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June 2022
often help you gain greater understanding of situations if you’re able to talk through them without judgment. Having support can assist you in making the right decisions about difficult choices or simply make you feel better since you can get your thoughts off your chest. Relationships and friendships don’t just develop overnight, though. You need to spend some time fostering them so they can grow to their full potential. It helps to think of your relationships in the same way you would think about a garden. You have to water your plants so they can grow, and you must continue to nurture them so they won’t wither. There are instances in our lives where we outlive our friends. It becomes our responsibility to live on in their memory in these situations. If you and your friend always did the same activity together, don’t stop doing it. By continuing with that activity, their memory will live on and their legacy will remain intact. Norma and I are both Girl Scout leaders because our mom was a Girl Scout leader. By continuing with the tradition, we’re hoping to inspire others just like our mom did. In my line of work, I often have clients who want to leave things to their best friend and that is a perfectly reasonable request. Our friends mean the world to us. It’s not uncommon to show how much they mean to us by leaving something for them in our estate plans. If you have a certain asset that means a lot to a friend, you can designate it for them even if you’re leaving everything else to your kids. It’s a great way to show someone how much their friendship means to you. Without best friends, life would be much more difficult. They help shoulder some of our stress and keep us propped up so we can be the best version of ourselves. They’re also there when things aren’t going great and can help validate our feelings or flip our mood around. I’m inexplicably thankful for my best friend and will be sure to share my appreciation when we celebrate Best Friends Day this month. By Your Side Through Thick and Thin The Importance of Friendship
We develop many different kinds of relationships throughout our lives. It’s important to form strong bonds with our family, coworkers, and of course, our romantic partners. When these relationships grow to new levels, a beautiful friendship can form. In June, we celebrate National Best Friend’s Day, which is the perfect opportunity to spend time with your friends and acknowledge how much they mean to your life. I’m incredibly blessed because my best friend is actually my sister, Norma. Most of my friends growing up had siblings, and at that time, I wanted nothing more than a younger sibling to cherish. I often asked my mom for another sibling, but she adamantly said she would have no more kids. However, my grandmother told me to pray for what I truly wanted, so I prayed for a sibling. Before we knew it, my mom was pregnant with Norma. Though it didn’t take long, our relationship transcended the normal sibling bond and we became best friends. Now, we are basically inseparable. Norma means so much to me that I named my firstborn after her, who just came into this world on April 30. Friends can truly play an important role in our lives. Everything is more enjoyable when you can tackle each experience with someone you care about by your side. Life is a difficult enterprise, and we need people we can speak with about situations that arise. It can
–Melanie Lee www.mleelaw.com | 1
When It Rains, It Pours A Case Drenched in Disorder
Some people love the rain. After all, there’s something magical about thunder rolling through the clouds as lightning illuminates a multitude of raindrops. Yet, if the storm is too strong — or even dangerous to be in — people might not enjoy it at all. And that certainly appears to have been the case in 1996 when an Israeli woman in Haifa, Israel, sued a television station because of their incorrect weather report. The weather forecaster, Danny Rup, predicted that the day would be beautiful and sunny, but the weather had a mind of its own and ended up being rainy, dark, and gloomy. Because the woman relied upon the accuracy of the report, she left her home without a raincoat or an umbrella and got caught in the pouring rain. As the old wives’ tale goes, if you get caught in the rain, you’ll catch a cold. Well, the woman claimed that after being exposed to inclement weather, she caught the flu and subsequently was out of work for four days, had to visit the doctor, and spent $38 on medicine. Due to such a daunting experience, she also said that she suffered additional stress from the entire situation. The woman ended up taking Channel 2 news station to a small claims court where she sought financial compensation to cover her sickness and suffering — as well as an apology from the
forecaster who wrongly predicted the weather. The woman stated that weather forecasts are legally binding.
Many of us would see this as a frivolous lawsuit, but the TV station settled out of court and the woman received $1,000 for her pain and suffering and an apology from Danny Rup. Despite this case, most people take weather predictions from television and radio forecasters with a bit of skepticism thinking that forecasts are just a well-educated guess based on available resources — and it can change on a whim. It’s just the nature of it!
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cases, a victim’s stalker is someone they know or were once in an intimate relationship with. While it’s always important to never engage with your stalker, you can take certain steps to protect your safety and well-being.
