Abogado Louis/Louis Berk, PLLC - July 2021

Abogado Louis/Louis Berk, PLLC - July 2021

www.LouisBerkLaw.com 407-906-0500 July 2021

Car Accidents | Truck Accidents | Pedestrian Accidents | Slip & Fall/Premises Liability | Wrongful Death

A Very Important Week What Will You Make of Your Independence?

S ometimes days or even weeks go by, almost without our notice. We get in the groove and nothing special is on the calendar, so why would we pay attention? But the first week of July, at least for me, is not one of those periods. I always end up with a lot going on, and never more so than on July 4th and 5th. Why is that the case? To answer this question, I’ll have to do a little “unpacking.” The Fourth of July is important to all Americans, but as someone who spent a large part of my childhood in another country, Independence Day feels all the more special to me. It’s hard to explain if you grew up here in the States, which is, of course, a wonderful thing. But for many immigrants, constitutional rights and freedoms are abstract concepts because they didn’t always have them. For example, a lot of immigrants know what it’s like to live without freedom of speech. I treasure the things this country has given me, and Independence Day is a reminder of them. More importantly, it’s also a reminder that those rights are not a one-way street. I feel a duty to be a good citizen and an asset to my community and country. I know that I am not alone in this feeling. Whether you were raised right here in America or spent most of your life somewhere else, finding a way to give back to this nation is something that I think we all should do, and I certainly try to. But what about July 5th? What’s so special about that? Two simple things. The first is that it is Independence Day for Venezuela, another country that will always be near to my heart.

its independence on July 5, 1811. It isn’t a coincidence that it came the day after American Independence Day — in many ways, America was an inspiration for colonies in the New World to throw off European powers and make their own way. And, just as it took America around a decade of war to be free, Venezuela didn’t truly win the independence it declared until 1821, under Simon Bolivar, one of history’s great revolutionaries. There is a rich history in both countries, the one that my family left behind and the one my father worked hard to secure us a new home. July 5th is a reminder of my dad and the great things that he did for us. It’s a funny coincidence, but apparently the 5th is also National Workaholics Day, which definitely describes my father. True, he worked hard because he had to, but he also had trouble flipping that switch “off,” which is a trait we share.

The second is that it is my dad’s birthday, and he is someone I think about a lot in context with American independence and freedoms.

It is also a trait that has taken us far. In America you can elevate your circumstances and those of your loved ones if you work hard enough and put in the time and effort. Unfortunately, that isn’t true everywhere — and that’s a big part of why we came here when I was young. I love Venezuela for the people and the culture. I love America for the opportunities my family has found here. -Louis Bernardo Berk

I spoke about my father in the last issue. I mentioned that he’s a hard worker and never shied away from doing what he had to so that his family could have better circumstances. An example of that was leaving Venezuela and coming here, even though it meant stepping away from family, career, and the country that he loved. Venezuela is very important to my family. It’s a special country and has its own history of independence secured with the blood of patriots, just like America does.

In fact, while the Napoleonic Wars were going on in Europe and the War of 1812 was on the horizon for America, Venezuela declared

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Business Tricks That Will Improve Your Personal Life 3

When you’re constantly in the “zone” at work, you’re not always thinking about what’s best for your personal life. While many business owners prioritize balance, what will truly benefit both your home and work life? Check out these three tricks. 1: Start your day with a plan. We know what you’re thinking: Writing out your plan is more work than just doing it. The key is to plan whenever you can. If you jot down things you want to accomplish the following day as they come up, all you’ll need to do is spend a few minutes organizing your list the next morning.

Whether your reminder is an alarm at the same time every day or even another habit (“I’ll exercise before I take my morning shower”), make sure it’s part of any new process you implement. 3: Remember, work is flexible — your personal life isn’t. Bryan G. Dyson, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, once told his staff, “Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them — work, family, health, friends, and spirit — and you are keeping all of these in the air.” In his metaphor, work is a rubber ball. “If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same.”

