Usually, our posts at The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC focus on Ohio workers’ compensation, workplace safety, or something happening in our community.

But National Pastor’s Spouse Day gives Kurt an opportunity to write about a role he knows personally.  He is one. 

Kurt is the husband of Rev. Cheri Holdridge , a United Methodist minister whose ministry has included service at Christ Church United Methodist Church in Findlay, Central United Methodist Church in Toledo, and The Village Church in Toledo, a congregation affiliated with both the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church.

They were married this week and being married to a minister has taught him a few things. First, there really isn't such a thing as a completely predictable weekend.  Pastors are there for people during some of the most important moments of their lives. They celebrate baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and new beginnings. They also sit beside families in hospitals, walk with them through illness and loss, officiate funerals, counsel people through difficult times, and answer the phone when somebody needs help.

Much of that work happens when everyone else has gone home for the day.  And somewhere in the background is often a spouse and family learning that dinner plans can change, days off aren't always days off, and sometimes the answer to "What time will you be home?" is simply, "We'll see."

Of course, a pastor's spouse isn't an assistant pastor simply because of whom they married. They have their own careers, responsibilities, interests, and lives. In Kurt's case, his day job of representing Ohio's injured workers has kept him plenty busy for more than three decades.

But being married to Cheri has also given him a front-row seat to the dedication required of clergy and their families. Kurt has been what a 21st Century Pastor’s spouse has to be.  He helped found the tech teams at Christ Church, Central and the Village, using a shoestring budget to bring those churches into the 20th and 21st Centuries in Worship.

Kurt has been general counsel for all three of them, helping handle all manner of legal issues.  He has also served as a member of the Administrative Board or Leadership Team of all of them.  He has served as the Marketing Director of all of them.  He has served on the worship team of all of them.  He has had the privilege of working as a youth leader and a spiritual growth study group leader.  

And yes he’s had the fun of playing for their softball and volleyball teams, riding in their cycling group, and help run fantasy football leagues. 

And then there are the exciting opportunities to act like a goofy or serious supporter of the church and it’s members.  Kurt has had the chance to wear bunny ears on the floor of the United Church of Christ’s general synod, addressed the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church about the church’s ministries, run booths at community events, handing out candy at Toledo’s First Zombie Crawl, and as they were all welcoming and affirming churches march in the Toledo Pride Parade.   

Almost thirty years of being Cheri’s spouse has shown him how much work happens outside of Sunday morning, and how much pastors carry home with them because caring for people doesn't always fit neatly into office hours.

There are also plenty of wonderful moments: becoming part of different church families, watching people come together to help a neighbor, seeing communities respond when someone is struggling, standing up for people who can’t stand up for themselves, and meeting some pretty remarkable people along the way.

Those experiences have something in common with the work we do at The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC. When people are injured, frightened, or facing uncertainty, having someone willing to stand beside them matters.

So, on National Pastor’s Spouse Day Sunday, September 6th , we recognize all the husbands and wives who share in the unusual rhythms, unexpected interruptions, joys, challenges, and privileges that come with loving someone called to ministry.

Kurt can speak from experience:  It's not always an ordinary life, but it certainly isn't a boring one.

And to Cheri, thank you for your years of ministry, your commitment to the people and communities you've served, and for occasionally understanding when a workers' compensation hearing creates its own change of plans.

Happy National Pastor’s Spouse Day from The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC!

#NationalPastorsSpouseDay #PastorsSpouse #ClergyFamily #UnitedMethodist #UMC #CommunityService #FaithInOurCommunity #ToledoOhio #FindlayOhio #NorthwestOhio #OhioWorkers #OhioWorkersComp #WorkersCompensation #LawOfficesOfKurtMYoung

August 26 is National Dog Day, and while we usually use this space to talk about Ohio workers' compensation, workplace safety, and the rights of injured workers, today we're talking about another subject near and dear to our hearts:

Dogs. Lots of dogs.

National Dog Day celebrates dogs of every size, shape, breed, and background. It also calls attention to the many wonderful dogs waiting in shelters and rescue organizations for someone to give them a second chance and a forever home.

