Harman Law - July/August 2020

Harman Law - July/August 2020

July/August 2020

THE HARMAN HEADLINE

HARMAN LAW

Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, and Employment Lawyers

THE SWEET TASTE OF SUMMER

Watermelon Season Is Finally Here!

When I was a little kid, watermelon was my favorite food in the world. I spent every year waiting for summer, when the juicy melons would show up in our kitchen and I could chow down to my heart’s content. Once, I even had the brilliant idea of planting my own watermelon garden. I saved the seeds from one of my snacks and pushed them into the ground in our yard. Shockingly, the seeds actually grew into watermelon vines! It doesn’t seem like it should have worked because I never watered or fertilized the little piece of ground, but sure enough, a year or two later I had my very own watermelon patch. Of course, I was so impatient for my first harvest that I pulled all of the little melons off the vine before they were fully ripe. That ended my first and last adventure into watermelon gardening. I have to admit that when it comes to watermelon, not a lot has changed over the decades. I’m not trying to grow my own melons any more, but I have been known to cut a watermelon in half and eat the entire thing in one sitting. I know that’s an absurd amount of fruit, but I justify myself with the fact that it’s mostly water, and when the summer heat hits, I need to hydrate! This year I got my first watermelon fix in late May when I finally found them in the store for a reasonable price. I was so excited that I immediately snagged one and brought it home. I shared a bit with the triplets, and they seemed to enjoy it just as much as I did! That moment really made my day. It’s been interesting figuring out what kids will eat, and so far it seems they take after me — they all like bacon, for example, which I love but my wife Jen can’t stand. Watermelon isn’t the only summer food I enjoy. I’m a big fan of barbecue, homemade ice cream, and smoothies too. Jen asked for a blender for Mother’s Day this year, and one of the first things she did with it was make salted caramel ice cream, which was amazing and really got us ready for the season. I couldn’t believe how simple the recipe was. She just froze milk into ice cubes and

then added vanilla extract and powdered sugar to the blender. In only a minute, we had vanilla ice cream! After a drizzle of caramel and a sprinkle of sea salt, we were in summer food heaven. When it isn’t too hot, grilling in the backyard is another way we get a taste of the season. In years past, we’ve made a habit of getting together with family and friends for regular barbecues during the summer months, and we plan to continue that tradition this year. We’ll stick to the rules for social distancing and gathering size, of course, but it’s been great to start seeing people again as restrictions have lifted. We’ve also started taking trips to the beach and filling up the pool in our backyard for the triplets to swim in. They’re having a blast! Now that I’m a dad, hearing my kids splash and laugh while

they swim might be the only thing that beats the sweet, juicy, refreshing taste of watermelon. When I’m lucky, though, I get to enjoy both at the same time!

I hope you get to indulge in your favorite thing this summer, just like I am. After the chaos of this spring, we all deserve to relax and enjoy the season.

–Michael Harman

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Unwavering Client Experience. Outstanding Results. – Call Us Today 704-885-5550

What Do Julius Caesar and BuffaloWings Have in Common?

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE MONTH OF JULY

Most Americans associate July with Independence Day and everything the holiday entails, including traditional barbecue cuisine, fireworks, and summer vacations. However, in addition to the Fourth of July, this midsummer month has a rich history and offers fun opportunities for everyone to celebrate. ‘What’s in a Name?’ You’ve likely heard of Julius Caesar, the famous Roman dictator and general known for changing the Roman Empire’s political structure, innovating war tactics, and eventually dying after a legendary assassination. But did you know that July, Caesar’s birth month, wasn’t always called that? It was initially named Quintilis , which means “fifth” in Latin, because it was the fifth month of the ancient Roman calendar. Shortly after Caesar’s death, the month of Quintilis was renamed July in his honor. Of course, Caesar’s

legacy didn’t end there. Before he died, he implemented the Julian calendar, which he based off of the Egyptian solar calendar, and it remained in place for over 1,500 years until the Gregorian calendar was introduced in the 16th century. Red, White, andWho? Similar to the Declaration of Independence for the U.S., Canada’s Constitution Act of 1867, signed on July 1 of that year, marks the birth of Canada. The following year, Charles Monck, the 4th Viscount Monck and Canada’s first governor-general, signed a proclamation requesting that everyone in Canada celebrate their country’s independence on July 1. However, it wasn’t until 100 years later that the date officially became Canada Day. Most celebrations include fireworks and red and white attire, much like how Americans celebrate the Fourth of July.

Got Wings? While chicken wings are a staple of Southern dining, they actually originated in upstate New York. In 1964, Teressa Bellissimo, co-owner of the Anchor Bar, started cooking leftover wings dipped in hot sauce for her son and his friends. After receiving enthusiastic feedback, Bellissimo put them on the menu. Over the next few years, the recipe’s popularity spread, and in 1977, former Buffalo mayor Stan Makowski declared July 29 to be National Chicken Wing Day. The reputation of the famous Buffalo wings continued to spread nationwide, and in the early ‘90s, wings became an international hit when McDonald’s, KFC, and Domino’s Pizza began selling them in the variety of flavors we know and love today.

Your Right to Take Leave

Who’s eligible? In North Carolina, employers are required to provide FMLA if their business has at least 50 employees for at least 20 weeks per year. An individual employee is eligible for FMLA leave only if they’ve worked for the business for at least one year, have worked at least 1,250 hours during the past year, and if they work at a place with at least 50 employees within a 75-mile radius. Is COVID-19 covered? The FMLA protects eligible employees who are incapacitated by a serious health condition. At this time, federal law classifies COVID-19 as a qualifying condition, so if you contract the virus, then you should absolutely take time away from work to recover. The act also extends to employees who need to care for a family member who has become incapacitated by COVID-19. It does not, however, apply to a leave taken by an employee for the purpose of avoiding exposure to the virus. If you are eligible to leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act due to COVID-19 or other circumstances, then your employer has no right to prevent you from taking that leave nor to prevent you from coming back when you’ve recovered. If you feel they’ve violated those rights, then Harman Law is here to help. Give our office a call so we can take care of your case.

