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Holiday Roundup: Volunteer opportunities in Chicago

November 11, 2015 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Volunteer
The big brown bins are back. Our building (230 W. Monroe) has propped them outside the elevators, asking for food contributions for the Chicago Greater Food Depository. ’Tis the season and we have lots to be thankful for. We also have good reason to give back, and we thought you might, too. We’ve rounded up a few local organizations/charities with brief descriptions of their respective missions and dates for upcoming volunteer opportunities. Below is a list of places that the members of our firm either know well and/or have worked with in the past. We hope you’ll get to know them as well this holiday season.

CGFD

Chicago Greater Food Depository

There’s a long history here. The depository has been around since 1979 and has grown substantially since then. A network of 650 pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, mobile programs, children’s programs, and other ventures, has long been a stalwart non-profit of Cook County. Last year, the depository distributed 68 million pounds of food equaling 155,000 meals a day for those less fortunate, and the depository shows no signs of slowing down. This year’s numbers could be bigger than the last with your help.

A relatively time-friendly volunteer option for those with little time to spare is on the horizon. Down in the Loop, volunteers for the Union Station Food Drive (Nov. 18 + 19) will be handing out brown paper bags to commuters during the evening of Nov. 18. Commuters are asked to fill the bags with shelf-stable food and return them the following morning, which volunteers then collect. Last year’s drive brought in more than 14,000 pounds of food in less than 24 hours.

Chicago Thanksgiving Basket Brigade Basket-Brigade

During last year’s Thanksgiving Day celebration, the Basket Brigade distributed 36,000 pounds of food to more than 1,500 families—over 1,000 volunteers participated. Inspired by the childhood experience of notable pitchman Tony Robbins, this charity focuses on providing struggling families with small but meaningful contributions to uplift their spirits during the holiday season.

The Brigade’s Assembly Day takes place the Sunday morning before Thanksgiving (the designated meeting place is still TBD). Volunteers help unload trucks, organize food, and distribute baskets around town before meeting a designated celebration location to eat, drink and, revel in some seasonal fun. If you’re not able volunteer, you have an opportunity to sponsor a family with a food basket ($30) that feeds a family of five.

Inspiration CorporationInspiration-Corporation-Logo

Founded in 1989, the Inspiration Corporation helps redirect the lives of homeless folks by providing education programs, mock interview for job seekers, tutoring, housing services and workforce development, among other things. The non-profit has several short-term and long-term volunteer opportunities for people with diverse backgrounds, or you can simply take your enthusiasm and hit the ground running. A short training session is required prior to joining, but the sessions are relatively short and happen frequently around town. Inspiration typically hosts hundreds of people each year for a special Thanksgiving celebration, and this year will likely be no different. If Thanksgiving doesn’t work out, there are plenty of year-round volunteer opportunities for you to learn about.

Meals on WheelsMeals-on-Wheels

This national non-profit has a familiar ring to it. For 25 years, Meals on Wheels has been collecting and delivering food to the homeless and people with disabilities. The organization’s crop of 500-or-so active volunteers has doubled since 2007. With their help, MOW continues to invest in the popular Holiday Meals Program, Home-Delivered Meals for Individuals with Disabilities, and the Home Modification Program, all of which serve to fill financial gaps in government subsidies to its two city partners. The local chapter of MOW supports these two partners through fundraising efforts like the option below.

On Tuesday, December 1, Meals on Wheels hosts Giving Tuesday, a volunteer event at the Thompson Hotel. You can help pack shelf-stable meal boxes for MOWC’s homebound seniors and individuals with disabilities. You can also partake in light refreshments and cocktails for just $20, all of which is donated to the programs of Meals on Wheels. You’re free to stop by anytime between 2–9pm.

