Holland & Usry - November 2019

Holland & Usry - November 2019

Our Clients Remind Us of That Every Year THANKFULNESS HAS MANY FORMS

We’re heading into that time of year again when family, traditions, and self-reflection start bubbling to the forefront of our minds. I don’t know if it’s brought on by the string of holidays we’re about to jump into or if the cold weather gives people a reason to look for warmth in other ways. All I know is that it’s a great time to slow down and reflect on what’s important for myself, my partners here at Holland & Usry, and all the work we do for our clients. When I was young, our family’s Thanksgiving tradition was always on a rotation of hosting. We’d jump from a cousin’s house in Charleston one year to another cousin’s house in Savannah the year after that. The location was on the fly, but the Thanksgiving traditions always remained the same. We’d carve into a giant turkey, pass the yams and green beans around the table, and turn on football in the background, even if no one was actually sitting down to watch it. For my family, Thanksgiving was simple and easy, and I was appreciative of that. But change is inevitable as family members grow up and move away and other priorities develop. These days, we don’t always get together like we used to. So for me, the thought of Thanksgiving invokes a different type of reflection, but it still gives me so much to be thankful for. At Holland & Usry, we see a lot of tough cases and hear a lot of rough stories every day. People coming to us for help are facing criminal charges, navigating unemployment due to injury, going through divorce, struggling with how to protect their assets, experiencing family crisis, or suffering from significant economic damages. And that’s really just the short list. No matter what they face, our clients are going through what may be the hardest moments of their lives, and they’re trusting us to help them and protect them to the best of our ability. Sure, it can be a lot of pressure to take on, but it’s also the most

humbling experience you can possibly imagine. Our goal is to help these folks so that they’re the ones who have something to be thankful for on Thanksgiving. In truth, sometimes it’s hard to achieve. The prospect of certain outcomes can be scary, and that carries into every room you walk into. In times like these, it’s important to remember to stay positive, encourage our clients to have a hopeful mindset, and remind them of all the great things they still have in their lives. Problems always come to a resolution, and I’ll be the first to say that they’re often a lot better than anticipated. Our clients are thankful for that outlook, and that, in turn, keeps me looking forward to my work every single day. I’ll be eternally grateful for what I learn from the incredible experiences I have with my clients and my colleagues. The power of working together, staying positive, and never letting fear get the best of us have been incredibly powerful tools over the years. I can only begin to say how thankful I am to every single person I’ve worked with for leading me down this path.

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Have a wonderful holiday out there, stay safe, and know that we’re here if you need us.

Our goal is to help these folks so that they’re the ones who have something to be thankful for on Thanksgiving.

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Thanksgiving is an excellent time to teach children about gratefulness. By planning some fun, gratitude-themed games, you can impart a valuable lesson and spend some quality family time together. Get your kids in the holiday spirit by adding a Thanksgiving twist to these classic games. PICTIONARY Want to bring out your kids’ creative sides? Pictionary is the perfect way to encourage artistic expression and grateful thinking. Try adding a rule where players have to draw something they’re grateful for. This will get your kids thinking beyond turkey and stuffing and give them an imaginative way to express their gratitude. Plus, who doesn’t love a good art contest? GUESS WHO? To play gratitude-themed Guess Who?, have each participant write down their name and something they’re thankful for on a slip of paper and put it in a bowl. Then, at the dinner table, have each person draw a random slip and read what it says without saying the name while everyone else tries to guess who wrote it. While Pictionary may get your kids talking about what they are thankful for, Guess Who? will tune them into what others around them are thankful for too. PICK-UP STICKS Like regular pick-up sticks, the goal is to remove a stick from a haphazard pile without disturbing the others. However, by using colored sticks that represent Testimonials HEAR WHAT OUR CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT US! ENGAGE YOUR KIDS ON THANKSGIVING With These Gratitude-Themed Games

different kinds of thankfulness — such as places, people, or food — you can make players think outside the box. This will ensure you get a wide range of creative, thoughtful answers whenever the kids pick up a stick. These modified games are great for helping your kids realize how much they have to be thankful for. Use these to spend some fun, educational, quality time with your family this Thanksgiving.

“What an honest and very caring man! If you have a legal matter, act fast and call Holland & Usry.”

–Breshaunda T.

“Rob is so helpful and so kind. He answered every one of my questions patiently and made sure I understood everything. I highly recommend him.”

great advice and was able to keep my workers’ comp case from going to court. I felt like he had my best interest at heart and worked tirelessly to make sure I wasn’t cheated out of anything. I would highly recommend him if anyone is looking for a lawyer to represent them.”

