About Katrina Styx
Katrina Styx was an editorial assistant and writer at Super Lawyers. She attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where she earned a degree in English-Literature and a minor in journalism.
Articles written by Katrina Styx
Attached to the Sea
Whether he’s putting oysters or cases to bed, Rob Popich puts the hours inOn non-school days in the early 1990s, a teenaged Rob Popich’s days started at 3 a.m. He and his father or brother would drive their lugger boat 3 ½ hours from Empire, a small fishing community in Plaquemines Parish, to the Louisiana state fishing grounds. They’d use dredges to catch oysters growing on the water bottoms and hydraulic winches to lift them into the boat. “But all of the physical sorting of the oysters, and stacking them into burlap oyster sacks, and then stacking them onto …
To Do Something Useful
Jonelle Ocloo is dedicated to helping immigrants, both on and off the clockWhen Jonelle Ocloo immigrated to the United States from Ghana with her family, it was a relatively smooth process. “My dad was a university professor,” she says. “He was sponsored by his employer, and we came here with our green cards in hand.” But for many immigrants, the path to citizenship is fraught with hurdles. Some people are seeking asylum, danger at their backs; others see their cases backlogged for years. Immigration law is on par with tax law in complexity—“the rules are …
What Can You Do If Your Lease Looks Unfair?
You’ve found the perfect rental property for the perfect amount of rent. But before you sign the dotted line on your lease agreement, you should review it to protect yourself from future problems. Obviously, price, duration, and rent due dates are key components, but there are other parts a tenant may miss, including: Fees Interest rates on late payments Additional costs for utilities or amenities Maintenance obligations on the rental unit Subletting Rules for tenants Renter’s insurance …
Living with Leases
What to do when your residential lease doesn’t look so greatYou’ve found the perfect location for the perfect price. But before you sign the dotted line on your lease, you should review it to protect yourself from future problems. Obviously, price and duration are key components, but there are other parts a tenant may miss, including: fees, interest rates on late payments, additional costs for utilities or amenities, maintenance obligations, subletting, rules for tenants, insurance requirements, and the landlord’s right to enter. All are important …
To Practice with Integrity
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cara Nicklas is helping fight corruptionIn 2015, Cara Nicklas got a call from her aunt, who was part of a group of attorneys and judges heading to Beni, a city near the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Her goal? To help those standing up against corruption in the DRC’s justice system. And to bring Nicklas with. “My first thought was, ‘Where is Beni?’” says Nicklas. “And, ‘This sounds like a cool opportunity.’” The Justice Conference, held through the Congo Initiative by the Christian Bilingual …
Gold Glove Defense
How Robert S. Fink kept Yankees legend Mickey Mantle out of IRS troubleIn the 1990s, an IRS investigation into cash payments at autograph and memorabilia shows—some of which were never reported as taxable income—ensnared a few baseball Hall of Famers. “I don’t think anyone went to trial,” remembers Robert S. Fink. “People like Duke Snider pled guilty. It really surprised me. If he’d had a trial with 12 men in Brooklyn, I can’t imagine anyone would convict him.” Fink, founder of Kostelanetz & Fink, had his own base to cover: Yankees great …
'Sunlight is the Best Disinfectant'
DeVaughn Ward exposes shady prison practicesWhen Wayne World’s brother first called DeVaughn Ward in 2017, Ward initially brushed it off. “I get calls like that all the time,” Ward says. But when he agreed to meet World, who was incarcerated at Osborn Correctional Institution, he discovered a case more serious than he’d expected. “When Wayne enters the room, he’s wrapped like a mummy,” Ward says. “They told him that he had psoriasis for two and a half years, and while they were telling him that, they were denying him a …
How Do I Find the Right Lawyer?
Finding the right lawyer starts with lawyer referrals and client reviews, then setting up an initial consultation to decide if they are right for your legal dispute. You can get a case evaluation to find out the legal costs for legal representation before signing a retainer agreement. Attorney fee structures can depend on the practice area and legal specialization, including a contingency fee, hourly rate, or flat fee. Contact your local bar association before hiring an attorney for ethical …
What Is a Lawyer, Anyway?
In the United States, laws are almost impossible to avoid. Laws establish civil rights, direct government powers, govern how businesses and markets operate, protect the public from undue harm, promote health and welfare, and more. Laws can be massive and overarching or narrowly specific. But the thing they tend to have in common is that they are often complicated and difficult for the average person to thoroughly understand. That’s where lawyers come in. Lawyers are people who have completed …
Mistakes Were Made
From amended returns to audits, taxpayers have options to make peace with the IRSWhen it comes to filing your own taxes, getting it wrong can lead to some serious consequences, including civil or criminal charges. You may expose yourself to penalties if the IRS finds your mistakes, says Bryan Skarlatos of Kostelanetz & Fink. Civil penalties are usually equal to 20% of the tax you should have paid. “It can add up,” Skarlatos adds. The good news? If you do want to proactively fix a negligent mistake, you can file a qualified amended return, or QAR. “It eliminates …
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