Meet Luna: Our Cutest New Team Member

This past week was a full one for us—between travel and casework, it felt like the days just flew by. Travel always has a way of eating into your schedule, even when it’s just a quick trip. The time you spend in transit, coordinating plans, catching up on emails on the go—it adds up fast. So even though the workweek itself was fairly standard in terms of volume, we had to be especially focused with the time we had.

On the case side, we’re still deep in the trenches on some of our larger, more complex cases. These are the ones that take a lot more time, energy, and strategy—and one in particular right now is a wrongful death case. Those are always heavy. There's an emotional weight to them, of course, but legally they tend to be more involved too. While the medical timeline can be simpler since there’s no ongoing treatment, the investigation side is anything but simple. You’re digging into the cause of death, exploring every angle, and then looking at what should’ve been in place to prevent it—safety protocols, industry standards, policy compliance—all of it.

These cases require intense attention to detail and a willingness to fight. And fight we do, because the defense on these cases is almost always more aggressive. The potential damages are higher, and that means they’re going to push back harder and longer. But we’re fortunate—we’ve built a practice with the people, the knowledge, and the tools to go toe-to-toe with those kinds of defense teams. That wasn’t always the case.

Now, we have an in-house nurse who helps us understand the medical aspects of each file. We’ve got a senior litigation attorney with courtroom experience and a proven track record. We’ve got a tech-savvy attorney who’s excellent at digital research and uncovering key facts others might miss. And of course, we have our core team of senior attorneys who bring experience and strategy to every step of the process. I’m able to personally stay involved too, which is something I really value.

Beyond our internal team, one of the most valuable assets we’ve developed over the years is our network. We’ve built strong relationships with other attorneys and legal professionals across the country. That means when we run into a unique or technical issue, we can pick up the phone and talk to someone who specializes in that very thing—or even bring them in. Just recently, we brought in a Section 1984 expert to argue a very specific motion in a federal prison case. They weren’t involved in the whole case—just that single legal point. In another situation, we brought in a workers’ comp expert to handle one motion the defense raised. It’s those connections that really allow us to deliver the best results for our clients.

Another thing we often get asked is why we’re selective when it comes to certain types of cases—especially medical malpractice. The short answer? Cost. These types of cases require expert testimony from the very beginning, and those experts don’t come cheap. It’s not unusual for a medical expert to charge $5,000–$10,000 just to review the records, write a report, or provide a preliminary opinion. And that’s before they even step into a courtroom. So when we take one of those on, it has to be the right fit with the right facts—and we have to be confident we can assemble the right team to push the case forward in a way that makes sense for the client and our firm.

Switching gears a little—on the home front, we had some great moments this week, too. Two big ones, actually.

First off, Sam turned 21! He’s currently a junior at High Point University, and I know many of you have heard me talk about him before. It’s one of those milestone birthdays that everyone remembers—or at least remembers some parts of! He had a great time celebrating. One of his good friends from Peachtree City came up to join him, and his brother was there too. They got to spend the weekend hanging out, catching up, and making some great memories. It was fun hearing all about it afterward.

The second big event? The boys got a new dog! Yep, they brought home an adorable little golden retriever puppy. We’re still finalizing the name, but they’ve landed on Luna—and it’s really starting to stick. Holly picked her up on Wednesday, and then the two of us drove her up to High Point on Thursday to deliver her to the boys. Let me tell you—they were prepared. They had her space set up, toys ready, bowls out, and they were all smiles.

Luna’s already got quite the personality. She’s in full puppy mode—lots of play, lots of naps, and a ton of curiosity. Right now, her favorite thing is sticks. She’ll grab one, trot around with it proudly, and then crash for a nap. It’s that perfect mix of chaos and cuteness.

The boys are doing great with her. They’re taking turns handling the responsibilities—feeding, walks, potty training. Even Sam’s girlfriend, Carly, is helping out. Luna’s settling in well with their cats too, which was a concern at first. But honestly, the cats were more curious than anything, and there was no growling or hissing or anything dramatic. Just a lot of sniffing and side-eye.

They did have one funny moment—they realized there was a sunflower plant in the yard that could upset Luna’s stomach. Every time she went out, she tried to chew on it. So they did their research, found out it could be toxic to her, and ended up digging it up and replanting it outside the fence. That’s responsible dog ownership right there!

And of course, with a golden retriever, there’s hair—lots of it. So they’re already learning how to brush her regularly and vacuum more often than they’re used to. But they’re loving it. You can tell.

So, all in all, a busy but rewarding week—both professionally and personally. These are the kinds of weeks that remind me why we do what we do, and how important it is to have a strong team and a strong family.

And of course, as always—If you're in pain, call Shane!