The word “employment” has become wrought with uncertainty in light of COVID-19 and its ripple effects. People have lost jobs, had hours cut, or agonized over whether or not they’ll have a job to come back to after they’ve fallen ill. But under federal law, eligible employees have rights to safely take sick leave and return to work because the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) grants them this peace of mind.

What is it? Under the FMLA, eligible employees are allowed up to 12 weeks of leave in a single year for serious health problems, bonding with a new child, or preparation for a family member’s military service. When the FMLA leave is completed, the employee has a right to be reinstated to their position. If you use FMLA leave, then there will likely be requirements to follow, such as advance notice of intent to leave (if foreseeable), medical certification supporting the need for leave, and periodic reports during leave regarding status and intent to return.

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Unwavering Client Experience. Outstanding Results. – HarmanLawNC.com

Meet Our New Legal Assistant!

SUDOKU

A Look at Samantha’s Journey to Harman Law

Just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we brought Samantha Mitchem onboard at our firm. This spring must have been a crazy time to start a new job, but she settled into her role of legal assistant right away, and we’ve been beyond lucky to have her through these crazy months! Day to day, Samantha takes calls for Michael and Catherine, schedules appointments for personal injury and unemployment cases, handles inquiries about wills and power of attorney, and meets with new clients. “I’m in charge of obtaining medical records, billing, and following up on health insurance,” she says. “It’s a lot of detailed work, but it makes the day go by. There’s always something to do, and I’m never bored!” Before coming to Harman Law, Samantha worked as an ambulance coder and biller in her home state of West Virginia. For four years, she kept busy doing private pay and following up on bills and insurance there. Though she enjoyed the work, Samantha had the travel bug and couldn’t wait to leave home. When her mom moved fromWest Virginia to North Carolina, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to start a new chapter. “My mom and I talked about it, and I followed her here in September 2019,” Samantha says. “It’s been the best decision I’ve ever made! I love it down here.” Working from home this spring was both fun and challenging for Samantha. On the one hand, she says, she missed the office environment, but on the other, she could wear comfortable clothes to work and spend more time with her cats, Luna and Little Bit.

Solution on Page 4

The Best Grilled Summer Vegetables

INGREDIENTS:

When she isn’t playing with her pets, Samantha likes to pass her free time outdoors.

• • •

1 tsp salt

carrots, and yellow squash are great on the grill)

1/4 tsp pepper

1 1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning 1 1/2 tsp garlic, minced 2 lbs assorted vegetables, trimmed and halved (asparagus, mushrooms, red onion, red bell peppers, baby

“I like to go and explore. I’d like to look into some state parks and see what those are about and how different they are from back home,” she says. “If I’m not working, usually I’m outside helping my mom. We have a flower bed, and I like to help out there and try to get some sun on my pale skin!”

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• • •

5 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp lemon juice

1/4 cup parsley leaves, chopped

Samantha, it’s been a joy to work with you this year. From all of us at Harman Law, thank you for all you do!

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic. 2. Brush vegetables with olive oil and place in a large bowl. Top with lemon juice and seasoning mixture. Toss to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes but no longer than 2 hours. 3. Prepare the grill at medium-high heat. 4. Grill vegetables in batches, cooking 3–5 minutes on each side until browned and tender. (Carrots will cook longer, 6–9 minutes per side.) 5. Remove from the grill, sprinkle with parsley, and serve hot.

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Inside This Issue

The Sweet Taste of Summer 1

Sudoku Solution

Enjoy JulyWith These Fun Facts

Does the Family and Medical Leave Act Cover COVID-19? 2 The Secret to Delicious Grilled Vegg i es Meet Our New Legal Assistant! 3 How the MRI Scan Changed Sports Medicine 4

THE FIRST MRI SCAN OF A HUMAN Integrating Medicine and Sports

Whether it’s football, hockey, rugby, or any other contact sport, when a player goes down, fans immediately want to know why. An injury could mean a player is out for the season, which could also cause the entire team to falter. Concerned fans will wait for hours to hear the player’s prognosis. A sports injury is severely damaging because it can potentially end the athlete’s career or alter their quality of life. Injured players hope to get a diagnosis and treatment from the medical professionals around them and get back in the game as soon as possible. MRI technology is an essential part of that process. An MRI scan is used to produce an accurate diagnosis of the player’s injury, but that’s not all. It can also assist doctors in estimating recovery time and determining if the player will need surgery. With so much depending on the MRI scan, it’s no wonder that fans, coaches, teammates, and injured players themselves wait anxiously for the results.

Though it’s now standard practice to use MRI scans to help diagnose sports injuries, the MRI device itself is less than 50 years old. On July 3, 1977, the first recorded MRI scan of a human body was performed by Dr. Raymond Damadian. Although it took five hours to produce that first image of the patient, the machine successfully scanned his chest and revealed his lungs and heart. Damadian named the machine Indomitable, an homage to his team’s struggle in developing the technology that allowed the device to succeed. Thanks to Damadian’s determination and the brilliant people on his team, today’s medical professionals can use MRI machines to scan broken bones, detect cancerous cells, take full photos of the brain, and reveal blood clots. MRI scans are useful for athletes and nonathletes alike. The results inform a diagnostic plan that will help them get back to playing the sport they love, whether it be their career or a hobby.

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Unwavering Client Experience. Outstanding Results. – HarmanLawNC.com