Law Office of James R. Snell Jr. July 2018

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18 july

Road to justice

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The Case gainst Jeep and Dodge

What You Need to Know

When we purchase something manufactured by a large corporation, we expect that the product has passed numerous safety and regulatory tests.

Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Corporations, beholden to their shareholders above all else, often cut corners in order to goose their bottom line. When they get caught, it’s on

regular citizens to hold them accountable.

There have been plenty of instances of products coming to market that shouldn’t have — Samsung’s exploding Galaxy Note 7, for instance. There is currently a case against Fiat Chrysler for a product problem of similar severity. In an effort to market certain vehicles as eco-friendly, the company filed for diesel certification on a line of vehicles. Sounds like a good thing, right? The problem is that those vehicles were not as green as consumers and regulators were led to believe.

How did Fiat Chrysler get away with such a blatant skirting of environmental regulations? Well, it all comes down to a simple piece of technology called a “defeat device.”

take legal action. You don’t even need to own the car today, as long as you can prove you owned it on January 12, 2017.

We don’t know as of yet whether these vehicles will need to be repaired, recalled, or replaced. The investigation into Fiat Chrysler is ongoing, so it will continue to take shape

How did Fiat Chrysler get away with such a blatant skirting of environmental regulations? Well, it all comes down to a

simple piece of technology called a “defeat device.” This device, which you may have heard about during Volkswagen’s diesel fiasco a few years ago, senses when a car is undergoing an emissions test and alters the emissions to make them appear lower than they are during normal road conditions. Basically, it’s the automotive equivalent of working hard when the teacher’s watching you but fooling around when they aren’t.

over the coming months. What’s important for you to know is that if you own one of these vehicles, you’ve been duped. Hiring an attorney and participating in the lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler is the best way for you to stand up against this injustice. It might seem like becoming a part of a class action lawsuit is a small step, but it can have huge ramifications. If companies aren’t held accountable for their cheating, they’ll continue to cut corners and take advantage of

If you own one of the following vehicles, you are eligible to participate in a lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler:

unsuspecting customers. Unless you raise your hand and say,“I’ve been cheated,” you’ll suffer in silence.

2014-2016 Jeep Cherokee Ecodiesel

Don’t let it happen to you. If you own one of these vehicles, reach out to the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr. today.

2014-2016 Dodge Ram 1500

It’s important to note that you must have a 3.0-liter diesel engine to qualify for a claim, as these are the models that cheated emissions inspectors. If you purchased, financed, or leased one of these vehicles, we may be able to

–Jim Snell

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How Much Sunshine Is Too Much?

Keep Your Family Safe

SPEND LESS TIME IN THE SUN If you’re planning to spend a significant amount of time in the sun, consider your environment. Will there be plenty of shade? Will you have to bring your own? What’s the best way to step out of the sun for a few minutes? Wearing sunscreen and protective clothing are great ways to shield yourself from UV rays, but it’s important to avoid being in direct sunlight for long periods. Taking a break from the sun gives your body the time it needs to recuperate and helps prevent sunburn and heatstroke. COMMON MYTHS ABOUT SUN EXPOSURE Many people think that a tan is better than a sunburn, but the result of tanning is still sun damage. When your skin tone changes due to the sun, regardless of whether it tans or turns red, it’s a result of the epidermis reacting to damage caused by UV rays. Both are symptoms of harmed skin. While vitamin D is important, the sun does not contribute to its creation as much as you might think. Doris Day, a New York City dermatologist, explains that if your skin were to constantly produce vitamin D from being in the sun, it would reach toxic levels. Vitamin D is the only vitamin that your body can produce on its own, through a common form of cholesterol or 7-dehydrocholesterol. Spending time in the sun does help vitamin D form, but you need far less exposure than you think.

To many people, summer is all about heading outside to enjoy the weather. But getting too much sun can be dangerous. To have a fun-filled summer with your family this year, remember that it’s essential to protect yourself from harmful UV rays. COVER UP Covering your skin is one of the best ways to avoid skin damage. Wide- brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants or skirts can protect your skin from direct exposure to UV rays. While this tactic protects you from the sun, it offers poor defense against the heat. So, if you opt for cooler attire, it’s important to cover all exposed skin with a copious amount of sunscreen. Be sure to reapply every two hours for maximum skin protection.

Knowing how to protect yourself from UV rays is the first step to having a safe, fun-filled summer!

Given what a great fit Tiffany Dao has been from the moment she arrived at our office, you may think we found her through an expensive recruiting service. The truth, however, is much more coincidental than that. One day, Lee Snell was at the nail salon when she began talking to the young lady sitting next to her. “We were both getting our nails done, and we just hit it off,” Tiffany recalls. “After that conversation, I knew I wanted to work at The Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr.” After graduating from high school, Tiffany joined our staff as a full-time summer receptionist. When she heads off to school, she’ll transition to part-time status. “I haven’t decided what I’m going to study just yet,” she says. “I’m torn between pursuing law and majoring in business administration.” I bet you can guess which we’re rooting for. On a regular day, you can find Tiffany greeting our clients, organizing the office, and doing whatever she can to lend a hand. “I just want to help the office run as smoothly as possible,”

she says. “I love it. Everyone is so friendly, and I learn new things every day. You couldn’t ask for a better summer job.” When she’s not working or getting ready for college, you can find Tiffany reading, watching movies, and hanging out with her friends. “Working at a law firm may not be your typical summer job, but when it comes to fun, a lot of what I enjoy falls under the category of ‘typical teenage stuff,’” she notes. Finding great people to work with isn’t always easy, but in the case of Tiffany, we were beyond lucky. She’s got a wonderful personality, great work ethic, and an exceptional attention to detail — all characteristics we look for in a team member. We’re so thankful that she just happened to book her nail appointment at the same time as Lee.

