Reardon Anderson - May 2021

Reardon Anderson - May 2021

ReardonAnderson C O U N S E L O R S A T L A W

ReardonAnderson.com

May 2021

WHAT DO YOU DO IF A FOOD DELIVERY VEHICLE CRASHES INTO YOU?

During normal crashes, it might seem straightforward that the driver and their insurance company are responsible for paying your expenses. But what happens if that driver is a food delivery driver? Who is responsible then? Food delivery drivers may not necessarily be more dangerous drivers than the rest of us, but more driving can mean more risk of crashing, and nobody beats the odds forever. Here’s what you need to know in case this situation ever occurs to you. COVERAGE DEPENDS ON WHETHER THEY WERE 'WORKING' Establishing fault is essential to getting the justice you need to recover from the crash — physically, mentally, and financially. When you get into a crash, first, you’ll need to know whether or not the driver was working. Typically, food delivery drivers don’t get insurance coverage from a food delivery company unless they were working or traveling to a customer’s residence with an order. Also, drivers typically don’t get their driving insurance paid for entirely by the company. Some delivery apps, like DoorDash, may offer excess insurance if the driver is at fault. However, that insurance only applies after the claim goes through the driver’s personal insurance policy. This brings up several crucial questions: How much coverage does the at-fault food delivery driver carry? How much can the injured victim reasonably claim in compensation, and does that exceed the driver’s coverage? Will settling a claim for

the maximum amount available under the driver’s policy make sense, or is it worth it for the crash victim to try to hold the company liable?

accidents can be. Our firm has represented individuals involved in catastrophic accidents involving food delivery vehicles. These cases not only involved serious injuries or death. but complex insurance coverage issues. Due to Reardon Anderson's knowledge relating to motor vehicle accidents and insurance law, the firm has been successful in resolving cases for seven figures. Every client and legal matter is different. Past results are not an indication of what the result will be in your case, but we have the experts on our side to help you in a serious accident, especially if it causes a wrongful death. If you have been involved in an accident, don’t hesitate to call our office to discuss your legal options.

IT’S RIGHT AFTER THE CRASH: WHAT DO I DO?

Knowing a little more about the logistics, we can get into what you should do if you are hit by a food delivery driver. As with any accident, report it to the police. Also, take a look at the involved cars, and take pictures of everything you see. You should also take pictures of your surroundings, including the positioning of street signs or the weather conditions, just in case it may help your case. Most importantly, seek medical attention as soon as possible. You’ll need a doctor’s opinion on the extent of your injuries if you file a claim. OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THESE CASES At Reardon Anderson, we have hands-on legal experience with just how dangerous these

–The Reardon Anderson Firm

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5 Best Mother's Day Gifts From Afar

Not all of us may be able to visit Mom for Mother's Day this year, but we can still prove that she'll be in our thoughts. From buying New York baked goods from Goldbelly to creating a unique letter for her to enjoy, here are several ideas to entertain and treat her! NO. 1: WRITE A LETTER INCLUDING PICTURES, LOCAL STICKERS, EVEN PRESSED FLOWERS. Letters are an old-fashioned way of expressing your love and appreciation for someone, but in our modern age, that’ll make it so much more touching for your mother to receive. Lately, it’s been trendy for local coffeehouses and mom-and-pop shops to sell branded stickers — whether she’s been there or not, share a few with her, along with a thoughtful letter about the times in the day you think about her during your adult life. NO. 2: GIVE A GIFT THAT’LL MAKE IT MORE COMFORTABLE AT HOME. Even as the vaccine is being distributed, spending more time at home is the new norm. Whether it’s a soft set of pajamas, a plush robe, silk pillowcases, or something else luxurious that your mom won’t buy for herself, try making her life a little easier with a cozy gift idea! NO. 3: SUPPORT HER AMBITIONS WITH A HOBBY-RELATED GIFT! Do you love a certain recipe that she makes, like key lime pie? Try getting her an improved juicer or another kitchen appliance to make her life easier! NO. 4: SEND A HOMEMADE BAKED GIFT. One of the best gifts that you can give is something you and your family created yourselves. A tin of delicious cookies is a great way of doing that. Gather your kids together, mix the dough, and bake cookies, then send them over with a sweet note. She’ll adore that she gave you and your family a reason to spend time together and that you were thinking of her. NO. 5: SEND A FAVORITE TREAT FROM AN AWARD-WINNING U.S. BAKERY. These days, you can send baked goods from anywhere in the U.S., and Goldbelly makes it especially easy. Goldbelly specializes in shipping favorite food items from restaurants, bakeries, and other food purveyors. The e-commerce business has offerings from more than 350 establishments across the country.

