Whisler Law Firm - September 2021

Whisler Law Firm - September 2021

HOLLYWOOD 1909 TYLER ST., SUITE 501 HOLLYWOOD, FL 33020 833-529-5677 BOCA RATON 7777 GLADES RD., SUITE 100 BOCA RATON, FL 33434 AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT

NAPLES 3606 ENTERPRISE AVE., SUITE 356 NAPLES, FL 34104 AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT

SEPTEMBER 2021

WHISLERLAWFIRM.COM

MORE THAN A BARBECUE Homing in on Team Appreciation This Labor Day

Today, Labor Day is most commonly known as the last summer weekend before fall takes over. We celebrate with barbecues, picnics, and parades, plus many get the day off of work. However, Labor Day carries a purpose many forget about — to show appreciation for the working class. This Labor Day has really got me thinking about my own team and their value to The Whisler Law Firm. Without them, the business wouldn’t operate, and without their perseverance, it wouldn’t be a success. Labor Day celebrations date back to 1894 and were originally intended to celebrate the blue-collar working class and their achievements and contributions to society. When I reflect on The Whisler Law Firm, I realize that two things make the business what it is today: amazing clients and a devoted team of about 20 employees. These pillars signify why I’m doing what I’m doing. Here, we operate on the golden rule — to treat others as you want to be treated.

Here, we don’t treat our team as just another number or cog in the wheel — we make it a point to highlight everyone’s value based on experience and background. Everyone is capable of giving insight and input that others may not be able to. We cherish everyone’s contribution. We are very collaborative and always want to work on each individual to see how they can reach their own personal and professional goals. Whether as a secretary, assistant, scheduler, paralegal, attorney, or operations manager, we value everyone equally. We listened to feedback from our team and went from offering a health reimbursement plan to a full-fledged health insurance plan. Taking care of our people is the name of the game. Although COVID-19 has placed a damper on a lot of our team-building activities, we still have virtual meetings while we sit around the proverbial table. We plan on attending Miami Dolphins games together, and we have attended the basketball games of a summer league team our firm sponsored. Every time a new team member starts, we have lunch at the office and we, as a firm, have a nonprofit contribution month in which everyone chooses a nonprofit for the firm to donate to. When you go into another place of business, whether it is a store or a restaurant, the employees are the face of that business. The interactions, attitudes, work ethic, skill level, and willingness of the employees really tell you everything you need to know about that business. At The Whisler Law Firm, I am proud of the team we have built. Our staff is the backbone of our firm. This Labor Day, and every day, cheers to them — I appreciate you! –Josh Whisler

“I believe you must put your feet in the shoes of your employees; you must create the right environment for people to thrive.”

As cliche and old-school as that may sound, it is one of the best foundations to build your business on. I was recently having a check-in with an attorney in the office. He used to work at a very large personal injury firm and noted that working here is such a refresher, especially in comparison to the negativity at his previous place of employment. I can absolutely relate. One firm I previously clerked for had a head partner who was known for “going berserk.” He would throw things and scream out of frustration. This was not a healthy work environment, and it portrayed what I did not want in my firm. I believe you must put your feet in the shoes of your employees; you must create the right environment for people to thrive. I think we’ve all had a negative employment experience at one time or another. For me, this is what inspired me to do things differently when I opened my own firm.

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Remember the ‘McDonald’s Hot Coffee’ Lawsuit? IT WAS JUSTIFIED ALL ALONG

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. 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.

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.

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 years about the dangers

HIRING A PROPERTY DAMAGE ATTORNEY SHOULD COME FIRST HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

We are in the midst of hurricane season, and while we’ve watched some storms skirt right on by, as Floridians, we know it’s unfortunately only a matter of time. Whether it’s this year or in the next upcoming years, a storm is bound to hit — and hopefully, when it does, it poses no threat to us. However, we know the importance of being prepared. Hurricane preparation means stocking up on water, canned goods, and batteries. We put up hurricane shutters, bring in patio furniture, park our cars in secure locations, and decide whether to evacuate or hunker down and ride out the storm. However, hurricane preparation also means having a property damage attorney you trust.

do everything in their power to deny those claims. The amount of damage and repairs you face may be very high, and insurance companies will still look for ways to avoid having to pay. That is why setting out to deal with the insurance company on your own is not a great idea. Hiring a property damage attorney should not be a last resort. Insurance companies are notorious for trying to pay the least amount possible on every claim. An attorney can fight on your behalf to get them to pay out everything they owe. At The Whisler Law Firm, our team of attorneys is here to help guide you through the process of submitting a claim and will work to ensure you receive all the benefits you are entitled to. If you wait to contact an attorney, your risk of not recovering your losses increases. Contact us today to get prepared! We’ve got you covered!