Meet Tiffany Dao TheNewestMember oftheSnellLawTeam

Welcome to the Snell Law team, Tiffany. We’re thrilled to have you!

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How Hot Dogs and Hamburgers Became National Treasures This American Grub

If your plans for this Independence Day involve firing up the barbecue, you’ll probably be cooking two American classics: hot dogs and hamburgers. Come the Fourth of July, families will be grilling up burgers and dogs from sea to shining sea, but it wasn’t always this way. The story of how beef patties and sausages became culinary symbols of our nation will give you plenty of food for thought. THE HOT DOG It was German immigrants who brought the “frankfurter” and the “wienerwurst” to American soil in the 1800s. There is much debate over who first decided to place one of these franks in a bun, but by the opening of the 20th century, hot dog stands had popped up all over the Eastern Seaboard. We do know the identity of the man who took the hot dog’s popularity to a national level: Nathan Handwerker. A Jewish immigrant from Poland, Nathan sliced buns for a hot dog stand on Coney Island. After scraping together enough money, he quit his job and opened a stand of his own, undercutting his former employer’s prices by half. Not only did Nathan’s hot dogs outsell the competition, the Great Depression made them the perfect food for a nation

suddenly living on a tight budget. By the 1930s, hot dogs had become so unquestionably American that Franklin Roosevelt famously served them to King George VI during his royal visit in 1939.

THE BURGER Like the hot dog, the exact origin of the beef patty’s eventual “sandwiching” is lost to history. Once again, it was German immigrants who brought their recipes for “Hamburg steak” with them across the Atlantic, but reports vary as to who first sold the meat patty inside a bun.

Multiple diners and fairgrounds across America claim to be the home of the first hamburger. All of these claims date to the turn of the 20th century, a time when our nation was faced with feeding a growing working class quickly and cheaply. By the 1950s, the burger had become a symbol of the American everyman. Both the hot dog and hamburger embody the history of our nation. Immigrant traditions merged with blue-collar needs to create two uniquely American foods. It’s fitting that we celebrate America’s birthday with the grub that has grown along with it.

trivia

Blue Cheese Buffalo Dogs

Fourth of july

and Celery Slaw

No matter where you stand on the great ketchup versus mustard debate, you’ll love these spicy, tangy, easy-to-make buffalo dogs. They’re the perfect way to elevate your Fourth of July cookout.

Of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, how many were lawyers?

INGREDIENTS

Send your answers to Shannon (shannon@snelllaw.com).

For Celery Slaw •

1 package of your favorite hot dogs

4 celery stalks, very thinly sliced

1. The first correct answer wins a $25 gift card to Starbucks.

1 package hot dog buns

2. All other submissions are entered for a drawing to win a second $25 gift card to Starbucks.

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

1 bottle Frank’s RedHot sauce

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

4 ounces crumbled blue cheese

3. The funniest wrong answer will be chosen by Shannon and will also win a $25 gift card to Starbucks. All entries must be sent to Shannon by 6/22/18, and the winners will be announced in our next monthly issue.

1 teaspoon olive oil

Celery salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

4. Top with blue cheese, add another splash of hot sauce if you’re feeling extra spicy, and serve.

1. For slaw, toss all ingredients together and season with celery salt and pepper. 2. Grill hot dogs and toast buns. 3. Assemble hot dogs, douse with hot sauce, and top with celery slaw.

Congratulations to last month’s winner: Casey H.

Inspired by Bon Appetit magazine

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The Law Office of James R. Snell Jr., LLC 123 Harmon Street Lexington, SC 29072

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Inside this Issue

Does Your Car Have a Defeat Device? PAGE 1

Battling the Summer Sun! The Newest Addition to Our Team PAGE 2

The History of Hot Dogs and Burgers Blue Cheese Buffalo Dogs and Celery Slaw PAGE 3

Snell Law Office Happenings PAGE 4

A Busy Start to 2018 A Mid-Year Recap from Snell Law

It’s hard to believe that we’re already at the midpoint of 2018. This year has been a whirlwind for the team at The Law Office of James R. Snell Jr. Here are a few of the results and achievements we’ve accomplished this year. Sometimes you can succeed in defending a client long before a trial starts. That’s what happened recently for one of our clients. This client, a professional from Columbia, got wind that he might be accused of a very serious crime. The police hadn’t even knocked on their door yet when they decided to give us a call. We conducted our own investigation and proved the accusation to be false, saving our client’s time, money, and stress of dealing with a serious court proceeding with no basis in fact. On the personal injury front, we’ve secured multiple six-figure settlements for our clients. These results speak to the willingness of our team to do everything in our power to get our clients what they deserve. If we need to go to trial, you can bet we will.

Vicki Koutsogiannis, one of our attorneys, was recently named one of the National Trial Lawyers Association 40 Under 40 for South Carolina. There are a lot of awards in our industry that are doled out on a “pay to play” basis, but not this one. We’re so proud of Vicki for receiving this remarkable honor. Vicki will also be heading off to Harvard this summer for a session with the National College of DUI Defense. Finally, we’d like to welcome Tiffany Dao to our practice as our new receptionist. She’ll be with us full-time for the summer before transitioning to part-time status once she starts school. You can read more about Tiffany inside this newsletter.

Here’s to hoping that the second half of the year will be just as busy and productive as the first.

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