HOLLYWOOD 1909 TYLER ST., SUITE 501 HOLLYWOOD, FL 33020 561-708-0513 BOCA RATON 561-299-4523 NAPLES 239-529-4267 WHISLERLAWFIRM.COM
JUNE 2020
THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED, AND THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT THERE’S NO NEED TO DELAY YOUR CASE
Being able to work with judges directly via videoconferencing is changing the landscape of how we handle our clients’ cases for the better. Because of video proceedings, courts have actually been able to get to their backlog of cases much faster than they would under traditional practices. The Whisler Law Firm has also been able to serve many more clients for the same reason: Telecommuting and videoconferencing cuts travel time completely out of the picture. We can get more depositions and more hearings done during the day because we’re not having to travel between multiple locations for them. It’s an incredibly exciting prospect that we hope the courts and other firms will continue utilizing in the future. Videoconferencing could change the scope of how we’re able to serve our clients. We’re in the midst of seeing that proven right now. So if you’re ready to continue pushing forward with your case, then we’re ready to help. There’s no reason to delay, so don’t let the insurance companies, the courts, or anyone else tell you otherwise. All you need to keep up the fight is a computer or a laptop with a built-in webcam and microphone, a good internet connection, and the ambition to work with us to make things happen. The Whisler Law Firm is not slowing down. We’re finding ways to be busier than ever, and we’re excited to embrace the new frontier this change in process is ushering in.
It’s no secret that COVID-19 has caused a lot of changes. Due to this pandemic, experts are working hard every single day to find treatments, and people must find new, fresh ways of experiencing the world. The reality is that the way businesses are operating is shifting. Employees and consumers alike have shown incredible adaptability in the face of this challenge, and it’s bringing a new wave of changes to how work gets done. The judicial branch of the legal system is experiencing its own innovations, and that’s why there’s no reason for us to halt the work we do for you. This is a time to continue pushing forward, and that’s exactly what The Whisler Law Firm is doing. COVID-19 initially caused many legal proceedings to slow down, and this had insurance companies practically drooling. If you’ve filed a claim recently, then insurance carriers hope they can use
COVID-19 and its ripple effects to delay processes. They want you to wait things out long enough that you’ll get impatient and agree to a lower settlement amount or drop the case altogether. But we’re putting our foot down. We’re making them file motions of protective order, and we’re not allowing them to cancel proceedings. They have no excuse to do so because the courts have now made it so that proceedings can continue. Florida courts have been allowing virtual hearings, depositions, mediations, arbitrations, and more to take place. For a long time, many judges were adamantly against doing anything virtual or technical except for e-filing through an online portal because they simply didn’t trust that the system would work. But now, they’ve been forced to adjust their trust, and it’s certainly working.
–Josh Whisler
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RIGHT IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD 3 IDEAS FOR THE ULTIMATE CAMPOUT
CREATE AN OUTDOOR MOVIE THEATER
Even though it’s almost peak camping season, you and your family might opt to cancel your out-of-town trip this summer, but don’t worry. Just because you don’t head into the mountains doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy time outdoors with a backyard campout. It might not be your favorite spot in a sprawling national park, but that doesn’t mean you can’t turn backyard camping into the best staycation ever with these ideas and more.
If you’ve been craving the big-screen experience that you thought only movie theaters could offer, you’re in luck! You can make your own big screen at your backyard campout. All you need is a large white sheet, a home projector, and some speakers. Then, snuggle up in some cozy blankets and pillows under the stars while you watch the best summer blockbusters or throwback favorites.
MAKE A DIY TENT
BUILD A FIREPIT
you can keep a firepit around when cooler weather rolls in too.
While pitching a tent for camping always comes with some level of frustration, making your own tent using household items like tarps, rope, blankets, and more can be a fun project for the kiddos. It’s an opportunity to let them exercise their imaginations and build something they can relax, play, and even spend the night in.
No campout — backyard campouts included — is truly complete without a roaring campfire. With a gravel base and a simple stone barrier (as well as some quick and easy instructions available online), you can build the ultimate firepit for warming up on chilly nights, telling spooky ghost stories, and of course, roasting marshmallows. As a bonus,
This is far from a comprehensive list of backyard camping activities. That said, these three ideas alone can make for several nights of outdoor entertainment. Why not explore the various ways you can have the best camping experience your backyard has to offer?
DON’T LET CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES STALL YOUR RECOVERY BE PROACTIVE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH
As we mentioned on the cover of this newsletter, don’t delay your personal injury case just because COVID-19 might be changing the process, especially when it comes to the way insurance companies handle your claim. But even more important than pushing forward with the legalities of your case is the way you continue with your recovery. Medical professionals have advised patients to stay away from health care facilities like hospitals and urgent care units because of their increased exposure to the virus, but if you experience a medical emergency, then it’s vital that you seek the help you need. The risks of not doing so are too great. If you have ongoing treatment or services necessary to your continued healing of an injury you’ve already suffered, then it’s important to keep up with them to the best of your ability. For the sake of your health and your personal injury case, you must find a way to persevere. If you’re not proactive about regaining your health, then
insurance companies are simply not going to believe that you need the compensation you’re seeking. The damages you claim must match up with your treatment plan and the way you execute it. Your recovery activities can affect your health just as much as they can affect the value of your case. If you’re willing and able to leave your home and visit your doctor during this time, then continue doing so. If not, virtual doctor visits and telehealth practices have grown exponentially over the last few months thanks to the way COVID-19 has forced people to be innovative with their communication. This means you do have options for connecting with medical professionals from the safety of your home, and you can still get the advice you need to continue your recovery routine. No matter what happens, it’s important to keep your lawyer informed of your actions. If your health care plan changes, if you’re unable to receive the care you need, or if any other issues arise, then reach out as soon as you can. The Whisler Law Firm can help you figure out the best solutions for keeping your treatment on track and your case intact.
