Take a look at our newsletter this month.
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5/20
BUILD IT. PROTECT IT. PRESERVE IT.
get a burger without cheese, it just seems like it’s lacking something, even with all the other toppings you might put on it. While our legal team is incredible, I take that necessary component of our firm, and I make it better. THE BUNS A pair of really tasty buns can make even a bad hamburger taste a little better. Likewise, I’ve noticed a great introduction and sendoff can have a profound impact on our clients. Just like how a great pair of honey buns (my personal favorite hamburger buns) encapsulate a great burger and add to its taste, how we greet our clients and see them off really adds to their experience with our firm.
WHAT MAKES A GREAT BURGER
AND A GREAT LAW FIRM
May is the inaugural month of barbecue season, and no cookout would be complete without a generous helping of tasty burgers. In fact, May being National Hamburger Month is a testament to the enduring popularity of a well-made burger. There are plenty of opinions when it comes to what constitutes the perfect burger, but the basic elements — buns, cheese, toppings, and patty — are almost always a part of the equation. Funny enough, I realized the other day that the elements that make a great burger correlate pretty well with the elements that make up a great business. THE PATTY The ground beef is what makes a burger, well, a hamburger. It’s what you expect when someone makes you a hamburger. If a burger has anything, it should have a patty that’s well made to your satisfaction. At Littlejohn Law, our hamburger patty is our legal knowledge. We’re the people knowledgeable about Real Estate, Business, Estate Planning, and Personal Injury cases. You expect us to know the law and analysis how it affects your specific facts. THE CHEESE On the burger that is our law firm, I am the cheese. When you need to take a good burger and make it great, you add some cheese — preferably cheddar or maybe pepper jack if you’re asking me. When you
THE TOPPINGS Everybody likes the toppings on their
burger a little different. Lots of people like the standard fixings, like lettuce, tomatoes, onions, ketchup, mustard, and mayo. But, not every person is the same — some people
really like jalapenos, or maybe bacon, on their burgers. Similarly, not every client is going to have the same needs and desires for their case. In that way, the toppings are kind of like the client experience that the buns encapsulate. We’re not just a bare-minimum burger kind of law firm. We’ll make sure you get whatever toppings you need for your case. THE SECRET SAUCE You can have a perfectly good burger without secret sauce. If you do have it, though, it can make your burger a cut above the rest. In this area, many law firms aren’t able to take your case as a team. At Littlejohn Law, however, we take every case as a team. That way, at least one of us can be available to answer any questions you might have at any time of day. That’s our secret sauce — what makes us a cut above the rest.
As barbecue season starts up, I wish you all a summer filled with tasty hamburgers. And if you ever need the best legal team around, you know who to call.
–Edward Littlejohn
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BEFORE IT ARRIVES PREPARING FOR THE WORST
Keeping you and your loved ones healthy is your first priority, but have you taken steps to protect your ability to make important decisions for yourself and your family? Have you ensured that your financial and medical affairs can be taken care of in the case of an unexpected life emergency such as the current coronavirus pandemic? Look, we hope that you and your family stay healthy and safe, but in the event you or your loved one gets sick and needs to go to the hospital or self-quarantine, it is critical that you have a plan in place to address certain medical and financial matters. Who knows how much longer we will be practicing “social distancing.” This shouldn’t be a surprise ... estate planning is and always has been a very important aspect of personal, family, and asset protection. But, often it gets no priority because no one likes to think about these difficult things. Most people fail to realize that in times like these, while we self- quarantine for an uncertain period of time, the most important part of estate planning is not what happens when you pass away, but rather, what happens when you’re alive but unable to act because of incapacity or disability. If you’re self-quarantined in your home, is someone legally in place to act on your behalf? Have you appointed a durable power of attorney authorized to take necessary steps to ensure your financial affairs remain in good standing? Do you have someone who can go to the bank and ensure your mortgage is paid, deal with third parties, and take care of business so your family is protected? If you’re quarantined at the hospital, do you have a health care power of attorney entrusted to make your medical decisions in case things take a turn for the worst? Do you have someone to ensure you receive proper medical attention and can make the tough decisions about what treatment is right for you? Federal laws can prevent close family from being on the receiving end of your medical updates unless you’ve authorized them ahead of time through a HIPPA authorization. The bottom line is this: If you don’t have a comprehensive estate plan that addresses these issues, then your family, friends, and loved ones will be forced to petition the courts before they can make these decisions for you.
