Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton - October 2019
October 2019
Lessons Learned From Coaching
S
ince I’ve been coaching baseball, I’ve noticed some traits from coaching that I utilize every day as a lawyer. While the two disciplines are different, the lessons I am able to transfer from one to another improve not only my coaching but also my ability to represent our clients the best way possible. I’ve been coaching for 15 years since I moved back to Birmingham during my third year of law school. I grew up playing sports throughout high school, and each of my coaches made a big impact on my life, so it was important to me to pour back into these young men’s lives as others had done for me. Now I coach both of my boys and rotate from head coach to assistant coach. Part of the coaching responsibility is managing relationships between the players and the team. You need to recognize when to give them a pat on the back and when to give them valuable feedback. My approach to law is the same. You need to establish some element of trust between you and the client and manage those relationships within a case. Whether it’s maintaining the connection between you and your client, or the relationship with opposing counsel, the judge, or the jury, it’s on you to manage a positive relationship with all parties involved, regardless of the severity of the case. It’s not just the relationships though; it’s the level of dedication, hard work, and sincerity that is going to make all the difference on the field and in the courtroom. When a player is at-bat, it’s the
most critical time for them. In a way, the player is all alone, but I’m right there encouraging them. It’s the same with my clients: Their case at that moment is the most important case to them because it is their only case. They deserve to have their attorney treat it as such. If I’m working on several cases, I need to put in the dedication and sincerity toward my clients as if they’re my only client. With my players, I need to ensure they feel like they’re the only player I’m coaching when they’re up to bat or on the mound to pitch. All the pressure is on them when they go onto the field — just like when I enter the courtroom with my clients.
“I want our clients to know that we will always strive to be the most prepared lawyers involved in the litigation.”
Even when a client is struggling with something, through enough hard work and perseverance, we can work through it. The same is true on the baseball field. Baseball is a difficult sport, and all players struggle at some point. My sons have both overcome their struggles with hard work and perseverance. Passion for the game is a critical component of success. When I come home from work, I can usually find my boys with bats in their hands, practicing. They are never satisfied with the status quo, always looking to improve. Passion for the practice of law, and dedication to our clients, is critical to success in the legal arena. When I’m working on a case, I want to try to do everything I can to prepare that case for trial, no matter how long it takes — long hours, weekend prep, anything to give my clients the best experience and outcome I can. This includes looking through all the evidence and doing all the research needed. I want our clients to know that we will always strive to be the most prepared lawyers involved in the litigation. I don’t want anyone to work harder than me. When someone hires you to work their case, you must give 100% effort. When you coach Little League, you must provide every player your 100%.
–Hughston Nichols
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Lawyers Helping People—Since 1890
Jack-o’-lanterns go hand-in-hand with Halloween, but digging through the inside of a pumpkin is not something everyone enjoys. If you aren’t keen on cutting open a pumpkin, here are a few no-carve ideas you can try this Halloween: Haunted House Take a few pumpkins, stack them on top of each other, and create a spooky pumpkin haunted house! Then, use paint, balsa wood sheets, and hot glue to create silhouettes, ghosts, windows, and doors for a haunting effect! CreativeWith String Use cotton twine and hot glue to create a web-like design on the surface of your pumpkin. Don’t forget to add a few plastic spiders! You can also use string art to create ghostly words or images. Lay out your design with small pegs or nails and wrap the string around them to reach your desired effect. Nothing but Net You can create eerie pumpkins using fishnet stockings. Spray-paint your pumpkin if desired— just make sure
the design of the stockings will stand out. Once the paint is dry, cut the legs off the stockings, slide the pumpkin inside, remove the extra fabric around the stem, and use hot glue to secure it. Colorful Paint Painting your Halloween pumpkins gives everyone a chance to participate. Be creative by using different designs, cutouts for silhouettes, drip paint to create a marble design, or nail polish and water to give white pumpkins a unique and vibrant look. A Spooky Monster By adding a witch hat, wrapping a pumpkin in cheesecloth, attaching spider legs, or tying on a vampire cape, you can create a pumpkin version of the most popular Halloween monsters. Along with these accessories, you can also use paint, construction paper, and other craft materials to add the details that will make your creation pop!
For more detailed directions for these pumpkin designs and more ideas, visit WomansDay.com.
HELPING OUR COMMUNITY ONE HOUSE AT A TIME
job. The owners, Shelia Parks and her husband, had been living with their daughter for two months before Metro Changers and HareWynn’s volunteers came to help. What made the situation worse for the elderly couple was the significance of the house itself. Shelia not only grew up in the house but had also raised her children there. If you’re unfamiliar with Metro Changers, here’s a quick rundown: It is a nonprofit that works to improve housing for low-income residents of the Birmingham area who are in need. This includes the elderly, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and individuals with health problems.
While the organization receives funding from the city and a plethora of organizations, only 6% of all funds received go to running their daily operations. The rest of their funding goes directly to the labor andmaterials needed to improve the living situations for those who need it most. The work Metro Changers does makes such an impact in our community. Recent studies have shown that as many as 15% of individuals ages 65 and older have difficulties doing daily activities. This means a lot of people are in need of our community’s assistance in one formor another. If you want to learnmore or want to get involved, visit their website at MetroChangers.org.
