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THE SLG ADVISOR
MAY 2023
VIPs! We appreciate their support and always remember those who recognize our team members. But here’s the thing — I’ve realized it’s just as important to give recognition as it is to receive it. So, when I’m out and about and experience excellent service, I make a point to let the manager or supervisor know. For instance, when my wife and I have a fantastic server at a restaurant, we make sure to tell their boss. Or, recently, when I was impressed with how clean and well-maintained my (previously ratty) gym was, I wrote a review and mentioned the new manager by name. When our law firm banking rep was super responsive and helpful during a recent mishap, I emailed his senior vice president. And, when my mechanic did a great job repairing my truck and fought to ensure it was covered under warranty, I let the dealership owner know about it. WANT TO IMPROVE SOMEONE ELSE’S DAY? The Art of Recognition
There’s nothing better than being acknowledged for performing exemplary work. Many of us have received recognition from our employers, coworkers, clients, customers, and friends for putting in effort and producing positive results. When we are recognized, we know we’re doing what we’re supposed to and helping others along the way. It makes us feel good about our work and ourselves and helps bring out the best in each of us. At Spada Law, I’m all about asking our clients to give us Google reviews regularly. It’s important to us for two reasons. First, we need to know how we’re doing to keep improving our services. And second, we want others who’ve been in an accident to know we’re the real deal. That’s why we need authentic reviews from our clients. Now, when we get a great review (which is almost always the case), we feel like we’re on top of the world. And the clients who took the time to give us a shoutout? They become our
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The Hidden Dangers of Lithium Batteries From Convenience to Catastrophe Earlier this year, an intense fire broke out in the Bronx that injured seven people and required the expertise of over 200 firefighters. After the investigation concluded, experts estimated that the cause of the fire was the lithium-ion battery of an electric scooter. Similar
Are You Throwing a G Graduation season is upon us, and many recent graduates will celebrate the occasion by throwing a party. If your child wants to host a party, it’s vital that you set some ground rules. Ensure they know the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and no matter what, do not supply the alcohol, even if everyone is staying the night and promises to be safe. If you do provide alcohol, you could find yourself in violation of Massachusetts’ Social Host Law. The law states that whoever knowingly or intentionally supplies, gives, provides access to, or allows minors to drink on their property shall be punished by a fine of up to $2,000,
fires occurred in residential homes across the country in the weeks around this event. Firefighters traced each fire back to the lithium or lithium-ion battery of an electric bike or scooter. Lithium batteries are becoming more prevalent in our society, making many question whether these incidents will happen more often.
imprisonment for up to a year, or both. It’s not worth the risk. Below, you will find a few common questions asked about Massachusetts’ Social Host Law.
Am I breaking the law if I allow my child’s underage guests to consume alcohol in my home?
Yes. It is against the law to serve or allow anyone under the age of 21 to drink alcohol in your home or any other property you own. You may face criminal charges for breaking this law.
Many of the devices we use every day are powered by lithium batteries. Your cellphone, headphones, laptops, video game controllers, smoke detectors, electric toothbrushes, and handheld power tools are just a few examples of items that use lithium batteries. Having these items within your home does not necessarily mean you’ll have a fire, but it does mean you need to keep a watchful eye on these devices and electronics. One thing you should watch for is an inflated battery. It doesn’t matter if it’s your e-bike, smartphone, or any other electronic; a bulging battery is bad news. This can occur when a battery spends too much time near extreme heat, is overcharged consistently, or an issue exists with the battery or charger. If you notice your iPhone is coming apart at the seams or your e-bike battery is puffy, see an expert to have your battery replaced. Whatever you do, do not throw an item with a lithium battery in the garbage, regardless of its condition. These batteries are subject to combustion, and when they catch fire, the fire spreads very quickly. You don’t want to risk injuring someone or catching your neighborhood garbage truck on fire. Instead, you should take them to a battery collection site. Depending on your location, that may be a recycling center, collection event, or even Best Buy. Do some research about where to take these items before disposing of them. Lithium batteries can be safe when they receive proper care and attention. Store your devices in a cool, dry location and watch for the warning signs of a bad battery.
Review of the Month
“I contacted Spada Law Group after my daughter was involved in a serious accident. Len and Robyn could not have been more helpful. From beginning to end, they were informative, quick to respond to any and all questions, and very sensitive with my daughter regarding her injuries. They were always available to help with anything we needed. Would highly recommend.” –Beth M.
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Graduation Party? DON’T BREAK THE SOCIAL HOST LAW!