If you don’t have an estate plan, perhaps now is a good time, at the very least, to get your durable power of attorney and health care power of attorney. There is so much of this world that you cannot control. Through the use of estate planning tools, you can take control of something that will bring you peace of mind. These tools will allow someone else to carry on your day-to-day financial decisions and make health care decisions for you. Please get in touch if you are ready to get this handled and would like our help. And if you would prefer to handle these matters without the hassle of coming into our office, please note our firm is set up to assist you remotely. This means we can handle most things over phone, email, or video chat.
LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE ESQUIRE CLEANERS
A great place to get your clothes dry-cleaned.
4332 Sunset Blvd. #4 Steubenville, OH 43952 (740) 264-1015
2 | 740-314-4829 This newsletter is for informational purposes only and no legal advice is intended. Be sure to consult with this law firm if you have a specific question about your situation. And, remember Edward and Jeff don’t take any unplanned inbound telephone or in-person meetings. We believe each case deserves our undivided attention.
ENJOYING FAMILY TIME DURING QUARANTINE WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN?
The last few months have been interesting to say the least, interesting in the fact that we live in an ever-changing environment that has been fairly consistent for a while now. Adjusting to the “new norm” is changing the way we do everything. But my hope is that the economy will bounce back and everything will get back to normal soon. However, the reality is that we just don’t know when “social distancing” will end. In the meantime, try to enjoy the quality time with your family. Take advantage of the technology available so you don’t miss out on the important things like Mother’s Day. Maybe this year, instead of eating out, you can eat-in with your mom. What about using this time as an opportunity to do some spring-cleaning? We’ve been getting rid of stuff at the office, recycling, and making sure we have electronic copies of
everything. It’s a great time for some spring-cleaning.
Be safe and stay well.
Happy Mother’s Day!
GRILLED PRIME RIB
Inspired by Primal Palate
Who says the cookout has to ruin your diet? Try this paleo-friendly recipe for a main dish that’s worthy of your next barbecue.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 1/2 lbs beef rib roast • 1 tsp Himalayan salt • 1/2 tsp black pepper
DIRECTIONS
1. Take rib roast out of the refrigerator 30 minutes prior to grilling. 2. Season roast with salt and pepper and allow it to rest for 10 minutes while you heat a gas grill to 600 F. 3. Sear roast for 3–4 minutes on each side. 4. Turn off the grill but continue cooking the steak, flipping every 4–5 minutes, until it reaches an internal temperature of 125 F. Remove from grill. 5. Allow the roast to rest — its internal temperature will continue to climb — for 5–10 minutes. Slice and serve.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
WHAT MAKES A GREAT BURGER (AND LAW FIRM)
2
PREPARING FOR THE WORST
LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE
3
WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN
GRILLED PRIME RIB
4
WHAT IS GARDENING GOOD FOR?
HEALTH BENEFITS OF FAMILY GARDENING
Give Your Kid the Gift of a Green Thumb
Yes, there will always be football season, basketball season, and soccer season, but right now, it’s gardening season. That means it’s time to roll up your sleeves and play in the dirt. If you’ve been searching for a way to get the kids away from technology and engaged with the real world, gardening is the perfect activity for the whole family to enjoy. Not only is it fun, but it’s also beneficial for your kids’ development. For example, gardening can improve your children’s analytical abilities. As Dr. Wendy Matthews says, “Gardening exercises important reasoning, initiation, planning, and organization skills.” Furthermore, several studies, including one at Texas A&M University, suggest that gardening improves a child’s attitude toward fruits and vegetables and may make them more likely to choose them as snacks. Gardening helps kids identify with where their food is coming from, and nothing tastes better than a freshly picked strawberry or pea pod they grew themselves. Jack Gilbert, a scientist at the University of Chicago and a parent himself, and his co-author, Rob Knight, emphasize the health benefits of garden time in their book, “Dirt Is Good: The Advantage of Germs for Your Child’s Developing Immune System.” The two found that
exposure to different microbes, like those found in a garden, strengthens a child’s immune system and makes them less likely to develop allergies.
If this is your first time gardening, you don’t need much to get started.
Grab a few shovels, a pair of gloves for each family member, and fresh potting soil, and you’ll be set. Then, you can decide together which plants you’d like to grow! Carrots are fun because of the surprise factor — just imagine your child discovering that the part they eat grows below the ground! Peas are tasty and fairly easy to grow, as are strawberries. The options really are endless. Depending on the growing season in your area, you can choose to buy seeds or opt for rooted plants.
Last but certainly not least, the best part of gardening as a family is the healthy, fresh produce you’ll get to enjoy all summer long!
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