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THE LEGAL NAVIGATOR JANUARY 2022
FROM THE DESK OF Mike Bryan
Happy New Year!
If you haven’t already, start 2022 strong by reading a copy of my book, “Estate, Medicaid and VA Benefits Planning — An Ohio Guide.” In this book, I tackle serious concerns Ohio residents have: • How can I protect my assets from being spent down to qualify for Medicaid?
5 Ways to Get Active With Your Pet Fit and Furry
Is 2022 the year you’ve sworn (again) to improve your workout routine? It can be tough to think of more enjoyable ways to get outside or exercise. But one of the best ways to stay active is to have a workout buddy — and they can even be small and furry! Here are some tips to help you stay active with your pet. No. 1: Take a walk. Not all cats are eager to have human-led outdoor adventures (although some are!) — however, dogs love being with humans wherever they go. Whether you’re walking through your neighborhood, a city park, or a wilderness trail, you’ll find all kinds of places that are ideal for you and your pet. Don’t be afraid of starting slow. A 5–10-minute walk from home might be more realistic if your pet is overweight or out of shape. Building up gradually to longer walks can keep you and your pet healthy and minimize certain risks. If your pet likes to lounge on the couch, warming up to exercise is important, or they could also risk exhaustion, heatstroke (or frostbite in cold temperatures), and/or injury. Consider dressing your pet appropriately for the weather if it’s too cold, such as helping them don a sweater or a coat. If it’s too hot, avoid longer walks. Non-slip booties can be useful for cold or hot weather as well! If you take your cat for walks outdoors, make sure your cat has a well-fitted harness. As extremely flexible creatures, they can slip out of them rather easily, and you wouldn’t want your pet to get lost. No. 2: Relax and do ‘doga.’ If your dog can’t handle strenuous exercise, give doga (dog yoga) a try! As a yoga practice that you and your furry best friend can attend, you’ll
• How can I protect my savings from
being spent on unnecessary probate or guardianship proceedings?
• How can I qualify for $14,000–$27,000 in tax free income from the VA to help pay for home health care, assisted living, or nursing home care? This is a great resource for folks when they are trying to understand the very complicated process of estate, Medicaid, and VA benefits planning. I have a link available on our website to request a copy: SWBWLawFirm.com/ estate-medicaid-and-va-planning-an-ohio-guide . By completing the form on our website, you will automatically receive an e-book version. If we have hard copies in stock, we’ll mail that to you as well.
If you have any questions at all, feel free to reach out to our office at (740) 452-8484.
Have a great month!
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focus on gentle stretching together, plus massages or meditation. This is an especially good option for senior dogs!
another day. Dogs may bring the toy back, but teaching them to “drop” might be something to work on to keep the game going.
No. 3: Swim to refresh your mind and body. If you have a pool at home (or one nearby that allows dogs), swimming is a popular low-impact activity that’ll keep you and your pup in great shape for years to come. Despite popular belief, however, not all dogs know how to swim. You’ll want to be gentle with your dog if you’re not certain that they enjoy the water. No. 4: Play hide-and-seek, chase, or catch. It’s not hard to teach your pets how to play hide-and-seek, although it will take time and patience. First, try hiding and calling out your pet’s name before encouraging them to find you. When they do, offer them plenty of praise and treats. They’ll catch on and enjoy looking for you! Hide-and-seek is popular with dogs! However, cats can love it, too. A good second game is simply chasing. Try walking or jogging around the house with a string toy, encouraging your cat to chase after you. Catch is also a possibility with either cats or dogs. Just remember that cats are less likely to bring back the toy you toss. They’ll probably continue playing with it or leave it alone to be “hunted”
No. 5: Try tug of war. Dogs adore a good game of tug of war, a raw test of strength! It’s a great form of resistance training that your pup won’t get enough of. Find an old sock or even some rope to get them interested. Pet stores often sell rope toys specifically designed for tug of war as well.
I hope these suggestions will help you and your furry friend stay in shape! Be healthy out there, friends.
Give Your Bones a Boost How PT Can Help With Osteoporosis
Approximately 55% of the population over 50 will be affected by osteoporosis, which thins and weakens the bones. In the U.S. alone, the condition is responsible for about 1.5 million fractures per year. You may not think exercise can help with bone loss, but prepare to be surprised. A comprehensive physical therapy plan can not only promote bone growth but also improve balance and posture, which lowers the risk of falling or sustaining fractures.
height, pain between the shoulder blades, or pain above the pelvis. But frequently, the first indication of a problem is when a bone breaks during normal activity, such as receiving a hug or stepping off a curb.
A physical therapist’s treatment of osteoporosis depends on each patient’s unique situation. Just like muscles become stronger from exercise, so do bones. Most physical therapy regimens will involve specific exercises to help build bone mass. To avoid falling or injury, physical therapists will also work with patients to improve balance, correct posture, and adapt to daily activities while protecting their bone health. If the bone is still fractured, a physical therapist can also help relieve pain without medication through positioning and other techniques.
Bone is living tissue. Just as with other parts of our bodies, cells are constantly dying and being replaced. With osteoporosis, not enough new bone is created to make up for the bone lost, so it becomes weak and brittle. Women and older people are especially prone to osteoporosis, but an inactive lifestyle, smoking, excessive alcohol, or low weight can also contribute to development of the condition.