Stories about celebrities can be enjoyable or awkward, but no matter what happens, they usually create great material for BuzzFeed or Reddit users. This also includes celebrity stories involving the law, which bring on a lot of head-scratching and legal action — like these three strange cases. SIMON COWELL PAYS FOR A CHEF’S DISAPPEARING SHOES. Known for his unrelenting critiques and setting the stage for some of the world’s biggest names in show business, Simon Cowell has amassed enough wealth to afford a private chef. When one such chef came by his house for a job interview, she was asked to remove her shoes, but according to court documents, she never received her shoes back. The chef claims to have tried multiple times to retrieve the shoes — which were outfitted with $500 orthopedic insoles — but never succeeded. She sued Cowell for the shoes and gas money, and the “America’s Got Talent” star shelled out. INTERNET CONSPIRACY THEORY RESULTS IN A COURT CASE AGAINST BEYONCÉ. The internet is a wild place, and conspiracy theories are often born on its digital channels. One such theory was that Beyoncé and her husband, Jay-Z, hired a surrogate to give birth to their daughter, Blue Ivy, in 2012. Internet trolls who saw her pregnant belly roll as she sat down for an interview fanned the flames of this theory, and soon, a lawsuit emerged. A woman claimed she was the true biological mother of Blue Ivy, and she asked for compensation and DNA testing to prove it. Previously, the same woman claimed to be the birth mother of North West, the daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, but the court threw out the case. MILA KUNIS RUFFLES SOME FEATHERS. Actress Mila Kunis was sued for $5,000 by her childhood friend, Kristina Karo, in 2015 because Kunis allegedly stole a chicken from Karo when they were still children in Ukraine. Karo, an aspiring singer, claimed the theft resulted in extreme emotional distress and prevented her from pursuing the American dream. According to Kunis, the theft occurred when she was 7 years old and Karo was just 1 month old. Kunis and her husband, actor Ashton Kutcher, speculated that the case was all a publicity stunt to promote Karo’s upcoming music video, and the case was eventually dropped. THE 3 STRANGEST CELEBRITY LAWSUITS

We hope these gift ideas inspire you. From everyone at Reardon Anderson, have a very happy Mother’s Day!

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APPLE CORPS VS. APPLE COMPUTER A CAUTIONARY TALE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS

Apple Computers is wildly successful today, but it engaged in lawsuits over its name for nearly three decades. How do you get out of it and still thrive? Here's what we can learn from the Apple Corps (the multimedia company founded by the Beatles) and Apple Computer lawsuits. HOW THE TRADEMARK DISPUTE STARTED Apple Corps is a holding company that owns the Beatles’ record company (Apple Records) and maintains the Beatles legacy. And while it might seem strange that a company in the music industry would sue a technology company simply over a shared name, that’s how it began. From 1978 to 1981, Apple Corps battled Apple Computers over their name in London courts until they finally reached a settlement. The amount Apple Computers paid was later revealed to be about $80,000. Apple Computers agreed to never enter the music industry, while, likewise, Apple Corps agreed to never produce computers.

