DeWitt Law Firm - September 2021

DeWitt Law Firm - September 2021

The

Digest

SEPTEMBER 2021

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REUNITED

A Pet Adoption Story That Will Make You Reach for the Tissues

Everyone loves a pet adoption story. Nothing warms my heart more than seeing a pet find a loving home, but I recently heard a story to top them all. It’s a story of loss and redemption, reminding us all that we never know when we might get a second chance. This story begins with Aisha Nieves of Pennsylvania and her beloved pit bull-Rottweiler mix, Kovu. Aisha adopted Kovu, named after “The Lion King 2” character, in 2014 when he was just 7 weeks old. Nieves and Kovu quickly formed a bond many dog owners know well, one of loyalty and unbreakable love.

Meanwhile, Kovu embarked on an adventure greater than what he initially bargained for. After entering a neighbor’s yard, Kovu ended up being taken to the local humane society. There, he was given the name “Ash” and adopted into another family. For a while, “Ash” had a new identity and home. Earlier this year, Nieves decided it was time to move on. She had loved Kovu, but she also wanted her sons to have a dog to play with. So, she searched the Lehigh County Humane Society’s website for a new pup — and that’s when she couldn’t believe what she saw. Mixed in with countless other photos of happy, adorable dogs was a tan dog that looked oddly familiar. Acting on instinct and a feeling, Nieves called the humane society to explain that she thought they had her dog. She had the adoption certificate to prove it, and she could pay a new adoption fee, too. Turns out, Kovu’s second family had surrendered him just days earlier. Quickly, Nieves rushed to the humane society, anxious and hopeful that Kovu was there, but she also felt a little nervous, too. Nieves wasn’t sure if Kovu would remember her. It had been more than a year since his great escape, and he had experienced countless other moments since he left.

“He was there for me through everything,” Nieves told a TV morning show, “heartbreaks, ups and downs.”

In May of 2019, when Kovu was 5 years old and Nieves was pregnant with her second son, a reckless driver destroyed her fence and Kovu ran out of the yard. For Nieves, the panic of losing her best friend became difficult to bear, and as the weeks and months dragged on, she realized that she would probably never see her best friend again.

“I had a lot of emotions going through me,” Nieves said. “I was crying, thinking the worst, thinking somebody kidnapped or hurt him.”

All those fears subsided when Kovu saw Nieves.

He wiggled and jumped to be free of the humane society employee, knowing that at the other end of the hallway stood the woman he had always loved. In a video, Kovu can be seen actually jumping for joy, as Nieves tries to wrap him in a hug. Finally reunited, Kovu went home with Nieves that day, and once again, he found his forever home with the best companion he could ever ask for. Need a tissue after that one? Me, too! It’s an adoption story that hits just right. I hope you feel inspired to donate or volunteer with the local humane society after that one. I know I do!

Congratulations, Nieves and Kovu!

– Moe DeWitt

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The Everyday People Who Saved Countless Lives on 9/11 Remembering the Heroes Amid the Tragedy

As we approach its 20th anniversary, Sept. 11, 2001, remains one of the darkest days in American history. Almost 3,000 people lost their lives when terrorists flew passenger airplanes into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. The infrastructural damage was severe, but the damage done to thousands of families across the country was even worse. While 9/11 remains a day of remembrance of these tragic events, it should also be a day to remember the brave men and

women who sacrificed their lives to save others. These are just a few of their stories. BETTY ONG AND AMY SWEENEY After five al-Qaida terrorists hijacked American Airlines Flight 11, Ong and Sweeney, two flight attendants, used the crew phone to call their colleagues and give them information about their attackers, including what they looked like and what seats they had been sitting in. Both attendants perished, but the information they shared helped the FBI jump-start their investigation. RICK RESCORLA A Vietnam veteran who had earned a silver star for his service, Rescorla was no stranger to stressful life and death situations. As the head of corporate security for Morgan Stanley in the South Tower, he defied orders from Port Authority to stay put and instead escorted 2,700 people out of the building before it

collapsed. After that, he headed back in to look for stragglers. That was the last time anyone saw him. PASSENGERS OF FLIGHT 93 While two planes hit the World Trade Center towers and one plane hit the Pentagon, another plane that headed for the White House never reached its destination. That’s because passengers aboard this flight, upon learning their plane had been hijacked, decided to rush the cockpit and overtake the terrorists. They caused the plane to crash in an empty field in Pennsylvania, saving the White House but killing everyone on board. Sad though their deaths may be, these heroic men and women continue to inspire people even 20 years later. We should never forget the tragedy of 9/11, but we should also remember these regular people who decided to go to extraordinary lengths to save others.

The ‘McDonald’s Hot Coffee’ Lawsuit

IT WAS JUSTIFIED ALL ALONG

Back in 1992, an elderly woman named Stella Liebeck sued McDonald’s in what became known as the infamous “hot coffee lawsuit.” The public relations team at McDonald’s has made sure the case is remembered as frivolous, but, like the third-degree burns Stella Liebeck suffered from a cup of McDonald’s coffee, her lawsuit was dead serious. The facts were simple: Mrs. Liebeck used the drive-thru with her grandson, who was at the wheel. Once the car stopped moving, she placed the cup of coffee she’d just ordered between her legs and tried to add some creamer. The cup tipped over, dumping the contents into her lap, causing third-degree burns over 16% of her body. She required hospitalization for eight days. Whirlpool debridement of the burns and skin grafts followed. She was at least partially disabled for more than two years, and that’s to say nothing of her pain and suffering. For all of this damage, Mrs. Liebeck asked McDonald’s for $20,000 — arguably not even enough to pay her hospital bills.

