Please enjoy the latest edition of our Newsletter!
BLACK & D E PAOLI, PC THE LAW OFFICE OF Be Heard
MAY 2020
916.962.2896 | BDLAWTEAM.COM
STICKING TOGETHER THROUGH THE PANDEMIC
THE POWER OF RELYING ON FAMILY AND PARTNERSHIPS
One of the most terrifying things that can happen in this pandemic is one of your family members testing positive for the coronavirus. I felt that fear and hopelessness back in March when I got the call from my son, Kent. Both he and his wife had the virus. There was nothing I could do for them. Even if I could have flown to Denver, I wouldn’t have been able to see them or take care of them. I remember telling them that they needed to go to the hospital, but when Kent contacted their doctor, he was told that the hospital would just send them home. They were told to treat it like the flu and take a lot of electrolytes, which helped them a lot. When the virus actually hit them, though, they were both very, very sick. The fever really knocked them down — between 101–103 degrees F for a week and a half.
while it took them a while to get back to 100%, they’re doing much better. I am very thankful for that. The coronavirus has impacted our lives in a lot of ways these past few months, and we’ve all had to make some pretty significant changes, whether going through the same experience I did with my family or having to adapt to working from home, which is also something my team and I have done. I truly believe that my family, staff, partner, and paralegals have responded to this pandemic in the best possible way to keep things moving forward as smoothly as possible. Change is something we’ve all experienced in one way or another, even before this pandemic. About 15 years ago, I noticed that a few law practices were going paperless. We’d always worked off paper files, and some
would take, but once we did, it opened up so many possibilities.
When the coronavirus hit us, we were already able to work remotely. All we had to do was make sure everyone was set up with a home computer or laptop, and we even sent our IT guy to their houses so they could connect to our office database. Because we went paperless so many years ago, we’re still up and running, and it hasn’t slowed us down at all. Once we’ve made it to the other side of this pandemic, we’ll have to make even more changes, but they’ll all be for the better. As for me, I’m looking forward to traveling and spending time with my kids again. –Travis G. Black
“The coronavirus has impacted our lives in a lot of ways these past few months, and we’ve all had to make some pretty significant changes,”
Now, Kent is a pretty strong guy, but he told me there were a few times when he couldn’t even get out of bed. Despite how sick they were, they never reached a point when they were considered to be in critical condition. Their doctor told them that at the first sign of difficulty breathing, they had to immediately go to the hospital because that is when things get serious. Luckily, it never got that bad. Both their fevers broke, and
cases had stacks of thousands of papers 4 or 5 feet high. We’d have to break them up into different folders and files just to stay organized. When I saw all these firms going paperless, I thought that was a great idea and — to the dismay of some of my staff who liked working with paper — I announced that we were going to go paperless. It took us a couple years to get things really dialed in, which was a lot longer than we thought it
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THE $60,000 HEIST YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF
CRIMELESS THEFT IN CYBERSPACE
In 2017, sometime between Sept. 11 and 12, a total of $60,000 worth of digital assets were stolen from people around the world. The conspirators didn’t hide their identities, and they faced no criminal charges. As it turns out, there are no laws against stealing spaceships in a video game — even if they’re worth thousands of real-world dollars. EVE Online is a massively multiplayer online game (MMO) that was launched in 2003, and it was on this game that the theft occurred. This science-fiction game is all about spacefaring, but one notable feature of the game is that it allows players to purchase in-game assets with real money. This attracts players who can spend large sums on the game, with some of the game’s largest spaceships costing $9,000. But one thing to note in EVE Online is that no matter
how much you pay, once you lose an asset, it’s gone forever.
called Gigx, and a rival faction was able to capitalize on this internal conflict. During an in-person EVE Online summit held in Iceland, representatives from The GoonSwarm Federation convinced The Judge to leave CO2 and commit the single largest robbery in gaming history on his way out. In the real world, The Judge’s actions were completely legal — currently, international law doesn’t treat such virtual objects as personal property. But this perception may be changing. As in-game purchases become more widespread in video games, legal lines have blurred, causing an increasing number of lawmakers to rethink what constitutes “ownership” in the digital age. But, for now at least, it seems like a good time to be a space pirate.
