Legal Advice Blog: Legal Advice, Case Insights, & Local Law Information

Hit-and-run crashes are those in which at least one person involved in the crash leaves the scene before offering any information or aid to the other person involved in the crash or fails to report the crash. Hit-and-run crashes impact the physical, social and economic burdens suffered by crash victims and also often increase the severity of the outcome due to the delay in, or complete absence, of necessary medical attention. According to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, in 2015 there were an estimates 737,100 hit-and-run crashes. That number translates into approximately one (1) hit-and-run crash occurring every 43 seconds. Of those 737,100 hit-and-run crashes, 2,049 resulted in death, representing a sixty percent (60%) increase since 2009. The report determined that pedestrians and bicyclists represent the largest portion of hit-and-run victims. Almost twenty percent (20%) of all pedestrian deaths, over the past ten (10) years, were caused by hit-and-run crashes compared to only one percent (1%) of all driver fatalities during that same period. The AAA study identified the following common characteristics in hit-and-run crashes: Nearly sixty-five percent (65%) of people killed in hit-and-run crashes were pedestrians or bicyclists; Hit-and-run deaths in the United States have increased, on average, more than seven percent (7%) each year since 2009; Per capita, New Mexico, Louisiana and Florida have the highest rate of fatal hit-and-run crashes; and Per capita, New Hampshire, Main and Minnesota have the lowest rates of fatal hit-and-run crashes. The study found that victim age appears to be a factor in whether or not a driver flees the scene. Pedestrians under the age of 6 or over the age of 80 are half (1/2) as likely to be victims of a hit-and-run crash. There also appears to be a gender disparity among hit-and-run victims. Males make up approximately seventy percent (70%) of hit-and-run victims in single car/single pedestrian crashes. Maybe not surprisingly, studies have shown that drivers who leave the scene are between two (2) and nine (9) time more likely to have been intoxicated at the time of the crash. Likewise, thirty-four percent (34%) of fatally injured pedestrians had a BAC level over 0.08. It is illegal in every state for a driver involved in a crash to flee the scene. As Jennifer Ryan, Director of State Relations at AAA stated, “It is every driver’s legal and moral responsibility to take necessary precautions to avoid hitting a pedestrian, bicyclist or another vehicle.” Research has shown that not having a valid license, at the time of the crash, is one of the largest predictors of a driver’s decision to leave the scene of a crash. A person injured by a hit-and-run driver may be able to recover for their losses through Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage issued by their insurance carrier. Under your UM coverage, you can recover for bodily injury (also known as pain and suffering) as well as economic losses such as lost wages, losses to personal property, lost future earnings. If you have "no fault" wage loss coverage you can apply for that, which is separate from UM coverage. Also, in Pennsylvania, you will have medical benefits - that will pay for medical bills and treatment up to the limits on your policy - under separate medical coverage. Alternatively, in a situation where there is no insurance coverage available to provide benefits to the injured person, that person may qualify for limited benefits under Pennsylvania’s Assigned Claims Plan. The Assigned Claims Plan is not an insurer under the law, but rather, it is an administrative organization maintained by all insurers that provide financial responsibility, as required by Pennsylvania law. Under the Plan, an eligible claimant (injured person) may recover medical benefits up to a maximum of $5,000. Eligible claimants may also recover for losses or damages suffered as a result of the injury up to $ 15,000 per person and $ 30,000 in the aggregate. However, the amount of medical benefits recovered or recoverable up to $5,000 are set off against that amount. In order to qualify for benefits under the Assigned Claims Plan the claimant must satisfy the specific requirements set forth in 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 1752. If you or someone you love has been injured in a hit-and-run crash, you should speak with a lawyer about making a claim. https://aaafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/18-0058_Hit-and-Run-Brief_FINALv2.pdf

