Take a look at our May newsletter!
12444 POWERSCOURT DR., SUITE 300 • ST. LOUIS, MO 63131 // FINNEYINJURYLAW.COM // 314-293-4222 // MAY 2024
NEED MORE SPACE
OUR TEAM IS MOVING TO A BIGGER OFFICE
We are moving. The office will be in a new location when you read this. Moves are always interesting to me. Why move? Why not just stay where you are? What is driving the decision to move your entire office? Why pay more? Why uproot everything? All good questions. And all the things we considered prior to making this decision. The main reason for our move is space. We are out of it. We are crammed in. We are packed in. We’ve assembled cubes everywhere we can. People have no privacy. It is not conducive to professionalism. It is like living in a dorm. When we moved to Brentwood in whatever year that was (maybe 2018?), we left behind our first office. A space that had literally one office, a conference room, and a closet that was rented to a friend of mine. It was 700 square feet, maybe less. But it worked. We made it work. It was awesome. It felt like a real office. We had signage and a reception area. We even had a small coffee bar! But we outgrew that as well.
and maybe use all the space over the life of the lease. That idea lasted about a year.
We outgrew that. We outgrew the lease fast. But we crammed in to make it work. Until it didn’t.
Now we are moving to a nicer office with three times the space. And you know what? It may not be enough. We have two open offices that will likely be filled, and we have seven admin spots that will likely be filled. So, it begs the question: Where do we stop? When is “enough” enough? I feel as if we are reaching our peak growth spot. We are close to the sweet spot of growth, where we can taper off. Where we can take the cases we want without having to take everything and still be sustainable — that is a good feeling. The goal is only to take cases we truly can get behind. But I make mistakes and take cases I shouldn’t. There are so many reasons why: It came from a referral partner, I don’t want to lose, or I think someone is getting screwed who is catastrophically harmed. It is a constant battle to grow the right way. I am optimistic that we are, but I am also realistic enough to know there will be setbacks and challenges. But if we keep moving forward, no matter what, we will be successful. We will be able to meet our clients’ expectations and the needs of our families. New chapters are always exciting, and this one is no different. I look forward to working in the new space with the team and continuing to push for our clients. Trials are still the goal, and some great ones are coming up. Unfortunately, we weren’t
“The main reason for our move is space. We are out of it.”
able to try the cases in February of this year. One was continued, and the other settled for exactly what we asked for — 20 times the original offer.
We moved to a new space and doubled our footprint. At the time, I thought we had plenty of space. Almost too much. We used an empty office as a war room. We could throw a football in the common area because it was so open. We loved it. Or at least I did. I figured I could rent an office or two
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3 Astonishing Facts About the Human Body
No. 3: The liver is the powerhouse of the body. This industrious organ is responsible for more bodily functions than any of its peers. Several essential systems rely on a healthy liver to work correctly.
The human body hosts as many fun facts as it does bacteria, and that’s saying something. Every part of our anatomy is fascinating, and these three facts about it can lead to your next foray into an unsettling but interesting dinner conversation. No. 1: The eyes see upside down. Our eyes perceive light upside down. Don’t worry, though; you’re seeing the world correctly. A complex series of nerves and brain matter set things right side up. This is how it works: When light hits the eye, corneas shift the image upside down. The retina transmits it to the brain using electrical signals through the optic nerve. The brain then flips the image around to the correct orientation. No. 2: You’re carrying trillions of bacteria. Every human body is its own universe, an incomprehensibly vast ecosystem supporting an ever- growing quantity of life. At least 38 trillion bacteria roam the body’s various organs, trying to survive, thrive, and reproduce. Human cells comprise only a tenth of that number. We couldn’t live without these bacteria, such as the humble Bacteroidetes, which help us digest food. Others are destructive and possibly lethal, including the infamous E.coli.
•
Bile production: This acidic fluid digests fats and eliminates waste.
• Blood filtering: Toxic substances — such as alcohol and drugs — work by flowing through our cardiovascular system. The liver breaks them down so they don’t get out of control. • Blood clotting: Livers create vitamin K, a necessary substance in the blood clotting that protects cells from harm. These are but a few of over a hundred daily liver functions. This is an incredible, respectable organ and deserves a standing ovation for all its hard work. Bodies are fascinating. There’s no end to what you can discover. From the oddity of the eye to the power of the liver, every organ has a million mysteries. As science continues to advance, we’re likely to uncover a realm of new and fascinating facts about our bodies.
Pool Chemicals Pose Risks for Swimmers DIVE SAFE!
