The Pendleton Post
April 2019
T H E H E AV Y HIT TERS
L A W T E A M Christina Pendleton & Associates, P.C.
HQ - Richmond Virginia Beach Wytheville Petersburg With four locations to serve you:
www.virginiasinjurylawyers.com | 804-250-5050
A Careful Balance for a Caring Approach How We Manage to Juggle Life and Law
One of my greatest pleasures in life, and among my greatest points of pride, has been serving our community and defending its defenseless. When I started out in law, I was pretty sure what I was getting myself into because I had worked at Geico for half a decade representing the other side. Even that doesn’t prepare you fully for what will happen next. But now, I realize how important law has become to me and my family. My amazing wife, Christina, and I have expanded our firm to cover nearly two-thirds of this great state, leaving a trail of satisfied clients in our wake. In their faces, I am able to see our hard work come to fruition and manifest itself in the form of reparations for the wronged and justice for the innocent. If only I’d known that back when I started, I would have taken those steps a lot sooner. From a very early age, I knew what I wanted for myself. Growing up about an hour north of Richmond, I had an uncle who was an attorney. We all thought the world of him. He stayed cool under pressure and looked truly in control every time we were together. He was a leader, and that’s what I wanted for myself. I wanted to be that guy, the well-read and trusted professional, the man everybody wanted to go to for advice and who actually had the right advice to back it up. As I moved through my undergraduate years, I began to look up to my professors, many of whom were lawyers, in much the same way. Their advice still informs my actions to this day. It was during my time at North Carolina Central University that I’d meet my future wife, and all the pieces would start to fall in place. Family is very important to both of us. So when we started our firm eight years ago, we wanted to incorporate that attitude into making a real difference in our community. From the first day, it’s always been about showing the same
The Pendleton kids enjoying Spring at Libbie Mill Library
respect to our clients that we give to our loved ones. That’s what sets our firm apart.
having to compromise our passions. That’s a life worth living, and we’d be happy to share some of that life with you. Backed by a staff of nearly 30 employees in four locations around the great Commonwealth of Virginia, chances are we’re not far from you if you need help. If you have found yourself on the wrong end of the law or the blunt end of a personal injury case, we’d be more than happy to lend a hand. Let’s talk today.
We take our work very seriously, but we’re not afraid to have a laugh every once in a while. We’re lucky to have flexible schedules so we can be active role models in the lives of our four children. Our oldest attends Mary Munford Elementary, and the youngest ones aren’t far behind him. Working with your spouse isn’t for everyone, but we’ve made it work at the highest level, juggling life at home and life in the courtroom for nearly a decade. The balancing act is a delicate one, but there’s nothing I’d rather be doing. Where I fall short, she picks up the slack, both in law and life. It’s a beautiful thing. At the end of the day, we’re able to dedicate ourselves to every important facet in our lives without
-Damon Pendleton
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AND HOW TO SPOT THEM The 2 Most Common Ways Criminals Steal From Seniors
COMPUTER SOFTWARE SERVICE FRAUD This type of scam is slightly more sophisticated. First, a hacker will call a victim and claim to be a member of a tech support team or an employee from a trusted company like Microsoft or Apple. Then, they’ll tell the victim there is a problem with their phone or computer and that if they cooperate with the “tech support” representative, they can sort it out. They may also ask you to install a piece of software on your device or provide credit card information to “validate your software.” The fact is that well-known tech companies will never send unsolicited emails to ask for your personal or financial information, and they definitely won’t ask you to install some shady software on your computer. If you ever receive a call out of the blue from“Microsoft,” hang up the phone immediately. The first step to stopping these criminals in their tracks is to be aware of their tactics. With these tips in your arsenal, you’ll be able to defend yourself and your bank account effectively.
Scamming older adults has become big business. According to the American Journal for Public Health, an estimated 5 percent of seniors are hoodwinked by criminals every year, and that statistic is thought to be a steep underestimate since so many scams go unreported. To stem the tide of seniors unknowingly giving $36 billion to scammers annually, it’s important for retirees and their loved ones to get savvy on the subject.