Including ones like our neighbors a block south of us at Lucas County Canine Control - https://lucascountydogs.com/  and another amazing one in Grover Hill, Ohio about an hour west of Toledo - https://www.facebook.com/p/JAR-Justice-Animal-Rescue-100068849960103/

That part of National Dog Day has special meaning around The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC, because every single dog in our extended office family for the last 22 years is a rescue.

Meet the crew:

🐶 Chico — Pitbull Mix

🐶 Molly — Cocker Mix

🐶 Abbey — Lab Mix

🐶 Ellie — Staffordshire Mix

🐶 Lucy — Pug Tzu

🐶 Shadow — Cocker Mix

🐶 Maisie — Chihuahua Mix

🐶 Ruby — Cavalier King Charles

That's eight rescue dogs.

In fact, we have more dogs than employees at our office.

We're not entirely certain what that says about us, but we're pretty sure the dogs consider themselves upper management.

And although none of them has passed the Ohio Bar Exam, their individual qualifications are impressive. They specialize in food acquisition, unauthorized naps, neighborhood surveillance, squirrel litigation, welcoming committees, and determining precisely when someone has opened the refrigerator from three rooms away.

And Ellie is maybe the most impressive.  She was adopted by Kurt’s daughter Rebecca as the pandemic hit.  Ellie was certified as an emotional support animal (ESA) and lived with Rebecca who was working as a Residence Assistant (RA) at the Ohio State University Ellie was so beloved by the dorm’s residents and staff during the pandemic she was made an honorary member of their staff and when Becca earned her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Public Affairs, Ellie was handed unofficial ones in Puplickal Science and Puplick Affairs.

No matter how long or short they were with us, each of them is a reminder of why animal rescue matters.

Every year, shelters and rescue organizations care for dogs that have been lost, abandoned, surrendered, or simply need another chance. Adopting a rescue doesn't just bring a dog into your home, it gives that animal the opportunity to become part of a family.

Our eight certainly have.

Dogs also remind us about some pretty important things: loyalty, companionship, forgiveness, enjoying the little things, and always being happy to see the people you love.

So, on National Dog Day, we're celebrating Chico, Molly, Abbey, Ellie, Lucy, Shadow, Maisie, and Ruby—eight rescues who found their forever homes and became part of our extended office family.

And if you're thinking about adding a dog to yours, consider visiting a local shelter or rescue organization including the two above. There may be a future best friend waiting there for you.

From all the humans—and the considerably more numerous dogs—at The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC:

🐾 Happy National Dog Day! 🐾

Rescue. Adopt. Love. Repeat.



#NationalDogDay #RescueDogs #AdoptDontShop #RescueDog #DogsOfTheOffice #OfficeDogs #DogLovers #OhioDogs #AnimalRescue #SupportAnimalRescue #OhioWorkers #OhioWorkersComp #WorkersCompensation #Community #LawOfficesOfKurtMYoungo start customizing

Every year on August 11, we celebrate National Presidential Joke Day, a day recognizing the lighter side of the men (and someday, perhaps women) who have served as President of the United States.

One thing that has united presidents throughout American history regardless of political party is the ability to laugh, especially at themselves.

Why August 11th you ask.  Well on August 11, 1984 President Ronald Reagan was getting ready to do his weekly Saturday evening radio broadcast.  During a routine microphone soundcheck, he jokingly announced: "My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes."

Thankfully tensions went away and Reagan and his Soviet counterpart were able to laugh about it.  So it was decided that this was a good a day as any to remember our Presidents have had a good sense of humor about themselves, even ones that were relatively uptight personally.  

Richard Nixon went on the comed/variety show Laugh In and did their catchphrase at the time that celebrities would come on to say, “sock it to me?”

Gerald Ford was mercilessly mocked for his clumsiness, despite playing football for a certain Big Ten school. 

I will never forget watching a show about Presidential Humor at his Presidential Library that he hosted.  They had some great one liner jokes from famous comedians like Bob Hope - “My favorite Gold Foreseome is, President Ford, a paramedic and a faith healer” to having Chevy Chase who handle the Saturday Night Live skits of him come out as him to welcome people.  