We are told from a young age that exercising enhances or maintains our physical fitness and overall health and wellbeing. Although these words of wisdom are repeated on a daily basis by those in the health and fitness industry, the constant repetitiveness of the saying can fall on deaf ears. However, this principle should not be forgotten, especially for those that engage in travel on a regular basis or have a daily commute. The reason for this being that when motorists are involved in an automobile accident, the most common injury that will be sustained is a whiplash type injury to the neck and back in which the muscles and ligaments are stretched due to sudden movements imposed on the body during the collision. While preventing injury completely may not be possible, motorists may improve their chances of suffering a less serious whiplash type injury by exercising. Specifically, by engaging in strength training, muscles, tendons and ligaments learn to undergo a certain amount of stress before becoming injured. Thus, when one’s muscles, tendons and ligaments are used to dealing with a certain amount of stress, the body will not become as severely injured when faced with such a sudden movement, such as whiplash, as compared to other individuals whose muscles are not trained or prepared to undergo any stress whatsoever. Although this may not always be the case, it is true that being physically fit can improve your chances of suffering from a less significant injury when involved in an automobile accident. Likewise, engaging in exercise after being permitted to do so by your doctor after an accident may help speed one’s recovery time. For example, engaging in stretching exercises is known to keep scar tissue from forming as your body heals. Moreover, engaging in exercise is a great way to help your body deal with inflammation which ultimately may speed your recovery time. In sum, although each accident and injury sustained is unique-it is true that by engaging in exercise on a regular basis you may help your body recover in the long-run if you are involved in an accident at any point thereafter.

Last week, the Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down a state law that capped monetary damages for pain and suffering in personal injury lawsuits at $350,000. The Court ruled that a statute adopted in 2011 which limited non-economic damages in personal injury lawsuits to $350,000 is an unconstitutional special law that treats people who survive injuries differently than those who do not. The state constitution prohibits caps on damages for injuries that cause death, the ruling stated. According to the majority opinion, “by forbidding limits on recovery for injuries resulting in death, the people have left it to juries to determine the amount of compensation for pain and suffering in such cases, and no good reason exists for the Legislature to provide a different rule for the same detriment simply because the victim survives the harm-causing event,” according to the opinion in which five of the court’s nine justices concurred. The underlying lawsuit that prompted the Court’s decision involved a worker whose left arm was amputated at an oil well site when the worker was struck by a boom from a crane in March 2012. An Oklahoma County jury in 2015 awarded the worker and his wife a total of $15 million, including $6 million for pain and suffering. A judge then reduced the jury award on non-economic damages to $700,000 — $350,000 for each of the worker and his wife — in order to comply with the law. This recent decision follows a number of other state high courts, including Georgia and Florida that have rightfully struck down caps on non-economic damages as an unconstitutional violation of all Americans’ right to a trial by jury. The foundation of America’s jurisprudence was built upon the principle that states have the power to establish a constitutional right to a trial by jury in civil cases. Historically, a jury of one’s peers has decided both the question of liability and the question of how much damages to award in tort cases, subject to instructions on the law by a judge. But in the past couple of decades, pro-business, corporate backed legislators have passed laws to arbitrarily cap damages to insulate their corporate constituents from having to pay full and fair compensation for what are often-times the most substantial and life-altering injuries they inflict – not the physical injuries they cause, but the substantial ways in which those injuries change a person’s life forever. State courts are already empowered to reduce excessive verdicts where appropriate in light of the evidence, but caps reduce damages by operation of law, without regard to the specific circumstances of the case. Critics of caps contend that legislatures that pass caps violate the separation of powers by imposing arbitrary damage caps on juries, who function as part of the judicial branch of government. Oklahoma is the latest Court to agree with that sentiment.

