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.
FanDuel Tax Guide 2026: Steps To Report Your Betting Winnings
When you bet on sports and win, you have to report your winnings to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Gambling winnings count as income for tax purposes. You must report your winnings as regular income. However, you can also deduct a portion of your sports betting losses. Understand your tax reporting obligations for FanDuel and other sportsbook apps. If you have questions about sports betting income, losses, and deductions, talk to a local tax law attorney. Reporting FanDuel Winnings FanDuel …
Sports Betting Taxes 2026: The New $2,000 W-2G Rule Explained
When you bet on sports and win, you have to report your gambling winnings to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Many people use their sports knowledge and experience to make educated bets on gaming outcomes. Some of the most common types of sports betting include the moneyline, over/under, and point spread. However, with modern sportsbook apps, bettors can make any type of sports wager. With the $2,000 threshold reporting requirement, your sports betting app must report your qualifying …
Redistricting Impacts: How New District Maps Affect Your Vote
Voters focus on the candidates on the ballot, but the district's boundaries can have just as much influence on an election. Redistricting determines which neighborhoods are grouped together to elect representatives to Congress and state legislatures. Because these maps change after every census, the district where you vote may look very different from one decade to the next. Understanding the legal principles behind redistricting can help explain how new district maps may affect your vote. …
Absentee Voting Laws: State-by-State Legal Guide
Abstentee voting laws allow for early voting, as ballots are sent in advance of election day. For many voters, casting a ballot by mail offers flexibility that in-person voting cannot. Behind that convenience is a detailed set of election laws that determine how absentee ballots are requested, handled, and counted. States differ in their eligibility rules, submission deadlines, and procedures for reviewing ballots upon arrival at election offices. When questions arise about whether a ballot was …
Medicare Drug Price Negotiations: Which Prescription Costs Are Dropping?
Medication costs account for a large portion of people's healthcare costs. Many older people have their drugs covered by the Medicare Part D drug plan. However, even with covered prescriptions, some older people cannot take their drugs because of cost. The high costs of prescriptions can pose a health risk to patients choosing between necessary medication and affording food or rent. Medicare's drug price negotiations can reduce the cost of many common drugs. The Centers for Medicare & …
Understanding Your Rights: Guardrails for AI in Medicare Coverage Decisions
With the growing use of AI in healthcare, many older adults worry about how it will affect their medical benefits. Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage (MA) plans both use artificial intelligence to make coverage and prior authorization decisions. However, there are guardrails to ensure people still have a human involved in their healthcare decisions. Medicare recipients should understand how Medicare and MA plans use AI in coverage decisions. If your insurance plan …
Will Medicare Pay for Hospital-Level Care at Home?
You qualify for hospital pay through Medicare if you are a homebound patient with skilled nursing needs, have applied for a clinical assessment at a participating hospital, and have been approved for physician-led care. The treatment requires care coordination and administrative review using quality metrics and telehealth encounters to ensure patient safety. Services include remote monitoring, medical equipment, and daily visits in the home environment. Lawmakers gave the inpatient waiver a …
Medicare Advantage Denials: How To Appeal and Win
Healthcare costs make up a large portion of older adults’ budgets. Even with Medicare Advantage and drug plans, medical care burns through their savings. Before getting treatment with your Medicare Advantage plan, you may need prior authorization. When your insurance company denies a Medicare-covered service request, you will have to pay out of pocket for your care. Many patients avoid seeking the sought treatment because they can't afford it. This can result in serious medical issues for …
Voter Intimidation Laws: Legal Protections Against Harassment
In the United States, voters are protected by law from any intimidation related to voting, registering to vote, encouraging others to vote or register to vote, or otherwise exercising their rights under federal election laws. These laws apply specifically to federal elections, but many states have comparable laws for state and local elections. For personalized legal advice on exercising your right to vote, reach out to a local civil rights lawyer. Federal Laws Prohibit Voter Intimidation …
Voter ID Requirements: Proof of Citizenship and Identity Laws
Casting a ballot should be straightforward, but voter identification laws have added layers of legal complexity. Some states require photo identification at the polls. Others are debating whether voters must present documents proving citizenship to register. These policies raise constitutional questions, federal preemption issues, and potential voting rights concerns. If you are unsure whether your identification meets current requirements or whether a new law could affect your registration, …
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