Pro Tip: Remember to include time to unwind and relax!

2: Develop new and improved processes. While certain activities can’t be replaced with shortcuts (like spending time with family), consider ways to make your current processes more efficient and beneficial. For example, you can’t lose weight if you don’t change your diet and exercise. Adjusting your habits might seem difficult, but there’s actually a straightforward method. According to “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, every new habit has a simple formula behind it: motivation, ability, and prompt.

We hope these tips help you protect the “glass balls” in your life!

an employee, was working for them in the early 1900s. The company used enamel to line the inside of its refrigerators in a process that involved introducing molten enamel to water, a hardening reaction that had a high potential for disaster. And disaster struck in November 1906 when, in the course of Adams’ normal duties, the holding tank full of molten enamel exploded while he operated it at close distance — at the instruction of his foreman who was overseeing the operation. It’s a miracle that Adams wasn’t killed, although he lived in severe pain for the rest of his life. His employer attempted to dodge all responsibility, and Adams was forced into the courts to get some kind of justice. As you can imagine, the judicial system took note of the incident and, after examining everything in detail, came to some groundbreaking conclusions, at least for the day. The chief one was that Adams’ injury could not have been foreseen by an average person, because although he had experience, he lacked understanding of the materials he was working with — an understanding that his employer had not provided. Molten enamel has similar properties to lava, and an exploding tank full of the stuff is not a hazard anyone should have to deal with in the workplace. The shockwaves of Adams’ near-fatal injury have reverberated for over a century now and provide valuable precedence when it comes to the duty employers have to their employees, whether that person has experience or not, which is why even today, when we attend ongoing, yearly safety training, we benefit from the hard lessons learned in Adams v. Grand Rapids Refrigerator .

Poor Safety Meets Molten Enamel Nothing Cold About These Refrigerators

If you don’t know what enamel is, you’ve probably seen it around: It’s the colorful, protective coating that covers tiles and all kinds of fancy cookware. But how does it get on to things? For that, you need heat — enough to melt enamel into a workable, molten-hot liquid. It’s dangerous stuff to work with, which means facilities need to provide extensive training, personal protective equipment, and proper maintenance.

The Grand Rapids Refrigerator Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan, had not met its duty in any of those three areas when Harry Adams,

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TAKE A BREAK

IN-PERSON, REMOTE, OR HYBRID WORKPLACES WHAT’S THE FUTURE OF WORK?

After more than a year of working remotely, the initial excitement of being able to work in your sweats probably wore off long ago. But this stint of remote work has shown many upsides: Productivity has increased. Eliminating the daily commute has been good for the environment, and workers are spending more time with their families, pursuing hobbies, or exercising. Having a more flexible work schedule has also meant there’s a better work-life balance for many working parents. But for all the benefits, there are plenty of downsides, too. Many have struggled to set boundaries as the line between work and home has blurred, leading to overwork and burnout. Others complain about myriad distractions they face while working from home, especially those who don’t have a dedicated workspace and are also trying to help their children with virtual schooling. That’s not to mention potential tech issues, loneliness or alienation from coworkers, and increased barriers to effective collaboration. Yet, nearly half of those currently working remotely say they want to continue to do so 1–4 days per week even once it’s safe to fully return to the office. That’s led many employers to consider a hybrid model that incorporates remote and in- person work options. Publications like The New York Times and Forbes are touting a hybrid model as the way of the future. But what exactly would this look like?

THE BEST TEXAS-STYLE SMOKED BRISKET

Inspired by AllRecipes.com

Impress guests at your next barbecue with this perfectly smoked brisket. Plus, you’ll have plenty of leftovers!

