Cellino Law - April 2021

Cellino Law - April 2021

April 2021 Advisor

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I mentioned in our first edition that I’m a second-generation lawyer. My dad started the firm that eventually became Cellino Law, though there were a few iterations in between! My family has always been important to me, and, as a kid, I especially loved my connection with my father. I started wrestling in high school, and my dad would come to all my matches to cheer me on. Good thing he showed up because the sport made my mom nervous so she usually stayed home! I still remember how great I felt when my dad called me “champ.” Now I’ll tell you something else about my family that brings even more color to this story: I’m one of nine kids! Because I come from such a large family, the connection I had with my dad feels even more special. I never felt like one of nine. I just felt special. And I think that’s a big part of why I eventually followed in his footsteps and became a lawyer. I admired my father, the respect his peers had for him, and the connections he made with his clients — which brings me back to my siblings in a roundabout way. I’m the fourth born with four brothers and four sisters across a 14-year age span. Growing up with that many siblings, I had the chance to get a lot of practice at dealing with different personalities. I didn’t think anything of it when I was a kid, but looking back, I can see that this How My 8 Siblings Shaped Me Lessons Learned From a Large Family

Cellino clan circa 1973

really honed my interpersonal skills and helped me become a better communicator. So many of our skills and strengths are formed when we’re kids, and many of those same skills are much more difficult to try to learn as an adult. My particular set of life experiences really helped prepare me for the work I do today. I’m proud when I hear my clients say that I was able to communicate something to them that others were struggling to convey clearly. I like solving problems for my clients, just as I liked learning how to navigate all the different personalities in my household growing up. And even my competitive spirit that helps drive my success as a personal injury attorney was really honed in my childhood, whether it was on the wrestling mat or in footraces with my older sister, Rosie. (She was stronger and faster than me, but I never stopped trying to beat her.) Part of what got me thinking about all this is that National Siblings Day is April 10. When I reflect on life growing up with siblings, I can’t help but see how that’s played into the career path I’ve chosen and the person I’ve become. I learned a lot, and I’ll leave you with one final lesson: Eat your first slice of pizza quickly, so you can be sure to get a second. If you already know this, chances are good you have some siblings you can honor on April 10, too.

––––-Ross Cellino 800-555-5555 1

$2 Billion

Cellino has obtained millions in recoveries for clients and has supervised over $2 billion in settlements.

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‘Driven in Everything I Do’ Spotlight on Attorney John Lavelle

As people grow older, they’re more likely to find themselves at home with less company. If your family members live far away or you have physical limitations that make it difficult to leave the house, you may be at an increased risk of experiencing loneliness. This is why adopting an animal can be so helpful. Pets offer comfort and love, and many encourage physical activity. Integrating a pet into your life as you grow older can be just what you need to lift your spirit and keep you healthy. The Benefits of Pet Ownership A lack of purpose can take a significant toll, but the sense of duty pet owners have around caring for their animals helps them avoid this. The daily tasks of feeding, playing with, and walking your animal can help provide structure and bring meaning to your life. They also give you something to look forward to each day. What’s better than waking up or coming home to a wagging tail or loud meow? This is how pets help improve their owners’ mental and physical health. Studies also show that those who care for pets have less stress and lower blood pressure and cholesterol than their petless counterparts. You’re also more likely to maintain a daily exercise routine. FELINE FRIENDS OR CANINE COMRADES How Pets Improve Our Health and Happiness

John Lavelle has been a determined and successful personal injury attorney for going on 16 years. His father also practiced law, which

helped paved his path into the field. In high school, John took an internship at his dad’s firm and found himself returning to work at the office on summer breaks from school. But when it came time for college, you may be surprised to learn that John chose to study chemistry and math, getting a full scholarship and eventually graduating summa cum laude from St. Johns University in Queens. “The chemistry and math come naturally to me,” John says. “But I always wanted to be like my dad and follow what he was doing.” He also knew he liked the work and what his father was able to do for his clients. So following his bachelor’s, John went to law school and then began practicing personal injury law in both New York and Pennsylvania, where he also does appellate work. It may not surprise you to learn that John is an Eagle Scout, which requires years of dedication to earn and was capped off with a major service project with the Garden City Bird Sanctuary. Much like he does for his clients every day at Cellino Law, John went above and beyond to become an Eagle Scout, getting 42 merit badges. That’s double the amount required and was enough for John to break the local record for most merit badges earned. He puts it succinctly: “I’m driven in everything I do.” That shows in the results he gets for his clients and also in the professional honors he’s earned. He was named a Top 40 Under 40 by The National Trial Lawyer and a rising star in the New York metro area by Super Lawyers in 2015. Here’s what his recent client, Veloa, had to say about John: “Thank you so much for taking my case, answering all my questions, and mostly for being very patient with me. I feel that without you and Roza, I would not have been able to get anything at all. I hope to never need a lawyer again, but if I do, I will definitely want you both working for me.” Outside of work, John and his 4-year-old daughter enjoying spending time outdoors together, traveling, and hanging out with their dogs and cats.

