Gillette Law - June/July 2020

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ILLETTE

GAZETTE

JUNE/JULY 2020

THROWING A PUPPY SHOWER

WELCOMING THE NEWEST GILLETTE DOG

I’m happy to announce that the Gillette family has just welcomed a new addition. Shortly before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, my mother and father adopted a schnauzer puppy named Jake (not from State Farm). Jake’s the fifth schnauzer my family’s had, but he was welcomed into the fold in a way I’ve never seen done before. You see, my mother’s friends threw her a puppy shower! That’s right, much like a baby shower, there were balloons, cake, and decorations declaring “It’s a boy!” Guests brought presents as well, but instead of diapers and strollers, they gave things like dog beds and chew toys. All in all, it was a fun and heartfelt gesture, especially considering my mother’s history with schnauzers. We adopted our first of these little, bearded dogs around the time I was starting kindergarten. My mother had leaned into the German origins of the breed and dubbed him Maximilian von Shults VII. When the time came to get our second schnauzer, we once again stayed on brand, calling this new addition Beauregard Arthur von Bismark III. Such long names for such short dogs. Our next two puppies in the line of succession were both rescues and received far shorter names. The first was originally called Mufasa, after “The Lion King,” by his previous owners, but my mother changed his name to Jasper. After him came a schnauzer named Dixie who had been rescued from an Amish puppy mill. We had Dixie for a good seven years, until she passed away recently. That’s why this puppy shower for Jake was so special. My mother’s friends knew how hard it was to lose Dixie and wanted to put together something joyous to celebrate the circle of life. I’ve never heard of a puppy shower before, but it was an inspired idea that worked just as intended. Beyond being a fun little event to put together, it was a touching gesture of love and support. I might have to throw one of these in the future. The far future, that is.

Jake (not from State Farm) Gillette

My house is all full up on dogs as it is! We’ve got two Italian greyhounds and a mixed-breed hound from a shelter to take care of, but that doesn’t stop my wife and daughter from wanting to adopt more. In the spring, my wife had fallen in love with a King Charles Spaniel she’d seen up for adoption. Had I been with her in person, I may have caved myself — just seeing the pictures made saying “no” difficult. But for now, three’s a crowd. We’re going to have to wait until one of our kids moves out before we think of adding a new member to the pack. But when that time comes, you can bet we’ll throw a shower to mark the occasion.

Here’s to man’s best friend,

–Brian Gillette

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TURN YOUR VACATION INTO A STAYCATION

Vacations provide opportunities for families to spend time together in a relaxed environment, get away from the routines of everyday life, and create meaningful memories. If you’ve recently had to cancel a trip but still want to create the experience of a vacation for your family, then a staycation is just what you need. Transform Your Backyard When you’re trying to recreate a vacation, the outdoor areas of your home present a variety of possibilities. You can turn a sandbox into a relaxing beach, complete with a kiddie pool “ocean.” If you have trees, then set up a zip line or obstacle course. You can even stimulate summer brains with a scavenger hunt around the backyard with hidden clues in the dirt or bushes. The ultimate prize can be something you would have purchased on your original vacation, like a souvenir you can find online. Create a ‘Family Museum’ Many vacations include an educational aspect in order to enrich our understanding of the place we’re visiting, and museums are a great way to accomplish that. If you’re confined to the house, then teach your kids about your own knowledge and interests and encourage them to get creative and make their own contributions, too. Have

everyone create art, take photos, or write about their prized possessions. Display these masterpieces around your home and let their creators take you on a tour. Learning more about one another builds meaningful bonds. Bring Your Trip Home You probably chose your original vacation destination in order to experience new and different cultures and activities. But just because you’re no longer traveling to that location doesn’t mean you can’t experience some of what it has to offer! Research popular local cuisine, activities, and history of the area, then create ways to experience them with your family. Cook a traditional meal, recreate a scenic location through photographs, or share a story about local lore and history. Your changed plans will no longer feel like a missed opportunity. Staying at home doesn’t mean your family can’t have the fun of a vacation. All it takes is a little creativity and innovation to build an experience that will bring your family closer together.

SPREAD THE WORD

Protect Yourself from Social Security Scams

Be on the lookout for fake calls and emails

Social Security Phone Scams Are On The Rise

Telephone and email scammers are pretending to be government employees. They may threaten you and may demand immediate payment to avoid arrest or other legal action. Do not be fooled! If you receive a suspicious call: 1. HANG UP 2. DO NOT GIVE MONEY OR PERSONAL INFORMATION 3. REPORT THE SCAM AT OIG.SSA.GOV

According to the Federal Trade Commission, 2019 saw a “dramatic surge” in scam artists pretending to be members of the Social Security Administration (SSA). On average, individuals lost around $1,500 to these impersonators last year. Thankfully, the SSA has provided the following guidelines to help protect you from these malicious scams. Of course, SSA employees aren’t the only impersonations these scammers use. They may call pretending to be a child or grandchild in “desperate” need of money — claiming they need to post bail in a foreign country, for example. In general, if you receive a call out of the blue requesting your Social Security number or a wire transfer, hang up immediately.

What to look out for

Scammers pretend they’re from Social Security or another government agency. Caller ID or documents sent by email may look official but they are not .

The caller says there is a problem with your Social Security number or account.

Any call asking you to pay a fine or debt with retail gift cards, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, internet currency, or by mailing cash.

Callers threaten you with arrest or other legal action.