• Wood chips • 1/4 cup paprika Ingredients

• 1/4 cup chili powder • 1/4 cup garlic powder • 1/4 cup onion powder • 1/4 cup salt • 1/4 cup pepper • 10 lbs brisket

A productive hybrid work model wouldn’t simply mean workers come into the office a few set days a week. The smart approach, says Forbes writer Anna Convery-Pelletier, is to have employees come into the office for collaborative tasks and stay at home to work independently on tasks that require sustained focus and deep thinking. In-person meetings are especially good for “brainstorming sessions, introducing new projects, or team-building exercises,” Convery-Pelletier says. This focus on in-person collaboration may also mean that the office will look different when you return. Some businesses are opting to redesign their physical space to accommodate this kind of collaborative in-person work and eliminate costly individual work spaces now replicated at home. Whatever the future of work holds, many workers will be happy to safely return to their workplaces and see their coworkers in person again, whether full time or just a handful of days a month.

• 1/4 cup white sugar • 1/4 cup ground cumin • 1/4 cup cayenne pepper • 1/4 cup brown sugar

Directions

4. Preheat smoker to 230 F. Drain wood chips and place them in the smoker. 5. Smoke brisket until it has an internal temperature of 165 F. 6. Remove brisket and wrap it in aluminum foil. 7. Smoke brisket further until it reaches an internal temperature of 185 F.

1. In a bowl, soak wood chips in water overnight. 2. In a large bowl, mix paprika, white sugar, cumin, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. 3. Rub spice mixture on the brisket and refrigerate for 24 hours.

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Referrals Welcome We thank you so much for referring clients to us over the years. We are grateful that you have

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

A Very Important Week

1

Make Your Work-Life Balance Easy Poor Safety Meets Molten Enamel

2

The Best Texas-Style Smoked Brisket Is a Hybrid Model the Future of Work?

3

Jury Pools and Fair Trials

4

Are ‘Tainted’ Jury Pools a Historic Problem? How Do You Get a Fair Trial by Your Peers?

B ack in April, the largest legal case of the year wrapped up with a police officer receiving multiple convictions after his actions resulted in the death of a civilian. Heavily publicized from beginning to end, the trial highlighted the difficulties the internet era exacerbates with information, bias, and trial in the court of public opinion. Attorneys had trouble finding appropriate jurors in a pool tainted by media coverage and preconceived notions. But was this really a new dilemma or merely the newest spin on a very old tale? The American justice system is founded on the concept of offering people fair trials by their peers; this usually means the jury will consist of a reasonably diverse assortment of people representative of the community. Of course, that could mean different things,

Elizabeth Kelly of St. John’s University points out that the same men who drafted the Constitution also ran the largest newspapers at the time. Media bias has always been part of the mix. It became even more pronounced in the live-coverage TV era, as the murder trial of O.J. Simpson exemplified. Just as people had strong opinions going in, they had strong opinions coming out, and not much has changed in the 25 years since — including people’s opinions on the guilt or innocence of the party on trial. But one thing can change: the beliefs of a juror, even one who comes in with preconceived notions. It can be easy to think we know everything the jury does, but following a case in the headlines as we go about our week isn’t the same thing as being in court all day, day after day, going through the nitty-gritty details of a crime with professional, experienced attorneys. The general public just doesn’t have all the information despite what the media provides. Prejudiced or not, if jurors come in wanting to serve justice, then they can be up to the task if they are willing to focus on the facts and evidence at hand. That’s ultimately what Breheny and Kelly found back in 1995 — and despite the advent of the internet, there’s no reason to think jurors can’t do the same today.

and attorneys are given leeway in selecting jurors for that reason.

The media has often run antithetical to this principle, so we’ve never really had an American jury formed outside of media influence. After all, a 1995 examination of jury bias by sociologists Brian Breheny and

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www.LouisBerkLaw.com 407-906-0500 July 2021

Car Accidents | Truck Accidents | Pedestrian Accidents | Slip & Fall/Premises Liability | Wrongful Death

Una semana muy importante ¿Qué harás con tu independencia?

