Holland & Usry - January 2021

Holland & Usry - January 2021

THE PROMISE OF 2021 This Year, Many Hope For a Return to Normal

It’s not often that New Year’s brings the kind of promise Jan. 1 did this year. Then again, we’re not often faced with a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic — or the prospect of that crisis going away. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves: The coronavirus is still very much active, hospitals are full, and cases in many states are at all-time highs. This may seem like a grim time in a lot of ways. And yet, 2021 brings hope that an end to the pandemic is near, thanks to several new vaccines that fight the disease with 95% effectiveness. For that, I am truly grateful. Even though none of us has ever faced societal changes of this magnitude, it’s hard to imagine going back to “normal” or what “normal” even looks like. We look at pictures of packed theaters or crowded restaurants with nostalgia, but it is also a reminder that such activities are no longer safe. Many fear that such a trip to the theater, concerts, sporting events or other favorite pastimes of American life will never fully return. But I am still confident that “normal” is coming; we’ll be those people again. Some of the changes COVID-19 brought will end up being permanent: The suffering and fallout from the disease, and the loss of loved ones — that’s the most permanent change of all, and my heart goes out to those who suffered most. It’s almost unbearable to think about the loss of life we’ve endured as a nation and across the world.

is the coronavirus. For example, we’ve discovered new ways of doing business and confronted the challenges of working from home. We’ve also found new joy in our lives with family and perhaps become better at taking pleasure in the little things in life. Even the development of a vaccine in less than a year is a minor scientific miracle. It’s certainly record-setting and wouldn’t be possible without the groundbreaking body of research that was done around the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s. Scientists were able to build off of that knowledge to come up with an incredibly responsive answer to the perils of COVID-19, one that promises to end the pandemic globally if we all do our part. That, of course, is the last thing I want to discuss because we’re not out of the woods yet. The vaccine will take a while to be distributed, and people will need to come back for the second shot. As with any vaccine, it’s likely that there will be some discomfort — although nothing comparable to the dangers of the virus itself. Not everyone will have access at first. This means we need to continue to practice social distancing, wear masks in public, and isolate ourselves if we start to show symptoms. If we do all that, 2021 will deliver on its promise — a return to normality and an end to this pandemic. Let’s enter the year strong and make that happen together.

But there are other changes as well, and some of those changes might end up being the “silver lining” on the dark cloud that

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THE FIRST DOG TO WIN A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

Just this past October, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to what can only be one described as one the world’s goodest boys — a dog named Foxtrot, known also to his Instagram followers (of which there are nearly 7,000) as humanitarian_pup. While Foxtrot wasn’t responsible for improvements to auction theory (like Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson, who won the Nobel Prize for economics) or for a standout career in writing poetry (like Louise Glück, who won the Nobel Prize for literature), this incredible canine shared the Nobel Peace Prize with the World Food Programme (WFP) for their work in combating world hunger. As the organization’s official mascot, Foxtrot shared in the win with the thousands of other WFP workers worldwide. Foxtrot lives in Bangladesh (one of the most densely populated countries in the world) at a WFP outpost that works to supply one of the world’s largest refugee camps. According to an NPR article that spotlighted Foxtrot and the efforts made by his WFP humans, they worked not only to get food to refugees but also to flatten hillsides to make room for shelters for Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar.

Foxtrot himself became part of the effort to combat world hunger during a WFP beach cleanup in his home country. Workers found him as a 4-week-old pup, and after failing to locate his owners, took him in as one of their own. For the past two years, Foxtrot has helped however he can to further the WFP’s efforts to end hunger in Bangladesh. This usually includes accompanying his humans while they work, wearing an adorable custom-made WFP cape, and taking to Instagram to raise awareness about how anyone can join in the WFP’s mission. After learning that he and his humans had won the Nobel Peace Prize, Foxtrot didn’t waste the opportunity to share his excitement with his followers. “Woweee,” the pup said. “I … think it would be even more amazing if we didn’t need any peace prizes because peace was the status quo in our world.” If Foxtrot and his humans keep up the good work that won them the Nobel Peace Prize, it seems like that status quo could be within reach.

Testimonials

THANKS TO THE HOLLAND & USRY LAW FIRM “Rob Usry is a great lawyer with years of knowledge and experience to take your case to a level that is unexpected! He knows all of the ins and outs of the law to have a solution to any problem that may arise unexpectedly, especially caring for your best interest. He has done an understanding job on my case, and I’m very pleased with the final result. It was a fight that he didn’t back down from, and he made sure I won with

pride, integrity, and most of all, with the best outcome. His staff is amazing. The two I worked with the most, (Pamela and Rose) treated me like family and answered every question at the time I asked the question. I will always refer this law firm to anyone who is in need of a lawyer’s assistance! Great job, Rob.”

–Paul

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BUT WAS IT RECKLESS?

In South Carolina, your case qualifies for punitive damages only if you can prove you got hurt due to “willful, wanton, or reckless conduct.” That’s straight from the South Carolina punitive damages law at South Carolina Code Section 15-32- 520(D). And it’s not easy to prove. So what does “willful, wanton, or reckless” mean? How can you prove it?

THE MEANING OF “WILLFUL, WANTON, AND RECKLESS”

“Willful, wanton, and reckless” all mean the same thing, so let’s just use the word “reckless.” Reckless basically means a conscious failure to care for someone else’s safety. In other words, if a normal person would know an act would probably hurt someone, it’s reckless to do it.

A Company Violating Its Own Policies: This functions much the same way but is harder because first, you’ve got to know how to get the company’s policy. Then you have to prove that breaking it caused you to get hurt.

TWO EXAMPLES OF PROVING RECKLESSNESS FOR PUNITIVE DAMAGES

DON’T LEAVE IT TO CHANCE – CALL US TO GET PROFESSIONAL HELP

Breaking the Law: Breaking the law is also called “negligence per se,” but that doesn’t mean you automatically get punitive damages. Your case still needs a painstaking analysis of the factors (speeding, alcohol, swerving, passing, etc.) involved in evaluating the amount you should ask for. You’ve got to know a lot to get a settlement for punitive damages in these cases. You also need to obtain police evidence before it disappears and move quickly against bars or restaurants if they over-served the culprit.

In any of these cases, you need a skilled accident injury lawyer to help you convincingly prove punitive damages. Once you cross that hurdle, you still need to prove (just as convincingly) that a substantial award is justified. If you have questions, you can call toll-free at 888-230-1841 or come see us for a free and easy strategy session to answer questions and build a case to compensate you, whether you qualify for punitive damages or not.

Good News

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN CASSEROLE

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” –Hebrews 12:14 “He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.” –Deuteronomy 10:21

Inspired by GoodHousekeeping.com

Ingredients

Directions 1. In a large frying pan, heat oil and fry salted chicken on high until brown. 2. Transfer chicken to the slow cooker. Add flour and stir. 3. In the frying pan on high heat, fry the onion, celery, carrots, leeks, and potatoes until lightly browned. Add garlic and fry for 30 seconds. 4. Transfer vegetables to the slow cooker and add the stock, rosemary, and lemon zest. 5. Cook on high for 2.5–3 hours or until chicken is tender. 6. Check seasoning and add lemon juice to taste. Top with parsley before serving.

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8 chicken thighs or drumsticks, lightly salted

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1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp all-purpose flour 1 onion, finely sliced 2 celery sticks, thickly sliced 2 carrots, thickly sliced 1 leek, thickly sliced 1 lb potatoes, peeled and cut in large chunks

2 garlic cloves, sliced 14 oz chicken stock

1 sprig rosemary

Finely grated zest and juice of 1/2 lemon 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped

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* This newsletter is intended to educate the public about personal injury, workers’ compensation, criminal defense, and family law issues. You can copy and distribute it as long as you copy the entire newsletter. But the newsletter is not intended to be legal advice; you should ask a lawyer about your specific case. Every case is different, and all case outcomes depend on unique facts and laws.

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INSIDE this issue

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Will ‘Normal’ Return in 2021? The First Dog to Win a Nobel Peace Prize Testimonials Is Recklessness to Blame? Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole

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Give Yourself the Boost of Getting Outside

If you no longer want to receive this newsletter, call Pam at 864.582.0416 or email [email protected] .

Let That Fresh Air Fuel You 4 TIPS TO MAKE GETTING OUTSIDE EASIER

Hunkering down and waiting for the dark and chilly winter season to pass sounds pretty nice. But the reality is, if we deprive ourselves of time outside, we do ourselves a big disservice both mentally and physically. Staying indoors all day affects your energy and mood, which makes it hard to get anything done, so here are four easy tips to make it easier to get a little fresh air. 1. MAKE IT A PRIORITY. Getting outside means making the conscious effort to do so. If you want to reap its benefits, you have to decide to make it a priority in your day-to-day schedule. If you make the act important to you, you have more motivation to actually do it. 2. USE MORNINGS EFFECTIVELY. Waking up and getting the day started can be hard. But studies have shown that natural light helps decrease your melatonin production, which means you feel ready to face the day sooner. So, set yourself a second alarm to head

outside and take a quick walk around the block just after waking. Don’t even wash your face or grab coffee. Just get out there. 3. TAKE YOUR WORK OUTSIDE. If you’re working from home, take some work outdoors. Phone and virtual meetings are a great outdoor option, especially if you’ll just be an active listener and aren’t required to do any work simultaneously. Attach a note to your meeting reminders to get yourself set up outside five minutes before you start. 4. CREATE A SCHEDULE. It might feel strange to set reminders throughout the day to step outside, but you easily get wrapped up in activities and overlook breaks, and these reminders are exactly what you need. Start with 10-minute blocks three times a day. If you stick to them, soon you won’t need a schedule to get outside anymore.

Winter weather may be cold, but even when you’re bundled up under a jacket and scarf, just 5–10 minutes outside can do wonders for your mood and energy for hours.

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