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11/23
THE MOTTLEY CREW REVIEW
www.MottleyLawFirm.com | (804) 823-2011
THANK YOU FOR THE HOMEMADE FOOD, KIND WORDS, AND REFERRALS!
THANKSGIVING WOULDN’T BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU
When I have a bad day or hit a rough patch in a case, it helps to remember this: My clients are some of the kindest, most considerate people I’ve ever met. Over the years, you’ve showered me and my team with wonderful gifts, including Google reviews, handwritten thank-you notes, hugs, and one of my favorite things in the world: homemade food! It’s amazing how easily good food can remove barriers and unite people. Several years ago, for example, my team and I represented a severely disabled young man (I’ll call him Mohammed) who was born in Bangladesh. He and his family didn’t speak much English, but it didn’t take Mohammed’s mother long to figure out that we had one language in common: food!
Mohammed was in rough shape when we took his case. He had cerebral palsy, and one day, his caregivers failed to properly strap his wheelchair into their transport van. The chair flipped over en route, and Mohammed suffered a bad spinal cord injury on top of his cerebral palsy. We did everything we could to fight for him — and his mother noticed our efforts. She brought homemade Bangladeshi dishes into the office as a thank-you gift. I can still recall the heavenly smell of her chicken biryani wafting up from my desk! Before she delivered the first dish, she was careful to ask me how spicy I’d like it. I told her I like the heat, so she spiced it up! The seasoning on the biryani was always perfect, and her samosas (stuffed, fried pastries) were equally fantastic. Years later, I still fondly remember the gratitude Mohammed’s family showed us. I think it stuck with me because it was such a personal gesture. Not only did Mohammed’s mom take the time to make us home-cooked meals, but she also shared something authentic from her country. I think back to that moment when work gets tough, and it also comes to mind every Thanksgiving when I sit down at the dinner table with my family. When we go around the table and share what we’re thankful for, the five of us give thanks to you, my clients, friends, and partners. Not only are you generous with your food, hugs, and reviews, but you also send work to my firm! Without you, we couldn’t keep the doors open and the lights on. Your referrals are the lifeblood of our business, and my wife and kids know it just as well as I do. It sounds cliche, but I really am thankful for you. If we haven’t spoken in a while, feel free to call or email — I’d love to hear how you’re doing and tell you “thank you” directly.
From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!
–Kevin Mottley
www.MottleyLawFirm.com | 1
RECLAIM YOUR CONCENTRATION! HOW TO TRAIN YOUR BRAIN TO FOCUS LIKE A PRO
There have probably been instances in your life where you sat down to complete a task, only to think about anything other than what you should be doing. While this can be extremely frustrating, it’s completely normal, especially if you’ve never explicitly taught your brain how to focus. Believe it or not, focusing our mental attention on one task does not come naturally; it’s a skill that requires practice and patience, especially in today’s world of constant stimulation. Luckily, training your focus only takes a few minutes a day, and you can start seeing results as quickly as you begin learning. How to Train Your Focus
Step No. 1: Put your phone in another room — literally . No exceptions!
Step No. 2: Pick a point. Once you’re in the room where you want to train (without your phone), sit on the floor facing a wall. Then, pick a point on that wall to stare at. Step No. 3: Stare at that point for 120 seconds. It’s important to keep your body relaxed and maintain visual focus on the spot for the full 120 seconds. You’ll probably find this training incredibly boring and mentally agitating — and that’s the point. Tasks that require attention are not typically stimulating, but you must focus on them nonetheless. By teaching your brain how to focus, you’ll have an easier time completing any task that comes your way!
strangers. In fact, people brought forward a few wills, but the court found them all to be fraudulent. The dispute over Hughes’ estate grew, ultimately involving more than 1,000 potential beneficiaries, and lasted a grueling 34 years! Eventually, the $2.5 billion estate was split between 22 of Hughes’s legal cousins, most of whom he had never met. In 2010, the courts finally liquidated his last asset, a residential community in Las Vegas. Despite his impact on the American film and aviation industries, most people remember Howard Hughes not for how he lived, but for how he died. It’s sad to contemplate, but we can hardly blame them: The story of his 34-year estate dispute, 1,000-plus potential beneficiaries, and forged wills reads better than fiction.
THE UNBELIEVABLE SAGA OF HOWARD HUGHES’ $2.5 BILLION FORTUNE: A 34-YEAR ESTATE Aviation enthusiast and filmmaker Howard Hughes was once one of the world’s wealthiest men. But he died disheveled, dirty, and severely underweight. But perhaps most importantly — at least to his money-hungry family — he died without a will. In his heyday, Hughes was a film director, business tycoon, investor, philanthropist, pilot, and engineer. He was married and divorced twice without any children, making him an eligible bachelor. However, he also suffered from extreme OCD, paranoia, and chronic pain. He retreated into seclusion, rarely leaving his home and never remarrying. Eventually, his unhealthy lifestyle led to kidney failure, and he died on April 5, 1976.
