County Civil - May 2022

County Civil - May 2022

COUNTYCIVIL.COM

MAY 2022

The Importance of Court Clerks

THEY WEAR MANY HATS IN THEIR PROFESSION

In October 2021, I wrote an article about the vital role paralegals play in the legal support profession, and I hope it also conveyed my admiration for what they do. But while writing it, I kept thinking about how court clerks are every bit as important and whose responsibilities should be equally acknowledged. Our company provides legal support services throughout most of the state of Michigan, and we have daily interaction with a multitude of court staff — these people are truly amazing. Many of them work in courts that are both overworked and understaffed, often without resources separate from the court or the benefit of a personal and professional relationship with the companies and individuals providing document services issued out of their court. We aim to change that. Court clerks are tasked with a wide variety of duties. Their roles can vary depending on the court they are working for. Clerks play a vital role in all court processes. One of their primary responsibilities is assisting the public. They answer questions regarding fines, hearing times, and court procedures. Since clerks are talking to people from all walks of life, they must have exceptional people skills. During litigations, clerks are also responsible for filing all paperwork related to that particular case. Clerks must keep track of the deadlines for when defendants and plaintiffs need to fill out their paperwork and also keep track of the court calendar. They must track the list of hearings for all cases filed with their times and dates.

Clerks wear many hats in their careers, and I thank them for all of their hard work. If it weren’t for them, court cases wouldn’t run as smoothly.

some venues, they act as the civil, criminal, and traffic clerks and occasionally as the court recorder. On top of these additional roles, clerks also handle small claims, general civil, landlord and tenant matters, warrants, orders to seize property, claims and deliveries, and evictions. That’s an awful lot of responsibilities, and it’s astounding how they are able to handle them with such professionalism. Having the opportunity to develop and maintain a close working relationship is paramount to excellent service, both for those utilizing the court system and the services required in the field. As someone who provides the service of these documents, it’s our responsibility to know and adhere to all of them. Working closely with court staff helps ensure that we handle the service work they issue in the proper manner and that they know whom to contact with any questions or concerns. Clerks wear many hats in their careers, and I thank them for all of their hard work. If it weren’t for them, court cases wouldn’t run as smoothly. It’s a pleasure to interact with these individuals, and we look forward to doing anything we can to help make their duties easier. -Rick E. Risk

Clerks can also have other demanding roles, to say the least. Often the clerk is performing double or triple duties. For example, in

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WOMAN ATTEMPTS TO SUE WENDY’S

FOR AN ALLEGED FINGER IN HER CHILI

Back in 2005, a woman became imaginative and filed a claim against the owner of a Wendy’s franchise in San Jose, California, stating that she was served a bowl of chili with a human finger in it. Her allegation cost the fast-food chain millions in damages, and as it turns out, the woman’s claim was false. She was eventually arrested and convicted of attempting to extort Wendy’s. On March 25, 2005, Wendy’s was put in the spotlight under false allegations. A woman, Anna Ayala, visited a Wendy’s with her family and ordered a bowl of chili. She then made a large scene, claiming that she bit into something crunchy and discovered

that it was the fingernail of a human finger inside her chili! All of the employees in that particular Wendy’s were astonished because they each had all 10 fingers still attached. Even more, all Wendy’s employees at other locations who handled raw materials still had all of their fingers. When a forensic investigation was done on the finger, it was found that the finger was not cooked at 170 degrees F for three hours, like the rest of the chili was. Eventually, it was discovered that Ayala had 13 different lawsuits open against different companies, and when her story began to waver, she dropped the lawsuit on April

12, 2005, claiming it was putting too much pressure on her. But Wendy’s, having already lost millions of dollars, was hard-pressed to prove this was not negligence on their part. They set up a tip line and offered $50,000 to anyone who had information on the owner of the finger. Eventually, after genetic testing, authorities discovered that the finger belonged to a Nevada man who was a coworker of Ayala’s husband; the man had recently lost a finger in an industrial accident and had given it to Ayala to settle a $50 debt. Both Ayala and her husband were charged and ordered to pay restitution. It was quite the finger feud!

Got Beef? Who Invented the Hamburger?

May is National Hamburger Month! Hamburgers are the main dish that most people make when the weather gets warmer. So, as we quickly approach summer, now is the perfect time to talk about the history of one of America’s most popular dishes — the hamburger.

grandson, Jeff Lassen, says the creation of the hamburger is a tradition and family heritage. He also has some important facts that support his statement that his family invented the hamburger.

The Library of Congress agrees with the Lassen family. Louis Lassen placed scraps of ground beef

A Battle Over Ground Beef There have been several debates over who was the first person to cook beef in the form of a patty. A Texas legislator, Betty Brown, proposed a bill stating that Fletcher Davis was

between two pieces of bread to create a quick and easy meal. Louis Lunch in New Haven still serves this form of the burger, and they never changed the recipe or style.

the first person to cook pattied ground beef in Athens, Texas, in the 1900s. It’s said that

People in Texas and Connecticut are still debating who invented the hamburger to this day. The burger’s popularity has grown exponentially since it was introduced at the World’s Fair, but it has since evolved with various toppings and seasonings — care for a Juicy Lucy? — and there are even a several plant-based versions today. No matter who invented it, the hamburger is a dish we all know and love. So, this season, let’s celebrate National Hamburger Day right — by eating a hamburger!

