Russell & Lazarus - June/July 2022

Russell & Lazarus - June/July 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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AUTO COLLISIONS

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CONSTRUCTION SITE ACCIDENTS

The Right Help When You Need It Most!

MOTORCYCLE COLLISIONS

ELDER ABUSE CLAIMS BRAIN TRAUMA CLAIMS WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIMS

BICYCLE ACCIDENTS

June/July 2022

TRIP/SLIP-AND-FALL ACCIDENTS

Are You Ready to Rock?! WHY I’LL ALWAYS BE A HEAVY METAL FAN

They say everybody likes some kind of music, and that human tendency will be celebrated this year on World Music Day. Also known as Make Music Day, the celebration encourages us to create some noise ourselves, regardless of our skill level. The holiday falls on the longest day of the year, June 21, so we can all get maximum enjoyment from singing, playing, or blasting some tunes. There will even be a celebration nearby in Orange! Music is interesting because it’s often impossible to look at someone and accurately guess what they enjoy. Most people wouldn’t look at me and think, “There’s a guy who likes bad ’80s metal,” but I was a teenager during those years. If you liked rock music, your choices were new wave or hair metal. New wave is fine, but ’80s metal was (and still is) my favorite genre. My first concert was seeing Sammy Hagar when I was 14 years old, and it was an outstanding show. I went with my oldest friend, Robert, whom I met in kindergarten. We’ve always had similar tastes in music, and like virtually every kid in the San Fernando Valley, we started a couple of short-lived bands. They were really just jam sessions, but we had a lot of fun. (And Robert plays in bands to this day.) I also remember attending the US Festival in 1983 with my second oldest friend, Kenny, whom I have known since the first grade. Steve Wozniak from Apple put on the show and there were three themed days: rock, new wave, and heavy metal. You can already guess which one we chose. We were only 15 years old in a crowd of over 300,000 people, and we will never forget the experience. For $20, we got to see monster bands like Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Mötley Crüe, and Van Halen. What a time to be alive! As music has always been a big part of my life and the lives of my family and friends, myself and my two oldest friends, again, Robert and Kenny, went together to see the very last Van Halen show with the original lineup of Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, and Alex Van Halen in 2015. (At my first job, I served Alex Van Halen at the McDonald’s drive-thru. I’m sure he remembers it as fondly as I do!) It was at the Hollywood Bowl, and I’m so happy I got to experience history.

Last year, the office bought me tickets to see KISS for the firm’s 20th anniversary. I went with Robert, and we were in the sixth row, so we got to see Gene Simmons

and Paul Stanley up close and personal and feel the heat of the pyrotechnics on our faces. They did the entire show with makeup, fake blood, and other antics. They were just as good as ever. Then, a freak lightning storm began, and it poured down on all of us as the band played the final song. It was just a fantastic experience! I’m a bit stuck in the ’80s, but music keeps evolving. I remember going to the Fabulous Forum to see Guns N’ Roses and Iron Maiden when I was a teenager. Now, it’s called the Kia Forum, and I’ve been there several times with my son, my wife, our family, and our friends to see bands like Twenty One Pilots and AWOLNATION. We’ve also seen Weezer, Panic! At the Disco, Fall Out Boy, and other bands at Irvine Meadows before it was shut down in late 2015. Those bands are no Van Halen, but the concerts were great experiences, and it’s a lot of fun to hear what this generation enjoys. It has also been interesting to see how live music has returned to the world with such explosive energy. Ticket sales are through the roof, and so are prices. Everyone is so excited to see what they’ve been missing, and they’re willing to pay for the opportunity. It proves that (as the band Cinderella once sang) you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. It has been a wonderful revival, and I believe music is good for the mind, body, and soul — as long as you listen to what you enjoy.

