Take a look at our September newsletter!
SEPTEMBER 2021
Legally Brief With Kevin Patrick Automobile accidents | Daycare injuries | wrongful death
The Dawgs Are Back! MY BEST UGA FOOTBALL MEMORIES, JUST IN TIME FOR THE SEASON
Most of my family and friends look forward to fall in Georgia for the cooler temperatures and a blanket of brown, gold, and orange leaves to cover the ground. I, however, have been waiting for a different set of September colors: red and black! That’s right — as I write this, it’s almost the University of Georgia football season. Our first game will be against Clemson, and it’s coming up on Sept. 4. By the time you read this, hopefully we will have shown those Tigers who’s boss!
and praying that Coach Kirby Smart lives up to his name this season and is clever enough to lead us to a national championship in 2022! I’ve kept up with UGA football since graduation, and today my whole family and team bleeds red and black. The older I get, the more I look up to Coach Richt as a coach and as a person. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease this year and has handled that diagnosis with an amazing amount of strength and grace. He’s a real role model for the Bulldog
Nation and for college students and young adults everywhere, not to mention middle- aged attorneys like me!
My love of UGA football dates back to my time going to school on campus from 2001– 2005. That was right at the start of Coach Mark Richt’s era leading the football team. I remember being impressed with him from the start and cheering the Bulldogs to victory from the stands. My favorite players on the team at that time were
Speaking of middle age, I must say I’m looking forward to the early UGA games this year. The late-night games are a little tough on me these days. Sometimes I feel like I’m 21 again, but all it takes is a three-hour 8 p.m. football game to remind me that I’m near 40 and had better sit those marathons out. (I’ll also hold off on that other 21-year-old rite of passage, painting my chest red and black!) On late game nights, you’ll find me cheering just as passionately as always — but from the confines of my house instead of the sidelines. The only downside is that I won’t get a shot at petting Uga X. Ah, well. Go Dawgs!
quarterback David Greene and later, running back Knowshon Moreno. Whenever the other team tackled Moreno, he popped right back up. I loved his enthusiasm, and that’s a quality I still appreciate in players today. UGA football won three division titles during my time there. I’ll never forget the palpable excitement in the air every time they approached a national championship. We never took home a championship title during those years, but we came close a few times. Like every Georgia fan, I’m hoping
This publication is for informational purposes only, and no legal advice is intended.
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A HISTORY OF THE MYSTERY SPOT The most famous mystery spot is in Santa Cruz, California, but it has cousins in Oregon, West Virginia, and Michigan. Each one is inexplicable — drawing thousands of people every year to come and spend their tourist dollars. And for many, the whole thing is just one big hoax, designed to take in suckers and generate cash. Although Santa Cruz has the most visitors, it was “inspired” by the Oregon Vortex, which was a spot that had odd occurrences “documented” back to the early frontier days. From a mining office sliding off its foundation to the high presence of optical illusions, the Vortex was the home to some odd events. Naturally, the thing to do was build a structure there and start taking people’s money! It’s not a coincidence that these locations began to pop up at the same time as the average American got access to automobiles — “roadside attractions” of all kinds have been the rage since people began to tour America by car, and it’s pretty clear that, real or not, these mystery spots fall into that category. That’s why many of them have updated over the years to suit changing tastes — such as the Michigan St. Ignace Mystery Spot’s addition of zip lines and other attractions. Nothing to See Here Gotta Plant 'Em All! KEVIN AND MICHAEL VOLUNTEER WITH TREES ATLANTA
And unlike many other roadside attractions, mystery spots continue to draw attention. Something in the American psyche loves the idea of the paranormal; Google “Europe mystery spots” and you’re likely to discover lists of unique vacation destinations. Perhaps they recapture the “paradise is just over the hill” mystery that in part drove colonization of the American West.
Or perhaps it’s all a bunch of hooey. The best way to decide, of course, is to visit one of these mystery spots for yourself!
Did you know that the live oak, Georgia’s state tree, was historically used to build ships? That’s just one of a thousand ways that trees are useful to Georgians like you. They keep our air clean, beautify our cities, and provide shady places to read our favorite books. Kevin loves running on Atlanta’s tree-shaded pathways, and this summer, he and his son Michael showed their support for our green spaces by volunteering for Trees Atlanta alongside the Atlanta Bar Association’s Litigation Section. Trees Atlanta has been protecting and improving Atlanta’s “urban forest” since its founding in 1985. The group has planted more than 140,000 trees around the city over the years and restored, advocated for, and healed thousands more! It’s also the organization behind the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum, 82 acres
of green space along the Atlanta BeltLine that’s home to more than 4,000 plants, including 351 unique trees and shrubs. (Of those, 90 have identifying signs, so if you’re a plant lover, you can check them out next time you’re in the area.) Trees Atlanta also goes out of its way to educate people about “planting and caring for trees, removing invasive species, protecting pollinators, urban gardening, climate change in cities, and more.” Their resources for kids are legendary, including summer camps, the Acorn Club, and school programs. They even help Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts earn their Nature Badges. Kevin and Michael had a lot of fun planting with Trees Atlanta this summer, as you can see from the photos! When they were finished, they rewarded themselves with a
trip to The Varsity for hot dogs and soda. It was definitely a day well spent. Sunday, Sept. 5, is the International Day of Charity, and if you’re looking for an organization to support this month, we’d highly recommend Trees Atlanta. You can learn more about what they do, sign up to volunteer, or make a donation at TreesAtlanta.org.
