Law Office of Daniel J Miller - October 2020

Law Office of Daniel J Miller - October 2020

INYOUR DEFENSE

OCTOBER 2020

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IN HONOR OF NATIONAL COOKBOOK MONTH A New Recipe for You to Try

It’s pretty incredible how just seeing a recipe, or tasting a spoonful of a certain dish, can take you back to a certain place or a certain time in your life. This particular recipe I want to share with you all in honor of National Cookbook Month was one I learned between my years as an undergraduate student and my years in law school, when I was playing in a rock band. I was living in Atlanta at the time, and I had a roommate who was a chef at a four-star restaurant at the Occidental Hotel. From those few details, I’m sure you can discern that we ate pretty well whenever he was doing the cooking. This was one of the recipes he always made and eventually showed me how to make. Back before I was in a happily committed relationship, I used to make this tasty, healthy dinner to impress the ladies with my cooking abilities. So here is my recipe for Cashew-Crusted Trout Over Shrimp and Grits .

INGREDIENTS

SHRIMP AND GRITS PREP Peel the shrimp and boil the shells to create enough shrimp stock for 4 servings of grits according to the grits package. Then, remove the shells from the pot, add the grits, and continue to follow the instructions on the package. After that, season the shrimp with more garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper. Then, in a pan over medium heat, melt 2 tbsp of butter and cook the shrimp until they’re pink. Finally, stir the shrimp in with the cooked grits. FINAL STEPS AND PRESENTATION In a pot, add 1/4 cup of water and cook the spinach until it’s limp. Then, on a plate, layer the shrimp in grits with the cooked spinach on top of it, and lay the cooked trout on top of the spinach. Enjoy! If you have any questions regarding this recipe, want to let me know you’ve tried it and have any thoughts, or just want to tell me how much you enjoyed it, please let me know the next time you’re in the office. I hope you enjoy this dish as much as I have since I learned it.

• 4–6 freshwater trout fillets • Salt and pepper, to taste • 1 tsp cayenne pepper • 1 tsp garlic powder • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated • 1 cup cashews, crushed

• 1 egg, beaten • 1–2 lbs shelled shrimp (but keep the shells) • 4 servings grits

• 2 tbsp butter • 1/4 cup water • 2 lbs spinach

DIRECTIONS

TROUT FILLET PREP Start by washing out the trout fillets and patting them dry. Then, generously season them with salt and pepper. Add 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese to the crushed cashews and mix for coating. Dip the trout in egg wash and then coat with the mixture. In a buttered frying pan over medium heat, cook them until they’re brown on both sides. After that, put them in the oven for 5 minutes at 425 F.

– Daniel J. Miller

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C an I H ave a D ismissed C harge E xpunged F rom M y R ecord ?

Anyone who has a criminal record knows how difficult it can be to find employment. Potential employers just have to run a background check on you, and if any charge pops up on your record, 9 times out of 10, your resume goes in the trash. What you might not know, however, is that even if a court dismisses the charges against you, those charges don’t automatically fall off your criminal record — meaning employers can still see it. That’s the difference between a dismissed charge and an expunged charge. Having a charge expunged is the only way to ensure employers will not take your criminal history into consideration during the hiring process. In order to have a dismissed charge expunged from your record, you have to file for an expungement in the circuit court from which the charge originated. However, under Virginia expungement law, not everyone is eligible to expunge charges from their record. The two main prerequisites are necessary for expunging a criminal charge from your record are as follows: The charge must have been dismissed on the merits or by motion of the defense or prosecution. Many times, offenders will agree that the evidence in their case was sufficient to convict them and opt to have the case continued and later dismissed after they

complete some form of community service or drug, alcohol, or anger management class. If this is the route you took, you are unfortunately not entitled to an expungement. You must have no other criminal history. Many times, the court will not expunge your dismissed charge if you have other convictions. The reason for that is because the expungement would most likely not materially affect you because you still have other charges that potential employers could see. However, if the charge you want expunged was a first offense, you can make a case that expunging it would materially benefit you, since it would make you a more likely candidate for employment. In any case, the success of your request for expungement will depend on your attorney’s ability to present a well-reasoned argument and present favorable evidence. For any help or questions about getting a dismissed charge expunged from your record, call the Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller at 757.517.2942.

H ang O n to Y our S eat

ESPORTS TAKE THE HOCKEY SEASON OFF ICE When the National Hockey League’s season was abruptly suspended, fans were left without any games to look forward to — at least, any live games. Soon after the season was suspended, the marketing staff of the New Jersey Devils came up with a plan. They prepared 20 simulations every game night against would- have-been opponents using EA Sports’ NHL ’20. They even got the Devils’ radio announcer Matt Loughlin to voice the play-by-play for the simulations to give them an air of authenticity. It might not be as good as the real thing, but one game drew over 60,000 views. TIKTOK TRICK SHOTS Even in the midst of the pandemic, the social media following for some sports teams, such as the Philadelphia 76ers, has grown. This is due, in large part, to some players’ abilities to meet their young fans where they are. While quarantined at home, 76ers star player Matisse Thybulle began posting trick shots with pingpong balls on TikTok — some of which garnered over a million views. This is just one example of how some players are continuing to foster a personal connection with their fans even off the court.

