The DeVries Law Firm, P.A. - September 2021

The DeVries Law Firm, P.A. - September 2021

www.devrieslegal.com (904) 467-1119

September 2021

The Paradox of Good Automation It Can Build Client Connection

As a small-business owner, it can take a while to figure out which tools you actually need for your business. It takes time to build good internal processes for sales, marketing, and human resources. Sometimes a simple piece of technology or an app can save you from reinventing the wheel or overcomplicating things. Other times, a supposed time-saver ends up wasting your time if it isn’t quite right or doesn’t integrate well with your business. The many trends that come and go for entrepreneurs compound all of this. You may be tempted to try every new thing that comes along or listen to an old-school business owner who prefers to stick to the tried-and-true methods you’ve always used. But as is often the case, the most efficient approach is somewhere in the middle. That’s certainly true of incorporating automation into your business. WHERE DO YOU START? If you’re thinking about testing the waters of automation, start by looking at what tasks you do more than five times a week. The key here is that the task is repetitive and it works well. That is, it produces the desired results for you and your customers. At least that’s marketing automation expert Natalie Furness’ advice! One great example of this is email follow-ups after phone calls. If a client or prospective client calls you to chat about your product or service, sending a follow-up

any business trend or idea. And rule No. 2 is that you should not automate any process that isn’t currently working well. Automation relies on replication. As Furness says, it amplifies your efficiencies, but it will similarly amplify your deficiencies if done poorly. Repeat what’s working and revisit and refine what isn’t. If you interact with customers regularly through social media, Furness also cautions against automating direct messages in those channels. Social media is meant to be a way to connect directly with a company, so an automated response in these forums is a missed opportunity. That said, this is a great task to add to your marketing manager’s plate! Robots are far from taking over the world, but automating key repetitive tasks may be just enough of a game-changer to make you feel like you’re living in a new reality.

email is a no-brainer. But drafting a unique email after each call can be incredibly time-consuming. The main goal is to acknowledge the call and let the client know you’re available to help with any issues. It’s the perfect task to automate because it actually increases your communication and connection with clients and leads and gives you more time to spend with them when you actually get them on the phone. WHAT NOT TO AUTOMATE. An online search for automation tools for small businesses will leave your head spinning! Nearly every business process can be automated, but as any experienced entrepreneur will tell you, not every one should be. Rule No. 1 is that you should only do what makes sense for your business. That’s not just the case with automation but with

Please call us at (904) 467-1119 to find out how we can help you!

— Shawn Devries

www.devrieslegal.com | 1

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com

The Best Places to Visit in Croatia

Your Next Affordable Vacation Spot! 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. 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. PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK 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. 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 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!

Getting to the Root of the Problem What the Law Says About Nuisance Trees

people wonder what recourse they have if their neighbor’s trees are producing excess leaves, fallen fruit, or problems from dangerous limbs or wily roots. While laws vary by state, your best first course of action is using what’s called self-help. That means that you can help yourself to pruning the branches or roots that encroach on your property. When it comes to fruit, the courts are divided. Some say that the fruit belongs solely to whoever has the trunk of the fruit tree in their yard, while others say that overhanging limbs with fruit are fair game for neighbors or passersby.

Trees provide shade, capture carbon, and add beauty to outdoor landscapes. They can also be the source of endless fallen leaves or fruit to rake up, hazardous branches, and strong root systems that can upend sidewalks or yards and cause drainage problems. That’s exactly what happened in a Minnesota court case, and the outcome teaches us a lot about how to be good stewards of the land and trees while also being good neighbors. In Holmberg v. Bergin , a Minneapolis homeowner who’d planted an elm tree just over a foot from his property line was sued after the tree grew to 30 inches in diameter and an astounding 75 feet high! The tree’s trunk destroyed the neighbor’s fence as it grew, but more problematically, the root system was so vigorous that it broke through the sidewalk and caused drainage issues at the neighbor’s house. The court ruled in favor of the neighbor, saying that the tree had created a nuisance. However, the judge did not award monetary damages, as the neighbor had requested. Instead, because the roots could not be addressed without damaging the tree, the court ordered it to be cut down. This was a rather extreme case, but many

As with many things that are irritating but not a nuisance in the eyes of the law, the best place to start is by chatting with your neighbor. No matter what the law says, your neighbor may be happy to share the fruit on their tree’s overhanging limbs or hear your other concerns about the tree and work to mitigate the problem.

And as that Minnesota judge alluded to in their ruling, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Speak up early if you see a budding issue with your neighbor’s tree.

