Jones & Hill November 2017

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The Must-Read, Change-Your-Life Newsletter helping seriously injured people for over 30 years

NOVEMBER 2017

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NOTHING LIKE THE DUCK HUNT THANKFUL FOR THE GREAT OUTDOORS—AND A GREAT HUNTING PARTNER

What are you thankful for? There’s great cause to have gratitude, especially this month. I’m grateful for the beautiful November weather. I’m grateful for my family, which is the light of my life. And, I’m grateful for football, because what kind of Louisiana man would I be if I wasn’t? One thing I’m especially grateful for every fall is duck hunting. I grew up in Oakdale, which means I had plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. When you’re out in the elements and away from the city noise, you really find yourself. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows.” One of my favorite activities, ever since I could hold a gun, was the fall duck hunt. Louisiana’s legacy of waterfowl hunting is well-documented. We even got international attention for it starting in 2012, when “Duck Dynasty” hit the airwaves. Love or hate the show, you can’t deny it — there’s no better place on Earth to create a duck call business than the Pelican State. Wideopenspaces.com rates Venice as the No. 2 place to duck hunt in the U.S., right behind Chesapeake Bay. For my money, it ought to be No. 1. The Chenier Plain is a generous area when it comes to all waterfowl. There’s nothing I love more than stepping out of the truck, zipping up my green and brown camouflage jumpsuit, tucking my boots in, and hitting the creeks and tall weeds, lying in wait. We see everything from gadwalls to green-winged teal around here. With a little patience and a decent aim, it’s not difficult to bring home several birds. I’m also lucky to have a legal partner who doubles as a hunting partner. The other Craig and I have spent long hours on weekends scouring for ducks. As you can see in the picture, we had a pretty

great haul earlier this year. I won’t tell you who the better shot is.

Around here, we see Thanksgiving turkey as a type of delicacy, especially if it’s deep-fried. I’m all about having turkey on Thanksgiving, but you know what tastes better? Something you hunt for yourself. Deep-fried turkey and crawfish aside, there’s no greater Louisiana delicacy than a nice gadwall I brought down, cleaned, and dressed myself.

It’s a good year to do it, too, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They estimate there’s 47.3 million breeding ducks in the country, the fifth largest

amount on record. Obviously, a huge chunk of them will be in Louisiana. People are reporting excellent numbers at hunts around the state (except for teals, but I’m not bothered). This Thanksgiving, once the table is cleared and people are sitting around the den, enjoying each other’s company and occasionally nibbling at leftovers, I hope you feel the same sense of gratitude as I do. We’ve had our food and football, and we will always have our family — and, hopefully, our hunting partners too.

Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving,

–Cra ig Jon e s

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3 CLEANING ‘RIP-OFFS’

THAT ACTUALLY WORK

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. But sometimes we stumble across a few hidden gems that make our lives easier. And, when it comes to cleaning house, we can all use a little “easier.” Check out these products you may have already written off and let them surprise you.

designed to use less water, and as soap becomes more concentrated, using too much can damage your machine. That’s what makes detergent pods so handy. They don’t look like they can clean all your dishes or an entire load of clothes, but they actually provide the perfect amount for modern machines. You save money on detergent and machine repair! FOAM CLEANING BLOCKS Anything with “magic” in the title sounds like a scam. For this reason, you may have avoided the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and similar melamine foam products. But this is one case where the product lives up to its wild claims. Melamine foam is abrasive and can break down and remove material from fine cracks and textures, making it an effective cleaner. It can be used to whiten sneakers, clean tub scum, and remove permanent marker from your fridge. Since the snake oil salesmen in the days of old first tricked trusting folks out of their hard-earned cash, consumers have wised up and are quick to write off perceived scams. Still, every now then you get lucky, and the cheap white sponge really does make the stove look like new again. But you should still think twice before you say yes to gas station sushi.

DOLLAR STORE CLEANING PRODUCTS If you’ve ever ducked into the local dollar store to buy some Mylar balloons for your niece’s birthday party, you might have noticed the jugs and spray bottles plastered with the word “Awesome.” Surely, this knock- off soap can’t work as well as your brand-name products, right? You’d be surprised. Online reviewers sing Awesome’s praises, suggesting it should really be a higher price for how well it works. Just make sure you wear gloves when you use it. DETERGENT PODS You use too much soap in your washing machine and dishwasher. At least, that’s what the New York Times reported as the No. 1 complaint from repair people and appliance experts. Modern appliances are

How Companies Try to Discredit You In a Worker’s Comp Case, a Private Investigator May Tail You

