Winston & Damman February 2019
On Your Side (810) 966-WINS (9467)
February 2019
Overcoming Adversity “I’m honored of the way my team fought in the middle of this adversity, and I’m What Our Team Recently Learned
A s both a mom and a lawyer, I’m constantly shuffling between roles to help my clients and support my children. My three kids know when I’m preparing for a trial that I’m going to be busier than usual, and even though they might not see me as much for a few weeks, it will get better. Likewise, my clients know that I will fight for them, despite whatever else I may have going on in my professional and personal life. This fall, a long-time employee who had been an integral part of our team, took a leave of absence while she dealt with some of the hardest cards life can deal. We subsequently took on her tasks, balancing our own with a new mix of duties, and we kept ourselves afloat the best we could. Unfortunately, we ultimately agreed to move on, and we felt the loss of this employee tremendously. However, I’m happy to report that Winston & Damman now has a new operations manager, Chris Schweihofer. With Chris’ guidance, we have been establishing new processing systems and generating a better basis for how to operate while still serving our clients the best we can. I’m honored by the way my team fought in the middle of this adversity, and I’m proud to say that amid the upheaval and strenuous days, we’ve made sure we put our clients first. And that’s how it will always be, especially as we continue with this new process and flesh out the procedures. I’ve always been of the mindset that we’re all human, and we will never be perfect. We may strive
to be perfect, but no one can live their life without a single flaw. Despite my perfectionist streak, I’ve had to recognize life happens. When adversity strikes us, we have to keep trudging through the muck and fighting for our clients. Every day I see clients who are facing extreme hardship, and the adversity that we have faced in recent months at Winston & Damman hasn’t been worse than that by any means. We’ve been lucky enough to regroup from where we are and plan for where we can be. No one should be expected to rake through life’s hardships alone, and I feel very lucky to have the team that I do. Thankfully, this past holiday season we were all able to catch our breath. I took some time off to be with my husband and my children, who were all off from school. We enjoyed a wonderful family vacation of simply doing nothing, and we’re gearing up for an accomplishment- filled 2019. Our eldest daughter, Hannah, proud to say that amongst the upheaval and strenuous days, we’ve made sure we put our clients first.”
will be graduating from high school this June, and as she prepares for her lead role in the school’s production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” she’s also getting ready for college auditions for her musical theatre major. I want to take this opportunity to thank every client who has trusted us with their cases and turned to us in the trying times in their lives. At Winston & Damman, we always knew the power that comes from hard work and team dedication, but in the past few months, we’ve seen that concept put into practice. We’re building this process brick by brick, but our mission that has always been in place will never change: helping you put up your best fight against your adversity.
–Nicole Winston
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Breaking Through the TV Terminology
4K, HDR, and OLED Defined
When you shop for a new TV these days,
Marketers decided to swap the vertical resolution as their reference point with the horizontal resolution, because higher numbers are more impressive, right? But 4K TVs seem to fall short of the moniker. Regardless, these TVs have improved color and image quality over standard HD, but you have to have devices — such as the PlayStation 4 Pro or a Blu-ray player — or services that output in 4K to take advantage of the boost in pixels. HDR High Dynamic Range, or HDR, is a type of image processing. When an image is processed, HDR is used to increase or decrease the luminosity of the image. It means bright whites, deeper blacks, and improved colors overall. It’s been used in photography for decades and in video since the 1990s. Most 4K TVs have built-in HDR processing, resulting in better color quality, which translates to better image quality overall. OLED Short for organic light-emitting diode, OLED TVs feature a microscopically thin layer of an organic compound that emits light when an electric current is introduced. Typical LED TVs rely on a backlight in order to produce a lit, visible image. These backlights take up space, resulting in a thicker TV. The major advantage of OLED TVs is they are incredibly thin and light, and they produce deeper blacks for an improved color and image quality.
you’re greeted with a bevy of acronyms and numbers — marketing terms you can’t make sense of. These are terms like 4K, HDR,
and OLED, just to name a few. TV makers leave it up to you to figure out what these terms mean. Well, look no further. We’re going to cut through the marketing speak and get to the point. Here’s what today’s popular TV marketing terms really mean. 4K The TV buzzword “4K” has replaced “HDTV” and “1080p” as the go-to marketing term. In short, it’s a reference to the number of pixels on the screen. Standard high-definition TVs (1080p) have a vertical resolution of 1,080 pixels and a horizontal resolution of 1,920. Here’s where it gets weird. 4K TVs have a vertical resolution of 2,160 pixels with a horizontal resolution of 3,840.
Dismantling Disability How Can a Lawyer Help You Keep Your Disability Income
If you’re living with a chronic condition or serious injury, you know how physically and emotionally taxing everyday tasks can be — especially a job. Luckily, disability income is designed to help those who are struggling to make ends meet when they cannot work due to a serious injury or condition.
The best way to figure out what your rights are when you’re considering disability income is to hire a qualified lawyer to walk you through the process and any complications that crop up. Since these complications can vary from person to person, legal aid is the best way to find a solution. But there are some intricacies that are important to learn. First of all, your disability qualification will be reviewed periodically, based on your condition. If you’re more likely than not to recover from your condition, your case will be reviewed on a more frequent basis. Furthermore, if your benefits are terminated — you will receive a letter if this happens — you have 10 days to file an appeal to continue receiving payments until the matter is resolved.
Unfortunately, it’s also very confusing.
