Medlin Law Firm - September 2021

Medlin Law Firm - September 2021

The Medl in News

SEPTEMBER 2021

‘Without Meagan, Our Firm Wouldn’t Be Possible’ A TRIBUTE TO MEAGAN URBANEK

Although my name is on the firm, there are many truly incredible people who make it possible for us to defend our clients at the high bar of diligence and excellence that we do. In honor of Labor Day, I knew I wanted to highlight a very important person our firm couldn’t have survived this long without: my assistant and the firm’s COO, Meagan Urbanek. Meagan has been with us since 2008. And when I say “us,” I actually mean just me. When I first hired her, the Medlin Law firm only consisted of me and Meagan. Over the years, she’s been instrumental in running the admin side of the office and creating a unique, friendly environment in our office that keeps staff and clients happy. Thanks to her hard work, she’s helped our firm grow from just the two of us to 14 people, including four other attorneys. I don’t mean it lightlywhen I sayMeagan puts the “family” in “work family.” Not only is she fun to be around, but she also cares deeply about people. Her empathy has been an irreplaceable asset to our firm in our most difficult moments, even with some difficult clients. Not many clients arrive at our firm while at a high point in their lives; many are under tremendous stress, and that’s why they need us so much. Although we all do our best to be as patient and understanding as possible, we won’t tolerate being treated rudely or inappropriately, and we always know Meagan has our back in that regard. If Meagan didn’t have my back, then the past couple of months would’ve been especially difficult. When I broke my leg last summer, I was out of the office for a month. She made sure that the firm ran smoothly, and although I was in the hospital for a few weeks, nothing missed a beat.

She’s always there for the best of times, too. Whenever we have good months at our firm and reach new goals or benchmarks, Meagan is always actively coordinating a happy hour or a day to bring lunch for everybody. We can always count on her enthusiasm to help us celebrate the hurdles we’ve overcome.

“I don’t mean it lightly when I say Meagan puts the ‘family’ in ‘work family.’ Not only is she fun to be around, but she also cares deeply about people.”

Meagan helps create a great atmosphere at our office, making it a comfortable and great place to work. I heard once that when people feel secure at their jobs, make enough money, and enjoy what they do, they start having more babies. Well, it brings me great joy to say that there’s been a “baby boom” of sorts in our firm recently. We’ve had four new arrivals in our colleagues’ families just in the past year — one of which is Meagan’s firstborn in April. I’m proud to provide a workplace that can give people paid maternity leave, allowing them to care for and recuperate with their new expanding families.

Without Meagan, I can’t imagine how our firm today would be possible. Thank you very much for your kindness, empathy, and strength that compels you to thrive by lifting others up — it will always amaze me that, even after all these years, it’s still going very strong.

– Gary L. Medlin, Esq.

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The Secret Sauce One upside to spending more than a year at home was that many people donned their aprons, learned new recipes and techniques, and began cooking meals regularly in their own kitchens. Even as restaurants reopen, over 70% of Americans say they’ll keep their new habit of cooking at home because it’s healthier and cheaper. That said, the average American can only whip up about five meals without a recipe at hand, and many people cook and eat the same types of protein and vegetables over and over.

COOKWITH THE SAME INGREDIENTS WITHOUT GETTING BORED Simple Lemon Herb Sauce Want a lighter, healthier option? Go for an oil-and-herb sauce like FoodNetwork.com’s “ChickenWith a Lemon Herb Sauce.” In a blender or food processor, add 1 peeled clove of garlic, 1/4 tsp salt, 1 cup freshly chopped herbs of your choice (they recommend a mix of parsley and mint), 1 1/2 tsp ground pepper, the zest and juice of 1 lemon, and 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil. Pulse all ingredients together until well mixed and the herbs and garlic are coarsely chopped.

One easy way to avoid boredom is to keep your main staples but diversify your sauce routine! When in doubt, learn one creamy sauce and one herb- or citrus-based sauce. Here are a few examples that work particularly well for chicken, America’s favorite animal protein. These can be used with your other favorite meats and your favorite vegetable preparations, as well! 5-Minute Honey Mustard Sauce To avoid hearing “chicken again?!” add this honey mustard sauce from PinchOfYum.com to your reper- toire. Simply whisk together 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup mayo, 1/4 cup Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp white vinegar, and 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper for a delicious topper for all meats.

Quick Miso Maple Sauce This umami-filled sauce from Kitchn.com brings a lot of flavor with just three simple ingredients: 1/2 cup tamari or soy sauce, 1/2 cup maple syrup, and 1/4 cup miso paste. That’s it! Whisk the ingredients together and pour over oven-roasted, pan-seared, or grilled chicken and serve. These three sauces are a great place to start, but if you find yourself uninspired in the kitchen, just look up “simple sauces” online and the protein or vegetable you’re preparing. The internet will come to the rescue every time!

A COLLEGE STUDENT’S BACK-TO-SCHOOL LEGAL GUIDE What You Need to KnowAbout Student Defense Law

Were you or your student accused of violating a school ’s student code of conduct? Such al legations can lead to life-altering consequences, so it is important to take them seriously. All college students should know their legal rights when facing a criminal charge or academic charge. Being accused of wrongdoing is very stressful, whether it is on campus or in a criminal court. Conviction of a crime could undermine all the work you’ve put into your education and future. Furthermore, being found in violation of your school’s student code of conduct may damage your reputation and put your future after graduation at risk. Therefore, if you are facing an academic or criminal charge, it may be wise to speak with a student defense lawyer

about your case. An experienced attorney could work to protect you and your rights while providing practical legal advice and guidance. The most common criminal charges that students in Fort Worth face involve alcohol, such as:

alcohol, they could face a criminal charge. Moreover, if a fellow student over the age of 21 gives a minor alcohol, both students could be charged with a crime. Other less common but potentially more serious criminal charges students may face include distribution of illegal drugs, driving with an open container of alcohol, sexual assault, battery, reckless driving, and petty theft. Even a misdemeanor conviction for one of these charges could lead to high fines and incarceration. Importantly, students with a criminal conviction could also lose their scholarships and endanger their career prospects. If you’re facing a criminal charge and are worried it may derail your academic future, call our office right away —we may be able to help you avoid conviction.

