Harman Law - May/June 2021

Harman Law - May/June 2021

May/June 2021

THE HARMAN HEADLINE

HARMAN LAW

Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, and Employment Lawyers

THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMOM AND REFEREE DAD

Sometimes when you’re raising triplets, it’s easy to forget that your kids are three separate little people. When Emerson, Nolan, and Miles are tearing around the house, they sometimes seem more like one hurricane divided up into parts than three distinct toddlers. I have a hard time keeping up with it all. But there’s one person who doesn’t: my wife, Jen. From the very beginning, Jen has been amazing at giving all three of the trips their own moment to shine. She calls this “special time.” Even though the trips are pretty much inseparable, she makes sure to sneak each one of them away for a bit of one-on-one time with her every so often. Those can be quiet moments to cuddle, read a book, or just talk. Every time she does it, the gesture reminds me what an awesome mom she is. You’ve probably guessed by now that this article is a Mother’s Day shoutout to my wife, and it is! Not only is she a great mom, but she also juggles a thousand other tasks, including her work, the grocery shopping, and the cleaning like a pro (I’m not a total slouch in those departments, but I don’t do nearly as much as I should!). She even goes above and beyond, making sure the trips have healthy home-cooked meals when it would be so much easier to order takeout. Sometimes I think Jen has it all figured out while I still have my dad training wheels on. There are days when I feel more like a referee than a dad because I’m constantly running interference on my team of 3-year-olds, breaking up fights and returning a stolen toy from Kid 1 to Kid 3. It can be really exhausting, so after I spoil Jen on Mother’s Day, I’m going to take Father’s Day to remind myself to focus on the best parts of being a dad. It was awful when we first brought the trips home from the hospital. We never slept, and every waking minute was all about feeding, changing, and comforting them. To add insult to injury, for the first few months, they never even smiled at us! But when they finally did start smiling and laughing, oh man, that made the weeks of torture worth it.

Today, other things remind me how awesome fatherhood is. I love cheering at the TV with the trips while we watch basketball games, and I also enjoy just talking to them. Yes, they’re toddlers, but their vocabularies have really expanded in the last few months! Whenever I can, I like to sit down and ask them questions like, “How was your day?” and “What color are your shoes?” just to see what they come up with. After years of silence and random words, it’s really cool to get a window into what’s happening inside their heads. I’m amazed every time we manage to have a real conversion. Looking forward, I know things are just going to get better. I can’t wait to spoil Jen with the trips this Mother’s Day (they usually “help” me make her breakfast). Further down the line, I’m excited to see which sports and hobbies each of the kids picks up, hear more of their thoughts about life, and take them all to DisneyWorld. They’re only 3, so I have a lifetime of fatherhood ahead of me. Fingers crossed that one day I master this parenting thing like my wife!

–Michael Harman

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Unwavering Client Experience. Outstanding Results. – Call Us Today 704-885-5550

How to Live to 99

BETTYWHITE’S SECRETS OF LONGEVITY

Beloved “Golden Girls” actress BettyWhite is still enjoying her golden years. The famed actress celebrated her 99th birthday this January. While she told People magazine that she’s “blessed with good health, so turning 99 is no different than turning 98,” she also had a few tips for folks looking to make it to their centennial birthday. Keep Laughing “Don’t take yourself too seriously,” White says. “You can lie to others — not that I would — but you cannot lie to yourself.” White has undoubtedly provided many laughs to viewers over the years, but she’s not just playing it up for the camera. Laughter is part of what keeps her young. Be Optimistic White says a good sense of humor also helps her keep a good attitude and look for the positive rather than “dwelling on the downside.” Avoiding negativity also gives

her energy. “It takes up too much energy being negative,” she told People magazine.

