Shannon Law Group December 2018

312-578-9501 | www.shannonlawgroup.com DECEMBER 2018

“When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” –G.K. Chesterton When a year comes to a close, we count our blessings. First and foremost, we want to thank you, our clients and friends, for entrusting us with your personal and financial well-being. There is no higher honor in our profession than for us to represent you. Thank you! We are further grateful for all of you who have referred clients to us. We understand that when you refer clients to us, your integrity is on the line as well as ours. I want to thank each one of our team members for their terrific performance in 2018. If you haven’t met Pat Cummings and Jon Svitak, you should. Each is a rising star in the legal field with excellent skills and demeanor — but more importantly, they are men with big hearts and high integrity. Over the years, Pat has worked tirelessly against trucking companies and their insurance companies to advocate for our clients. Pat took his game to a new level by helping us secure our largest settlement in 2018 weeks before trial. Pat, you are a warrior with zero pulse. You and I have been in our fair share of litigation battles these past five years. Each year, I am more and more grateful to have you on our side. Before joining Shannon Law Group P.C., Jon worked for a number of years representing insurance companies. Jon’s past experience gives our clients a tactical advantage in their cases. GRATITUDE FOR OUR TEAM AND CLIENTS

Jon’s teamwork with Pat was instrumental in securing great results in 2018. Jon, I thank you for your steady, aggressive advocacy for our clients who have been injured by vaccines, our Spanish-speaking clients, and others. We are grateful you are now part of our team. Brittany Peterson has worked with us for a year. Brittany makes sure our newsletters get published and that we communicate with you. She has attended two national continuing education training seminars, kept up to speed on the latest trends, and edited a ton of content for publication. Brittany even pitched in and helped us with paralegal duties. In one year’s time, Brittany has made a big impact. Thank you, Brittany! Kate Refine plays a key role at our firm. This past year, Kate was assigned to work with one of our clients who was profoundly injured. Kate made sure that our client’s needs were met while we battled against a trucking company and their insurance company in court. Without Kate’s dedication and hard work, we would have been at a huge disadvantage. Thank you, Kate! Finally, I want you to know that we do not take you, our clients and friends, for granted. What we have done yesterday is important, but we know that we are measured on what we do for you today and tomorrow. It is our pledge to work harder each day to earn your trust in us.

Merry Christmas to everyone.

–Joe Shannon

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Once your vehicle has been thoroughly serviced, you should pack it with all the supplies you’ll need in the event of a blizzard. For starters, you absolutely need a good-quality scraper, brush, and shovel. You should also consider stocking an abrasive material like sand to help you get traction if you end up stuck. Additionally, you’ll want to pack jumper cables, a flashlight, and flares. For personal items, keep blankets, coats, gloves, water, food, a first-aid kit, and a phone charger in your vehicle. The final step before you drive is to plan your route, including checking weather and road conditions. You should also leave yourself extra time to travel, so you don’t end up feeling like you’re behind schedule and need to rush. On the Road The most important practice while driving in wintry conditions is to remain alert and vigilant at all times. Hazards can creep up on you at a moment’s notice, so keep your eyes on the road and watch for any obstructions. If the weather turns apocalyptic, pull over to a safe place and wait out the worst of it. After all, you’ll have all the supplies you need to stay warm for a while.

Life doesn’t stop when the snow starts falling. In our neck of the woods, you’ll invariably have to brave the roads in less-than-optimal conditions during the winter. Slick, icy roads present an increased risk for accidents, which means you need to be especially careful when driving during or after a storm. You can mitigate a lot of that risk by preparing adequately and driving with extra care. With that in mind, here are some tips provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to keep you as safe as possible on the roads. Before You Drive It’s a great idea to get your car fully serviced prior to the coldest months of the year. In particular, make sure your fluid levels and tires are equipped to handle the conditions. You’ll also want to check that your wipers, battery, and lights are all in good order.

Finally, in the event of an emergency, stay put, turn on the flashers, and run your vehicle only in sporadic intervals.