If your property is ever damaged by a natural disaster, vandalism, or accident, you will be filing an insurance claim — and insurance companies

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TRUE OR FALSE? 3 Workers’ Compensation Myths

Myth No. 3: Filing for workers’ compensation could get you fired. Unless your employer wants to break the law, they cannot fire you for filing a workers’ compensation claim. You have a legal right to file a claim if you are injured on the job. Your job is not protected by filing for workers’ compensation — you can still be terminated for grounds just like prior to your injury — but you are not at a greater risk of losing your job, either.

No matter what type of job you do, the risk of getting injured on the job is always there. Before filing a compensation claim, it is important to be aware of the details surrounding workers’ compensation. You cannot always listen to what you’ve heard — distinguishing between fact and fiction is important and here are a few myths to be aware of. Myth No. 1: You must be performing the duties of your job when you were injured. While it is true that you must have been in the course of your employment, you do not need to specifically be engaging in job-related activities — as long as the injury did not occur due to your own negligence. For example, you could be eligible for injuries that occurred while on the way to the bathroom at your place of employment, while walking down the hall from your office, or even while talking with a coworker on the way to the lunchroom.

At The Whisler Law Firm, we have over 36 years of experience in workplace injury claims and can offer assistance and advice in filing a claim. Contact us today for a free consultation!

Myth No. 2: Your only option is workers’ compensation.

In the event that you are injured while at work, when seeking coverage for these losses, workers’ compensation is not all that you can claim. If another individual is to blame for your injuries, you will also be able to file a personal injury claim with the assistance of your attorney.

ONE-PAN APPLE CIDER CHICKEN Inspired by WellPlated.com

DID YOU KNOW? You can visit WhislerLawFirm.com and access our highly informative webinars any time!

Bring the taste of fall into your kitchen with this sizzling skillet meal.

INGREDIENTS

Also, sign up for a complimentary Will or Trust consultation!

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1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs

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2 tsp Dijon mustard 4 tsp olive oil, divided 3 sweet apples, cut into 1/2-inch slices

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1 tsp salt, divided

1/2 tsp black pepper, divided

Questions?

1/2 cup apple cider

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2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped, plus more for garnish

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DIRECTIONS

1. Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Set aside. 2. In a small bowl, combine apple cider and mustard. Set aside.

3. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm 2 tsp olive oil. When shimmering, add chicken thighs top-side down. Cook for 4 minutes, then flip and cook for 4 more minutes. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil. Wipe the skillet clean. 4. Heat the remaining oil in the skillet, then add sliced apples, remaining salt and pepper, and rosemary. Cook for 5 minutes. 5. Return the chicken to the skillet and add apple cider-mustard mixture. Cook for 5 minutes, then serve sprinkled with rosemary!

“Impossible is for the unwilling.” –John Keats

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1909 TYLER ST., SUITE 501 HOLLYWOOD, FL 33020 WHISLERLAWFIRM.COM 1-833-529-5677

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1

Homing in on Team Appreciation This Labor Day

2

How McDonald’s Spun the ‘Hot Coffee Lawsuit’

2

Testimonials

3

3 Workers’ Compensation Myths

3

One-Pan Apple Cider Chicken

4

3 Shoe Storage Ideas That Will Save You From Tripping

It’s that time of year again: The kids are charging inside, kicking off their shoes wherever they please, and tearing into the house! If you’ve already tripped over a dozen pairs of sneakers, it’s time to create and enforce a better shoe storage solution. Here are three functional and attractive methods to try. 1. The DIY PVC Pipe Shoe Cubby This shoe storage project is all the rage on Pinterest! It turns out that when you cut a large PVC pipe into sections, paint them your preferred color(s), and glue them together with PVC glue, the honeycomb effect looks both fun and elegant. You can try this in your mudroom or in your kids’ rooms to make putting away their shoes feel like a game. Check out the video “PVC Pipe Shoe Rack” by Home Made Simple on YouTube for a step-by-step guide to building a floor rack or Instructables.com for tips on mounting your rack to the wall. 2. The Over-the-Door Shoe Bag If you don’t have the floor space for a traditional shoe rack, consider investing in an over-the- door shoe bag. These fabric, clear plastic, or upscale mesh bags hook over the top of a door and are covered in pockets for shoes. Many can hold up to 36 pairs! Best of all, when they’re hanging on the back of your mudroom or closet door, your shoes will be both easy to access and tucked out of sight. You can find affordable racks on Amazon.com for less than $10 or fancier models at Walmart for under $20. 3. The Hanging Closet ‘Shoe File’ Speaking of closets, the “shoe file” is the perfect storage solution for a coat closet or any other closet near your main door. Instead of hanging on the door, this pocket-filled organizer cascades from a hanger! Many of the pockets are conveniently located at eye level; you can load up your closet with as many files as you need, and each file can hold up to 18 pairs of shoes. ContainerStore.com sells elegant shoe files starting at $12.99.

Goodbye, Shoe Chaos!

3 STORAGE IDEAS THAT WILL SAVE YOU FROM TRIPPING

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