Obiorah Fields, LLC - March 2021

Obiorah Fields, LLC - March 2021

OBIORAHFIELDS.COM | 404-994-6218 | MARCH 2021

WHY I ENJOY READING BOOKS SO MUCH CONNECTING TO THE WIDE WORLD AND THOSE AROUND US

March 2 is National Read Across America Day, which is a fitting name for a day celebrating and promoting books and reading. When I was growing up in a small town in Louisiana, books were how I learned about the outside world. They transported me across the country — and across the world — without my having to move an inch. I was a very bookish child. I think my mother probably had something to do with that. She was a big reader, and she often encouraged me to read as well. I spent a lot of summer days making trips to the local library to check out armfuls of books to devour. I remember some of my favorites being the “Nancy Drew” mystery series. Over the years, the types of books that I’ve enjoyed the most have shifted. I’ve gone from reading historical fiction to all things Stephen King. I

don’t often read books from different genres during the same period of my life, but I have found that I’ll read a lot of different books from one genre at one time, and then I’ll switch and read books from another completely different genre at another time. Lately, my genre of choice has been business books. As a business owner, I’m always looking for ways to improve my business, and I’ve found that reading the wisdom and experience of others really helps me do that. Right now, I’m reading a book called “Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life” by Nir Eyal. It’s pretty good, so I’d recommend it to anyone who has an interest in business or self-help books. Books do more than just connect us to the wide world around us — they also connect us to each other. My three kids,

who are all at very different points in their lives, all love to read as much as I do. So, a few months ago, we started a book club to help us connect with one another. The first book we read together was “Queenie” by Candice Carty-Williams. “Queenie” is a fiction novel, so it was a little bit of a deviation from what I’ve normally been reading, but it was a great read nonetheless. Given the dark season that the world has been in lately, we wanted a book we could all enjoy and kind of escape into. Plus, it was recommended by Oprah and featured on her book club list. I’m usually a fan of any of the books she recommends, so it was a great start for my family’s book club. Whatever kind of book I’m in the middle of, I can always count on reading, in general, to be relaxing for me — even when I’m reading business books. It never feels like work. Books of all kinds are still a way for me to enter into new worlds, visit new places, and learn about new experiences. March 2 may be National Read Across America Day, but I’ll probably be observing that particular holiday every other day of the year, too.

“When I was growing up in a small town in Louisiana, books were how I learned about the outside world. They transported me across the country — and across the world — without my having to move an inch.”

–Danielle Obiorah

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Within the process of successfully filing a personal injury lawsuit, there are several intricate steps and procedures that any successful plaintiff should be prepared for. One of those steps is called discovery. As ambiguous as its name may sound, discovery is a fairly straightforward process on paper. It’s the process by which each party in a lawsuit gets information from the other. Almost every lawsuit begins with the discovery process, each side requesting specific information from the other in order to fully investigate the facts of the case. The discovery process itself can take on a few different forms. One form is interrogatories, wherein one party can request general information from the other party, such as what types of evidence they plan to present at the trial. Another form of discovery is a request for admission, where the plaintiff might send a series of questions to the defendant, asking them to admit or deny particular facts. Attorneys may also ask the defendant questions in the form of a deposition, as another form of discovery. Finally, requesting documents from the other party, such as driving and phone records, can be a form of discovery. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE DISCOVERY PROCESS

LAUGH MORE, AGE LESS

WHY LAUGHTER IS GOOD FOR YOU

As we age, we’re told to wear sunscreen, eat more vegetables, take vitamins, and even walk more — all in hope that our internal clocks will slow down and we will age better. But something as simple as laughter could actually be one of the easiest ways to slow the ticking clock of aging. Scientists have long known that laughter can be therapeutic and help us live longer. It has been shown to reduce wear and tear on our bodies and improve our relationships. A Norwegian study found that those who prioritized humor were more likely to live past 70 than those who didn’t laugh often. At a biological level, laughter can reduce tension in your muscles and activate a powerful stress-relief response from your brain by releasing dopamine. Just one chuckle may even improve your breathing and heart function! In fact, laughing can work wonders for the heart. One study showed that laughter therapy helped reduce the blood pressure and cholesterol levels of its participants. Their blood circulation improved, too. Studies have also found that regular laughter can help strengthen your immune system, and it has long- term benefits for those with respiratory conditions. In addition to your body, laughter is also good for your social life. (And we don’t mean that people will want to spend time with you if you have all the good jokes!) Throughout history, laughter has been an evolutionary sign of understanding. When there are language barriers, laughing together can create camaraderie and a tighter bond between people of different cultures. The dopamine release that comes with laughter aids in stress relief and creates powerful memories that can improve your mood and strengthen friendships. Of course, laughter has its downfalls, too. Laughing at someone else’s expense is detrimental to their health and can harm your relationships. So, stick to light jokes and actively seek shows, cartoons, or people who make you laugh. You’ll feel good, and your body will be pretty happy, too.

