Law Office Daniel J Miller - September 2021

Law Office Daniel J Miller - September 2021

INYOUR DEFENSE

SEPTEMBER 2021

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BRINGING TOGETHER PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD America’s Greatest Strength

I believe America’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths. We’re essentially a nation of immigrants, living in a giant melting pot in the land of opportunity. We’ve built an economy almost any other country in the world would envy. Unfortunately, in the past, that success has led some people to try and destroy what we have. This year is the 20th anniversary of 9/11, when radical Islamic terrorists flew passenger airplanes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. They killed thousands of Americans that day and caused hundreds of millions more to panic. And yet, in that moment, we rallied around the idea that we as a country would not be broken. I’m the grandson of immigrants. My maternal grandparents, who I’ve written about in this newsletter before, were of Jewish heritage and narrowly escaped the Holocaust after fleeing Germany. My paternal grandparents were from Russia, having immigrated to the United States in the 1930s. One similarity they all shared, however, was that when they arrived in America, they knew barely anyone and didn’t know how to speak the language. And yet, they pushed forward. America was then, and still is now, a land full of opportunity. My grandparents were hardworking and fortunate enough to seize some of that opportunity for themselves and build a life here. In a free, capitalistic society, they were able to thrive even though they once had very little. Even though they were from somewhere else and carried with them the norms of their homelands, they were able to become Americans. Almost everyone who lives in the United States was initially from somewhere else. I would wager that we have people living within our borders with ancestors from nearly every country on the planet. As beautiful as that is, it can still lead to division. After all, if we’re all from such different backgrounds, disagreement is bound to happen!

a lot of division in our country before that, but in the aftermath of that terrorist attack, as terrible as it was, people seemed to forget what divided them and focused more on what united them. It happened once, and I think it can happen again. Our diversity is our greatest strength because in having so many people from so many different backgrounds, we can foster a sense of compassion, understanding, and creativity. We should be a country where anyone can make a life, regardless of how much money they have or where they come from, and no one should be able to take that away from us. So, this September, I hope we can share a moment of remembrance for those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 20 years ago, and we can look to the future, hopeful for our country’s continued capacity to bring together people from everywhere in pursuit of the American Dream. – Daniel J. Miller

And yet, even though we may sometimes be divided, we can still come together when it counts. I saw that happen in the wake of 9/11. We had

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Every year, 40 million Americans (and even entire offices) play fantasy football, “drafting” players from across the NFL for their virtual teams and competing for money and bragging rights. Maybe you have a virtual team in the locker room as you’re reading this! But where did the concept of fantasy football start? According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the gridiron trend began in a New York City hotel room in 1962 — a night that changed football forever. There, a group of friends led by Oakland Raiders part-owner Bill Winkenbach created the first fantasy football league. They dubbed it the Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League — or GOPPPL for short. Apart from the point values assigned to different accomplishments on the field, their original model wasn’t very far off from the fantasy football of today. “The league members would ‘draft’ actual National Football League (NFL) and American Football League … players to their fantasy franchises, and on the basis of the actual performance of those players in games, the members would accrue points and compete against each other,” the encyclopedia reports. HOW FANTASY FOOTBALL GOT ITS START T he N ight T hat C hanged F ootball F orever

box scores in a particular newspaper’s sports pages and “draft” their teams in the same room on long phone calls, or even via snail mail.

Now, it should be noted that a request not to enter the property can be either written (such as with a “no trespassing” sign or on a written agreement) or verbal. If the warning was in the form of a sign outside the property, the court must find that sign and determine it was in a place where it could be seen. You should also know that any legal right you might have to be on the property, such as a rental agreement with the landlord who owns it, supersedes any attempt they make to prevent you from entering the property. They cannot bar you from your home just because they own the property, and if they want to evict you, they have to go through the proper channels to do so. So, as you see, there’s plenty of room for a viable defense against a trespassing charge in court. However, what exactly that defense entails will depend on the specific details of each case. If you’ve been charged with trespassing and you need legal representation to ensure your case gets a fair shake, call the Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller at (757) 852-3000 today. CBS Sports began offering online fantasy football leagues in 1997, and today it’s even easier to play. The sport is built right into the NFL website (Fantasy.NFL.com), and you can join a free league or start a league of your own with a click! Whether you’re a former player or a superfan who wants to play coach for a day, fantasy is a great way to stake a personal claim in the sport and connect with friends while you do it. Check out the article “How to Play Fantasy Football: A Beginner’s Guide” on NFL.com to learn the basics. It’s updated annually, so make sure you hunt down the 2021 version! When you start, don’t forget to salute Winkenbach, the official “Father of Fantasy Sports.” WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS FOR A DEFENSE? I’ ve B een C harged W ith T respassing

Early fantasy football leagues were complicated undertakings. In the days before the internet, members had to agree to reference the

In the State of Virginia, “trespassing” is a crime basically defined as entering a space after having been explicitly forbidden from doing so. If you’re charged with trespassing, a judge could sentence you to up to 12 months in jail, issue you a $2,500 fine, and order you to never enter that property again. With penalties as serious as these, it pays to know what the facts of your trespassing charge could mean for the outcome of your case. If the court finds you guilty, they must prove four different factors beyond a reasonable doubt. 1. You entered onto someone’s property. 2. You did so after having been specifically requested not to enter their property. 3. The person who ordered you not to come onto the property must have the authority to prohibit you from entering. 4. You have no other legal right to be on that property.