When McDonald’s refused to pay more than $800, the case went to court, and it came out that they’d known for at least 10 years about the dangers their hot coffee represented, with over 700 recorded burns and several lawsuits. But in 1992, their policy was to store coffee at 180–190 degrees F, which is almost the boiling point! Furthermore, McDonald’s higher-ups testified on the stand that no matter what happened, they had no intention of changing their behavior. Unsurprisingly, at the end of the trial, McDonald’s was hit with a $2.9 million penalty.

Although the penalty was later reduced, McDonald’s still dragged Mrs. Liebeck’s name through the mud in the press, with their version of the story being the one that stuck in the public consciousness. But it

wouldn’t change the fact that they had to pay her around $700,000 at the end of the day — or that their coffee is now being served at a reasonable temperature.

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THIS APP PROVIDES CELEBRITY APPEARANCES ON DEMAND A Cameo for Every Occasion

In 2020, everyone was stuck indoors, leaving many people from the entertainment industry wanting to connect with fans but lacking their usual mediums to do so. The answer? Cameo — a platform on which you can contact actors, comedians, athletes, influencers, and other celebrities to create customized greetings for your favorite people or even yourself. Feeling down lately? Maybe you need a “pep talk” from the famously lazy, shrewd Councilman Jamm from “Parks and Recreation.” Or maybe you need a few kind words from Fran Dresher (“The Nanny”) or Sarah Palin! No matter what your budget is, you’ll be able to find a celebrity to meet your needs. The app is pretty straightforward: Once you’ve chosen a celebrity, you’ll fill out a request form and describe what you want your Cameo message to be (up to 250

characters). After you’ve paid and the request is put through, the Cameo talent will have up to seven days to accept or deny your request. After it’s accepted, the celebrity will record the video, and Cameo will send it to all of the phone numbers and email addresses associated with your request. From there, the video is free to keep forever and share however you’d like! As you can imagine, Cameo has been a huge help for lesser-known actors, comedians, athletes, and many more during the pandemic — as well as for the fans commissioning their messages! In 2020 alone, Cameo had over 10,000 new celebrities join the platform and paid out over $75 million to its creators. Want a celebrity to support your product or nonprofit? They can do that too! With Business Cameo, you can get a public figure

to talk up your mission, services, product, and much more, although it’ll come at a higher price tag, and you’ll only be verified to use it 30 days after recording. Your favorite celebrities can also attend live events with Cameo Live! No matter the occasion, we’ve enjoyed watching the different Cameos people commission for their loved ones. Check it out at Cameo.com to give it a whirl.

BREAK TAKE A

Easy Peach Cobbler

Inspired by MyRecipes.com

Celebrate the end of summer — and peach season — with this simple and tasty peach cobbler!

INGREDIENTS

• • • •

1/2 cup unsalted butter

• • • • •

Dash of salt 1 cup milk

1 cup flour

2 cups sugar, divided 1 tbsp baking powder

4 cups peaches (fresh is best!)

1 tbsp lemon juice

Ground cinnamon or nutmeg to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. In a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, add butter and place in oven. Remove when melted. 2. In a large bowl, combine flour, 1 cup of sugar, baking powder, and salt. Then pour in milk and stir until the mixture is smooth. 3. Pour the batter over the melted butter, but don’t stir! 4. In a pot, bring peaches, lemon juice, and remaining sugar to a boil. Stir constantly. 5. Pour peaches over batter, but once again, don’t stir! 6. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg, then bake at 375 F for 45 minutes.

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THIS ISSUE

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1

Woman Discovers Her Lost Dog at the Humane Society

Remembering the Heroes of 9/11

2

How McDonald’s Spun the ‘Hot Coffee Lawsuit’

2

Want a Celebrity to Celebrate With You?

3

Easy Peach Cobbler

3

Willie the Parrot: The Ultimate Danger Alarm

4

Willie the Parrot: The Ultimate Danger Alarm

Willie the Quaker parrot was a pretty remarkable bird. Like many parrots, he had a knack for mimicking certain sounds and words, including barking dog noises, human kissing noises, and a fair share of swear words. However, what made Willie a hero one day was not just what he said, but also when he said it. Meagan Howard, Willie’s owner, brought him over to her friend Samantha Kuusk’s house while she babysat Kuusk’s little daughter, Hannah. Hannah and Willie were both in the kitchen while Meagan prepared a Pop-Tart for Hannah’s breakfast. After placing the Pop-Tart on the table, Meagan stepped away to use the bathroom. While she was away, however, Hannah got her hands on the Pop- Tart and began to scarf it down, lodging a piece in her windpipe. She started choking and was unable to signal to Meagan that something was wrong. Luckily, Willie came to the rescue. Willie began squawking and shrieking, saying the words “Mama! Baby!” over and over again. In a matter of moments, Meagan knew something was wrong. She rushed to the kitchen to find a very frantic Willie and a very blue Hannah. Meagan jumped into action. She grabbed Hannah and performed the Heimlich maneuver until the Pop-Tart piece dislodged itself and shot out of her mouth.

Meagan may have been the one to stop Hannah from choking, but she insists that Willie was the real hero of the story. If he hadn’t used his unique mimicking skills to get Meagan’s attention, she doesn’t

know what would have happened. It’s worth noting that before that incident, Willie had never used the phrase “Mama! Baby!” before. He knew something was wrong, and he knew how to get help.

Shortly after the incident, Willie received the local Red Cross chapter’s Animal Lifesaver Award for his heroic actions.

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