Donahoe Kearney - March 2021

Donahoe Kearney - March 2021

BRIEF

donahoekearney.com

March 2021

WE GET THINGS DONE

find out how One of our core values here at Donahoe Kearney is that every day, we “get things done.” That means we do a lot of little things — we do what we say, we follow up, we finish things. Getting things done is the best way to give you the control over your life that you deserve after a serious injury or illness took some of that away.

Our senior paralegal, Priscilla, gets things done by meeting with every client, explaining the process and getting to know not just the case, but also the person. And that connection is critical to our success — it’s what separates us from other law firms who see their clients as a number or just a case, because they know they can get another case from their next TV commercial. (Don’t get me started on how TV ads are the absolute worst way to choose a lawyer if you have a serious injury). Intake specialist Summer is often the first one you talk to. She takes charge of the phones, first listening to what you need and then sending you the best information for your situation — and following up to make sure you got it! Brooke, our Director of Client Services, gets things done in her own daily responsibilities, too. She’s usually on the front line of receiving new cases, and if we can’t help with your case, making sure we find someone we can refer you to who can. Do we make mistakes? Of course, we do. Everyone does. And I’ve never had a perfect case — there is no such thing. So, why the focus on getting things done? Because that’s the best way to give you the control, freedom, and independence you deserve to run your life the way you want to, even after a serious injury or illness. That’s really what it's all about. If you’re looking for this kind of experience, call us. - Frank Kearney

This core value is more than just words. We practice it in everything we do here on a daily basis. It starts with our hiring process; we specifically look for people with grit and hutzpah, who can close out any and all distractions in order to get their work done and make sure our clients are taken care of. It takes a lot of drive and determination to get things done when you’re fighting insurance companies all day — they have a built-in incentive to delay things; they make money by being chronically understaffed and not responding.

So, we look for what I call the “follow-up gene” — I don’t know if it’s genetic or learned here, but getting things done, well, that may mean calling the insurance company 18 times to get a simple answer. So, we do. While everyone here is focused on getting things done, that looks different for everyone — we all have different responsibilities, even if our mission is the same. When I’m focused on litigation or negotiating settlements, I take a day out of the week to free myself of any distractions — meaning I won’t respond to any calls or notifications unless it’s an emergency — so I can focus solely on getting our clients the results they want for their cases as quickly as possible. That’s it.

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BACK TO GOOD how one client became family (and vice versa)

This week, I caught up with Carlos Crawford, a client of ours who had a bad injury in D.C. He was at work as a construction worker on a roadside. As he was setting up the safety signs (and was wearing his safety gear), a car came barreling down the street and hit him. He went flying and fractured his knee, broke his ankle, and sustained a concussion. The driver who hit him was high on a cocktail of PCP. He tried to do a hit and run, but he ran into a tree. Carlos’ coworkers chased him down, dragged him out of the car, and beat him up a little bit. He deserved it. The driver was arrested. In the meantime, Carlos was on the ground, in and out of consciousness. The ambulance came for him; he woke up briefly on the stretcher, and the next time he woke up, he was in the hospital. He had bad orthopedic injuries. He was later treated by a specialist and referred for surgery, but the insurance company just kept delaying it. Carlos’ wife, Tiffany, contacted us after they cut off his benefits. Sometimes when an insurance company finds out how expensive a claim is really going to be because you need surgery, they find a reason to deny the claim entirely. But Tiffany is no pushover, and she wasn’t going to stand for them treating her husband like that. When I spoke to Carlos, he said, “Once we got connected with Frank Kearney, everything panned out to be awesome. Frank and Priscilla are awesome. Priscilla did a great job communicating with workers’ comp and just in general.” Tiffany chimed in on the phone, “Priscilla is my girl!”

Tiffany later left us a wonderful review that really captures how Frank and Priscilla really became family to them and vice versa! Carlos had to have his leg in a cast and do physical therapy; he actually had to learn how to walk again. It was painful, very painful. And he was going through PTSD as well; he used to have nightmares about the car coming at him. Thankfully, he was able to receive therapy, both for his leg and for the PTSD. Carlos is now on his way to start a new job and he sounds great! His workers’ comp settlement helps him get through his “good days and bad days,” which he still has from the injury. A settlement means that he has something to compensate him for any impairment or loss of use in his leg, and the great news is that he can still work doing something different!

