About John Devendorf, Esq.
John Devendorf is a graduate of UCLA and holds a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, where he was a Distinguished Scholar, recipient of the ALI-ABA Scholarship and Leadership Award, and a participant in the Immigrant Workers’ Rights Clinic and special delegation to Haiti.
A licensed attorney for more than a decade, John transitioned to a career as a legal content writer and editor after an externship with the IRS, a judicial clerkship, and practicing at a civil litigation firm in Princeton, New Jersey. John now lives in Portland, Oregon, where he enjoys writing, international travel, and escape rooms.
Articles written by John Devendorf, Esq.
Can I Switch Personal Injury Lawyers Mid-Case?
You can switch personal injury lawyers mid-case, but you should consider the practical impacts before switching. You generally won't have to pay more to change attorneys because your new attorney negotiates a fee split with your old attorney. Your new attorney can handle the substitution-of-counsel filing and obtain all the relevant case file records from your old attorney. If you are close to a settlement or trial, changing attorneys can delay your settlement agreement or jury trial. Take the …
Who Pays My Medical Bills While My Case Is Pending?
If you're injured in an accident, the at-fault party may be liable for your medical expenses, but you are responsible for paying your bills while your case is pending. You must work with your doctors and insurance providers and find ways to ensure you get the care you need until your case settles or goes to trial. In no-fault states, your PIP or MedPay covers your injuries, regardless of fault. In other states, your policy may cover your injuries, but the insurer may seek reimbursement through …
Can I Reopen My Case After Signing a Settlement Release?
In most cases, you cannot reopen a personal injury case after signing a settlement release. You can reopen your case only in very limited situations, such as fraud. Before signing a personal injury settlement agreement, make sure you understand your rights and what you give up by accepting a settlement offer. Review any settlements with your attorney before signing. Signing a settlement too soon can mean you lose out on the full compensation you deserve. Talk to a personal injury lawyer for …
My Child Was Injured on a Playground. Who Is Liable?
Parties liable for playground injuries may include a caretaker, daycare center, school district, equipment manufacturer, or contractor. Liability in a personal injury claim depends on who caused the injury or had a duty to ensure the playground equipment was safe. In some accidents, multiple parties share responsibility for a child's accident. Playground accident claims have strict statutes of limitations, which set deadlines for recovering compensation. For legal advice, contact a local …
Home Energy Efficiency and Heat Pump Tax Credits
Homeowners can get rebates, tax credits, and financing assistance to install heat pumps and make other home energy-efficiency upgrades. Various sources fund these financial incentives, including the federal government, state and local governments, and utility companies. Weatherization and home energy improvements can reduce a homeowner's energy usage, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and lower the burden on energy infrastructure during peak usage. Many of these tax credits and rebates have limited …
Electric Vehicle (EV) Tax Credits and Rebates: State-by-State Guide
Electric vehicle (EV) incentives can meaningfully lower the upfront or ownership costs of an electric vehicle and make it an affordable option for more buyers. While the federal clean vehicle tax credits are no longer available for new car purchases, other incentives may be available from other sources, such as the state, an automobile manufacturer, or a utility company. Read on to learn more about potential incentives and how to claim the ones that apply in your area. If you have more specific …
How Long Do You Have To File a Construction Defect Claim?
A construction defect does not always announce itself when the builder hands over the keys. If you discover a construction defect in your home or commercial property, you may have less time to act than you think. State law controls the deadline and usually involves two separate concepts: the statute of limitations and the statute of repose. The first generally limits how long you have to bring a claim once it accrues. The second can create an outside cutoff tied to the construction itself. A …
Why Can’t You Buy Chinese EVs in the US? Tariffs, Tech Bans, and Red Tape
You cannot buy a Chinese EV in the U.S. because of high tariffs, technology bans, and the fact that the vehicles haven't passed required safety tests. The U.S. government imposed many of these restrictions because of security concerns and the threat these low-cost, subsidized vehicles pose to the automobile industry. Drivers in the U.S. continue to look for loopholes to buy Chinese EVs. However, the connected-vehicle ban effectively restricts most workarounds to bring the vehicles into the U.S. …
Can You Buy a Chinese EV in Mexico and Drive It in the US?
Yes, you can buy a Chinese electric vehicle in Mexico and drive it in the U.S. if you have Mexican residency, the vehicle is registered in Mexico, and you only bring it across the border temporarily. You cannot register a Chinese EV in the U.S., except in rare circumstances. You may occasionally see a BYD, Geely, or XPeng in California or Texas, but restrictions make it too difficult for most Americans to register an EV from a Chinese automaker in their state. This article explains some of the …
Do You Have To Disclose if Your House Is Haunted? Stigmatized Property Laws
Whether a seller must disclose that a house is considered haunted — or otherwise stigmatized by crime, death, debt, or public notoriety — depends on the law of the state where the property is located. No blanket rule covers this issue. At one end of the spectrum, some states enforce strict disclosure obligations for known issues that stigmatize a property. At the other end, some states explicitly protect sellers. In those jurisdictions, state law does not require property owners to reveal …
Find top lawyers with confidence
The Super Lawyers patented selection process is peer influenced and research driven, selecting the top 5% of attorneys to the Super Lawyers lists each year. We know lawyers and make it easy to connect with them.
Find a lawyer near you