Malloy Law Offices, LLC - February 2021

Malloy Law Offices, LLC - February 2021

Malloy Monthly

MALLOY LAW OFFICES, LLC

Alexandria 5680 King Centre Dr. #600 Alexandria, VA 22315 (703) 337-3328 Bethesda 7910 Woodmont Ave. #1250 Bethesda, MD 20814 (202) 999-3898

Clinton 9135 Piscataway Rd. #215 Clinton, MD 20735 (301) 889-9950 Baltimore 400 E Pratt St., 8th Flr. Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 498-6085

February 2021

MORE THAN ROMANCE HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY FROM MALLOY LAW!

Every year on Valentine’s Day, I think about the many ways love expresses itself in our lives. The holiday is associated mostly with romance, but strong platonic connections are celebrated as well. It’s not just for lovers; it’s for partners, family, and friends, too. And I think how lucky I am to do this work because I get to make a difference in people’s lives. When that happens, it’s an expression of the love I have not just for my clients, but also for my community. At my firm, we get to make our homes safer, better, and fairer. It really is a labor of love. Besides, you really can’t do this work if you don’t care about people. The people who need our help haven’t just been “dealt a bad hand” or a bad week; they’re in crisis and need a lifeline. Fortunately, our experience and our expertise allow us to offer that help — at least when it comes to the law. But what they don’t tell you in law school is that people dealing with injury and loss need emotional support almost as much as they do legal assistance. They need someone who cares about them, plain and simple. And that care has to be real. It has to come from a place of compassion and love for everyone who calls you or walks in the door. People know if you’re faking it, and it will affect your working relationship and make your job harder as an attorney. Even if they retain your counsel, they’ll retreat into themselves and you might miss important details or elements of their case. You’ll certainly miss out on a fulfilling relationship with many of your clients.

many clients over the years that it’s hard to imagine life without them. Beyond showing support and helping them during the hard times in their lives, I’ve been lucky enough to see the good things return as well. When you love your clients, they stay in touch long after the legal part of your relationship is over. Our firm often gets notices from clients about new babies, graduations, and weddings. When I see how many lives we’ve touched, I am humbled. Of course, when you put that many people together, you get a community. I’ve always been civic-minded, but I’ve learned that love for clients often transitions into a love for the place I live as a whole. Back when we could still go out in public, I’d run into people I’d represented all the time, and the

same is true for many of the other team members at our firm. Those experiences are valuable: They make us feel like we’re members of something bigger — a reminder that we might even be assets to our friends and neighbors. So this year, I want to invite those friends and neighbors — and all of you readers — to be our valentine. I’m focusing on the many ways that love appears in life and the ways that love has allowed me to be better than I would be without it. At Malloy Law, whether we’re in court, working hard with each other as a team, or listening to a client’s story, love drives everything we do.

—Seann P. Malloy

That’s the other rewarding thing about my work: I have had great relationships with so

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Medical Malpractice • Premises Liability • Motor Vehicle Accidents • Wrongful Death

A while ago, we posted a blog on our website about ways to start the New Year off right. (In fact, if you scan the QR code below, it will take you right to it!) But what happens when February rolls around and you feel like you haven’t quite shaken off 2020 yet? We’ve got some ideas, and we want to help you achieve the best 2021 you can. First, you have to understand that feeling “stuck” in a turbulent past is totally normal. We see this ourselves with clients whose injuries lead to hard times in their lives: Even after they get the justice they deserve, they can have trouble moving forward with their goals. Of course, we also see our clients IT’S HARD TO MOVE ON FROM CONFLICT AND CHANGE CAN’T SHAKE 2020?

What do model Heather Mills, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche, and former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger have in common? They’re all into skiing — and they’ve all been injured on the slopes. Mills broke her shoulder blade running into a ski pole, Zetsche broke his colliding with a snowboarder, and Schwarzenegger’s leg snapped in a tumble. Winter sports injuries obviously don’t discriminate — all of us are susceptible — but you can stave them off with the right steps. Physical therapists are experts at treating the aftermath of broken bones, dislocations, sprains, ACL injuries, and rotator cuff tears caused by winter sports. They’re also prevention experts! These tips from PTs will help you stay safe this winter while you ski, snowboard, sled, or play hockey. 1. Use targeted exercise to strengthen vulnerable muscle groups. Life’s Work Physical Therapy advises researching common injuries in your sport. Then, you can train your vulnerable muscle groups to make them more injury-resistant. If you’re worried about ACL injuries, for example, you need powerful hamstrings and glutes (try deadlifts, glute bridges, or barbell hip thrusts in the gym). If a shoulder injury is more likely, you should train your rotator cuff and trapezius muscles (try plank taps, dumbbell military presses, or dumbbell snatches). 2. Learn how to fall safely. According to ProActive Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, there is a “right” way to fall to minimize your chance of injury. Their suggestions include crouching when you lose your balance so you don’t fall as far, twisting to land on your side or butt instead of your hands, tucking your chin and turning your head to avoid a face-plant, and relaxing your body before impact. 3. Wear the right protective equipment. MTI Physical Therapy advises wearing protective gear like goggles, a helmet, gloves, and padding when you’re doing a winter sport, whether it’s sledding in your neighborhood or skiing at a resort. You might look silly, but you’ll stay safe! If you’ve already pulled a muscle or broken a bone this winter, turn to the advice of physical therapists to help with your recovery. ChoosePT.com is a great resource packed with science-based pain management tips. If your injury is serious or you’re still in pain, seek out a physical therapist in person. They’ll help you get back to the winter sports you love. WITH THESE 3 INJURY PREVENTION TIPS Stay Safe This Winter Sports Season

do amazing, inspiring things, so we know there’s always hope. Right now, a lot of people are feeling “stuck” in last year. You aren’t alone.

