Compton Law October 2018

October 2018

www.ComptonLawFirm.net (405) 542-2529

HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS FAMILY TRADITIONS AND HAUNTED HOUSES

Halloween is a big deal in my family, especially for the kids. My daughter, Addysen, loves spending time with her cousins and participating in Halloween activities. There’s a park near us where a pumpkin painting event is held, and the kids get excited for it every year. They each choose a pumpkin and paint it any color they want. They’ve made some pretty spectacular creations over the years. While they love pumpkin painting, their favorite Halloween activity is, of course, trick-or-treating. And in our family, we put a little twist on the Halloween tradition. To add a little extra fun to trick-or- treating, one of us adults makes a hayride for the kids to ride on while they go door-to-door.

This year, Addysen has decided to be Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” and is excited for the big night. Since my childhood, Halloween has always been exciting. I love the costumes, decorations, scary movies, and the transition of the seasons. The spooky aspect of Halloween is one of my favorite parts of the holiday, and it seems that Addysen feels the same way. She’s never been to a haunted house, but she told me that this is her year — she’s finally going to go to a haunted house. Over by Hydra Park, they set up a pumpkin patch and hayrides and sell candy apples and other fall treats. At night, they feature a haunted corn maze. We were there

one evening and happened to catch them as they were setting up the maze, and that sparked Addysen’s interest. Addysen saw how spooky it was, and she’s still determined to go. Getting scared is one of the great things about Halloween. When I was a kid, I always made an effort to go to every haunted house or corn maze that I could. I liked being scared and seeing all the work that went into the decorations and costumes. Now I look forward to all the Halloween stores that open up around town. Our family likes to head to the different stores and check out all the cool Halloween decor and the costumes they have. The biggest pleasure I get this time of year is spending time with my family. Whether it’s Addysen and all her cousins painting pumpkins, watching all the kids fill up their candy bags on Halloween night, or seeing so many fantastic costumes, it’s always a fun time of year. No matter what your tradition is, I hope that all of you have a Happy Halloween!

“THE SPOOKY ASPECT OF HALLOWEEN IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE HOLIDAY, AND IT SEEMS THAT ADDYSEN FEELS THE SAME WAY. SHE’S NEVER BEEN TO A HAUNTED HOUSE, BUT SHE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS HER YEAR — SHE’S FINALLY GOING TO GO TO A HAUNTED HOUSE.”

–Dustin L. Compton

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HOW TO ACHIEVE A MORE RESTFUL NIGHT’S SLEEP

A good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your mind and body. One study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research found that the quality of your sleep is much more important than the quantity — that is, if you want to feel rested. And we all want to feel rested. So, what can you do to improve the quality of your sleep and get the rest you need? Listen to your body. This, above all else, is crucial to a good night’s sleep. Your body knows when it’s time for bed. Generally, you want to go to bed when you feel tired, whether that’s at 8 p.m. or 1 a.m. Whenever your body tells you it needs rest, you should

make a habit of going to bed then. The more consistent you are, the better your sleep will be.

electronic screen — a TV, computer, tablet, or smartphone — before bed is detrimental to sleep quality. Light from these devices is disruptive to your brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which helps regulate your circadian rhythm, and screen time before bed can throw off normal SCN function. Put your excuses for staying up too late to bed. Say no to “one more episode.” And all those emails? They can wait until tomorrow. Not getting enough quality sleep is harmful to your mental and physical health. When you get into the habit of following these three tips, you’ll find yourself feeling rested and refreshed in no time.

Wake up naturally. Jolting yourself awake with an alarm or radio isn’t doing your brain and body any favors (it can be stressful on the body and even elevate blood pressure, which is not good first thing in the morning). If you do need an alarm, consider a wake-up light. Wake-up lights mimic the sunrise, slowly brightening the room, waking your body in a natural, gentle way.

Kick the screen habit. You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again: Looking at an

TESTIMONIALS THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SHARED THEIR KIND WORDS

Our clients were once scared victims, but now they have the closure they need to move on. Here are a few testimonials we’ve received from people we’ve helped through troubling times. Thank you all for these kinds words.

“I have known Dustin for about 11 years. First he was a client of mine, and now he is not only a client but also a good friend. He has assisted us in numerous legal issues involving setting up our will, trust, and business planning. We can’t say enough good things about him, his practice, and his family. Dustin will counsel you on how to proceed, and you can trust his advice.”

“My son was significantly injured in a car wreck. Words just can’t express how much I appreciated the way Dustin and his law firm handled my case. I literally thought I was lost, but Compton Law came along and helped me piece my life and family back together.”

