Medlin Law Firm June 2018

The Medl in News

JUNE 2018

I always felt proud of what we built together. My daughter isn’t quite old enough to do science projects yet, but I eagerly await the chance to give her the same experience my father gave me.

MY FATHER

With Father’s Day right around the corner, I’m sure many of our readers are reflecting on the men who influenced their lives for the better. I’ve definitely spent some time thinking back on my own father, on all the opportunities he gave to my sisters and me, and the way he always made time for us. Since I have a young daughter myself, I couldn’t be more grateful to have my father as a role model for good parenting. While I was growing up, I spent a lot of time with my father. He worked hard as an engineer for the phone company, supporting the family financially while my mother managed the homefront. Despite his busy work week, he always made time for his family. No matter what activity my father and I did together, you could feel how much he cared. Some weekends we’d go on camping trips, and on others, we’d go to a Rangers game or two. Most of all, I remember spending hours and hours building things with him. Those crafting projects were some of my favorite memories, inspiring my love of learning from a young age. My father had a talent for crafts, and he did his best to pass on his engineering know-how to me. We’d often build something just for fun, like little wooden sailboats. But whenever I had to put together a school project, his help was invaluable. One year we built a chicken incubator for my science class that worked a little too well. The eggs hatched successfully before we had a solid plan of what to do with the chicks!

MY FATHER USED TO TELL ME, “YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT IN LIFE, AS LONG AS IT’S LEGAL AND HELPS PEOPLE.”

Of course, my father didn’t just teach me craftsmanship. Compassion and a strong sense of right and wrong were also very important to him. My father used to tell me, “You can do anything you want in life, as long as it’s legal and helps people.” Considering that I now help people seek justice in the court of law, I suppose I did take those words literally. This Father’s Day, I look back with gratitude at the man who gave me so much support and encouragement over the years. He was a truly great father, and I hope I can pass on the same dedication and compassion he showed me to my daughter.

Here’s to all the dads out there,

– Gary L. Medlin, Esq.

I really appreciate that he put the time aside to pass on his love of learning through these projects. It made schooling more fun, and

www.medlinfirm.com | Pg. 1

THE HAZARDS OF BLUE LIGHT

How to Protect Your Eyes and Minimize Exposure

The high energy output of blue light and our eyes’ inability to protect the retinas from it appears to cause damage similar to macular degeneration, an eye disease mostly affecting people over 65 that can lead to blindness. These similarities to macular degeneration have scientists worried that our increased exposure to blue light could lead to more cases of it. HOWCAN YOU MINIMIZE EXPOSURE? Many computers and electronic devices have a “night shift” option built into them. Enabling this feature will dim the screen and lower the amount of blue light that your device emits. There are also removable filters you can put on your computer screen. Brands like RetinaShield/Tech Armor and Eyesafe are designed to limit the amount of blue light your eyes are exposed to. To avoid eye strain, talk to your eye doctor about blue light glasses. These tinted glasses, which come in prescription and nonprescription versions, reduce the amount of blue light that reaches your eyes. Remember, blue light itself is just a natural form of light and isn’t inherently bad. During the day, it can even be beneficial to get some natural blue light from sunshine —while wearing sunglasses, of course. But it’s also a good idea to take precautions to protect your eyes from artificial blue light, especially if your work environment and hobbies expose you to it frequently.

You may have been warned about blue light and its impending threat to your eyes. It comes from your computer screen, your phone, and even from the sun. Why is this form of light harmful, and how can you keep your eyes safe? IS BLUE LIGHTA NEWTHING? Blue light occurs in nature and is nothing new. However, because many electronics emit blue light, it’s more of an issue now than it was just 10 years ago. Backlit LED screens emit strong blue light waves, so our use of devices like cellphones, tablets, and flat-screen TVs means we are exposed to more blue light than ever before. WHYARE EYE DOCTORSWORRIED? Blue light isn’t inherently bad — it’s found in sunlight and lightbulbs — but our increased exposure to it might be. Our eyes are pretty good at blocking UV rays but not so good at blocking blue light. Blue light has a higher energy output than other forms of light, so instead of being filtered by the corneas and lenses, almost all of it reaches the more sensitive retinas. Filing a motion is a fixture of courtroom dramas. On TV, it usually goes something like this: During a particularly heated exchange, one lawyer will ask the judge for a motion to strike evidence from the record. While this common scene is a pretty accurate representation of one type of motion, it fails to depict the incredible variety of motions available to attorneys before, during, and after a case is heard in court. In essence, a motion is a procedure that allows a disputed issue to be resolved by the presiding judge. The motions that are filed prior to the beginning of a trial are called pretrial motions. The most well- known of these is a request for the dismissal of a case, called “motion to dismiss” for short. Other pretrial motions include arguing for a reduction of bail, change of trial venue, and the examination of police evidence. You can also file a motion to exclude evidence that might have been gained through improper means, like a forced or dubious confession. MOTIONS ARE A GREAT TOOL In The Hands of an Experienced Attorney