Toys for TotsToys-for-Tots

This ubiquitous holiday charity was established in 1995 as an official activity of the U.S. Marine Corps and an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve. It began as a way to supplement the toy collections of local units that had fewer Marines because of military cutbacks in the ’80s and ’90s, among other things, and has since gone on to provide toys to those less fortunate. Over 494 million toys have been distributed to more than 230 million people around the country.

You can drop off new unwrapped toys at the Toys for Tots Chicago drop off location at 3034 W. Foster Ave between 8am–8pm. If you’d like to volunteer, you can fill out a form available on the Toys for Tot website.

Welcome to our new video series

November 10, 2015 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Ken_Jay_Brett_BW

With a new website comes new opportunities. We’ve been working to provide insight into the world of law, and one of the ways we hope to educate people moving forward is through our new YouTube channel and video series, “60 second with Levinson and Stefani,” which we unveiled yesterday. These quick videos are meant to be convenient but also informative, a helpful opportunity to shed light on questions we’ve received in the past.

Our first video features Ken discussing an encounter with a prospective client that was looking to hire a lawyer as part of a wrongful death case. Ken recalls a particular question he was asked by the family: “If you were me, what would you look for in a lawyer?” It struck Ken as one of the better questions he’s been asked in recent memory.

As you’ll hear, Ken stresses the importance of building a relationship instead of focusing on bold promises and the allure of big settlement histories. It’s important to know whether your lawyer has tried similar cases before. It’s important to know that you’ll be spending a lot of time with your lawyer. It’s important to feel comfortable dealing with the same person on a regular basis. It’s important to have some kind of bond. Check out the vid and let us know what you think.

Tainted candy: myth or fact?

October 30, 2015 by Ken Levinson Leave a Comment

Candy-Corn
Harrowing tales abound on Halloween. You’ve heard the stories: needles, razor blades and little pieces of glass hidden inside candy treats. It’s the nightmare parents have been dreading since, well, the beginning of the holiday, even if most consider it to be an urban legend. But the instances that have made their way to the mainstream have scared enough parents into believing that anything’s possible, and so the stories persist.

Broadly speaking, the stories began back when mom-and-pop shops started transforming from wholesome, intimate storefronts to industrial giants. The birth of assembly-line production allowed manufacturers to churn out mass quantities of goodies to the public, thanks to the help of their employees. And as more than one “stranger” started handling the goods, the speculation that at least one nefarious employee reveled in putting sharp objects into chocolate bars went wild, however strange it sounded.

Whether urban myth or not, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t, at the very least, heard about shady candy practices. Sensationalized? Maybe. But that’s not stopping people from being overly cautious. Chicago Parent had a great throwback of safety tips from 1985, one of which touched on candy safety. And wouldn’t you know it, someone’s cousin stumbled upon a razor blade stuffed inside a candy bar 30 years ago. So whether you subscribe to the idea that tainted candy is a real danger or not, the fact remains: bad people continue to do bad things. There’s no downside to doing a quick check on your kids’ bounty.

It got us thinking about a few specific candies to watch for, and we’ve put together a quick list of the prime candidates based on several factors: size, content and disguise. Our list is also based on previously documented stories and findings online. We also have two professional dads in our midst who have seen their share of candy-coated delights, so science-based or not, you know you’re getting the advice of two sound experts in the field of kid candy mayhem.

Snickers

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Snickers are big. Snickers are dense. Snickers are long. Snickers are prime candidates for tricks instead of treats. The chocolate coated, caramel and peanut-based treat encompasses just about every red flag when it comes to hiding something. It’s easy to pack a little in a lot: pennies, razors, nails and broken shards of glass. Or it’s easy to simply hide something sinister like a pin needle in a dense center without drawing much attention. The Lakewood neighborhood in Denver reported several needles being found inside Snickers Bars last Halloween, prompting the city to issue a warning.