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Underage possession of alcohol Underage consumption of alcohol

Driving while intoxicated Possession of illegal drugs

Unlawfully purchasing or providing alcohol to a minor

Most of these crimes revolve around the age of the accused. When it comes to alcohol, state law defines a minor as anyone under the age of 21. Even though a student may be a legal adult, if they are found in possession or consumption of

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Th e #S aveTh eBe e s c amp a i g n successfully initiated millions of dollars of funding for preserving the lives of thousands of bees that provide us with the incredible, sweet, long-lasting substance known as honey. It adds a delicious flavor to toast and your favorite desserts and even has some nutritional benefits! Here are seven reasons why we love honey. 7 Sweet Facts About Honey Happy National Honey Month!

honey is real and natural — so don’t throw away your hardened old honey. Just place the container (if safe) in a pot of gently boiling water, and stir the honey to break up the loosening crystals! No. 4: Honey is wax-capped nectar food storage for honey bees so they can survive through the winter. They essentially “bottle” nectar in their own biological “jars” of wax! No. 5: Studies show that honey’s antibacterial and antiseptic properties are very effective; it has been proven to help fight MRSA , Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is typically difficult to treat.

No. 6: Honey is often used in beauty treatments for

its moisturizing and antiseptic qualities.

No. 1: Honey is the only food made by an insect that’s consumed by both insects and humans. We might eat whole insects (if you’ve ever seen cricket flour, for example), but that doesn’t count as a “food product” created by insects!

No. 7: Toxic honey was used in ancient warfare. “Mad honey” produced by bees near toxic or poisonous nectar can cause hallucinogenic effects for those who consume it and, in many cases, even death. With potency varying from every hive, there’s no way to tell what the lethal amount is, but for some, it can be just a couple of tablespoons.

No. 2: To create one pound of honey, foraging bees fly about 55,000 miles and visit about 2 million flowers.

No. 3: Honeywill keep indefinitely in a jar, although it can react to cool temperatures by crystallizing. If you ask any expert beekeeper, they’ll tell you that crystalized honey is actually a good sign that your

Hopefully, you have some sweet, nontoxic honey to enjoy this month! Thanks for reading!

One-Pan Apple Cider Chicken

PUZZLE TIME

Ingredients

•

1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs

• •

4 tsp olive oil, divided

3 sweet apples, cut into 1/2- inch slices 2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped, plus more for garnish

• • • •

1 tsp salt, divided

1/2 tsp black pepper, divided

•

1/2 cup apple cider 2 tsp Dijon mustard

Directions

1. Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Set aside. 2. In a small bowl, combine apple cider and mustard. Set aside. 3. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm 2 tsp olive oil. When shimmering, add chicken thighs top-side down. Cook for 4 minutes, then flip and cook for 4 more minutes. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil. Wipe the skillet clean. 4. Heat the remaining oil in the skillet, then add sliced apples, remaining salt and pepper, and rosemary. Cook for 5 minutes. 5. Return the chicken to the skillet and add apple cider-mustard mixture. Cook for 5 minutes, then serve sprinkled with rosemary!

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1300 South University Drive Suite 318 Fort Worth, TX 76107 682-499-9222 https://www.MedlinFirm.com

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Great clients refer great clients! Please think of Medlin Law Firm if you ever need an attorney. Leaving a review on Google, Avvo, or Yelp would mean the world to us.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1.

Staff Member Tribute

2. Let Sauces Bring New Life to Tired Meals

Does Your Student Need a Lawyer?

3. 7 Sweet Facts About Honey

One-Pan Apple Cider Chicken

4. Get a Jump onWinter Blues With Fall Exercise

Less sunlight can have a negative impact on your mental well-being, and as you head into the darker, chillier months, worsening weather and shorter days can make staying in shape more of a chore than a joy. But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. With a few tricks, you can thrive through the cold season. Finding ways to stay active while cooped up inside has never been easier. Thanks to the pandemic, online exercise courses, at-home workouts, and remote Zumba classes grew in popularity and are still going strong. If you embraced these for your summer workouts to avoid the heat, you can continue that routine this fall and winter and keep up your exercise, mixing it up if one course gets stale. Similarly, winter provides a great time to focus on a new type of fitness goal, like building muscle in an indoor facility or taking martial arts classes at the gym. It doesn’t matter what you do; what matters is that you do it. Stay active! While it’s a bummer that you can’t go trail running or biking, any exercise is better than none. And don’t wait to get started: Add that “winter workout” into your weekly routine now. Not onlywill it help make the transition a little easier when you can’t go for your morning run, but also, if you’re trying a new sport, activity, or exercise, it gives you a buffer in case you decide it’s not for you after all. Don’t let bad weather or fewer daylight hours be an excuse for less exercise. Your brain will thank you, and who knows? You might actually have fun too!

Get a Jump on Winter Blues AND EXERCISE THROUGH THE FALL

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