Once court is in session, attorneys can file trial motions for a wide variety of reasons. The defense may file a motion in limine, which attempts to keep inadmissible evidence from being presented in court before introduction. If a defense attorney feels that the evidence presented is inadmissible, that is when they would file a motion to strike it from the record. In rare instances, a motion may also be filed to allow the judge and jury to view a crime scene. Finally, once a case is concluded, both sides have the opportunity to file post-trial motions. If the defendant is found not guilty, the prosecution cannot file a motion to retry the case under any circumstance. The defense, on the other hand, can file a number of motions after a guilty verdict. An attorney can request that a verdict be overturned or that the case be retried or appealed to a higher court. Motions are tools in the toolbox that experienced attorneys, like those at The Medlin Law Firm, use to ensure that your trial is fair. Give us a call today to schedule a free consultation and find out howwe can help you.

www.medlinfirm.com | Pg. 2

HOW YOU CAN HELP A LOVED ONE AFTER AN AUTO ACCIDENT

3 Tips That Go a Long Way

Car accidents happen to the best of us. If you haven’t been involved in a car accident, chances are you know someone who has — a family member, a friend, or a neighbor. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2015, there were an average of 17,250 car accidents per day in the U.S. That’s over 6.2 million for the year. These numbers have been climbing in recent years. If someone you know is involved in an auto accident, one of the best things you can do is simply be there for them. Being there for someone who has been in an accident —major or minor — can make a world of difference in their recovery. Drive them to appointments. After an accident, they may or may not have regular access to a car. This means that they may need help getting to doctor appointments, meetings with their attorneys, or getting groceries. Offer to take them where they need to go, and let them know you’re there for them in their time of need. Spend time with them. The days, weeks, and sometimes months following an auto accident can be exhausting. The person involved in the accident may not have the energy or desire to get out and do things. Spending extra time with

them at home ensures an ongoing social life without the overexertion. It can be as simple as watching a new Netflix show and ordering a pizza. Bring them food. Again, life immediately following an accident is exhausting, not to mention stressful. When you’re spending time together, offer to order in, make them a healthy meal (with a few days’ worth of leftovers), or go all-out and help themmeal plan for the days and weeks ahead. They may not have the time or energy to think about food, but it’s a necessity.

Brain Buster

FATHER’S DAY CHILI LIME Chicken Wings

Ingredients

4 pounds chicken wings

1 stick unsalted butter, softened 1 1/4 tablespoons Thai red curry paste

1/4 cup honey

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper Chopped cilantro for garnish

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 lime, halved

Extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. Rinse wings under cold water and pat dry. Season liberally with salt and pepper, and drizzle with olive oil. Roast on a baking sheet for 25 minutes or until skin becomes crisp and brown. 3. Blend butter, red curry paste, honey, and soy sauce in a large mixing bowl. 4. Toss wings in butter mixture. Squeeze lime juice on top, transfer to serving plate, and garnish with cilantro.

www.medlinfirm.com | Pg. 3

1300 South University Drive Suite 602 Fort Worth, TX 76107

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

817-900-6000 www.medlinfirm.com

WE’RE MOVING! Starting 6/1/18 find us in Suite 318 of the same building.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1.

My Father

2. What’s All the Fuss About Blue Light?

The Power of Motions Before, During, and After Trial

3. 3 Great Ways to Help Loved Ones After an Accident

Father’s Day Chili Lime ChickenWings

4. 3 FathersWho Risked It All for Their Kids

3 AWESOME DADS

Fathers Who Put Their Lives on the Line for Their Kids

This Father’s Day, thousands of dads will receive a “No. 1 Dad” mug to sip coffee out of at the office. But the following dads took that “No. 1” to a new level.

and when that didn’t work, he leapt onto its back and started punching it in the face. When the bear finally released Gabriel, Greg threw rocks until it fled. His son was hurt, but made a full recovery in the hospital over the coming weeks.

ARTURMAGOMEDOV SAVED HIS DAUGHTERS FROM ISIS.

Artur Magomedov was devastated to discover that his wife had taken his 3- and 10-year-old daughters from their home in Dagestan under the cover of night, flown to Turkey, and crossed into Syria to join ISIS. But he resolved to get his kids back. After a long, hazardous journey, he arrived in Tabqa to embrace his two daughters. To leave the caliphate — under penalty of death — they hitched a ride to the border one night and crawled along a railway line until they were within 70 meters of the border. Then they ran under fire from Turkish border guards until they could scramble into tall grasses. After some help from the Russian consulate in Istanbul, theymade it back home, together again and safe.

BRIAN MUNN GAVE HIS SON A LIVERTRANSPLANT. When doctors discovered that baby Caleb Munn had a rare disease called biliary atresia, they told his parents that he was unlikely to survive past age 2 without a liver transplant. Luckily, his father was a perfect match, and he eagerly donated part of his liver in March of 2015 to save his son’s life. GREGALEXANDER BATTLED BEAR FORHIS SON’S LIFE While camping in the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Greg Alexander was startled awake at dawn by the screams of his 16-year-old son, Gabriel. He rushed out of his hammock to see a black bear dragging his son away by the head. Without hesitation, he kicked the beast in the side,

www.medlinfirm.com | Pg. 4

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

www.medlinfirm.com

Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online