ROCK HILL 1050 College Avenue Extension Rock Hill, SC 29732 Phone: 803-324-7200 FORT MILL 852 Gold Hill Rd. Suite 102 Fort Mill, SC 29708 Phone: 803-396-5200
LANCASTER 103B South Catawba St. P.O. Box 477 Lancaster, SC 29721 Phone: 803-289-7202 UNION 209-B N. Duncan By-Pass Union, SC 29379 Phone: 864-466-5170
www. fcwlaw.com | (803) 324-7200
The Carolina Advocate
May/June 2020
What They Don’t Teach You in Law School
My grandfather was a magistrate, so growing up, I sometimes got to watch him in court. I was always fascinated by the law. Tome, the attorneys were like gladiators fighting for people’s rights. I decided early on that I wanted to be in their position and help people level the playing field against large, well-funded companies. Something they don’t teach you in law school is the emotional side of the law. Everyone who walks through our door is going through one of the worst things that has happened in their life, and we’re here to help them through it. Going through all of this with them, you become emotionally bonded with your clients. You’re not just a mouthpiece and sounding board. You’re helping them hold it together through an incredibly difficult time. Working on cases, I get to know each of my clients and their families. I know who their kids are, what sports they play, and what activities they love. They become almost like family; they become friends. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is getting to build these relationships and help people. The other most rewarding part is seeing the final outcome when they’ve gotten the compensation they deserve. That’s an amazing moment. Seeing that we made a positive impact in someone’s life — there isn’t anything better.
Because my job can be intense, I try to unplug and get out into nature whenever possible. I’m an outdoors guy. I like to go kayaking and camping, and running is how I let go of any stress and decompress from anything that happened during the day. Our other attorney at the firm, Justin, and I are planning a camping trip this summer, and I’m looking forward to spending more time outside. We also go kayaking together from time to time. I feel fortunate to have so many outdoor areas so close to us.
“Everyone who walks through our door is going through one of the worst things that has happened in their life, and we’re here to help them through it.”
At the end of the day, what fuels me is my desire to help people. There’s this quote I have hanging in my office that says, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” I was in a meeting when I heard someone say it, and it instantly clicked with me. I stopped what I was doing to write it down. I’ve tried to live by these words ever since.
Ask anyone who knows me what I like to do outside of work, and they’ll tell you to go find me at a Gamecocks game. I’m a huge fan. My wife, Jade, and I are there tailgating at every home game and sporting event we can get to.
–Brandon Nobles
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Lost Your Job?
What You Need to Know About Your Right to Wages
Under South Carolina’s Payment of Wages Act, employers must meet certain requirements regarding payment of wages to their employees and communication of the terms of employment. This act extends to cover compensation owed to those laid off or fired. If you’ve been let go from your job, here are some things you should know to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. What is considered as wages? Wages include vacation, holiday, and sick leave payments that are due to an employee under an employer policy or employment contract. Money placed in pension or profit-sharing plans is not consideredwages. Did know that the Payment of Wages Act only applies to regular employees and does not cover contractors? However, sales representatives, even if not employees, are still owed any sales commission they earned or will earn under their contract while working for an employer. When do I get my lastwages if I’ve been laid off or fired? According to the Payment of Wages Act, employers must pay employees any remaining wages within 48 hours of the separation or in the next regular paycheck, which must not be more than 30 days from the date of separation. This can include any vacation, holiday, and sick leave that the employee has accrued while they were employed.
What do I do if I think my employer owes me wages? If you think your employer may owe you wages, you can file a complaint through the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation. Find the form at LLR.SC.gov/wage/paymentofwages.aspx. You also have the right to file a lawsuit against an employer who has failed to pay you wages you’re owed under the company policy or your contract. Under the Payment of Wages Act, the judge can award the employee three times the amount of unpaid wages, as well as attorney fees. It may be worth taking legal action if your employer owes you wages.
Glazed Goodness The Sweet History of National Doughnut Day
Get ready to treat yourself because June 5 is National Doughnut Day! Contrary to popular belief, National Doughnut Day wasn’t created as an excuse for Americans to eat more doughnuts. The celebration was actually started by the Salvation Army in 1938 to honor “Doughnut Lassies,” the women who served doughnuts to soldiers on the front lines during World War I. The Salvation Army still celebrates National Doughnut Day by delivering doughnuts to veterans across the country. The earliest version of the doughnut is believed to have come to North America with Dutch settlers in the 17th century. The Dutch brought with them balls of fried, sweetened dough called olykoeks , which translates to “oily cakes.” Though they were tasty, we don’t think many people would be eager to pick up a dozen oily cakes for the office. According to Smithsonian Magazine, the word “doughnut” was coined in the 19th century by a woman named Elizabeth Gregory. Her son, Handon Gregory, was a New England ship captain. She began making deep-fried dough treats with nutmeg, cinnamon, and lemon rind for her son and his crew. She would put hazelnuts or walnuts in the center of the pastry where the dough might not cook through, so she called her creation “doughnuts.”
HandonGregoryalsogets somecredit formakingdoughnuts recognizable: He was the one who first put the hole in the doughnuts, though the exact reason is unclear. Some say it was to use fewer ingredients, while others suggest he created the hole by accident after skewering the pastry on the spokes of the ship’s wheel when he needed to steer with both hands during a storm. Whatever the reason, that hole is still part of a classic doughnut to this day.
