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SEPTEMBER2021
A Day I’ll Never Forget
REMEMBERING 9/11, 20 YEARS LATER
There are a lot of moments in law school that tend to blend together. Your job while you’re a law student is to study the law so proficiently that you become immersed in it. There are plenty of late nights and difficult assignments that are all a little hazy over the course of those three years.
For me, Sept. 11, 2001, is not one of those days.
I was in my second year of law school at the University of Memphis, and I remember everything about that day like it was yesterday. I woke up for class and was getting ready when I turned on the TV as I normally did. What I saw stopped me in my tracks. I get chills just thinking about it — even today. I couldn’t comprehend how the Twin Towers in New York City — and as I would later learn, the Pentagon and another plane crashed and landed in a Pennsylvania field — could be attacked in such a violent way. I was 24 years old at the time and fortunate enough to have never experienced anything quite so tragic beforehand. What happened next is burned into my memory and, in my mind, speaks to the totality of what happened. I drove down Poplar Avenue in Memphis on my way to class, and the street was eerily silent. Those I saw had the same grave look on their faces that I did, like we all felt the weight of it all. I liken it to an out-of-body experience. I knew I was there, but everything felt so numb and everything was in slow motion. Law classes that day went very differently. We all congregated around TVs and stared at the coverage from the scenes. I can’t remember if classes ever got canceled or not, but we all felt out of routine for some time after this day. Strangely, I never got scared that something like this could happen to us in Memphis. I felt grief and pain for those who couldn’t find their loved ones and the first responders who had to take on the painful task of rescuing or finding people. I just couldn’t believe something like this had happened, and looking back now 20 years later, it’s crazy to see all that has changed. For starters, air travel is completely different than it used to be.
In many ways, the pandemic — that we are trying to climb our way out of — is equally as momentous. It’s affected every part of our lives, from how we work and go to school to how we host and celebrate big events. It has tremendous repercussions for our future, but there has been one challenge that we can’t seem to overcome with the pandemic like we did after 9/11: finding unity. After 9/11, we rose up and healed together. Maybe this happened because we felt attacked by outside forces, but there is something about the way we all came together after this monumental tragedy. Unfortunately, we haven’t felt that with the pandemic. Everything feels divisive and political, instead of unifying and connected. My hope is that we can find some of that unity that we as Americans rallied around after 9/11; the sense of pride in being an American and that sense of resolve that we would not be held hostage by acts of terrorism. I hope we can one day look back and feel some pride in how we treated each other. Regardless of what happens, we still live in the best country in the world. And we deserve to come together.
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classes at the gym. It doesn’t matter what you do; what matters is that you do it. Stay active! While it’s a bummer that you can’t go trail running or biking, any exercise is better than none. And don’t wait to get started: Add that “winter workout” into your weekly routine now. Not only will it help make the transition a little easier when you can’t go for your morning run, but also, if you’re trying a new sport, activity, or exercise, it gives you a buffer in case you decide it’s not for you after all. Don’t let bad weather or fewer daylight hours be an excuse for less exercise. Your brain will thank you, and who knows? You might actually have fun too! GET A JUMP ON WINTER BLUES AND EXERCISE THROUGH THE FALL
Less sunlight can have a negative impact on your mental well-being, and as you head into the darker, chillier months, worsening weather and shorter days can make staying in shape more of a chore than a joy. But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. With a few tricks, you can thrive through the cold season. Finding ways to stay active while cooped up inside has never been easier. Thanks to the pandemic, online exercise courses, at-home workouts, and remote Zumba classes grew in popularity and are still going strong. If you embraced these for your summer workouts to avoid the heat, you can continue that routine this fall and winter and keep up your exercise, mixing it up if one course gets stale.
Similarly, winter provides a great time to focus on a new type of fitness goal, like building muscle in an indoor facility or taking martial arts
A Civil Law Case Who’s Who
UNDERSTANDING EVERYONE’S ROLES IN A CIVIL LAW CASE
For most people, a courtroom is an intimidating place to enter. Some lawyers even feel this way after years of practicing law or having experienced multiple trials, but someone’s first time in a courtroom can certainly be nerve-wracking. To help calm your nerves and prepare you for your first or 50th trip to the courtroom, it is helpful to understand everyone’s role in a civil law trial. The Parties Every civil lawsuit involves at least two parties. The plaintiff is the party responsible for bringing the case to trial by filing a complaint and a summons. Since the plaintiff is bringing the case to trial, the burden of proof falls to them. On the other side, the defendant is the party that the plaintiff is bringing to court in an effort to achieve civil relief. Defendants are responsible for defending their case by filing an answer to the plaintiff’s complaint. Attorneys In most civil law cases, the defendant and the plaintiff will both be represented by attorneys. The attorneys are responsible for making their cases on behalf of their clients. It’s important to trust your attorney after you’ve hired them. They will advise you through any confusing and frustrating legal situations you may find yourself in. Witnesses Witnesses play an important role in any legal proceeding since they can verify the facts of a case or authenticate evidence. Witness accounts are oftentimes scrutinized by lawyers, as their rendition or perception of the facts of a case might not always be accurate.
Law enforcement and first responders can also be vital to a civil case, depending on the situation. For example, if you got into an accident and the police arrived, they can provide testimonies and an account of what happened. If you’re injured, EMT and medical staff can verify your injuries to help provide proof for the case. Judge and Jury If your case makes it to trial, it will be decided by a judge or a jury. These “finders of fact” take in all of the evidence and accounts to make a definitive decision about a case in the form of a ruling. If it’s a bench trial, the judge, as the ultimate finder of fact, decides who will prevail in a case and, if appropriate, how much money in damages should be awarded to a plaintiff. If it’s a jury trial, the jury acts as the finder of fact and will decide the outcome of a case. Juries rely on instructions on the law by the presiding judge in making their determination.