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TRAVEL TIDBITS FROM FRANK AND KEITH'S HOMELAND In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we wanted to share some great tips about traveling to Keith and Frank’s homeland (well, the homeland of their ancestors at least) — Ireland! Traveling to Ireland might not be an option for you right now, but like a leprechaun hoarding gold, you can still fill up your bucket list with all of the pubs, rolling hills, and lucky sites you’d love to see. When you’re planning your trip to Dublin, Galway, or Cork, add these spots to your itinerary. The Oldest Bar in the World – Athlone, County Westmeath When Sean’s Bar (also the name of Frank’s youngest son) closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire country of Ireland groaned. The pub is famous for its Irish whiskey, music, and history, which stretches back to 900 A.D., far enough to earn it the title of “Oldest Bar in the World.” As of this writing, Sean’s is slated to reopen when it’s safe again, and considering it has already survived the bubonic plague and the Spanish flu, odds are good that it will make it through this, too! Soon, you’ll be able to raise a glass in the same rooms where the noblemen of nearby Athlone Castle shared drinks in the 12th century. Find more historical tidbits at Seansbar.ie Ireland’s Spookiest Castle – Coolderry, County Offaly If you’re a fan of thrillers and true crime podcasts, you won’t want to leave Ireland without visiting Leap Castle. This 16th-century

haunt was built by the fierce O’Bannon clan, who famously ordered two brothers to throw themselves off a rocky cliff as a test of strength ( Frank conducts this test on an annual basis with his siblings — Frank is always clan chief). The survivor was named clan chief, and later Leap Castle was built on that very site — beginning its long and bloody history. Read more about its haunted priest’s house, murder hole room, and bloody chapel at LeapCastle. net and meet the many ghosts that haunt its halls. A Famous Smugglers’ Shortcut – Newcastle, County Down Get ready to tie up your hiking boots! This roughly 2-mile hike, called Hare’s Gap, is one of the most famous and beautiful routes in Ireland. When you climb through this pass in the Mourne Mountains, you’ll be rewarded with views of glacial cliffs, boulder fields, and ancient-looking stone walls. Legend has it that the pass was part of the Brandy Pad smuggling route, used to ferry goods like soap, leather, spices, and coffee. ( Frank uses this route to bring in his Irish whiskey every year.) Safe travels, ádh mór (good luck), and Sláinte Mor (good health)!

EASY SHEPHERD’S PIE INGREDIENTS: For Potatoes • 1 1/2 lbs potatoes, peeled • Kosher salt • 4 tbsp melted butter • 1/4 cup milk • 1/4 cup sour cream • Freshly ground black pepper For Beef Mixture • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 1 large onion, chopped • 2 carrots, peeled and chopped • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 tsp fresh thyme • 1 1/2 lbs ground beef • • • • •

CHECK OUT OUR NEW DIGS!

1 cup frozen peas 1 cup frozen corn

We are now located at 708 Pendleton Street, Alexandria, Virginia. We can’t wait to see you! You can find us near the corner of Pendleton Street and North Washington Street or Pendleton and North Columbus (depending on where you’re coming from) in Old Town, Alexandria. Having a hard time finding us? No problem — just call us at 202.393.3320 and we will walk you through it. We have a dedicated entrance on the first floor with a green awning marked 708.

2 tbsp all-purpose flour 2/3 cup low-sodium chicken broth 1 tbsp freshly chopped parsley, for garnish

DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Make mashed potatoes: In a large pot, cover potatoes with water and add a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and cook until totally soft, 16–18 minutes. Drain and return to pot. 2. Using a potato masher, mash potatoes until smooth. Add melted butter, milk, and sour cream. Mash together until fully incorporated, then season with salt and pepper. Set aside. 3. Make beef mixture: In a large, ovenproof skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion, carrots, garlic, and thyme and cook until fragrant and softened, 5 minutes. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 5 minutes more. Drain fat.

4. Stir in frozen peas and corn and cook until warmed through, 3 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper. 5. Sprinkle meat with flour and stir to evenly distribute. Cook 1 minute more and add chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and let mixture thicken slightly, 5 minutes. 6. In the same skillet, top beef mixture with an even layer of mashed potatoes and bake until very little liquid is visible and mashed potatoes are golden, about 20 minutes. Broil if desired. 7. Garnish with parsley before serving.

Source: Delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a57949/easy- shepherds-pie-recipe/

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Donahoe Kearney, LLP 708 Pendleton Street First Floor Alexandria, VA 22314 202.393.3320 DonahoeKearney.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1

We Get Things Done — Find Out How

2

Back to Good — How One Client Became Family (and Vice Versa)

3

Travel Tidbits From Frank and Keith's Homeland

We've Moved — Come Check Out Our New Digs!

Easy Shepherd’s Pie

4

Looking for an Edge at Donahoe Kearney

LOOKING FOR AN EDGE at donahoe kearney Someone asked me recently why I would move our operations office to Alexandria after being in D.C. for 25 years. Well, a lot of that had to do with getting things done for our clients. And the reality is, we represent people who live all over the area and the country who were hurt in the DMV.

Because we’re always looking for an edge — always asking how we can do things better, more efficiently, and faster to help the kind of people we love to represent. That’s why.

Traffic, parking, and mail delivery were all issues in D.C. that affected how we got things done for the people we represent. We wanted some place that was just easier on everyone.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

"Here's What You Do When You Get a Letter Denying Your Long-Term Disability Benefits."

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