Jimmy Carter, on the David Letterman show years after office told a great story about giving a talk to a group who spoke Japanese and he got great laughs for his joke.  He found out later that the interpreter told the crowd  "President Carter told a funny story. Everyone must laugh." 

Ronald Reagan, besides his gaffe with the mic check loved to make sure of himself, one of my favorites "I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency—even if I'm in a Cabinet meeting."

George H.W. Bush and his son George W. Bush both had comedian impersonators of them host events for their teams.  

Bill Clinton, for his last White House Correspondents Dinner, was part of a video tribute to one of the retiring correspondents making fun of him now being a lame duck and her running into him in the press room and saying “what, you’re still here?”

Barack Obama, having seen Key & Peeles skits about him needing an anger translator, Obama speaking calm and rational, but his anger translator Luther would say what he really thought about those trying to get a rise out of him, had Jordan Peele come and be Luther for him at the dinner.  

Joe Biden as Vice President did a cameo on Parks and Recreation and also during his last White House Corespondents Dinner he joked that  "Of course, the New York Times issued a statement calling my speech 'a nostalgic look back at the Garfield administration.'"

And while Kurt has never serve in that high an office, in 2017 he was serving on Toledo Council and was invited to a candidate talent show and joked about his recent showing in a primary and then said “Someone asked me what made me think that a geeky, balding, overweight guy had a future in Toledo Politics. I told that that was easy, one word Wade (Mayor of Toledo)

Those in positions of power and service should have a sense of humor about themselves and the job.

Here at The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC, we know there are times when life gets serious. Workplace injuries, medical treatment, hearings, and legal paperwork can all create stress for injured workers and their families.

That's why we also appreciate opportunities like today to smile a little.

In fact Kurt loves to collect lawyer jokes, for instance his spin on a classic: 

What is the difference between a good lawyer and a great lawyer? A good lawyer knows the law, a great lawyer knows the judge, the best lawyer knows what the judge thinks the law is.

We deal with clients in some of the darkest, worst times of their lives.  So we take all we do seriously, but there are times that a smile is the best way to get through the day.

Happy National Presidential Joke Day from all of us at The Law Offices of Kurt M. Young, LLC!

#NationalPresidentialJokeDay #PresidentialHumor #History #OhioWorkersComp #WorkersCompensation #OhioLaw #LawyerHumor #LegalHumor #OhioWorkers #Community #Smile #HaveALaugh #LawOfficesOfKurtMYoung

I just wanted to make this clear that this is Kurt, no one else who works here or ever has is responsible for what we say in this blog post.  All repercussions should be placed squarely on me. 

When I was growing up, I only got into any real trouble in schools for one thing, stopping bullies myself.  From about age 8 on, I was bigger than most kids in size, both weight and height.  I didn’t keep growing and am a little taller than average, but I was not a small frail kid.  I had been.  And I couldn’t see someone strong picking on someone weaker without doing something. 

I would stop it, and maybe even push or punch back. I know I shouldn’t have done the latter, but I wasn’t going to let them get away with it.  Now if there was an adult nearby, I might have gotten them involved, but school bullies are usually smart enough to not do that. 

Well, it’s obvious based upon the areas of law I have ever practiced in, that I am still doing that.  I regularly face large, multinational companies, with huge internal and external legal departments and law firms.  And the same is true for government bureaucracies. 

At the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC), the Claims Service Specialists (CSS) are the ones who handle the day-to-day operations of claims.  They are organized into teams with a team leader supervising them.  And for the most part, while they have marching orders to not be so helpful, most of them are at least human, but there are exceptions.  And my parents taught me to start with respect and kindness until it’s painfully obvious that won’t work.  So, I start with please & thank you’s and assuming I don’t know better until they show me I do.

So, several years ago, I had a team leader there bring her daughter to me as a client.  She told her daughter in front of me at the initial appointment, you are here because there are two Kurts.  Grizzly Bear Kurt and Teddy bear Kurt.  Teddy Bear Kurt has sent emails and letters to me and those above me at BWC praising my team members when he feels they are doing their job well for Kurt’s clients.  And then there is Grizzly bear Kurt who will call up the Governor and scream at them.  It was really the Chief of Staff as I had been interviewed by them twice for a position that advocates for workers in dealing with the BWC. And she is right. 

