Page 24 July 2013 compensatory damages. This amount was reduced to $160,000 as the jury found Stella 20 percent at fault for the incident. The jury then awarded $2.7 million in punitive damages for the company’s ongoing failure to correct their policies. The jury awarded this specifi c number because it represented two days’ worth of McDonald’s coffee revenues. Following the trial, the judge reduced the punitive damages to $480,000, three times the compensatory award. After Stella’s counsel appealed, the parties eventually reached a confi dential settlement. People love to play juror, and there is a natural inclination to view some cases resulting in large awards brought by plaintiffs as “frivolous” by people “out to make an easy buck.” Still, this decision serves as an important reminder that one must hear all the facts presented during trial before jumping to conclusions. Jonathan Hasebe is an associate at Gallagher & Kennedy, P.A. For more information visit www.gk net.com. Coffee Continued from page 20 arcadiadaily.com Monsoon season means taking special precautions Submitted by AAA From high winds and heavy rain to lightning and fl ash fl oods, monsoons deliver some of the most hazardous weather Arizonans experience all year. “Because of the rapid nature of a monsoon, it’s imperative that homeowners and motorists are prepared regardless of where they are when a storms strikes,” said Brad Oltmans, vice president of insurance for AAA Arizona. To help Arizonans prepare for Monsoon 2013, AAA offers the following tips to protect your home, prepare your car and to stay safe on the road: At home, consumers should: Review your homeowner’s policy to ensure your home is protected against monsoon damage. Standard home insurance policies do not have fl ood coverage. Nationwide, 30 percent of fl ood insurance claims each year are fi led by people who don’t live in high-risk zones, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Secure outdoor furniture, fi xtures and garbage cans. Even in weak storms, these can easily be blown over, causing damage to the object, your home or people. Stake and prune trees . Drive wooden stakes at least two feet into the ground and secure young trees to them. For larger, more mature trees, trim down heavy or dead branches. These branches can damage your house by striking it in the wind or falling on it. Prepare for electrical surges and outages. Protect sensitive electronics, such as computers, gaming systems or televisions by plugging them into surge protectors. Also, keep fl ashlights and fresh batteries on hand. On your car, drivers should inspect: Windshield wipers . Direct exposure to the sun coupled with Arizona’s dry heat can cause wipers to crack and fall off. Head and brake lights . Bad weather creates poor visibility making it diffi cult to see other drivers, and diffi cult for other drivers to see you. Brakes . Faulty brakes can lengthen your stopping distance, so ensure your brakes are in proper working order so you can stop safely. Tire tread . As tread wears, tires lose their ability to grip a wet surface. To ensure you have adequate tread, place a quarter head fi rst into the grooves of your tire. If you can see any space above Washington’s head, it’s time to replace the tire. Insurance policy . Motorists generally need a comprehensive policy to be protected against storm damage. Continued on page 28 Tino Ferrulli 602-745-5710 teamtino@phoenixmb.com Visit us at www.TeamTino.net Phoenix Motor Company 225 West Indian School Road • Phoenix, AZ 85013 2012 GLK350 Loaner Vehicle Sale The 2012 GLK is comprised of nearly 1,000 redesigned and reengineered components. Yet one can still recognize the flawless craftsmanship and dedication to detail that is the hallmark of Mercedes-Benz. We have 10 GLK350 loaner vehicles that are all Certified Pre-Owned with a 100,000-mile warranty and rates starting at 1.99%. Its bold exterior styling and dramatically redesigned interior plus the innovative safety features, make this a quality investment. Visit me for a test drive today. eclectic uniqu vintage F A S H I O N A B L E P H I L A N T H R O P Y Thank you for supporting Ozzie’s Furnishings as we celebrate our 6th anniversary serving the community! All of your donations and purchases support St. Vincent de Paul’s services for the homeless and working-poor in Arizona. TREASURED 3927 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix AZ, 85018 | Open Monday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm Susan & John Vanyo Vanyo Insurance Group www.VANYOINSURANCE.com P: 480.998.4014 F: 480.998.3690 8040 E Morgan Trail • Suite 5A Scottsdale • 85258 Representing All Lines of Personal & Commercial Insurance With A-Rated Companies Independent Insurance Agent

Page 25 July 2013 physical therapy and speech therapy programs while teaching some basic sign language to the children. “I loved taking pictures of babies and children from a very young age,” Imbornoni said. Once her youngest child was 3, she turned her passion into a career. Her children are now in college and she has plenty of time to devote to her Arcadia- based business. She said she particularly wants to grow her special-needs client base, including blind people, individuals with terminal illnesses like cancer and preemies in the NICU. “I feel very, very blessed to do what I do whether the children are typical or have special needs,” Imbornoni said. “It is a privilege to capture the love and connection they have with their families.” She is certified by Special Kids Photography, a worldwide organization, and her work has been recognized by the Professional Photographers of America. Her Web page includes a portrait of a bald woman undergoing cancer treatments, yet she looks anything but sick in the photograph. Imbornoni said her technique is to apply transparent, oil-based paints to black and white photographs. She blends the oils on a palette to get the desired tone and then Photographs Continued from page 22 hand paints onto the paper. “Oil lends life, warmth and softness, turning a black and white image into a three-dimensional piece of fi ne art,” she said. She loves black and white fi lm because it lets the photographer see right to the soul. Friend and client Lori McClelland said, “Wendy did a photo shoot of our family when my husband was very sick with cancer.” A few months later he passed away. “It is such a treasure to have those pictures and memories of that special time our family had with him.” McClelland said, “Wendy suggested that we all bring sunglasses for a fun picture. Since we didn’t wear sunglasses, we brought hats. Those photos are so much fun. We all remember that day.” Imbornoni won a marketing award from Professional Photographers of America for her Down Syndrome Network calendar. “Everyone is special and is worthy of being photographed,” Imbornoni said. Prep wins book contest Biltmore Prep’s fourth-grade team (above) of Katelyn Brown, Caleb Warren, Tatiana Flom, Leslie Garcia, Meseret Berhane, Giana Lopes, and Emily Medina won the junior division in Creighton Elementary School District’s Battle of the Books competition. In the district-wide literary academic competition, students read 12 assigned books, form teams, and work together to answer questions about the books in an oral “family feud” style competition. Biltmore Prep’s fi fth-grade team was second in the junior division. In the Senior Division, the sixth-grade team tied for third place with the seventh- eighth-grade team. TREASURED, in every sense. Resort and Spa Join us for Chef McCabe's Wednesday Specials from our Test Kitchen [ ]