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May 2024
720 Goodlette Rd. N, Suite 304, Naples, FL 34102 • www.AttorneyShapiro.com CHAMPIONING CHANGE A Mother’s Dedication to Her Autistic Child
To me, Mother’s Day is about honoring and celebrating the unwavering love and resilience of mothers. For many of us — myself included — it is a reflection of the joy, milestones, and challenges that come with motherhood. As the father of an autistic child, I have witnessed — through my wife’s steadfast example — the sheer depth of a mother’s strength and determination.
necessary to be his champions and to never stop fighting to get him the help and love he needs. The reality is that our son will need constant care for the rest of his life — which we will lovingly provide. Advocate for Autism My wife is not only a great mother to our son with autism, but she’s amazing with our daughter and is an advocate for many others with disabilities. My wife is a board member of the STARability Foundation, a nonprofit that helps those with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing them with social, vocational, and educational support. Additionally, my wife has had to advocate on our son’s behalf to make sure he can always receive the care he needs. To do this, we
every doctor who treated him from birth agreed our son was severely autistic. This was completely shocking to all of his medical providers. As it turned out, the information the ADP had provided on their website was incredibly misleading. My wife was relentless, and we filed for an appeal hearing. She enlisted the help of all of his treating medical professionals, teachers, and caretakers. She also enlisted the help of a congressperson to advocate for our child and other families whose children were in the same situation. Finally, with her championing his cause, we got my son signed up and he is on the “APD Waitlist.” Mothers Are Champions You are a mother for life — not just when your kids are small. At our law firm, we recognize the profound role mothers play in the lives of our clients and their families. As a personal injury attorney, I have seen both the power and vulnerability of mothers firsthand. I have seen mothers come to the aid of their children during their recovery from an accident, and I have also seen adult children give their love and support to their mothers who have been injured. There is a special connection between mothers and their
Test of Strength No one expects to have a child with a
disability, but when it happens, you are thrust into a situation where parental instincts take over. There is a quote by Bob Marley that encapsulates how it feels to have a child who struggles with a disability: “You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.” My wife and I have both been tested and found that we have the strength
signed our son up with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, on the “ADP Waitlist,” so they could step in and provide our son with the assistance he needs in the unlikely event my wife and I were no longer able to care for him. However, when we initially filed the application, we received a denial letter. The letter stated that our son did not fit the definition of autism according to the FL statute. Even though
children, and that comes to the forefront in times of strife and struggle. - MSahracp iLr o.
(239) 500-5000 • 1
Wannabe Bank Robber Calls Ahead, Orders Cash to Go DIALING FOR DOLLARS
Any bank robber knows you have to hurry through a heist to escape. A crook in Connecticut tried a novel time-saving technique: calling ahead.
through the window. But, “I’ve never had somebody call ahead and say, ‘Get the money, we’re coming,’” said a detective in the Fairfield case. In taking advantage of the telephone warning, the police were already at the scene when the robbers arrived. “I would classify these individuals as ‘not too bright,’” the police spokesman said. The employee who answered the robber’s call immediately hung up and called 9-1-1. The thief’s accomplice, a minor, was already inside the bank when the managers initiated a lockdown. The accomplice passed the teller a note and collected about $900, but police stopped him as he left the bank. The fleeing accomplice was undoubtedly disappointed when the bag exploded in dye after throwing it on the ground. (Bank employees had disregarded the robbers’ phone order that no dye packs be tucked in with the cash. You just can’t get good service these days.) The accomplice and the robber who placed the call, who had been sitting in a car nearby, were both arrested at the scene without incident. The adult suspect, Albert Bailey, was on probation for a different bank hold-up several years earlier. Both were charged with first-degree robbery and threatening in the first degree.
Taking a cue from the take-out food craze, the wannabe bank robber called a bank in Fairfield, Connecticut, and demanded that $100,000 in large bills be
prepared for him with no dye packs in the bag. If the orders were not carried out, the caller told the employee, “there will be a bloodbath.”
Fairfield cops, who thought they’d seen it all, were
dumbfounded. “You can’t make this stuff up,” said a spokesman for the Fairfield Police Department. Robbers have tried many routes when attempting to rob a bank, including entering the drive-through lane and terrorizing tellers
Assessing Liability in Autonomous Vehicle Accidents In the Driverless Seat
Who is at fault if you are in an accident involving an autonomous vehicle? As it turns out, no drivers are at fault when an autonomous vehicle is involved. As technology evolves, so does the law. With the advent of autonomous vehicles, Florida has passed laws defining them and how fault is determined in accidents involving them. What are autonomous vehicles? Autonomous vehicles are defined in Florida State Statute 316.003 as any vehicle equipped with autonomous technology that has the capability to drive without active control or monitoring by a human operator. However, this does not mean that if your car features common driver assistance technology, such as blind spot assistance, parking assistance, or emergency braking, you are off the
hook regarding liability. The technology involved must be able to drive the car without any interaction on the part of the driver. Additionally, according to Florida State Statute 316.85, “A licensed human operator is not required to operate a fully autonomous vehicle.”That means, by law, vehicles can operate in Florida without anyone in them at all. Who is at fault? Here comes the ultimate question: If no driver is found at fault, does that mean you have no options when it comes to financial recovery? Fortunately, even if there is no driver in the other car, you can still go after the vehicle’s owner or the manufacturers. For instance, similar to a product liability case, if there are issues with the software that enabled the vehicle to drive and caused the accident, then the
manufacturer would be at fault. This is a new legal frontier, and we are still working diligently to identify ways to recover for clients caught up in these unique situations. Tragically, there have been two known fatalities recorded from accidents involving autonomous vehicles in Florida, so this is an area where we will likely see further legislation passed in the future to protect our drivers.
