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TEXAS TRIAL LAWYERS REVIEW
NOVEMBER 2018
SAN ANTONIO | AUSTIN | EDINBURG | HOUSTON | LAREDO | DALLAS | EL PASO | CORPUS CHRISTI
Time and Tradition How Things Have Changed Over the Years
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I’m sure many of our readers are preparing to travel far and wide to feast with loved ones. I wish you safe travels and a very happy holiday. As for my family and me, we’ll be hitting the road for Austin or Port Lavaca, much like the Thanksgivings of my childhood. I was born in Port Lavaca many moons ago, the town my great-grandparents Alejandro and Jesusita (after immigrating from Monterrey, Mexico) and grandparents Jesus and Maria Del Carmen called home for many years. For as long as I can remember, every Thanksgiving, we’d make the drive from wherever we lived at the time through the holiday traffic to see them. My aunts, uncles, and cousins would all congregate in our grandparents’ home on Algee Street, then in Brookhollow, to eat our fill of stuffing and turkey before playing yard or street football and, of course, watching the Dallas Cowboys. On a few occasions, I even got to open presents. You see, I was born on the 24th of this month, so my birthday has always had to compete with Thanksgiving. It’s a blessing and a curse. Some people find it easy to remember my birthday because of the proximity to the holiday. Others forget, as they understandably have a lot on their minds when getting ready for the big feast of tryptophan. Funnily enough, my wife, Roxanna, was born on the exact same day of the year as me, so we’ve never had a problem remembering each other’s birthdays.
great-grandparents are long gone, and my paternal grandparents are no longer with us, but I’ll always have the memories of those Thanksgivings. They’re easy to recall as I make the familiar drive to Port Lavaca to visit my family for the holiday. My sister lives in Austin now, so sometimes we trade off her coming down here, or we travel up there. My brother is living in Japan, so he won’t be celebrating with us this year. He’s even talking about staying on another year after his contract is over. All things change with time — even traditions — and that’s okay. It just emphasizes the importance of enjoying what you have now and the loved ones you get to spend time with. That’s what Thanksgiving is all about, after all: gratitude and reflection. And I have a lot to be grateful for this Thanksgiving: my family, our health, the fact that my parents live so near, and the time that I get to spend with them. And, of course, there’s the warmth of South Texas and the people that call it home. I’m so thankful I get to live and work in this state and enjoy the camaraderie I share with my clients. To those I’ve represented, thank you for putting your faith in me and my firm. We work hard to make sure we are always worthy of your trust.
relatives used to walk down San Antonio Street and even rode to school together. It’s crazy to think about the fact that, well before we met, we were celebrating both Thanksgiving and our birthdays in the same seaside town. Of course, as time passed, it became more and more difficult for my family to make it back to Lavaca for the holidays. As I mentioned last month, my father attended law school in Chicago and eventually took a job in Saudi Arabia. During those years we spent away from Texas, it was difficult to see extended family. Heck, in the Middle East it was difficult to even find the regular fixings for what you’d consider a Thanksgiving meal. I definitely missed my grandmother’s yams during those years away. Then, even after moving back to Texas, things were different, especially throughout the years. Families had grown, cousins had gone off to college, relatives had sadly passed away — such is life. My
Have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving,
Alex R. Hernandez Jr.
I share even more coincidences with my wife. Believe it or not, she was raised in Port Lavaca too. Our
All things change with time — even traditions — and that’s okay. It just emphasizes the importance of enjoying what you have now and the loved ones you get to spend time with.
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When you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you might not be sure what to do next. Do you just call the insurance company? Should you call an attorney? There are instances when an accident is minor and easily resolved, such as a parking lot fender bender. But then there are situations when an accident leaves you with questions and uncertainty, and it may even leave you with nothing but aggravation. This is the type of accident that results in injury to you, not to mention damage to your car or other property. You may face legal challenges related to compensation, like when the insurance company doesn’t want to pay you fair damages. You may also face the burden of medical bills due to your injuries, and you may be unable to work for an extended period of time. This is when having a personal injury attorney on your side makes all the difference. You’re stressed and want to move on. You want fair compensation to cover medical costs and time away from work. You may be concerned that the damages offered by the insurance company aren’t enough and don’t match the severity of your injuries and circumstances. An attorney will help you maximize your compensation so that you can take care of your bills and other expenses. If you’re faced with questions and uncertainty, give our office a call. We’re here to make sure you get back on your feet. When Do You Seek Legal Help? After the Accident
There’s a genre of entertainment that many Americans are afraid to admit is their secret obsession. It’s as if you’re hiding a secret that you desperately want to confess, but you’re afraid of the judgment and concerned looks from your friends. Then one day, you muster the courage to casually mention a docu-series you watched — hoping for absolution but concerned the jury won’t understand — and the floodgates open. Suddenly your closest friends and family have passionate opinions on the justice system and can tell you they know exactly who murdered who and how. Deep down inside, everyone loves a good mystery. Here are three of the best. ‘MAKING A MURDERER’ Directors Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos take viewers through an experience that feels like the most maddening game of ping pong ever played — in any given episode, your view may bounce from one polarizing opinion to another. After watching 10 mind-bending episodes of Steven Avery and his attorneys going back and forth during the trial, you’ll have questions that demand answers. So many, in fact, that Netflix has confirmed the production of a second season and a spin-off series titled “Convicting a Murderer.” ‘THE JINX’ Forty years of conflicting reports on three murders make for one compelling HBO series. Robert Durst goes under the spotlight after speaking for the first time about the death of three people connected to him. A web of lies, convolution, and gritty storytelling comes to one bone-chilling conclusion that will make your jaw drop. ‘THE STAIRCASE’ Did Michael Peterson kill his wife? Did the American justice system tear apart the dream it so righteously attempts to protect? What is considered fact in a murder trial? These are just a few of the questions you’ll contemplate as you go on a 16-year journey told over 13 gripping episodes. Questionable expert testimony and crime scene evidence are juxtaposed with a competent defense team and a convincing defendant, making for a story that begs viewers to take sides. In the end, the only fact you’ll know to be true is that you can’t trust your intuition. 