Kelly Law's online newsletter for July 2017
OFFICES IN NORTHWEST INDIANA AND SOUTH BEND
wanted to be a lawyer ever since I was a kid. In many ways, I think this impulse came straight frommy dad. He was a successful trial lawyer whom I greatly admired. Back in those days, lawyers worked half days on Saturdays. I remember tagging along on those Saturday trips to the office and just kind of hanging out, spending time with him. Somewhere around age 10, I decided I wanted to be a lawyer just like my dad. After 45 years of actively practicing law, I guess you could say I persevered. Most new lawyers dabble in different types of cases before finding their exclusive focus, and I was no different. I particularly enjoy representing injured people; it gives you an opportunity to truly improve a person’s life and help those who aren’t getting the assistance they deserve. But it didn’t become my true passion until I took on a case that, unfortunately, hit too close to home. My sister tragically passed away from medical malpractice due to a missed cancer diagnosis, leaving her husband and two young daughters behind. It was an incredibly painful moment in my life, but luckily, I was able to offer some small solace to her family. I represented them in their litigation against the doctor who missed the diagnosis and was able to get some security through settlement during that impossible, trying time. That was the moment in which I realized the power of an effective personal injury attorney. We can have a tangible, positive impact on a person’s life, even in the direst circumstances. Helping Those Who My Journey Into Personal Injury Law Need It Most I
In fact, whenever somebody asks me what I do for a living, I never tell them that I’m a lawyer or a personal injury attorney. I tell them,“I help injured people.”To me, that’s what it’s all about.
As a rider myself, I’ve made it my personal mission to aid my fellowmotorcyclists after they’re hit or injured on the road. One particular case that sticks with me occurred just this past year. A local kid was trying to start his truck to get to work, but it was completely dead. So, he jumped on his bike and headed carefully down the road. A bus, turning left, plowed right into him. His father found one of our“Biker Benefit Cards”in his son’s wallet, figured it meant something, and gave us a call. When I got to the hospital, the boy was in a coma with catastrophic injuries. We got him a record-tying settlement in Cook County, Illinois. My experiences on my bike, as well as the rest of us at the firm, puts our team in a unique position to understand and present these cases in court. We know about the bias against bikers, the circumstances in which it’s best to lay the bike down, and we know better than anyone how these accidents happen and who is to blame. Insurance companies, the police, and drivers will almost invariably point the finger at the person on the bike, but the data and our personal experience shows otherwise. I’m grateful to work in such a rewarding career. There aren’t many jobs in which you get to come in every day and change a person’s life for the better. It’s the privilege of serving my clients that has kept me coming to work these last 45 years. Tim Kelly 1
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The Disappearance of JIMMY HOFFA THIS MONTH IN HISTORY
At first glance, any American can tell you what happened on at least one day in July history. (I’ll give you a hint: It’s after July 3.) Instead, how about a pleasant jaunt down a dark lane, filled with mobsters, fraud, and murder? You’ll find all that and more in the fascinating story of Jimmy Hoffa, who disappeared on July 30, 1975. Jimmy Hoffa was born in 1913 and became an important union activist in his 20s. By the time he was in his 40s, he had become the national vice president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), which became the largest union in the U.S. But he had to step on a few toes to get there. Little is known about Hoffa’s mafia activity during several decades, but in 1964, he was convicted of attempted bribery, jury tampering, and fraud (basic mob stuff).
his friends he was there to meet with two mafia leaders. After 30 minutes, a frustrated Hoffa called his wife from a pay phone to say he would wait for a fewmore minutes. He hung up the phone and was never heard from again. Wild speculation has surrounded his disappearance. After several decades and thousands of leads, including some from former friends and associates, the Hoffa case remains unsolved. One theory commonly retold in pop culture is that Hoffa was killed and stuffed in an oil drum that was buried under Giants Stadium in New Jersey, as several ex-mobsters claimed in a 1989 Playboy article. However, when the stadiumwas demolished in 2010, the FBI searched for remains and found none.
He was sentenced to prison, but he struck a deal with President Richard M. Nixon for a presidential pardon if he resigned from the union. At 2 p.m. on July 30, 1975, Hoffa visited the parking lot of the Machus Red Fox Restaurant in Bloomfield, Michigan, near Detroit. He told
You may know what happened on July 4, 1776, but we’re afraid you may never know what happened to Jimmy Hoffa. Forty-two years later, the FBI claims that the investigation is ongoing.
THE REALITYOFTHE CAR ACCIDENT Preparing for the Legal Aftermath
SERVICE HIGHLIGHT
It is becoming more evident that an increasing number of American motorists are driving distracted. People talk on cellphones, text, put on makeup, and eat while driving. According to the National Safety Council, there was a 6 percent increase in auto accident fatalities in 2016 from the previous year. That translates to nearly 40,000 fatalities. In 2015, over 920,000 people were injured in auto accidents in the United States. A motorcycle, car, or truck accident can change your life in an instant. You are left with medical bills, potential lost wages, vehicle repairs or replacement, physical pain and suffering, and emotional distress. If your family experiences a wrongful death as a result of a car accident, the effects are lasting and devastating. What should you do if you have been in a crash? After an accident, you will end up fighting large insurance companies. These companies have only one goal: to pay the smallest amount possible, so they make more money. The adjusters can flat out lie to you about value, settlement, and the process of recovering money for your injury. In our experience, insurance companies do not settle cases fairly unless you show them you have
a good case and can beat them in the courtroom. Only then do they make any effort to settle.