Pool chemicals such as chlorine and muriatic acid are essential in killing germs, preventing algae growth, and balancing the pH of the water. However, when these chemicals come into contact with the skin or other body tissues, they can cause coughing, choking, chest discomfort, and shortness of breath. High levels of exposure can lead to severe burns, and ingestion or inhalation risks lasting damage to the skin, lungs, and eyes. The longer the contact, the more severe the burns. One family received a $26 million settlement in a lawsuit over severe chemical burns suffered in 2020 by a 3-year-old child at a South Carolina resort. The parents didn’t immediately notice the chemical burns in the boy’s groin area, which eventually required hospitalization and extensive skin grafts. These injuries can occur on premises that public users consider safe. In 2018, 12 children enrolled in a California swim school were hospitalized for chlorine exposure after excess residue from a
chemical feeder was pumped into the pool. In another case, patrons of an upstate New York community pool suffered blisters, nausea, and vomiting after a 2018 power outage shut down some of the pool’s water flow systems. The system failed to restart correctly, allowing chlorine and acid to mix, generating toxic gas. Our law firm recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of our clients involving another hazard, “pool shock” — the addition of a large dose of chlorine to a pool quickly in response to an algae buildup or human contamination. Our clients sustained severe, permanent physical harm after hotel employees carelessly shocked a pool while they were swimming in it. If you or a loved one shows signs of chemical exposure after a swim, seek immediate medical treatment, take photographs, and document the injuries. Please contact us if you feel you may have a personal injury case, and we will be happy to work with you.
Families will be flocking to pools and water playgrounds to beat the heat this summer. As they dive in, few people will be thinking about the risk of injury from swimming pool chemicals. But the hazards are real. Pool chemical injuries led to more than 13,000 emergency room visits from 2015 to 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About one-third of the injured swimmers were children and teens under age 18.
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HISTORIC MISSOURIAN
Phoebe Couzins, a Trailblazer for Women’s Rights
Long before women won the vote, Missourian Phoebe Couzins became one of the nation’s first female lawyers and the first female U.S. marshal. Her story is a testament to Missouri women’s leading role in the suffrage movement and to the obstacles facing 19th century trailblazers for women’s rights. Born in 1842 to John E.D. Couzins, an architect and builder, and Adaline Couzins, a relief worker and women’s advocate, Phoebe at age 6 saw her parents leading relief efforts during a devastating St. Louis cholera epidemic. During the Civil War, her father worked with a group that tried to keep Missouri in the Union, while her mother served as a battlefield nurse. Encouraged by a family friend, John Krum, a lawyer, jurist, and mayor of St. Louis, Phoebe applied to the Washington University School of Law in 1869 and earned the votes of all 16 members on the admissions committee. Two years later, she graduated, passed the bar, and became one of the first female lawyers in the nation. In 19th century America, however, a more compelling mission called. Couzins practiced law for just two months before devoting herself to the women’s suffrage movement. In 1876, she delivered a historic speech to the Democratic National Convention in St. Louis, beseeching the party to make women’s
suffrage a part of their platform — to no avail. But in a sign of women’s growing presence in American politics, a large group of women gathered in the balcony to hear her speech.
Couzins soon attained another milestone by becoming the nation’s first female U.S. marshal. She had served for three years as a deputy to her father in that position. When her father died in 1887, President Grover Cleveland named her interim marshal — but replaced her two months later with a man. In keeping with Missourians’ tradition of independence in thought and action, Couzins’ ambitious temperament and outspoken views alienated some younger, more affluent leaders of the suffrage movement. Disenchanted, she worked for a time as a writer and lobbyist. Eventually, Couzins rejoined supporters of women’s right to vote. In poor health, she returned to St. Louis, where she died in 1913 — just seven years before the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote was ratified. Couzins was buried wearing her U.S. marshal’s badge. Her grave remained unmarked until 1950, when the Women’s Bar Association of St. Louis placed a headstone there memorializing her accomplishments.
YOUR REFERRALS MEAN THE WORLD TO US There is no greater compliment we can receive than a client telling a friend or loved one about us. If you know somebody who has been injured and needs an attorney who will fight on their behalf and give their case the attention it deserves, please pass along this newsletter and have them call us at 314-293-4222. Thank you for spreading the word about Finney Injury Law.
APPLY FOR THE FINNEY INJURY LAW SCHOLARSHIP!
Education is a key to success, but it can also be expensive. That’s why Finney Injury Law is proud to continue our scholarship program. This year, we’re awarding two (2) $10,000 college scholarships! About the Scholarship The Finney Injury Law Scholarship was established in 2020. It is open to high school seniors, current college students, and law students from historically underrepresented groups looking to pursue their educational dreams and establish a career in a legal profession.
You must be a resident of Missouri or Illinois, have a minimum 2.5 GPA, and be enrolled in an accredited college or university within the U.S. to apply. For more information about scholarship eligibility requirements and how to apply, scan the QR code or visit our website at FinneyInjuryLaw.com . All applications must be submitted via the website by July 1, 2024.
Practicing in Missouri and Illinois
12444 POWERSCOURT DR., SUITE 300 ST. LOUIS, MO 63131
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FINNEYINJURYLAW.COM // 314-293-4222
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
We Are Growing, so We Are Moving
2
Mind-Blowing Human Body Facts
2
Avoid Swimming Pool Perils From Chemical Misuse
3
The Rugged Journey of a Women’s Suffrage Pioneer
3
Apply for the Finney Injury Law Scholarship
4
We’ve Moved
Practicing in Missouri and Illinois
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