Why I Like the Fist Bump.

07/09/2013 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

A Fist Bump is a hand gesture similar in meaning to a handshake or high-five, used as a greeting or in a celebratory fashion.

“The gesture is performed when two participants each form a closed fist with one hand and then lightly tap the front of their fists together. The participant’s fists may be either vertically oriented (perpendicular to the ground) or horizontally oriented.” Wikipedia

The history of the fist bump is as great as the gesture itself! One origin has the fist bump being “invented” by Stan Musial, a.k.a. “Stan the Man”, the greatest St. Louis Cardinal to ever don a baseball jersey. There are other theories, but I like this one.

Recently I suffered a minor cut to my hand while doing some home maintenance. This injury, while minor, just so happened to be in a place prone to being squeezed in a hand shake. It aggravated the injury, and me, upon a handshake. I thought to myself, “How can I show a greeting or celebration in a manner similar to a handshake or a high-five? Aha, the fist bump!”

In my opinion the fist bump is here to stay, for the following reasons;

safer than a handshake or high-five
more hygienic
looks cooler
able to do with either hand
more efficient
invented by Stan Musial

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney in Mississippi and had an epiphany regarding fist bumps after a recent minor injury due to routine home maintenance. Matthew recommends that the fist bump be more commonly used and to wear gloves when doing routine home maintenance.

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You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms.

Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce, General Legal, Modifications, Visitation

Riding the Wave – “Coping” with Family, Law and Family Law

07/08/2013 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

One of the best pieces of advice is to “ride the wave.” In family law, such as life, adversity is a given. How you respond is the key.

How you choose to deal with that adversity will directly contribute to the results you get. Oftentimes it is a common reaction to fight fire with fire, and we all know the eye for an eye sentiment, but that may not be the best response. I have previously blogged on dealing with stress and uncertainty. This one is a little different. It is not so much how to cope, but to try to use the adversity to your advantage.

A great example was when I was faced with a young father being sued for an increase in child support. He had experienced an increase in income and was really starting to enjoy life. The ex sued him and he viewed this as ‘just his luck.’ I explained that she may be entitled to a child support increase, that he was paying a very low amount from a previous order, that some time had passed since last being in Court and that an increase was due. As I discussed his situation he disclosed some frustration with the visitation schedule. How his new job, while paying well made the current schedule difficult to work and the ex was not too easy to get along with. I told him that since we are “going to court” that we should seek a visitation modification. He did not want to make things worse. I told him it would not. Ultimately, an increase in support was negotiated along with a visitation schedule change that allowed him more time.

He rode the wave, sure it cost more money, but that is what the law requires once you subject yourself to the Court system. He used the adversity to get a better result.

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You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms.

Bow Tie, General Legal, Opinion

Thompson named Adjunct Professor at Mississippi College School of Law.

07/05/2013 BowTieLawyer 2 Comments

Matthew Thompson, founder of Thompson Law Firm, pllc, has accepted a position as an Adjunct Professor at Mississippi College School of Law. He will be teaching Domestic Relations, a 3-hour course, to rising 2L and 3L law students. Thompson has been in the private practice of law for the past 8 years, with an emphasis on Domestic Relations.

“I was honored to be asked by the law school and am excited to be teaching the family law class.” – Matthew Thompson

Thompson will continue to operate Thompson Law Firm, pllc.

Matthew currently serves on the Board of Directors for Mississippi Legal Services Corporation and the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project. Matthew is President of the Madison County Bar Association, Chairman of the Legal Committee in his neighborhood owner’s association, U5/6 Soccer Commissioner with the South Madison County Soccer Organization, Coach of the Thompson Law Firm FireAnts and BlueBirds soccer and t-ball teams, and serves on the Madison County Community Advisory Group.

You may contact Matthew at (601)850-8000 or Matthew@BowTieLawyer.ms

Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer Visit the website: Thompson Law Firm

You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms.

Bow Tie, General Legal, Opinion

Happy 4th of July

07/04/2013 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

Today, most Americans will be celebrating this country’s independence. The 4th of July is commemorated as the day that the Declaration of Independence was adopted. Within this Declaration is the profound statement, the foundation of U.S. existence;

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Happy 4th and don’t stop guarding your inalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness!

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law attorney and if you are seeking Independence from your current spouse or are seeking liberty and the pursuit of happiness, call me. I may be able to help.

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You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms.

Crime, General Legal, Opinion

Is Mississippi Open Carry?

07/01/2013 BowTieLawyer 2 Comments

The question above has been asked, searched, googled and pondered more than any other gun law query in recent months.

