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
If You’re Injured on a Bike
If you’ve been following the proper rules of the road for cyclists in your state and are in an accident, you should be entitled to compensation for damages. But getting it won’t necessarily be easy. In fact, seeking relief from your insurance and/or a lawsuit can be an uphill battle. “In a large segment of the population that doesn’t ride, there’s a bias and prejudice—even sometimes with law enforcement—that the cyclist is always at fault,” says Randy G. Knutson, an attorney …
An Empire of Concealed Assets
How Richard Goldberg and David Shuster got terminating sanctions in a bankruptcy caseIn 2014, Richard Goldberg and Dave Shuster filed suit against businessman Vince Abell. At issue were Abell’s sketchy real estate dealings—primarily, residences in the DC area. “Some he’d flip, others he’d rent,” says Goldberg, of Shapiro Sher. “But where he got into trouble was mortgage-rescue scams. He would follow the foreclosure dockets and seize on the elderly, minorities and unsophisticated borrowers.” Abell would approach these homeowners, offer them funds to help them …
Are There Limits to My Free Speech Rights?
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech. Free speech is foundational in a liberal democracy, even if you don't like what someone is saying. Still, free speech protections aren’t without limits. Certain types of speech are not protected, including obscenity, fighting words, and defamation. It's important to understand the limits on free speech and what you can do if someone censors you in violation of your constitutional …
A Deadly Delay in Diagnosis
Cancer is the second leading cause of death, but medical malpractice often plays a role in its progression. Studies show that over 250,000 Americans die each year from medical malpractice. Failure to order the proper testing or read test results accurately delays such diagnoses. “When you have a mass and you don’t get a biopsy, everything essentially becomes just a gut feeling and not something that is really reliable as a firm diagnosis,” says Virginia M. Buchanan, a medical malpractice …
Signed, Sealed, Disputed: Noncompetes
A business has decided to hire a new employee. Included in that new hire’s litany of paperwork is a noncompete agreement. “You get a stack of benefits documents, sign-up sheets, applications and sometimes the noncompete is tucked in there,” says Stephen B. Reed, an employment and business litigator in Boston. Typically, the employee signs it and doesn’t give it a second thought until the time comes when they’d like to seek employment elsewhere. “When you sign the noncompete, you …
They Give at the Office … Literally
Doug Sorocco helped turn Dunlap Codding’s law office into a free community-event spaceInitially, Dunlap Codding just needed a nice view from the kitchen. In 2012, the IP boutique converted a 100-year-old warehouse—formerly an ice house and prop studio—into its offices. The firm removed a large commercial garage door next to the kitchen, replaced it with a glass one, then wanted something better looking than a cement slab outside. Firm director Doug Sorocco, who managed the project, envisioned a pocket garden area with modular seating and a pergola for shade. The result …
Navigating the Maze of Workers' Comp
Imagine you’re in a maze with another person. You don’t know the way, but they do. The maze is constantly changing and there are traps along the way. And the goal is to get through it first. “That’s the work comp system,” says Michael Kaplan, an attorney at Kaplan Morrell in Denver. “You’re against the adjuster, and I’ll give you one guess who wins that race if you don’t have assistance.” The process can be confusing, attorneys say, but they have some helpful tips if you are …
’Round About 6 p.m. on Sunday
Outside the courtroom, you can catch Luther J. Battiste III spinning jazz on the radioLuther J. Battiste III thinks back to his days growing up in Orangeburg. He remembers his mom and dad coming home from working at the South Carolina State University (her, a librarian; him, a facilities director). He remembers his uncle, who lived with them for a time while he went to college. He also remembers Miles Davis, Nancy Wilson, and the music that filled their home. “I grew up with jazz, and developed a love for music at an early age,” Battiste recalls, then laughs. “I think …
What To Do When an Insurance Company Denies Medical Treatment
You file a claim for medical care, assuming your insurance company will pay. Then a denial letter shows up in the mail. What should you do? First, call your doctor. Your doctor is your first option to make sure the health care insurance plan covers your medical treatment. If your insurance company still won't pay, you can go through the appeals process. The appeals process is confusing and frustrating. A healthcare lawyer can file an appeal on your behalf and deal with the insurance company to …
What Airlines Can and Can’t Do When They Overbook
Recent incidents involving airline passengers have caused some serious turbulence—videos have gone viral, stocks have dropped, and many airlines are changing their policies. But one aspect has remained largely the same: passengers’ rights. “It’s become fairly evident that airlines have broad discretion to refuse to let passengers board and take them off the plane. As fare-paying paid passengers, we like to think we have a lot of rights, but the airlines are in charge here,” says …
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