Humans have an innate need to be social, and without someone to talk to regularly, our mental well-being can start to deteriorate. Pets may not be the best conversation partners, but they may increase your social activity. Walking a dog to a local park every day, for example, can provide an opportunity for you to interact with other people. If you live alone, this simple activity can increase your social circle and improve your mental health. Find the Right Pet Before taking advantage of the many benefits pets offer, it’s crucial to consider which pet is right for you. Doing research can help answer important questions about which animals might be a good fit for you and your lifestyle and which aren’t. Finding a perfect match may take some time, but once that connection is made, there is nothing that will bring more joy into both of your lives.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a list of questions that will help guide you to the perfect pet. Take a look at CDC.gov/healthypets.

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There’s a common misconception that lawyers are expensive. TV shows depict lawyers with insane hourly rates, and you’ve maybe even heard a horror story or two from New Yorkers who received an unexpected bill from an attorney. When it comes to how the Cellino Law team represents our clients, it’s important to understand that we work on a contingency basis. That means we don’t get paid unless we get you a settlement. Our fee, which is typical across the industry, is one-third of the settlement we collect for you. Why agree to work with a personal injury attorney and give up one-third of your settlement? For one thing, we aren’t going to take your case unless we’re confident we have a fighting chance to collect for you. Initial consultations with our attorneys are always free, so it won’t cost you a dime to have us review your case and make that determination. The second reason it’s smart to hire the skilled attorneys at Cellino Law is that we cover the costs upfront for any experts we have to hire to build our case for you. If we need an expert medical option to make a strong case for you, we hire and pay for that. Some firms will make you reimburse them for those expenses in the event that you lose the Did You Know? It Doesn’t Cost You a Dime to Meet With Us

case, but at Cellino Law we waive that reimbursement because we believe we’ll win, and if we don’t, that’s on us.

The final reason it’s smart to hire a skilled attorney is that we know how to work with insurance companies. After an accident, you may receive a call from someone at the insurance company offering you a settlement. You may feel pressured to get your case settled quickly, but here’s the thing: You may not be aware yet of what your case is worth, much less have a complete picture of the cost of your injuries. In other cases, the insurance company could flat-out deny your claim or string you along endlessly by not answering your calls or emails. Hiring an attorney helps you avoid being underpaid by the insurance company, denied, or strung along, which means it also prevents a lot of frustration on your end. If you’ve been injured in a car crash, Cellino Law can help. Call us today at 800-555-5555 to see how we can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Inspired by TheSeasonedMom.com

Sudoku

Spring Vegetable and Chicken Pasta Bake

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked chicken, diced • 1 14-oz can artichokes, drained and quartered • 1 cup fresh asparagus pieces • 1/2 cup carrots, grated • 1 1/2 cups uncooked penne pasta • 1 3/4 cups chicken broth • 1/2 cup fresh chives, chopped and divided

• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped and divided • 2 tsp minced garlic • 1/4 tsp salt • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 F and grease an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. 2. In the prepared dish, stir together cooked chicken, artichokes, asparagus, carrots, uncooked pasta, chicken broth, half the chives, half the parsley, garlic, salt, and 2 tbsp Parmesan. 3. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes. 4. Uncover and stir. At this point, check the pasta to make sure it is al dente. If it’s undercooked, cover the dish and return to the oven until pasta is tender. 5. Remove from oven and garnish with remaining Parmesan, chives, and parsley.

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I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E 1 Lessons Learned from Being 1 of 9 Kids 2 Caring for Pets Brings Health and Happiness

Attorney Spotlight

3 Did You Know?

Spring Vegetable and Chicken Pasta Bake 4 4 MLB Teams Poised for a Great Season

Don’t Count Them Out

4 TEAMS TO WATCH THIS BASEBALL SEASON

This is no joke: The 2021 Major League Baseball (MLB) season will begin on April 1. While you may wonder whether the Los Angeles Dodgers can repeat as champs or if the Tampa Bay Rays can exact their revenge, don’t count these four teams out just yet. Minnesota Twins You don’t make it to the playoffs with the best record in all of baseball and not make it into some kind of list. The Twins are going to be a fun team to watch because they have a chip on their shoulders. While the team managed to score 269 runs in just 60 games, they also lost their record-breaking 18th straight playoff game in 2020. If they can get consistent pitching, from starters and relievers, they will be in the hunt at the end of September. Detroit Tigers There is a benefit to repeatedly being near the bottom of the league: You get good draft picks. The Tigers are on the cusp of finding that special blend of offense and defense in the coming season thanks to some much-needed depth by

up-and-coming pitchers and first-round draft picks — so much so that Jonathan Mayo of MLB. com has them as the top team that missed the playoffs in 2020 who could make a solid run. St. Louis Cardinals The award for best offseason ought to go to the Cardinals, who, all winter long, appear to have outwitted their Milwaukee and Chicago rivals — the Brewers and Cubs were the top two teams in the National League Central last year — by acquiring third baseman Nolan Arenado and re-signing Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina. The Cardinals are favored to win the Central if those off-season moves pay off. San Diego Padres After acquiring Manny Machado in a big trade in 2019, the Padres have continued to improve, especially against difficult opponents. The Padres were a tough team last year, defeating the Cardinals in the wild card round and losing to the eventual World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Expect them to be near the top of the standings in September.

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