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.
Overview of Communications Law
Communications law is the legal area involving public and private communications, including broadcast, print , and digital media. This legal area often deals with disputes involving content restrictions, freedom of speech, and privacy protections. Other common legal issues involve intellectual property and copyright claims. Government agencies regulate broadcast media access and restrictions under state or federal law. However, communications regulations often lag behind technological …
Overview of Energy and Natural Resources Law
Energy and natural resources law deals with resource management and energy production. Federal and state regulatory agencies manage energy production, land regulations, and environmental protection and sustainability. For individuals and property owners, energy and natural resource law may affect their resource extraction, development, and property rights. For legal advice about the laws in your area, talk to a local energy and natural resources law attorney. What Is Energy and Natural …
Overview of Same-Sex Family Law
Same-sex couples in the U.S. have the right to marry and divorce, just like heterosexual couples. The U.S. Supreme Court established marriage equality in its 2015 landmark case Obergefell v. Hodges. Obergefell gives members of the LGBTQ+ community the same spousal rights as opposite-sex couples. Same-sex parents also have the same rights and responsibilities when it comes to child custody and child support. However, same-sex married couples still face unique challenges in family law. …
Overview of E-Discovery
Electronic discovery involves exchanging electronically stored information (ESI) as part of a civil litigation case. Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, parties have to put a legal hold on the relevant information to preserve it for discovery. The e-discovery process involves identification, preservation, collection, review, and production of relevant ESI. With increasing electronic communication, a lot of relevant evidence exists online or in electronic form as emails, text messages, …
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Wrongful Termination Lawyer?
Most employees work at-will, meaning their employer can fire them for almost any reason, as long as it doesn't amount to an illegal act. Illegal reasons to fire an employee include discrimination, retaliation, or breach of contract. If an employer fires a worker for an illegal reason, the employee has legal recourse and can hire a wrongful termination lawyer. Most wrongful termination lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. Under a contingency agreement, the client does not pay anything …
The Wrongful Termination Lawsuit Process: A Step-By-Step Guide
If your employer fired you for illegal reasons, such as discrimination or retaliation for engaging in protected activities, you can file a wrongful termination lawsuit against them. The first step is to get personalized legal advice from an experienced wrongful termination attorney. They can explain your rights and legal options and help you begin to gather evidence for your claim. Statutes of limitations give limited time to file a lawsuit after being illegally fired, so contact a wrongful …
What Damages Can I Sue For in a Wrongful Termination Case?
When you file a wrongful termination lawsuit, you aim to recover monetary compensation for losing your job. Compensatory damages can help you recover what you lost due to your employer's illegal firing. Damages in a wrongful termination case include lost wages, back pay, front pay, emotional distress, and punitive damages. The legal remedies available can depend on where you live. To understand what your wrongful termination lawsuit is worth, talk to a local employment lawyer for legal …
How Long Do I Have To File a Wrongful Termination Lawsuit?
The statute of limitations in a wrongful termination lawsuit is the deadline to file your claim. If you file your claim too late, you can lose your right to recover compensation. Your time limit depends on the type of legal claim and whether you file under state or federal law. There are very few exceptions to the strict statute of limitations, so you should contact a lawyer sooner rather than later. To find out how long you have to file a lawsuit in your case, talk to a wrongful termination …
Understanding Your Rights: Public Policy Violations in Wrongful Termination
At-will employment means employers can terminate employees for almost any reason. However, employers cannot fire employees for illegal reasons, like unlawful discrimination or in violation of public policy. When employers wrongfully terminate an employee in violation of public policy, the employee can take legal action against their employer. Employees have the burden of proof to show their employer's unlawful termination violated public policy, including state and federal statutes or …
Wrongful Termination vs. Unfair Treatment: What's the Legal Difference?
Many employees deal with unfair treatment in the workplace. But unfair treatment is not necessarily illegal. Under at-will employment, employers can fire workers for any reason they want as long as it's not an illegal act. Wrongful termination involves firing workers for an unlawful reason, including discrimination, breach of contract, or retaliation. “I hate to say this, but the truth is that there are a lot of wrong things that happen in the workplace, especially a lot of bad treatment and …
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