Take a look at our December newsletter!
816-268-1960 | 913-428-8220 www.dickersonoxton.com DEC 2023
ANIMAL BITES
CAR ACCIDENTS
LIGHT, UNITY, AND JOY This month, families across the U.S. will come together, share a meal, and celebrate their culture’s holiday traditions. It’s also a time for joy, compassion, love, and understanding.
Understanding the Beautiful Diversity of December Holidays
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
CHRISTMAS Christmas is a holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Since the U.S. is a multicultural country, families celebrate the
all eight are lit on the eighth night. And, since oil played such a large role in Hanukkah’s origin, many of the foods families eat during the practice are fried, like potato latke or sufganiya, a type of jelly-filled doughnut. Children also receive Hanukkah gelt, a gift of money, during this holiday and play dreidel for small prizes like coins. KWANZAA Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday that celebrates African heritage and is based on traditional African harvest festivals. It begins on Dec. 26 and lasts until Jan. 1, a seven-day celebration corresponding to the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa, or Nguzo Saba. During these seven days, seven candles are lit, and seven symbols are placed inside the home. The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa are: • Umoja (Unity) • Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) • Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) • Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) • Nia (Purpose) • Kuumba (Creativity) • Imani (Faith) Over the seven days, families and friends gather to share meals, give gifts, celebrate their heritage, and look toward the future. Many of the meals families share are stews with rice, biscuits, yams, or black-eyed peas.
BICYCLE/ MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS
That’s why I wanted to take this chance to highlight some of those different holidays so many families will celebrate in an effort to help all of us learn something new about others in our communities. I believe taking the time to learn a little bit about other cultures — and their holidays — outside of our own will help us all become a little closer, compassionate, and joyful during this special time of year. HANUKKAH Hanukkah, sometimes spelled Chanukah, is the Jewish wintertime “festival of lights,” which lasts eight days and is celebrated with a special nightly menorah lighting, special prayers, and fried foods. This year, Hanukkah runs from Dec. 7–15. The origins of Hanukkah trace back to the second century BCE and celebrate the Jewish people’s reclamation of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after driving out Greek rule and religion. When the Jewish people reentered the Holy Temple to light the menorah, only one small jar of oil was left behind by the Greeks. Miraculously, the menorah burned bright for a full eight days on just one day’s supply of oil. To celebrate Hanukkah, families light one candle on their menorah every night, adding an additional candle until
holiday differently. Many Americans, especially
BRAIN & SPINAL CORD INJURIES
Christians, go to church on Christmas Day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, whom they believe to be the living son of God. It’s also common for churches to offer programs or events where they act out or retell the Nativity story. Almost all who celebrate Christmas also accept Santa Claus, who was actually a bishop from the fourth century named St. Nicholas. Families who celebrate Christmas will often decorate their homes with lights, Christmas trees, snowmen, and reindeer. It’s also customary to gather with friends and family on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to share large, elaborate meals and exchange gifts. Traditional Christmas dinners involve roasted meat or poultry and roasted root vegetables. I hope by taking the time to learn a little more about these cultural and religious holidays, you feel a little closer to someone you may know who celebrates them. And finally, no matter what you celebrate, I hope your December is filled with love, light, and happiness — happy holidays, from my family to yours. –Chelsea Dickerson
BURN INJURIES
CONSTRUCTION INJURIES
NURSING HOME ABUSE
SLIP & FALL ACCIDENTS
BOATING ACCIDENTS
TRUCK ACCIDENTS
PHARMACEUTICAL & DRUG INJURIES
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At Dickerson Oxton Law, staying up to date with the latest strategies, technologies, and resources in the legal field is incredibly important to us. Not only that, but we’re firm believers in continuing to educate ourselves through seminars and conferences. And, when we learn something we think is important for other personal injury attorneys to know to help their clients, we even teach some of those seminars and speak at those conferences ourselves. Recently, Tom and Chelsea Dickerson and Kahlie Hoffman spoke at a nationwide conference in San Diego. Kahlie and Chelsea spoke together in a presentation where they and a doctor showed attorneys different radiology imagery of injuries and explained how understanding these images can help in personal injury cases. Tom’s presentation at this event was on spinal cord injuries. He, with a panel of four other attorneys, educated other lawyers on the complexities and effects this type of injury can have on a person and their case. Chelsea and Tom also plan to speak at an event this month! Chelsea’s presentation will focus on DTI and 3T MRI scans in the context of traumatic brain injuries or TBIs. Their goal will be to educate other attorneys on how to properly use these scans to help their clients since DTI and 3T MRIs are relatively newer BEYOND THE COU Dickerson Oxton Law’s Com to Sharing Legal Knowledg December is a month of many things: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the first day of winter, breaks from school and work, and quality time with family and friends. It’s also a month of some of Kansas City’s most exciting events. So, grab your partner, your kids, your best friend, or even your pooch, and check out these wonderful winter festivities! WINTER MAGIC Until Dec. 31, 2023 | 1800 Cliff Drive | WinterMagicKC.com Hop in your car and head on over to Kansas City’s biggest drive-thru holiday light show! For $25 per vehicle, you can drive through a 1-mile course of incredible synchronized holiday lights as you listen to a curated track of modern versions of your favorite holiday classics. And starting this year, they are offering delicious snacks such as savory popcorn and sweet cotton candy, which you can purchase along with your ticket and pick up in person. CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH KANSAS CITY’S MOST EXCITING WINTER EVENTS!
