The Medl in News
JANUARY 2019
2018 also brought a significant win for one of my oldest clients. About 21 years ago, I was assigned to represent John Earl Nolley, who was falsely accused of murder. Unfortunately, the prosecution had the word of two jailhouse snitches on their side, and an innocent man went to jail. You can read the details inside this newsletter, but long story short, after years of working with the good folks at The Innocence Project, we finally cleared his good name. No amount of compensation could return the nearly two decades Mr. Nolley spent in prison, but I am glad we were able to hold the courts accountable and see justice served. On a personal note, I think 2019 will be the year my daughter learns to ride a bike. Regular readers will know that cycling has been an important part of my life for a long time, and I’m excited to be able to ride along the river with my little girl. There’s something special about being able to pass on a hobby you’re passionate about to the next generation. I still have fond memories of my father running along beside me when I first rode a bike. Of course, my daughter has such an independent streak in her that she may not want me jogging along. “I can do it myself, Dad!” has become one of her favorite phrases. Kids really do grow up fast. So the future is looking bright. There have been plenty of exciting changes, and I can’t wait to see what this year has in store. From all of us at the firm, I hope you and your loved ones have had a great start to the new year as well!
ROLLING INTO 2019
Plans for the New Year
Just like that, the new year is off and rolling. I confess that I have never really been one for New Year’s resolutions. After all, if you never make them, you’ll never break them. But that’s not to say I don’t have goals. 2018 was a banner year for our firm, and we’re carrying that momentum with us into 2019. Looking back, last year was quite the whirlwind. For the first time since becoming a firm, we moved office locations, which is a stressful thing to do under normal circumstances. But on top of all the packing and paperwork, we also added personal injury to our repertoire of specialties to help folks in need. While these transitions were a lot of work initially, it’s a great feeling to be able to serve our clients even better, both in the space we provide and the ways we can represent them. If you haven’t had the chance to visit in person since the move, our new office is a significant upgrade. The addition of a fully equipped conference room is the perfect space for larger meetings with our clients, and we have smaller private meeting rooms as well. This makes our office more flexible than ever for any situation where you need to meet with us in person. Also, to the delight of our entire staff, we finally have a real kitchen — complete with a dishwasher! The parking is also significantly better than it was at our old location. Having settled in here on South University Drive, we’re going to spend 2019 making our services even more efficient. Whether you’re coming to us after getting charged with a serious crime or if you are recovering from injuries caused by someone else’s negligence, we know the last thing you need is any more stress. The easier we can make the process on you and your loved ones, the better. After all, putting our clients first is what allowed our firm to thrive these past three decades and we’re not about to mess with that formula now.
Here’s to a happy, healthy 2019,
– Gary L. Medlin, Esq.
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GET MORE LIFE OUT OF YOUR WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES
• In cold weather, always clear your windshield of ice and snow before activating your wiper blades. Ice can shorten the life span of most wiper blades significantly. • Every time you gas up your vehicle, take a moment to clean your windshield and the wiper blades. You can run the squeegee sponge over the wiper blade or use a paper towel.
• Watch your washer fluid levels and top it off regularly. When you run a cleaning cycle without washer fluid, the wiper blades deteriorate.
How do you knowwhen it’s time to replace your blades? The first sign is when they start streaking. However, in some cases, streaking may be caused by dirt or other grime stuck to the blades. If they continue to streak or skip after cleaning, they need to be replaced. Thankfully, wiper blades are typically the least expensive and easiest car part to replace. With this in mind, remember that you get what you pay for, and it pays to do research. There are many different blades on the market. Some are suited for icy conditions and some are designed for sunny weather. Take your time to read product descriptions to ensure you install blades that are right for your vehicle.
When was the last time you replaced your windshield wiper blades? If you’re like most people, you may not remember. As a general rule of thumb, you should replace your wiper blades about once a year, assuming they’ve been through a normal level of wear and tear. However, with a few easy steps, you can make your blades last longer without compromising visibility. • Keep your windshield and wipers clean of debris, dirt, dust, and other particles. Anything on the window or the blades can cause damage. Simplywiping them off with a microfiber cloth can go a long way.
JUSTICE AFTER 21 YEARS
Clearing the Name of John Earl Nolley
In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Our firm witnessed the truth of this statement firsthand in the fall of last year when Gary Medlin worked with The Innocence Project to help exonerate a man falsely convicted of murder after he’d spent 19 years in prison. Our only regret is that justice didn’t come sooner. John Earl Nolley was accused of murder in 1996 and convicted based on the testimony of two paid jailhouse snitches. Forensics being what they were at the time, there was little Nolley could do against these charges. But his lawyer, Gary Medlin, remained convinced that Nolley was innocent. Recalling the case, Gary remembers, “It was the hardest thing to look at [Nolley] after he had been convicted by a jury. Most people are angry, looking for someone to blame. He just cried.” At the time of the original trial, Gary Medlin went as far as to suggest a far more likely culprit — a man who’d fled to Tennessee after the murder and would go on to tragically murder more women in Tennessee. Sadly, the prosecution remained convinced that they had their man.
Thankfully, with the help of the great folks at The Innocence Project, an organization dedicated to using the latest forensic technology to exonerate those falsely imprisoned, Gary was able to clear Nolley’s name. Interviews with the one-time snitches proved they had provided false testimony, and advanced forensics were able to disentangle Nolley from any physical evidence of the murder. While Nolley has qualified for compensation for his wrongful imprisonment, nothing could take back the two decades the 44-year-old man spent behind bars. With forensic science becoming more advanced than ever and prosecutors and law enforcement being called out on the biases that often lead to these false convictions, our hope is that cases like Nolley’s will one day be a thing of the past. If there is a silver lining on this case, it should be that those wrongfully imprisoned have hope. If you believe you were wrongfully arrested, please reach out for legal support. An experienced criminal defense team like the one at Medlin Law Firm can help conduct research and map out a defense strategy that fits your unique situation.