Inspect for frayed edges, already opened packaging and small holes that look suspicious. Your best bet is to break the bar in half and do a quick scan of the contents. And when in doubt, throw it out.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Reese’s are big. Reese’s are dense… You get where we’re going. Peanut butter cups have almost the same characteristics of a Snickers bar only the danger lies closer to the surface. Your child is more likely to take a bigger chomp out of a Reese’s cup, which may induce them to swallow the razor rather than biting it. And the thinner the razor, the harder they are to find.

In 2011, a father in New Mexico discovered a razor blade in his son’s Reese’s cup, slid sideways into the buttery portion with an edge protruding on the side. Thanks to dutiful inspection, John Martinez was able to spare his son the consequences of a traumatic outcome.

Rock Candy

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The Contra Costa Times published a disturbing story about an 8-year-old girl who happened to stumble upon 0.1 grams of crystal meth in her candy bag. And for those of you who don’t know anything about meth (with the exception of having watched a few Breaking Bad episodes) would be surprised to learn that the crystalized drug looks identical to the crystals of rock candy that has proven to be popular among kids. In fact, diehard Breaking Bad fans have reproduced rock candy to look like the meth on the show. So that should give you a good idea of how easy it is to disguise this particular trick.

The likelihood of stumbling upon crystal meth is pretty low. Even so, it’s happened. This trick is difficult to test in any form, so if there’s any hint of skepticism, chuck in the garbage.

Lollipops and Gummy Bears

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Believe it or not, Lolli’s and Gummy’s are even more “disguisable” than you think. Last year, the Denver Police put out a Public Service Announcement on its Facebook page, warning parents of marijuana-laced treats that looked nearly identical to the real thing. Translucence is a big key to figuring out the difference, but it’s minute. As recommended by a few experts, it’s best to allow your kids to trick-or-treat with a small container and then dumping the contents into a bigger bag that parents can control. That will prevent kids from eating random pieces of candy before you’ve had a chance for inspection. As is often the case, parents can see things that a child can’t, so make sure at least one adult has had a chance to look things over. One more thing: Never accept fruit or anything that isn’t wrapped. And again, when in doubt, throw it out.

Have a safe Halloween, everyone.

Four things you should accomplish after an accident

October 26, 2015 by Ken Levinson Leave a Comment

It’s hard to think about the legal implications of an auto accident in the aftermath of a crash. The reaction, whether it’s the crash victim or a family member, is to focus on his/her injuries versus a protracted legal battle. I recently returned from teaching at the AAJ Trucking College in Dallas, where about 100 lawyers came together to discuss their cases and gain insight into legal know-hows. It reminded me of a few points that crash victims should be thinking about in the event of an accident, things that could prove to be difference makers once your lawyer starts negotiating a settlement or starts preparing for a trial.

What you know is that you’ve been hurt. What you don’t know is that insurance companies have taken steps to protect their interests almost immediately.

We’ve put together an informal checklist to make you aware of legal protections and to help you avoid the pitfalls of the shady business practices of insurance companies at the expense of someone’s inexperience. Contrary to what they tell you, insurance companies are looking to pay as little as possible, no matter how much they like to pretend. Of the dozens of crash cases we see each year, the bottom line is money: one side is looking for fair compensation (injured clients) while the other is looking to save themselves from paying more than they have to (insurance companies). That’s a different discussion entirely, but in the meantime keep these things in mind if you ever find yourself in an auto accident.

Contact a lawyer immediately

You’d be surprised to learn that some people wait until it’s too late. Our team fields calls each day from crash victims who take insurance companies at face value. Clients tell us how, in the beginning, insurers claim that ensuing compensation will be fair and equitable. Whether that turns out to be true is not necessarily the case. If you think about it from the perspective of an insurance claims representative, their goal is simple: save money, however possible. If that means pulling the wool over your eyes, then so be it. Our job is to make sure that doesn’t happen. You’ll save yourself a world of angst just by taking the time to contact the appropriate people with the appropriate resources.