If the purpose of the process still seems a little confusing, here’s an example of how

discovery might work in a case. Say before an accident, one of the people in the plaintiff’s vehicle saw the defendant texting while driving right before the

wreck. The defendant and their passengers might deny this, but during the discovery process, the plaintiff’s attorney can request phone records to see if the defendant was in fact on their phone at the time.

Since the court will usually put strict deadlines on the discovery process, gathering as much evidence as quickly as you can is crucial. This is one of the many processes leading up to the trial where having the expert legal team from Obiorah Fields in your corner will benefit you greatly. For any questions about filing a personal injury lawsuit, call our office today at 404-994-6218.

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Of Every Personal Injury Trial THE BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS

It’s been months, or maybe even years. Your legal team has guided you through every step, every hurdle necessary to get you to this point. Now, finally, your court date is approaching. Your case will go to trial, and a judge and jury will decide if you deserve compensation for your injuries and loss of income. It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work and stress — who wouldn’t be nervous? That’s why we wanted to outline the different steps you can expect from your trial. Knowing what to expect can help you enter the courtroom with confidence. Selecting the Jury Before the trial, lawyers from the plaintiff and defense will ask the pool of potential jurors questions to determine if they can

be impartial in deciding the fate of the case. This process is known as voir dire .

time to address any facts presented by the defense during their presentation.

The Opening Statement Each attorney will give an opening statement. This isn’t the time to argue; instead, each statement is simply meant to inform the jury of the evidence that will be presented and the relief that is being requested. Presentation (and Rebuttal) of Evidence First, the plaintiff will present any evidence they have gathered that supports their position. Then, the defense will do the same. After that, the plaintiff will offer a rebuttal to the defense’s evidence. This is not a time to present new evidence, but a

Closing Arguments and Verdict This is the final chance the plaintiff and the defense have to influence the jury. Then, the jury will deliberate. Finally, the jury will announce the verdict, stating whether they believe the defendant is liable and if the plaintiff will receive compensation. These basic building blocks of every personal injury trial belie just how complex the entire process can be. However, with the skilled legal team at Obiorah Fields guiding you through it, you won’t have anything to worry about. Call us today for a free consultation!

At Obiorah Fields, LLC, we’re not your standard, run-of-the-mill law office. We don’t just do what’s required of us — we go the extra mile to make sure justice is served in every case we take on. If you’ve worked with us before and know somebody who could benefit from taking us on as their legal team, please don’t hesitate to give them this newsletter and show them who we are! We want to help as many people as we can. We’re just one phone call away from new potential clients. If they contact us through our website and give us their name, contact info, and a brief description of their situation, we will give them a free case evaluation and report. Don’t hesitate to refer us! DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO NEEDS OUR HELP? GIVE THEM THIS NEWSLETTER!

NEED A SPEAKER? If you are interested in having Teri Fields speak to your organization about legal issues, please contact us at 404-994-6218.

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157 South McDonough St. Jonesboro, GA 30236 404-994-6218 OBIORAHFIELDS.COM

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 | Connecting to the Wide World and Those Around Us 2 | The Easiest Anti-Aging Tactic? Laughter Everything You Need to Know About the Discovery Process 3 | Going to Trial: What You Should Expect Do You Know Someone Who Needs Our Help? 4 | A Match Made in Cornmeal Batter Heaven

AN AMERICAN TRADITION CORN DOGS AND BASKETBALL

It’s no coincidence that National Corn Dog Day is March 20 — the third

In fact, eating corn dogs while watching March Madness caught on like wildfire — and the teens didn’t even have Instagram to promote it! Though it’s not clear how, it spread across Oregon and eventually the rest of the country. It’s likely that people just heard about it from friends and family and thought it was a great idea.

In 2012, in honor of the original Corn Dog Day, the then-governor of Oregon issued an official proclamation naming March 17 National Corn Dog Day in the state. Several companies jumped on the bandwagon as well, including Foster Farms (a maker of frozen corn dogs, among many other meat products) and the Pabst Brewing Company. While it’s not an “official” national day recognized by the U.S. Congress, it’s celebrated with thousands of events every March. And it’s grown beyond its U.S. roots. An article printed in The Oregonian in 2009 revealed that National Corn Dog Day parties have been celebrated on nearly every continent — including Antarctica!

Saturday of the month. This day is traditionally

the first Saturday of March Madness, otherwise known as the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship. But wait. What do corn dogs and a basketball tournament have to do with one another? Turns out, National Corn Dog Day has everything to do with March Madness. The “holiday” began in March 1992 when two Corvallis, Oregon, high school students needed a snack while watching a basketball game. They got some corn dogs and called it good. But somehow, this simple snack and sport pairing turned into something huge.

The corn dog, like basketball, is an American creation. In the 1920s, the

creators toyed around with the idea of fried foods on a stick. They battered and fried everything from cheese to bananas, but it was the battered sausages that really stood out, and the corn dog was born. By the 1940s, the convenient creation had popped up at state fairs and drive-in restaurants all over the country.

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