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LEGAL BRIEF
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FEBRUARY 2025 FriedmanSimon.com
I hope the new year has gotten off to an excellent start for you. But if some aspects of 2025 have been less than ideal so far, perhaps you can draw inspiration from a little-known holiday this month. The U.S. Figure Skating team founded National Get Up Day on Feb. 1, 2017, to celebrate Get Up stories around the country and to urge others to Get Up. Obviously, getting up from a fall is an essential part of ice skating, but even non-athletes can take a cue from this holiday dedicated to resilience. A Q&A from the national day website explains why National Get Up Day celebrates the importance of all of us “getting up” when we fail. Everyone needs encouragement, and this day is an important reminder to keep trying, keep learning, keep practicing, and keep trying again. The only time we really ever fail is when we stop trying. Falls are an important part of our work at Friedman & Simon LLP. Over the past three decades, we have helped many people who were injured when they slipped or tripped due to some dangerous condition. From snow and ice on sidewalks or broken walkway masonry to steps built in violation of building code safety standards or construction workers provided with unsafe ladders or scaffolding — and many more — we've seen the harm that can come from falling. In our society, many adults tend to feel embarrassed when they fall. While an injured child might lie on the ground and cry until an adult helps them, most adults try to get up quickly, focusing less on their pain and more on feeling humiliated by being on the ground. I have heard amazing stories of clients with severe injuries, some as severe as fractures that ultimately required surgery, who got up from their fall without assistance and, one way or another, got themselves to emergency medical care. (Of course, our suggestion is to always make safety the highest priority. If you’re injured in a fall, it is best to call for help right from that location, as long as it is safe.) FALLING ISN’T FAILING RESILIENCE STARTS WITH GETTING UP
In a perfect world, everyone would be skilled in "Ukemi,” techniques for falling in Japanese martial arts such as judo, jiujitsu, and aikido. We'd all fall safely, roll, and stand right up, unharmed. In the 2005 movie "Batman Begins," we see Bruce Wayne as a young boy. One day, while playing with a friend, Bruce falls down a dry well adjacent to an underground cave. As Bruce lies on the ground, his leg injured in the fall, he is swarmed by bats. As Bruce’s father rescues him, he asks, “Why do we fall, Bruce,” and finishes the thought with, “So we can learn how to get up.” Despite the lesson, Bruce develops a powerful fear of bats. As an adult, when Bruce becomes a hero fighting for good, he re- enters the same cave and manifests tremendous courage from his deepest self by standing calmly as bats swarm around him again. He decides to use that which he feared most as the psychological fuel to power his new persona. Most of us will never learn Ukemi, and none of us are Bruce Wayne or Batman, but each one of us can tap into a "spiritual Ukemi" as we find the truth in Bruce's father's Q&A: "Why do we fall, Bruce? ... So we can learn how to get up."
Whether it’s an actual fall that causes physical injury, a figurative fall we experience emotionally because of that injury, or other unwelcome life experiences, we can all find our inner hero as we learn how to get up again and again and again.
–Eddie Friedman
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"Coulda, shoulda, woulda.” The sadness of missed opportunities can be among life's most stinging experiences. In a legal context, failing to take appropriate legal action before the applicable statute of limitations passes can create the same kind of sad circumstance. The civil legal system offers us ways to resolve disputes peacefully. Statutes of Limitations recognize that an allegedly aggrieved party should not have an indefinite period to seek justice. At a certain point, bringing a claim can be unfair to the party that wishes to defend themselves. Memories fade, witnesses become unavailable, and evidence becomes impossible to find. Additionally, society wants people and their affairs to move on, and these statutes protect against time, resources, and energy from being diverted to resolve disputes that should have been dealt with long ago. Occasionally, our office gets a call from someone who has suffered an injury and wants to learn their rights, even though the applicable statute of limitations has passed. While these calls may lead to a claimant preserving their rights, as the law does permit certain "tolls" — circumstances that extend the time to commence a legal action than is generally allowed in the statute — sometimes, there is no toll available to save the day. It is too late. Whatever rights the claimant had or may have had are now moot. The irony for the claimant who lost their right due to delay is even harder because our firm offers free, no-obligation case reviews. Any person who has suffered an injury can call us, without any financial risk, to find out if their claim has merit, the deadlines within which they must act, and their best options for taking legal action. It's that easy. If you or anyone you care about has been injured, I urge you to call our office today for a no-cost legal consultation. Delays can lead to heartbreak and lifelong regret. Hopefully, we can help you avoid the misery of "coulda, shoulda, woulda" and replace it with "could, did, won!" WHEN ‘COULDA, SHOULDA, WOULDA’ BECOMES A REALITY The Danger of Delays
Watching your children transition into teenagers is a challenging experience for any parent. Your little girl has traded in her dolls for makeup, and your son would rather spend time with friends than throw a ball around the yard with you. As teens grow, parents have to adapt and adjust to the changes. It won’t always be easy, especially as arguments and disagreements may become more common. Still, you can make this situation easier on yourself by preparing for the changes and adopting helpful strategies. Here are three ways to maintain your relationship with your children as they progress through their teenage years. PROVIDE YOUR CHILDREN WITH NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND THEIR PASSIONS. Your children are in the self-discovery stage of their lives, so it’s vital they get a chance to explore hobbies and activities that interest them. Ask them what they want to do with their free time, and enroll them in extracurricular activities that align with their interests. Be encouraging and supportive, and you’ll quickly see improvements in their mood and your relationship. BE OPEN-MINDED. Our children’s hobbies, interests, and even some personality traits can change as they progress through their teenage years. Be curious about their developing habits and try to involve yourself in activities they enjoy. This extends to discussions about their future. As adulthood approaches, talk with your kids about their career prospects and interests. They might have a different plan than you imagined, but this is when you need to be open-minded and supportive — it will strengthen your relationship immensely. UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WON’T SEE THEM AS OFTEN. The teenage years are when our kids start yearning for independence. As long as they’re staying out of trouble, let them explore the world around them. They’ll want to spend more time with their friends, visit places like the mall or movie theater without you, and explore romantic relationships. This is a normal part of growing up, and as parents, we should expect and respect the change. The Teenage Transition Stay Connected During Their Transformative Years
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THE PERKS AND PITFALLS OF CAFFEINE Brew-tally Honest
BUZZ KILL Caffeine can be a needed pick-me-up, but it can also feed the grind that keeps you up at night or gives you anxiety. Tea and coffee can interfere with essential neurotransmitters like dopamine. This disruption can lead to a lack of motivation, irritability, and restlessness. Drinking too much of these fine brews can make you nervous, impact your sleep, and cause your body to go into flight or fight mode. For people who are already suffering from depression, the drink can cause your symptoms to worsen. So, as you drink your morning java, just remember to find the balance with the beans. Caffeine can be the ultimate mood booster, but too much will make you feel wired instead of wonderful!