–Melanie H.

“I could not be happier with my decision to hire Rob Usry! He was very kind and listened to everything I had to say. He gave

–Kim S.

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Life Is Already Stressful Enough

DON’T LET YOUR CASE GET THE BEST OF YOU

Stress is an inevitable component of any legal situation. If you’re not mindful of it, it can negatively affect the outcome of your case and your livelihood. Follow these tips for managing the stress of your case so you can get back to everyday life. TRY TO RELAX Relaxing can feel like an impossible feat when you’re in the throes of a stressful situation. In these moments, it’s important to do the little things that make you

calm or happy. If you enjoy sports, make a point to watch your favorite team play. If reading a good book clears your mind, then dive into a new one. These actions will remind you that your life is still yours and that you don’t need to be entirely consumed by your current legal situation. CONDENSE YOUR SCHEDULE Some say that keeping busy is the best way to keep distracted, but we don’t necessarily want you distracted all the time. If you have too much going on, things get muddied, including the progress of your case and the resulting outcome. To stay balanced, take a hard look at your schedule and eliminate whatever you can to free yourself up. Put unnecessary events and routines on hold until your life returns to normal. Give yourself room to relax. SECURE GREAT LEGAL COUNSEL Don’t go it alone. Great legal counsel will reduce your stress because they know how to work with the law, can keep you up to speed in a way you understand, and will have a plan of action for you to follow so you’re not awake at night wondering if you’re doing things right. Let the professionals do what they do best and take that weight off your shoulders.

If you’re facing a tough legal situation, Holland & Usry wants to make it as stress- free as possible. Give us a call at 864.582.0416 so we can review your case.

Good News

1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Psalms 95:2 “Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving and make a joyous noise unto Him with Psalms.” Acts 2:46 “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.”

THE BEST LEFTOVER TURKEY SANDWICH

Thanksgiving may be held on Thursday, but the food often lasts at least through the weekend. To make the best use of the excess, grill up some killer turkey sandwiches.

Ingredients

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1/3 cup leftover dressing or stuffing

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2 slices sourdough bread

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2 tbsp Dijon mustard

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2 tbsp leftover gravy

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2 slices Swiss cheese

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1 tbsp butter, room temperature

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1/3 cup shredded leftover turkey

Note: Don’t worry if you don’t have all the leftovers required.

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3 tbsp leftover cranberry sauce

Directions

1. Coat inside of each bread slice with mustard and a slice of cheese. Place turkey and cranberry sauce on one slice and dressing and gravy on the other. 2. Combine sandwich and spread butter on both sides. 3. In a panini maker or large skillet, grill until crispy and golden brown. 4. Slice and serve.

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Inspired by FoodNetwork.com

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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

1

Being Thankful for Our Unique Opportunity

2

Gratitude-Themed Games for Kids

Testimonials

3

Dealing With the Stress of a Legal Case

The Best Leftover Turkey Sandwich

4

Not Your Ordinary Turkey Shoot

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

NOT YOUR ORDINARY TURKEY SHOOT THE CRAZY CASE OF JACOBS V. KENT

It began like any other hunting excursion. Neil Jacobs was walking softly through the bushes, looking for a spot to hunker down and watch for a flock of turkeys. The only problem was that someone beat him to that neck of the woods. James Kent had established a hunting spot for himself, and, when he heard rustling and gobbling in some nearby bushes and saw a flash of red, he took aim and fired. Unfortunately, the movement in the bushes was not a turkey. Kent was horrified to find that he had shot Jacobs. Jacobs promptly moved for a partial summary judgment against Kent on the basis that he had failed to determine that Jacobs was not a turkey but, in fact, a human being. Kent cross-moved for summary judgment, saying Jacobs should have expected risks when he stepped into a popular hunting environment. When their case came before the Supreme Court of the 4th District of New York, the courts denied both the motion and the cross-motion. They agreed that Jacobs had assumed the inherent risks of hunting — just not the risks it would be unreasonable to assume, like getting shot by another hunter who thought you were a turkey. Beyond that, the courts did not pronounce judgment because they did not have enough verifiable facts.

failed to follow this rule when he shot Jacobs. They also could not determine whether the doctrine of primary assumption of risk, which Kent pointed to in his defense, was even applicable. The court also called into question whether Jacobs had also been negligent. Ultimately, the case didn’t move forward.

Jacobs asserted that turkey hunters should not shoot unless they can see the turkey and verify its gender. The court could not determine whether Kent had

Maybe next time, they should just try getting a turkey from the supermarket.

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