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1600 S. BRENTWOOD BLVD., SUITE 220 • ST. LOUIS, MO 63144 // FINNEYINJURYLAW.COM // 314-293-4222 // APRIL 2023
ACTIVELY SEARCHING FOR THE RIGHT PERSON HIRING HICCUPS
We had another trial this past month. Overall, the verdict will seem pretty good as we look back at it. It was a $1,000,000 damages verdict, but we took some fault that reduced the verdict by a significant portion — down to $250,000. That was still $225,000 more than the insurance company was willing to pay. The issue I am struggling with now is hiring. I am trying to find another attorney. I hope to have one by the time this is published. Almost a year ago, we were trying to hire someone. We had a pretty good idea of whom we wanted to hire, and the candidate was interested. We spent around six months working out details, going back and forth, and finally getting an offer letter out. He accepted. Then he didn’t. It was a setback, but we didn’t have time to worry about it when he turned it down. We had a trucking case the week he was supposed to start. I’ve written about it before, and we got a $20,025,000 verdict. We were ecstatic. But we need to plug this gap. We couldn’t find anyone over Christmas, and we had trials in January and February. After that second trial, I put some feelers out and got a good candidate. A great person, friendly, intelligent, and interested. I put the candidate through my usual process of meeting everyone and having calls with some of my good friends from out of town. I need to check my intuition. The reviews were decent, but one of my friends thought something was missing. He wasn’t sure the candidate wanted it that badly. Truthfully, I felt that a little, too. In our business, that is an issue. There are no half-hearted efforts. We are all in. You have to truly believe in this work, or you will not find the spine to get to trial. There are too many chances to take the easy way, to convince yourself to settle and to talk your client into accepting a low number. The
defense will give you all the reasons you need. And some may sound good. And some might even be true. If you aren’t all in, those reasons will get you. And you will be trying your case while looking in the rearview mirror. That’s fear-filled. I ended up offering the candidate a job. Three days later, I called the candidate and revoked the offer. It was the right choice. There is a lyric by a musician named Sturgill Simpson. It says “If there’s any doubt, there is no doubt. The gut don’t never lie.” As I get a little older, my gut is better and better. I revoked the offer, and on the call with the candidate, I was gracious and professional. I told him I just didn’t have a position that would set him up for success, and I didn’t want to put him in a place where he looked back in six months and was very unhappy. That is not a recipe for success for anyone. He told me in our call that it was actually the sign he needed, that it was time to move on from St. Louis. He told me he had looked at some jobs out of state over the last few days. It all lined up. The gut don’t never lie. I’ve got some leads on other candidates. Rather than posting and waiting for them, I am going to them. Not sure why I was sitting back waiting in the first place. Maybe because I’d only
ever hired one other attorney in my life. That could be it. Either way, I feel better and hopeful about the person we are scheduled to speak to. The goal is to keep the office trending positively overall. A little setback here and there isn’t going to sink us.
Published by Newsletter Pro // www.newsletterpro.com
Technology surrounds us now more than ever. There are always new apps in the app store, new games, and countless social media posts. Today, we also see children spending more time on the internet. But using these platforms comes with risks and responsibility — is your child ready to navigate them? Talk to your child about online dangers. Before giving your child permission to use the internet or buying them a smartphone, they must understand the different types of online dangers. There are many harmful things on the internet your children do not need to see. Talk to them about phishing, piracy, obscenity, online predators, cyberbullying, revealing personal information, and how people may not be who they say they are. Set standards and boundaries for internet/phone use. What sites are they allowed to get on? Which social media programs are they allowed to visit? Is there any information you would want them to keep private? How long or often can they be on the internet? Don’t wait until Are Your Kids Ready to Go Online? INTERNET SAFETY 101
something terrible happens to begin implementing online safety rules. Make guidelines proactively for your children to follow so they know what is expected of them. Encourage your children to talk to you. Unfortunately, around 60% of kids claim they hardly talk to their parents about what they’re experiencing online. Therefore, your children must know they can come to you instead of hiding their concerns. Remember that your child may fear you’ll be angry with them if something questionable happens, so keep an open mind and understand your child’s situation. This will encourage them to come to you more often if a problem occurs. By implementing an open line of communication, informing them about the dangers of the internet, and setting boundaries, your child will have all the tools they need to safely use the internet and social media. Be aware of what they are doing and check their phones periodically. However, if you would like more resources on how to teach your child about internet safety, you can find tons of information online!