Perk up, coffee lovers. We’re about to spill the beans on how the beloved brew can be a friend and foe to our mental health. Caffeine can lift our spirits, energize us, sharpen our focus, and even counteract the effects of depression. But this popular stimulant can also lead to jitters, anxiety, and withdrawal symptoms if we sip too much. Grab a cup of Joe, and let’s explore the perks and pitfalls of this flavorful fuel. BUZZ BEHIND THE BOOST Studies have found that moderate doses of caffeine can have perks. This naturally occurring stimulant can help with weight loss, alertness, brain function, memory, and physical performance. Caffeine can also guard against certain types of cancer, strokes, and Alzheimer’s disease. There’s even proof that coffee can reduce depression, thanks to the other acids in the drink that reduce inflamed nerve cells in the brains of people with depression.
SUDOKU
Skillet Chicken in Creamy Sun- Dried Tomato Sauce Inspired by LeCremeDeLaCrumb.com
Ingredients • 2 tbsp butter • 5 boneless, skinless chicken thighs • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 2 tbsp herbes de Provence • 3/4 cup canned sun-dried
• 2/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
• 2 tbsp lemon juice • 1/4 cup pine nuts • 1 cup spinach
• Fresh thyme, for topping • Salt and pepper to taste • Cooked rice or linguine, for serving
tomatoes, drained and julienned
• 1 cup chicken broth • 1/2 cup heavy cream
Directions
1. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook for 7–8 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside. 2. In the same pan, add garlic, herbes de Provence, tomatoes, chicken broth, cream, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, pine nuts, and spinach and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, and stir periodically until thickened and spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes. 3. Return chicken to the pan and top with salt, pepper, more Parmesan cheese, and thyme, and serve over rice or linguine.
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516-800-8000 FriedmanSimon.com
390 N. Broadway, #210 Jericho, NY 11753
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A Reminder to Never Stop Trying INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 2 Support Your Teenager’s Growth Without Losing Touch
Why Timing Matters in Legal Claims
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Is Your Coffee a Friend or Foe?
Skillet Chicken in Creamy Sun- Dried Tomato Sauce
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The Top Young Scientist in America
A YOUNG AND BRIGHT FUTURE FOR SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE 14-YEAR-OLD WHIZ KID CREATES PRODUCE PESTICIDE DETECTOR
When grocery shopping, various fruits and vegetables are typically on your list because they’re good for you, right? Well, imagine getting home, washing your produce, and discovering it still contained pesticide residue. That is precisely what Georgia ninth-grader Sirish Subash is driven to prevent! At just 14 years old, Sirish has created an astounding invention that is making huge waves in the world of science and agriculture: PestiSCAND, an AI-powered handheld device that can detect pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables. Beating out hundreds of other student entries, his remarkable device recently earned him the title “America’s Top Young Scientist” and the first-place prize of $25,000 in the 3M and Discovery Education competition. When testing the device, Sirish used spinach and tomatoes to detect pesticides. This revealed an accuracy rate of over 85%, meeting the competition’s objectives for speed and effectiveness, according to 3M.
Using Food and Drug Administration data, Sirish found that just over 70% of store produce contains pesticide residues. Pesticides are chemically designed to protect crops against pests, weeds, and fungi. But they can also be harmful to humans when consumed and are linked to certain cancers, reproductive issues, and disruptions in vital bodily functions. “The residues can stay on produce after washing, and that's where they've been connected to a variety of health issues. If we could detect them, we could avoid consuming them. We could reduce the risk of those health issues,” Sirish told USA TODAY newspaper. Sirish’s drive and passion for technology extend well beyond the classroom and science competitions. He’s genuinely committed to making a difference and solving problems that impact lives daily. So, congratulations to you, Sirish Subash! Innovation of this magnitude is sure to be a game-changer for not only consumers but farmers as well!
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