Can I be sued if my child or an underage guest at my home drinks alcohol and injures someone? Yes. You may be financially responsible if your child or an underage guest injures someone else while intoxicated if you supplied, served, or made alcohol available to those who are underage. The injured individual could file a lawsuit that would leave you financially unstable for the foreseeable future. Does the Social Host Law apply if I rent a hotel room for my son or daughter’s party? Yes. In this situation, you are in control of the room, which means the Social Host Law applies.
Will my homeowner’s policy cover the costs of litigation and any judgment against my child or me? It depends on your coverage and unique situation. Most insurance coverages will not cover anything related to criminal charges, so if you or your child injure someone while driving under the influence, you’ll likely be paying from your own pocket. Breaking the Social Host Law can have extreme consequences for you and your child. They may lose acceptance into their college of choice or even face jail time. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
INGREDIENTS • 12 oz small cauliflower florets • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1/4 tsp plus pinch of salt • 2 avocados, halved, pitted, and peeled • Juice from 1 lemon • 4 flatbreads or pocketless pitas, toasted • 1/2 cup chickpea nuts • 2 tbsp salted, roasted pepitas • Hot sauce for serving DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 425 F. 2. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss together cauliflower, olive oil, and 1/4 tsp of salt. Roast for 25 minutes or until tender and browned. 3. In a small bowl, mash avocados with lemon juice and a pinch of salt. 4. Spread the avocado mash over flatbreads. Top with roasted cauliflower, chickpea nuts, and pepitas. 5. Serve with hot sauce. Enjoy! BBQ Chickpea and Cauliflower Flatbreads With Avocado Mash Inspired by “Men’s Health Plant-Based Eating” Since I started eating healthier, I’ve tried many new recipes that have blown me away. One of my favorites has become this recipe for a delicious BBQ chickpea and cauliflower flatbread. Let me know what you think after giving this recipe a try.
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By recognizing those who deserve it, we not only make them feel great, but we also benefit. They’ll surely remember us in the future and will provide us with exceptional service. For example, when my truck needs repairs, “my guy” goes out of his way to fit me in and never lets anyone else work on the truck. And when we have business banking problems, we call our private banker on his cell, and he gets things sorted out for us super fast. Recognizing people publicly makes them feel like VIPs, which is always a good thing. They’ll often spare time to care for us because they know their work and efforts are appreciated. And, to be clear, I never leave negative reviews. Life’s too short for that kind of negativity. Instead, we prefer to focus on the good and recognize it. By doing that, we’re making the world a better place, one positive review at a time!
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617.889.5000 | SPADALAWGROUP.COM
111 Everett Ave., #1F Chelsea, MA 02150 INSIDE The Importance of Recognizing Others
Are Lithium Batteries Safe?
Understanding Massachusetts’ Social Host Law
Testimonial
BBQ Chickpea and Cauliflower Flatbreads With Avocado Mash
The Mysteriously Missing Metric System
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Pirates Stole Our Metric System WHY AMERICA NEVER CHANGED TO KILOS AND GRAM
would have eased us into the metric system. Except, we never received them. In fact, Dombey never set foot in America. Unfortunately, storm winds blew his ship off course and into the pirate-filled Caribbean. The pirates hijacked his boat and held him captive, hoping to use him for ransom. In a tragic turn of events, Dombey died in that pirate prison before any ransom money could be sent. The pirates then auctioned off everything Dombey had on his boat, metric measuring tools included. So, you can thank the pirates for all the painstaking work we have to go through when using metric-based recipes. Why Americans never swapped systems after 1789 is still a mystery!
Pirates, that’s right, pirates stopped America from changing to the metric system. While they can’t take all the blame, they steal a good chunk of it. There was a specific time in history when America did consider taking up the metric system. But pirates intercepted the standards, and America has refused to change its measuring system ever since. Way back when America was still a new country, there was no regulated measuring system throughout the states. Each territory was using some bizarre system that stayed only within state lines. For example, people were using Roman measurements, Dutch systems, and British systems dating back to King Henry VII. In 1789, Thomas Jefferson decided that some order needed to be in place. A
lover of all things French, Jefferson admired the metric system’s logic and principle. He asked the French to help the U.S. transition to the metric system, and they were kind enough to send scientist Joseph Dombey. Dombey boarded a ship and set sail for America with
two items pivotal to our measuring system change. The first gadget was a copper cylinder 3 inches in height and width, weighing precisely 1 kilogram. The second was another
copper object, but this time a rod estimated to be a meter in length. These simple trinkets
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