RUNNING INTERFERENCE
GET DISTRACTED DRIVING UNDER CONTROL
Keeping your eyes on the road is often easier said than done. In 2019, over 3,100 people died due to distracted driving. That amounts to almost eight deaths per day. Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 20% of car accident injuries are related to distracted driving. Worse, while distracted driving is officially reported as a factor in 8.1% of fatal motor vehicle crashes, many experts believe that may be underestimated. Investigators can sometimes prove distracted driving through cellphone records, but at-fault drivers are generally unlikely to admit to other distractions. The problem may also be worsening, with a 30% increase in phone distraction between February 2020 and February 2022. But while cellphones generate the most headlines, distracted driving is not a purely modern problem. For as long as we’ve had cars, drivers have found reasons to take their eyes off the road. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes three types of distractions: visual, manual, and cognitive. Visual distraction involves taking your eyes off the road, manual distractions occur when you take your hands off the steering wheel, and cognitive distraction refers to focusing your mind on something other than driving.
Our phones accomplish all three distractions simultaneously, but drivers are distracted by countless other things daily. Visual distractions occur when you stare at a car crash or focus on a particularly interesting billboard. People become manually distracted while changing the radio station or rummaging for something in the back seat. And cognitive distractions can involve everything from a conversation with another passenger to being stressed about a to-do list.
Ultimately, we’re only human — we notice things, and our minds wander. We’ll never eliminate every distraction, but understanding common distractions makes them easier to detect so we can return our focus to driving.
You can also take simple steps to remove the worst distractions while you drive. First, turn off
your phone or put it somewhere you can’t reach in the car. If the temptation is too strong, try an app like CellControl or LifeSaver to disable your phone while you are behind the wheel. Don’t eat while driving, and avoid animated and emotional conversations behind the wheel. Finally, with teens most at risk, talk to your kids about distracted driving. These changes will make you, your family, and everyone else on the road safer.
Published by Newsletter Pro // www.newsletterpro.com
NEVER DOUBT A CANINE’S SENSES
One Sniff Can Save a Life
Dogs are known for their keen sense of smell — on TV, you will often see dogs that can find missing people or even search for drugs and bombs. When dogs use their extraordinary senses for a particular job, they’re often trained for that one purpose, but even without training, dogs do seem to know something is wrong.
The next day, Roger’s owners let him roam around outside. Roger began sniffing around Cohen’s home (some believe Roger had heard the man’s calls for help), and once Roger found the elderly man, he didn’t leave his side for the rest of the day. After a couple of hours, Frances Wall, Roger’s owner, began calling for Roger. When he didn’t immediately come home when she called, she started looking for him, and that’s when she found Roger and Cohen. She immediately called emergency services, and three firefighters came by the home to free Cohen. They quickly took him to the hospital because they worried about hypothermia. Over a week later, medical staff released Cohen from the hospital, and now he gives Roger treats whenever he sees him. “I owe my life to that dog. They [health care professionals] said that if I would’ve been there for a few more hours, I would have been a goner,” Cohen told Bournemouth Daily Echo.
Roger, the Jack Russell terrier-poodle mix, is a great example.
