Law Office Daniel J Miller - March 2021

Law Office Daniel J Miller - March 2021

INYOUR DEFENSE

MARCH 2021

757.852.3000 | LegalDefense.com

Even though my kids are now teenagers, I can still feel how they changed my life the moment they were born. Very simply put, they made me less selfish. Having kids changes your priorities. Before I had kids, I was almost solely focused on my own life and my own goals. Having kids drastically changed the direction of my life, and what became most important to me were things that would help them to grow and be successful. My life became all about how to make life less of a struggle for them. While the instinct to protect kids from the big bad world at all costs definitely exists, I think one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as a parent is that trying to control everything they do will only backfire. You may have good intentions in doing so, but that doesn’t change how your kids will see it. Regardless of how much more you know about life than them, they’ll always want to test the boundaries you create. They want to find out for themselves if the things you try to protect them from are really all that bad. As a parent, I’ve found it’s better to give your kids direction, rather than control them. The stricter the rules and boundaries, the more likely kids are to test — and eventually break — those rules and boundaries. Don’t get me wrong; boundaries and rules for your children are indisputably good things. We just can’t count on them to always keep our kids from getting hurt or into trouble. As my kids have gotten older and timeouts have become an almost irrelevant discipline tool, I’ve had to rely more on giving them direction as a means of parenting them. As they’ve gained more autonomy over their time and space, they’ve had to ask and answer questions like “Whom should I date?” or “When, if ever, is it okay for me to drink?” or simply “How should I spend my free time?” They ultimately have to answer these questions for themselves, but my role as their parent is to give them direction to navigate those situations. They can choose to follow my direction, or they can decide not to. If you take this approach to parenting, one thing you have to be prepared for is for your children to make mistakes and fail. That’s not always easy — as a parent, I have an instinctual desire to help my children avoid mistakes and failure. However, it’s usually in those mistakes and failures that your kids really take the lessons you teach Controlling Your Kids vs. Guiding Them

them to heart. Finding out for themselves that you were telling the truth about the risks of drinking, dating, or whatever else is what ultimately makes the lessons stick. Right now at my house, one of the lessons I’m trying to instill in my kids is the importance of conversation at mealtimes. Like a lot of people, my kids are sometimes glued to their phones at the dinner table. I try to convey to them how important it is to have real conversations with family, and I hope they take that lesson to heart. While it’s not my place to tell anyone how to parent, this is just something I’ve learned as I’ve raised kids and thought was worth sharing. I hope you find some part of it as valuable to raising kids as I have.

– Daniel J. Miller

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It’s no coincidence that National Corn Dog Day is March 20 — the third Saturday of the month. This day is traditionally the first Saturday of March Madness, otherwise known as the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship. But wait. What do corn dogs and a basketball tournament have to do with one another? Turns out, National Corn Dog Day has everything to do with March Madness. The “holiday” began in March 1992 when two Corvallis, Oregon, high school students needed a snack while watching a basketball game. They got some corn dogs and called it good. But somehow, this simple snack and sport pairing turned into something huge. In fact, eating corn dogs while watching March Madness caught on like wildfire — and the teens didn’t even have Instagram to promote it! Though it’s not clear how, it spread across Oregon and eventually the rest of the country. It’s likely that people just heard about it from friends and family and thought it was a great idea. The corn dog, like basketball, is an American creation. In the 1920s, the creators toyed around with the idea of fried foods on a stick. They battered and fried everything from cheese to bananas, but it was the battered sausages that really stood out, and the corn dog AN AMERICAN TRADITION C orn D ogs and B asketball

was born. By the 1940s, the convenient creation had popped up at state fairs and drive-in restaurants all over the country.

In 2012, in honor of the original Corn Dog Day, the then-governor of Oregon issued an official proclamation naming March 17 National Corn Dog Day in the state. Several companies jumped on the bandwagon as well, including Foster Farms (a maker of frozen corn dogs, among many other meat products) and the Pabst Brewing Company. While it’s not an “official” national day recognized by the U.S. Congress, it’s celebrated with thousands of events every March. And it’s grown beyond its U.S. roots. An article printed in The Oregonian in 2009 revealed that National Corn Dog Day parties have been celebrated on nearly every continent — including Antarctica!

T he L egality of O nline S ports B etting in V irginia

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Last year, Virginia lawmakers voted to legalize online sports betting. Following Washington, D.C., those laws went into effect earlier this year. Since the laws are so new, I thought it would be a good idea to give you a heads-up on what to expect if you’re thinking about partaking in online sports betting. Right now, only a handful of states (and in the case for North Dakota, only certain cities) have legalized sports betting of any kind, and even fewer have legalized online sports betting. When lawmakers lifted the ban on online sports betting in April 2020, they stipulated they would authorize four licenses at minimum and 12 licenses at maximum for online sports betting platforms. A lottery system would decide which platforms would get those licenses. Despite online sports betting now being legal, you should keep a few important stipulations in mind. First, you have to place your bet while you’re within state boundaries for the bet to be legal. However, you do not have to be a Virginia resident, which means if you live in a nearby state, you can come to Virginia to place bets online.

