Take a look at our newsletter this month.
May 2019
365 Canal Street, Suite 1680, New Orleans, LA 70130 • 504-894-9653 • www.SmileyFirm.com
CEO OF THE SMILEYS
MY FANTASTIC WIFE
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, plenty of husbands are trying to find the perfect gift. This is a struggle I know well. How can you find the right way to say thank you to someone who does so much for your family every day? While I’m always grateful for my wife, Jen, this time of year highlights how lucky my kids and I are. In the past, I’ve talked about how proud I am of my sons, Jude and Luke. For such young boys, they’re incredibly well-rounded, articulate, and mature. But what I don’t mention enough is the superhuman effort Jen makes in raising them. There’s a reason I call her the CEO of our family. Jen’s parenting style is as thoughtful as it is compassionate. She sets aside individual time with Jude and Luke because, to her, it’s important that each of them feel uniquely loved and cared for. For example, she’ll step up to the plate and play baseball with us in the backyard, even though she’s not a sports fan. She doesn’t mind getting chased from base to base as long as we’re laughing together as a family. “Managing properties and coaching classes on top of raising a family has to be challenging, but Jen has never failed to make it look easy.” On top of being a super mom for the boys, Jen manages vacation rentals and coaches spin classes. Her coaching career started after attending a class and thinking to herself, “I can do this.”Now she has one of the most popular workout sessions in her gym! And yes, I’m a member of her class, so I even have her to thank for my fitness. Managing properties and coaching classes on top of raising a family has to be challenging, but Jen has never failed to make it look easy.
Luke’s screen time, teaching them to be more present in a world where even adults struggle to stay on task. Instead of filling the evenings with TV and video games, we play board games and eat dinner together every night. This brings me to her cooking. Oh, her cooking! Jen is a master chef, and she cooks hearty, healthy meals. Drawing on her fitness career, she ensures our boys get the fuel they need to grow and even goes to the farmers
market for fresh ingredients almost every weekend. The boys will pass up Oreos for some of Jen’s gluten-free chocolate chip cookies! When she feels like cooking up a storm, she spends hours making a delicious, flourless gumbo from scratch. I don’t know how I got so lucky. Over the years, I’ve seen how Jen’s daily acts of care have made an incredible difference in our sons’ lives. Jude is first in his class in math, and both boys carry themselves with confidence; they are the spitting image of their mother. When I first got to know Jen, I wondered how it was possible for anyone to have been born with such a big heart. Seeing the way my boys are growing up, I’ve realized it’s not something you’re born with. This bold kindness is nurtured, and that is what Jen does for our family. Jen, there are more things to thank you for than I can fit on a page. This Mother’s Day, I want to say thank you for being such a shining example as a parent. You remind me every day how precious our time with our boys really is. Listening to you read “Geronimo Stilton” as the boys fall asleep, and laughing alongside you as we play “Sorry!” are going to be memories I treasure for the rest of my life. Thank you for being all that you are.
She always puts our sons first and is a master of time management, not only for herself but also for the whole family. She minimizes Jude and
With love,
–Seth Smiley
504-894-9653 • 1
A Boutique New Orleans Law Firm Resolving Your Legal Matters
USEFUL KITCHEN UTENSILS?