Because of the risk-reward nature of the game, many players unite in huge factions for safety and to pool their resources. One of these groups, Circle of Two or CO2, was the target of the 2017 attack. Within a matter of hours, CO2’s bank accounts were drained and the space stations holding their fleets of ships were sold to their enemies. It was clear from the beginning: This was an inside job. The thief was CO2’s own head diplomat, a player called “The Judge.” For years he’d worked his way through the alliance’s ranks, only to use the access he eventually gained to rob it blind. But greed may not have been his only motivation. He’d had public disagreements with CO2’s leader
GET THE MEDICAL TREATMENT YOU NEED FOR THE INJURIES YOU HAVE
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
damaged. These types of injuries can take many forms. Whiplash is an injury normally occurring in the neck and back when the muscles, ligaments, and tendons are stretched and torn due to a sudden, jolting movement that results from a collision. A severe collision impact can cause a closed head injury, such as a concussion or brain injury. In this situation, the fluid and tissue inside the skull are damaged due to sudden movement of the head. CONTINUE TREATMENT UNTIL YOU’RE TOLD TO STOP. After a car accident, if your doctor diagnoses an injury and begins treatment, it’s in your best interest to continue the course of treatment until your doctor releases you. Your doctor’s records of your visits are the best way to document and verify the nature and extent of your injuries, as well as the course and duration of your treatment. This verification is essential if you make a car accident injury claim. Medical treatment and medical bills are two of the main components of your injury claim. If you don’t have a doctor or medical insurance, our attorneys at The Law Office of Black & DePaoli can help you find any kind of treatment you will need. We can arrange for the billing to be put on a lien, which means it does not have to be paid until your case is settled. Call 916.962.2896 to speak to one of our attorneys today.
Administration, more than 3 million people are injured each year in car crashes across the
country. If you are seriously injured in a car crash, emergency services will probably come to the scene and take you to the closest hospital, where you will be examined and treated. But what about a less severe crash when there is no immediate pain? WHENEVER YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS, SEE YOUR DOCTOR. A lot of personal injury attorneys have stories about clients coming into their offices saying they felt no pain at the scene of their accident or later the same day. But the following morning, they woke up feeling like they had been run over by a truck. This is perfectly normal. However, if you feel any pain, you need to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
One of the most common types of injury is a soft tissue injury, when the body’s connective tissues — muscles, ligaments, and tendons — are
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LET YOUR KIDS CHAT WITH FRIENDS.
HOW TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHILE FOLLOWING SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are encouraging communities across the U.S. to practice social distancing. While this will help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, it also means that social interactions will be minimal. In addition to impeding many industries and businesses, this has significant impacts on families and friends who can no longer visit each other in person. Luckily, the technology we have today allows us to stay in touch while still practicing social responsibility. SPRUCE UP EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES. Hopping on the phone or your laptop to video chat is a great way to reach out and catch up with loved ones. While folding laundry or doing other mundane chores, give a friend or your parents a call to idly chat; it can make your tedious tasks much more enjoyable. Video calls are also beneficial if, for example, you’re missing out on your daily workouts with a friend. Hop on a video chat to practice yoga, cardio, or other simple exercise routines together.
Kids can benefit from video chatting by staying in touch with their friends while school and other activities are canceled. Letting your kids connect to social media is a pretty big step, so consider signing them
up for Yoursphere or Kidzworld, kid-friendly networks that let them keep in touch with their friends while you can monitor their activity. Get in touch with other parents to set up virtual play dates over video chats for your kids. They can even watch a movie or TV show together. HOST A MOVIE NIGHT. Speaking of movies, Netflix developed a unique way for people to watch movies and shows together: Netflix Party. If you have a desktop or laptop with a Chrome browser, visit NetflixParty.com to download the application. Once downloaded, open the movie or TV series you’d like to watch, create or join a “party,” then relax and enjoy the show while chatting with friends. These are only a few examples of how we can stay in touch during these concerning times. Talk with your family and friends and see what other creative ideas you can come up with together. Even though you may be apart from loved ones right now, virtual communication has never been easier or more plentiful.