“A very great attorney and a great all-around guy in general. When working with Dustin, you feel as though you are speaking with a friend, not just someone out for your pocket book! I would recommend him, his staff, and his services to anyone!”

–Chad, Oklahoma

–Betty

–Melissa, Oklahoma

“Mr. Compton is hands down one of the most dedicated, focused men of law I have ever had the pleasure to meet! He is definitely a perfectionist with his craft. Thank you for all that you have done!”

–Brandon, Oklahoma City

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BAD FAITH CLAIMS

If you’re injured and have insurance, it’s only natural to think that you’ll have some or complete coverage for the accident. However, there are many cases in which an insurance company fails to properly handle or pay a policy correctly. Insurance companies have certain statutes, laws, policies, and common sense rules they have to follow, and when they fail to do so, the result is a bad faith insurance claim. This claim is determined through state law, and the Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled it as an intentional tort. A tort, as defined by the legal encyclopedia, is “an act that is committed by one party and ends up causing harm to another.” What this means is that if an insurance company doesn’t treat you in good faith or fair dealings, you have grounds to file a lawsuit against them. Two things must be proven to make this claim successful — whether you had any benefits from the policy withheld from you and whether it was unjustified. Standards of reasonable insurance company conduct play a significant role in a bad faith claim. If the company starts off with specific standards and the claim adjuster violates one of them, it can lead to a lawsuit. These standards can come from an insurance company’s advertising or claims handling mantra. For example, if an insurance company says their claim-handling philosophy is “We pay what we owe — nothing more, nothing less,” it qualifies as a rule that the company must follow.

An insurance company has to deal fairly and act in good faith with its insured, but that isn’t always the case. If you have had any problems with your insurance company, give our offices a call using the number below, and speak to one of our attorneys today.

MEME ME

HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOWS

INSTRUCTIONS

INGREDIENTS

3 packages unflavored gelatin 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1. In a mixing bowl, combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water. Let sit while you make the syrup. 2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water until the sugar dissolves. 3. Raise heat to high and bring syrup up to 240 F, using a candy thermometer to check for temperature. 4. With an electric whisk on low speed, slowly whisk syrup into gelatin mixture. Switch speed to high and whip for 15 minutes, until very thick. Fold in vanilla after whipping. 5. Dust a nonmetal baking dish with powdered sugar and spoon mixture into dish. Smooth mixture, top with more powdered sugar, and let stand uncovered overnight. 6. Cut into squares, decorate, and serve.

1 cup light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract Powdered sugar, to coat

Inspired by foodnetwork.com

Your Trusted Legal Partners • (405) 542-2529 • 3

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

120 W. Main St. Hinton, OK 73047

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Hayrides and Pumpkin Painting

2

Sleep Better and Feel Great

Satisfied Clients Reaping the Benefits From Our Firm

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What Is Insurance Bad Faith?

Homemade Marshmallows

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Trick-or-Treating Safety!

EVEN THE MOST FRIGHTENING GHOULS NEED TO BE CAREFUL

CHOOSE SMART COSTUMES Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween without costumes! They should be fun, but you can also make them safer by following a few simple guidelines. Add reflective tape to candy bags and costumes and wear light colors to stand out in the dark. Buying or making the right- sized costumes is also important. If they’re too large, they create a tripping hazard, and if they’re too tight, they can restrict movement. If your child wears a mask, make sure they can see out of it properly. MAKE A PLAN Before heading out to trick or treat, create a plan and discuss it with every member of your family. This ensures that if someone in your group wanders off, they’ll know where to look for you or where to go. In case you’re separated, label your child’s costume with your name, address, and phone number.

Happy Halloween, you goblins, ghouls, witches, and spooks! It’s that time of year again when kids and adults alike can dress up and roam the streets as their favorite heroes, frights, or princesses. While kids are eager to show off their outfits and fill their pillowcases with sugary treasures, it’s crucial to be aware of the potential dangers on Halloween night. PRACTICE STREET SAFETY Make sure your kids understand basic road safety. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, “Children are more likely to be struck by a vehicle and killed during Halloween than any other day of the year.” Before heading out for some good old- fashioned trick-or-treating, take the time to go over basic safety tips. Teach kids

to look both ways before crossing, use crosswalks and traffic signals, cross streets on the corners, and never run across the street. Making eye contact with drivers before walking in front of their cars is also a good way to make sure the driver knows the child is there.

If your children are old enough to trick or treat without adults, make sure that their cellphones are charged and on them at all times, and schedule regular check-ins.

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