When it comes to workers’ compensation, companies go to great lengths to avoid paying you. That means they might have you under surveillance, and they’re probably digging for things online. If they can gather any evidence that you aren’t as injured as you say, they will use it against you. HOW ARE THEY WATCHING YOU? There are more than 50,000 private investigators in the United States, and many are employed by insurance companies. A private investigator will watch what you’re doing and take pictures

WHAT ABOUT THE INTERNET? We usually post things on Facebook that show us looking happy and enjoying life. But a picture of you and your friends at a tailgate party or on a boat doesn’t portray the level of suffering you’re probably experiencing below the surface as you try to function normally. If your friend posts about it, you can still expect the post to be seen by the company.

Things posted to social media sites are considered public domain, and you can bet a private investigator or lawyer will look into what you’re posting on social media.

of anything that might make your movements look unrestricted. If you carry your own groceries, lift your children, or even walk your dog, you could be accused of being healthier than you claim to be. We understand that anyone recovering from a workplace injury has good days and bad days. But those pictures can be used as “evidence” to pressure you into settling for less. They may even be used against you in the courtroom.

After a workers’ compensation case, we encourage you to be careful about how you behave in public and on social media. In the meantime, let us know how we can help as you seek the right compensation for your workplace injury.

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Houston Offshore Company Convicted in Platform Deaths

As a proud Louisiana law firm, we support the many offshore workers in our community and in communities nearby. Their work is challenging and often dangerous. That’s why these workers need to be protected as much as possible. Earlier this fall, a massive Houston offshore operations company was convicted in federal court on felony charges for safety and clean water violations. Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations LLC (BEE) was forced by a U.S. District Judge to pay $4.2 million in fines. The reason? They didn’t take care of their workers. Five years ago this month, a tragedy occurred at the BEE platform. It started after the company began platform repairs. Some repairs included “hot work,” which means welding, grinding, or anything that can produce a spark or heat. To do that, regulations require the company to get a permit after extensive precautions are taken. They initially got the permits, but after a few days, they stopped obtaining permits or having safety meetings. They became negligent. Unfortunately, this resulted in an explosion that took the lives of three of their workers and injured several more.

When it comes to oil work on the high seas, we can’t allow big companies

to get away with negligence, even if the regulations seem extensive and annoying. Lives are at stake. And if companies like BEE are lax in their safety and it results in any kind of accident, they are liable for damages and even criminal charges.

TAKE A BREAK

Brussels Sprouts With Sausage

Looking for an easy, delicious Thanksgiving side dish? This gem requires only a few ingredients.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

½ cup water

3.3 ounces fresh, hot Italian sausage

Salt and pepper

1½ pounds Brussels sprouts

Directions

1. Trim sprouts and cut in half. 2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, 3–5 minutes. 3. Add sprouts to skillet. Add ½ cup water. Add salt and pepper. Cover and cook 10 minutes or until just tender. Check them periodically and add a bit more water, if necessary.

4. When sprouts are just about done, remove cover and raise heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring just once or twice, for a couple more minutes. The liquid should evaporate, and the sprouts should start to brown. 5. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot or warm. Serves 4.

APPLE CORN CRANBERRY FAMILY FOOTBALL

GRAVY HAM PARADE PIES POTATOES

PUMPKIN ROLLS SQUASH STUFFING TURKEY

Recipe courtesy of InTheKitchenWithKath.com.

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Phone: (888) 481-1333 Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. www.joneshilllaw.com

Jones & Hill Injury Lawyers 131 Highway 165 South Oakdale, LA 71463

ATTUNE KNEE SYSTEM FAILURE

Recently, an article published in the Journal of Knee Surgery reported that orthopedic surgeons have encountered an unusually high rate of failures of the Attune Knee System. After investigation, it was revealed that the failures could be attributed to the separation of the tibial implant cement interface, which is the glue holding the implant in place. The glue does not stick adequately to the tibial component of the Attune Knee System, which causes the implant to loosen and eventually become displaced. Thousands of patients have been implanted with this system. If you are one of those patients, it is important to know the symptoms associated with premature failures: instability and loosening, unusual swelling, decreased range of motion, and persistent pain. In most cases, the only medical solution for patients who have experienced a premature failure is to undergo a revision surgery to remove the faulty implant and replace it. These revision surgeries are often more painful and invasive than the initial replacement surgery. If you have undergone an Attune Knee System surgery, please be aware of the risks involved with premature failure, and do not hesitate to call your lawyer and your doctor if you start to experience symptoms.

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