By contacting a lawyer immediately, you’ve done three things: You’ve a) contacted someone who will protect your interests from the beginning of the process, b) you’ve contacted someone who knows the ins and outs of legal necessities (in the case of a truck crash, for example, gaining access to a black box, video surveillance, driving logs, etc. before they somehow “disappear”) and c) you’ve contacted someone who’s familiar with what fair compensation is and how to assess your injuries and the damage you’ve sustained. In short, lawyers are your vessel for full protection when your immediate concerns should be about your health.

Gather all relevant details of your crash

This might seem self-explanatory, and it may seem like it’s a job for someone else, namely the responding officer. It’s not necessarily enough. What’s worse, it’s likely not the first thing that’s on your mind after a crash. Still, witnesses are one of the most important factors in any injury case for obvious reasons. Did your accident take place at a nearby school or in front of a supermarket? Did it happen in your neighborhood or in a populated region? Did someone take pictures?

These are the details that can prove effective during settlement negotiations or a trial, even something as simple as noting the time of day, taking note of a cell phone log, or even the type of shirt the driver was wearing (was it a novelty shirt that, however jokingly, referenced fast driving?). All the ammunition you can muster will only help to serve your interests. Recounting them by putting it on paper will keep you ahead of the game.

Think of a family member/friend that might be willing to help

An auto accident can be a traumatizing experience. One of the things that many people find helpful is asking a friend and/or family member to act on their behalf. The scope of which you decided to allow your friend or family member to be involved is up to you, but the purpose is to take undue stress off your shoulders. If that means organizing a schedule of events, keeping up to speed with updates or acting as liaison to your lawyer, then all the better. The point is to make sure your interests are protected from the start and throughout the process of litigation.

Get to the “human level”

Trust is the most important part of any relationship. That goes for your lawyer, too. You need to feel safe. You need to feel comfortable. That’s part of our job, but you can’t take things for granted. There are questions you want to ask: “Have you handled a case like this before?” for example. “Are you licensed to practice in Illinois?” Sound bizarre? You’d be surprised just how many people are willing to take on a case without the proper licensure. To use an old adage: no question is a bad question. The more comfortable you feel, the better the opportunity for a seamless process and peace of mind. Build together, grow together, win together.

Traffic deaths in cars? U.S. is No. 1

October 20, 2015 by Ken Levinson Leave a Comment

The World Health Organization released numbers on Monday morning as part of its “Global Status Report on Road Safety 2015,” prompting the Wall Street Journal to promote a headline on social media titled “11 Deadliest Places to Drive.” I came across the article as I was scrolling through my news feed and noticed that the United States ranks sixth on WSJ’s Deadliest list with more than 34,000 traffic deaths per year, trailing densely populated countries like China and India. Also tucked in the report: The U.S. ranks first in the percentage of traffic deaths in cars. More on that in a sec.

You can click here for a comprehensive look at the WHO report, but here are some highlights in the meantime:

  • 105 countries have good seat-belt laws that apply to all occupants;
  • 47 countries have good speed laws defining a national urban maximum speed limit of 50 Km/h and empowering local authorities to further reduce speed limits;
  • 34 countries have a good drink–driving law with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of less than or equal to 0.05 g/dl as well as lower limits of less than or equal to 0.02 g/dl for young and novice drivers;
  • 44 countries have helmet laws that apply to all drivers, passengers, roads and engine types; require the helmet to be fastened and refer to a particular helmet standard;
  • 53 countries have a child restraint law for occupants of vehicles based on age, height or weight, and apply an age or height restriction on children sitting in the front seat.

The stats seemingly provide positive news given how many cars/drivers there are on the road. In fact, this year’s total traffic-related deaths (1.25 million around the world) are slightly down from last year’s total.

The bad news, however, is that the numbers are still way too high, and the U.S. is No. 1 when it comes to the percentage of traffic deaths in cars at 64 percent; meaning 64 percent of most traffic deaths took place in cars, as opposed to a pedestrian who may have been struck by a vehicle while walking. That’s higher than Russia, Iran, Brazil and China, the next five respective leaders, one of which has a gross population that’s more than triple the number of people living in the U.S.

