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Serious Injuries. Strong Lawyer. 214-932-1288 | ARMSTRONGLAWYER.COM | JANUARY 2025
Momentum in Motion ARMSTRONG LAW’S VISION FOR THE YEAR AHEAD
The new year always brings a sense of renewal and an opportunity to move forward, a chance to reflect on the previous months and chart the course ahead. As we start 2025, the firm is entering a new, exciting phase. It’s not necessarily a new door opening but a continuation of a path of growth we have been on. With our eyes set on expanding our base of operations here in North Texas and throughout the rest of the state, I’m excited for fresh ideas, new goals, and striking a balance between professional success and personal joy. A new year means we grow another year older. But, more importantly, it’s a reset. You put the past years, whether good or bad, behind you and reflect on what you did well and where you could stand to improve. Were there successes you can recreate in the coming year? Once you look back, you can project how the year will go in the future. This is a time I set goals and expectations, and then, hopefully, this time next year, I’ll have succeeded and can come up with what’s next. As lawyers, we’re usually looking two years ahead, thanks to the fast pace of the profession. If you wait too long to start your cases, it might be too late, and you’ll find yourself in a position where there’s no revenue coming in during a lull. If you let up on the gas pedal too early, things can slow down and take time to pick back up. So, once the ball is rolling, you must keep good momentum and pick up your speed. Things kick back up in January after the holidays, forcing you to pick up the pace. I’ve never been the person who writes down a list of personal goals, but I’ve always kept them in the back of my mind. As I plan my intentions for the firm, I’ll review the long-term goals and
work with our team to analyze what our different departments have accomplished. The trick is finding out how to grow without ballooning to a point that cuts into the quality of life for everyone at the office. You have to find the right balance. I always start with high expectations and then adjust them to manageable steps. We aren’t a start-up firm anymore. Over the next year or two, I see us continuing to grow and then coming to a place of stabilization. We’re expanding our team, which opens up a new funnel for different insights. The more diverse your staff is, the more experience you bring to your clients, and you gain new perceptions to build the firm up. As a business owner who has put so much into this, I find it satisfying to watch Armstrong Law’s success over time. In my personal life, many of my goals focus on my family. I want to continue supporting my daughter as she attends college. My son is heading into his senior year of high school, so we want to help him prepare for success in college soon. In a relatively short time, my wife and I will be empty nesters, so we will have to think about what that will look like. Though we aren’t there quite yet, we’ve always wanted to purchase or build a home in Colorado, a place we love to visit.
This year, I’m feeling energized about what’s ahead for the firm and my family. Armstrong Law’s growth reflects our entire team’s hard work and dedication, and I’m excited to see where we can take it next.
–Warren Armstrong
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Runaway ‘Dentist’ Dodges Detection From Aggravated Assault to Dental Drama
While TikTok may be a go-to app for funny videos, it’s probably not the best way to find a new dentist.
includes a December 2016 conviction for the delivery of a controlled substance.
Last year, Texas-based “dentist” Nikki Calloway used TikTok to generate buzz for her business, ISmilez Cosmetic Designz. The campaign attracted new patients, including one who scheduled an appointment after receiving a $1,350 quote from Calloway to have 16 teeth removed, replaced, and a bridge added. There was only one problem: “Nikki Calloway” wasn’t a licensed dentist. In reality, she was Juanetta Solomon, a notorious local felon with a long history of crime. The botched dental surgery left the patient dizzy, bleeding, and with a tooth that fell out shortly afterward — and prompted Solomon to go on the run from the law. According to authorities, Solomon had operated her “dentistry” office while out on bond for a weapons charge. Her past offenses include assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and unlawful carrying of a weapon by a felon — and that was just in 2023 and 2024! In one infamous case, she was accused of shooting at her boyfriend’s former girlfriend. Her record also
“Juanetta Solomon is the definition of a career habitual offender,” commented Andy Kahan,
director of victim services and advocacy at Crime Stoppers of Houston, in a story on Katy Magazine Online. “She’s been in prison multiple times in different counties, so it’s no surprise she is once again wanted. Her latest offense is extremely brutal, pretending to be a dentist [and] causing undue pain and stress on individuals, so the quicker we get her back in custody, the less anyone has to suffer as a result of her criminal conduct.” Law enforcement was still attempting to capture Solomon at the time of this writing. Her bizarre turn as a “dentist” serves as a chilling reminder that Google and a little research — not social media — are the best tools to determine whether your chosen provider is a professional or someone destined for prison.
STOP THE SCROLL Helping Teens Ditch Distracted Driving
Apps That Keep Distractions in Check
A quick text, the buzz of a notification, or a scroll through a playlist — these tiny distractions on a cellphone can lead to serious consequences on the road. For teen drivers, distracted driving is one of the most common dangers behind the wheel. January is Teen Driving Awareness Month, and it’s an excellent time to talk to your young drivers about the risks of distracted driving. Here are some travel tips to help teens stay off their phones while driving and embrace safer habits. Set Up and Stay Safe Your teen will likely never leave home without their cellphone, so teach them to set up everything they need before starting the car. If they use GPS or music on their
drive, ensure they know to connect to their Bluetooth before they hit the road. Once they have everything ready, their phone should go somewhere out of reach, like in the glove compartment or their bag. Their hands should not touch their devices once they have started the car. Phone a Friend or Wait Though too many passengers in your teen’s vehicle can be a distraction, if they have a friend in the car, they can rely on that person to act as their navigator. Someone who isn’t driving can answer texts or calls that may come in for the driver or do tasks like looking up directions or changing songs. If your teen is driving solo, they should get into the habit of waiting to call or text someone back later.