them again in 1991, saying that this violated their 1981 agreement. This time, Apple Computer paid $26.5 million and agreed to never package, sell, or distribute physical music materials, such as CDs. That’s why the introduction of iTunes caused quite a stir. A BATTLE FINALLY WON In 2003, Apple Corps alleged that the online iTunes music store violated their contractual agreement that Apple Computer would never enter the music business. However, the main question that the High Court of London decided was whether Apple’s iTunes online music store distributed physical copies of music. Ultimately, the legal dispute ended in Apple Computer’s favor. But who was in the wrong? Some say that Apple Corps was too litigious, but considering that iTunes transformed the music industry forever, it’s hard to pick a side. One thing is for sure: If Apple Inc. never created iTunes or included sounds in its computers, it may not have been the massively successful company it is today. Even at the risk of potential legal backlash, it goes to show that a little fearlessness and innovation pays off.

Then, Apple Computer added sound to its computers (i.e., when you turn on an Apple computer or delete a file). Apple Corps sued

GRILLED CORN WITH PLANT-BASED AIOLI

INGREDIENTS

4 ears corn, unhusked

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

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1 clove garlic

Sea salt, to taste

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1/4 cup unsweetened soy milk

1/2 cup raw spinach

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1/2 cup sunflower oil

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DIRECTIONS

1. In a large pot, boil corn for 30 minutes. 2. In a large blender or food processor, add garlic, soy milk, sunflower oil, vinegar, and salt. Combine until smooth by pulsing the blades. 3. Once the aioli mixture is blended, add raw spinach and blend again. 4. Drain corn and transfer to the grill for 10 minutes, rotating as necessary. 5. Taste aioli for consistency and flavor. Add more milk or oil to thicken it and add more salt to taste. 6. Top corn with aioli and serve.

Inspired by SimpleVeganBlog.com

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ReardonAnderson C O U N S E L O R S A T L A W

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1

What Do You Do if a Food Delivery Driver Crashes Into You?

2

5 Best Mother's Day Gifts From Afar Mila Kunis Got Sued for That!? (And 2 Other Weird Celebrity Legal Cases)

3

Apple Corps vs. Apple Computers

Grilled Corn With Plant-Based Aioli

4

Could Vaccine Passports Open Doors for Travel

Are you hoping to travel this summer? Not like how you “traveled” from your bedroom to your living room couch all this past year, but really travel — get out and see the world beyond your hometown. With the COVID-19 vaccines finally available, millions of people are becoming immune to the virus that has ravaged the global economy, especially in the areas of tourism and hospitality. Industry leaders in these sectors are understandably eager for the vaccine to bring back tourism. Some are hoping vaccine passports will play a part in jump-starting tourism around the world. Vaccine passports are a means by which someone can prove they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and are, therefore, free to travel internationally. Some countries are eager for the sort of verification these passports could bring, should they exist. The Seychelles, Cyprus, Romania, and other countries have all said they would welcome tourists who could prove they were vaccinated. Now, you might be sitting on the same couch you’ve sat on for the past year, thinking, “Well, I would like to travel internationally after I get vaccinated!” However, this proposal is not without concerns. CONCERNS ABOUT VACCINATION VERIFICATION COULD VACCINE PASSPORTS OPEN DOORS FOR TRAVEL?

Firstly, health care officials still don’t know if vaccinated people can transmit the virus. So, even if they’re vaccinated, they could still spread it to unvaccinated people around the world. Another concern is a vaccine passport’s potential to create classes of “haves” and “have nots” among travelers. Many developing countries won’t receive the vaccine for some time. Should they be barred from returning to normal? Similarly, could the vaccine passport be abused domestically, enabling private businesses to bar customers from their spaces without proof of vaccination? Finally, what form would these passports take if they were to exist? Would they be on a smartphone app? A laminated card? A verified doctor’s note? So, while the prospect of traveling far and wide this summer after getting vaccinated is exciting, it might be better to temper your expectations for now and hope for clearer guidelines in the near future.

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