Often, people with osteoporosis don’t experience symptoms. That sounds like a good thing, but unfortunately, it results in the condition not being diagnosed until after a broken or fractured bone. Telltale signs of the condition include a loss of
If you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis, contact a physical therapist today to help regain your strength and quality of life. A customized physical therapy plan can help you get back to safely doing the things you love — no bones about it.
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How Much Are Your Favorite Pants Worth? ONE MAN ESTIMATED HIS AT $54 MILLION
Everyone knows that the perfect pair of pants can be hard to come by, but are they worth $54 million? Administrative Judge Roy L. Pearson had a favorite pair of pants, but in 2007, he claimed that Custom Cleaners lost them and returned a completely different pair instead. It all began when Pearson took his pants to the Washington, D.C., dry cleaners for alterations worth $10.50. The pants were sent in error to the incorrect dry cleaner, so Pearson’s pickup was delayed by several days. Once the pants were returned, despite bearing all the correct tags and matching his receipt, Pearson declared that the pants were not his. When the dry cleaner refused his demand for $1,000 compensation, he decided it was time for legal action. Pearson originally sued the cleaner’s owners, Soo Chung, Jin Nam Chung, and Ki Y. Chung, for a whopping $67 million in damages but later reduced the claim to a far more reasonable $54 million. In his suit, Pearson requested $3 million for mental distress, $90,000 for a rental car to visit another dry Take a Break!
cleaner, and $500,000 in attorney’s fees (Pearson represented himself). At the heart of his claim, though, was the company’s failure to live up to their “Satisfaction Guaranteed” and “Same Day Service” signs in the window. The media had a field day, joking about the case as a “pantsuit” and inspiring a “Law & Order” episode called “Bottomless.” Pearson seemed to relish the spectacle, calling his lawsuit “an awesome responsibility” in court and breaking down into tears on the stand. He also called a witness who compared the Chungs to Nazis. Even though the Chungs offered him a $12,000 settlement to make the case go away, Pearson persevered.
He ultimately lost his case. At the end of the trial, the judge declared that no reasonable person would consider the signs at Custom Cleaners to be an unconditional promise — and also that Pearson had failed to prove the returned pants weren’t his. The Chungs ultimately recovered their court costs via a fundraiser, and Pearson lost his judicial appointment. Unsurprisingly, this prompted another lawsuit, which he also lost. In 2020, Pearson was suspended from practicing law for 90 days as a result of his actions in Pearson v. Chung . But for bringing new meaning to the phase “I’ll sue the pants off of you,” his place in legal history is secure.
Inspired by MennoniteGirlsCanCook.ca Deep-Fried New Year’s ‘Cookies’
Ingredients
• 2 tbsp yeast • 1/2 cup water, warmed • 1/2 cup and 1 tsp sugar, divided • 5 eggs, beaten • 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 1/2 cups milk, warmed • 1 1/2 tsp salt • 4 cups raisins • 7 cups flour • 4 cups canola oil
Directions
1. In a large bowl, combine yeast, water, and 1 tsp sugar. Wait 10 minutes. 2. Stir in remaining sugar, eggs, butter, milk, and salt. 3. Fold in the raisins and flour. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise for an hour. 4. In a high-sided pot or deep fryer, heat canola oil to 340 F. Line a plate with paper towels. 5. Drop a rounded tablespoon of dough into the oil. Fry until golden brown, then set aside on the plate. Poke the cookie with a toothpick. If the toothpick comes out clean, it’s cooked through! 6. Repeat until the batter is gone.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Mike Bryan PAGE 1 Want to Get Active? Try Working Out With Your Pet PAGE 1 Treat Osteoporosis Through Physical Therapy PAGE 2 The Case of the $54 Million Pants PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Deep-Fried New Year’s ‘Cookies’ PAGE 3 Why Do Your Ears Pop on Flights? PAGE 4 SOLUT I ON
When it comes to flying on an airplane, you can avoid cramped legs by upgrading to first class or catch a view by picking the window seat. However, there’s no getting around your ears popping during takeoff and landing. Believe it or not, there is a scientific explanation behind this common annoyance. As you read this, you’re likely not on an airplane, and the air pressure on either side of your eardrums is equal. Air is currently passing right on through your eustachian tube, a narrow passage that leads from your middle ear cavity to your pharynx and allows for pressure to be equalized on each side of your eardrums. When you’re in flight on an airplane, air pressure is not equal. During both ascent and descent, your eardrums stretch to try to adapt to the changes. In order to equalize the pressure, your eustachian tube needs to open and close. When it does, your ears pop! Usually, the ear popping is irritating but nothing more. However, in rare cases, the pressure can lead to ear pain and even loss in hearing, especially if your ears don’t pop. AIRPLANE EARS The Science Behind Your Ears Popping on Flights
In this case, you may need to make an effort to get your eustachian tube to open by yawning, talking, or swallowing. Sucking on a piece of candy, swallowing some water, or chewing gum may also help! One of the best things you can do is make sure you are not sleeping as the airplane takes off or lands because your eustachian tube isn’t able to open and close normally. If you commonly struggle with congestion or sore ears on flights, taking a nasal decongestant before you board may ensure that your eustachian tube is not blocked. If your hearing and ears do not return to normal shortly after the flight, be sure to schedule an appointment to see your health care professional as soon as possible.
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