Various apps are designed to help teens avoid using their phones while driving. Most phones today come with a driving or focus feature that limits notifications, calls, and texts while driving. It will send out an automatic response that the driver is in “do not disturb mode.” There are also apps that will share your young driver’s location with you and allow you to monitor driving speeds or phone usage. Driving is an exciting part of adulthood but comes with big responsibilities. As parents and trusted adults, it’s up to us to help teach our teens the importance of safe driving habits, especially when it comes to cellphones.
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what it feels like, where it’s coming from, and anything that led to that feeling. Be sure to also include how your symptoms impact your everyday life, like the inability to participate in activities you enjoy or trouble sleeping. List any medications you are taking as well as every doctor appointment, physical therapy visit, or other meetings associated with your health care. You could set up your symptom diary in multiple ways, like in a notebook or a journaling app. Pick whichever option will be easiest for you to access and update. Reflect and Improve Ultimately, a symptom diary can help improve your credibility, so it’s essential to remain honest and accurate when you describe your healing process. While it is important to include the emotions you experience due to your injury, avoid exaggerating or downplaying your pain. Your log can also help you reflect on the journey, illuminating patterns or trends associated with your injury. Review your diary to find common pain triggers or treatments that work best for you. This is excellent information to share with your doctor and lawyer. A symptom diary can help you stay on track on your journey to justice and healing. By keeping a detailed log of your medical care, the pain you experience, and your emotional state, you create critical evidence for your claim. If you have been injured, contact Armstrong Law for a complimentary consultation.
HOW A SYMPTOM DIARY CAN HELP YOUR CASE
When you are facing the aftermath of an accident, the details of your pain and recovery can blur over time as you deal with medical appointments, meetings, and your day-to-day life. A symptom diary or journal is a powerful tool to keep track of your injuries and what you are experiencing as a result of your accident. Not only does this log help ensure you document every piece of important information, but it also provides your lawyer with helpful evidence for your claim. Track Every Detail One key to a successful symptom diary is consistency. Create entries every day or at least several times weekly so you can see a comprehensive picture of your injuries and medical care. Log detailed descriptions of any pain you are experiencing, noting
Armstrong Law specializes in workplace accident cases for employees of businesses in Texas that do not have workers’ comp insurance. We understand the nuances of these cases and have the resources to take on large “nonsubscriber” employers. To refer an injury case involving a nonsubscriber employer to our practice, call us at 214-932-1288 . WE VALUE YOUR REFERRALS
One-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
INGREDIENTS •
DIRECTIONS 1. Season chicken with salt and pepper. In an 8-quart stockpot over medium-high heat, add oil and chicken and cook until golden brown, 3–4 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside. 2. Add onion to drippings; cook over medium-high heat for 4–5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add broth and bring to a boil. Return chicken to pot. Add celery, carrots, bay leaves, and thyme. Reduce heat and cover; simmer until chicken is tender, 25–30 minutes. 3. Turn off heat. Remove chicken to a plate. Add noodles and let stand, covered, until noodles are tender, 20–22 minutes. 4. Shred chicken meat into bite-size pieces,
2 1/2 lbs skinless, bone-in chicken thighs
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1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper 2 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves, minced 10 cups chicken broth 4 celery ribs, chopped
4 medium carrots, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 tsp dried thyme
3 cups uncooked egg noodles (about 8 oz) 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley 1 tbsp lemon juice
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and return to pot. Stir in parsley and lemon juice, and discard bay leaves.
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12720 HILLCREST RD. STE. 615 | DALLAS, TX 75230 214-932-1288 | ARMSTRONGLAWYER.COM
INSIDE
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Expanding, Evolving, and Embracing New Opportunities
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Crime and Cavities
Tips to Keep Phones out of Teen Drivers' Hands
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The Key to Strengthening Your Injury Claim
We Value Your Referrals
One-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
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Remembering the Great French Mustache Strike
Workers usually go on strike to improve wages and working conditions. Leave it to the French to mount a historic strike for the right to grow a mustache. A full mustache was a prestigious mark of men’s social class in Europe in the early 20th century. Policemen were required to grow them to project authority and masculinity. Waiters rebelled when restaurant owners forced servers to shave their faces clean as a sign of their lower-class social status. During the dinner hour on April 17, 1907, an estimated 500 servers stopped dishing food, took off their aprons, and walked out, clustering on the street as diners looked on. The waiters also demanded a share of diners’ tips and the right to take one day off a week. They had support in Parliament, where one socialist deputy proposed a bill to outlaw mustache bans (which also applied to domestic servants and priests). The deputy called the restaurants’ mustache rule “grotesque and humiliating.” After 16 days, restaurant owners caved to servers’ mustache demands and implemented a fairer pay structure. The waiters, however, lost their bid for one day off each week.
The French have long been famously quick to stage work stoppages. At 112 days on average, the country leads the industrialized West in days lost to strikes each year. The nation’s strike culture is linked to its history of revolt, including the 1789 French Revolution. Withholding one’s labor is a constitutional right in France, whether you are a union member or not. And the mustache had long been a mark of status in Europe. Centuries earlier, Germany only permitted soldiers who had distinguished themselves in battle to grow mustaches. In France, the military requirement to wear mustaches became so strict that soldiers who couldn’t grow one had to wear a fake mustache. No wonder the French waiters took their facial hair so seriously. Being required to shave relegated them to the domestic servant class. As one French newspaper of the time declared, the waiters’ victory secured the right “to finally show that they are men, free men … who can wear at their ease this symbol of the all-powerful male, the mustache. Oh! The beautiful independence!”
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