Stay Busy With nearly eight decades of acting under her belt, six Emmys on her shelf, and over 120 screen credits to her name, White is no stranger to hard work. As she told Parade in 2018, “I just love to work, so I’ll keep working until they stop asking.” Exercise Your Mind In addition to her busy work schedule, what keeps Betty White sharp? Crossword puzzles! She told Katie Couric in an interview, “I’m addicted. An admitted addict. I just can’t put ’em down.” Find a Cause White is a lifelong animal lover. She calls her golden retriever, Pontiac, “the star of the house.” While pet ownership itself comes with proven health benefits, White has channeled her love for animals

in bigger causes. She’s been a trustee and board member of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association for over 40 years and has done work to help protect endangered species in the wild. Funds raised fromWhite’s official fan club, Bet’s Pets, all go to support animal charities. Embrace Your Vices White told Parade she loves vodka and hot dogs “probably in that order,” which just goes to show that you don’t have to forgo your treats to live to 99.

Does Your Company’s HR Department Need Help?

3 ReasonsYour Company ShouldTry HR Counseling

We’ve all heard stories about human resources departments making mistakes. Sometimes claims are bungled or forgotten, concerns are dismissed when they shouldn’t have been, or sexual harassment goes unchecked. If you’ve worked in that kind of company, you know how bad it can get. Honestly, this is a nightmare from both the employee and employer perspectives. An outdated or incompetent HR department can bury a business in lawsuits and make it an uncomfortable place to work. Luckily, there is a solution: HR counseling from an experienced team of employment law attorneys. Our firm exists to help both employees and employers, and one way we do that is by advising companies. If you’re an entrepreneur, we can help your company stay compliant with laws and regulations and keep your HR policies and transactions up to snuff. And if you’re an employee, you can recommend our services to your manager. Here are just three reasons to take advantage of HR counseling: 1. If your business model and/or staff have changed, your company structure could be outdated. Employment laws and regulations are complicated and constantly changing! If your business went remote or partially remote last

year, restructured its staff, or made any other major changes, you could benefit from counseling to ensure your HR department is still on track. 2. With clear handbooks and contracts, your employees will be happier and stay longer. If your employment handbooks, contracts, and policies are confusing or nonexistent, you may be hurting your employee retention and putting your company at risk. We can help you draft and execute these documents in an industry-appropriate way and simultaneously put your employees at ease about their roles, responsibilities, and your expectations for their conduct. 3. HR counseling saves time and money in the long run. Do you know why you’re encouraged to see your doctor, dentist, and even your dermatologist at least once a year, even if it seems like nothing is wrong with you? It’s because as the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” You can save your company time, money, and headaches by investing in HR training and educational workshops before a crisis arises. To learn more about these and other services we offer for employers, visit HarmanLawNC.com/Employer-Law/ .

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Unwavering Client Experience. Outstanding Results. – HarmanLawNC.com

SUDOKU

Meet Azalea, Our New Paralegal!

If you’ve gotten a call from our office in the last two months, odds are you’ve “met” Azalea Mata. She came on board as a paralegal in March and has been Michael’s right hand ever since! Michael worked with her before opening his firm, so he knew she had the right people skills, drive, and mentality for the job. “I enjoy just helping out our clients. A lot of them have never gone through a motor vehicle accident or workers’ compensation claim before, and it feels good to advise them of the process and keep them calm,” Azalea says. One of the most impressive things about Azalea is that she rose through the legal field entirely through experience.

Solution on Page 4

She started at a local law firm here in Charlotte straight out of high school and has sharpened her skills for seven years. Azalea is also fluent in Spanish, so she has been a huge help in strengthening communication with our Hispanic clients. Since starting at Harman Law, Azalea has focused on contacting all of our clients — maybe including you! — to keep them updated on their cases. (If you haven’t heard from her yet and would like a case update, please call our office.) Michael has also kept her busy preparing demands and pitching in with his other legal needs. “I take my work really seriously. I’ll do anything I can do to help our clients. I’m always trying my best to help, not just them but Michael, my assistant, and everyone in general,” Azalea says. When she isn’t working, you can find Azalea spending time with her husband, Dalton, and their two dogs, Nilla the beagle/border collie mix and Naki the husky. Dalton works at a local car dealership, and he and Azalea will celebrate their second wedding anniversary this year. They would love to have more time for hobbies, but the dogs keep them busy! “They love walking and going to the park,” Azalea says. “I actually live right in front of a pond, and they just love looking at it. Nilla, the beagle/border collie, likes to hunt little things [around the water]. She doesn’t catch them because she’s a little overweight, but she tries!”