–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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OVERCOMING INATTENTION

STRATEGIES TO FIGHT DISTRACTION

With our phones always on standby, we’re more easily distracted than ever. Then there are also interruptions by coworkers or family members, emails or instant messages that divert our attention, household chores that will “only take a minute,” coffee breaks, and daydreams. Constant distraction hurts us more than we realize, creating a feedback loop of inattention. It’s time we understand what all this multitasking is doing to our minds and figure out how to break the cycle. No matter how good you think you are at it, multitasking doesn’t exist. What we’re really doing is called task-switching. Our brains can concentrate on only one thing at a time, and the quicker we go back and forth between tasks, the less we pay attention, and the more likely we are to make mistakes. Even worse, research says it takes us a whopping 23 minutes to regain our concentration after being interrupted. But what can you do? If you’ve ever been on a diet, you know that willpower has its limits. Simply promising you won’t check your email or phone rarely results in long-term success. But if technology is a big part of the problem, it can also be part of the

solution. Try putting your email or phone notifications on silent. Or, consider a website blocker to keep you off distracting websites and an app that will lock distracting features on your phone. Low- tech solutions like a “do not disturb” sign and putting your phone in another room can also help. And mental tricks can still have their place. You probably tend to become productive when you’ve got a deadline crunch, and there’s a reason for that. Tasks have a way of stretching out unnecessarily when we don’t have to follow any restrictions. So, make some! Determine how much time you need to complete a task, and then don’t allow yourself anymore. Ask a colleague for help staying accountable. You’ll be amazed at how much you get done. Though we each have to fight our own battles, this isn’t entirely our fault. Popular apps make billions of dollars by sucking our attention away from everything else, so we’re automatically at a disadvantage. And there may be even more than meets the eye. If you have difficulty concentrating, stress could be the underlying culprit. Get that under control, and distractions might suddenly lose some of their allure.

Going Places

MEET MISTY PHUNG!

When Misty Phung’s mother set out on a boat as a refugee during the Vietnam War, she never could have anticipated where her future daughter would end up. “She was on the boat for about three months before she was found. She honestly didn’t think she’d survive,” Misty says. “She came to this country without knowing any English and built a life for me and my brother. She was the biggest supporter I could ever have. She’s the one who pushed me to succeed in life and be where I am today.” Like many young adults, Misty was unsure of what she wanted to do for a living, but a guidance counselor encouraged her to apply to college as a political science major. She graduated in 2021, and soon after, she joined Russell & Lazarus as a litigation clerk. Earlier this year, she was promoted to a paralegal.

Since Misty is taking classes in the evenings at UCLA to become certified as a paralegal, her days are tightly packed. But she loves the variety of work each day brings. “We’re doing different things every day,” she says. “We might be doing discovery, talking to clients, filing pleadings, or reviewing cases. Every case is also a little different,” she adds. “I always find it really interesting to dive into a new case and see the strategy the attorneys take.” When Misty isn’t working, she spends as much time traveling as possible. “I try to see new places and get a little uncomfortable,” she says. “When you get into a 9–5 routine, it can get a little tiring. Breaking that up a bit by spending a week in a different city or country helps me look forward to things and makes each week a little more exciting.” Though travel has been difficult during the pandemic, she has managed to visit Disney

World, Chicago, Hawaii, and Canada in the past couple of years.

Remembering her post-graduation job search, Misty says, “I looked around at a bunch of law firms.” Russell & Lazarus seemed like the perfect fit and remains so now. “I love how small the firm is,” Misty says. “I feel like it provides a space where everyone can build closer relationships. Here, you get to have conversations with the attorneys and learn from them. I don’t think I would get that at a bigger law firm with hundreds of employees.”

