It’s Monday. Welcome to a new week. Today is the day for “Monday Ministry.” Did you know that Attorney Dean Burnetti went to seminary before he was called to the legal field? The following is a devotion given to you by Dean…
John 16:16, 20 – “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.” I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy.
Sound familiar? As a child, most of us have the patience to wait for anything, as in, a little more patience than a gnat. When we grow up, we are better. We then have the patience of a larger and older gnat.
But there is good news. We have Christ’s promise. Our grief and sadness will only last for a time. If we will remain patient in all things about our future for what Christ describes as just “a little while”, we will rejoice as, suddenly, our anxiety and grief will turn into wonderful joy.
Today, be patient in the Spirit. It is in that way you will survive the anxiety and grief of life. Claim Jesus’s words, in just “a little while”. That’s not long in the perspective of eternity. And remember, you, as a child of God, are eternal.
Happy Throwback Thursday, friends! Today, our trip to the Wayback takes us to Ellis Island. In fact, we’ll be arriving there on May 18, 1921. As you know, our own Dean Burnetti’s grandfather was a child in 1905 when he came through Ellis Island from Italy. But as we said, we’re headed to 1921.
At the time, Ellis Island processed between 5,000 and 6,000 immigrants each day. Once they disembarked the boat on which they arrived, they were offered access to a baggage room where they could leave their bags as they were processed. Most people declined leaving their few worldly possessions here and chose to carry them instead.
Next, they were sent to the registration room. Here, it was much like the confusion during the Tower of Babel, with thousands of people speaking in different languages and dialects, all wondering what might happen next. This part of the process often took hours.
After registration, the newbies were sent for a medical assessment. Doctors performed a fast cursory evaluation, and if they noticed anything suspicious, they marked the person’s clothing with a stick of chalk which identified them as needing further evaluation.
In May of 1921, a family from Yugoslavia came through Ellis Island, hoping to embrace America. However, it was determined through the physical that they had typhus, so they were sent to the nearby Hoffman Island Hospital. On 18 May 1921, five-year-old Andreas Steinbach died due to this disease.
In case you don’t know it, typhus is deadly and very contagious. In fact, many Nazi concentration camps were infected with murine typhus which rapidly spread in the close quarters. When the poor Steinbach child passed away, Ellis Island officials were rightly alarmed. They didn’t have antibiotics or other methods of fighting diseases of this magnitude back then, so the only thing they knew to do was to close the island. The last thing they wanted was an outbreak in New York City if they released the waiting immigrants with no further word on the matter, so they sent 1,700 people waiting to call themselves Americans to the Hoffman Island Hospital. These poor people had to stay there for 21 days while they were observed for any symptoms of typhus, and while Ellis Island was fumigated.
The island remained quarantined for the duration of these three weeks. Luckily, no one else broke out with the disease, and it was presumed that little Andreas Steinbach’s case was an isolated one. This was the first time since the island was opened in 1892 that a quarantine was necessary.
Wednesday is the day YOU get to “Ask an Attorney.” Just leave your question in the comments below, and if your question is selected, it will be answered on an upcoming Wednesday by one of our attorneys at Dean Burnetti Law.
~*~*~*~*~
Jessica L. from Winter Haven asks, “Last week, on my way to a job interview, I was rear-ended. A police officer actually witnessed the accident and wrote up a report pretty quickly. I got the job and started working the next morning. By the time I got home from working that first day, my neck and upper back really started hurting! The thing is, I can’t afford to take off any time from this new job. They rotate weekdays off, and my rotation doesn’t come around until next month. Plus, by then, I’ll have health insurance through the company. Is there any reason why I shouldn’t wait to see a doctor?”
Hi, Jessica. I’m sorry to hear about your accident and your injuries. Actually, there are several things wrong with your plan. First, you don’t use your health insurance for injuries sustained in a car accident. For car accident injuries, no matter who caused the accident, you use your own (automotive) P.I.P. insurance. Second, in 2013, Florida amended the law regarding P.I.P. (Personal Injury Protection coverage). The amendment states that when accident victims delay seeking medical attention for more than two weeks, the law figures that they couldn’t have been hurt very badly. That’s why the law requires any person injured in an auto accident to get “initial services and care” within 14 days of the date of their accident in order to receive their P.I.P. benefits. “Initial services and care” means medical attention from a “qualified health care provider”, including: Your private family physician or P.C.P., an emergency room doctor, a walk-in clinic doctor, or a licensed dentist or chiropractor. If you do not see a qualifying medical provider within this timeframe, your P.I.P. benefits will be reduced from $10,000 to just $2,500.