Anyone robbing a house must know they’re getting into a dangerous situation. But the teenager who burgled Adam Pearl’s Meridian, Idaho, home had no idea what consequences were in store. Many homeowners have a guard dog, but Pearl got his home security from Joey, his pet squirrel. One day in 2017, Pearl came home and saw that something seemed amiss. Joey was excited, and the doors he’d left closed were now open. After finding scratches on the lock of his gun safe, Pearl knew there’d been a robbery and called the police. Officer Ashley Turner couldn’t help but notice Joey’s presence in the house but didn’t believe he was connected with the case — at first. A few hours later, Turner returned to Pearl’s house with his missing belongings and a story to tell. She’d partially identified the perpetrator by the suspicious scratches on his hands. During questioning, Turner said the burglar confessed to the home invasion and explained why he’d left sooner than intended: Joey attacked while he was attempting to break into the gun safe. Unsurprisingly, the rodent’s violence was frightening. “He wasn’t expecting to have, you know, a squirrel come flying out of nowhere at him,” Officer Turner said. The thief reported that leaving was the only way to stop Joey’s aggression. After learning of his bravery, Pearl rewarded Joey with his favorite candy, Whoppers. But he then had a difficult choice ahead. When Joey was still a tiny baby, Pearl and his wife had taken in the abandoned squirrel. They had intended to release Joey back into the wild when spring came, but they were no longer sure. Ultimately, they let Joey decide. After he started playing with other squirrels through the home’s sliding glass door, the Pearls installed a cat door so he could come and go as he pleased. Joey spent several weeks outdoors with other squirrels by day and returned to the Pearls by night. Eventually, he requested one final scratch behind the ears before THE GUARD SQUIRREL WHO WENT NUTS ON A BURGLAR
disappearing into an apple tree and leaving the Pearls’ house behind forever.
Though Joey returned to the great outdoors to live with his kind, his legend is a warning to humans. When you break into someone’s home, you never know what you might find.
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URTROOM
technologies. What’s exciting about these newer scans, though, is that they allow doctors and attorneys to view previously difficult- to-identify injuries like microbleeds in the brain. mmitment ge
Tom will give his presentation on wrongful death cases in Kansas and the caps that apply to them. He’ll help
TAKE A BREAK
other attorneys understand ways to overcome those caps using different legal strategies that will ultimately allow them to help their clients receive the compensation they deserve. Our attorneys are passionate about keeping up with the ever- changing legal landscape and believe that staying ahead of the game is crucial, which is why they’re thrilled to speak at these national events with so many other incredible lawyers. Ultimately, we believe that by helping others serve their clients better, we can help even more people receive justice. Tickets must be purchased ahead of time at the site above and are available by arrival time slots. You can show up any time during your one-hour slot, but please be aware that there will sometimes be a line. ICE SKATING AT CROWN CENTER Until Feb. 10, 2024 | 2450 Grand Blvd. | CrownCenter.com/iceterrace Get ready to lace up and glide across the ice this month at Kansas City’s original outdoor skating rink! Whether you’re a beginner or an ice skating pro, Crown Center is the place to improve your skills or just have some fun. Admission for adults and children 4 and older is $9, and children under age 4 get in for free with the paid admission of an adult. And, if you don’t have your own skates, no problem! Skate rental is just $5! PUPPIES’ NIGHT OUT! Dec. 14, 21, and 28 | 501 Berkley Pkwy. | BarKDogBar.com Did you recently add a puppy to your family? If yes, then Puppies’ Night Out is a great opportunity for your new furry baby to get in that much-needed socialization and take part in some pawsome games! This event is for puppies ages 3–9 months old and takes place in Bar K’s small dog park, where all attending pups will get to romp around, try some tasty treats, and even play with some cool toys.
