Russell & Lazarus - April/May 2022

Russell & Lazarus - April/May 2022

Exclusively handling serious and catastrophic personal injury claims as well as wrongful death claims due to the negligence of individuals or business entities.

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April/May 2022

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Don’t Underestimate the Force

WHY I’M STILL A ‘STAR WARS’ FAN

I can’t resist an opportunity to talk about “Star Wars,” and the classic fan “holiday” of May 4 gives me the perfect excuse. It’s a pun on the classic movie line, “May the force (fourth) be with you.” Though it’s silly, it gives fans everywhere an opening to geek out together among ourselves. I may be showing my age here, but I’ve been a fan since the first movie. I was 9 years old and saw it at the famous (and gigantic) Cineramadome in Los Angeles. I went with the neighbors who had kids my age, and as we watched the film, I knew for sure that it was the coolest thing I’d ever seen. My mind was blown, and I was hooked. That first year, I was Obi-Wan Kenobi for Halloween. My mom made my outfit — she sewed me a robe, drew a goatee on my face, and literally spray-painted my hair silver. I also owned as many toys as I could get my hands on. Back then, those action figures were like gold. I had the X-Wing and TIE Fighter, and I played with them for hours. Though those plastic keepsakes are now lost to time, I have many fond memories. To this day, I prefer the original trilogy because it represents my youth. In particular, I have a soft spot for “The Empire Strikes Back.” But I watched each of the 12 movies in theaters, waiting all night to see a few of them. And now it’s not just movies — there are also video games, novels, comics, television series, and cartoons. “Star Wars” certainly shows no signs of leaving our zeitgeist anytime soon. That meant my son enjoyed the series just as much as I did growing up. It was fun for him, and I got to relive my childhood. At this point, the family has leaned into it — we’ll dress up for Halloween, and I’ve taken to completing the Lego sets with both my son and my wife. It’s a way for us to bond, spend quality time together, and have a lot of fun. I spend my whole life trying to be a good guy and do the right thing, and I have no regrets there. But when it comes to the movies, you have to admit the bad guys are often a lot more fun and intriguing. Some of my favorite characters have always been the Sith because they’re so entertaining. “Star Wars” allows a brief escape from my everyday life, and the films give my mind some time to relax and reboot.

At the same time, they’re also incredibly well-made films. George Lucas was a trailblazer with a precise method. Everything shown on the screen is designed to move the story along. There are no extraneous scenes. It’s a lot like what we do here at the

firm — every piece of evidence we present is there to support the client’s case. The unnecessary stuff dilutes the importance of what the jury, judge, or adjuster is hearing and serves to weaken a case. Like Lucas, we’re always moving the ball forward. We never want the people deciding a case to feel like we’re wasting their time. Let the defense drag things out and try to confuse people — generally, they see right through it. Our story needs to be clear and meaningful, so everyone can follow along and feel like they’re there for a reason. Though I’ll probably always prefer the old stuff, I really appreciate how many people continue to put love and energy into the franchise. I like to think a bit about a plot, and all these years later, they continue to produce stories of interest that go in directions you wouldn’t necessarily expect. People’s futures depend on me putting my best argument forward and accurately anticipating how each case will be decided. So at the movies, I love when things are a little less predictable. As long as it’s a fictional story, there’s nothing more delightful than finding out I was wrong.

–Marc Lazarus

RUSSELL & LAZARUS APC 1401 Dove Street | Suite 310 | Newport Beach, CA 92660 Direct: 949-851-0222 Toll Free: 800-268-9228 www.russellandlazarus.com

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IS ORDERING TAKEOUT WRECKING YOUR FINANCES?

• Set up weekly or monthly meal staples. Think now and you won’t have to later. It’s time to go recipe hunting! • Consider if the total bill amount will fit in your budget, even if you have coupons or other discounts. • Always have fast, lazy meal options when the need strikes. There are even healthy options in the frozen food aisles these days! You can also re-prioritize your spending, such as choosing to spend on restaurants while out with friends but not ordering food while at home alone. Even though

Statistically speaking, as a U.S. adult, it’s likely that you eat at restaurants five times a week or more, but even if it’s cheap fast food, it might be doing more damage to your personal finances than you think. >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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