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
Should You Consider Adult Adoption?
Consider an adult adoption petition to formalize an existing parent-child relationship and for estate planning. With the adoptee's consent, a parent and child can make their relationship legal with an adoption decree to provide inheritance rights and the right to make medical decisions as next of kin. Examples of adult adoption include former foster youth, stepparent bonds, and caregiver relationships. An adult adoption hearing needs court approval but does not require a home study or …
Can I Lay Off My Furloughed Employees?
Employers can lay off workers on furlough or temporary layoff, but there are some legal considerations. At-will employees without a collective bargaining agreement or employment contract can be permanently laid off based on neutral selection criteria, such as a plant closing. WARN Act and state mini-WARN Act laws require 60-day notice for permanent layoffs over the mass layoff threshold. With mass layoffs, employers should consider a severance agreement, release of claims, and address accrued …
How COVID-19 Affected Telemedicine Laws
As healthcare providers grappled with surges in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more patients saw their doctors and received care through video conferencing, phone calls, or even online questionnaires. And while the pandemic helped lower some barriers for providers to establish or expand telemedicine capabilities, there are important legal issues to be aware of. “A lot has changed on the legal front,” says Jeremy D. Sherer, a healthcare law attorney at Orrick, Herrington & …
Mr. Original
John B. Draper faces down a water law tsunamiA river, two states and a disagreement that goes back to the early 1900s. That’s what put John B. Draper in front of the Supreme Court of the United States—not once, but three times. The case, Kansas v. Colorado, is all about the Arkansas River, which begins in Colorado and flows into Kansas. The two states have been at odds over water rights for over a century. Draper got involved in 1990, after Kansas claimed Colorado had violated their water compact. “We were making the argument that …
Navigating Court Closures During the Pandemic
Massachusetts' Bar Association president shares advice and resources for attorneysJohn J. Morrissey is a founding partner of Morrissey, Wilson & Zafiropoulos in Braintree, Mass., as well as the president of the Massachusetts Bar Association. We recently spoke with him about how the COVID-19 pandemic response is impacting Massachusetts courts and legal cases. How is COVID-19 affecting Massachusetts courts? Massachusetts courts are generally open and available for in person appearances only for emergencies that cannot be handled electronically, by telephone or by video …
Can My Employer Force Me To Work During 'Shelter-in-Place'?
Employers cannot force you to work when you face imminent danger during a shelter-in-place order unless you are in an essential business with appropriate workplace hazard protections. Generally, OSHA regulations provide retaliation protections for non-essential workers against wrongful termination for employer mandates to work under unsafe conditions. Employee rights include reasonable accommodations for disabled workers and whistleblower protections for reporting FMLA leave violations. Talk to …
How Does Working Remotely Impact My Reasonable Accommodations?
Reasonable accommodations include working remotely but can also involve adapting your home workspace to do your core job tasks, unless it creates an undue hardship. Employers have a duty to go through an interactive process to develop reasonable accommodations, and telework can be a precedent showing that the in-person requirement is not an essential function. Remote accommodations can include assistive technology to accommodate ergonomic needs, equipment provisions, or schedule flexibility. …
Do I Need a Patent To Sell My Idea?
A patent isn't the only way to sell your idea. You can use non-disclosure agreements, licensing agreements, or patent-pending status with a provisional patent application to protect your ownership rights in your idea. Protect your intellectual property rights from public disclosure with trade secret protections, unless you pursue patent prosecution. For a utility patent, the invention must meet novelty and non-obviousness requirements, but an applicant is not required to conduct a prior-art …
Can I Negotiate My Eminent Domain Case in Florida?
When the government is looking to buy your land or real estate for a public project, it can sometimes seem like you have no say in the matter. But there are things you can negotiate by getting involved early in the process. Through its power of eminent domain, the government can force a property owner to sell all or some of their private property to the government so long as: It is necessary for a public purpose, such as building a road or public transportation system; and The government pays …
Can I Sue for Abuse by Police or Prison Guards?
You can sue for abuse by police or prison guards for physical injuries when they've been caused by excessive force or intentional harm. Section 1983 gives individuals a civil right claim for money damages for constitutional violations involving police misconduct. Prison abuse can include brutality claims, medical neglect, or correction officer abuse. However, government officials have qualified immunity while acting under the color of law. You can contact legal representation for evidence …
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