Aulsbrook Law Firm - April 2021

Aulsbrook Law Firm - April 2021

APRIL 2021

I COME TO FIGHT. I DON’T BARK. I BITE! WWW.THETEXASLAWDOG.COM 817.775.5364

Meet Aulsbrook Law Firm’s First Intern!

Maddie Joins the Texas Law Dogs We recently partnered with the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) to provide internships for pre-law students on an ongoing basis. I

I chose this path because I’m dedicated to defending those who need defending. I have a passion for children and animals, and I hope to one day work in a field of law that allows me to help at least one of these groups. Speaking of animals, my greatest passion is fostering animals. I foster kittens through a local humane society. My most recent fosters were two orphaned kittens that came to us when they were just 5 days old! When Matt told me he also fosters animals, I knew Aulsbrook Law Firm would be a great fit! Kittens aside, I also have four resident cats and two dogs! Just like everyone else at Aulsbrook, my house is a zoo. (They really put the “dog” into Texas Law Dog!) My own personal zoo includes a lot of people as well. I’m the second youngest of five kids. While my siblings are all extremely talented and have their passions, I will be the first one in my family to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. At Aulsbrook Law, my role will be to help out wherever I can. I see myself making a lot of phone calls in the future, as that's a big part of the job! But no matter what roles I take on, I’m

received my MBA from UTA, so I'm happy to be able to give back to the school. This month, we want to introduce Maddie. She’s our first intern as part of the new partnership, and we’re thrilled to have her on board. With that, I’ll let her take it from here! As Matt mentioned in the intro, I’m Maddie, a pre-law student at UTA, and I’m so excited to start my internship at Aulsbrook Law Firm. This will be my first opportunity in the legal field. Before this, I worked in a variety of roles in the customer service field, but I’m eager to transition from a retail environment to the legal field. As a student at UTA, I’m currently halfway through my history/pre-law degree with a business minor. I plan to move onto law school after I finish my bachelor's degree. I still have a lot of work ahead of me, but I’m excited to see where this path will take me. –Matt Aulsbrook

glad to be a part of the team and to help others when they need it most.

I love to learn and know I will learn a plethora of things in the coming months at Aulsbrook. I’m so grateful for the opportunity and hope to make as big a difference as I can!

–Maddie

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PLANNING FOR THE UNEXPECTED

Why You Need a Monthly Vehicle Maintenance Budget

3 Safe April Fools’ Pranks Your Kids Will Love Every year, a prankster makes headlines on April Fools’ Day for taking their joke too far. In 2001, a DJ in England famously broadcast that he’d spotted a replica of the Titanic floating off the coast. Hundreds of people scrambled to the spot, and their combined weight actually caused a cliff to collapse into the ocean! Luckily no one was hurt, but a Montana man who played a different joke years later wasn’t so lucky. He donned a Sasquatch outfit and leapt from the forest to scare travelers. Unfortunately, he traumatized two teens so much that they lost control of their car and ran him over. If you're a prankster, you can probably understand what drove the radio DJ and Sasquatch to their doom. It’s easy to go down the April Fools’ rabbit hole and plan a prank that's too elaborate for adults, let alone your kids. But don't worry — the internet is full of funny ways to introduce your little ones to the holiday safely. Instead of concocting a potentially harmful prank, try one of these harmless jokes instead, courtesy of Parenting magazine. 1. The Undrinkable Juice You know what looks a lot like grape juice? Grape jello! To baffle your toddler (or even your 10-year- old), make a batch of jello and let it set in a juice glass. When they try to drink it later, enjoy the hilarity that ensues. 2. Rocks — It’s What’s for Dinner! If you want to confuse and horrify your kids, scatter chocolate rock candy (treats that look like real rocks) in the backyard before dinner. Then, when it’s time to eat, head outside and chow down on a handful of “rocks.” Your kids’ faces will be priceless! (Visit Nuts.com to score this candy for $8.99 per pound.) 3. Stinky Caramel ‘Apples’ Everyone loves caramel apples, but caramel-covered onions … not so much. This April Fools’ Day, swap the tasty fruit for its smelly vegetable counterpart and watch as everyone in the house falls for your trick! These are just a few pranks you can have up your sleeve for April Fools’ — or any day of the week. For even more hilarious ideas, check out the book “Pranklopedia: The Funniest, Grossest, Craziest, Not-Mean Pranks on the Planet!” from your local library. Ditch the Danger and Plan Family-Friendly Fun

If you own a car, truck, SUV, or any other vehicle with a motor and moving parts, then maintenance and repairs are your future. Whether it’s a routine oil change, new tires, a new battery, new belts, or even repair after an accident, you can expect to find your car in the shop at some point. But are you ready for the costs of routine maintenance or an unexpected repair? According to AAA, most drivers are not. While you may budget for recurring monthly costs like gas and insurance, you should also budget for routine maintenance and unforeseen repairs. AAA recommends setting aside about $50 for repairs and another $50 for maintenance every month; if your car is older, try to save a little bit more than that. How much in total should you have set aside for maintenance and repair? AAA says the average auto repair bill is $500–$600, so that's a great starting budget goal. Every make and model is different, and though some vehicles are known for their reliability, don’t take that reliability for granted. The most reliable cars on the road are cars that are well taken care of. Speaking of taking care of your car, spending a little money now to perform routine maintenance can help you avoid major repair expenses down the line. Putting off your vehicle’s maintenance can lead to costly problems. For example, foregoing a regular oil change or driving a vehicle with low or no oil can cause major damage to the engine. If the damage persists, you may need to get a new engine, which is far more expensive than a few oil changes a year! Consult your vehicle’s handbook or ask a trusted mechanic about how frequently you should change your car's oil given manufacturer's guidelines and your personal driving habits. When you start budgeting for these types of car expenses, you’ll be ready to pay the bill when the time arrives, and you'll be able to keep your vehicle on the road for many years to come.

