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OCTOBER 2020
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However, before I left for basic training, I focused on another calling, too: my undergraduate degree and taking the law school admission test (LSAT). In school, civics, government, and history were my best classes. I’ve always enjoyed a good debate, too. From an early age, practicing law always seemed like the best route to combine my personal strengths with what I enjoy doing. After I took the LSAT, I shipped off to basic training before I heard back from the law schools to which I applied. So to choose my law school, my parents sent me school brochures, and I looked them over before lights out during basic training. Unlike most college students who can visit their school, I made my decision in the barracks. I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I ultimately went to law school, but I knew I wanted to be a trial attorney so I could help people get their day in court. Stetson College of Law has one of the premier trial advocacy programs in the nation. With that in mind, as well as wanting to escape the Midwest winters, my decision became easy. Ironically, I actually started with Denmon Pearlman right after law school seven years ago. During my time away from Denmon Pearlman, I focused almost exclusively on helping the injured recover what was owed to them, and I also learned a lot about the unique needs of veterans required during the VA disability process. When a position opened up at the firm where I began my career, I jumped at the opportunity, already knowing the great team I was rejoining. In fact, when I left the firm to join another firm, I can still remember Chris saying, “Maybe we’ll work together again someday.” I guess it wasn’t just lip service. I’m proud to have rejoined the Denmon Pearlman team to offer my expertise both as a veteran and an attorney with extensive experience in personal injury cases. As a veteran and current member of the Reserves, I know what it is like to sacrifice for this country. I know our VA system is confusing for many, even for veterans,
ANDY PLAGGE BRINGS HIS MILITARY
G rowing up in small-town Iowa, it was hard to not be filled with patriotism. I grew up in a large farming community. It was the kind of town that had one stoplight and everyone knew each other. My dad was a bank lender for local farmers, and we grew up with an appreciation of working hard for our living. When I was a freshman in high school, terrorists from Al Qaeda threatened our country’s freedoms and way of living. The terrorist attacks on 9/11 were a pivotal moment in my life. It was then that I first began to consider a career in the military. I met with recruiters in college, and I considered joining the ROTC program at the University of Iowa. However, I instead decided to finish my college degree and joined the Army after I graduated, earning my commission as an officer from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. I have been in the Army Reserves for over 11 years, and I’ve served overseas in Italy and numerous places in Africa. BACKGROUND TO OUR CLIENTS’ AID
“I’M PROUD TO HAVE REJOINED THE DENMON PEARLMAN TEAM TO OFFER MY EXPERTISE BOTH AS A VETERAN AND AN ATTORNEY WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN PERSONAL INJURY CASES.”
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CATCHPHRASE! 6 THINGS CELEBRITIES TRIED TO
TRADEMARK — AND SOME WHO SUCCEEDED
The trademark was denied, and Jenner even ended up in a brief legal battle with singer Kylie Minogue.
Celebrities love to trademark all sorts of things for one simple reason: People associate certain words with the celebrity’s brand, and the celebrity wants to protect that. It makes sense from a business perspective, but sometimes, it can get a little silly. Read on to see what the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office gave its blessing to and which trademarks it outright refused to create. BLUE IVY CARTER Just days before their first daughter was born in 2012, Beyoncé and Jay-Z filed for a trademark on her name. The problem was that a wedding planning company called Blue Ivy was already using the name. Plus, Jay-Z mentioned to the media that their intention was to prevent others from using it. The trademark was denied. KYLIE This generic trademark was filed by Kylie Jenner (of the Kardashians and Jenners). Her intention was to use her trademarked name for marketing purposes.
‘LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE! ’ One of the most well-known catchphrases of all time was successfully trademarked in 1992 by its creator, boxing announcer Michael Buffer. Even better, it’s made Buffer a very wealthy man. To date, he has made nearly $500 million dollars by licensing the trademark. ‘ROCK STAR FROM MARS’ Back in 2011, actor Charlie Sheen had a very public meltdown. During the episode, he rambled off countless phrases such as “Duh, winning,” “tiger blood,” and “rock star from Mars.” In the end, he tried to trademark a total of 22 phrases, but all were rejected by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. ‘YOU’RE FIRED!’ Donald Trump is known for many things, including emblazoning his name on everything he owns. Long before he was president and while host of “The Apprentice,” he filed a trademark on the show’s catchphrase. It was denied because it was too close to a preexisting (and trademarked) board game called You’re Hired.