There are lots of ways to celebrate National Doughnut Day. Recognize the history of the holiday
by donating to the Salvation Army or by sending a box of doughnuts to a veteran in your life. You can also order from your favorite local doughnut shop or fry up some homemade doughnuts with your family. There’s a pretty great recipe at SallysBakingAddiction.com/ how- to -make - homemade - glazed-doughnuts.
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Is Your Auto Insurance Actually Enough to Cover You? Ensure You’re Protected With Underinsured Motorist Insurance
To avoid ending up in this situation, take another look at your insurance policy and see if any additional coverage options are right for you. Often, they add a small cost to your policy, but in the long term, you’ll be glad for the additional coverage. South Carolina Auto Insurance Standards In South Carolina, drivers are required to carry auto insurance that provides coverage for damage to property, bodily injuries and suffering, and uninsured drivers. Under South Carolina law, your policy must have at least $25,000 of coverage per person, at least $50,000 per accident, and at least $25,000 for property damage in each accident, plus uninsured motorist coverage. Although uninsured motorist insurance is mandatory, underinsured motorist coverage is not. However, it is recommended for all drivers in South Carolina to ensure you are protected.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage Underinsured motorist coverage comes into play when you get hit by a driver who doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the damages that you sustained. Underinsured motorist coverage can give you peace of mind knowing an accident won’t bankrupt you, even if the other driver doesn’t have enough insurance themselves. This coverage option is available to you, though your insurance agent may not have mentioned it. Talk to your agent and tell them you would like to add underinsured motorist coverage to your policy. If you’d like help reviewing your auto insurance policy, we are here for you. Having seen many people hurting after a collision with a driver who doesn’t have enough coverage, our team of attorneys has in-depth knowledge about how much insurance is enough. And if you find yourself battling with insurance after a collision, reach out to the Law Offices of F. Craig Wilkerson Jr. at (803) 324-7200 to schedule a free consultation with an attorney.
Do you think $50,000 is a lot of money? That amount could cover a year’s worth of rent, renovate a house, or pay off school loans. But when $50,000 is supposed to cover extensive medical bills for yourself and/or others, plus the cost of a new car, it’s not all that much money. We’ve seen enough cases to know that the amount of auto insurance required by law isn’t always enough to cover you in serious auto collisions.
Sticky and Sweet Pork ‘Ribs’
Ingredients
Inspired by Bon Appétit
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1/3 cup oyster sauce
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2 heads garlic, cloves separated
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1/3 cup toasted sesame oil
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3 thumbs ginger, chopped
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1 cup hoisin sauce
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5 lbs boneless pork shoulder, flattened
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3/4 cup fish sauce
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3/4 cup brown sugar
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2/3 cup honey
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1 tbsp molasses
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2/3 cup rice wine
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1/2 cup chili oil
Directions
1. In a blender, purée garlic, ginger, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, honey, rice wine, chili oil, oyster sauce, and toasted sesame oil until smooth. 2. Reserve and chill 1 1/2 cups for later use. 3. In a bag, add the remaining mixture and pork shoulder. Marinate for at least 8 hours. 4. Using a convection plate on the grill, cook pork until the thickest part reaches an internal temperature of 140–145 F. 5. In a large saucepan, simmer brown sugar, molasses, and reserved marinade for 6–8 minutes. 6. Baste the pork with the brown sugar glaze for 2 minutes before serving.
Puzzle Time
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1050 College Ave. Ext. Rock Hill, SC 29732
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
(803) 324-7200 www.fcwlaw.com
Inside
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What Motivates Attorney Brandon Nobles
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Job Loss Due to COVID-19? Know Your Rights A Day to Honor Doughnut Lassies Why It Pays to Get Underinsured Motorist Coverage Sticky and Sweet Pork ‘Ribs’
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Can’t Sleep? There’s an App for That
Can’t Sleep? There’s an App for That Life has already thrown a lot of stressors at us over the last six months, so if the extra daylight is the icing on the cake of your insomnia, it might be time to turn to your smartphone for some high-tech help. These two innovative apps can help you get your eight hours in spite of Mother Nature’s curveballs. Pzizz: Wander Scientifically Crafted ‘Dreamscapes’ Step aside, white noise machines: Pzizz is here to take background noise to the next level. Instead of simply playing ocean sounds or chirping birds to help you doze off, this app relies on a branch of psychology called “psychoacoustics” for its custom sound blends. Its researchers combine ambient sounds with narration to create “dreamscapes” tailored to different points in your sleep cycle. It’s a well-thought-out product with a clinical trial under its belt. Head to Pzizz.com to learn more
or download the app through the Apple App Store or Google Play for a seven-day free trial.
Calm: Have a Celebrity Read You a Bedtime Story
If you’ve been feeling nostalgic for the bedtime stories of your childhood, then Calm is the app for you. This award-winning application was named the world’s happiest app by Timewell and has helped thousands of people de- stress since it came online in 2012. Though it’s perhaps best known for its meditations, the app also has a library of “Sleep Stories” for adults and kids alike, many read by famous voices like Matthew McConaughey, Stephen Fry, and Alan Sklar. Head to Calm.com to browse the library or download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
On Sunday, June 20, the sun will stay up in Alaska until almost midnight, longer than any other day of the year. That’s because June 20 is the summer solstice, the day when one of the Earth’s poles is tilted so drastically toward the sun that light hits our whole hemisphere for a few extra hours. It’s a beautiful phenomenon, but it can also be disruptive — particularly if you’re trying to sleep.
Good luck, and sweet dreams!
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