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WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO YOU? A KIDS PROTECTION PLAN LETS YOU DECIDE
The way COVID-19 has swept across the globe has caused many people to consider the plans they have in place for the future. Those plans often include children and what would happen to them should they lose their parents, either temporarily or permanently. It may not be pleasant to think about, but if you want to continue providing for your kids in the event you’re no longer able to, then it’s imperative you put a Kids Protection Plan in place. Even if you’ve created a will that includes a guardianship provision for your children, that won’t suffice when figuring out how best to provide for them in the long term. If you don’t have clear instructions for what should happen to your kids, they might be placed into Florida’s Department of Children and Families, where a judge will decide who should raise them, and a large portion of your assets meant for your children could be lost. It’s just as important to clearly name a long-term guardian for your kids as it is to have short-term plans spelled out. Have you designated a standby guardian in the event you have a medical emergency that leaves you incapacitated for a short time? Do your children’s caretakers have access
to temporary guardianship documents so that your children don’t end up somewhere they shouldn’t be? Do you have a medical power of attorney and financial authorizations available for temporary caregivers to make emergency decisions for your children? Does anyone have access to your assets should the need arise? If you have children under the age of 18, then your estate plan needs a foundation that ensures your kids will always be taken care of no matter what happens to you. It needs to include a set of instructions, legal documents, and an ID both you and your kids should carry at all times. A Kids Protection Plan is insurance that your kids are never placed in the custody of anyone you don’t want them with and that they have the resources they need to live comfortably. If you have any questions about creating a Kids Protection Plan or any other estate planning matter, then call The Whisler Law Firm. We’ll help you get those questions answered. Preparing now means providing yourself with peace of mind later on.
You can’t go wrong with grilled chicken and tomatoes on a warm summer’s evening. It’s a simple recipe that packs a flavor punch. GRILLED BASIL CHICKEN AND TOMATOES
INGREDIENTS
• • • •
2 tbsp olive oil 1 clove garlic
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1/4 cup tightly packed fresh basil leaves
1/2 tsp salt
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8 Roma tomatoes
3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 oz each)
“Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” –Dale Carnegie
DIRECTIONS
3. Heat grill to about 350–400 F.
1. For marinade: In blender, combine olive oil, garlic, salt, vinegar, and basil. Cut 2 tomatoes into quarters and add to mixture. Cover and process until blended. Halve remaining tomatoes for grilling. 2. In bowl, combine chicken and
Lightly oil grates. Grill chicken until internal temperature reads 165 F, about 4–6 minutes per side. Grill tomatoes until lightly browned,
about 2–4 minutes per side. Discard remaining marinade. 4. Serve chicken and tomatoes with reserved marinade.
2/3 cup marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Reserve remaining marinade.
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
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1909 TYLER ST., SUITE 501 HOLLYWOOD, FL 33020 WHISLERLAWFIRM.COM 561-708-0513
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2 2 3 3 4
What Videoconferencing Means for Your Case
3 Ideas for the Ultimate Backyard Campout
How Stalling Your Recovery Damages Your Case
Why You Need a Kids Protection Plan
Grilled Basil Chicken and Tomatoes
Care for a Pepsi, Comrade?
HOW PEPSI BECAME THE WORLD’S SIXTH LARGEST NAVY HISTORY OF THE PEPSI FLEET
In 1972, PepsiCo secured a deal to sell Pepsi syrup to the USSR, where it would be bottled locally. Not only did this deal make Pepsi the first Western product to be sold in the USSR, but it also locked The Coca-Cola Company out of the market, giving PepsiCo a monopoly. But before the deal could be finalized, the Soviets needed to figure out how to pay for the cola syrup. Rubles, the Soviet currency, were worthless internationally. To get around this, the Soviets traded PepsiCo Stolichnaya vodka in exchange for the cola. This deal was great for both parties until the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and the United States boycotted Soviet products, including vodka. If the USSR wanted to keep its supply of sweet cola, then they would need to give PepsiCo something else. That’s when the Soviets offered up part of their naval fleet. In exchange for $3 billion worth of Pepsi, the Soviet Union traded 17 submarines, a cruiser, a frigate, and a destroyer. This trade made PepsiCo the sixth most powerful naval military in the world. The deal was reported in a 1989 New York Times article, which included a quote from the CEO of PepsiCo to the United States’ national security advisor: “We’re disarming the Soviet Union faster than you are.” PepsiCo quickly sold the fleet to a Swedish company for scrap recycling, but for a few days, Pepsi had the potential to become the ultimate victor in the cola wars.
COKE OR PEPSI?
This is one of the oldest brand wars in the world, but these days, most of us are willing to settle for whichever soda is available. But if you happened to be in the Soviet Union during the 1980s, Pepsi was the soda of choice. The Soviets loved Pepsi so much that they were willing to make PepsiCo a naval superpower in order to get more of that refreshing, sugary beverage.
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