AN ODE TO MOTHERS With Mother’s Day right around the corner, our firm would like to shout out all the great moms out there! Your care, compassion, and hard work deserve more than one day of recognition, but we hope you enjoy your special Sunday however you see fit. Being in our line of work, we’ve been able to meet some incredible mothers over the years. Since we’re dedicated to defending the rights of the injured, we often represent families facing truly difficult situations. While working with them to get the compensation they deserve, we see the ways family members come together to support one another throughout the process. Many times, moms become real superheroes, especially when it comes to helping their kids regain a sense of normalcy after an accident. Those moments when a parent goes above and beyond for their kids are deeply inspiring, and there’s no better reminder of why the work we do matters. We understand that there’s nothing more emotionally and financially stressful than trying to get a child the care they need. That’s why Seth Smiley, having been hospitalized We’ve all seen those commercials for kitchen utensils or items that claim to make our lives easier, while in fact, they do the exact opposite. Some of these products can be helpful for children or the elderly who might struggle with motor skills, but healthy adults can save a few bucks and some space in the utensils drawer by not purchasing these items. Pizza Cutting Shears: While it can be irritating to discover the pizza you ordered wasn’t cut through completely, there’s nothing wrong with using a regular pizza wheel to finish the job. The Pizza Cutting Shears may appear to save you time, but they ultimately take up so much space and are so clunky that you’re better off without them. Roll ‘n’ Pour: This plastic rocking device can help young children or the elderly pour themselves a glass of milk from a heavy gallon. However, there’s nothing wrong with able-bodied people using a bit of muscle to achieve the same. Chef’n Peel’n Onion Peeler: While far from taking the tears away, this onion peeler allows you to cut through an onion’s outer layers and peel away the skin. Instead of spending $15 on this cutter, use one of your kitchen knives to get the exact same result. Butter Spreaders: One of the most commonly commercialized products is better butter spreaders. Whether it’s the Fox Run Butter Spreader, One Click Stick Butter Cutter, or Butter Mill Butter THE INSPIRATIONS FOR OUR FIRM
Dispenser, using a butter knife is ultimately easier and won’t clog up your drawer space. Fruit and Veggie Slicers: Cutting spherical or cylinder-shaped foods may be difficult, but cleaning out the spaces between the thin blades of these slicers can be even harder. Save your time and cash by using a kitchen knife.
Twirling Spaghetti Fork: A fork that twirls your spaghetti? You bet! While this might be a fun utensil for kids to use, it’s far from useful in everyday spaghetti eating. If the size of the fork doesn’t make it difficult to eat, the noise certainly will. If you have one or more of these utensils in your kitchen drawer, don’t feel bad! A lot of us do. Every home has one of “those” drawers. But you can’t fault entrepreneurs for trying something a little out-of-the-ordinary, even if it didn’t work out.
due to a car accident as a child, made helping families the cornerstone focus of this firm.
So, this Mother’s Day, we want to recognize the strength and perseverance we’ve seen in the mothers we’ve worked with over the years. We understand that in legal representation, just as in medical care, you want the best when it comes to your kids. We will always strive to provide service that meets and exceeds these expectations and puts your mind at ease. Many mothers have reached out to us when their family was in trouble. Seeing the trust such brave women put in our legal experts lets us know we’re living up to the founding principles of our firm. To all those who have reached out to us to help loved ones in need, thank you for placing your faith in us. Should any of your family need help in the future, we’re a phone call away.
2 • www.SmileyFirm.com
RIDE-SHARE HORROR STORIES What to Do if You’re in an Uber Accident
A quick internet search for personal narratives featuring Uber, Lyft, or other ride-share experiences will yield any curious tech-user hundreds of outlandish or even terrifying stories that are difficult to forget. Some accounts are humorous, such as the 13-year-old passenger who falsely accused an Uber driver of speeding in order to get a refund so he could buy candy, while other accounts are frightening, such as the passenger who overdosed while in the car, requiring the driver to take him to the nearest hospital. Regardless of the severity of these stories, the possibility of some kind of incident happening during a ride with Uber or Lyft is real. So, if an accident occurs, you should know which steps to take in order to properly file a claim in the least- complicated way possible. Here at Smiley Law Firm, our attorneys want to make the process of navigating through the aftermath of a ride-share incident easier. Whether you were a passenger, a ride-share driver, or the driver of another vehicle that was nevertheless involved, we believe you deserve fair compensation. Due to the fact that ride-share services are less than a decade old, laws are still developing regarding which party’s insurance is financially responsible following an accident.
