the drama his death caused was certainly worthy of a TV script! Since Kasem voiced Shaggy for almost 30 years, “Scooby-Doo” has our vote for the adaptation.
Then, his wife (“Cheers” actress Jean Kasem) refused to let them see their father in his final days. Jean also denied Kerri her legal right to make medical decisions for her dad, triggering a legal firestorm. Kerri went to court to fight for her rights. In 2014, a California court named her as her father’s temporary conservator. Jean fled the state with Kasem during the suit, but she couldn’t outrun the law. In the summer of 2014, Kerri followed her father’s written wishes and ended his life support. This story may sound like it was made for television, but we see versions of it play out all the time at our office. Disputes over wills and trusts happen within ordinary families every day. Sometimes, the executor of an estate handles assets unfairly, a person named as power of attorney abuses their authority, or two family
Kasem’s story is a tragedy all-around. He passed away in 2014 after a seven-year battle with dementia, but the trouble started before he died. When Kasem was diagnosed in 2007, he took legal steps to ensure his family would make the right health care decisions for him after he became incapacitated. One of those steps was creating a health care directive that empowered his daughter, Kerri Kasem, to dictate his medical care — including taking him off of life support. Then, something happened that Kasem probably couldn’t have predicted: His family fell into chaos. Accounts of exactly what happened vary, but it seems that Kasem cut his children off financially in 2012.
members disagree over who should become a guardian or conservator. All of these situations can end up in court, and when they do, a great lawyer can make the difference between a win and a loss. If you know someone in the middle of an estate battle, send them to our office — our team of experts can help. –Kevin Mottley
2 | (804) 823-2011
SUDOKU
SOLUTION
KNOW SOMEONE WHO NEEDS LEGAL HELP?
Send Them Our Way
If you have a friend, family member, or client in a legal bind that you can’t get them out of, our firm may be able to help! We take cases in four key areas: 1. Brain and Other Catastrophic Injuries: Alongside our colleagues, we have won over $25 million in settlements and verdicts for clients with traumatic brain injuries or other serious injuries. 2. Estate Disputes: We can step in if someone mishandles a trust, someone abuses their power of attorney, or when a will seems questionable. 3. Business Disputes: We handle situations ranging from ordinary breaches of contract to more complicated tortious interference and business conspiracy cases. 4. Appeals: We can act as counsel or co-counsel for appeals to the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Virginia Court of Appeals. If the case you have in mind is on that list, tell your friend, family member, or client to call (804) 823-2011 and speak to Juliet, our legal administrative assistant! Juliet will take care of them like family. You can also call ahead to let us know your friend is about to reach out. That will give us extra time to prepare for their case! If the case you have in mind isn’t on our list, don’t worry. We have a wide array of contacts throughout the legal industry, and we’re happy to share their names and numbers. Give Juliet a call, and she’ll put you in touch.
SEAFOOD PASTA SALAD
INGREDIENTS
• 4 cups fusilli noodles • 2 cups crab meat or shrimp • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese • 2 cups ranch dressing • 1 cup frozen peas, thawed • ½ cup chopped green peppers
• ½ cup chopped red peppers • ½ cup diced onions • ½ cup shredded carrots • 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes • ½ cup of Parmesan cheese (optional)
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large pot, bring the fusilli noodles to a boil and cook until al dente, then drain. 2. In a large bowl, combine noodles, crab or shrimp, cheddar cheese, ranch dressing, peas, green and red peppers, onions, and carrots, then mix together gently. 3. Refrigerate the pasta salad for 3–4 hours. If salad is dry upon removing from refrigerator, add more ranch dressing. 4. Once you’re ready to eat, top salad with tomatoes and Parmesan cheese if desired.
Inspired by TheSpruceEats.com
www.MottleyLawFirm.com | 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
8001 Franklin Farms Drive, Suite 125 Richmond, Virginia 23229
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
www.MottleyLawFirm.com | (804) 823-2011
1
Small Actions Change Lives
2
Don’t Let CrossFit Intimidate You
The Crazy Story of Casey Kasem’s Death
3
How to Help a Friend In Legal Trouble Seafood Pasta Salad
4
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
CHECK OUT SOME OF AMERICA’S BEST ZOOS MONKEY AROUND THIS SUMMER
Summer is one of the best times of the year to travel. Kids are out of school and want to do something fun every weekend, which can be difficult to accommodate if you’ve already exhausted your local options. If you’re looking to travel, you can visit a beach, take in the sights and sounds of an amusement park, or spend some time with animals while visiting a zoo. Nearly every state in our country has a handful of zoos or aquariums, but some stand above the rest.
to ditch cages for natural environments and create an animal hospital. With over 6,000 species, there’s an animal for everyone at the Bronx Zoo. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens While the San Diego Zoo is often boasted as California’s largest and best zoo, another zoo is worth checking out. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens outside Palm Springs has entertained visitors for decades. There are events at this zoo every day, one of the most popular being the keeper connections and animal encounters, where you get up close and personal with the animals while learning more about their habitats and lifestyles.
Here are three of the best zoos you can visit in the U.S.
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska, is consistently ranked as one of the top five zoos in the world. It prides itself on hosting rare, endangered animals you can’t see elsewhere. It has the world’s largest nocturnal exhibit, and one of the major highlights is the Desert Dome, an 84,000-square-foot indoor desert that maintains an authentic desert ecosystem. This is a must-visit for any animal lover in your family. The Bronx Zoo You don’t usually think about seeing exotic animals when you visit New York City, but the Bronx Zoo is one of the best places to view animals in America. Opened in 1899, the Bronx Zoo is responsible for many of the advancements relating to animal captivity. This was one of the first zoos
4 | (804) 823-2011
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator