tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53392512142693459332024-03-13T10:53:49.119-05:00Fye Law Office Nebraska Issues BlogTana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-88994183981548880412019-01-17T11:19:00.000-06:002019-01-17T11:19:02.208-06:00Book Review: The Devil in the White City<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375725601/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0375725601&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=b21e99425bbb97600d42058ae2f56630" target="_blank">The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0375725601" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
by Erik Larson<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375725601/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0375725601&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=838217b50a18950c145ad9f2e49cc5a5" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0375725601&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=luggaandlit0e-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0375725601" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
My book club read this book. It is a slow starter, but that was my experience reading Dead Wake by Erik Larson as well. It simply takes some time to set up the stories and the characters, so I think this is inevitable. But sticking with it and reading through to the end was certainly worth the initial effort. Setting the stories of the architects of the world's fair along side the stories of a serial killer and his victims was chilling but incredibly effective. And the tail-end of the book talks some about the investigation and legal case against the serial killer. This is truly a wonderful book.Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Franklin, NE 68939, USA40.0961242 -98.952580740.0718312 -98.9929212 40.1204172 -98.9122402tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-63770969485140612382019-01-07T11:01:00.000-06:002019-01-07T11:01:08.432-06:00Book Review: The Whistler<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385541198/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0385541198&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=7dbfd6f3cf36882c2b51b9b4d3e38694" target="_blank">The Whistler</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0385541198" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
By John Grisham<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385541198/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0385541198&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=ad6bed43ec70a9849dc310a352059b11" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0385541198&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=luggaandlit0e-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0385541198" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
After reading a couple of Grisham novels lately that weren't to my taste, I was very happy to find another that I loved. This book follows Lacy, an attorney working in the Florida Board of Judicial Conduct. She receives a tip about a judge who is completely corrupt and involved with a mafia in the panhandle of Florida. Murder, bribes, and legal thrills abound. This book is page turner, and I finished it in just a few days.Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Holdrege, NE 68949, USA40.4402885 -99.36982169999998940.391946000000004 -99.450502699999987 40.488631 -99.28914069999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-18697570089836688982018-12-12T14:52:00.000-06:002018-12-12T14:52:08.940-06:00Book Review: Rogue Lawyer<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553393480/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0553393480&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=ec27893f3729ce44bf8b96a3b4638a9b" target="_blank">Rogue Lawyer</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0553393480" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
by John Grisham<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553393480/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0553393480&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=6c394734cdaaabd6af3bf7185a4ac921" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0553393480&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=luggaandlit0e-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0553393480" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
I read this book to fulfill a reading challenge category of a book where the protagonist has your occupation. Fulfilling this particular challenge wasn't difficult, as there are plenty of books about lawyers. As I've mentioned before I'm a fan of Grisham, and have read nearly everything that he's published. It starts out very gritty and dark, with a criminal defense attorney who takes on extremely difficult cases that no one else will touch. It later turns a bit, as the character becomes more likeable and human. Ultimately, this wasn't my favorite Grisham novel, as some of the critiques of prosecutors felt over the top (I work with a lot of prosecutors who are reasonable and good people), but as a defense attorney I could also relate to some of what he dealt with. So overall, a good book like his others, but not my favorite of everything he's written.Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Holdrege, NE 68949, USA40.4402885 -99.36982169999998940.391946000000004 -99.450502699999987 40.488631 -99.28914069999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-57524305924564112682018-12-07T16:46:00.000-06:002018-12-07T16:46:07.423-06:00Book Review: The Rooster Bar<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385541171/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0385541171&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=d8c049bf8aae34a859213c909fe3792a" target="_blank">The Rooster Bar</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0385541171" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<div>
by John Grisham<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385541171/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0385541171&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=fd02ab11aa8114efac6b9bdb9d83fa80" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0385541171&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=luggaandlit0e-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0385541171" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
<div>
<br />
I really didn't like this book at all, which is surprising because I'm a big fan of Grisham. It is the story of law students who were not qualified to attend law school, and paid way too much money to get into the only school that would take them. They then decide to rip off a company to try to 'make it right' after practicing law without law licenses or even law degrees. But the characters struck me as naive and whiny. I borrowed money to go to law school, and finished at the height of the downturn in the legal economy. This meant essentially no jobs for my husband or for me. But we were practical and chose to go to law schools that didn't require borrowing six-figures. And we worked hard after law school to get our careers where we wanted them to be. And we both practice criminal law, so the story just struck me as self-centered, false, and immature. I didn't like it.</div>
Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Franklin, NE 68939, USA40.0961242 -98.952580740.0718312 -98.9929212 40.1204172 -98.9122402tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-46502339518845932422018-11-19T16:36:00.000-06:002018-11-19T16:36:00.251-06:00Book Review: Stiff<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393324826/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0393324826&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=e33c6a7673e3134647db3907d4315744" target="_blank">Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0393324826" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
by Mary Roach<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393324826/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0393324826&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=8b8514cc6bb961c75ea497119d9e6493" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0393324826&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=luggaandlit0e-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0393324826" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
I read this book to fulfill a Satire category in a reading challenge. Satire is the use of humor to expose folly of vice for the purpose of bettering the situation. I think this book fits that category, because when you really think about death, we often have silly or unrealistic views of what it looks like. This book is informative and funny, which is unexpected for a book about cremation, the funeral business, autopsies, medical dissections, and scientific cadaver donations. I learned quite a lot from reading this book, and had to ask a friend of mine (who is a mortician) whether the gruesome things that I'd read were really correct (spoiler: they were).<br />
<br />
I am counting this as a legal-ish book, as County Attorneys in Nebraska are also County Coroners. Did you know this? County Attorneys have training on death investigation at their twice yearly continuing education seminars. Many also attend specific training out of state on the topic. In some counties, the County Attorneys go out on the scene, while in other counties this is deferred to Sheriffs or the State Patrol.Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Loup City, NE 68853, USA41.275565 -98.96675319999997141.2516975 -99.00709369999997 41.2994325 -98.926412699999972tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-80581756296592103712018-10-26T09:32:00.000-05:002018-10-26T09:32:08.148-05:00Book Review: G-Dog and the Homeboys<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0826344852/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0826344852&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=a6746def6dad096102c703cb85ac83b5" target="_blank">G-Dog and the Homeboys: Father Greg Boyle and the Gangs of East Los Angeles</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0826344852" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
by Celeste Fremont<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0826344852/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0826344852&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=13c7dc9c67626f49580f35074b1bc1a4" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0826344852&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=luggaandlit0e-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0826344852" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
This book is the story of Father Gregory Boyle and his work with the gangs. It is mostly a journalistic account, but the author does also discuss how her account cannot be wholly impartial, as after following Father Greg and some of the gang members for four years, she grew to care about what happened to them, as well as to want to alter the course of events in their lives for the better.<br />
After reading Tattoos on the Heart, I wanted to know more. This book filled that role. I recommend it to others, but if you were only going to choose one, Tattoos on the Heart would be it.Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Lexington, NE 68850, USA40.7808398 -99.74150450000001940.6846368 -99.902866000000017 40.877042800000005 -99.580143000000021tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-13860531841093319712018-10-17T09:29:00.000-05:002018-10-17T09:29:11.965-05:00Book Review: Tattoos On the Heart<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1439153159/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1439153159&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=67eb18f2c88e0584e6ef66ac5fcc8589" target="_blank">Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1439153159" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
by Gregory Boyle<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1439153159/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1439153159&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=faac8e98d7f207a26b1893a515facd97" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=1439153159&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=luggaandlit0e-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1439153159" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
This book was written by Father Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit priest who began working, and continues to work, in East L.A. with gang members. He created Homeboy Industries which endeavors to give jobs and tattoo removal to gang members, in hopes of pulling them out of the cycle of crime, poverty, abuse, and gang-banging that they are in. It has proved to be a very effective model.<br />
<br />
I put this book in my Kindle wish list after hearing Father Greg and a couple of homies speak at a conference on children's law. The presentation was powerful. I finally got around to reading this book, and am glad that I did. I'm not sure what took me so long, really. It made me laugh, and it made me cry. I very much recommend it.Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Kearney, NE, USA40.699330300000007 -99.08167839999998740.603027300000008 -99.243039899999985 40.795633300000006 -98.920316899999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-23409287305384420902018-10-12T09:24:00.000-05:002018-10-12T09:24:17.301-05:00Book Review: In Cold Storage<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0803256639/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0803256639&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=df051f0b48e257f6fd1c165fb382c759" target="_blank">In Cold Storage: Sex and Murder on the Plains</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0803256639" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
by James W. Hewitt<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0803256639/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0803256639&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=0e1e5636ba4de51aa37b158b631352cc" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0803256639&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=luggaandlit0e-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0803256639" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
One of the judges that I regularly practice in front of recommended this book. It is set in the McCook area of Nebraska, an area that I am familiar with through my work. And several of the names of the attorneys and judges in the book are familiar to me as well. This book is a true story of the homicide and dismemberment of a married couple by another married couple. The story is sensational, and includes details of the flawed investigation. So fascinating that I'd recommend it to those even not from Nebraska, or even non-lawyers.Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0McCook, NE 69001, USA40.1966701 -100.624874140.1481616 -100.7055551 40.245178599999996 -100.5441931tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-85842911023304199372018-10-04T09:19:00.000-05:002018-10-04T09:19:07.786-05:00Book Review: The Racketeer<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345530578/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345530578&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=8de2a42b6c0a0db1d4eb35572616ed0b" target="_blank">The Racketeer</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0345530578" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
by John Grisham<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345530578/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345530578&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=4328442819f0f26c51288383506f12fc" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0345530578&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=luggaandlit0e-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0345530578" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
I really, really liked this book! It kept me guessing from the start to the finish. The main character is a lawyer who was wrongfully convicted in a financial scam, and is sent to federal prison. While there he gets information about a murder, and the story takes off from there. If you're a Grisham fan, you'll enjoy this one.Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Alma, NE 68920, USA40.097510799999988 -99.36204269999996140.085365299999985 -99.382212699999954 40.10965629999999 -99.341872699999968tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-89327071346361967672018-09-28T13:30:00.000-05:002018-09-28T13:30:02.471-05:00Book Review: The Anatomy of Motive<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0671023934/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0671023934&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=0d167118a300ab939396577a28e2603a" target="_blank">The Anatomy of Motive</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0671023934" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
By John Douglas and Mark Olshaker<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0671023934/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0671023934&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=d3e3197dbd6df040a720aa8fd2ae092e" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0671023934&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=luggaandlit0e-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0671023934" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
I picked this book out from my husband's collection of Audible books, as I am a big fan of John Douglas and hadn't previously read this one. The book is about the FBI's behavioral analysis unit and their understanding of the various types of criminals and what motivates them. As a criminal defense and juvenile law attorney, I felt like this helped me to understand some of the folks that I come into contact with, as well as helped me to understand the training that law enforcement receives on the topic of motive. Really interesting stuff!Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Hastings, NE, USA40.5862583 -98.3898725999999940.489812799999996 -98.551234099999988 40.6827038 -98.228511099999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-53703970492645499682018-09-13T15:34:00.000-05:002018-09-13T15:34:01.282-05:00Book Review: Raising a Secure Child<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1462527639/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1462527639&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=fefa739c73f144e1fa51cbb271385cfd" target="_blank">Raising a Secure Child: How Circle of Security Parenting Can Help You Nurture Your Child's Attachment, Emotional Resilience, and Freedom to Explore</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1462527639" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
By Kent Hoffman, Glen Cooper, and Bert Powell<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1462527639/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1462527639&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=d8790d6b81171cbe4b52bd1240f0c09b" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=1462527639&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=luggaandlit0e-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1462527639" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