MY FAVORITE AUTHOR: PAT CONROY

This month I wanted to introduce our readers (or re-introduce for many of you) to my favorite author, Pat Conroy. A proud son of South Carolina, Pat Conroy was, by many accounts, one of the greatest American writers of his era. A generation of high schoolers read his books as part of their mandatory summer reading curriculum. Several of his novels found their way onto the silver screen, with his characters portrayed by the likes of Robert Duvall and Nick Nolte. In all my years of reading, I have yet to find anyone who can match Conroy’s mastery of language. When Conroy sets an otherwise mundane scene, he paints a picture so vivid that the reader feels as if she has been transported to the lazy Southern setting where most of his novels take place. As a high schooler, I had to read his books with a dictionary nearby so I could look up his imagery- heavy phrases like “ebullient sun” or “ascendant moon.” Pat Conroy borrowed many of his characters from his real life. Growing up as a military brat, Conroy moved a lot throughout his childhood. Ultimately, he and his family settled in South Carolina. After high school, he attended The Citadel, a military college in Charleston, which provided the source material for two of his books, The Lords of Discipline and My Losing Season .

not unlike The Citadel. My Losing Season , on the other hand, details the ups and downs of his senior season on his college basketball team. I highly recommend either book if you haven’t had a chance to read them yet. In particular, My Losing Season makes for a great Christmas gift to any coaches or basketball junkies in your life. My favorite of his books, and probably my favorite book period, is The Prince of Tides . It’s the book I’ve read more than any other in my life, probably 10 times by now. For a while, I would read it once a year just to remind myself of how much I enjoy it. In the spirit of transparent reviews, you can feel free to skip the movie — it simply doesn’t do justice to the story. Once you’ve worked your way through the three books above, you’re still not done with Conroy’s impressive collection. The Great Santini may be his most famous book, inspired by his less-than- doting military father. The Water Is Wide chronicles his years as a teacher on an impoverished island off the coast of South Carolina — another great gift option. No matter which of his works you pick up, I trust that you will agree that Pat Conroy was one of the great authors of 20th-century America.

–Pat Cummings

The Lords of Discipline , my brother’s favorite book of all time, is a novel about the experience of a young cadet at a military school

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SHANNON LAWGROUP INWASHINGTON, D.C.

The trip was especially nice for me because I had never been to our nation’s capital. As someone who has a great appreciation of history, it was very special to see the Lincoln, Vietnam, World War II, and Washington Memorials the first night we arrived. The Lincoln and Vietnam Memorials were particularly moving. On day three of the convention, Pat and I spent our lunch break touring the U.S. Supreme Court building. While the Court has seen some very recent changes, the tour’s focus was on its rich history. The Supreme Court’s formation and the monumental decisions that followed were highlighted throughout its halls with drawings, photos, and old newspaper clippings. As a John Marshall Law School alumnus, it was nice to see so many tributes to the former chief justice, including the bench chair he sat on from 1819 to 1835, which is now used during the investiture ceremony for newly appointed justices. Although the Court was in session, no oral arguments were scheduled on the day of our visit, so Pat and I settled for a photo in front of the entrance to the courtroom. Someday I’d love to come back to see the Court in action. It was certainly an inspirational and worthwhile trip for us.

In October, Pat and I were fortunate enough to make a trip to Washington, D.C., for a convention. The convention was all about how we can better serve our clients and address their issues. We know we can always improve our service and our skills by constantly looking for resources to help us achieve those goals. After three days of listening to innovative speakers and meeting new people, we came home energized and ready to get back to work.

–Jon Svitak

SUDOKU

DECEMBER 2018 DATES OF CONSEQUENCE

Dec. 9 Dec. 12 Dec. 16 Dec. 25 Dec. 27 Dec. 28–29 Dec. 30

Johnny’s basketball game @ Lisle High School Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Marquette Christmas break begins Christmas Day SLG CHRISTMAS PARTY @ QUIGLEY’S IN NAPERVILLE St. Francis girls freshmen basketball @ Nazareth Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

Every Saturday morning throughout the year, St. Joan of Arc Men’s group meets from 7–8 a.m. in the St. Joan of Arc Parish Center. Please join us.

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3550 Hobson Rd., Ste. 203 Woodridge, IL 60517

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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Gratitude for Our Team and Clients How to Stay Safe on Winter Roads My Favorite Author: Pat Conroy Shannon Law Group in Washington, D.C.

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Photo of the Month

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PHOTO OF THE MONTH

YOU’RE INVITED TO SHANNON LAW GROUP’S 10TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY!

Thursday, Dec. 27 5:30–8:30 p.m. Quigley’s Irish Pub 43 E. Jefferson Avenue, Naperville RSVP: Email Brittany at bpeterson@shannonlawgroup.com

This year will be the 10th Annual SLG Christmas Party … so we decided to reserve the whole pub for all of you!

We will once again be promoting two charities that are near and dear to our hearts: St. Vincent de Paul and St. Joan of Arc School’s Adopt-a-Student Fund. So mark your calendar! We want to thank you for your friendship and support over these last 10 years.

Nora and Johnny with their new puppy, Archie

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