Please visit DouglassRunger.com if you have further questions about your case or other legal needs.
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Necessary Motorist Coverage:
Watermelon Jicama Salad With Jalapeño and Lime
UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED
What happens when you’re in a car accident with someone who doesn’t have car insurance or runs from the scene of the accident? Normally, this type of accident could cost you a lot of money, but you can save yourself from the financial hit with uninsured (UM) and underinsured (UIM) motorist coverage in your insurance plan. But what exactly does this coverage do? UM/UIM coverage helps protect you in the event that you are hit by a driver whose insurance coverage is insufficient to cover all of your injuries or property damage, or if the individual who caused the wreck does not have insurance at all. This coverage is extremely beneficial since it helps cover medical bills, lost wages, and any other costs associated with pain and suffering. Unfortunately, many Tennesseeans decline this coverage when it is offered to them by their insurance companies, which is a big mistake. As a general rule, you should never opt out of or decline UM/UIM coverage. In most cases, the additional cost to add UM/UIM coverage to your policy is negligible. Your insurance company is required to offer it to you, but some insurance agents (although not good insurance agents) may trivialize the importance of the coverage in order to bring your cost down on your annual premiums. Saving a few dollars now could cost you thousands down the road and in the worst of cases, financial ruin, in the event you are injured by an at-fault, uninsured motorist and don’t have UM/UIM coverage to cover any of your medical bills. In that situation, simply put, you’re out of luck and will be solely and individually responsible for all your medical bills. Tennessee law mandates that individuals maintain liability automobile insurance coverage in the amount of $25,000.00 per person with $50,000.00 aggregate coverage. As a practical matter, this coverage is “barebones” coverage and the total amount that this “barebones” policy covers would be up to $25,000.00 per person for bodily injuries sustained in a wreck, but if there are multiple individuals injured in the wreck, the insurance coverage would be capped at paying out $50,000.00 for all injured parties. You need to keep this information in mind when establishing or renewing your automobile insurance, not only for your benefit, but also for the benefit of other passengers who travel with you. Hospital stays are expensive and sometimes the barebones liability coverage is not enough to cover your hospital stay after an accident, and you are responsible for any remaining cost. In situations where an underinsured motorist with minimum liability coverage causes a wreck, your UM/UIM insurance could kick in and would help take care of costs in excess of $25,000.00. At Douglass & Runger, we see this scenario often with our car wreck clients, and it never gets easier. Unfortunately, these situations can put an innocent individual on the fast track to bankruptcy. We are pleased to answer any questions you may have if you or someone you know has been injured in an accident that was not their fault. And as always, if you have further legal needs, please visit DouglassRunger.com.
Inspired by BonAppetit.com
This late-summer salad hits every flavor note and is a great way to get acquainted with jicama, a root vegetable native to Mexico that you’ve probably passed numerous times in the produce section! It’s easy to prepare (just peel and eat) and has the crispness of an apple and the satisfying starch of potato.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 3-lb seedless watermelon • 1 small jicama • 1 jalapeño pepper, thinly sliced • 1 scallion, thinly sliced • 1/2 cup cilantro, coarsely chopped
• 3 tbsp fresh lime juice • Kosher salt, to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. Prepare the watermelon by removing the rind and cutting the melon into 2 1/2-by-1/2-inch sticks. 2. Peel the jicama with a vegetable peeler, then cut it into sticks the same size as the watermelon. 3. In a large bowl, combine the watermelon and jicama with jalapeño, scallion, cilantro, and lime. Sprinkle with kosher salt, toss gently to combine, taste, and adjust seasoning. INSPIRATION “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.” –Lao-Tze
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2820 Summer Oaks Drive Bartlett, TN 38134 901-388-5805 www.DouglassRunger.com
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1 Remembering 9/11 on 20th Anniversary 2 Get a Jump on Winter Blues With Fall Exercise A Civil Law Case Who’s Who 3 Necessary Motorist Coverage Late Summer Watermelon Jicama Salad 4 The Night That Changed Football Forever Inside This Issue
The Night That Changed Football Forever HOW FANTASY FOOTBALL GOT ITS START
CBS Sports began offering online fantasy football leagues in 1997, and today it’s even easier to play. The sport is built right into the NFL website (Fantasy.NFL.com), and you can join a free league or start a league of your own with a click! Whether you’re a former player or a superfan who wants to play coach for a day, fantasy is a great way to stake a personal claim in the sport and connect with friends while you do it.
“The league members would ‘draft’ actual National Football League (NFL) and American Football League … players to their fantasy franchises, and on the basis of the actual performance of those players in games, the members would accrue points and compete against each other,” the encyclopedia reports.
Every year, 40 million Americans (and even entire offices) play fantasy football, “drafting” players from across the NFL for their virtual teams and competing for money and bragging rights. Maybe you have a virtual team in the locker room as you’re reading this! But where did the concept of fantasy football start? According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the gridiron trend began in a New York City hotel room in 1962 — a night that changed football forever. There, a group of friends led by Oakland Raiders part-owner Bill Winkenbach created the first fantasy football league. They dubbed it the Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League — or GOPPPL for short. Apart from the point values assigned to different accomplishments on the field, their original model wasn’t very far off from the fantasy football of today.
Early fantasy football leagues were complicated undertakings. In the days before the internet,
Check out the article “How to Play Fantasy Football: A
members had to agree to reference the box scores in a particular newspaper’s sports pages and “draft” their teams in the same room on long phone calls, or even via snail mail.
Beginner’s Guide” on NFL.com to learn the basics. It’s updated annually, so make sure you hunt down the 2021 version! When you start, don’t forget to salute Winkenbach, the official “Father of Fantasy Sports.”
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