John M. Zenir, Esq. P.C. - April 2020

John M. Zenir, Esq. P.C. - April 2020

The Law Office of John M. Zenir

JMZEsq.com 516-746-0180

April 2020

Find Happiness and Humor And Stress Won’t Stand a Chance

Stress is a pesky thing. Sure, we all know it can stem from high pressure situations, but it can also spring up from nowhere. When it comes to the work I do, stress inevitably finds its way in because law is an emotional and often high stakes profession. April is Stress Awareness Month, and that means it’s a great opportunity to talk about something that I think everyone could benefit from working on a little more. There are universal ways to set the stage for de-stressing: Get at least 8 hours of sleep, eat healthy, disconnect from technology occasionally, and exercise regularly. But beyond those, how can you tackle the emotion of stress? What if your physical goals aren’t quite cutting it? My experience leads me to believe that stress arises from the pressure of performing in comparison to those around us. In life, we’re expected to achieve certain outcomes that put us ahead of others. But if you want to tackle your stress, I think the most important thing to focus on is improving yourself above all else. The goal should be to do and feel a little better than you did the day before. There are some great ways to approach that mindset. First, ask yourself what your personal core values are. What’s most important to you? Is it being there for family? Is it doing your job with integrity? Is it enriching your life with travel? Stress tends to come from things that work against our core values. So taking a moment to really think about what you value could provide clarity about what’s causing you stress. Once you have your core values in place, you should reflect on what you’re grateful for having in life. Think about people, memories, plans, or even the things you own. Spend just a few minutes a day writing down three or four things you’re grateful for at that moment. It

could be as simple as the tasty ham sandwich you had for lunch. When you start to do this, having gratitude becomes a habit, rather than an effort. Showing gratitude, even in small amounts, will become a part of the way you operate. And when your mindset about life shifts that way, it’s that much harder for stress to get in. When I’ve managed to get sleep, exercise, and write down the things I’m grateful for, I find the one thing that becomes really important in my life is humor. When I can laugh about things, my world gets a little brighter, even if only for a moment. I try not to take myself too seriously, which is something that a lot of lawyers tend to do. We do have serious work to tackle, and we know when to buckle down, but recognizing the importance of having fun and being humorous is critical because it creates a positive way to approach things and leads to better outcomes.

That’s why I always include a joke at the end of each of these articles. I even love a good lawyer joke, which most other lawyers will tell you they don’t. But being able to laugh at myself is a big part of what helps me combat my stress. So find ways to first recognize your stress, and then make a habit of working against it. Every day, it’ll get a little easier. That’s because recognizing the good things in your life will stomp out the stresses in your life every time.

Joke of the Month

What’s the difference between a good lawyer and a great lawyer? A good lawyer knows the law. A great lawyer knows the judge.

-John M. Zenir

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SOMETHING IN THE WATER WHY ROB BILOTT TOOK ON DUPONT

Rob Bilott never should have agreed to represent Wilbur Tennant’s case.

property provided water for all the cattle and wildlife in the area. Since the sale, the stream had become frothy and discolored, and the animals that drank from it were sick, malformed, or dead, including 153 of Tennant’s 200 cows. When Bilott stumbled upon a letter from DuPont to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the real horror story began to emerge — one that went far beyond the boundaries of Tennant’s farm and into the drinking water of every American. The letter mentioned a mysterious chemical called PFOA, and Bilott requested documentation from DuPont to find out more about it. However, the company refused, so Bilott requested a court order. Soon, dozens of disorganized boxes filled with thousands of 50-year-old files arrived at Bilott’s firm.

The cattle farmer had presented evidence of the strange malady plaguing his cattle to lawyers, politicians, and veterinarians in Parkersburg, West Virginia, but no one took Tennant’s case seriously.

in the mess of documents, but soon, his time as an environmental lawyer helped him see the bigger picture. It became clear that DuPont had orchestrated a massive cover-up regarding their use of PFOA. PFOA is used in the manufacturing of Teflon, and the company had knowingly exposed workers and the Parkersburg water supply to it. Bilott filed a class-action suit as a medical monitoring claim on behalf of the people of Parkersburg, and, as of 2011, a probable link between PFOA and six health conditions, including two types of cancer, has been found.

But when Bilott saw the evidence for himself, it was clear that something was wrong.

The videos and photographs Tennant had collected showed cattle with patchy fur, growths and lesions, white slime coming from their mouths, and staggering gaits. Tennant told Bilott that the abnormal behavior and physical deformities had started after his brother Jim sold his property to DuPont, a chemical company with a big presence in Parkersburg. Jim’s property bordered on Wilbur’s, and a stream running from Jim’s

He was worried he wouldn’t be able to find anything incriminating or even conclusive Because of the medical monitoring claim, plaintiffs can file personal injury lawsuits against DuPont. So far, 3,535 people have. If it weren’t for Bilott and Tennant, the public might have never known the dangers of PFOA. DOYOUR PART TO KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL And Maintain Green Living Spaces for Everyone

Have you ever walked through a park and seen a plastic bottle or wrapper lying on the ground? If so, did you pick it up and properly dispose of it? You might not have realized it, but in that moment, you took a small step toward keeping your community — and, by extension, America — beautiful! April is Keep America Beautiful Month, and folks who celebrate aim to help each community in every state stay clean and green. Created by the nonprofit organization Keep America Beautiful, this holiday offers a perfect opportunity to roll up your sleeves and work

to better the place you live in. Here are three ways to show your appreciation for a green America this month.

jogging and picking up litter, which takes care of your health and keeps your community clean. Anybody can do it: Just throw on your running shoes, grab a bag, head out the door, and pick up any stray bits of trash you see on your morning jog or evening walk.

VOLUNTEER FOR THE GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP.

IMPROVE RECYCLING THROUGH EDUCATION.

This event is one of America’s largest community improvement programs, with hundreds of thousands of people

participating each year. In 2019, over 550,000 volunteers participated in the GAC to bring natural beauty back into their communities. 2020 marks this event’s 22nd year, and you can be a part of it this month! Volunteer your time with a local Keep America Beautiful affiliate or another community improvement program close to home. Do your part to clean up your parks and spread awareness today.

An important goal during Keep America Beautiful Month is to spread awareness about recycling. There are various ways to educate those around you about recycling and encourage them to do their part. At work, for example, you can volunteer to lead a recycling initiative by printing off guides and fostering discussions on why recycling is so essential. At home, you can make a commitment with your family to fulfill the three R’s of recycling: reduce, reuse, recycle. To discover more ways to participate in Keep America Beautiful month, visit their website at KAB.org today!

START PLOGGING.

If you’re passionate about staying active and cleaning up your neighborhood, then this is the perfect activity for you! Plogging combines

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TAKE A BREAK

Few things change faster than the internet, and how we connect with the internet is constantly evolving. When it comes to wireless capabilities, fourth-generation (4G) networks have been the norm for 10 years. But 4G couldn’t meet demands forever, and there’s already talk of a fifth-generation (5G) network taking center stage. So, what makes 5G different from 4G, and how will it affect consumers and their internet-enabled devices? Simply put, 5G is the fifth generation of wireless technology that enables mobile devices like cellphones and stationary devices like desktop computers to send and receive >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5

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