: MS Gun Law Roller Coaster

Mississippi was set to be an “Open Carry” state, joining about 30 other States, effective July 1. I say “was” because there is some doubt right now. The Mississippi legislature passed House Bill 2 set to “kick-in” July 1, which was signed by the Governor, making it law. However, a Hinds County Circuit Judge said not so fast. Judge Winston Kidd held that the new law was vague, issued an injunction – which is a temporary hold – and set a hearing for July 8. This came about based upon a motion of the Hinds County District Attorney, Robert Schuler Smith.

The gist of the issue is that House Bill 2 redefined a concealed firearm. It removed from the definition of concealed a pistol in its holster that is wholly or partially visible. This change was common sense. HB 2 also deleted the statement ‘that nothing herein may be used to authorize open carry…‘ This language being deleted was significant in that this law now could be construed to allow open carry at least to the extent that it no longer prohibited open carry.

It is also interesting to note that the legislators that voted in favor of this law that are now saying they did not understand it, were actually provided with the old law with the proposed changes added in bold and the removed language with a line through it, so that you could still read what was being removed. Not understanding is an excuse.

A senator that voted in favor of the change and then came out publicly against it stated, “the interpretation is that by putting that change in the law you allow open carry, and we don’t believe that the constitution provides for open carry,” –John Horhn.

Decide for yourself. The Mississippi Constitution holds, in part;

The right of every citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person, or property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall not be called in question, but the legislature may regulate or forbid carrying concealed weapons. Art. III, § 12 (enacted 1890, art. 3, § 12).

Open carry is not prohibited by the MS constitution in any fashion. The arguments that MS will turn into the “wild west” are overstated and speculative at best. The places that are posting “No Firearms” signs, I think, will regret it, as only the law-abiding folks will pay that any heed.

Ultimately, I predict the injunction will be dissolved and life will go on- with Open Carry.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law attorney and implores you to not Open Carry just yet, and when you do upon the law being upheld, to Carry responsibly.

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You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms.

General Legal, Opinion

Congrats, Bulldogs!

06/26/2013 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Mississippi State jut concluded the best season in the history of MSU sports.

The baseball team finished second in the country in the College World Series. The players made the Bulldog nation proud during their time in the spotlight (with perhaps, the only possible exception being the guy with his jersey over halfway unbuttoned, bare-chested).

It is not often that a Mississippi team is playing for a national championship and for that, We Salute you! Job well done. We’re proud of you and we’ll get them next year.

#HailState

Matthew Thompson

MSU 1997-2001, intramural softball – starting pitcher.

Child Custody, Divorce, General Legal, Irreconcilable differences, Modifications, Opinion, Property Division, Visitation

Why is my Court Hearing Somewhere Else?

06/24/2013 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

Mississippi has 20 Chancery Court Districts and 49 Chancery Court Judges, but Mississippi has 82 counties. Most Chancery Court Districts, therefore, include more than one county.

You file your case in your home county’s Chancery Clerk’s Office, most often. This is the appropriate “jurisdiction.” One District has a first and second judicial district, being Hinds County. Most districts, however, include more than one County. In that instance you still file in your home county, but you may well see the judge, have Court, and otherwise be in another County for your case.

I have been asked and have heard litigants try to use this as an advantage. Perhaps not having to testify at home, making witnesses have to drive, or having Court somewhere else will lead to a better result. It doesn’t. It is the same Judge, the same facts and in most instance just 30-45 minutes this way or that way from the other Courthouse.

One thing to remember when having litigation in multiple counties is to be mindful where the Court file is. It is the lawyer’s job to see that the Court file makes it to Court. I have seen time and again someone forget the Court file and the Judge be unwilling to take action until it can be retrieved or recessed until another day when it can be obtained.

I was involved in a 10th District case, commonly thought of as Hattiesburg, but had actual Court hearings in 5 different counties throughout the pendency of the case. In no particular order, we had a trial and motion hearings in 1) Forrest County, Hattiesburg; 2) Lamar County, Purvis; 3) Marion County; Columbia, a temporary hearing in 4) Pearl River County, Poplarville, and a motion for New Trial in 5) Perry County, New Augusta. Each hearing had the same judge, attorneys and parties, but were in so many different places because that is where the Judge was the days we had court appearances.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law attorney, with a statewide practice, and recommends you hire a lawyer either in the area of where your case is or a lawyer who practices in that area.

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You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms.

Divorce

When NOT to call 911 in your Family Law Matter (Video)

Video 06/21/2013 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

On the heels of the #1 blog post of the week comes the video in support thereof. Notice the multi-talented attorney tie the bow tie as he describes when not to call 911.

http://blog.bowtielawyer.ms/2013/06/17/when-not-to-call-the-police-in-your-family-law-matter/