RUSSELL & LAZARUS APC 1401 Dove Street | Suite 310 | Newport Beach, CA 92660 Direct: 949-851-0222 Toll Free: 800-268-9228 www.russellandlazarus.com 2

POZOLE

We recently wrapped up an emotional case with a lovely woman who came to Russell & Lazarus for help with her personal injury claim. She was kind enough to leave us a detailed and glowing review. It only reminded us how much we enjoyed working with her, and she left a lasting impact on everyone involved. Three years ago, two vehicles struck our client on a major road, and her car flipped over. After a hospital stay, she found herself in a situation similar to many of our clients. She was traumatized, afraid, and unsure of what to do next. It was a challenging time, and she needed someone with patience and compassion to walk her through the process. Our client first tried contacting other law firms for help, but none of them made her feel comfortable and taken care of. She told us that all changed when she first spoke with Marc Lazarus. He immediately put her at ease and made her feel welcome by explaining the process, HOW A SIX-FIGURE CASE BECAME A RELATIONSHIP YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND

sending a team member to her home for an interview, and helping her secure the medical care she needed. Marc and case manager Myra formed a personal bond with the client throughout the case. They often spoke with her, sometimes after hours, to answer questions, calm

her fears, and provide other assistance. Soon, they were reaching out to each other just to check in. Our firm became a refuge in a difficult moment of her life, and we’re so grateful we could take on that role. As we do for all of our clients, Marc fought hard against the insurance companies to ensure the client received the justice she deserved. At times, that meant getting aggressive — but it was all in service of supporting the client and not letting the insurance companies abdicate their responsibility. In the end, our firm secured a six-figure outcome commensurate with the injuries the client suffered. Our office certainly felt that we had a familial relationship with this client, and the review she left for our firm indicates she felt the same way. We wish her all the best with her well-deserved compensation. And though we hope she’ll never need our services again, we also hope she’ll stay in touch.

For the fourth straight year, team members Teri Penniston and Jennifer Schicktanz participated in Cycle For Survival on May 7, an event that raises money to beat rare cancers. Together, they raised over $2,000! EASY VEGAN BAKED BEANS

Inspired by NoraCooks.com

• 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 yellow onion, chopped • 4 cloves garlic, minced • 3/4 cup molasses • 1/2 cup brown sugar • 3/4 cup ketchup • 3/4 tsp salt INGREDIENTS

• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar • 1 1/2 tbsp vegan Worcestershire sauce • 2 tsp Sriracha • 4 15-oz cans navy beans, drained and rinsed. • 1/2 tbsp liquid smoke (optional)

July is National Baked Beans Month, and you don’t need bacon to celebrate this iconic side dish! This plant-based version will be a crowd- pleaser at your next vegan barbecue.

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

2. In a large pot over medium heat, warm olive oil. Add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. 3. Add all of the remaining ingredients except the beans into the pot. Mix the sauce well, then stir in the beans.

4. Ladle the beans into a 9x13-inch pan and bake for 1 hour. Serve warm and enjoy!

RUSSELL & LAZARUS APC 1401 Dove Street | Suite 310 | Newport Beach, CA 92660 Direct: 949-851-0222 Toll Free: 800-268-9228 www.russellandlazarus.com 3

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

1401 Dove St., Ste. 310 Newport Beach, CA 92660

800-268-9228 www.russellandlazarus.com

INSIDE

this issue

PG 1

Marc Shares His Love of ’80s Metal

How Distractions Are Hurting Us

PG 2

Meet Paralegal Misty Phung!

How We Made One Client Feel at Home

PG 3

Easy Vegan Baked Beans

PG 4

Testimonials

TESTIMONIALS

“I just settled and wanted to thank Russell & Lazarus for providing the best

“A big thank you to Russell & Lazarus and the team! Tiffany, the case manager, was extremely helpful in getting my case done. They were all very attentive! Whenever I had questions, they were right on it with a quick response! Thank you all! I will be referring you to family and friends. You guys are great!” –P. Inga

service possible. Marc Lazarus was more then helpful and made sure I got the fair estimate for my totaled vehicle. Kris O’Connell was top notch as far as communication and keeping me updated with the smallest details. I was treated in a friendly manner, and the whole team was very attentive and always responsive to all my concerns. The end results were satisfactory. I highly recommend this firm and would hire them again.” –Monika K.

“Audrey was there to help every step of the way.”

–Sean W.

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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