Be Alert

Be Active Protect yourself, friends, and family! » If you receive a questionable call, hang up and report it at oig.ssa.gov » Don’t return unknown calls » Ask someone you trust for advice before making any large purchase or financial decision » Don’t be embarrassed to report if you shared personal information or suffered a financial loss » Learn more at oig.ssa.gov/scam » Share this information with others

Social Security may call you in some situations but will never : » Threaten you » Suspend your Social Security number » Demand immediate payment from you » Require payment by cash, gift card, pre-paid debit card, or wire transfer » Ask for gift card numbers over the phone or to wire or mail cash

UNKNOWN CALLE R

Social Security Administration | Publication No. 05-10535 | February 2020 | Produced at U.S. taxpayer expense

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WERE YOU OVERCHARGED BY YOUR HOSPITAL?

At the beginning of 2019, the federal government made it possible for patients to hold hospitals accountable to the prices they set. By law, these care providers have to publicly publish their rates for all services and items for which they charge. This listing of billable items is known as a hospital’s chargemaster, or alternately, “charge master.” These comprehensive lists can be found through your hospital’s website and are vitally important to protecting your rights as a consumer. Thanks to the 2019 regulation, you can compare your hospital bill to the institution’s chargemaster prices on the date(s) you received treatment. If the amounts don’t match, you may have been overcharged for items or services. This means that if a hospital is suing you for more than the amount the chargemaster indicates you owe or if you’re being pursued by a collection agency because of the inflated charges, you now have a strong legal defense. Medical billing errors are painfully common, and given the high cost of care, it’s critical to ensure you aren’t being overcharged. If this turns out to be the case, you should consider consulting a consumer litigation lawyer. A consumer litigation lawyer can help you set the record straight with your hospital and stop debt collection efforts tied to your overcharge.

While our team at the Gillette Law Group remains focused on matters of Social Security and Virginia Retirement System Disability Retirement benefits, we have talented colleagues who focus their practices on consumer litigation, especially in instances of hospitals inflating prices. If your bill does not match the chargemaster values listed on the date of your treatment, give us a call. We’d be happy to connect you with a trusted colleague with whom you can consult.

STICKY AND SWEET PORK ‘RIBS’

Inspired by Bon Appétit

Ingredients

DO YOU HAVE A LEGAL QUESTION? If we can’t answer your question, we would be happy to personally refer you to one of our trusted colleagues. We will even give them a call to let them know a summary of your issue so they are aware and ready to take your call.

• 2 heads garlic, cloves separated • 3 thumbs ginger, chopped

• 1/3 cup oyster sauce • 1/3 cup toasted sesame oil • 5 lbs boneless pork shoulder, flattened • 3/4 cup brown sugar • 1 tbsp molasses

Directions • 1 cup hoisin sauce • 3/4 cup fish sauce • 2/3 cup honey • 2/3 cup rice wine • 1/2 cup chili oil

1. In a blender, purée garlic, ginger, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, honey, rice wine, chili oil, oyster sauce, and toasted sesame oil until smooth. 2. Reserve and chill 1 1/2 cups for later use. 3. In a bag, add the remaining mixture and pork shoulder. Marinate for at least 8 hours. 4. Using a convection plate on the grill, cook pork until the thickest part reaches an internal temperature of 140–145 F. 5. In a large saucepan, simmer brown sugar, molasses, and reserved marinade for 6–8 minutes. 6. Baste the pork with the brown sugar glaze for 2 minutes before serving.

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INSIDE This Issue

Partying for a Puppy page 1 3 Enriching Staycation Ideas page 2 Spot Phone Scams Before It’s Too Late page 2

Guarding Against Hospital Overcharges page 3

Sticky and Sweet Pork ‘Ribs’ page 3

How Meals on Wheels Atlanta Stepped Up for Their Community page 4

A MEAL FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY

MEALS ON WHEELS GOES THE EXTRA MILE

Meals on Wheels doesn’t often get the credit it deserves. The international nonprofit ensures those who are unable to buy or make their own meals get the food they need to survive. Of course, for many recipients, the efforts of the organization go far beyond “survival.” For those who receive food daily or weekly, those deliveries may be their only source of social interaction. And during times of social distancing, the program became more important than ever. Meals on Wheels doesn’t just serve meals to the elderly and handicapped — it also serves those people’s pets. In 2019, Meals on Wheels Atlanta realized there was a huge need in their community to feed the pets of senior citizens. It stands to reason that if an elderly individual is unable to shop or cook for themselves, their pets may be in a similar predicament. And when someone’s pet is their entire world, making sure the animal is fed and healthy means everything. In response to this need, Meals on Wheels Atlanta began stocking up on cat and dog food, creating their own pantry to serve the local pet community. When volunteers made their rounds delivering meals to seniors, they made sure to bring cat and dog food along too.

One volunteer with Meals on Wheels Atlanta, Larry Auberbach, had a unique experience delivering meals to Jeffery Jones and his dog, Grizzly. The volunteer told 11Alive News in Atlanta that Jeffery and Grizzly “have their own special relationship.” Larry loved Grizzly long before Meals on Wheels Atlanta started the pet pantry because he saw how much Grizzly’s companionship meant to Jeffery. Now, Larry enjoys his service that much more since he gets to provide for Jeffery’s beloved pet, as well. On top of delivering food to seniors and their pets, Meals on Wheels Atlanta also delivers pet toys and pet beds, and they are happy to take in any pet-related food or items for donation. The organization says this endeavor was done out of love, not only for the people they serve but also for the whole family — wagging tails, fuzzy whiskers, and all.

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