CHICKEN, LEEK, AND BLUE CHEESE PILAF
Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com
INGREDIENTS
• 2 1/2 cups water • 1/2 cup brown basmati rice • 2 tsp vegetable bouillon powder • 1 bay leaf • 1 tsp grapeseed oil • 2 skinless chicken breasts, chopped
• 1 leek, thinly sliced • 2 zucchini, thinly sliced • 1 cup frozen peas • 4 walnut halves, broken • 1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large pot, add water, rice, bouillon powder, and bay leaf. Cover, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, in a large frying pan, heat oil and stir-fry chicken over medium-high heat until just cooked. Remove from pan, then fry leek until soft. Add zucchini, stir-fry for a few minutes more, then add peas. 3. When the rice is cooked, add it and any liquid from the pot to the vegetables. Return chicken to the pan, then cover and cook for 5 minutes more. Stir in walnuts and cheese and serve hot.
All puppies must be up to date on vaccinations (rabies, DHLPP/Da2PP, and Bordetella) to join.
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INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
The Rich Traditions of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas Guard Squirrel on Duty: The Rodent Who Sent a Burglar Running Dickerson Oxton Law Shares Expertise Through Speaking Engagements Kansas City’s Winter Wonderland: Your Guide to Unforgettable Festivities! Chicken, Leek, and Blue Cheese Pilaf Give the Gift of Innovation This Christmas
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5 Must-Have Tech Gifts for Christmas 2023
SELF-CLEANING WATER BOTTLE These days, everyone is carrying around their oversized water bottles. Let your tech-lover be ahead of the curve with a self-cleaning water bottle! These innovative bottles use UV-C LED technology to sanitize the water and the inside of the bottle regularly. The LARQ Bottle PureVis is a popular choice as it also can keep beverages cold for 24 hours. UV PHONE SANITIZER Did you know your smartphone is 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat? This year, grab a UV phone sanitizer for yourself and your loved ones that can remove 99.99% of bacteria. The PhoneSoap Pro can clean your phone and other small items with its sleek design. PET CAMERA WITH TREAT DISPENSER Do you know a tech lover who also dreads leaving their furry friend home alone? A pet camera strapped with a nifty
As Christmas shopping gets increasingly hectic, knowing what to get for the tech lovers in your life can feel impossible. New devices and gadgets hit the market daily, and following tech trends might not be part of your daily routine. Fortunately, 2023 has brought some standout innovations anyone would love to unwrap on Christmas Day. NOISE CANCELING HEADPHONES Considered a modern staple, noise-canceling headphones are the perfect gift for a special someone who needs a break from the chaos and a way to focus. You can find a variety of headphones in different price ranges, so staying within your budget is easier. However, if you want to splurge, Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 are an excellent choice with crystal clear sound and over 20 hours of battery life. SMART ALARM
Give the gift of a good night’s rest and a peaceful morning! Smart alarms have been a popular gadget this year, with features like white noise sound, artificial sunrises, Bluetooth speakers, and gentle morning wake-up calls. For a sleek design, try the Loftie Clock with its all-black look. For a faux sunrise to fill the room, go for Philips HF3670/60 SmartSleep.
treat dispenser might be their favorite gift of 2023! A small surveillance camera allows pet parents to keep an eye on their fur babies, and Petcube’s Bites 2 also lets them dispense a small treat to keep their pets happy.
ADVERTISING MATERIAL: The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements. This newsletter is provided to former clients, individuals who have contacted the firm regarding representation, and individuals who have requested to be on the newsletter mailing list. This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or direct solicitation for employment of the firm on any particular legal matter.
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