It is not unusual for a person to experience some sort of stress reaction, such as: upsetting memories, having trouble sleeping, or feeling on edge after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. Often, a person’s initial reaction to trauma meets the criteria for Acute Stress Disorder (“ASD”) immediately after experiencing a traumatic event. An estimated 13 to 21 percent of survivors of car accidents develop acute stress disorder and between 20 and 50 percent of survivors of assault, rape or mass shootings develop it. However, if the person’s reaction doesn’t go away over time or disrupt a person’s life, that person may have developed Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (“PTSD”). PTSD is a mental condition that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event. ASD is different from PTSD in that symptoms of ASD are restricted to a duration of three (3) days to one (1) month. About half of people with ASD go on to have PTSD. A diagnosis of PTSD is made by using the criteria set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5 th Edition, commonly referred to as the DSM-5. Those criteria are as follows: Criterion A: Stressor (one required) – the person was exposed to death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence, in the following way(s): Direct exposure to traumatic event; Witnessing the traumatic event as it occurred to others; Learning the traumatic event occurred to a relative or close friend; Indirect exposure to aversive details of the trauma, usually in the course of professional duties (e.g., first responders, medics). Criterion B: Intrusion Symptoms (one required) – the traumatic event is persistently re-experienced in the following way(s): Unwanted upsetting memories; Nightmares; Flashbacks; Emotional distress after to exposure to traumatic reminders; Physical reactivity after exposure to traumatic reminders. Criterion C: Avoidance (one required) – avoidance of trauma-related stimuli after the trauma in the following way(s): Trauma-related thoughts or feelings; Trauma-related reminders Criterion D: Negative Alterations in Cognition and Mood (two required) – negative thoughts or feelings that began or worsened after the trauma in the following ways: Inability to recall key features of the trauma; Overly negative thoughts and assumptions about oneself or the world; Exaggerated blame of self or others for causing the trauma; Negative affect; Decreased interest in activities; Feeling isolated; Difficulty experiencing positive affect. Criterion E: Alteration in Arousal and Reactivity (two required) – trauma-related arousal and reactivity that began or worsened after the trauma in the following ways: Irritability or aggression; Risky or aggression; Risky or destructive behavior; Hyper vigilance; Heightened startled reaction; Difficulty concentrating; Difficulty sleeping. Criterion F: Duration (required) – symptoms last for more than one (1) month. Criterion G: Functional Significance (required) – symptoms create distress or functional impairment (e.g, social, occupational). Criterion H: Exclusion (required) – symptoms are not due to medication, substance abuse or other illness. Symptoms of PTSD often begin within the first three (3) months after the traumatic event, although there may be a delay of several months or even years before the criteria for the diagnosis are met. PTSD affects approximately 3.5 percent of U.S. adults, and an estimated one in 11 people will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetime. The duration of PTSD symptoms varies with complete recovery within three (3) months occurring in approximately 50% of adults, while others remain symptomatic for more than twelve (12) months and sometimes for more than fifty (50) years. PTSD is associated with high levels of social, occupational and physical disability, as well as considerable economic costs and high levels of medical utilization. If you or someone you know has experienced a traumatic event and meets the criteria listed above, it is important for them to get the treatment they need. Generally, the earlier a person gets treatment, the better the likely outcome. www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd www.media.eo.va.gov/ptsd/mp4/what_is_ptsd.mp4 National Center for PTSD, www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/what/index.asp DSM-5, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Development and Course, P. 277. DSM-5, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Development and Course, P. 276. www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd DSM-5, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Development and Course, P. 277. DSM-5, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Functional Consequences of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, P. 278.

After eleven years and 21 films of interconnected cinematic storytelling, “we’re in the endgame now.” “Avengers: Endgame” is the 22nd film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. My 7 and 9 (nearly 8 and 10) year old boys and I were among millions around the world that saw this epic film on opening night. The film delivers in its promise of finality after a poignant trip down memory lane for many of the franchise’s most enduring characters. While newer heroes like Ant-Man, Rocket Raccoon, and Captain Marvel have their roles to play, Endgame is squarely focused on the original six Avengers and amounts to a celebration of the saga’s roots. The film takes you on an emotional roller coaster. It begins with a post-apocalyptic atmosphere, where you can truly feel the frustration and anger of those that survived the genocide that the villain Thanos carried out at the end of Avengers: Infinity Wars. My boys, who have grown up on these films (“chest blasting” and throwing make-shift shields at each other), were ready to leave thirty minutes into this three-hour long finale. This exasperating feeling finally gave way to hope – as a plan to fix past mistakes emerged. Of course, our mood was also raised by the comedic relief that Marvel so brilliantly interjects into dire circumstances. The world of “Endgame” is marked by trauma and loss, and the film pulls off the magic trick of both letting the audience live in that loss along-side our heroes while also providing enough levity and comedy to lighten the mood when appropriate. The more MCU that you have seen the more you will appreciate this film, as it commemorates the films that have come before it. Die-hard MCU fans will notice all the small (and the not-so-small) call-outs to previous events. These moments are a reminder of the journey that preceded “Endgame” and an indispensable part of the overall experience. Endgame is an artful tribute to nearly all that came before. The film is highlighted by several touchingly human moments between the characters. There is, of course, a big, bombastic action scene at the film’s climax that goes above and beyond anything we’ve seen before. Well before the end of the film, my boys and I were among many that had cheered out loud in a theater full of enthused fans. The teenagers behind us could no-longer remain quiet and made their excitement known. My 9 year old had to join in. He had the entire theater laughing during the final scene with Thanos when he timely blurted out, “Will you just die already?” The film was thrilling, exhilarating and at times hilarious, but also deeply sad and contemplative. As I have heard more than once leaving the theater after an MCU film, “that was the best movie ever, dad.” “Part of the journey is the end.” And when it comes to Marvel, the end is unpredictable. So go enjoy the journey before someone spoils it for you. Image courtesy of The Wrap.