BE INSPIRED
SPRINGTIME CACIO E PEPE
Nothing is more comforting than a big bowl of cacio e pepe, which is Italian for cheese and pepper. This dish combines a wholesome flavor profile with fresh, seasonal ingredients to satisfy any craving.
“COURAGE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL THE VIRTUES BECAUSE WITHOUT COURAGE, YOU CAN’T PRACTICE ANY OTHER VIRTUE CONSISTENTLY.” –MAYA ANGELOU
INGREDIENTS • 6 oz multigrain spaghetti • 8 oz fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 tsp lemon zest • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated • 1/2 tsp black pepper • 1 cup baby arugula
DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 425 F.
2. In a large pot, cook spaghetti until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of water before draining and put spaghetti in a covered pot to keep warm. 3. Line a 15x10-inch baking pan with foil and toss in asparagus and olive oil. 4. Cook asparagus for 5–7 minutes and sprinkle with lemon zest. 5. Add 3/4 cup of the reserved water, Parmesan cheese, and pepper to the spaghetti. Stir until creamy. 6. Toss in asparagus and arugula before serving.
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Inspired by Eating Well
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BLACK & D E PAOLI, PC THE LAW OFFICE OF Be Heard
1839 Iron Point Rd. #160, Folsom, CA 95630 Phone: 916.962.2896 bdlawteam.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Making It Through the Pandemic PAGE 1 A $60,000 Robbery With No Jail Time PAGE 2 When You’re Injured in an Accident … PAGE 2 Technology Saves the Day PAGE 3 Springtime Cacio e Pepe PAGE 3 How to Help Your Epiphytes Thrive PAGE 4
ALL ABOUT EPIPHYTES HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR ORCHIDS, AIR PLANTS, AND FERNS
Perched high in the trees in the rainforest, epiphytes reach for the drops of water that splash down from above. The plants take what they need and let the rest drip down to the forest floor.
botanical garden in a warmer, humid environment like Florida, that tag-along plant is an epiphyte.
Because they are unique, your epiphyte houseplant needs specific care to thrive. Submerge the leaves of smaller air plants in a shallow bowl of water once a week for an hour (times may vary depending on your area’s humidity). Then, remove the plant from the water and let it dry upside down to remove excess moisture. If you choose to house your orchid or staghorn fern in a pot, use a soil specifically made for them and add some sphagnum moss to keep the roots aerated. Mist your plant every couple days and provide the leaves with a more thorough watering once a week to achieve the level of moisture they would receive in the rainforest while allowing the roots to breathe. You can also mount your epiphyte on a wood panel, as some orchid collectors do. True enthusiasts are very careful to match the wood with the type of tree the plant would grow on in the natural world, but driftwood, cork, and large pieces of bark work well too.
While these organisms originated in the wild, epiphytes like orchids, air plants, and staghorn ferns have become popular houseplants because of the unique, delicate greenery they bring to your space. Epiphytes are part of the Bromeliaceae family, a group that also includes terrestrial species like pineapples. The leaves of the plants in this family are arranged in a rosette, or circular shape, and they have tiny scales that help the plant absorb moisture and protect itself from harsh sunlight. Unlike many plants, epiphytes don’t take in all the water they need from their roots. They also absorb water and nutrients through their leaves. Their roots don’t grow in the dirt, either. Instead, they help these plants cling to the trees or other plants they naturally grow on. If you’ve ever seen a tree with another plant growing off of it at a
Caring for your epiphyte properly will help your plant thrive and allow you to enjoy the tropical beauty of these unique organisms.
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