Davis brought this creation to the World Fair in St. Louis in 1904. His invention became a hit, and soon, people across the country wanted to try a hamburger. Texans today still argue that Davis did this all on his own and that he is the creator.

But this theory has a problem because in New Haven, Connecticut, Louis Lassen made hamburgers in the year 1900 as well. His great-

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ROAD TRIP SAFETY TIPS

3 Tips to Ensure a Successful Drive While driving, anything can go wrong, and you want to ensure you and your passengers are prepared for any situation. So, here are a few road trip safety tips to help you get to your destination safely and with less stress. Make sure your car is road worthy. Before you pack your things and begin your journey on the road, you want to make sure your car is road trip ready. This step could save you hours if your car breaks down or something doesn’t work properly. By checking it before hitting the road, you will ensure the car will make the trip without any unexpected difficulties. You should check your tire pressure, tread, oil, and fluid levels as well as windshield wiper blades. You can even pack a spare tire if you drive over an item that deflates it or have a blow-out. Get lots of rest before driving. Every year, drowsy drivers cause more than 1,500 fatal car accidents. When you’re tired, your ability to react to something quickly decreases. Having a quick reaction time is crucial when driving because you never know when someone will pull out in front of you or brake suddenly

or if an animal runs across the road. If you’ve been driving for quite some time or been up in the late hours of the night, you may think your driving is still fine. But studies show that driving after being awake for 18 hours causes your brain to function like someone with a BAC level of 0.05% — the legal limit in most states is 0.08%. To ensure you drive safely, get lots of sleep the night before your trip, and don’t hesitate to pull over and take a short nap if you feel drowsy at any point. Watch out for the weather. You want to check the weather on the day of your trip and the weather of the states and counties you will be traveling through. This will help you be prepared for any weather conditions you may encounter while driving. The weather can also impact which interstates, highways, and back roads you may want to take. Most GPS devices will update the traffic report while driving to ensure you take the fastest route. Road trips are a time when you can create memories to last a lifetime. Don’t let anything derail your fun. These tips will help you stay prepared and safe. From all of us at County Civil, we wish you the safest and most enjoyable travels to your destination.

CINCO FOURTH

LIBRARY MAYPOLE MEMORIAL NURSES PROM TAURUS

FREEDOM GRADUATE HAWTHORN LEMONADE

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2383 Tamarack St., Lake Odessa, MI 48849 616-374-7170 | COUNTYCIVIL.COM R isk & A ssociates

Rick Risk is Founder and President of Risk & Associates, a legal support service provider in Michigan, and has assisted hundreds of attorneys, municipalities, courts, Sheriff Offices, businesses, and others with their strategic process needs.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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Clerk’s Hard Work Never Goes Unnoticed Liar, Liar, Fingers on Fire There Are 2 Conflicting Stories About Hamburger Drowsy Driving Is Like Driving Drunk How Pianists Brought Silent Movies to Life

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When Theaters Provided Their Own Movie Soundtracks THANKS TO THE PIANISTS

Early feature films were in black and white, only available in theaters, and perhaps most significantly, silent. But movie theaters still needed sound to keep the audiences engaged. So, they enlisted piano players to accompany the films, conveying excitement, fear, sorrow, joy, tension, and danger through their music. It seems like a job any musician can do, but in truth, it was much more complicated than it sounds. Silent films usually didn’t arrive in theaters with sheet music attached, so theaters were on their own when it came to setting the mood. Since watching a movie in a hushed theater — or worse, one filled with chatter — wasn’t very enticing, they had to find their own ways of creating an immersive experience for patrons.

theater you visited. Pianists used different methods for creating their film scores, depending on their skill,

time, and access to the films in advance. In small towns, only the church organist might be available — and they might choose to play assorted hymns over the entire movie, making for a less than enjoyable experience. More accomplished pianists worked differently. Since they would often not have the opportunity to view an advance screening, they would improvise, trying to predict where the film’s action was headed and adjusting their playing accordingly. When a film was popular, most players eventually developed a standard score. Eventually, some production companies shipped “mood cues” with their movies, which provided a breakdown of when to play melodies better suited to romance, action, or comedy.

Believe it or not, the tradition still continues to this day. Some theaters show the occasional silent movie, and they turn to one of the 50 or fewer silent film accompanists still working in the U.S. for help. Since the films are often rare and otherwise unavailable, the pianist does not always have the time or opportunity to plan their music. So, like their predecessors, they play it by ear, using knowledge of specific actors, directors, and film conventions to guide them. Screenings are not particularly common, but if you ever have the opportunity to watch a silent film with live accompaniment, you’re in for a real treat. No matter how entertaining the movie is, watching the pianist may be half the show.

As a result, your movie-viewing experience could vary greatly depending on which

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