‘BAM!’ TV chef Emeril Lagasse was a pioneer in the world of cooking shows. He popularized cooking on TV and captivated audiences by exclaiming one simple phrase every time he added an ingredient to whatever he was making: “BAM!” Naturally, he trademarked his signature phrase, but he doesn’t discourage people from using it as long as they keep it in the kitchen.
A s families and school districts attempt to navigate education during COVID-19, unique home situations become complicated this school year. “The emphasis on communication has never been more prevalent for divorced or blended families. While that may be easier said than done, it is vital,” says Denmon Pearlman’s Managing Divorce Attorney, Paul Knudsen. “The uneasy feelings that accompany a child growing up in a divorced family are only made worse when the parents are evident in their dislike of one another and are unable to communicate,” says Paul, who is also a child of divorce. “There are many courses and resources to help people learn to communicate better with exes. Parents should think about doing whatever they need to do to make sure their communication with their former spouse is effective.” As we enter into another month of virtual, part-time, or fully in-person schooling, Paul and his team have three tips to help you and your former spouse master co-parenting and school in 2020. MAKE DECISIONS TOGETHER: You may be divorced from your child’s other parent, but that does not make your opinion or theirs — unique situations aside, of course — more important over the other. Each parent should be on the school’s list of contacts for parent-teacher conferences, impromptu meetings, and email blasts. If a child is sick and must come home, both parents should be alerted.
LOOK FOR DIGITAL SOLUTIONS: Today’s divorced parents have many tools right in their phone’s app store. Family calendar apps, such as Cozi, can segment school events and meetings into easily digestible planners, while apps like WeParent can be the perfect main platform for all communication. By storing your conversations in this one spot and connecting your calendars, parents have a one- stop hub for details concerning their child’s education. MAKE A PLAN AND BE FLEXIBLE: Nothing is concrete this year, but you cannot expect your child to thrive without a plan. Sit down with your former spouse, your children, and possibly other parenting partners to develop a plan for the year. Decide on the main living situation, homework help, schedules, and possible tech tools the child may need. Check in regularly to ensure the plan works and consider including your child’s teacher in the plan. As this year changes, try to adapt swiftly as needed. If you need help mediating any co-parenting issues that come up as a result of this strange school year, contact our team today. We can provide resources or offer legal assistance when needed.
We can all have a successful school year if we work together.
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SWIMMING WITH ST. PETE’S BIG FISH
Inspired by Candiquik.com
These adorable chocolate-dipped strawberry ghosts will be the stars of your Halloween party!
INGREDIENTS
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16 oz white chocolate, chopped
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24 strawberries
In 1993, Carrie Renner was facing a dilemma. It all started because she wanted to create T-shirts for a spearfishing tournament she and her husband were attending with friends. She mimicked the design of Big Dog, a clothing brand that was known for its T-shirt depicting a black and white St. Bernard with text that reads “If you can’t run with the big dogs, stay on the porch.” Fitting with the fishing theme, Carrie’s shirt featured a black and white grouper and read “If you can’t swim with the big fish, stay on the boat.” Carrie only needed six shirts, but many of the screen-printing shops she contacted required a minimum to order. Ultimately, Carrie bought 24 shirts and planned to sell the leftovers — if she could — at the event. CARRIE RENNER BEGINS 30-YEAR SCREEN PRINTING BUSINESS TO SOLVE A LOCAL PROBLEM
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1 package mini dark chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS
1. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the white chocolate at 50% power for 30 seconds. Remove it and stir, then repeat the process until melted. 2. Lay out a sheet of parchment paper. 3. One by one, dip the strawberries into the melted white chocolate and set them on the parchment. Allow the extra chocolate to pool to form a “tail” effect. 4. Before the chocolate coating fully cools, add three mini chocolate chips to each berry to form two eyes and a mouth. 5. Let chocolate set, then serve your spooky snacks!