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TRUCK DRIVER INATTENTION CONTRIBUTES TO CRASHES Dangerous Distractions
When we get behind the wheel, we have a responsibility to ourselves, our passengers, and everyone sharing the road with us to drive responsibly. This means driving distraction-free, with our phones put away and our eyes on the road. This is doubly true for the drivers of large trucks, as their vehicles can cause terrible damage to others if not operated properly. Because of this, our clients often ask if truck drivers get distracted when they are on the road. Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Distractions and fatigue affect truck drivers at a similar rate to other drivers. Here is what Floridians need to know about the distracted driving epidemic affecting our country. Distracted Driving on the Rise According to the most recent data released by the NHTSA, in 2022, over 3,300 people died in accidents involving distracted drivers. These figures have been rising in recent years and show no signs of slowing
down. The FMCSA reported that nearly 250 large truck drivers died in similar accidents. Additionally, 68 large truck drivers died after falling asleep at the wheel. While the dangers are bad enough when regular-size vehicles are operated by distracted drivers, when a large truck driver’s behavior strays from best safety practices, the danger is elevated significantly. In an Accident? Accidents involving large trucks are becoming increasingly common due to the perils of distracted driving affecting our truck drivers. Nine times out of 10, being hit by a truck is a serious accident. If you have been in an accident involving a large truck, distracted or impaired driving may have been a contributing factor. Please do not hesitate to contact the Law Offices of Marc Shapiro at (239) 500-5000 so we can fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
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GRILLED RED CURRY BEEF SATAY WITH PEANUT SAUCE
Ingredients
Inspired by StarTribune.com
For sauce: •
• •
1 1/2 lb flank steak 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk 1–2 tbsp Thai red curry paste
• • • • •
• •
2 tbsp lime juice 1–3 tbsp Thai red curry paste 1 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp fish sauce
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
•
1 tbsp lime juice
Directions
1. Freeze flank steak for 30 minutes. Cut crosswise, against the grain, into thin slices. 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together coconut milk, lime juice, curry paste, and fish sauce. Add steak and toss to coat. Cover and chill for 8 hours. 3. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine coconut milk, curry paste, brown sugar, and fish sauce. Bring to a gentle boil for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add peanut butter and stir until well blended. Remove from heat and add lime juice. 4. Thread the marinated meat onto 12 long skewers. Grill until beef is medium rare, 1–2 minutes per side. 5. Transfer satay to a platter and serve with peanut sauce.
BLOOM CINCO COMIC DERBY
EMERALD GEMINI GRADUATION LILY
MEMORIAL MOTHER RENEWAL VETERANS
(239) 500-5000 • 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
720 Goodlette Rd. N, Suite 304 Naples, FL 34102 www.AttorneyShapiro.com
Inside A Mother Advocates for Her Autistic Son Page 1 Dumb Crimes: Wannabe Bank Robber Places Phone Order for Cash How Fault Is Determined in Driverless Vehicle Accidents Page 2
The Impact of Distracted Driving Among Truckers
Grilled Red Curry Beef Satay With Peanut Sauce Page 3
Food History Facts That Will Amaze You Page 4
4 Fascinating Historical Food Facts
No. 3: Hot Beverage Fail Dr. Pepper, like most sodas, is best enjoyed cold. This means there are fewer soda sales during the winter when people opt for comforting, warm beverages. To remedy this, the soda company tried to push hot Dr. Pepper in the 1960s. Meant to be served warm with lemon, they marketed it to magazines, television, and radio. The campaign was unsurprisingly unsuccessful. No. 4: Roaming Ramen Ramen is one of Japan’s most iconic dishes, but it doesn’t actually originate from Japan. The noodle soup comes from China, where it is known as shina soba . It became popular in Japan after World War II. The country had undergone a food shortage for years but had finally started importing supplies. Chinese food was believed to be nourishing and filling, so street vendors offering cheap but delicious ramen became a mainstay. Once instant ramen was invented, the noodle soup became associated with Japan worldwide. Whenever you sit down for dinner, consider how you eat and the odd traditions you unconsciously observe. We’re all part of a marvelous culinary culture and should celebrate what makes us unique.
Food is central to every culture. The what, why, and hows of culinary history are diverse and fascinating. From the forgotten Roman condiment to the short-lived hot soda, there’s no end to the depth of interesting food facts. No. 1: Double-Dip Faux Pas The nobility of the Ottoman Empire followed a complex but rational code of culinary conduct. After washing with soap and water, they ate primarily with their hands. Once the meal began, they followed rules much like ours. Double dipping and lip-smacking were frowned upon, and eating more than one bite of a dish was rude, too. Luckily, meals had dozens of unique dishes. No. 2: The Lost Condiment The Romans left behind a vibrant legacy. Aqueducts are still used throughout Europe, while their language is the basis of many other languages. One thing that hasn’t stood the test of time is garum. They poured this condiment on almost everything they ate. Made from fermented fish, garum’s salty, fishy flavor no longer appeals to the average Westerner’s palate.
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