It’s a fairly common practice in small towns around the country. You’ll see a city employee marking the tires of parked tires with chalk. Then a little later they’ll check again to see if any of the cars have parked too long. Little did you know, there was a constitutional issue lurking in the shadows--does the chalking of a car’s tire constitute an unreasonable search or seizure under the Fourth Amendment? That question was recently addressed by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Taylor v. City of Saginaw, No. 17-2126. The plaintiff received multiple parking tickets from Saginaw, Michigan, a city of roughly 50,000. In April, 2017, the plaintiff sued under 42 U.S.C. §1983, a federal law authorizing recovery of damages when someone acting for a state or local government commits a constitutional violation. The plaintiff alleged that chalking a car tire, without a warrant, amounted to a violation of the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. The lower court found that a search had occurred, but that it was reasonable under all the circumstances. The plaintiff then appealed to the Sixth Circuit. The first issue addressed by the Sixth Circuit was whether “chalking” a car tire amounted to a search for Fourth Amendment purposes. Historically, a search occurs when someone invades an area in which a person has “a…reasonable expectation of privacy.” Recent cases from the Supreme Court, however, have added other requirements--notably, whether the intrusion, however slight, amounts to a common law trespass. With these factors in mind, the court concluded that the chalking process was, indeed, a search. Marking car tires with chalk may be “low tech,” but it is still done for the explicit purpose of determining whether a car owner has violated a parking ordinance. Because the chalk mark intrudes upon privately owned property and serves an investigative purpose for the city, it is a search. The next issue was whether the search was reasonable. Under established law, the owner of a car has a diminished expectation of privacy. Cars are mobile and are generally more accessible to the public. Therefore, even without a warrant, a car can be subject to a search as long as there is probable cause supporting that search. Here, however, no probable cause existed. All cars parked in a given area are chalked and then reexamined at a later time. At the time the chalk mark is made, the city has no reason in the world to suspect that a parking violation has actually occurred. It’s only when the employee sees the chalk mark again on his return trip that probable cause even exists. Therefore, the “car” exception does not support the practice of chalking parked cars. The city also attempted to invoke what is popularly known as the community caretaker exception. When the government is acting to protect the public at large from injury or ongoing harm instead of investigating crimes, Fourth Amendment protections may be relaxed. For example, a car may be searched after being impounded--not for investigative purposes but, instead, as part of a general policy for making an inventory and protecting the public from any potential harm. Here, however, no one disputed the fact that the chalking was done for purposes of enforcing the city’s parking ordinance and not for any kind of public safety. Because the city failed to prove that the community caretaker exception applied, the chalking was both unreasonable and unlawful. The ruling in this case applies in every state covered by the Sixth Circuit--Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. To be honest, I have mixed emotions about the ruling and its impact. I have a bit of a libertarian streak in me. I’m not a fan of any kind of government overreach. But I also have a hard time believing that a harmless, temporary mark on a car tire amounts to a Fourth Amendment violation, especially in light of a long line of cases recognizing that the privacy rights we have in cars are substantially less than in other kinds of property. I also wonder how this ruling will affect Smallville, USA. With the “low tech” option no longer available, cities affected by this ruling will have choices to make that could have budget-busting consequences. Will they be forced to buy parking meters or investigate other new and expensive technologies? The answer for now is unclear. But in the coming days, weeks and months, hard choices will have to be made.