Second, you have to use a licensed platform to place bets. At the time of writing, at least four mobile betting apps are confirmed to legally operate within Virginia’s borders: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and WilliamHill. However, by the time you’re reading this, there could be more. Third, while you can bet on many different sporting events and teams, there are a few exceptions to the new online sports betting laws. Namely, you can’t place bets on any Virginia college or university team. However, bets on any professional sports teams and events, other college sports and events, and individual player statistics are all legal. These laws are all relatively new, so we understand if people have questions about just what sort of bets are now okay. For any questions you might have, give the Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller a call at 757.517.2942. We’ll be able to answer any questions you have.

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The 3 Mistakes

THAT COULD COMPROMISE YOUR CRIMINAL DEFENSE CASE

Criminal defense attorneys are obligated to protect the interests of their clients, regardless of whether their client is guilty or not. That said, we don’t want a small (but avoidable) error they made during their case to decide their future. So, I thought I would share some of the most common mistakes clients of mine have made that negatively impacted the outcome of their cases. POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA Posting something seemingly unrelated to your case on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter while your case is ongoing may seem harmless. However, prosecutors and law enforcement officials are adept at taking your posts and twisting them into damning evidence that could sway the courtroom in favor of your opponents. While you don’t have to delete your accounts altogether, you should refrain from posting or commenting on anything on social media until your case is over. FAILING TO RESPECT THE COURT Judges and juries are only human, which means how you look and act in the courtroom can sway their opinion of you and your case as much as the evidence can. A few general rules for respecting the court include wearing conservative or work-appropriate attire, standing as the judge enters

the courtroom, addressing them as “your honor,” addressing legal representatives as “sir” or “ma’am,” and always appearing in court on time, among others. CHOOSING THE WRONG ATTORNEY A criminal defendant has a right to legal representation in court. However, while you could have a court-appointed public defender represent you, or you could represent yourself, neither of these options is preferable to being represented by a private attorney. Unlike public defenders, who are often swamped with vast caseloads, private criminal defense attorneys have the time and energy to create a well- constructed case. When you choose to be represented by the Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller, your case will be backed by 20 years of experience, and we’ll be available to you 24/7. Call 757.517.2942 to schedule a free consultation today.

SUDOKU

ASPARAGUS AND SMOKED MOZZARELLA PIZZETTES

Inspired by EatingWell.com

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb prepared whole-wheat pizza dough, divided into 6 equal portions • 12 oz asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 1/4 tsp salt • 1 cup shredded smoked mozzarella cheese

• 1/3 cup scallions, thinly sliced • 2 tbsp walnuts, toasted and chopped • 1 sprig of fresh mint leaves, torn • Zest of 1 orange

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 500 F and ensure there are two racks in your oven. 2. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, stretch each piece of dough into a 7-by-3-inch oval and arrange evenly on the pan. 3. On a second baking sheet, toss asparagus with oil and 1/4 tsp salt. 4. Place dough on top rack and asparagus on bottom and bake for 3 minutes. 5. Remove both trays from the oven, sprinkle cheese over the dough, then top with asparagus and scallions. 6. Return pizzettes to oven and bake until the crusts’ edges are golden, about 8–10 minutes. 7. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with walnuts, mint, and orange zest before serving.

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CONTROLLING YOUR KIDS VS. GUIDING YOUR KIDS PAGE 1 A MATCH MADE IN CORNMEAL BATTER HEAVEN THE LEGALITY OF ONLINE SPORTS BETTING IN VIRGINIA PAGE 2 THE LITTLE MISTAKES THAT COULD COMPROMISE YOUR CASE ASPARAGUS & SMOKED MOZZARELLA PIZZETTES PAGE 3 GET YOUR SEASONAL ALLERGIES BEFORE THEY GET YOU! PAGE 4 INSIDETHIS ISSUE

GETYOURSEASONALALLERGIES BEFORETHEYGETYOU!

Spring brings with it many wonderful things, like longer days, picturesque scenery, and spring break, but right alongside those good things is something most people suffer from: allergies. While beautiful, the blooming trees and flowers make you want to stay away from the great outdoors for fear of nonstop sneezing or puffy, watery eyes. If you suffer from allergies caused by pollen, grass, or other spring plants, take these steps to breathe a little easier. When outside, avoid walking through areas with weeds, shrubbery, or lots of trees as much as possible. Grass and weeds are notably problematic. The slightest breeze can send particles flying through the air in the blink of an eye. When you walk through grassy areas, pollen will get on you, your clothes, and your hair. It’s best to stick to trails, sidewalks, and other paved areas.

to establish an at-home decontamination protocol. Take your shoes off at the door and make sure your clothes don’t come in contact with soft surfaces such as carpet, upholstery, or bedding. Take care to wash your “pollinated” clothes as soon as possible and wash your sheets and pillowcases weekly. Next, head for the shower. The sooner you can wash away the allergens, the better. Finally, don’t forget to replace the air filter in your home’s air system in the spring. Consider using an air filter designed to capture allergens. If your allergies are particularly troublesome, invest in a dedicated air filtration system or unit. While you can opt for portable, stand-alone air purifiers, there are larger systems that can be incorporated into your heating and air system that keep your entire home’s air free from most, if not all, common allergens.

If you do find yourself inundated with pollen or other allergens, your next best bet is

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