Because of this, I would suggest that you go right away to a walk-in clinic or emergency room (since they are open after normal work hours) and at least that way, you’ll qualify to keep your entire $10,000 worth of P.I.P coverage. After that, call around… Many chiropractors stay open late these days to accommodate working people, and many also have Saturday hours. Furthermore, I’d check out an attorney familiar with Florida’s personal injury laws (such as myself) and see what else they may be able to assist you with and what you are entitled to. Explain your work situation, and many (such as my office) will be happy to work with your schedule so they can get the ball rolling for you.
Best wishes!
~Dean Burnetti
[If you have a question for one of our attorneys, please write it in the comments below and be sure to check back soon for a response.]
(The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.)
It’s “Tuesday Newsday,” the day when Dean Burnetti Law brings you news of recalls, legal or political events, other important happenings, or just uplifting stories that make your heart smile…
~*~*~*~*~
Happy Tuesday Newsday, friends! The war in Ukraine is still going, Israel is still under attack, politics are politics, and we’re always on the lookout for a heartwarming story to distract us from the harshness of the news.
Today, our search for uplifting news takes us to Weihai, China.
Visitors of the Shendiaoshan Wild Animal Nature Reserve Zoo recently had an exciting show when a child dropped her shoe in the elephant’s enclosure. The elephant’s name is Shanmai, meaning “mountains”. Shanmai initially thought the shoe was food, but upon realizing it wasn’t, returned the shoe directly to the child’s outstretched hand.
Luckily, onlookers were able to capture the magical moment on video. Shanmai’s keeper was so impressed, she rewarded the playful pachyderm with a watermelon.
It’s Monday. Welcome to a new week. Today is the day for “Monday Ministry.” Did you know that Attorney Dean Burnetti went to seminary before he was called to the legal field? The following is a devotion given to you by Dean…
Psalms 25:8-10 – “The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.”
When thinking about our Christian walk, we often think of a path that is made up of hills and valleys. The mountaintops are great and the valleys can be tough.
But I have found, looking back over the course of my path, that there are just as many curves from side to side that I have traveled as there are ups and downs along the way. I am afraid to say that my curves in the road are often representative of my times when I have gone astray and left God’s proper path.
If you have been on the believers’ path with Christ, you have probably gone astray. If not, you may want to look back and take a good look at the paths behind you.
I have felt remorse and guilt for the times astray in my life. But then I read these verses today and realize God doesn’t see me with anger. He is faithful and focused to show me the proper path. To teach me His way. His love toward me is unfailing. He will never give up on me. What a great Father!
Happy Throwback Thursday, friends! In case you haven’t heard, Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Sunday, May 12th, to be exact. As you know, our Thursdays are usually reserved for Throwbacks, but they’re sometimes used for 13 Things. So, today, we’d like to suggest 13 Things that you can do to celebrate Mom, and which any Mom (or Grandma or Aunt or even the Mother of your own kiddos) will appreciate for years to come.
Handwrite Mom a letter telling her all the reasons you love her and sharing your favorite memories of her. In an age where handwritten cards and letters are becoming a thing of the past, this will be a cherished tangible reminder of how special your mom is to you, and we guarantee, it’s something she will keep forever. (If you have your own family now, bonus if you get each of her grandkids to write their own letters, too!)
Give Mom the gift of family. Sign her up with a year’s membership to Ancestry.com and order her a DNA kit so she can get a jumpstart on learning where her family originated. (Bonus if you take the time to teach her how to actually use the on-line features at the genealogy website.) (Tip: DNA kits are usually on sale right before Mother’s Day!)
Get Mom’s favorite celebrity to greet her. If you’ll Google “Celebrity Greetings,” you’ll find several sites that offer up personalized video greetings by various celebrities. We guarantee this will be a unique gift that she never dreamed of. (Tip: if you use Cameo.com, you’ll be able to download the video and save it to a USB or DVD so that you can actually play it on the TV screen for Mom.)
Sign Mom up for a virtual learning class. Whether Mom’s into gardening, writing, cooking, photography, painting, or even soap-making, there are tons of virtual classes on-line that she can take at her leisure. Many well-known celebrities (chefs, authors, artists, etc.) even offer virtual Master Classes. (Bonus if you offer to take the class with her!)
Create an at-home spa day. Pop in to your local pharmacy and buy a nail file, some nail polish, a mud mask, bubble bath, scented lotion, a couple of candles, and some bath bombs, and you and the kids can brush Mom’s hair, paint her finger and toenails, treat her to a facial, offer her a massage, and let her finish up in the bathroom with a candlelight bubble bath. (Bonus if you play relaxing music in the background for the duration of Spa Day!)
Create a Book of Mom. Start with a blank composition book, then every few pages, write a few paragraphs, almost like short essays. (Your earliest memory, your funniest memory, your most touching memory, etc.) Tell the stories of the first time you recall taking a vacation with your mom, the first time she embarrassed you, the first time you realized she was a hero, the first time she gave you comforting advice, etc. Then fill the pages in between with photos of the two of you or even affix color copies of old drawings or artwork you may have made for her years ago when you were younger. (If you have your own family now, bonus if you get each of her grandkids to write their own “chapters”, too!)
Cook Mom’s favorite restaurant meal and set up her own private restaurant at home. The internet is full of restaurant recipes if you know how to look: Just Google the restaurant name + the name of the food + the words “copycat recipe.” So, for example, if you Googled “Olive Garden Lasagna Classico Copycat Recipe,” you’d get several hits that tell you how to make the yummy meal right at home. (Bonus if you get the kids to draw a menu!)
Create a Mother’s Day herb garden. Have (or help) the kids paint some rocks with different herb names, and pick up some herb plants, potting soil, and mason jars, then plant the herbs in the jars, add the rocks at the base of each to identify what it is.
Sign Mom up for a virtual fitness class (but only if she’s expressed that this is something she really wants – otherwise this could get you into big trouble!). There are numerous fitness classes on-line that Mom can participate in right at home. She can learn anything from yoga, to Pilates, kickboxing, aerobics, dance, etc. (Bonus if you take the class with her!)
Create an art walk. Start by stringing up some twinkle lights and decorating the hallway with the kids’ best paintings and crafts, then let the lights guide Mom outside where the sidewalks have been chalked with Happy Mother’s Day drawings and wishes. (Tip: Be sure to video Mom’s reaction as she strolls down the art walk and takes in each treasured work.)
Ask Mom to entertain you. Moms spend so much time being unsung heroes, they listen to everyone else’s stories, but oftentimes, the kiddos forget to ask Mom about her stories. Create a list of questions to ask Mom (such as how she met Dad, how she interacted with her favorite childhood friends, what was her best childhood birthday, her favorite memory with her own mom, etc.), then actually listen when she responds. (Bonus if you videotape the session and ask her follow-up questions later in the day, month, and year. Double bonus if you make this a new annual tradition.)
Offer to share Mom’s hobby with her – by having her teach it to you. Whether she likes knitting, painting, sewing, gardening, writing, baking, running, photography, or anything else, buy some hobby supplies (enough for both of you) and ask her to teach you some basics of her hobby and explain why it brings her so much pleasure…Then spend a few hours with her attempting to learn from her. (Even if you don’t have any desire to pick up her hobby as your own, the quality time you spend together will be a memory you will both cherish for years to come.)
Find 12 of Mom’s favorite old photos of her kids (as well as her and Dad) and recreate them, then turn the dozen side-by-side then-and-nows into a calendar she can enjoy all year long! These photos are always hilarious and fun, and not only do they allow you to relive old memories, they get you to create news ones! (Bonus if you go to a thrift store and find a lot of the similar outfits and/or background items as are in the old photos!)
Wednesday is the day YOU get to “Ask an Attorney.” Just leave your question in the comments below, and if your question is selected, it will be answered on an upcoming Wednesday by one of our attorneys at Dean Burnetti Law.
~*~*~*~*~
Keri V. from Lakeland asks, “My parents came for a visit last week from South Carolina. They’re in their late 50s, and in great shape. We went to a theme park while they were here. While we were walking around, Dad tripped on a crack in the cement in the midway area. He fell and was so embarrassed that he quickly pushed himself up and got back on his feet by the time two employees ran over to us. They asked if he was alright, and he said he was except for his wrist that had already started swelling. They escorted us to the First Aid station and gave Dad an ice bag and gave all of us a raincheck ticket to come back again for a complimentary visit. Mom took a photo of Dad with the medic (which showed his name tag), and I took photos of the crack in the walkway just in case. Dad started limping after that, but claimed he was fine and just shaken up. Yesterday, my parents flew back home. By the time they got off the plane, Dad’s limp was very pronounced and Mom made him an appointment to see his doctor. This morning, the doctor took x-rays and it turns out that Dad’s wrist has a bad sprain, and his big toe has a fracture which may require surgery! This is really going to affect his job as a mail carrier. Is it too late to do anything about this? Will my parents have to come back to Florida to see an attorney?”
