Take a look at our newsletter this month.
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8/19
BUILD IT. PROTECT IT. PRESERVE IT.
A couple of months ago, a pizza delivery guy left his parking brake off, and it rolled back into my mother-in-law’s car. Since the pizza delivery guy was at fault, she got his insurance information and called his provider. They tried to make her go through her own insurance to pay for it, even though the damage wasn’t her fault! I also had a client who was hit by a drunk driver and needed to use the medical pay available to her through her plan. But her provider didn’t offer to pay any of her medical bills! Another client of mine got rear-ended, and his insurance company
GETTINGWHAT YOU PAID FOR
refused to pay for the damage because they said they couldn’t determine who was at fault. He was rear-ended! How could it be his fault?
IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT
This month in history, Anne Frank wrote her last diary entry before her family was discovered by the Gestapo. Almost two decades later, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington DC. The passion of these individuals, and many others, to change the world into a place where everyone had basic human rights has done exactly that in many respects. But while their impact is evident, the world is still far from fair, and I’ve seen this evidenced time and time again in the auto insurance industry. All the complexity with auto insurance plans aside, when you pay for your plan every month, or every six months, or whenever your plan stipulates, you are purchasing a service. It’s a service that you may hope you don’t have to use, but one that you’re grateful for if you need it. And yet, in my experience, even when I’ve had clients that have every justification to use the insurance they’ve paid for, they’re scared to do so. Unfortunately, my clients are sometimes justified in their apprehension. This is because insurance companies so often neglect the best interests of their clients and, instead, look out only for their own bottom line. The tactics they use to avoid dispensing payment are something I abbreviate to “delay, deny, and defend.” They will delay giving you your coverage before denying that you ever needed it, and then defend their decision to deny you coverage in court. It’s frankly wrong that these tactics are so prevalent.
Most providers don’t budge until their customers say the magic words: “I’m going to call a lawyer.” That at least starts the but calling a lawyer to get what you pay for should not be the norm. It’s part of my job to represent my clients in this situation, but it shouldn’t have to be. Insurance companies should pay for their customers’ vehicle repairs and medical expenses if that is a process of getting my clients their coverage,
stipulation of their plan. Everyone has a right to get what they paid for,
and no one should have to go into financial ruin because their provider doesn’t give their customers what they’re owed.
–Edward Littlejohn
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WHAT’S NE Wow! It’s hard to believe there are only a few more days left of summer. Looking back, this summer has been full of growth and opportunities. Jeff and Ally traveled to Chicago for a wedding. I tried to get Ally to send me some pics of Jeff on the dance floor, but she’s keeping them for her collection. The team and I completed an ESCAPE ROOM. It was an extremely fun time and great opportunity for us to work together and bond outside of the office. Not only did we have a great time, but we set the weekly record! Kyzlee’s been enjoying corn and spending time outside. This summer, we took Kyzlee to the Fitzsimmons Family Dog Park. She loved chasing Courage around in the open space. Right now, Kyzlee’s getting ready for her first summer vacation at the beach.
RING, RING — IT’S A ROBOT
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM PHONE SCAMS AND ROBOCALLS
PUT UP SOME DETERRENTS.
Two of the most common scams are phone scams and robocalls. These calls are incredibly annoying and can trick you out of valuable information if you’re not careful. While it might seem like these scams are inescapable, there are some precautions you can take to avoid their traps.
You can even go a step further and block the calls. Many phone service providers offer call-blocking options, including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. You can sign up for this service in-store or on your service provider’s website. Each service costs about $4 per month. There are also many call-blocking apps available on Android and Apple devices, but if you subscribe to a blocking service through your phone provider, these apps are unnecessary. Finally, you can sign up for the Federal Trade Commission’s “Do Not Call” program (DoNotCall.gov). While the Do Not Call program can help cut back on calls, this list is largely ignored by scammers. If you’re getting a ridiculous number of robocalls every day, signing up can offer you some brief respite. Thankfully, Congress is already attempting to fix this problem by making it harder for scammers to call you. But until they are able to pass tough, effective legislation, it is up to us as consumers to remain vigilant and do what we can to keep our personal and financial data safe and secure.
GIVE THEM THE SILENT TREATMENT.
One thing you can do to avoid these fraudulent, time-wasting calls is to simply hang up. If possible, it is best to not answer at all. It’s always good to have a list of numbers you can reference, so you never have to guess who is calling. Think of it as going one step beyond caller ID. In some cases, answering and then hanging up can actually do more harm than good. Answering the phone gives the scammers confirmation that the number works and that they should try again. Once your number is confirmed as active, it often gets put on an “active number” list that can then be sold to other scammers who market in these types of phone numbers. If you can’t verify who is calling without picking up, don’t answer. Let it go to voicemail. If it’s important, the person will leave a legitimate message and you can respond afterward.
LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
ESCAPE ZONE
The Escape Zone in Bellaire, Ohio, is full of exciting challenges. It’s really nice that it’s conveniently located here in the Ohio Valley. Escape Rooms have been popping up all over the place. What’s an Escape Room? It’s a mystery puzzle-solving interactive game. Basically, you get locked in a room and solve puzzles and riddles in an effort to escape.
Address: 2011 Belmont St, Bellaire, OH 43906 Phone: 740-232-4544
This newsletter is for informational purposes only and no legal advice is intended. Be sure to consult with this law firm if you have a specific question about your situation. And, remember that Edward and Jeff don’t take any unplanned inbound telephone or in-person meetings. We believe that each case deserves our undivided attention.
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WITH ME AND MY OWN?
CALENDAR OF EVENTS These SEMINARS AND TELECONFERENCE CALLS are FREE. That’s right; there is no charge. We just ask that you preregister, so we can make sure there’s enough space. We want to make sure people make good decisions about their legal situations. UPCOMING VIP EVENTS
August: Real Estate Call — Open Q&A. Call and ask a real estate attorney a real estate question.
September: Estate Planning — Alternatives to the Medicaid Asset Protection Trust and How to Set Your Family Up for the Future.
October: Business Call — It’s the Fourth Quarter. There’s still time to accomplish your goals.
If you see a seminar or teleconference that’s interesting to you or your family, be sure to preregister by calling 740-314-4829 or visiting LittlejohnLawLLC.com. We’ll send you more information as we get closer to the meeting but only to those who have preregistered. If you have a topic you would like to learn more about, be sure to attend one of our seminars or teleconferences. Send your email requests to office@elittlejohnlaw.com.
SENEGALESE LAMB SKEWERS
Inspired by Food & Wine Magazine
INGREDIENTS
For the lamb: • 2 lbs trimmed leg of lamb, cut into 1-inch cubes • 1 tbsp peanut oil,
For the onions: • 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
• 1/2 cup Dijon mustard • 1/2 tbsp agave nectar • 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced • Salt and white pepper, to taste
plus more for grilling
• Salt and black
pepper, to taste
EQUIPMENT • Bamboo skewers
DIRECTIONS
1. In a bowl, coat lamb with 1 tbsp oil and generously season with salt and pepper. 2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard, and agave nectar. Toss in onions and season with salt and pepper. 3. Heat a grill or grill pan to medium and oil the grates. 4. Thread lamb on skewers and grill for 6–8 minutes. 5. Serve alongside onions.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
WHEN INSURANCE PROVIDERS DELAY, DENY, AND DEFEND.
2
HOW TO BEST PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SCAM CALLS
LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN
3
UPCOMING VIP EVENTS
SENEGALESE LAMB SKEWERS
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GET YOUR KIDS BACK ON A SLEEP SCHEDULE
YOU’RE GETTING VERY SLEEPY ... Establishing a Bedtime Routine for the School Year
START EARLY AND GO SLOWLY When practicing this tip, think of the old adage: “It takes 21 days to break a habit.” If your kids have been going to bed late this summer, set a time when they must go to bed, but don’t make it too far off the time they have been regularly hitting the hay. If they shuffle off to bed around 10 p.m., push their bedtime to 9:45 p.m., and then push it back to 9:30 p.m. one week later. Slowly work your way back to an appropriate time, and bedtime will be easier when school starts. MAKE IT EASY Though the days may be getting shorter, it’s still relatively light out at night, making it nearly impossible for your kids to doze off when they should. Sleep experts recommend creating a sleeping space that
Between vacations, bonfires, and sporting tournaments, your children’s sleep
mimics a cave: dark, cool, and quiet. This means sunlight shouldn’t sneak into the room, and the home should be a quiet zone after bedtime. No one wants to sleep while everyone else is having fun, so it’s important that everyone in the home is quiet at bedtime. JUST RELAX This is a rule your family should follow year- round, not just when you want to reestablish a routine. At a certain time each night, begin the nightly wind-down. For example, at 8 p.m. shut off your screens, put on pajamas, and engage in a relaxing activity, like reading a book or doing some yoga. Signaling to your body and your family that it’s time for bed will help your kiddos, and you, fall asleep at an appropriate time.
schedule probably went on break when they did this summer. With school
fast approaching, it’s vital to get your kids back on a proper sleep schedule. In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation, getting enough sleep can significantly improve a child’s growth and cognitive function. But getting a restful night’s sleep is easier said than done when kids have had lots of freedom for three months. Try these tips to get your kids snoozing before school starts.
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