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What You Can Do When Faced With Nursing Home Abuse

Over the past year, many families have been separated from loved ones — especially families who have loved ones in nursing home care. Though this is beginning to change, it has been challenging for families to be fully engaged in the lives of those living in a nursing home. We bring this up because this separation puts nursing home residents at risk because of nursing home abuse, which is a very real problem for older folks. Abuse is a blanket term that covers physical, mental, emotional, and financial abuse, including neglect. It can be hard for families to hold nursing home facilities accountable if they suspect abuse, but that’s where we come in. If you didn’t already know, Aulsbrook Law Firm handles nursing home abuse cases. If you suspect abuse, we can help you determine the best next course of action. We can help you gather evidence related to abuse, then use that evidence to build a case to prove abuse or neglect and get the compensation your loved one deserves.

However, it can often be difficult to identify nursing home abuse. The best thing you can do is listen to your loved one when they bring up concerns. Additionally, there may be telltale signs, such as: • Unexplained bruising, bedsores, or other injuries • Malnutrition or dehydration • Sudden change in temperament or personality • Poor hygiene • Fear or mistrust toward staff If things just aren’t adding up and you have concerns, it’s crucial to get in touch with an experienced attorney. You and your loved ones have rights and protections against these types of issues. If a nursing home isn’t taking care of and protecting your loved one, the institution can be considered negligent and may be liable for damages as part of a civil case.

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If you have concerns, give us a call, and we’ll help you determine your best course of action.

MONTSERRAT O S WA L D

Texas-Sized LAUGHS

RHUBARB OAT BARS

INGREDIENTS

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1 1/2 cups fresh rhubarb, chopped 1 cup packed brown sugar, divided 1 tsp fresh lemon juice 4 tbsp water, divided

• • •

1 cup old-fashioned oats 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut

•

• • •

• •

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 cup butter, melted

4 tsp cornstarch

DIRECT IONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease an 8-inch square baking dish. 2. In a medium saucepan, bring rhubarb, 1/2 cup brown sugar, lemon juice, and 3 tbsp water to a boil. 3. Reduce heat to medium and cook until rhubarb is tender (about 5 minutes). 4. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and remaining water, stirring until smooth. 5. Gradually add to the rhubarb mixture, return to a boil, and cook until thickened. Remove from heat and set aside. 6. In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, coconut, salt, and remaining brown sugar. Stir in butter until mixture is crumbly. 7. Press half of the oat mixture into the prepared baking dish, spread rhubarb mixture on top, then sprinkle with remaining oat mixture. 8. Bake 25–30 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely before enjoying! Inspired by TasteOfHome.com

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INSIDE We’ve Partnered with UTA! 1

MONTSERRAT O S WA L D

3 Safe April Fools’ Pranks Your Kids Will Love How Much Should You Budget for Car Repair? 2

Nursing Home Abuse Is a Major Problem Rhubarb Oat Bars 3 How Lulu the Pig Saved Her Owner From a Heart Attack 4

Cases We Handle: • Personal Injury • Wrongful Death

• Car Wreck • Truck Wreck

Man’s Smartest Friend LULU THE POT-BELLIED PIG’S CUNNING PLAN TO SAVE HER OWNER

According to animal experts, pigs are smarter than any other domestic animal, including cats and dogs. That may seem hard to believe, as you probably associate pigs with a pink, smelly animal that oinks and rolls around in the muck. However, the story of how Lulu the pot-bellied pig saved her owner’s life might persuade you to reconsider. Back in 1998 (otherwise this story would have certainly gone viral), Lulu the pig was a permanent fixture at Jo Ann and Jack Altsman’s property in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. They had initially only taken Lulu from her original owner,

family’s dog, Bear, barked and barked to no avail. Lulu, however, knew Jo Ann needed help quickly and waddled into action.

Lulu made her way to the nearest road, scraping her skin in the process and leaving it torn and bleeding. Once she reached the road, she laid down as if to play dead. Not long after that, a passing driver saw Lulu and stopped to check on her. Once Lulu was sure she had the driver’s attention, she got up and waddled back toward her home, leading the driver to where Jo Ann lay on the floor. When the driver found Jo Ann, he immediately called 911, and emergency services took her to a medical center for open-heart surgery. Had just 15 more minutes passed without help, Jo Ann would have died. For her heroism, Lulu received the Tiffany gold hero’s medal from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and made multiple television appearances as her fame spread. Hopefully, she was smart enough to know just how much she was appreciated.

the Altsmans’ daughter, for a temporary stay, but they ended up bonding with Lulu, and she was with them for much longer than expected. On Aug. 4, Jo Ann suffered from a heart attack. Jack was out of town on a fishing trip, and even though Jo Ann cried for help and even threw an alarm clock out the window, no one heard her cries from their somewhat secluded home. The

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