About Ross Pfund
Ross Pfund is the managing editor of Super Lawyers. He is the editor of the Minnesota, Colorado, Massachusetts, Louisiana and Southwest magazines. An award-winning editor and writer with more than 20 years of experience, he has a journalism degree from the University of Minnesota. His work has also appeared in the Star Tribune and the Norman County Index. As a child, he knew he was cut out for a career in journalism because he never once stuck his hand into his father’s printing press.
Articles written by Ross Pfund
Three Common Misconceptions About Child Support
There are a few common misconceptions that parents have when it comes to paying child support. A child support lawyer breaks it down for us. Misconception 1: Men Are Required to Pay More When it comes to child support, men are required to pay it more often than women, right? Not so, says family law attorney Jenna Eisenmenger of Midwest Family Law in St. Paul. Misconception 2: At Age 18, Child Support Ends Another common misconception is that once a child turns 18, current support automatically …
The Basics on Child Support in Minnesota
Minnesota has four different categories of child support: Category 1: Basic Support First is basic support. This refers to the child's fundamental needs, such as food, clothing, diapers or formula, or school supplies for older kids. Basic child support is also the only one of the four categories of child support that is affected by a parenting time schedule. “The courts recognize that the more parenting time a parent has, the more basic expenses they're incurring for the children,” …
The Not-So-Secret Origin of Joe Gushue
Talking comics with the Philly patent lawyerJoe Gushue still remembers the day in 1984 when his dad bought him his first comic book straight off a spinner rack in a mall bookstore. The Amazing Spider-Man #255 features Peter Parker contending with moldy bread before tangling with the evil Red Ghost and his Super-Apes. It might not be high on the list of storylines likely to be adapted for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it captured 4-year-old Gushue’s imagination. That was likely his dad’s plan all along. A long-time comics fan, …
What To Know When Considering a Cabin Trust in Minnesota
When the time comes to pass down the family cabin to the next generation, Minnesotans have a few options. One of those is a cabin trust, in which the cabin and funds are placed into a trust. Following rules set by the creator of the trust, a trustee — often but not always a member of the younger generation — oversees the decisions related to use, maintenance, and more. Before deciding to set up a cabin trust, David W. Jacobsen of Jacobsen Law Firm in Northfield suggests taking a step back. …
What Should You Do After a Car Crash?
Steps to take when an accident happensFirst things first: If you’re the victim of an automobile accident, make sure you’re safe and seek any medical attention you may need. “The first thing you need to do is just call for help,” says personal injury lawyer Ryan Thompson of Thompson Law in Dallas. “If you’ve been hurt, ask them to dispatch EMS. But it’s also really important to have a police officer get out there so that you have a third party who’s taking statements from everyone that’s involved, trying to …
What Accommodations Do Courts Provide for Deaf People?
Court accommodations for deaf people include sign language interpreters and assistive listening devices at no cost to ensure effective communication. Under the ADA Title II, courts must provide a qualified interpreter and CART captioning with advance request. Make an accommodation request ahead of time with the court administrator or ADA coordinator before the request deadline, and if a request is denied, you can file an appeal. Disability rights to written materials and remote interpreting …
What Is Disparate Impact Discrimination?
Disparate impact discrimination is employment discrimination when hiring practices have a disproportionate adverse effect on members of a protected class. Neutral policies can have a discriminatory effect even when there is no disparate treatment, as shown by statistical evidence and systemic bias. After an employee shows a prima facie case of disparate impact, the employer can avoid legal liability if they show a business necessity and job-relatedness of the workplace, without a reasonable …
Family Law in the Pandemic
From questions about co-parenting arrangements to delays in court proceedings to the shift to remote proceedings, the COVID-19 pandemic had a huge effect on family law matters. As soon as the pandemic hit in early 2020, the questions started rolling in. “Family law lawyers are constantly dealing with emergencies and fires,” says Eliza Steinberg, a family law attorney at Griffiths Law in Lone Tree, Colorado. “Immediately, the phones started ringing off the hook with concerns about various …
Critical Save
‘Pro Bono Paladin’ Mark Surprenant lives up to the monikerThere are pro bono partners and there are pro bono coordinators, but there’s only one pro bono paladin. Mark Surprenant had the title bestowed upon him by a fellow lawyer at Adams & Reese to honor Surprenant’s hands-on leadership. “It’s certainly different, that’s for sure,” he says with a laugh. The of counsel attorney at the firm’s New Orleans office has been involved in pro bono work since volunteering at the Rhode Island Legal Aid Society after his first year of law …
Cannabis Business in Arizona: The Basics
On November 3, 2020, Arizona voters passed Proposition 207, an initiative that legalized the adult use of recreational cannabis and allowed for marijuana to be taxed at the state and local levels, with nearly 60% of the vote. Justin M. Brandt, who handles cannabis law and real estate matters at Bianchi & Brandt in Scottsdale, wasn’t surprised that Prop 207 passed. “All the polls that we were seeing, particularly in Arizona, indicated that it had a lot of support. In the past three to …
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