W e’re continually looking for ways to help our community. Our tagline, after all, is“Lawyers helping people,” and we don’t take it lightly. Last October, we had the opportunity to partner with Metro Changers, an incredible organization that works to change lives every day in the Birmingham area. HareWynn provided 30 volunteers to help Metro Changers improve some issues on an Ensley home. The house had a leaky roof and needed a new exterior paint
Tips for Your Little Goblins This Spooky Season
Halloween is by far one of the most fun holidays for adults and children alike. In order to have the best possible time celebrating, here are some safety tips to keep your little goblin safe this year. Costumes Try to favor light colors for your children’s costumes. If your kids are in love with the darker costumes, add reflective or glow-in-the-dark tape to their outfits and candy bags. This helps ensure your child will be adequately visible regardless of the time of night. To help prevent falls, avoid oversized shoes and draping accessories. If your kid’s costume requires any props, make sure they’re short and made of flexible material. The Rules of the Road Talk to your kids about the rules of the road before venturing out this spooky season. The rules include basics like looking both ways before crossing the street, walking on sidewalks, and moving in the same direction as traffic. Make sure your kids don’t dart out into the street unexpectedly; they should only cross at designated crosswalks. Trick-or-Treaters Keep all trick-or-treaters visiting your house safe. Remove anything that could cause them to fall on your lawn or walkway. Always keep the outdoor lights on and make sure the lights illuminate a path to the front door. Treats According to FoodAllergy.org, 5.6 million children under the age of 18 have some kind of food allergy. Candies like Mike & Ike, Starburst, Skittles, Ring Pops, and Smarties are allergen-free candies and are perfect for any ghostly goblin that comes to your door! Stickers, erasers, and dried fruit are all excellent substitutes if you want to be extra cautious.
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This silky caramel recipe is spiked with miso for a complex, rich snack that won’t hurt your teeth.
Ingredients:
Filling: •
• • • • •
2 tbsp white miso, divided
4 Granny Smith apples 1/2 cup raw pistachios 1 1/2 tsp plus 1 cup sugar
4 Popsicle sticks
• • •
2 tbsp light corn syrup 1/4 cup heavy cream
Follow these tips to have a safe and fun Halloween this year, and check out KidsHealth.org for more information.
3 tbsp sesame seeds
1/4 tsp kosher salt
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 275 F. 2. In a food processor, pulse
infrequently, until caramel is a light amber color. 5. Add cream and salt to caramel, whisking to combine. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and quickly whisk in remaining miso. 6. To assemble, first roll apple in caramel, then in pistachio mixture, before resting on greased baking sheet. 7. Let cool 30 minutes and serve.
pistachios and 1 1/2 tsp sugar. Add sesame seeds and 1 tbsp miso, pulsing until miso is fully broken up. Spread evenly on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 15–20 minutes and let cool. 3. Meanwhile, insert a Popsicle stick into the center of each apple. 4. In a saucepan, bring corn syrup, 1 cup sugar, and 2 tbsp water to a boil. Boil for 5–7 minutes, swirling
Inspired by Bon Appétit
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Lessons Learned From Coaching
Avoid Getting Your Hands Dirty This Halloween
Helping Our Community One House at a Time
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Miso Caramel Apples
Tips for Your Little Goblins This Spooky Season
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Grave Matters of the Law
A GRAVE LEGAL MATTER
“Bette wasn’t ready, but here she lies, ever since that night she died. Twelve feet deep in this trench, still wasn’t deep enough for that stench! 1690.” Insulted and a little afraid, Purtell’s neighbors called the police to have the headstones removed. After a couple of visits, Officer Bruce Mason arrived and threatened to arrest Purtell if he didn’t take the tombstones down. Purtell obliged, but the matter wasn’t put to rest. Purtell sued Officer Mason on the grounds of violating his rights to free speech, and the case made it all the way to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Sykes ruled that the tombstones did not constitute fighting words and were protected under the First Amendment. However, she also ruled that Officer Mason was entitled to qualified immunity, as any reasonable officer would act the same under the circumstances. The Verdict
We’ve all played a harmless trick or two, but sometimes, Halloween shenanigans get out of hand. They can lead to hurt feelings, outraged neighbors, and, in the case of Purtell v. Mason, a lawsuit. In the days leading up to Halloween, all was not quiet in the village of Bloomingdale. Previously parked in a storage unit, Jeff and Vicki Purtell’s 38-foot RV was now parked in front of their house. In protest, neighbors petitioned to town officials, wanting an ordinance put in place to prohibit RV parking on residential property. While the ordinance was under consideration, Jeff Purtell took matters into his own hands. He erected six wooden tombstones in his front yard. They seemed to be innocuous Halloween decorations, but these tombstones displayed a special message for the neighbors. Each headstone was inscribed with a sarcastic message and house number, implying the occupants’ death dates. These messages soon caught the neighbors’ attention.
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