Perjury Is No Joke What Happens When Someone Lies in Court?
2 SIMPLE BUDGETING STRATEGIES YOU CAN IMPLEMENT TODAY
When you’re injured, the last thing you want to worry about is someone lying in court and skewing your case. Even though this is the month we think of April Fools’ jokes, lying under oath is no laughing matter. Perjury is a very serious offense under the law! Here are some facts that may help you better understand this side of a foundational element of the legal system, i.e., truthful testimony. ‘The Engine of Truth’ The credibility of a witness is always at issue in a case. By communicating their observations in regard to a case, a witness is submitting for consideration the truth of what they state. Cross- examination, described by John Henry Wigmore as, “beyond any doubt the greatest legal engine ever invented for the discovery of truth,” is a tremendously powerful tool we use on our client’s behalf to demonstrate inconsistencies in an adverse witness testimony or to put their credibility into question. As a result, ultimately, the jury may not believe a witness. A jury can determine whether to accept a witness’s testimony in whole or in part or choose not to believe them at all. Proving Points —With Evidence How do we overcome the initial presentation of a case as being a mere “he said, she said” argument, where it seems impossible to know who is telling the truth? Whenever possible, we provide additional evidence. Whether it means surveillance footage, photographs, other objective evidence, non-party witness testimony or even subject matter expert witness testimony, such as from accident reconstruction experts, can help refute false statements that can affect your case. Understanding Consequences of Perjury If a witness has committed the criminal act of lying or making statements to misrepresent something under oath, they can be convicted of perjury. This can result in serious consequences such as fines and even imprisonment. Also, if a witness is convicted of perjury, they may not pass certain security clearances or be eligible for certain jobs. April Fools’ pranks are best left to siblings, cousins, schoolmates, and other close friends. Legal proceedings address the most serious circumstances and are no place for fabricating information or distorting the truth. If you have any concerns about the truth of a statement in a case, we invite you to discuss it with us — we have seen it all — and that’s no fooling!
Paying off debt and saving money are the building blocks of a healthy financial life, but the statistics are dire: One-third of Americans haven’t saved a single penny for retirement, 38% of households have credit card debt, and 44% don’t have enough cash saved to cover a $400 emergency expense. If you see yourself in those numbers, there’s no better time than now to start working on healthier financial habits because April is Financial Literacy Month. Even with myriad apps available to help, budgeting can still feel intimidating. So, why not keep it simple with these two systems you can implement today? The 50-30-20 Strategy Before she was a U.S. senator, Elizabeth Warren was a tenured law professor at Harvard, specializing in bankruptcy. During that time, she published the widely acclaimed personal finance book, “All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan.” Some 16 years later, her advice still holds up. That’s because Warren’s approach to money is simple and flexible. She suggests allocating 50% of your income to needs like housing, groceries, and utilities; 30% to wants like entertainment, vacations, and eating out; and 20% to savings, which starts by building a three- month emergency fund and then allocating savings to a retirement fund thereafter. If you have credit card debt, Warren suggests allocating that final 20% to debt repayment before you start saving. Otherwise, you’ll just backslide as interest mounts on your existing debt. If you’re able to save more than 20%, adjust the ratios accordingly. If you can’t save 20% just yet, start with less (even 1% each month adds up!) and make a goal to increase your savings by 1% each month or quarter. The Anti-Budget Strategy If Warren’s budgeting strategy feels too complicated, try financial expert and “Afford Anything” podcast host Paula Pant’s anti-budget. Each time you get paid, skim 20% (or whatever your current savings goal is) off the top, put it in a savings or retirement account, and spend the rest however you’d like. Pant’s logic here is that if you tell yourself you’ll save “whatever’s left over at the end of the month,” you’re unlikely to save anything. Free yourself from the worry by saving first, then spend the rest guilt-free.
If 20% feels like too lofty a goal, start with whatever feels doable and work to increase that by 1% each month or quarter.
2
FRIEDMANSIMON.COM
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog