Holland & Usry - June 2021

CONCERN FOR THE BIG PICTURE

Last night, my 7-year-old’s baseball team had a playoff game.

Are you kiddin’ me?

We wonder why people get so angry and can’t have civil conversations about disagreements. Last night, two dozen first- and second-graders missed a golden opportunity for their parents to show them how to respect other people. And that’s just the players — there were plenty more who witnessed it from the stands. In life, there will be disagreements. We have to do it respectfully, respecting authority, and respecting where the other side is coming from. And we have to do it now. Our children are watching.

This is how we treat a man who knows the rules of the game, has no interest who wins, sacrifices his night to help little children get a fair shake, and makes a judgment call 6 feet away from the play. So, here’s my concern for the big picture: On a baseball field, the umpire is the ultimate authority figure. No run scores and no out is recorded without their approval. We wonder why young people don’t respect authority. Why would they, when we show them not to?

I’ll pause so you can react the way I did when I heard about playoff games for teams with 7-year-olds. Cue former NFL Coach Jim Mora’s infamous press conference: “Playoffs! Don’t talk about playoffs! Are you kiddin’ me?” But what truly disturbed me was the culmination of a trend I’ve seen all season and how damaging it is for all of us. It starts with a close play at second. The umpire, positioned between the pitcher’s mound and second — with his eyes fixed on the play — calls the runner out. Then it happens: Portions of the crowd loudly boo the umpire, and someone actually screams, “Get some glasses, ump!”

That’s exactly what those children witnessed from the “adults.”

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DIY OR BUY?

Lawn Games for Family Summer Fun

The warm summer sun may be enough to beckon your family outdoors, but lawn games will guarantee hours of fun outside. If you’re handy, there are plenty of great lawn games you can make yourself. If not, buy an off-the-shelf alternative and enjoy the easy setup. GIANT JENGA: EASY DIY All you need to build a giant Jenga tower are two-by-fours that are cut to length. If you’re handy with a saw, you can do this at home. If not, ask to have the wood cut at your local lumberyard. Be sure to sand down the edges before stacking the boards to create a classic Jenga tower! For extra fun, pick a few paint colors and paint each board. Visit ABeautifulMess.com/make-this-giant-jenga to see a complete set of instructions.

Buy: Skip the project and buy GoSports Giant Wooden Toppling Tower online, which retails for about $70 and stacks over 5 feet high.

CORNHOLE: ADVANCED DIY The humble beanbag may be the most versatile backyard game piece. It’s used in the popular game commonly known as cornhole. To build your own cornhole set, you’ll need a couple of sheets of 1/2-inch-thick plywood along with two-by-fours, some hardware, and a variety of tools including a drill, jigsaw, and sander. Visit DIYPete.com/cornhole-board-plans to get both written and video instructions. Buy: Ready to play ASAP? Cornhole sets are available from many large retailers around summertime, or you can order a customized set featuring your favorite team, family name, or characters from your favorite movies by looking at Etsy.com.

CLASSIC HORSESHOES: INTERMEDIATE DIY Tossing horseshoes is a great way to pass an afternoon. To play, you’ll just need to set up two sand pits in your yard. Get a handful of horseshoes, and you’re ready to go! Many DIY plans are available online, including one from HousefulOfHandmade.com/ultimate-diy-horseshoe-pit. Buy: Check out the kid-friendly rubber horseshoe set from Wayfair.com, which requires no installation, can be used indoors or alongside your outdoor game, and is safe for younger children.

Whether you buy or DIY, remember to have fun and always supervise your children while playing outdoors, especially when it comes to yard games!

Testimonials

THANKS TO THE HOLLAND & USRY LAW FIRM

“Mr. Usry went out of his way to help me navigate a difficult case with my daughter, and while he wasn’t able to help me in the long run, he was thorough in his discovery period, kept in constant contact with me, and kept me abreast of what he was doing. In the end, together, we decided the case wasn’t

worth pursuing, but if I ever need help in the future, Rob would be the first person I would reach out to. He was kind and professional, and above all else, his No. 1 concern was my daughter’s well-being. A+ for effort, professionalism, and compassion. Thank you, Rob!”

–Stephie W.