This was recommended to be by some therapists that I work with regularly on my cases, as it is the background for the Circle of Security Parenting curriculum that we often have parents go through as part of their case plans to reunify with their children. I've often heard these same therapists, as well as foster parents, say that the method helped them with their own parenting as well. I wanted to read the book and learn more about the curriculum that I advocate for parents to learn from. And I can say that this stuff makes good, common sense, but isn't a series of steps that you have to learn or do. It simply requires that you look at parenting in a framework of children needing to explore as well as be comforted, and parents needing to help children in this circle by being bigger, stronger, wiser, and kind. This book is fantastic, and I recommend that ALL parents read it, truly.Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Franklin, NE 68939, USA40.0961242 -98.952580740.0718312 -98.9929212 40.1204172 -98.9122402tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-65584662032535900452018-09-07T11:23:00.000-05:002018-09-07T11:23:01.769-05:00Book Review: Inside the Mind of BTK<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470325151/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0470325151&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=84a110dde3f5f30d394376b969c82220" target="_blank">Inside the Mind of BTK: The True Story Behind the Thirty-Year Hunt for the Notorious Wichita Serial Killer</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0470325151" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
By John Douglas and Johnny Dodd<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470325151/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0470325151&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=7da4f28b1b0cea10895ca4dafb19c200" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0470325151&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=luggaandlit0e-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0470325151" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
I listened to this in audio, as my husband is a huge fan of true crime and had already purchased it from Audible. I've read John Douglas previously, and do enjoy his books, as he writes about his time in the behavioral analysis unit of the FBI and some of the cases that he investigated. This is about the BTK (Bind Torture Kill) serial killer who kept Wichita in fear for decades.<br />
<br />
This book was very, very good. But the narrator is not good. He mispronounces words, and doesn't have an engaging voice. So I recommend the book, but not on Audible.Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Kearney, NE, USA40.699330300000007 -99.08167839999998740.603027300000008 -99.243039899999985 40.795633300000006 -98.920316899999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-46253073574094265642018-08-31T15:17:00.000-05:002018-08-31T15:17:42.756-05:00Book Review: Heinous, Atrocious & Cruel<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937387968/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1937387968&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=bba5b4179cb0a2cb7e3eccf06bff1f06" target="_blank">Heinous, Atrocious & Cruel</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1937387968" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />: The Casebook of a Death Penalty Attorney<br />
By Terrence M. Lenamon with Brooke Terpening<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937387968/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1937387968&linkCode=as2&tag=luggaandlit0e-20&linkId=b4fc1634e4878a3b1daf823250018cb5" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=1937387968&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=luggaandlit0e-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=luggaandlit0e-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1937387968" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
I found out about this book at a seminar that I attended for trial lawyers in the fall of 2017. Terence Lenamon was one of our speakers, and had such powerful stories to tell about his work that I knew that I needed to buy his book. I picked this up on Kindle, and made a point to read only one chapter in a sitting so that I could really think about each of the stories. Each chapter is a story of Terence's interactions with former clients who were charged with murder and facing the death penalty. It was equal parts heartbreaking (for the victims of the crimes and for the defendants), and inspiring (in reminding me that clients are real people with real life stories and circumstances that have to be considered). I recommend this for lawyers and non-lawyers alike.Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Lexington, NE 68850, USA40.7808398 -99.74150450000001940.6846368 -99.902866000000017 40.877042800000005 -99.580143000000021tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-62719405420726129712018-01-05T09:06:00.000-06:002018-01-05T09:06:01.576-06:00Adoption<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qodo05e2HnM-IQ8siaYkmbp3LL7gn9YQoK3ttcKDM4hrx0bYhyDyaz1h0IYudAUpsIh3rQxaZqnE7NOBB_3hEDug1ZLQjy4kD3kSaJNnY4zhVjbg3FwUdn5yFPTSDemwZ1GjpA4oyg/s1600/Adoption+Graphic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qodo05e2HnM-IQ8siaYkmbp3LL7gn9YQoK3ttcKDM4hrx0bYhyDyaz1h0IYudAUpsIh3rQxaZqnE7NOBB_3hEDug1ZLQjy4kD3kSaJNnY4zhVjbg3FwUdn5yFPTSDemwZ1GjpA4oyg/s320/Adoption+Graphic.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Kearney, NE, USA40.699330300000007 -99.08167839999998740.603027300000008 -99.243039899999985 40.795633300000006 -98.920316899999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-61760892998926853832018-01-03T09:05:00.000-06:002018-01-03T09:05:34.774-06:00Get A Will<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YpFhocd60DGbxXoQ3_V7Uz7GAr7S3WUhE-EVK1kgdcLmxS82JU5uuQ8MIk8NAV8qqzl4Vxm3RpiGqo_-J2nTdzwr7QkQVy4pymtpQ7dOGfVGlKC63rG-knmWzXfjThZwQf3mtbQ-4g/s1600/2018+Will+Graphic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YpFhocd60DGbxXoQ3_V7Uz7GAr7S3WUhE-EVK1kgdcLmxS82JU5uuQ8MIk8NAV8qqzl4Vxm3RpiGqo_-J2nTdzwr7QkQVy4pymtpQ7dOGfVGlKC63rG-knmWzXfjThZwQf3mtbQ-4g/s320/2018+Will+Graphic.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Minden, NE, USA40.4986252 -98.9478593999999740.4020307 -99.109220899999968 40.5952197 -98.786497899999972tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-20722677318898835532018-01-01T09:03:00.000-06:002018-01-01T09:03:36.474-06:00Starting A Business<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKKHN1ZR35kaybp1UxBQWHkMR333E793YR3nWQYyJGWg5oXkpHHjRxUg3o0u5I7ixD0Jn_k70YENniWG-cI72qY9ZYyA9ia90TG3_DZxgv1UNTDp6CdutOfyOC2-JLQTNKCZGOZXiWA/s1600/2018+Start+Business+Graphic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKKHN1ZR35kaybp1UxBQWHkMR333E793YR3nWQYyJGWg5oXkpHHjRxUg3o0u5I7ixD0Jn_k70YENniWG-cI72qY9ZYyA9ia90TG3_DZxgv1UNTDp6CdutOfyOC2-JLQTNKCZGOZXiWA/s320/2018+Start+Business+Graphic.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Holdrege, NE 68949, USA40.4402885 -99.36982169999998940.391946000000004 -99.450502699999987 40.488631 -99.28914069999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-36761881395878659792017-10-30T21:32:00.000-05:002017-10-30T21:32:13.862-05:00What to do and know before your first meeting with a lawyerMeeting with lawyers is often something that makes people anxious. I thought it would be helpful if I put together some tips for those meeting with a lawyer for the first time, based on my experience in working with clients. Some are dos and don'ts from meetings that have gone well or gone very poorly. Hope that you find them helpful.<br />
<br />
1. Remember that lawyers are just people. There's no reason to be anxious or intimidated. We're here to help try to help you.<br />
<br />
2. Schedule an appointment. Lawyers aren't Burger King. You don't get to just walk in and meet with a lawyer. Attorneys have other hearings and meetings, and projects to work on. Schedule an appointment so that you have the lawyer's full attention.<br />
<br />
3. Know how long your appointment is scheduled for, so that you can be respectful of the attorney's time and other commitments.<br />
<br />
4. Be on-time for your appointment. Again this is a way to be respectful of the attorney's time and other commitments.<br />
<br />
5. If you can't make it to your appointment, or have hired another attorney, call and let the staff know that you are cancelling. Don't just no-show. It's rude.<br />
<br />
6. If you think that documents, e-mails, text messages, photos, or anything similar are important to your case (or might be), bring them with you.<br />
<br />
7. If there are particular people who know something about your case, bring their contact information (name, address, telephone number) with you, so that the attorney can get in touch if need be.<br />
<br />
8. If your issue deals with a case already on file, bring the pleadings that you were served with. At a minimum, it is best if the attorney knows where the case is filed, and what the case number is.<br />
<br />
9. Be respectful to attorneys and staff. Remember that we're all just people trying to do the best jobs that we can.<br />
<br />
10. Don't be afraid to ask about the costs. But remember that attorneys may need to get some information from you about your case before they can set fees, retainers, etc.<br />
<br />
11. If you don't understand what the lawyer means, say so and ask questions. Lawyers sometimes use jargon or terminology specific to an area of law, and may not realize that you don't understand.<br />
<br />
12. Don't bring children, pets or other distractions to your appointment. Come ready to focus on the issue at hand<br />
<br />
13. Remember that lawyers can't change the facts or the law. We can give you the best legal advice possible, and give you an idea of what you can expect. But we can't change the underlying facts or the law that applies to those facts, so we can't always give you what you want to hear.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0McCook, NE 69001, USA40.1966701 -100.624874140.1481616 -100.7055551 40.245178599999996 -100.5441931tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-79708005393825872032017-09-13T11:56:00.002-05:002017-09-13T11:56:25.417-05:00What Happens if My Will Cannot be Located in Time?I recently read a Nebraska Supreme Court decision, <i>In Re Estate of Gilbert Fuchs, Deceased</i>, 297 Neb. 667 (2017) in which Mr. Fuchs's will wasn't located until quite some time after he passed away. The Court had to decide what to do with this situation, and whether the will could even be probated.<br />
<br />
Apparently Mr. Fuchs kept his paperwork in quite a state of disarray, with paperwork in vehicles, in totes, and all over his home. When vehicles would be sold, the buyers would package up all of the paperwork to be returned to Mr. Fuchs's Personal Representative.<br />
<br />
The family was pretty sure that Mr. Fuchs had a will, but couldn't locate a copy after contacting local attorneys and the County Court (as Wills can be filed with the County Courts in Nebraska for safekeeping). Ultimately the Personal Representative, Mr. Fuchs's son, found the original will several months after he passed away, and several months after the probate proceedings had begun. This will differed substantially from how the law of intestacy distributed Mr. Fuchs's property. Unfortunately for Mr. Fuchs, and for his intended beneficiaries, the will was located too late. In Nebraska, the Uniform Probate Code requires that probate proceedings be commenced within 3 years of the date of death. Informal probate proceedings alleging that Mr. Fuchs died intestate (without a will) were begun shortly after his death. But a request to probate the will was commenced more than 3 years after his death. This subsequent request was denied as coming too late, and the Supreme Court upheld the lower court's finding.<br />
<br />
It's an interesting case, but what does this mean for the rest of us? Well, it means that we need to make sure that our wills and other important paperwork is kept in a secure area, and that our loved ones know where this important paperwork is kept. Because if our loved ones cannot locate our will, then our wishes may not be carried out upon our deaths.Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-41131556465074163502017-06-06T15:00:00.001-05:002017-06-06T15:00:43.768-05:00Oh No! My Loved One Was Arrested...What Do I Do?This is a scenario that no one wants to find themselves in, but it unfortunately does happen. So your loved one is being/has been arrested, and you're trying to figure out what to do. Here are a few things to keep in mind and be aware of in the early stages of what appear to be likely criminal charges.<br />
<br />
<b>1. Don't interfere with law enforcement. </b>If law enforcement is going to arrest someone, either on a warrant or because of conduct that they've been made aware of through an investigation, there is nothing that you can do to stop this. Don't hide a person that law enforcement is looking for, as that can be Obstructing a Peace Officer or Aiding and Abetting a Fugitive. Don't get in the middle of an arrest, as that can be Resisting Arrest or Obstructing. Let the arrest happen, and then deal with it after the fact. If you get in the middle of the situation, you can only make things worse, both for your loved one and for yourself.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Don't make statements to law enforcement, and advise your loved one not to either. </b>I can't even tell you how many of my cases are proven largely by my client admitting to violations of the law, or by family members making statements that end up being harmful to my client. So the best course of action is to keep your mouth closed, and to advise your loved one being arrest to not make any statements either.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Hire an attorney as soon as possible. </b>This should go without saying, but having an attorney involved at the earliest stages of a criminal case is important. Bond is set by the Court, and it's always helpful for the defendant to have an attorney to make a bond argument on his/her behalf. If there is no attorney involved, the defendant has to provide information to the Court directly, and could mistakenly make statements that can later be used against him/her. So the involvement of an attorney early on is important.<br />
<br />
<b>4. If the defendant can't afford an attorney, request a public defender as soon as possible. </b>In most of the areas where I practice law, the public defenders are extremely qualified and excellent attorneys. So if a private attorney isn't in the cards financially, applying for the public defender is the next best option. And not delaying this application means that the public defender can begin working on the case as early as possible.<br />
<br />
<b>5. But don't think that a hired attorney or a PD can get a defendant out of jail in the middle of the night or on the weekend. </b>In some low level cases, bonds are set by a schedule adopted in advance, so that people can post bonds and get out of jail right away. But for felonies or higher level misdemeanors, there aren't bond schedules. And it isn't required that defendants be brought before the Court for a bond setting until 48 hours. It simply isn't realistic to expect hired attorneys or PDs to be able to get defendants out of jail in the middle of the night or on weekends. Often we don't have the judge's cell phone number. And if we do, it won't do any good to make a call, as they're not going to set bond after a telephone call from one attorney. A hearing has to occur, where both the State and the defendant can make bond arguments. So don't expect middle of the night or weekend results. And don't buy into the hype from lawyers who tell you that they can achieve middle of the night or weekend results.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Be patient. </b>I know that this is exactly the type of thing that people don't want to hear when their loved one has been arrested. But it's probably the single most important piece of advice. The wheels of justice turn slowly. Dismissals usually don't happen at the first hearing; and trials aren't immediate. It takes time to get discovery (police reports, photos, recordings, etc.) and plea offers. And it takes time for a criminal defense attorney to review this information and discuss it with a defendant. So even though it's terribly difficult, be patient.Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Lexington, NE 68850, USA40.7808398 -99.74150450000001940.6846368 -99.902866000000017 40.877042800000005 -99.580143000000021tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-42847506921717185262017-05-16T11:47:00.000-05:002017-05-16T11:47:02.134-05:00Interpreters: How to Work Well TogetherI've written previously about speaking for court reporters, and the advice that I had then applies very much the same when speaking for interpreters. However, there are some differences. And there is more to working with an interpreter than simply speaking clearly. I thought it would be appropriate to devoting a blog post to this topic, as it comes up fairly regularly in my practice, but also would be useful information for other people as well. <br />
<br />
#1: Speak slowly. <br />
Most people speak too quickly, especially when they are nervous. People are more likely to be nervous when in court or in a deposition, and this is when interpreters are trying to convey every word that you say. Therefore, if the interpreter is going to be able to repeat everything in another language, you need to speak slowly. Chances are that you are probably still speaking more quickly than you think, anyway. This rule is even more important if you are using medical terminology or other specialized terms which the interpreter is not likely to encounter very often, or for which there may not be a direct translation and which may need to be explained to convey the meaning.<br />
<br />
<div>
<div>
#2: Read even more slowly. </div>
<div>
People read much more quickly than they typically speak. If the document that you are reading is important (and it probably is, or you wouldn't bother to read from it), then you should slow down while reading to make sure that the words are translated.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
#3: Don't go off on tangents. </div>
<div>
If the interpreter asks you to repeat something that you have said, do just that—repeat only what you said. Do not go off on a tangent explaining the concept or background story to the interpreter. The interpreter was not asking you to repeat yourself because s/he did not understand the concept, but only because s/he did not hear or understand the words that you said. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
#4: Do not interrupt or speak over another person. </div>
<div>
An interpreter can only take interpret the words of one speaker at a time. When people talk over one another or interrupt each other, the record becomes muddled and the interpreter cannot keep up. Wait until one person has finished speaking before you speak. </div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
#5: Answer out loud, using real words. </div>
<div>
Do not nod or shake your head, as an interpreter cannot convey this. Try to minimize mmm-hmm, hmm-mmm, uh-huh, and huh-uh, as these are often difficult to hear, and may lack direct translations. Use "yes," "no," and other real word verbal responses. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
#6: Minimize the use of slang.</div>
<div>
Slang often cannot be directly translated, or even conveyed in a meaningful way to speakers of other languages. Minimize the use of slang, making the interpreter's job easier, and making for language easier to understand by the listener.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
#7: There is a difference between a translator and an interpreter.</div>
<div>
Did you know this? I didn't until an interpreter explained the difference. A translator changes language from one to another in written form. An interpreter changes language from one to another in verbal form. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
#8: Court certified interpreters really are better.</div>
<div>
Interpreters who have gone through the process to become court certified interpreters really do a better job. They have the skills necessary to convey meaning from language to language, and understand that the role of an interpreter simply is to repeat what is said (to the extent possible). When it is possible to use a court certified interpreter, I recommend it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
#9: Interpreters are not lawyers, however.</div>
<div>
So we cannot assume that interpreters understand legal concepts well enough to explain them if there is no direct translation. Some interpreters have been working in the court system that they do understand, but not all will. So attorneys need to ensure that they are explaining concepts, and not just trusting or assuming that the interpreter can or will.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Minden, NE, USA40.4986252 -98.9478593999999740.4020307 -99.109220899999968 40.5952197 -98.786497899999972tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-20460616747239268032017-05-09T08:57:00.001-05:002017-05-09T08:57:13.633-05:00Non-Profit Series: 10. Applying for a Liquor License as a Non-Profit<div class="MsoNormal">
Written by Sagan L. Carman-Downer<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is common for non-profit organizations to host events or
fundraisers where they wish to serve alcohol. State laws will dictate what the
organization needs to do to be able to serve alcohol at these events. This
article will focus on the requirements in Nebraska for certain non-profit
organizations to apply for a liquor license.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Nebraska, an organization that is planning to have
alcohol available at an event is required to get a liquor license, with only a
few very limited exceptions. In the vast majority of situations, if there will
be alcohol available for consumption or sale at the event, a license is
required. Obtaining a traditional liquor license can be a very involved and
costly process. Nebraska, though, provides a less intensive process for certain
non-profits that are seeking a liquor license for only one or a few events
throughout the year.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Non-profits that qualify, can apply for a Special Designated
License (SDL), instead of a more traditional liquor license. Normally, a liquor
license allows an organization to serve alcohol on an ongoing basis. The SDL,
though, approves liquor service for only a single event. In order to qualify for this less intensive
application, the non-profit organization must be 1) formed as a corporation
under state law, and 2) exempted from paying federal income tax (this is
commonly achieved by receiving 501(c)(3) status as explained in installment 6
in this series).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If the non-profit meets these two requirements, they are
able to apply for the SDL. The application is submitted to the Nebraska Liquor
Control Commission to determine whether it will be approved. In order for the
application to be approved, the non-profit must show that they are taking
certain precautions to ensure that alcohol is being served only to people aged
21 or older, and being served in a safe and responsible manner.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
For more detailed information on what specific precautions are
required, and to access copies of the forms required to be submitted for the
SDL application, this website is a great resource, <a href="https://lcc.nebraska.gov/special-designated-license-applications">https://lcc.nebraska.gov/special-designated-license-applications</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Kearney, NE, USA40.699330300000007 -99.08167839999998740.603027300000008 -99.243039899999985 40.795633300000006 -98.920316899999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-15193861376041150652017-04-25T10:06:00.002-05:002017-04-25T10:06:34.625-05:00Non-Profit Series: 9. Additional Applications and Accounts for Non-Profits<div class="MsoNormal">
Written by Sagan L. Carman-Downer<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once you have made the decision to start a non-profit
organization and completed the steps to officially form an entity (filing
Articles of Incorporation, for example), there are additional steps that may be
necessary. This article will explain some of those additional steps.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Apply for Federal Employer Identification Number<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the next steps will be applying for an Employer
Identification Number (EIN or federal tax id). This is a unique number assigned
to the organization by the IRS. An EIN will be used for things like opening
bank accounts and identifying the organization for tax purposes. The
organization will complete a form called an SS-4, which can now be completed
online through the IRS website. If completed online, the organization can
receive the EIN immediately after the application is submitted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Set Up EFTPS Account<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your organization may also need to set up an account with
the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System. This is a system for the
organization to deposit tax money withheld from any employees the organization
may have. This will include money withheld from employees’ paychecks for FICA
taxes and income taxes. The organization should automatically receive
instructions in the mail for setting up this account after they have received
their EIN.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Apply for State Identification Number<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even if you have received an EIN through the IRS, you may
still be required to obtain an additional tax identification number through the
state where your organization is located. Many states require the organization
to apply for this additional identification number for state tax purposes. This