Motor vehicle accident cases can be complicated, calling for complex investigation processes, evidence-gathering techniques, accident reconstructions, medical investigations, and dealing with the other driver’s insurance company, culminating in a thorough case evaluation. Having a legal professional at your side can make all the difference. A personal injury lawyer can help you build your case to help you get the justice you deserve. What is my case worth? When measuring the losses caused by a motorcycle, truck, or car accident injury, your lawyer will investigate your damages. This includes lost wages, lost future earnings, medical expenses, future medical care, pain and physical suffering, grief and mental suffering, loss of quality of life, and any other potential damages. Our teamwill fight for you to recover any and all losses and get you back the quality of life you deserve, and there is never a fee unless you make a recovery.
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There’s nothing quite like the exhilaration of riding in a motorcycle rally. Each rally is an opportunity to embrace what it means to be a biker. Here are just a few upcoming rallies you’ll want to put on your ride list. Bean BlossomBikerFest WHERE: Bean Blossom, Indiana WHEN: September 5–10 Located in beautiful Brown County, Indiana, BBBikerFest is a true, old-school biker party. For the last several years, Kelly LawOffices has sponsored BBBikerFest, and it’s always been a blast! Here you’ll findmusic, contests, a custombike show, and a scavenger hunt through scenic Brown County. If you have plans to attend BBBikerFest, be sure to swing by our booth for a free lunch and get free legal advice! MountainFest WHERE: Morgantown,WestVirginia WHEN: July 20–23 Located on the banks of theMonongahela River, MountainFest is one of the best summer rallies on the East Coast. You’ll find various bike shows, a poker run, and concerts featuring guests like Hank Williams Jr. andWar. This wild rally is sponsored by the nonprofit, MountainFest, LLC, and the proceeds
go toward helping numerous organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters andOperation Welcome Home, a facility providing job-placement services for veterans.
SturgisMotorcycle Rally WHERE: Sturgis, South Dakota WHEN: August 4–13
Since 1938, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has gained a reputation as perhaps the largest biker rally in the U.S. Every year, well over 500,000 bikers and bike enthusiasts make a pilgrimage to Sturgis for a week celebrating biker culture. Motorcycle enthusiasts come to ride the Black Hills, party at the concerts, and share a cold one with fellowbikers fromall over the world. It’s hard to describe the sheer biker glory that is Sturgis. If you’ve never attended, consider making plans this summer to change that. Before you head out this summer, have a plan to get home safe. If you or a fellowbiker need help froma motorcycle accident lawyer in Indiana or Illinois, be sure to give us a call at 1-800-859-8800. This free call will help you determine what youmust do to take care of yourself and your loved ones, and there is never a fee unless youmake a recovery!
RalliesWorth the Ride
The Best Motorcycle Rallies This Season
Honey-Garlic Glazed CHICKEN THIGHS
INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
1. Lay chicken thighs into the bottom of a 4-quart slow cooker.
• • • • • •
4 skinless, boneless chicken thighs
1/2 cup soy sauce 1/2 cup ketchup
2. In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, ketchup, honey, garlic, and basil. Pour over the chicken.
1/3 cup honey
3 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon dried basil
3. Cook on low for 6 hours.
4. Enjoy!
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5521West Lincoln Highway Suite #101 Crown Point, IN 46307
THIS ISSUE Inside
Tim Kelly’s Journey Into Personal Injury Law Page 1
This Month in History After the Accident Page 2
The Best Motorcycle Rallies This Season Honey-Garlic Glazed Chicken Thighs Page 3 We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Theater Page 4
Advertising Material
Jaws and the Rise of the Summer Blockbuster We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Theater
For many, summer is a great time to get outside and bask in the sunshine. For thousands of others, it signals a season littered with bone-rattling explosions, labyrinthine superhero crossovers, and catchphrase-spouting animated characters. All this is just to say that summer blockbusters are a big deal, raking in billions of dollars each year. According to Investopedia,“Ticket sales for May, June, and July accounted for 39 percent”of the 2008’s total sales. That may not sound like a whole lot, until you consider that“more than one-third of annual sales occur during a single quarter of the year.” It wasn’t always this way. Back in the early ’70s, ticket sales consistently flagged during the summer months. That is, until Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws“ hit the screen on June 20, 1975, and sent every beach bum on the coast scrambling out of the water and scurrying into theaters. You can try to pin the movie’s enormous success —grossing $470 million worldwide —on its thrilling story, and certainly, that was part of it. As the Financial Times writer Nigel Andrews puts it,“Jaws”gave Spielberg“the template for the perfect blockbuster. Create a colossal baddie … and a colossal hero… [and] follow by natural law.”
In fact,“Jaws” is as indebted to timing and marketing as to the titular prehistoric fish.
Before its release, Universal already smelled the blood in the water, giving three times the usual number of interviews during its shooting. They went on to give a preview at Long Beach, with executives Lew Wasserman and Sidney Sheinberg tape-recording the audience’s reaction. These tapes then went into“an unprecedented $700,000 dollars’worth of TV advertising,”according to Andrews. After all that, it’s no surprise that“Jaws”ended up the highest-grossing film in history — that is, until“Star Wars”followed suit with a summer opening and smashed its record, building a bandwagon for every studio to jump on and establishing a genuine American tradition. Nowadays, you can’t throw a beach ball in June without hitting some spandex-clad superhuman. But, even as the trailer for“Transformers 15”comes on, we’re not complaining. We’re too enthralled by what’s happening on screen.
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