About Trevor Kupfer
Trevor Kupfer is a senior editor on Super Lawyers’ staff. He is editor of the Illinois, South Carolina, Michigan, and Wisconsin magazines, in addition to being a writer and fact-checker of Super Lawyers’ other projects. He has a degree in journalism from an accredited program (University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire) and has written for such newspapers and magazines as Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Volume One, Wisconsin State Journal, The Capital Times, Global Food Forums, and various publications under the groups Tribune Media Services, Capital Newspapers, and Conley Media. He has served on crime and courts beats and, in college, he aided an investigation through the Wisconsin Innocence Project.
Articles written by Trevor Kupfer
The Canine Counselor
Therapy dog Mordecai has transformed the practice at Bays Family LawWhen Jennifer Bays Beinart graduated from law school, her mother, Donna Bays, gave her a gift: Gideon Wainwright, a rat terrier named for the 1963 Supreme Court case. And when Gideon joined their family law and estate planning firm as its official mascot, Donna decided to adopt a dog of her own. Little did they know how much it would change their practice. “When I brought Mordecai to work, I realized he had an ability to sense human emotions before it was visible to me,” Donna says. “What …
Your Legal Defenses to Wrongful Eviction
When a tenant reaches out to Venoal Fountain, it’s likely that their landlord has done one of three things: Interfered with their use of a dwelling Withheld their security deposit Sent them a notice to quit in order to evict them Fountain is an attorney at Hirsch, Levy & Fountain in Fairfield who handles real estate matters on behalf of both landlords and tenants. If you call him, or another experienced landlord-tenant attorney in Connecticut, here is how they might be able to help. How …
Does a Revocable Living Trust Protect Me From Creditors?
In the most basic sense, a revocable living trust is a substitute for a will. You can use one to dictate who or what will receive your property after your death. The “revocable” refers to the option of terminating or altering the trust as your situation or desires change. But, says Jim Lee, an estate planning attorney at Fennemore Craig in Phoenix, there is a common misconception related to these trusts. “The truth is that it can keep you out of probate court and can simplify …
Shedding Light
What’s the long-term effect of true-crime series like Serial and Making a Murderer? C. Justin Brown mostly sees positivesThe first way to look at it is from the perspective of an incarcerated criminal defendant—someone like my client, Adnan Syed. Other obvious examples are Brendan Dassey or Steve Avery [from Netflix’s Making a Murderer]. The question is whether all of the publicity has been helpful. I think most would say it’s been helpful or neutral—it hasn’t had any effect, really, on the outcome of any proceedings. Dassey had an incredibly strong argument. His conviction should have been …
Just Rewards
Bill Beck and Mike Abrams recover financial restitution for the wrongfully convictedBill Beck and Mike Abrams were doing insurance recovery work when Ellen Reasonover’s case came to them. After Reasonover had served 10 years in prison for the 1983 murder of a cashier in Dellwood, Missouri, two organizations, Centurion Ministries, a New Jersey nonprofit, and Barry Scheck’s firm, Cochran Neufeld & Scheck (now Neufeld Scheck & Brustin), helped prove it was a wrongful conviction. A suit was filed against Dellwood for financial restitution. One problem: “The city …
Five Common Questions About Defending Class Action Litigation
Brian L. Moffet likens class actions to being “cases within cases.” Dwight W. Stone agrees, saying, “They’re a different kind of animal.” Both are consumer class action defense attorneys at Miles & Stockbridge in Baltimore, representing myriad companies and businesses and “being their guide to avoid the pitfalls and get the best resolution,” Stone says. “Class actions are, of course, more dangerous to a client than individual actions,” he continues. “There is a lot that …
What Happens in a Class Action Mediation?
Dwight W. Stone and Brian L. Moffet are attorneys at Miles & Stockbridge in Baltimore. They primarily practice in the area of consumer class actions, on behalf of financial service providers, manufacturers, dealers and other businesses involving consumer goods and services. They’re also in a rare minority these days, because they have taken cases to trial. “It’s not unusual to run into class action attorneys wvho have been practicing for 15 years or more and have never been in a …
Ignorance Isn’t Bliss in Tax Law
Three of Bill Manne’s clients learned the hard way that you can’t dodge the IRSWilliam S. Manne is a CPA and attorney at Miller Nash Graham & Dunn in Portland who primarily handles tax issues for businesses and nonprofits. Here are a few “war stories” he shared with us about clients who thought they could avoid the IRS. Every once in a while, I get a call from somebody who says, “I got this letter from the IRS,” and a lot of times they don’t understand what they’ve got and can’t really explain the notice. So, over the years, I developed a posture of …
What Happens at the First Meeting With a Bankruptcy Attorney?
Reaching out to a lawyer is an understandably difficult barrier to cross. You’re likely overwhelmed and scared about how much this might cost you. But Chicago bankruptcy lawyer David P. Leibowitz has some good news. “It’s a scary event, but you don’t have to walk through life with a scarlet letter on your head. Bankruptcy will alleviate a lot of your distress,” he says. “I understand that clients come to us at a point of desperation and fear, but a really good lawyer will help you …
What Is Tax Increment Financing for Real Estate Projects?
Every state has used tax increment financing (TIF) to fund economic development at one time or another. In Louisiana, for example, a TIF district is what brought the World Trade Center to New Orleans. The idea behind the economic development tool is simple: Public subsidies to stimulate economic growth. However, the execution can sometimes be difficult and even controversial. This makes it important for business owners interested in the program to seek legal help. “Some projects just don’t …
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