Maine Injury, Accident, & Disability Law Blog : Maine Personal Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Joe Bornstein Law Firm : Portland Bangor Maine

At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we are proud to give back to the communities to which we are connected.  We wish all of our clients, both past and present, a happy and healthy 2011.

Often referred to as “Prairie Lawyer” due to his modest upbringing, Lincoln worked as an attorney for 25 years before becoming president. During his tenure, Lincoln tried over 5,000 cases, including several in the Illinois Supreme Court and one before the U.S. Supreme Court. Lincoln’s most notable case came in 1858 when he successfully defended his client in a murder trial after citing an almanac as judicial notice. Lincoln argued in accordance to the almanac that the moon was too low on the night of the murder for someone to properly identify the assailant, contradicting the testimony of the witness. Based on his argument, the defendant was acquitted. Lincoln’s work in the now famous Illinois v. Armstrong (1858) was pro bono.

The idea for Law Day initiated in 1957, when American Bar Association President, Charles S. Rhyne, envisioned a special day for celebrating the U.S. legal system. In 1958, his vision became a reality when U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Law Day as “a day of national dedication to the principles of government under law.” In 1968, Congress dedicated May 1st as the official date for celebrating Law Day.

Today, Law Day is celebrated by law firms, businesses, and schools alike. While the day is relatively unknown outside the U.S. and is not a national holiday, it acts as an observance. An observance for what is right and what is fair, and for what is just and what we hold dear: America’s Freedom.

And like Lincoln, who fought for justice while uniting a nation, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein has been fighting for the rights of Maine’s injured and disabled for nearly 35 years. We are proud to celebrate Law Day, and do so with our forefather in mind. 200 years after the birth of the sixteenth president of the United States, we remember the words of Abraham Lincoln:

“As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.”

For more information on Law Day, please visit: http://www.abanet.org/publiced/lawday/2009/home.shtml.
 

• Always swim with a buddy, and preferably under the supervision of a lifeguard. Never venture into a pool, lake, or the ocean by yourself.
• Always read and obey posted swimming signs.  They are there for your safety.
• Never leave a child alone in or near the water.  Be attentive while watching, as tragedy can strike quick, and always be prepared to help if the situation calls for it.   
• According to the Today Show, parents are advised to stay within an arm's reach of children.
• If your child uses air-filled or foam toys, be aware that these are toys and NOT safety devices. If a child is wearing water wings you must still supervise them, as these often provide unstable bouyancy.
• Do not dive into shallow or unknown waters, as serious neck and back injuries may occur.
• Be aware of the local weather. It's best to stop swimming at the first sign of bad weather, and never swim in a thunderstorm.
• Avoid swimming immediately after eating.  It's best to let your food digest so you can avoided getting cramps, which hamper your ability to swim and maneuver in the water.
• Don’t drink and swim.  Alcohol impairs your judgment and should be avoided if you are going to spend time in and around the water.
• Watch for dangerous rip currents in the ocean. The water may turn unusually calm, but it's powerful current can pull even the strongest of swimmers out to sea.  The majority of beach drownings and lifeguard rescues are due to strong rip currents, where swimmers become exhausted from trying to fight the current and swim to shore.  If you are caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore until you are free of the current, where you can catch your breath and swim safely to shore.
• And most importantly, get certified in CPR - it save lives.  Contact an American Red Cross near you to learn more.  

There’s nothing like a hot summer day spent splashing around in the water. At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we want to be sure all of your summer swims are happy, refreshing, and safe.

Now everyone into the water!  After all, it is summer in Maine!