The month of May marks the 1 yr. anniversary of one of my favorite live televised events. The event was the Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle- Now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. I like many people tuned in early that Saturday morning to watch the ceremony. The wedding, like all royal weddings, was nothing short of magical. Although the event was televised a viewed by over 29 million Americans, details about the wedding are tightly sealed. In honor of the Royal couple’s anniversary, I found some fun facts about the wedding and a few things about the Royal Family. Every Royal bride carries myrtle in her wedding bouquet. The myrtle represents love and marriage. The tradition comes from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. They were gifted a myrtle plant from Albert’s grandmother. Ever since then a piece of that plant is placed in the bouquet. Meghan Markle was the first royal bride to have walked down the aisle of her wedding without an escort. Meghan's "something old" was Queen Mary's diamond tiara. Which was lent to Meghan by Queen Elizabeth II. Harry’s wedding band is made from platinum. The royal family has been using Welsh gold since 1923 The ceremony was steeped in tradition, all the while having the touch of their personal style. I’m a huge fan of all the Royal weddings but Harry and Meghan have been my favorite by far. Well at least until the next Royal wedding… Today's blog: Do you follow the lives of the royals? Donneshia tells us her favorite parts of Meghan and Harry's big day last May and even shares a few fun facts about the couple!

A favorite summertime activity for a lot of people is camping. There’s something to be said about spending a few days in the great outdoors and roughing it—but are we really roughing it? We do a lot of camping and I’ll be honest—I don’t see too many people roughing it in tents anymore. Most people who venture to a campground do it with some form of modern camper. Last year we traded in our very large, older fifth wheel trailer for something smaller, since our kids had grown up. We ended up with a 24 ft. travel trailer with many nice features—some nicer than what I have in my house. Our new camper has Bluetooth technology, quartz countertops, flat screen TVs, LED lighting, an outdoor kitchen, etc., etc. All of the modern conveniences a person would need for a weekend of “roughing it” in the woods. Camping can be a fun, inexpensive way to have a mini-vacation, right? Wrong. Depending on where you camp at and what amenities are offered, you can actually pay as much for a campsite per night as you could for a cheap hotel room. Then you factor in such things as fuel to get your camper where you’re staying, propane for the grill, special toilet paper and chemicals for the toilets, insect repellant or citronella candles, picnic supplies, and the list goes on and on, and maybe now you have spent enough to stay in a really nice hotel. There is also a lot of packing to do, and trips back and forth from the house to the camper loading it up with supplies, but I’ve learned to try to keep our camper stocked as if it were a second house. When we decide to go, I basically only have to throw in some food, our clothes, and our dogs of course! Everything else I need should already be in the camper. If you like to camp and ride ATVs, there’s a great campground close to the Wheeling area known as Four Seasons Resort in West Finley, Pennsylvania, with over 35 miles of marked ATV trails. My husband will be pulling the camper, and I’ll be pulling the trailer with the side-by-side in a few weeks for a fun weekend of camping and riding the trails. There is a lot of expense and preparation to camping, but don’t let that keep you from doing it. Who doesn’t like taking a walk in the woods, cooking over an open fire, or sitting back in your camp chair with a relaxing beverage by the campfire at night chatting with friends and maybe roasting a few marshmallows? Camping can be a very fun and relaxing way to get away from it all and take some time off and everyone should try it at least once. I know I’m looking forward to several weekends of camping this summer! http://www.campfourseasonsresort.com/ Image courtesy of Sheila Cottrell.

Last October, we stopped at the port in Roseau, Dominica, during the course of a seven-day Caribbean cruise. Dominica is a tiny island located in a string of islands between Antigua and St. Lucia. Dominica is NOT the Dominican Republic, which is a completely separate island over six hundred miles away. The island of Dominica is nicknamed the "nature island” because of its diverse terrain—mountains, waterfalls, beaches, volcanic remnants, and lush rainforests are only a few of nature’s wonders you may see if you visit Dominica. We visited the island a little over a year after it was devastated by Hurricane Maria. There were many houses and businesses without roofs, or using tarps for roofs, and some buildings were completely uninhabitable. Despite the devastating effects of the hurricane, it was obvious the island was in a state of recovery and the people were very friendly and welcoming. We were the first ship to port for the season, and we were warmly greeted by school children in uniform singing to us and handing out flowers. As with many Caribbean islands, tourism is their number one industry, and the efforts to rebuild and restore Dominica to its pre-hurricane status were evident everywhere. We took a tour of the island and road construction was an obvious priority as we were on newly paved roads which were better than a lot of the roads in West Virginia. As we traveled up into the mountains we drove by a lot of beautiful flowers and fruit that grow wild on the island, and saw the rain forest, a river, and Trafalgar Falls. We ended up stopping at what I would call a little roadside bar, where we had a drink and sampled fresh pineapple, guava and star fruit, which are native to the island. Upon our return to the port, our driver was very concerned that we had a good tour and a good experience with him, and we assured him we had. There was another group interested in a tour and he tracked us down and asked us to give him a good recommendation, which we gladly did. Again, tourism is very, very important to the economy and is the number one industry for many of the Caribbean islands, so the islanders usually strive to please. Although we saw devastation and some poverty, we also saw the strength and resilient spirit of the people of Dominica as they struggled to rebuild their island. It was very eye-opening and heartwarming, and I look forward to going back some day for another visit.