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That’s when Big Fish Co. was born.
Carrie ultimately sold all of her shirts and had orders for more. As the owner of a scuba diving shop at the time, Carrie realized she had stumbled into something far more needed in her community: one-off screen-printing services for orders big or small. Carrie opened Big Fish Co. in 1993, and today, it specializes in screen printing, embroidery, promotional products, signage, paper printing, clothing, hats, and apparel.
and I make it my mission to serve my clients and their needs as best I can. I can speak the military language and empathize with veterans’ unique experiences. I’m proud to bring that to Denmon Pearlman. Today, I’m happily engaged, and my fiancé and I are the proud parents of a new puppy named Indiana Jones. I’m also a big sports fan. Of course, I pull for my Iowa Hawkeyes whenever I can, but I also cheer for the Buccaneers and Lightning! I like to stay active, too. Ultimately, I’m happy here in my Florida home, even if it is a thousand miles away from that one-stoplight town. I’m proud to offer my patriotism, military experience, and legal expertise to clients who need it down here in our great Sunshine State.
“I see shirts that we’ve done out and about — we see it a lot — and it’s fun to help another small business and having them look more professional,” Carrie says.
The screen-printing industry may be more digital than it was back when Carrie first began Big Fish, but the goal of offering one-off or continuous items, small or big, to her community has not changed since Carrie first opened Big Fish’s doors. Today, Carrie says she’s excited to be part of the growth of her community. “I’m really proud of St. Pete’s,” Carrie says. “When I was in high school, I was like, ‘I can’t wait to get out of this place …’ Now, I’m proud of it. I’m really happy to see what’s happening downtown and to continue to be a big part of it.” At Denmon Pearlman, we’ve loved everything Big Fish has made for us. We’re proud to partner with Big Fish Co. and other small businesses just like it in our community. For more information, you can find Big Fish Co. online at Facebook.com/BigFishCompany!
If I can help you, call the office today!
–Andy Plagge
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520 2ND AVE SOUTH ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33701
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DENMONPEARLMAN.COM
Helping Veterans: Meet Our New Attorney, Andy Plagge!
The Weird Things Celebs Tried to Trademark
You Can Master School and Co-Parenting This Year!
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Big Fish Co. Fills a Need in St. Pete’s
Spooky Strawberry Ghosts
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When ‘Star Wars’ Invaded Halloween
HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
THE SPOOKY ‘STAR WARS’ SHORTAGE OF 1977
A long time ago … in October of 1977 to be exact, Halloween was fast approaching and many parents faced a major dilemma. That year, kids didn’t want to go trick-or-treating dressed as vampires, witches, or ghosts. The classic costumes simply wouldn’t do. That Halloween, almost every child in the United States wanted to dress as their favorite character from the new hit movie, “Star Wars.” Today, you can walk into a Halloween City on Oct. 30 and easily pick up a costume for Rey, Darth Vader, or Princess Leia. But in 1977, less than five months after the release of the first movie in the popular franchise, getting your hands on “Star Wars” merchandise was a bit more difficult. Ben Cooper, a costume company in Brooklyn, had the foresight to license “Star Wars” for costumes right after the movie came out. Unfortunately, they didn’t foresee how great the demand for these costumes would be. Retailers across the country were selling out of “Star Wars” costumes as fast as they came in. Some stores reported selling more “Star Wars” costumes than pumpkins. Kids who got their hands on an authentic
Han Solo or C-3PO costume were considered lucky. But kids who arrived at the store to find the costume shelves empty didn’t throw in the towel. Instead, they went and found some brown towels to make their own Chewbacca costumes. In the current age of cosplay, homemade costumes based on movie characters are commonplace, but in 1977, this was uncharted territory. Kids searched for white dresses to be Princess Leia and bathrobes they could cut short to mimic Luke Skywalker. Moms everywhere broke out their sewing machines and created costumes using only action figures for reference. It was grueling work, but it showed how much kids wanted to spend Halloween in a galaxy far, far away.
The “Star Wars” costume shortage marked a new era for Halloween — one where making your own costume was just as cool, if not better, than buying it.
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