Despite COVID-19’s continual presence in our country, many sports organizations are finding ways to adapt their seasons to the ever-changing circumstances. As many teams try to play out their seasons as normally as they can, they are also adapting to not having their fans there to cheer them on. So, some team members, teams, and entire sports organizations are getting creative. Here’s a look at some of the most noteworthy ways sports teams and players have connected with their fans so far. CUT ME OUT FOR THE BALLGAME When the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team learned their fans wouldn’t be joining them at the stadium this year, they made sure fans wouldn’t be cut out of the fun completely. For just $50, Brewers fans could have a 2-foot-tall cardboard cutout of themselves placed in the Uecker “Last Row” in the highest level of seating in Miller Park. It was a great way for fans to be with the team in spirit, and all the money from the cutouts went to the Brewers Community Foundation.

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Establishing clear guidelines and boundaries with your co-parent in a custody agreement not only minimizes disputes but also lets both of you set a good example for your children. Most parenting plans have mandatory clauses, but flexibility is still possible when designing one. In order to create the healthiest family dynamic for your child, consider the following tips for creating a successful parenting plan. USE ANTI-DISPARAGEMENT CLAUSES TO REDUCE CONFLICT. A common trap that many co-parents fall into is creating a dynamic where their child feels like they have to choose sides in a conflict between the co-parents. Even if you might not be on the best terms with your ex-partner, anti-disparagement clauses prevent you from bringing up conflicts in front of your children. Notwithstanding, anti- disparagement clauses should have restrictions in case your ex-partner engages in inappropriate behavior (such as over-disciplining a child) so you can let that child know you support them and are there for them. 3 Tips forMaking Your Parenting Plan More Manageable

bedtimes, while the other parent will let their children do whatever they want. These incongruent boundaries often lead to conflicts between co-parents. Agreeing upon clear boundaries for your children’s behavior, their academics, and discipline techniques, and then adding them to your parenting plan, will ensure those conflicts don’t happen. CONSIDER ITEMIZING COSTS. Many times, co-parents will split paying for significant costs for their children, such as health care. However, this can create problems if one parent can’t foot their part of the bill one month. It’s a good idea to itemize the costs of your children’s expenses because then each parent can control the whole amount of the payment. With these three tips, you can make your parenting plan more manageable for you and your ex-partner and set a better example for your children. If you would like to schedule a consultation with our team, we can help you navigate child custody disputes with confidence. Give us a call today at 757.517.2942.

DON’T PLAY ‘GOOD COP, BAD COP.’ Sometimes, one parent will set thoughtful boundaries with their children, such as set study times and

SUDOKU

CLASSIC PUMPKIN SOUP

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tbsp olive oil • 2 shallots, diced • 3 cloves garlic, minced • 2 1/4 cups pumpkin purée (homemade or canned) • 2 cups vegetable broth

• 1 cup canned light coconut milk • 2 tbsp honey

• 1/4 tsp sea salt • 1/4 tsp pepper • 1/4 tsp cinnamon • 1/4 tsp nutmeg

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté olive oil, shallots, and garlic for 2–3 minutes.

2. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer.

3. Transfer the soup to a blender and purée. Pour the blended soup back into the pan.

4. Cook over medium-low heat for 5–10 minutes. Taste and add additional seasoning as desired, then serve!

Inspired by FoodAndWine.com

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INSIDETHIS ISSUE

The World’s Best Cashew-Crusted Trout Over Shrimp and Grits PAGE 1 Can I Have a Dismissed Charge Expunged From My Record? How Teams Are Engaging Fans During the Pandemic PAGE 2 3 Tips for Making Your Parenting Plan More Manageable Classic Pumpkin Soup PAGE 3 Weird and Wacky Halloween Laws PAGE 4

HALLOWEENLAWS ACROSS THEU.S. SPOOKYCITYREGULATIONS

Halloween can be a mischievous holiday. The most innocent of us reserve it for backyard parties and trick-or-treating, but some like to get a little rowdier than others. That’s exactly why various city councils across the U.S. have passed some seemingly unusual laws to regulate spooky festivities. REHOBOTH BEACH, DELAWARE: NO SUNDAY TRICK-OR-TREATING If Halloween falls on a Sunday, children in Rehoboth Beach are required to trick-or-treat the night before. The explanation in the city code is simple, but ambiguous: to prevent children and their guardians from going door to door on Sunday evenings. Rehoboth Beach law also forbids children from roaming the streets on Halloween “with the intent to cause trouble,” but what exactly that means is ambiguous as well. HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA: NO SILLY STRING The Los Angeles City Council has banned Silly String and all other brands of

aerosol string from use on Halloween in the Hollywood area. From midnight on Oct. 31 until noon on Nov. 1, no one is allowed to spray, sell, or distribute Silly String in public locations. Use of Silly String got so popular in the city on Halloween that the mess left behind became a strain on sanitation workers, and the city sympathized with them. BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS: NO 8TH GRADERS Trick-or-treating is most often viewed as an activity reserved for younger generations, but how do you determine what age is “too old” for this type of generally good-natured fun? Well, the city of Belleville settled the ambiguity by passing a law restricting teenagers who are past the eighth grade — generally older than 13 — from going door to door on Halloween. WALNUT, CALIFORNIA: NO MASKS WITHOUT PERMITS In a simpler time, there was no paperwork required to celebrate

Halloween to the fullest. But in the city of Walnut, no one can wear a mask or other disguise on public streets without a permit from the sheriff. The law doesn’t specify any exceptions, so residents are left to assume that everyone from age 5 to 100 must abide. Whatever your Halloween celebrations might look like this year, it’s important to have fun, but remember to abide by any rules or laws your city might have in place in an effort to keep its citizens safe.

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