Our story takes place in Ringwood, England, in December 2022. Winter was in full swing, with temperatures below freezing. No one wanted to find themselves outside in the cold for too long because it could be dangerous. Unfortunately, that’s what happened to 94-year-old Morris Cohen, and he almost died. Cohen just got home and parked his car in the garage when he found himself in a spot of trouble. As he tried to exit his vehicle, his walking stick suddenly snapped
in half. Unable to keep his balance, Cohen fell and became wedged under his car’s brake and clutch pedals. The man called for help several times, but unfortunately, no one could hear his pleas, and he remained stuck overnight.
Fortunately for Cohen, Roger’s amazing canine senses saved the day. It’s always great to have a furry friend around — you never know when their incredible skills will come in handy!
YOUR REFERRALS MEAN THE WORLD TO US There is no greater compliment we can receive than a client telling a friend or loved one about us. If you know somebody who has been injured and needs an attorney who will fight on their behalf and give their case the attention it deserves, please pass along this newsletter and have them give us a call at 314-293-4222. Thank you for spreading the word about Finney Injury Law.
APPLY FOR THE FINNEY INJURY LAW SCHOLARSHIP!
Finney Injury Law is thrilled to announce the fourth year of our scholarship program! We’re offering five scholarships worth $2,500 each to promote diversity and equity in higher education.
Recipients can use their funds for tuition fees, books, or housing expenses — even LSAT course reimbursement if needed. Our goal with this scholarship
program is to provide opportunities for students who are often underrepresented within legal professions, empowering them as they pursue their goals and prepare themselves for a career in law. To see the list of eligibility criteria and application requirements, scan the QR code or visit FinneyInjuryLaw.com/the-finney-injury-law-scholarship .
Application Deadline All applications must be submitted via the website above by July 1.
SCAN ME
Practicing in Missouri and Illinois
1600 S. BRENTWOOD BLVD. SUITE 220 • ST. LOUIS, MO 63144
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FINNEYINJURYLAW.COM // 314-293-4222
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
We’re Hiring — But Not Just Anybody
2
How to Teach Kids Internet Safety
2
The Dangers of Distracted Driving
3
Never Doubt a Canine’s Senses
3
Finney Injury Law Scholarship
4
Why the Penny Lives On
Why Do Americans Still Use One Cent Coins? PENNY PINCHERS
They say a penny saved is a penny earned. But a penny used to be worth much more than it is today. Despite their supposed lucky qualities, many Americans won’t bother to stoop down to pick up a stray penny today. They fill cup holders in cars and jars in our homes. Stunningly, 2% of Americans admit to throwing their pennies in the trash instead of keeping them. This National One Cent Day (April 1), it’s worth asking: Why do pennies still exist? The penny was the first coin created by the U.S. Mint in 1793, though it wasn’t the smallest denomination early Americans used. Between 1793 and 1857, half-cent coins were also in circulation. Gizmodo reported in 2014 that they were phased out due to their low value — and noted that a half penny in 1857 was worth 10 cents in 2014 money. Therefore, our
ancestors may have done away with today’s penny, nickel, and dime!
Some advocates suggest the penny has practical benefits. They argue that eliminating the penny would increase prices, though other economists disagree. Many charities also rely on pennies as donations because they can add up to millions of dollars over time. Others simply like that the coin honors President Abraham Lincoln. Penny fans needn’t worry. While Americans are using less hard cash these days, the penny doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. Though it famously costs almost 2 cents to make each new one-cent coin, the U.S. Mint has no plans to stop production. Nostalgia and public opinion are apparently worth a pretty penny.
Meanwhile, adults of a certain age have fond memories of buying penny candies as children, but one cent won’t purchase anything today. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one cent in 1776 is worth 34 cents in 2023. Certainly, 34 cents is not a lot of money — but it’s way more than the value of today’s pennies. There have been efforts to do away with pennies, mainly by U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe, who introduced three bills to eliminate them between 1990 and 2006. Former President Barack Obama and former Sen. John McCain also supported the idea. But Americans like their pennies. A 2015 poll found that 51% of respondents preferred to keep the penny, while only 29% wanted to eliminate it.
Practicing in Missouri and Illinois
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