Since Hughes died without a will, he technically died “intestate,” which definitely isn’t recommended. However, deciding inheritance is typically pretty straightforward in these circumstances — at least, it is when you have a spouse, children, living siblings, or parents.
Hughes had none of these, which meant any interested party could step forward and stake their claim to his estate! Naturally, his rumored $2.5 billion attracted a lot of attention from cousins, exes, and even
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SUDOKU
Do You Know Someone Who Needs Our Help?
SOLUTION
Kevin Is Just a Phone Call Away
I already said it once, but it bears repeating: I’m incredibly grateful for your appreciation and support. If you’ve referred business to The Mottley Law Firm in 2023, you’ve already helped a dozen people in one fell swoop — the friend, family member, or client you referred; me and my family; and my team! We rely on partners like you to connect us to the folks in the community who need us most. In an ideal world, no one would ever be in a car crash, have to protect their business against conspiracy or fraud, or wind up with a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury. But unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal world. These things happen all the time, and when they do, my firm is here to help. I hope everyone you know stays safe and happy over the holidays. However, if someone you love gets hurt in a car wreck or slip- and-fall accident, runs into a business problem, or discovers the mismanagement of an estate, you can call our firm. Remember, we handle cases in these areas:
STUFFED PEPPER SOUP
INGREDIENTS • 2 lbs ground beef • 6 cups water
• • • • • •
Traumatic brain injuries
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar • 2 tsp salt • 2 tsp beef bouillon granules • 1 tsp black pepper • 2 cups cooked long-grain rice • Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Spinal cord injuries
Personal injuries (car crashes, dog bites, workplace injuries, etc.)
• 1 28-oz can tomato sauce • 1 28-oz can diced tomatoes, undrained • 2 cups chopped green peppers
Family estate disputes
Business disputes
Appeals
To make a referral, simply call my firm at 804-823-2011 and ask to speak to Juliet. She’ll send your call to my office so I can hear your story personally! You can also email me at KevinMottley@mottleylawfirm.com . From there, we’ll take the case ourselves or recommend the best firm for the job. Either option will save you a lot of Googling.
DIRECTIONS
1. In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook beef until no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles; drain. Add beef back to the pot and stir in all ingredients except the cooked rice. Bring to a boil. 2. Reduce heat. Simmer uncovered until peppers are tender, about 30 minutes. 3. Add cooked rice and simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes. If desired, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley.
Happy holidays,
–Kevin Mottley
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
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8001 Franklin Farms Drive, Suite 125 Richmond, Virginia 23229
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
www.MottleyLawFirm.com | (804) 823-2011
1
A Thank-You Note From Kevin
2
Raise Your Game With Laser-Like Focus
Scandals, Secrets, and Billions: The Astonishing Howard Hughes Estate Dispute
3
How to Help Your Friends and Family This Season Stuffed Pepper Soup
4
Explore the Instinctual Call of Crisp Autumn Leaf Piles
THE SCIENCE BEHIND WHY DOGS AND HUMANS CAN’T RESIST LEAF PILES
Whether it’s your boisterous toddler or rowdy pup, a perfect pile of autumn leaves might be too good to resist! You probably remember the days when you also jumped into a crunchy orange leaf pile without a second thought. But why do humans and dogs love jumping into huge piles of leaves? The main (and most obvious answer) is because it’s fun! For kids, dogs, and even some adults, jumping and rolling around in the fall leaves is a satisfying form of play that releases energy. While this may be the simple reason for humans, there are a few more reasons your canine companion can’t resist a tower of leaves. Instinct to Dig Digging is a dog’s favorite pastime that dates back to their wolf ancestors. Just as natural as sniffing and barking, digging is an ingrained behavior for dogs, and they want to follow
their instincts the moment they see a leaf pile. Whether they’re digging in to rest in the cool leaves or demolishing the pile entirely, your dog is just doing what dogs have always done. Irresistible Seasonal Scents Our sense of smell doesn’t even come close to dogs’ incredible scent skills. While we have 5 million scent receptors, dogs have anywhere between 125–300 million! This means they can smell countless other scents we can’t, and autumn may bring some exciting aromas your dog hasn’t experienced in a while. The result? They’ll dive right into a leaf pile and get sniffing! Marking Territory Another scent factor could be your dog wanting to claim a particular leaf pile. We already know dogs use their scents to mark territory, and rolling in a beloved pile of leaves is a way to infuse their scent. After
diving head first into some leaves, they leave their scent behind so other animals can smell them and know that the leaf pile has already been claimed! Whatever the case, jumping into a pile of leaves is completely normal — and fun! — for both humans and dogs.
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