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HOPE FOR A BETTER SETTLEMENT? In Wrongful Death Cases, the Right Insurance Is Critical

A critical hurdle for families of South Carolina fatal accident victims in wrongful death cases is finding a settlement source — and it’s almost always insurance. In a typical car or motorcycle accident case, most at-fault drivers don’t carry enough insurance. For semitruck accidents, federal law requires much more insurance — which naturally gives those insurance companies more reason to fight you for it.

settlement — but it won’t be easy. South Carolina law only requires drivers to have a minimum of $25,000 in liability insurance. That’s the insurance that covers innocent victims who get hurt or killed in a car accident. As you can see, it’s not very much. And to discourage victims from pursuing proper settlements, insurance companies complicate the settlement process for even a “simple” car accident case with nonfatal injuries. The coverage you need is called underinsurance (or UIM). UIM can help the family obtain a much higher settlement that might be desperately needed to replace a lifetime of lost income and compensate for the agony of grief, shock, and loss. In certain situations, the family can even get settlements from other vehicles in the victim’s household using a South Carolina legal tactic called “stacking.” And it doesn’t matter what type of vehicle it is, as long as it has UIM on it. It can be a motorcycle, a car, or a truck — you just need the right personal injury attorney with experience in this state. UIM increases wrongful death settlement amounts by almost 10 times. Additionally, UIM dramatically increases fatal motorcycle accident settlements when the at-fault driver only had minimum limits. We understand that this is complicated, and we are here to answer your questions — no strings attached. Call us at 864.582.0416 and schedule your strategy session today.

But there may also be hope for more coverage from the victim’s own policy if it has the right coverage. If it does, you can potentially get a much higher

Good News

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” –Matthew 7:1-3 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” –Romans 8:25

ICED GREEN TEA, 2 WAYS

Inspired by 101Cookbooks.com

Ingredients

Directions For Rose and Coriander Tea: 1. In a large pitcher, place green tea, rose petals, and coriander seeds. 2. Bring 1/2 cup water to just below boiling. 3. Pour hot water over tea leaves, petals, and seeds. Let steep for 10 seconds, then add the remaining 3 1/2 cups water. 4. Refrigerate 4–8 hours until tea

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2 tbsp loose-leaf green tea

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4 cups filtered water, divided

Option 1: Rose and Coriander •

1 tbsp dried rose petals 1 tbsp whole coriander seeds

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reaches your desired strength. Strain and serve over ice.

Option 2: Ginger Mint •

1 handful fresh mint leaves 1 inch fresh ginger, cut into coins

For Ginger Mint Tea: Follow the instructions above, substituting the mint leaves and ginger coins for the rose petals and coriander seeds.

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

* 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.

101 W. St. John St. Suite 206 Spartanburg, SC 29306

INSIDE this issue Concern for the Big Picture

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DIY or Buy: Summer Lawn Games Testimonial

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Insurance for Wrongful Death Iced Green Tea, 2 Ways

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Have You Explored a National Forest?

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

Explore a National Forest for Free ON NATIONAL GET OUTDOORS DAY

Many people in the U.S. and across the world have a national park trip on their travel bucket list. While Zion, Yellowstone, and the Great Smoky Mountains are all awesome locales, outdoor enthusiasts often overlook a resource that is less busy, less expensive, and usually right in their backyard: national forests. All but 10 states have a national forest (or more than one!), so if your home state doesn’t have one, it’s very likely a neighboring state does! And there’s no better time to hike, bike, forage for mushrooms or berries, or camp at a nearby national forest than this month. The tree-filled landscape will provide shade and help you beat the summer heat, and to further incentivize visitors, the U.S. Forest Service (the organization that oversees the national forests) is offering a fee-free day on Saturday, June 12, in honor of National Get Outdoors Day!

open up the opportunity to all visitors. The U.S. Forest Service has a great interactive map tool that prospective park-goers can use to learn more about the forests in their area, amenities and activities, and accessibility. Visit FS.fed.us/ivm to access the map and see what’s near your hometown! If you’re dreaming up travel plans beyond your state’s border, consider visiting these notable U.S. national forests.

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El Yunque National Forest: Located in Puerto Rico, El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the United States. Tongass National Forest: Spanning 16.7 million acres and several islands across Southeast Alaska, the Tongass is the country’s largest national forest.

area in the lower 48 and contains the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.

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Cibola National Forest and Grassland: Spread across north-central New Mexico, west Texas, and Oklahoma, this forest and grassland area is notable for its diverse ecosystems and wildlife. The Sky Islands portion of the park is also home to over 200 rare plant and animal species.

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Salmon-Challis National Forest: This Idaho forest is the largest contiguous wilderness

While parking and day-use fees to access national forests tend to be relatively modest, fee-free days

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