2 | (904) 467-1119

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com

TAKE A BREAK

IT’S TIME TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BANKING! 5 Reasons Not to Keep All of Your Money in One Place

You’ve probably heard the expression, “Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.” But what about “Don’t put all of your dollars in one bank”? Banking at a single institution is the default for most people, but just because something is the typical strategy doesn’t mean it’s the best one for you! Here are five reasons to consider taking the road less traveled. 1. Different banks have different perks. Credit unions are member-run nonprofits and often don’t have minimum balance requirements. Traditional banks have cutting-edge financial technology and more loan options. Some banks offer high-yield checking accounts while others don’t, and online banks can have interest rates on savings accounts up to 15 times higher than brick-and-mortars. By banking with more than one institution, you can get the best of both (or three!) worlds. 2. You’ll have a backup if one bank fails. According to Bankrate, 511 U.S. banks failed between 2009 and 2020. That’s not nothing! If your bank isn’t insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) and it fails, you could lose your entire balance, so diversifying your accounts (or choosing only FDIC-insured banks) is a good backup measure. 3. You can make sure ALL of your money is insured. The FDIC only covers up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank. So, if you have high-value accounts, depositing with multiple banks can ensure all of your money is covered. 4. The more accounts you have, the more withdrawals you can make penalty-free . Many money market and savings accounts have limits on how many times you can pull money out each month. If you bank with several institutions, you can make a few withdrawals from each of them, stay under the limits, and avoid fees. 5. You’ll have access to more banks and ATMs. Do you travel across your city, state, or the country regularly? If you do, it can be beneficial to bank with several institutions so you’re always close to an ATM or bank branch. For example, you may want to use a local credit union at home for the member benefits but bank with a national bank for out-of-state emergencies.

During the Nazi occupation of World War II, the Third Reich converted the medieval Austrian castle, Castle Itter, into a prison for important French prisoners. The castle’s cook encountered Major Josef Gangl, a Wehrmacht officer, who, after becoming disillusioned with Nazism, had decided to help the Austrian resistance instead. So, in order to free Castle Itter, he hoisted a white flag when he made contact with Captain Jack C. Lee Jr., a U.S. tank commander. THE STRANGE BATTLE OF CASTLE ITTER

The battle on May 5, 1945, was short and resulted in only one casualty — Josef Gangl was killed by a sniper. It ended when a small rescue group dispatched by Major John T. Kramers arrived with a column of tanks and scattered the SS troops. The prisoners were freed, Lee was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and Josef Gangl, for his service to the Austrian resistance, has a street named after him in a nearby town that still remains to this day.

www.devrieslegal.com | 3

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 644 Cesery Blvd #250 Jacksonville, Florida 32211 (904) 467-1119 www.devrieslegal.com

Automation Can Increase Your Connections With Clients

1 2

The Best Places to Visit in Croatia Neighbor With a Nuisance Tree? Try This!

The Strange Battle of Castle Itter Try These Team-Building Exercises ASAP

3

4

How McDonald’s Spun the ‘Hot Coffee Lawsuit’

REMEMBER THE ‘MCDONALD’S HOT COFFEE’ LAWSUIT?

It Was Justified All Along

years about the dangers their hot coffee represented, with over 700 recorded burns and several lawsuits. But in 1992, their policy was to store coffee at 180–190 degrees F, which is almost the boiling point! Furthermore, McDonald’s higher- ups testified on the stand that no matter what happened, they had no intention of changing their behavior. Unsurprisingly, at the end of the trial, McDonald’s was hit with a $2.9 million penalty. Although the penalty was later reduced, McDonald’s still dragged Mrs. Liebeck’s name through the mud in the press, with their version of the story being the one that stuck in the public consciousness. But it wouldn’t change the fact that they had to pay her around $700,000 at the end of the day — or that their coffee is now being served at a reasonable temperature.

The facts were simple: Mrs. Liebeck used the drive-thru with her grandson, who was at the wheel. Once the car stopped moving, she placed the cup of coffee she’d just ordered between her legs and tried to add some creamer. The cup tipped over, dumping the contents into her lap, causing third-degree burns over 16% of her body. She required hospitalization for eight days. Whirlpool debridement of the burns and skin grafts followed. She was at least partially disabled for more than two years, and that’s to say nothing of her pain and suffering. For all of this damage, Mrs. Liebeck asked McDonald’s for $20,000 — arguably not even enough to pay her hospital bills. When McDonald’s refused to pay more than $800, the case went to court, and it came out that they’d known for at least 10

Back in 1992, an elderly woman named Stella Liebeck sued McDonald’s in what became known as the infamous “hot coffee lawsuit.” The public relations team at McDonald’s has made sure the case is remembered as frivolous, but, like the third- degree burns Stella Liebeck suffered from a cup of McDonald’s coffee, her lawsuit was dead serious.

4 | (904) 467-1119

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com