Hi, Keri. I’m so sorry about your father’s injuries. Let me try to address all your questions in order. In Florida, there is now a two-year statute of limitations on injuries caused by such a fall. (I wouldn’t recommend waiting until the last minute of that two years, but I just want you to know that time is not working against you.) As for what can be done about this, this is exactly the type of situation that an experienced personal injury attorney (such as myself) can help your family with. I would start with a letter of representation which would result in the theme park putting me in touch with their insurance adjuster. Then, I’d submit a summary of your father’s injuries, the cost of his medical bills, a copy of his medical records, his doctor’s recommendation for surgery, and proof of any wages he may be losing because of his injuries, and then work to negotiate a settlement. At this point, your parents would not need to come back to Florida, yet, either to hire an attorney or during any pre-litigation phase. Once a case moves to the litigation phase, it often settles before making it all the way to trial. If the case moves to litigation, then it’s possible that your parents might have to come back for a deposition and possibly for mediation (unless the opposing side allowed them to appear via Zoom for these activities). If the case ended up going to trial, they would definitely have to return for the duration of the trial, though the majority of cases settle prior to the need for trial.
Best wishes!
~Dean Burnetti
[If you have a question for one of our attorneys, please write it in the comments below and be sure to check back soon for a response.]
(The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.)
It’s “Tuesday Newsday,” the day when Dean Burnetti Law brings you news of recalls, legal or political events, other important happenings, or just uplifting stories that make your heart smile…
~*~*~*~*~
Happy Tuesday Newsday, friends! The war in Ukraine is still going, Israel is still under attack, politics are politics, and we’re always on the lookout for a heartwarming story to distract us from the harshness of the news.
Today, our search for uplifting news takes us to TikTok. Hannah Hastings had just been through a painful breakup and sat in a hotel restaurant pouring out her heart to her friend. As she sobbed over the next two hours, a waiter kept watching her.
As Hannah and her friend prepared to leave, the waiter asked them to wait a moment. Moments later, he returned with a cake that said, “Things will get better.”
That one moment, that one comforting message from a stranger stirred within Hannah, and she wanted to share how good it made her feel to be the recipient of such a small yet huge gesture from a stranger. Her post prompted similar stories from others:
I was crying alone on the beach and a girl came up to me dropped off some shells by my side and said ‘I don’t know what you’re going through but I collected these pretty shells for you’.
One time I was crying in a cafe because I was so stressed & down with my toxic job at the time… a man came over, bought me a coffee & pastry, told me he has daughters my age & hates seeing me so sad.
One time I cried on the bus and an older woman just sat next to me and held my hand. No words, just squeezed my hand and let me cry.
Crying on the circle line after the worst break-up of my life. An angel reached into her purse, scribbled something on a post it and wrapped it in my hand. ‘The sun always comes up, it’s not dark forever.’
Long story short, in March I was stranded at a hotel in Spain and the receptionist drove me 45 mins to the airport. I think about her every day, such a sweetheart.
I was sobbing on a packed subway train due to maaaaany issues but mostly that my dad was terminally ill. A girl handed me a little piece of notebook paper with “it’s gonna be ok <3′ written on it.
I had an anxiety attack at a crowded shopping center & sat crying by my car in the parking lot. A sweet lady was walking past while leaving & gave me the plant she had just bought.
I’ll never forget sitting in a restaurant with my 2 toddlers visibly struggling emotionally and one lady came over and gave me a hug and said I’m doing great and I just burst into tears right there.
A very nice elderly woman held me while I sobbed on a flight to my grandfather’s funeral from Michigan to Westchester NY. She never said anything and I’ll never forget it. She saw me crying and hugged.
After my mom died, I was at the airport and couldn’t get it together to get my dog checked at the kiosk. And some woman came up to me and hugged me. Told me she wished she could take my pain away.
The cashier at Walmart wrote on my receipt you are loved and worth it. She could just tell.
Today, Hannah is undoubtedly proud that her story served as a powerful reminder that even small acts of kindness to strangers can make a huge impact in their lives. We ask that you go out today with Hannah’s story in mind and uplift another human in need.
Dean Burnetti Law's Blog 