En el último número hablé de mi padre. Mencioné que es un gran trabajador y que nunca dejó de hacer lo que tenía que hacer para que su familia pudiera tener un futuro mejor. Un ejemplo de esto fue dejar Venezuela y venir hasta aquí, aunque eso implicara alejarse de su familia, de su carrera y del país que tanto amaba. Venezuela es muy importante para mi familia. Es un país especial, cuya independencia se encuentra afianzada en la sangre de su pueblo, al igual que la de Estados Unidos. De hecho, mientras las guerras napoleónicas se desarrollaban en Europa y la guerra de 1812 se vislumbraba en el horizonte de los Estados Unidos, Venezuela declaraba su independencia el 5 de julio de 1811. No es una coincidencia que se produjera un día después del Día de la Independencia de Estados Unidos, que en muchos sentidos sirvió de inspiración para que las colonias del Nuevo Mundo se deshicieran de las potencias europeas y se abrieran paso por sí mismas. Y, del mismo modo que a Estados Unidos le costó alrededor de una década de guerra en conseguir su libertad, Venezuela no consiguió realmente la independencia que había declarado hasta el año 1821, de la mano de Simón Bolívar, uno de los grandes revolucionarios de la historia. Ambos países tienen una historia apasionante, tanto el que mi familia tuvo que dejar atrás como aquel al que mi padre viajó para ofrecernos un futuro mejor. El 5 de julio me recuerda a mi padre y a las grandes cosas que hizo por nosotros. Es una curiosa coincidencia, pero aparentemente el 5 es también el Día Nacional de los Adictos al Trabajo, lo que definitivamente describe a mi padre. Es cierto que trabajaba duro porque no tenía otra opción, pero también le costaba desconectarse; un rasgo que sin duda compartimos. También es un rasgo que nos ha llevado lejos. En Estados Unidos, uno puede mejorar su situación y la de sus seres queridos si trabaja duro, con paciencia y esmero.

A veces, los días o incluso las semanas pasan casi sin darnos cuenta. Nos metemos de lleno en la rutina y no hay nada particular a la vista, así que ¿por qué habríamos de prestar atención? Pero la primera semana de julio, al menos para mí, no es uno de esos momentos que puedo pasar por alto. Por lo general, siempre termino haciendo muchas cosas, y más aún el 4 y el 5 de julio. Pero ¿a qué se debe esto? Para responder a esta pregunta, tendré que darles un poco de contexto. El Cuatro de Julio es importante para todos los estadounidenses, pero como una persona que pasó gran parte de su infancia en otro país, el Día de la Independencia me parece algo sumamente especial. Esto es un tanto difícil de explicar si has crecido en los Estados Unidos, lo cual es, por supuesto, algo maravilloso. Pero para muchos inmigrantes, los derechos y las libertades constitucionales son conceptos abstractos porque no siempre se tienen. Por ejemplo, muchos inmigrantes saben lamentablemente lo que es vivir sin libertad de expresión. Valoro mucho las cosas que me ha dado este país, y el Día de la Independencia es un recordatorio de ellas. Y lo que es más importante, también es un recordatorio de que esos derechos y libertades no son algo que debamos dar por hecho y ya. Yo realmente me siento en la obligación de ser un buen ciudadano y de contribuir a mi comunidad y a mi país. Sé que no soy el único que piensa así. Tanto si te has criado aquí, en Estados Unidos, como si has pasado la mayor parte de tu vida en otro lugar, creo que todos deberíamos encontrar la forma de retribuirle algo a esta gran nación; yo al menos trato de hacerlo. Pero ¿y el 5 de julio? ¿Qué tiene de especial? Dos cosas muy concretas. La primera, que es el Día de la Independencia de Venezuela, otro país que siempre estará cerca de mi corazón. La segunda, que es el cumpleaños de mi padre, y es alguien en quien pienso mucho en el contexto de la independencia y las libertades estadounidenses.