For example, while companies like Uber and Lyft maintain that they are simply a platform for connecting drivers to passengers, in some instances, the driver’s personal insurance may refuse to cover damages simply because their policy holder was engaged in ride-sharing at the time of the accident. They may
argue that the driver was using their vehicle for commercial purposes, placing them outside the bounds of a private insurance policy. This leaves injured passengers stuck in a complicated legal mess. But that is why we are here: To help figure out the process. Because these ride-sharing services are becoming increasingly popular and are more accessible than a standard taxi service, the number of people utilizing them could continue to grow, which could unfortunately result in more accidents. Having an experienced New Orleans auto accident lawyer in your corner will help ensure that the right party is held accountable and assist you to receive the compensation you deserve. Let us know how we can help!
CLASSIC FRENCH OMELET
TAKE A BREAK
Ingredients
• • •
3 large eggs
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Instructions
1. In medium bowl, beat eggs with plastic fork until last traces of white are just mixed in. Season with salt and pepper. 2. In an 8-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter, swirling over medium heat until foamy but not browned. Add eggs, stirring rapidly with fork, while moving skillet to agitate eggs. Break up all curds by scraping bottom of skillet as they form. Stop stirring when eggs are softly scrambled and creamy (but loose enough to come together into a single mass), 1–2 minutes. 3. Using fork, gently spread egg in an even layer around skillet and scrape down any wispy bits around the edges. The top surface should be loose and creamy, but if still liquid, swirl skillet to bring raw egg to the edge where it will set faster. 4. Remove from heat. Tilt skillet up by handle. Using fork, gently roll omelet down over itself until nearly folded in half. Using fork, push omelet to edge of skillet so that the lower edge of egg just begins to overhang. Use fork to fold overhanging edge of egg back over, closing omelet. 5. Turn omelet out onto plate. It should have the seam on bottom.
Inspired by SeriousEats.com
504-894-9653 • 3
A Boutique New Orleans Law Firm Resolving Your Legal Matters
365 Canal Street, Suite 1680 New Orleans, LA 70130 Phone: 504-894-9653 Fax: 866-761-8934 www.SmileyFirm.com OPEN: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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The Fantastic Mrs. Smiley
Pointless Kitchen Utensils An Ode to Mothers
The Legal Limbo of Ride-share Accidents
Classic French Omelet
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How to Travel Sustainably
GO GREEN GET OUT THERE WITH THESE ECO-TOURISM TIPS
Vacations can come with great expense, and not just for your bank account. According to a 2018 study published in Nature Climate Change, travel accounts for 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Cut through the greenwashing and do your part to lessen these emissions by traveling sustainably. Travel Green When possible, trains, hybrid buses, and carpooling are great alternatives to larger, more environmentally intrusive travel methods. Large cruise liners are detrimental to oceans, and airplanes emit large amounts of toxins into the air. However, you can cruise and fly with the earth in mind. Some cruise lines are working to reduce their impact by installing more eco-friendly lighting and materials, and flight experts recommend using “green” airports, choosing fuel-efficient airlines, staying longer, and traveling less. If anything, it’s an excuse to extend your European vacation! Stay Green Where you stay impacts the environment as much as how you get there. Hotels use copious amounts of water for bathing and laundry, and they struggle to reduce energy because guests leave their lights and televisions on. However, many luxury resorts, woodsy cabins, and even entire countries have opted to make eco-tourism
easier. If you’re looking for a region of the world committed to preserving nature, look no further than Iceland, Finland, and Sweden, which are ranked the three most environmentally friendly places in the world.
Do Green Man-made attractions like the Egyptian pyramids and Machu Picchu are some of the world’s greatest wonders, but Earth itself is pretty breathtaking. Check out natural attractions while hiking or camping in preserved forests, or soak up all the Caribbean has to offer by snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. When you’re mindful of your surroundings and remain unobtrusive, there are endless outdoor activities you can explore. Some locations even partner with environmentally conscious organizations you can donate to or volunteer with.
Opt for a green vacation and know that while you relax, the earth is getting a little relief too.
4 • www.SmileyFirm.com
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