There are three different kinds of a disability a person can qualify for, each with a varying level of coverage and guidelines. Social Security Income is available to anyone with a qualifying disability, and it never requires the
user to pay or contribute to its services. However, this places a limit on howmuch users can receive. For those who have worked in the workforce prior to qualifying for disability payments, they can apply for Social Security Disability Income , which gives them access to more benefits. Lastly, some employers opt to get Long-TermDisability Insurance . This covers their employees who become disabled and cannot work for a minimum of six months, but it can be a confusing process.
Overall, you have 60 days to file an appeal on the issue. If you don’t win your appeal, you could be asked to pay back the money you did receive during the appeal process. If you have questions about disability income or if you’ve recently had your benefits terminated, Winston & Damman Attorneys & Counselors at Law can help you. Call (810) 966-9467 or visit WinstonDamman.com.
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Past the Breaking Point Managing Stress During Your Case
Choose Healthy Coping Skills Be careful not fall into harmful vices. While there’s nothing wrong with
Being in an accident is a terrible experience. The physical injuries, as well as the mental and emotional anguish, can be life-changing, which is why we have a process for accident survivors to seek compensation through personal injury claims. While the outcomes of these cases can help survivors rebuild their lives, you cannot overlook the stress and mental health strain that involvement in a personal injury case can cause. Many people start to worry about the financial burdens of medical bills and missed work due to their injuries. There is a considerable time investment as you work with your attorney and attend court cases. We have seen clients become overwhelmed by their stressful situation. Here’s what you can do to protect your mental health during your case. Get Enough Rest You cannot manage your stress if you are worn out. Though a personal injury case can demand a lot of attention, do not let your health pay the price. Be sure you’re getting enough sleep. Physical pain or mental anguish after an accident can make restful sleep hard to come by, so it’s important to get as much rest as you can. This could include naps during the day, meditation, or just taking time for yourself.
occasionally grabbing that bag of chips after a bad day, you don’t want to channel the stress of your case into over- or undereating, alcohol, drug use, compulsive spending, or emotional outbursts. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, give yourself permission to take a walk, participate in a hobby, exercise, or engage in some other healthy activity. Even just 15 minutes can make a huge difference. Find the Right Support Remember that you are not alone and surround yourself with the support you need. Friends and family members can be a big help, but don’t underestimate the value of a therapist or a support group of people who share your experiences. Your attorney should also be providing you with support as well as their legal expertise. Don’t be afraid to express your stress and fears to your attorney. They may be able to offer advice or reassurance. Above all else, remember that it is normal to feel stressed or anxious when dealing with legal matters. Your emotions are not a sign of weakness, and you will be able to make it through your situation.
Valentine’s Day Cookie Cards
Roll this classic sugar cookie recipe into thin sheets and cut into rectangles for delicious valentines.
INGREDIENTS
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour • 3/4 cup sugar • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 2 sticks unsalted butter, cold and cut into 1/2-inch cubes DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 375 F. 2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour with sugar and salt. Add butter and combine using a mixer at low speed, until butter breaks down into small, crumbly pieces. Increase mixing speed to medium and mix until butter and flour clump. 3. Add egg yolks and vanilla extract to bowl, return mixer
• 2 large egg yolks • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract • Royal icing, sprinkles, and
edible markers, for decorating
to low, and mix until dough congeals. 4. Carefully roll dough into a sheet 1/16-inch thick and cut into 4x6-inch cards. 5. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, bake cookie cards for 6 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. 6. Let cookies cool completely, decorate, and distribute.
AQUARIUS CHOCOLATE FEBRUARY LEAP ROSES
ARROW CUPID FLOWERS LOVE SWEET
CANDY DATE
HEART PISCES VALENTINE
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this edition INSIDE
PAGE 1 PAGE 2
Learning Through Adversity 3 Terms You Need to Know Before Buying a New TV Understanding Your Disability Income 3 Steps to Combat Stress Valentine’s Day Cookie Cards All About Chocolate
PAGE 3
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What You Didn’t Know About
Fun Facts to Wow Your Loved Ones This Valentine’s Day
Chocolate is a treat savored by people all over the world. What we know as the sweet, creamy decadence that sustains Valentine’s Day actually has greater historical and cultural significance. Fermented chocolate drinks have been dated back to as early as 350 B.C. The Aztecs believed it was the beverage of wisdom, and the Mayans saw it as something to be worshipped. While the history of chocolate is as rich as its flavor, there are some common misconceptions about the treat. Dutch chocolate doesn’t necessarily refer to chocolate made in the Netherlands; the name refers to a specific chocolate-making process that uses the cocoa press. Before Dutch chemist and chocolate-maker C.J. van Houten invented the machine in 1828, chocolate was only used in beverages. Dutch chocolate is chocolate that
has been modified with an alkalizing agent in order to produce a milder flavor, making it a fantastic option for use in baked goods, candy, and ice cream. German chocolate actually has nothing to do with the country of Germany, either. It used to be called “German’s chocolate,” named after its inventor, Sam German, an American who made sweet chocolate for baking. Adding sugar to the chocolate made it a go-to option for bakers around the world, and the base for German chocolate cake was born. For chocolate to be classified as Swiss, it has to be made in Switzerland, as chocolate-making is considered an art form in the country. Known for its “melt in your mouth” quality, Swiss chocolate uses condensed milk to add a velvety
texture. Many chocolate makers outside of Switzerland will refer to their interpretations of Swiss chocolate as milk chocolate instead.
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