Here are the two of the most common scams older folks fall prey to — and how to avoid them.
ADVANCED FEE FRAUD The most common con in 2017 and 2018 was the classic “You’ve won a sweepstakes!” scam. Victims are told they’ve won some exorbitant amount of money, but they must pay a fee to receive the prize. After the “fee” is paid, victims receive a fake check in the mail, but by the time it bounces, the scammers are gone and they’ve taken the money. If you ever receive a contract from an unknown entity out of nowhere, you should start seeing red flags. Unless you remember entering a contest, there is no chance you’ve won something. And it’s vital to understand that it is never safe to give out financial information over the phone or via email.
Exploring the Crimes of Antarctic Wildlife LEGAL CASE STUDY: ADÉLIE THE ROCK THIEF
On an island off the coast of Antarctica, a BBC film crew caught footage of a naughty penguin engaging in criminal activity. In the video, as one male Adélie penguin leaves his nest to search for additional rocks to add to it, his neighbor waddles over, removes a rock from the nest, and carries it back to his own. When the first penguin returns from his search, his neighbor plays it cool, but at each opportunity, he repeats the crime and steals his neighbor’s rocks.
additional items, that could be considered a new crime and result in additional charges. So, since the neighbor penguin takes a rock, leaves the scene of the crime, and returns, he could be found guilty of multiple theft charges. If he’d decided to go big and take his neighbor’s entire nest at once, he might’ve been charged with grand theft.
Now, if the penguin who was stolen from had used force to protect his precious nest rocks, the case would be complicated even further. Allowable force is generally limited in cases of theft. To prove self-defense, the victim penguin would have to show there was a threat of force against him, that he didn’t provoke the neighbor penguin in any way, and that he didn’t have the option to escape. From a legal perspective, it was probably best that the victim penguin didn’t use force. For now, we’ll leave the Adélie penguins to their nest-building business and save the legal cases for the human world.
While animals aren’t actually subject to legal action, and the Adélie penguin was only behaving according to natural instinct, the fine writers for the blog Legal Grounds point out that the rock thief situation presents an interesting legal case study.
By taking his neighbor’s rock and putting it in his own nest, the neighbor penguin committed an act of theft. Theft is defined as “the taking of someone else’s property with the intent to permanently deprive the victim of that property.” In some places, when a thief leaves the scene of the crime, the theft is considered complete. If the thief returns and steals
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TAKE A BREAK
The Best Opening Days in Baseball History PEANUTS AND CRACKER JACKS Baseball’s opening day has been an American holiday of sorts since the Cincinnati Red Stockings threw out the first major league pitch in 1869. To celebrate the start of the 150th season of professional baseball, here are three of the best opening days in baseball history. A NEW BEGINNING On April 15, 1947, an opening-day game changed the course of Major League Baseball. On this day, Jackie Robinson started for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African-American player to start for a major league baseball team. Robinson’s historic showing was lackluster, going 0-for-3 at the plate and making a solid showing on the infield at first base, but his mere presence in a Dodgers uniform had already broken history. Despite his nationally- recognized skills — Robinson was named MVP of the MLB farm team league in 1946 — the backlash that followed his rise to the pros, both from fans and teammates, was palpable. Still, as well-known sportscaster Howard Cosell said, “Suddenly, it was a new beginning.” LOU, COMBS, AND BABE — OH MY! Considered one of the best teams in baseball history, the 1927 New York Yankees started their historic run and 25th season by dismantling the Philadelphia Athletics with a score of 8-3. The slugfest was true to form for the 1927 Yankees, whose players would go on to make up baseball’s famous “Murderers’ Row.”With sluggers like Lou Gehrig, Earle Combs, Babe Ruth, Mark Koenig, Bob Meusel, and Tony Lazzeri, it’s no wonder this team went on to win its fifth championship that year. THE HAMMER TIES BAMBINO For decades, no one could match George Herman Ruth. The Great Bambino’s all-time home run record seemed like an impossible feat of strength — that is, until Henry “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron came along. On opening day, April 4, 1974, Aaron smashed his 714th homer, tying Babe Ruth for the most home runs ever hit and extending the Atlanta Braves’ shutout lead over the Cincinnati Reds. A few weeks later, Aaron surpassed Ruth’s record, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd.