3 TRUE CRIME SHOWS YOU HAVE TO SEE Move Over, Sitcoms, There’s a New Trend in Town
Don’t Call Me No Mo’, Don’t Text Me No Mo’ How to End Distracted Driving
After years of accidents stemming from texting and driving, drivers think they’ve found the solution: Just wait till you reach a stoplight, then text. That’s perfectly safe, right? We’ve all found ourselves sitting at a green light while the car in front of us idles perfectly still, the driver unaware of the light change. And beyond that, texting while driving is dangerous — yes, even if you’re stopped. It can be a slippery slope to catastrophic damage for you and other drivers. A text that starts at a stoplight usually prompts a response while navigating traffic, and when that message comes through, the operator often can’t resist doing a quick check. Distracted driving takes over, and from then on, every other motorist’s safety is at the mercy of the texter. There’s a solution to all of this though. Rather than take our eyes off the road, can’t we just use voice-to-text software to text for us? It has to be safer, right?
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TAKE A BREAK
CHIPOTLE-ROASTED
CARROT SALAD
And we know you and your family already have enough to deal with. That’s one of the many reasons we don’t ask for a cent from you until we’ve won your case. The insurance company may want to push you around, but we’ll push them right back. Call 1-888-HDZ-LAW-8.
Inspired by Food & Wine magazine
These spicy, tangy carrots make a healthy Thanksgiving side that doesn’t skimp on flavor. Plus, you can do most of the work in advance and assemble the finished dish on the big day.
INGREDIENTS
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30 small carrots (2–3 bunches), tops removed and carrots scrubbed
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2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 ounces watercress, stems trimmed
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2 chipotle peppers in adobo, minced
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Plain Greek yogurt, for serving Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
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1 teaspoon adobo sauce from the chipotle can
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A study done by Texas A&M showed that not only is voice texting a threat while driving, but it’s even worse than traditional text messaging. The rationale behind this conclusion states that even when dictating, attention is still fixed on the content of your message, not on the road. Further research from this study showed that reaction times were twice as slow when using a cellphone in any capacity. When it comes to distracted driving, there’s only one concrete solution that solves the problem: Don’t do it. In the words of the wise rapper Project Pat, tell your friends and family, “Don’t call me no mo’, don’t text me no mo’” while driving. You might save a life and protect your own.
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1 tablespoon molasses
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350 F. In a rimmed baking sheet, toss carrots with chipotle peppers, molasses, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, and roast for 30–35 minutes. 2. Transfer carrots to a plate and let them cool completely. 3. Once cooled, toss carrots with adobo sauce. Lay across a platter, and top with watercress. 4. Serve alongside yogurt.
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INSIDE
1. Thanksgiving, Now and Then
2. True Crime Makes for Gripping TV
2. After the Accident — You Don’t Pay Unless We Win
2. Don’t Let Distracted Driving Take Over Your Commute
3. Chipotle-Roasted Carrot Salad
4. Thanksgiving Dishes Your Table Is Missing
4 Dishes Your Table Needs THE MOST UNDERRATED THANKSGIVING FOODS
When you think of Thanksgiving food, the first dishes that pop into your mind are probably turkey, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole. They’re a part of nearly every Thanksgiving meal. And while these delicious foods are something you don’t want to skip, there are dishes your table is sorely missing — dishes that don’t get the respect they truly deserve. This Thanksgiving, why not take a look at a few other options? SOUP This is one dish that rarely hits the Thanksgiving table. But try a butternut squash or broccoli cheddar soup and you’ll be surprised just how “at home” it feels among the rest of your spread. It’s perfect to serve ahead of the main course, as the final touches are put on the turkey, or when the green bean casserole needs a few more minutes in the oven. BRUSSELS SPROUTS These tiny greens often get overlooked during Thanksgiving, but with the right accompaniment, they can make for an extremely tasty and nutritious dish. For example, try roasting halved Brussels sprouts with dried cranberries and bacon, drizzled with a raspberry balsamic vinaigrette.
flavor to any stuffing, homemade or from the box. You can also experiment with other kinds of sausage to find the flavors that best complement your stuffing. Use a sweet sausage when you need something to pair with a stuffing that incorporates apples. CRANBERRY SAUCE This Thanksgiving staple rarely gets the attention it deserves. While it’s easy to buy a can of cranberry sauce, you do your guests a culinary disservice by going this route. Instead, make your own cranberry sauce. There are many recipes online, and all you need are some fresh or frozen cranberries, orange juice, and sugar to make the best cranberry sauce of your life.
SAUSAGE Put a creative spin on your traditional Thanksgiving dishes and try using sausage in the stuffing. An Italian sausage, for instance, adds a kick of
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