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WHY FINDING THE RIGHT BAIL BONDSMAN IS IMPORTANT
3 Ways to Know if a Bondsman Is Unethical
Imagine this unnerving scenario: You get a call from a friend or a family member, who says, “I’m in jail, and I need to be bailed out.” But the price to bail them out is far more than you can afford out of pocket. Fortunately, there are several options to ensure your loved one can leave jail and wait for their trial date at home. The most frequently used recourse is to find an ethical or trustworthy bail bonds company. But then the question arises: What exactly makes a bondsman untrustworthy or unethical? 1. Going Off Bonds, Unethical Behavior Many bond offices will use any excuse they can think of to “go off” a bond, causing a warrant to be issued for the person who had already hired and paid the bond company. They are then back in jail and have lost all the money they already paid the bonds-person. Some will even take money and write a bond for a person they know cannot get out of jail due to an immigration hold or other reason. The only way to avoid these unscrupulous people is to hire a reputable and honest bond company like David Gallagher. 2. Soliciting It’s actually illegal for a bondsman to loiter at a jail in hopes of finding potential clients. If you are visiting a detainee and are confronted by a bondsman offering to help you post bail, walk
away. In a similar fashion, it’s illegal for a bail bondsman to cold-call potential clients for the purpose of soliciting business.
3. Do Your Homework
The cheapest is usually not the best. The cheapest bond offices are the first to go off your bond for the slightest little technical reason and cause you to be re-arrested. It’s the old saying ‘you get what you pay for’. A common complaint regarding unethical behavior stems from a bondsman taking money from a client with an immigration hold and then keeping the money if the client gets deported. Here at Medlin LawFirm, we recognize the importance of finding an ethical bondsman. Especially when it comes to sensitive matters, you should work with someone you trust. For years, we have recommended David Gallagher to clients due to his ethical character and phenomenal work. If you or someone you know needs a reputable bondsman, give David a call at 817-831-8881.
Peanut Butter & Berry FRENCH TOAST
Brain Buster
Ingredients
•
8 slices brioche, 1/2-inch thick
•
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
•
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
•
2 large eggs
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1/8 cup heavy cream
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2 cups mixed berries
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2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
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Powdered sugar, to sprinkle
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Maple syrup, for serving
•
2 cups cornflakes
Directions
4. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1
1. On a large baking sheet
lined with wax paper, place 4 slices of brioche and spread 1 tablespoon of peanut butter on each. Cover with remaining slices, creating sandwiches. 2. In a pie plate, beat eggs with cream and vanilla. In another, coarsely crush the cornflakes. 3. Lightly soak sandwiches in the egg mixture, then dredge in cornflakes, pressing to adhere. Return to baking sheet.
tablespoon butter. Once melted and up to temperature, add sandwiches, cooking on
one side until golden and crisp, about 2–3 minutes. 5. Return sandwiches to baking sheet, add remaining butter, and repeat on other side. 6. Top sandwiches with berries,
sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve with maple syrup.
Inspired by Food Network
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1300 South University Drive Suite 318 Fort Worth, TX 76107
817-900-6000 www.medlinfirm.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1.
Medlin Law Rolls Into the NewYear
2. Get the Most Out of Your WindshieldWiper Blades
ACase 21 Years in the Making
3. Why Finding the Right Bail Bondsman Is Important
Peanut Butter and Berry French Toast
4. Why Start the NewYear inWinter?
WHY JANUARY? The Origin of New Year’s Day
The month of January kicks off by welcoming the new year — there are countdowns, fireworks, and of course, the ball drop in a freezing-cold Times Square. But why? Why do we start our calendars when much of the U.S. is in the dead of winter? Why January? The short answer is Julius Caesar and Roman politics. The calendar had long been a political tool in Rome. Depending on who was in power, Roman pontifices would add or subtract entire weeks from the year, manually adjusting the term limits of elected officials. As you could imagine, this caused a lot of chaos, because months frequently slipped out of time with the changing seasons. After becoming emperor, Julius Caesar brought about some much-needed reforms. Inspired by the Egyptian solar calendar, Caesar fixed the Roman year at 365 days and instituted the leap year to keep months aligned with the solstices. He moved the newyear from the spring to the day that elected officials traditionally began their year-long terms, Jan. 1. This choice carried spiritual significance, since January was named for Janus, god of doors and gates. What better month to celebrate new beginnings? Under Caesar and subsequent rulers, the Roman Empire expanded its reach, carrying its calendar with it. While much of Europe adopted Caesar’s calendar, New Year’s Day remained a hot-button issue for centuries.
Thanks in part to the spread of Christianity and to the colder conditions in Northern Europe, there was a lot of resistance to the January start date. Religious leaders saw it as a pagan holiday, and much of Europe chose to restart the calendar on March 25, during the Feast of Annunciation. Much of Catholic Europe officially recognized Jan. 1 as the start of the new year after Pope Gregory reformed the solar calendar again, correcting certain mathematical errors made in Caesar’s day. There were still holdouts, however. In fact, England and its American colonies continued to celebrate New Year’s Day in March until 1752. So there you have it —we were very close to having our fireworks celebrations in lovely spring weather. Ultimately, the ubiquity of the Gregorian calendar won out, as the demands of our increasingly interconnected world made a shared calendar a necessity. So if you struggle to start your New Year’s resolutions this winter, blame Julius Caesar.
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