It’s easy to make a list of the bad things that happened last year. But what about the good? That’s the stuff we aren’t always thinking about, but good things did happen last year. Write down five things that were positive in

Take a Break

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Medical Malpractice • Premises Liability •

The Benefits of Spending Time in the Mountains

In the famous Swiss novel "Heidi,” a little girl recovers from her fragile health — both physically and mentally — by spending time in the mountains. There are plenty of anecdotal stories about the medicinal effects of mountain air, but how much is supported by research? Here's what there is evidence for so far: CLEANER, POLLUTION-FREE AIR One basic but important benefit of getting to a higher altitude is the escape from city pollution. It may surprise some city dwellers that air pollution is linked to asthma attacks for those with sensitive lungs and also to more serious conditions. Research suggests that prolonged exposure to air pollution may lead to chronic illnesses such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and other lung diseases. Up in the mountains, you’ll likely be able to breathe a little easier. REDUCED RISK OF OBESITY AND HEART DISEASE People who spend more time at high altitudes may also experience a decreased appetite and lower risk of obesity. One study from 2017 even found that living at a higher elevation is associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of conditions that include high blood pressure, excess body fat, and abnormal cholesterol. Even more interesting, mountain air may passively improve your weight loss journey as well. NATURAL WEIGHT LOSS One German study followed 20 obese men who lived in an environmental research station below the highest peak in the country. The subjects reached the peak effortlessly by railway or cable car, and they were allowed to eat as much as they liked. By the end of the week, however, each had lost an average of 1.5 kilograms or 3.3 pounds. Two factors are thought to have contributed to the weight loss: A naturally decreased appetite from the altitude (the men ate nearly 700 fewer calories than usual) and an increased metabolic rate. While there is still more to learn about the potential benefits of spending time in the mountains, these three studies give the greenlight for more high-altitude adventures.

your life during 2020. They might include a small victory like making an important sale. Or it might be something life-changing, like getting engaged or buying a house. Think back to that list when you have trouble. If you’re going to carry 2020 with you, make sure to carry the good stuff and try leaving the bad behind. One thing that always helps improve our mood is a little exercise. Even something as simple as walking the dog can have a huge impact on our headspace, and that makes exercise an important tool as you work through your feelings. So often, we get stuck in our thoughts, and they’re usually negative ones. If you’re thinking about a situation from last year that turned out badly, try a little exercise. It really might help. We care deeply about our clients, and we know how it feels to be “stuck” in 2020. If you feel you need more help, or are experiencing symptoms of mental illness, please get help from a medical specialist. Remember that mental health is a reflection of your emotions, behaviors, and thoughts. Strawberry Kissed Almond Butter Muffins

Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com

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7910 Woodmont Ave. #1250 Bethesda, MD 20814 (202) 933-7277 • www.malloy-law.com

InsideThis Issue

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Be Our Valentine?

3 Tips for Preventing Winter Sports Injuries

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Have You Moved on From 2020?

Can Mountain Air Actually Improve Your Health?

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Strawberry Kissed Almond Butter Muffins

A Birthday Becomes a Holiday

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

Whose Birthday Is It? PRESIDENTS DAY: A STORY OF DISAGREEMENTS RESOLVED Few holidays are as modern as the third Monday in February. But what do you call that holiday? Depending on the state, it might be Washington’s Birthday, Washington-Lincoln Day, Presidents Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, or even other variations on that theme. To add to the confusion, it’s been celebrated variously on Feb. 12, Feb. 22, the third Monday of February, and March 4. Although the states haven’t always agreed on which president, what day, or what name the holiday should have, everyone has been united in celebrating and honoring our greatest commanders in chief and the office in general. And over the years, those good intentions have carried people through the disagreements toward a peaceful resolution. During the Civil War, Washington’s farewell address — a plea for unity over division — was often read aloud on his birthday. So, when Congress wanted to pass a spring holiday in the 1870s, that day already had appeal. They wanted the new holiday to be patriotic but also something that everybody — including the former Confederate states — could agree on. Both the North and South had strong attachments to George Washington, whose birthday (according to their calendar) was on Feb. 22, and so Washington’s Birthday became a new holiday.

In the 1950s, states began celebrating a separate holiday on March 4. They called it Presidents Day in honor of the office as a whole.

Twenty years later, Congress decided to solidify and centralize a mishmash of holidays. They suggested that Washington’s Birthday be moved to the third Monday in February. Since many states were also celebrating Lincoln’s birthday (Feb. 12) on that day, they renamed it Presidents Day in honor of both men and the office itself. A century before, this would have been a hard pill to swallow in the anti-Lincoln South, but the passage of time — and ambiguity of the new name — smoothed things over nicely. Today, the holiday represents the best leaders this country has ever had. But it also represents the hard work of Americans in the face of disagreement and division to honor a national legacy we all can agree on — even in divided times — and presents a hopeful vision for the future.

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Medical Malpractice • Premises Liability • Motor Vehicle Accidents • Wrongful Death