Desgraciadamente, esto no es así en todas partes, y esa es una de las razones por las que vinimos aquí cuando era joven. Amo Venezuela por su gente y su cultura; y amo Estados Unidos por todas las oportunidades que le ha brindado a mi familia.

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3 trucos en los negocios que mejorarán su vida personal

Cuando está constantemente en la “zona” en el trabajo, no siempre está pensando en lo que es mejor para su vida personal. Si bien muchos dueños de negocios priorizan el equilibrio, ¿qué va a beneficiar realmente su hogar y su vida laboral? Eche un vistazo a estos tres trucos. 1: Comience el día con un plan. Sabemos lo que está pensando: escribir el plan es más trabajoso que simplemente hacerlo. La clave estriba en planificar siempre que pueda. Si anota las cosas que desea lograr al día siguiente a medida que surgen, todo lo que tendrá que hacer es dedicar unos pocos minutos a organizar su lista a la mañana siguiente.

tomar mi ducha por la mañana”), asegúrese de que sea parte de cualquier nuevo proceso que implemente.

Consejo profesional : ¡Recuerde que debe incluir tiempo para descansar y relajarse!

3: Recuerde, el trabajo es flexible, su vida personal no lo es. Bryan G. Dyson, director ejecutivo de The Coca-Cola Company, le dijo una vez a su personal: “Imagínense la vida como un juego en el que están haciendo malabares con cinco bolas en el aire. Las nombran, trabajo, familia, salud, amigos y espíritu, y las están manteniendo en el aire”. En su metáfora, el trabajo es una bola de goma. “Si la deja caer, se recuperará. Pero las otras cuatro bolas están hechas de vidrio. Si deja caer una de estas, quedarán irremediablemente rayadas, marcadas, rajadas, dañadas o incluso destrozadas. Nunca serán las mismas”.

2: Desarrolle procesos nuevos y mejorados. Si bien ciertas actividades no se pueden reemplazar con atajos (como pasar tiempo con la familia), evalúe formas de conseguir que sus procesos actuales sean más eficientes y beneficiosos. Por ejemplo, no puede bajar de peso si no cambia su dieta y hace ejercicio. Puede parecer difícil ajustar sus hábitos, pero en realidad existe un método sencillo. Según Hábitos atómicos de James Clear, cada hábito nuevo tiene una fórmula sencilla detrás de él: motivación, capacidad y una indicación.

¡Esperamos que estos consejos le ayuden a proteger las “bolas de cristal” de su vida!

Ya sea que su recordatorio sea una alarma puesta a la misma hora todos los días o incluso otro hábito (“haré ejercicio antes de

Ingredientes

• 1/4 de chile en polvo • 1/4 de taza de ajo en polvo • 1/4 de taza de cebolla en polvo • 1/4 de taza de sal • 1/4 de taza de pimienta • 10 lb o 4,5 kg de pecho de res

• Virutas de madera • 1/4 de taza de paprika • 1/4 de taza de azúcar blanca • 1/4 de comino molido • 1/4 de taza de pimienta de cayena • 1/4 de taza de azúcar morena

Instrucciones

1. Remoje las virutas de madera en un bol con agua, de un día para otro. 2. En un bol grande, mezcle la paprika, el azúcar (blanca y morena), el comino, la pimienta de cayena, el chile en polvo, el ajo en polvo, la cebolla en polvo, la sal y la pimienta. 3. Frote esta mezcla de condimentos sobre el pecho de res y refrigere durante 24 horas. 4. Precaliente el horno ahumador a 230 F o 110 C. Seque las virutas de madera y colóquelas en el horno ahumador. 5. Ahúme el pecho de res hasta que tenga una temperatura interna de 165 F o 73,89 C. 6. Retire el pecho de res del ahumador y envuélvalo en papel de aluminio. 7. Ahúme el pecho de res hasta que tenga una temperatura interna de 185 F o 85 C.

El Mejor Pecho Ahumado de Res al Estilo Texano

Inspirado por AllRecipes.com

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