Shaved Asparagus Salad

INGREDIENTS:

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1 lb asparagus spears

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1/2 tsp kosher salt

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1 tbsp lemon juice

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1/8 tsp red pepper flakes

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1 tsp Dijon mustard

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Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

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3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

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3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

DIRECTIONS:

1. With a vegetable peeler, shave each asparagus spear from tip to base. This is easiest to do if the asparagus is on a flat surface. 2. 3. Place shaved asparagus in a bowl and blot off excess moisture with a paper towel. 4. 5. In a separate bowl, make a vinaigrette by whisking together lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and olive oil. 6. 7. Pour vinaigrette over shaved asparagus and add Parmesan cheese, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings.

It has only been a few months, but Azalea already feels like family. We’re thrilled to have her on board!

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Unwavering Client Experience. Outstanding Results. – Call Us Today 704-885-5550

16507 Northcross Drive, Suite B Huntersville, NC, 28078 Offices in Lake Norman, Charlotte, and Hickory 704-885-5550 HarmanLawNC.com

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Inside This Issue

The Adventures of Supermom and Referee Dad 1 99-Year-Old BettyWhite’s Secrets of Longevity 3 Reasons Your Company Should Try HR Counseling 2

Sudoku Solution

Shaved Asparagus Salad

Meet Azalea, Our New Paralegal! 3

The Man Who Changed Racing Forever 4

THE LEGACY OF DALE EARNHARDT

Known as “The Intimidator” to sportswriters who loved his rowdy personality and “Ironhead” to opponents who loathed racing against him, Dale Earnhardt Sr. forever changed racing in both his life and tragic death on Feb. 18, 2001, during the final lap of the Daytona 500. Today, Earnhardt’s legacy lives on through the racing triumphs of his descendants, like Dale Earnhardt Jr., and the safety protocols his death inspired. Earnhardt was born into a racing family in 1951 and made his NASCAR debut in 1975. He went on to win 34 races at the sport’s most popular track in Daytona, Florida, and record 76 career wins. Earnhardt’s style of racing was unparalleled, and most fans will never forget the 2000 race at Talladega Superspeedway where he barreled from 18th into first place over the final six laps. On that fateful day in 2001, Earnhardt was racing toward the finish line on the final lap — a first-place finish in his sights — when he collided with three other vehicles, rammed into the concrete barrier, and slid to a stop in the infield. Earnhardt was pronounced dead at the hospital that evening, the result of a skull fracture that happened within 80 milliseconds of the initial impact.

Almost immediately, NASCAR made sweeping changes to the sport, including requiring drivers to wear a head and neck support (HANS) device along with their helmet to stabilize the body in an accident. It was a device that Earnhardt refused to wear due to its restraint and one that potentially could have saved his life had he been wearing it. The organization also instituted improved outer barriers and seat belts. (It was previously believed that a seat belt malfunction led to Earnhardt’s death.) Along with those improvements, NASCAR continues to update its safety measures. According to ESPN, the sport has also required drivers to wear full-face helmets, and vehicles are now outfitted with shock-absorbing foam to protect drivers’ bodies from the energy produced in an accident. The work NASCAR did to improve driver safety was on full display at the 2020 Daytona 500, when racer Ryan Newman’s vehicle hit the wall, flipped upside down, and was then propelled into the air before landing in the infield. The accident was horrific, and Newman had to seek treatment at a nearby hospital — but he lived. “Those people,” Newman said to ESPN about those who made safety regulations a standard in the sport, “collectively saved my life.”

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Unwavering Client Experience. Outstanding Results. – HarmanLawNC.com