Screen Shot 2015-10-19 at 3.15.07 PM
Source: World Health Organization

What does the WHO report mean as it relates to drivers in the U.S.? On the surface, it could mean that many of us are simply bad drivers. More likely, it means that driving laws in the U.S.—whether it involves seat belt enforcement, hours-of-service laws, or speed limit restrictions—need to be re-evaluated. The WHO noted in its report that countries that have the most success reducing the number of road traffic deaths have done so through legislation and an emphasis on enforcement.

If you’re like us, that means taking a closer look at lax trucking legislation that could spell problems down the road. Earlier this month, Jay wrote about semi-trucks getting heavier by the ton, and we’ve been keeping watch on a law that may eventually allow 18-year-olds to get behind the wheel of a 40-ton tractor-trailer. Insurance policies are capped at a level that often proves meager for truck crash victims, forcing many of them to battle it out in court for an equitable sum. Here in Illinois, for example, the state increased the maximum speed limit at the beginning of the 2015 for trucks in certain rural parts of the state—from 55mph to 60mph. The question safety advocates were asking: was it really necessary?

The bottom line with regard to all of this is that, yet again, the driving laws in the U.S. need to be looked at with a more critical eye. As mentioned, traffic-related deaths have decreased in comparison to years past: that’s a shred of progress, but it’s still happening too slow. It’s time to start moving a little faster.

Embracing the cliché during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 5, 2015 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Breast Cancer Awareness MonthAround 2004, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. I remember the day she told the family. She’d just come home from the hospital and the look on her face was grim. She didn’t hold back, telling my younger brother and me that the outlook was not good. Though that particular memory stays with me, my most vivid memories during that time aren’t so grim.

My mom—a former dancer for American Ballet Theatre, a teacher and a tireless advocate for young dancers everywhere—was one of the hardest workers I’ve ever known. She was also one of the toughest people I’ve ever known. She battled through radiation treatments, chemotherapy and countless surgeries only to come back stronger and more determined than before. And through it all, she maintained a sense of humor that could sometimes make us forget that she was struggling through chemo at all.

Cancer survivors, and family members of those who have battled cancer, often share similar stories of perseverance and strength. To the outsider who’s never experienced it before, those stories may seem like a big cliché. But as someone who’s seen those things happen firsthand, the cliché is what we treasure the most. Cliché is somehow the thing that spared us from a world turned upside down. And for me, the cliché was doing things like having long talks, dressing up and going to the ballet, or bringing flowers to my mom’s office (not for any special occasion, but because she deserved them). We shared laughs at our favorite Neapolitan pizza joint, where I still visit, though the pizza is never quite as good. And we took time to talk about the future, once I graduated college and such.

In some ways, that’s the blessing of cancer, if there is such a thing. In the few years before she passed, I think I spent more meaningful time understanding her life, her emotions and just how much she loved our family, even though I already knew it. Those are things I remember now, almost ten years later. And it reminds me to take advantage of life as it comes, because, well, you just never know. (Yet another cliché, but it’s true.)

I wish she were still around. I still get the itch to call her cell phone (which I did once, only to find that a baritone-voiced gentleman had been assigned her phone number) and I still have moments when I want to ask her for advice, questions that I can’t really ask anyone else. I miss her most when I share special occasions with my dad, my brother and my better half. She would have enjoyed those occasions.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and as we honor and celebrate the strength of those who continue to persevere through difficult circumstances, I can’t help but think that I could be doing more. We all could. This month, I hope you’ll consider making a donation to the American Cancer Society or any number of cancer-research focused organizations, as I will. There are thousands, if not millions, of people who deserve our love, support and all the good clichés we can spare, from now until the end of time (and yes, I’m aware that’s cliché).

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