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FOR DUIS AND DUIDS? What Are the Different Penalties Most people know the legal limit for driving under the influence of alcohol — if you have a blood alcohol concentration higher than .08, then you will be charged with a DUI when you get pulled over. What you might be less familiar with are the legal limits for driving with illegal drugs in your system. While using any form of illegal drug is, by definition, against the law, if you’re found to have used a certain illegal drug and then drive with a certain amount of it in your system, you’ll be charged with a DUID (Driving Under the Influence of Drugs). The exact concentration of illegal drugs in your system for which you will be charged varies depending on the drug. As a few examples, if you’re found with a blood concentration of any of the following drugs while behind the wheel, you’ll be charged with a DUID: • 0.02 milligrams of cocaine • 1.0 milligrams of methamphetamine (meth) • 0.01 milligrams of phencyclidine (PCP) • 1.0 milligrams of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy, Molly, etc.)

If you’re charged with a DUI or DUID, within three hours of your arrest, you’ll be subject to a blood test to determine your exact level of intoxication. This is known as “implied consent,” and if you refuse the blood test, you’ll have your license suspended for seven days (or potentially longer if it’s not the first time you’ve refused the test).

Regardless of the different levels of intoxication for each substance, the penalties for a DUI and a DUID are the same.

• First offense: up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. • Second offense (within 10 years of your first one): same as first offense, but the minimum fine is $500. • Third offense (within 10 years of your second offense): a $2,500 fine and up to six months in jail. • Fourth offense: a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000 and a 12-month jail sentence. Don’t drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you find yourself charged with a DUI or DUID, we’ll do everything we can to get you a fair trial and a light sentence. Call the Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller today at (757) 852-3000 or contact us through our website at LegalDefense.com.

SUDOKU

ONE-PAN APPLECIDERCHICKEN

Inspired by WellPlated.com

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs • 1 tsp salt, divided • 1/2 tsp black pepper, divided • 1/2 cup apple cider

• 2 tsp Dijon mustard • 4 tsp olive oil, divided • 3 sweet apples, cut into 1/2-inch slices • 2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped, plus more for garnish

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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WHAT IS AMERICA’S GREATEST STRENGTH? DIVERSITY. PAGE 1 THE NIGHT THAT CHANGED FOOTBALL FOREVER TRESPASSING: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW PAGE 2 KNOWING THE CONSEQUENCES OF DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE ONE-PAN APPLE CIDER CHICKEN PAGE 3 THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN CROATIA PAGE 4 INSIDETHIS ISSUE

YOURNEXTAFFORDABLEVACATIONSPOT! THEBESTPLACESTOVISIT INCROATIA

Plitvice Lakes National Park

This gorgeous coastal nation will absolutely blow you away with its beautiful architecture, landscapes, and delicious blend of Mediterranean and Slavic cuisine. Even better, it’s a fairly affordable place to visit! While many travelers land in Zagreb, the beautiful capital city and cultural hub, you wouldn’t want to miss these destinations.

Near the border with Bosnia-Herzegovina, you’ll find one of Croatia’s oldest and most beautiful national parks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although it’s quite the drive, you won’t regret it — the park has an outstanding and picturesque series of tufa lakes and caves, all connected by waterfalls. With over 16 interconnected cascading lakes, it’s unlike anything else you’ll see. If you get hungry, you’ll love the nearby National Restaurant Licka Kuca, which is famous for its traditional Croatian preparation of lamb under a cast-iron bell.

Dubrovnik

As the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” this coastal city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Adriatic Sea. It’s a beautiful city, featuring 13th century walls, marble stone streets, Gothic palaces, breathtaking churches, and an imposing fortress. There’s so much to do in the town square — one of Croatia’s largest and most beautiful — and you’ll be able to explore many historic structures nearby. Nature also has plenty to offer, with secluded coves and beaches nearby for exploration.

different from any other city in Croatia. With well-preserved Roman architecture and a multitude of museums, it’s no wonder Split is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although Croatia was among the first UN countries to open its doors to Americans, always be safe and check the newest regulations before booking your travel. Hopefully you enjoyed learning about this unique, wonderful country!

Split

The second largest city in Croatia (the first being Zagreb) is Split, founded by a Greek colony in the second or third century B.C. Historically, Split enjoyed being an independent city-state many times, and that free spirit is very tangible, as Split is very

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