PASTA PRIMAVERA
Ingredients
• 12 ounces pasta, ideally fusilli • 1/2 pound broccoli florets
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, ideally Parmigiano- Reggiano • Kosher salt, for pasta water and to taste
• 2 carrots, shredded • 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into strips
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
Directions
1. In a large pot, liberally salt water and bring to a boil. Add fusilli and cook according to package directions. Add broccoli, carrots, and bell pepper during the last 2 minutes of cook time. 2. Drain the pasta and veggies, reserving 1/2 cup of cooking liquid. Return pasta and veggies to pot. 3. In a large skillet, heat olive oil to medium heat. Add garlic and cook until translucent and golden, 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, red pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook until tomatoes are wilted, about 2 minutes. Stir in reserved pasta water. 4. Add tomato mixture to pasta pot, stirring to coat evenly. 5. Divide into bowls, top with Parmesan cheese, and serve. Inspired by Food Network
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
804-250-5050 www.virginiasinjurylawyers.com
T H E H E AV Y H I T T E RS
1506 Staples Mill Rd. STE 101 Richmond, VA 23230 L A W T E A M Christina Pendleton & Associates, P.C.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2 3
A Look at My Journey to Becoming an Attorney
2 Tactics Criminals Use to Steal From Older Adults A Chilly Legal Case Study Pasta Primavera 3 Great Opening Days in Baseball
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3 Hilarious April Fools’ Pranks Played by Businesses
COMPANIES THAT PARTICIPATE IN APRIL FOOLS’ DAY 3 Hilarious Pranks Played by Businesses
BURGER KING’S CHOCOLATE WHOPPER Just last year, Burger King fooled hungry customers by creating the Chocolate Whopper. The imaginary fast-food treat is made with chocolate cake buns, a chocolate “beef” patty, raspberry syrup as the ketchup, rings of white chocolate as the onions, milk chocolate as the lettuce, vanilla frosting as mayo, and candied blood oranges as the tomatoes. This prank was quite a creative feat by Burger King staff, and
April Fools’ Day might be the only appropriate time of year for you to prank your friends or coworkers with gags like dipping an onion in caramel and offering it as a candy apple or loosening the tops of the salt and pepper shakers. It’s also the one day of the year when big companies get to join in the mischief as well. Check out these company-wide April Fools’ jokes that left millions of people scratching their heads. NETFLIX’S PSA In 2015, everyone’s favorite online streaming company issued a PSA that warned binge- watched more than two consecutive episodes of a show on April 1, they were greeted with a PSA from popular actors, like Michael Kelly from“House of Cards” or Taylor Schilling from “Orange Is the New Black.” Some stars even told Netflix users to “Turn off the TV and take a shower. You stink!” watchers all over the world of the social, physical, and psychological dangers of watching too much TV. In fact, if viewers
merely watching the advertisement spiked glucose levels everywhere.
EHARMONY’S ‘FUREVER LOVE’ DATING SERVICE FOR DOGS Perhaps the most wholesome prank that’s ever been peddled to the masses was the launching of eHarmony’s FURever Love: Canine Compatibility Companion Service. The dating website claimed that based on the algorithms they use for creating compatible human relationships, they built this service to “create robust profiles for dogs based on key dimensions of their personality.” The biographies they created for the pups’ profiles included canine mate preferences, like “Looking for a tug-o-war partner,”“Must love squirrels,” and “It’s been ruff finding a quality stud to go on walks with.” While these April Fools’ Day jokes were all made in jest, the pranks certainly kept audiences guessing long after April 1 had passed, and it’s not hard to see why.
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