To keep yourself safe, what can be done? Of course, if you are ever in immediate danger or if someone has made a credible threat, you should call the police right away. Be sure to carry a charged cellphone with you at all times for this reason. If someone is following you, seek out the nearest safe place to go, whether it be a police station, fire station, public place, or a friend’s house. Always trust your instincts: If you feel like something is wrong, it likely is. If you feel like someone may be taking an unnatural interest in you, begin varying your routines and routes a bit. Be careful when posting on social media; don’t give out information about where you live, work, or enjoy hanging out. Lastly, try to avoid going places alone. Exercise with a friend if you can and walk to your car with a coworker after work. Stalking is a serious problem and many people assume that ignoring the behavior will take care of the issue. In most cases, that doesn’t happen. When people stalk other people, they violate boundaries in order to make
First and foremost, you must know the signs and tactics of stalking, which include:
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Receiving unwanted emails, phone calls, text messages, voicemails, social media direct messages, or instant messages
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Appearing uninvited at places such as the victim’s home, school, or place of work
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Leaving strange or potentially threatening items for the victim to find
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Watching, following, or tracking a victim
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Sneaking into the victim’s home or car and doing things to scare the victim or let them know the perpetrator had been there
their victims feel unsafe. If you ever fall victim to stalking, it’s paramount that you take the necessary steps to keep yourself safe as well as involve law enforcement.
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6 Gifts Dad Is Sure to Love IT’S DAD’S DAY! Dad is a very important person in your life! Every year when Father’s Day rolls around, it can be tough to come up with the perfect gift, whether it be for your dad, a new father, your grandfather, or a father figure. Getting creative can be tricky, but this list is sure to help you with an idea or two for all different price ranges! Wallet Why not go really classic and opt for a thoughtful and practical gift? Most men’s wallets see a lot of wear and tear. After all, they’re sat on, toted around in pockets all day long, and sometimes forgotten about and sent through the wash. A new one just may be in order! Massage Gun Massage guns are rising in popularity. To help Dad recover from soreness and injury or just a tough workout, a massage gun will do the trick! The best part is that they range in price, and you can even purchase one on Amazon! Apple Watch Strap Does the dad you’re celebrating own an Apple Watch? If so, help him customize it with a new Apple Watch strap. You can choose from many materials, colors, and designs so he can blend in or stand out as much as he wants. A New Cooler Men love their coolers — it’s a foolproof Father’s Day gift! Whether Dad loves to camp, fish, tailgate, go to the beach, or barbecue in the backyard, he’s sure to appreciate a new way to store ice, drinks, food, or bait! Tool Bucket Organizer Is your dad a bit of a handyman? Help him get organized and never lose track of his tools again. Tool bucket organizers come in many forms and, again, can be purchased right online, making your shopping easy! Bluetooth Headphones or Speakers If your father doesn’t have Bluetooth headphones or speakers yet, he’s missing out. The opportunity to jam out wirelessly while working out, cutting the grass, doing hobby work, or just relaxing is effortless with this thoughtful gift.
TAKE A BREAK
Summer is here, and you know what that means: It’s time to break out the barbecue and meat skewers! SWEET AND SPICY BBQ CHICKEN SKEWERS
Ingredients
For the Marinade • 1 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp soy sauce • 2 tbsp chili garlic sauce • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 3/4 tsp smoked paprika • 1/2 tsp salt For the Skewers • 2 lbs chicken breast, cut into bite-size cubes • 1 small pineapple, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 3 tbsp honey • Juice of 1 lime Directions
1. In a bowl, whisk together marinade ingredients. 2. In a reusable freezer bag, combine cubed chicken and all but 1/4 cup of the marinade. 3. Seal bag and massage marinade into the chicken. Chill in the fridge overnight. 4. The following day, preheat the grill to 400 F. Thread chicken and pineapple onto skewers, adding two cubes of chicken for each cube of pineapple. 5. Grill the skewers for 3–4 minutes per side, brushing with the reserved marinade in the final minutes. 6. Serve over rice or with your favorite barbecue sides!
Inspired by RecipeRunner.com
www.mleelaw.com | 3
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Lee Law Office 1809 W. Main St. Richmond, VA 23220 804-204-1500 www.mleelaw.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Celebrating Best Friends Day
1
Woman Sues Weatherman
2
Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chicken Skewers Father’s Day Gift Guide
3
How to Handle a Stalker
4
Is Somebody Watching You?
When many think of stalking, the common image is likely a stranger prowling around in the shadows of the night, showing up at random places uninvited, or spying on victims from afar. However, stalking can potentially involve so much more. Stalking is a menacing behavior that makes victims feel unsafe and can lead to some terrifying acts. Stalking is more common than you may think: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in every 6 women and 1 in every 17 men have reported experiencing stalking at some point in their lives. For women, roughly 54% experienced it before the age of 25, and for men, 41%. Research conducted by the CDC revealed that stalking can damage its victims, leading to potential depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. It’s reported that roughly 68% of female and 70% of male victims received threats of physical harm in connection with stalking at some point in their lives.
Stalking — Here’s How to Handle It
Stalking takes place when a person repeatedly harasses or threatens another person. In most
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