When He entered Jerusalem on the Sunday before Passover, Jesus was welcomed like a celebrity. The streets were filling with well wishers. Many were waving branches and spreading them in front of Jesus and his disciples as they passed through the streets. Shouts of welcome and praise filled the air. But the tone quickly changed as Jesus entered the temple. Seeing the money changers, He overturned their tables and drove them out, accusing them of defaming and defiling the house of God. Throughout the week, He taught in the temple, but he was constantly confronted by the Jewish teachers and leaders. Their efforts to disgrace Him or undermine His authority were futile. Soon they were filled with jealousy and rage. By Thursday, the mood around the Passover table was somber. Then Jesus dropped a bombshell: “One of you will betray me.” The disciples were confused, and they listened in worry and disbelief as Jesus said He would leaving them. When the meal was over, they headed to a nearby garden where Jesus began to pray. Eventually, His prayers were interrupted by torches, swords, and spears as a band of temple guards seized Him and dragged Him before the Jewish high court. In short order, He was condemned to death. And, so, as the sun began to rise on Friday morning, he was presented to the Roman governor, Pilate. The crowd that had shouted “Hosanna!” a few days earlier now shouted “Crucify!” By 9 a.m. he had been tortured, flogged, and taken to the site of his execution--Golgotha, or the “place of the skull.” For six hours, he endured the pain and humiliation of the cross. With the words, “It is finished,” His early life came to an abrupt end. His followers were devastated. His enemies were convinced that He was no longer a threat. But then came Sunday! Early on Sunday morning, a group of women went to the tomb where He was buried. Then an angelic visitor announced the news that would reshape the world for generations to come: “He is not here! He has risen, just as he said!” Out of defeat, God brought a great victory. Out of death, God brought the promise of eternal life through his son, Jesus. I pray that you would know Jesus for yourself, and that you would join me in celebrating all that He did for us on an old, rugged cross 2,000 years ago. Have a blessed Easter! Image courtesy of Unsplash.

As my family has traveled over the years, we have been fortunate enough to take advantage of a couple personal encounters with animals; including sharks and swimming with dolphins. Normally, I don’t think about unique experience like this practically in my own back yard. It may not be swimming with the marine life, but when you have daughters, they can flip over some extraordinary furry creatures. All girls have favorite animals that make them crazy growing up. They seemingly run 50 mph as they shrill just because they spot a t-shirt across the entire store displaying this creature. They have folders and socks and pillows, with these favorites on. It’s just part of our nature as females, I suppose, and my girls have always had a liking and fascination with sloths. I read in the local newspaper that our great Oglebay Good Zoo was offering private family encounters with some of the animals; so, I jumped on the chance for my girls to spend the day with their fury friend, Sweat Pea, the sloth. Honestly, I never really understood the obsession they had with this particular animal until now. It was simply captivating to watch Sweet Pea move ever so eloquently at such a sedating pace. Just as happy as can be as she nonchalantly ate from our hands and seemed to rest in most comical positions. Courtney, our encounter guide, was top-notch. We learned so much about the two-toed sloth, the differences between a two-toed and three-toed. We had all of our questions answered and truly came to appreciate how much of a struggle it is for these beautiful works of wonder out the in the wild. It makes you reflect upon what’s out there in the wild and how it’s battle of survival. Sweet Pea is quite adored at our local zoo and we are o very appreciative that we were able to have this time with her. Thanks, Oglebay Good Zoo for a memorable experience and it comes highly recommended if you have the chance to take advantage of this adventure, it makes for a fabulous fun family day.