You can always reach Kevin directly at 404.566.8964 or Kevin@PatrickTrialLaw.com. (If you ever need it, his cell phone is 404.409.3160.)
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10
Silly Georgia Laws We Won’t Blame You for Breaking
Law is a funny business, and we don’t say that just because of the lawyer jokes! Over the years, lawyers have helped inspire so many hyper-specific rules and regulations that every once in a while, one falls right through the cracks of the legal system. These forgotten laws stay on the books long past their prime, and the longer they stay, the funnier they get. Here in Georgia, we have dozens — maybe hundreds! — of strange and outdated laws, including many in Athens-Clarke County alone. Here are 10 that no one on our team would blame you for breaking. 1. You can’t swear over the phone. Fortunately, this law only applies in Columbus. Imagine trying to enforce it in the texting era! 2. It’s illegal to keep a donkey in your bathtub. Okay, whose fault is this one? 3. You can’t sell 2-for-1 beers. This law is on the books in Athens-Clarke County and has probably disappointed both beer sellers and beer drinkers. 4. It’s illegal NOT to own a rake. Supposedly, the city of Acworth passed this law as a joke and Kennesaw followed suit. 5. You can’t read a book to your friends in public after 2:45 a.m. This mandate from Athens-Clarke County sounds like it came straight from “Footloose.” 6. You can’t use goldfish to lure someone to a bingo game. Once again — who in Athens-Clarke County ruined this idea for the rest of us?!
7. It’s illegal to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole or a street lamp. Rumor has it this law is still on the books in Atlanta. There go our plans for this Saturday! 8. Piggyback rides are banned. This silly law from Atlanta applies only to men. 9. It’s illegal to eat chicken with a fork. In Gainesville, where this law was laid down, folks take their fried chicken seriously. 10. You can’t carry an ice cream cone in your back pocket on Sunday. This is probably Georgia’s most famous silly law. Fortunately, you can store your ice cream wherever you’d like during the rest of the week.
sudoku
One-Pan Apple Cider Chicken
Bring the taste of fall into your kitchen with this sizzling skillet meal.
Ingredients • 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs • 1 tsp salt, divided • 1/2 tsp black pepper, divided • 1/2 cup apple cider • 2 tsp Dijon mustard Directions 1. Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Set aside. 2. In a small bowl, combine apple cider and mustard. Set aside. 3. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm 2 tsp olive oil. When shimmering, add chicken thighs top-side down. Cook for 4 minutes, then flip and cook for 4 more minutes. Transfer to a
• 4 tsp olive oil, divided • 3 sweet apples, cut into 1/2-inch slices • 2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped, plus more for garnish
plate and cover with foil. Wipe the skillet clean.
4. Heat the remaining oil in the skillet, then add sliced apples, remaining salt and pepper, and rosemary. Cook for 5 minutes. 5. Return the chicken to the skillet and add apple cider-mustard
Solution
mixture. Cook for 5 minutes, then serve sprinkled with rosemary!
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Inside This Issue 1 KPL Cheers on the Dawgs 2 Nothing to See Here: Mystery Spot Tourism Kevin and Michael Volunteer With Trees Atlanta 3 10 Silly Georgia Laws We Won’t Blame You for Breaking
One-Pan Apple Cider Chicken 4 The Best Places to Visit in Croatia
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The Best Places to Visit in Croatia
This gorgeous coastal nation will absolutely blow you away with its beautiful architecture, landscapes, and delicious blend of Mediterranean and Slavic cuisine. Even better, it's a fairly affordable place to visit! While many travelers land in Zagreb, the beautiful capital city and cultural hub, you wouldn’t want to miss these destinations.
Heritage Site. Although it’s quite the drive, you won’t regret it — the park has an outstanding and picturesque series of tufa lakes and caves, all connected by waterfalls. With over 16 interconnected
cascading lakes, it’s unlike anything else you’ll see. If you get hungry, you’ll love the nearby National Restaurant Licka Kuca, which is famous for its traditional Croatian preparation of lamb under a cast-iron bell.
DUBROVNIK
SPLIT
As the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” this coastal city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Adriatic Sea. It’s a beautiful city, featuring 13th century walls, marble stone
The second largest city in Croatia (the first being Zagreb) is Split, founded by a Greek colony in the second or third century B.C. Historically, Split enjoyed being an independent city-state many times, and that free spirit is very tangible, as Split is very different from any other city in Croatia. With well-preserved Roman architecture and a multitude of museums, it’s no wonder Split is also a Although Croatia was among the first UN countries to open its doors to Americans, always be safe and check the newest regulations before booking your travel. Hopefully you enjoyed learning about this unique, wonderful country! UNESCO World Heritage Site.
streets, Gothic palaces, breathtaking churches, and an imposing fortress. There’s so much to do in the town square — one of Croatia’s largest and most beautiful — and you’ll be able to explore many historic structures nearby. Nature also has plenty to offer, with secluded coves and beaches nearby for exploration.
PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK
Near the border with Bosnia-Herzegovina, you’ll find one of Croatia’s oldest and most beautiful national parks and a UNESCO World
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