If you rely on the government to make rules that protect your health and livelihood from significant losses, you may be waiting longer than you think. Here are two examples of why pursuing litigation with a law firm’s help may be a wiser and more expedient choice than waiting for Uncle Sam’s help. MAHA’S REGULATORY MALAISE As reported in our August 2025 newsletter, a 100-plus-page lawsuit has been filed against 11 major food companies for knowingly selling “ultra-processed” foods that contribute to critical illnesses. While the scope and size of the suit suggest that it may take time before it moves forward in any noteworthy way, delays in addressing the potential dangers posed by such foods are also being felt on the governmental side. The reason? As of December 2025, no federally recognized definition for “ultra-processed foods” currently exists. Last summer, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture jointly issued a request for information to establish a suitable definition. Shortly thereafter, the prolonged government shutdown significantly impacted the process, drawing media speculation about the effectiveness of the Trump administration’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) agenda. THE LEGAL RISKS OF GOVERNMENT GRIDLOCK Regulatory Roulette JOBSITE JUSTIC
The family of JJ, a preteen troubled by debilitating seizures, was struggling to manage the condition and allay its devastating effect on his learning and well-being. They tried numerous treatments and therapies, but nothing worked well enough to stabilize JJ’s health. Then, JJ’s community stepped up in a way that changed his life forever. Military veterans at Sun Outdoors, an RV community where JJ and his family live in Sarasota, Florida, learned about the difficult situation his family faced and took the initiative to help. THE SERVICE DOG THAT CHANGED A CHILD’S LIFE TRAINED TO PROTECT
Enter Ezra, the service dog.
The veterans reached out to Canines for Heroes, a Sarasota-based nonprofit founded by Air Force veteran Mark LaFlamme. As a highly decorated Air Force veteran of three combat operations in the Middle East, LaFlamme knew firsthand the challenges of dealing with post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); two of his fellow officers succumbed to the pain and took their own lives. As a way of coping with their loss, LaFlamme set out to help others by giving them access to the healing power of trained service dogs. Canines for Heroes has years of experience matching service dogs with individuals in need. So, Mark LaFlamme and his wife, Sandra, matched JJ with Ezra, a dog trained to detect oncoming seizures and provide emotional support. Ezra is a Czech shepherd, a Central European herding breed known for intelligence, alertness, intuitive ability, and loyalty. Service dogs’ sense of smell is more powerful than any machine and can detect changes instantaneously. They have been likened to a live- in medical alert system. They can also be trained to notice anxiety or discomfort and offer comfort and companionship, interrupting potential panic attacks by calming their human companions. With training by Julie Madison of Top Tier K9, a professional dog- training company, Ezra learned to detect seizures by using his ability to sense subtle changes in scent or behavior. He was also taught to alert JJ and those around him before any visible signs of a seizure appeared, allowing a few crucial moments for JJ to take medications to curtail the seizures and ensure he was in a safe place.
Construction is one of America’s most vital industries, employing 8 million Americans and creating more than $2 trillion worth of structures annually. However, the industry’s heavy reliance on potentially hazardous tools and equipment results in a considerable number of workplace injuries every year. There were 3,500 nonfatal injuries and 19 workplace- related fatalities reported within the Missouri construction industry in 2022 alone.
Common injuries in construction include (but are not limited to) slips and falls, falls from ladders or roofs, building collapses, falling objects, forklift accidents, defective work equipment, fires, and explosions. Fortunately, those who sustain a construction-related injury don’t need to experience the aftermath alone. Our firm’s team of personal injury attorneys is well-versed in recovering damages in this specialized field, and we’ve successfully utilized
our expertise to recover millions of dollars for our clients through verdicts and settlements. Our ultimate goal is to help the injured party receive fair compensation in accordance with Missouri personal injury and workers’ compensation laws. These
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