BWC has tens of billions of dollars in assets and an army of good lawyers in house and at the State Attorney General’s office.  And we also must fight large, very well-funded for profit companies with millions or billions in assets and a huge army of lawyers on their side.  And yes, we are talking about big ones like Stellantis (Chrysler/Jeep), General Motors, Amazon, etc.  who can and have taken our clients causes up to the Ohio Supreme Court.

Well, a large national corporation is coming into Ohio and being a bully, and many of us are standing up to them.  That is Texas based, cultural phenomenon, gas and convenience store giant Buc-ee’s.  For 40 years they have been a huge employer, creating many jobs and providing goods and services people need and love. 

And if you have a brand name, trademark or other intellectual property you have to defend it.  If a company doesn’t fight attempts to use them, they literally can lose them.  For example, Band Aid was a trademarked name for bandages. But the owner let too many people get away with using it in similar products.  And they now can’t defend that name.  Anyone can use it. 

But Buc-ee’s has gone to a new set of extremes.  Recently John Oliver’s funny current events and comedy show “This Week Tonight” did a segment about just how far the chain has gone.  They use a trademarked logo of a grinning cartoon beaver, facing sideways, wearing a baseball cap.  It has a particular color scheme and look.  And it has every right to protect that.  It is ironic that according to the research Oliver’s show did that Buc-ee’s CEO based that iconic Beaver on a commercial cartoon one from his childhood that he didn’t have the rights to.  But they have spent millions of dollars creating and spreading their brand in ads, merchandise, etc.

But they have become notorious for suing small businesses with claims that are frivolous claiming infringement on their trademark.  Any business that dares to use a beaver; other animals including alligators, koalas, and moose, with or without ballcaps, facing the same way or directly at the viewer.  They have claimed the color scheme, the idea of a logo with a border, the way the name is pronounced being similar, etc. have entitled them to make the company change their logo or pay huge penalties. 

Now if a chain like them, started using a logo that was a spot on representation of theirs, they would have a good point, but they have gone after small businesses selling underwear, restaurants, local carry outs, etc.  And Oliver and his team threw down the gauntlet. They took a character they already had used in other segments on frivolous lawsuits, and created a logo with “Buc off” on it, selling merchandise of all kinds with that logo, the proceeds are going to a anti-hunger non-profit. 

Well, that fight has come to Ohio.  Buc-ee’s has opened their first Ohio location and they filed earlier this year against am independent gas station that uses a Moose named Mickey and then a local, Beavercreek Ohio store.  The gas station does not use a Beaver.  The local store uses a Beaver who looks nothing like Buc-ee’s and again the name of the city is Beavercreek, population 46,549 and just East of Dayton. 

Well, the businesses of Beavercreek have rallied around Beaver’s Mini Mart.  They have generated their own Beaver mascot logos, nothing like Buc-ee.  They are selling items they make with a cut to the legal defense fund for the store.  And even a local Dayton law firm, a friendly competitor, has done the same. 

Well, I have no connection to a beaver, but I did go to an undergraduate school with a kangaroo as a logo, and they are tough creatures in the wild, and one of my nicknames as a child, thanks to my first name and the first initial was Kurty as in Kurt Young.  And since I can’t stand a bully, we are joining in with this blog post.  Take a look at our new logo and graphic for this post.  As John Oliver did, many of us are poking the bear err beaver. 

I was really looking forward to their brisket and other Texas and southern delicacies, and we can all use some lower gas prices these days.  But if they want to come after every Ohio business using an animal logo, wearing a baseball cap, in the words of John Oliver –“ you know what? Bring it the f— on,”. 

We spend our days out resourced, out gunned, and with a legal system where for the last forty years the people who care about corporate profits over people have controlled the Ohio Supreme Court, the Ohio Senate, the Ohio House, the Governor’s mansion, and therefore the heads of the Ohio BWC and Industrial Commission, and we say every day is bring it on. We won’t let them beat up on our clients and their doctors without giving them a fight to the end. And the same goes to large corporations with billions in profits.