is likely necessary if you will have employees that the organization will be
required to withhold state income tax for, or if you will be required to collect
a sales tax or other state tax. This can typically be done by submitting an
application for an identification number through the state’s department of revenue.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Additional State Requirements<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There may be additional requirements that vary by state. For
example, in Nebraska, the organization may have to purchase a workers’
compensation insurance policy. This is an insurance policy that provides
benefits to employees who are injured during their employment. Unless the
organization meets certain exceptions, they may have to provide this type of
insurance for its employees or officers. Another example in Nebraska, is the
requirement that the organization complete an application through the
Department of Labor for unemployment insurance. If the organization will have
employees, they may be required to complete this to provide unemployment
benefits to employees.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This list provides information on some of the next steps
that the non-profit organization will need to take once they have officially
formed an entity. There may be additional requirements depending on the state
in which the organization is located, and the type and size of the
organization. To ensure that you have completed the necessary steps, submitted
the necessary applications, and created the necessary accounts, it is best to
speak with an attorney in your state.<o:p></o:p></div>
Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Minden, NE, USA40.4986252 -98.9478593999999740.4020307 -99.109220899999968 40.5952197 -98.786497899999972tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-43423657400549640722017-04-12T13:29:00.002-05:002017-04-12T13:29:35.054-05:00Non-Profit Series: 8. Tax-deductible Contributions<div class="MsoNormal">
Written by Sagan L. Carman-Downer<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The previous article in this series explained that one of
the benefits of a non-profit organization obtaining 501(c)(3) status, is that
contributions made by others are tax deductible. This means that the person or
business that donates (the donor), can deduct that amount from their taxable
income, which may help lower their tax burden. The non-profit that is receiving
the donation (the donee), and the donor, must comply with certain federal rules
regarding disclosures and recordkeeping. This article will explain some of
those requirements for cash contributions. It’s important to note that the
requirements discussed in this article are for cash contributions, and will
differ if the contribution is in the form of goods or services.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Requirements of Donor<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To take the tax deduction, the donor is required to keep a
record of the contribution. For a cash contributions (which includes cash,
checks, electronics funds transfers, debit cards, credit cards, and payroll
deductions), the donor must keep one of the following: a bank record (canceled
check, bank statement or credit card statement); a receipt from the donee; or a
payroll deduction record. Simply keeping track in a check register will not be
enough, one of the above records must be retained in order to deduct the
contribution from the donor’s taxable income.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If the donor makes a cash contribution of $250 or more, they
must also get an acknowledgment from the donee. This acknowledgment is
explained in more detail below.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Requirements of Donee<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If the donee receives a contribution of more than $75 from
one individual or business, they must provide a disclosure statement to the
donor. The disclosure must be written, must note the value of the contribution,
and must inform the donee that the contribution is tax-deductible. If the donee
does not provide this disclosure statement, the IRS may impose a fine on them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As mentioned above, if the donee receives a cash
contribution of $250 or more, they must provide an acknowledgment to the donor.
The acknowledgment must meet the following requirements:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->It must be written;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->It must include the amount of cash contributed;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->It must indicate whether the donor received
goods or services for the contribution (including the value of the goods or
services); and<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->It must be received by the donee before their
tax return for that year is due.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This article provides a general guideline of the disclosure
and record keeping requirements for cash contributions to non-profit
organizations that have qualified for tax-exempt status under 501(c)(3). There
may be additional requirements for larger cash contributions, and the
requirements for contributions of goods or services will differ significantly.
There are also additional rules on whether the donor can deduct these
contributions, and if they can, how much can be deducted. The extent to which
contribution is deductible will depend on each individual’s circumstances, so
it would be best to speak with an attorney or other tax professional to discuss
your specific situation.<o:p></o:p></div>
Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Minden, NE, USA40.4986252 -98.9478593999999740.4020307 -99.109220899999968 40.5952197 -98.786497899999972tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-59137525142497998672017-04-06T11:13:00.000-05:002017-04-06T11:13:01.127-05:00Meet the Staff (Part 2)At Fye Law Office, we have some great staff. And we want our clients, potential clients, and friends to have the opportunity to learn a little bit about them, and to hear some advice and thoughts from them. Today, you get to meet <b>Kristi</b>, one of the legal secretaries in our office.<br />
<br />
<b>Tell us a little bit about yourself.</b><br />
<b> </b> My husband’s name is Brad and he works for KAAPA Ethanol at the Minden location. I have 2 children, Amie and Spencer. Amie is married to Kyle and has 4 children, JJ, Quincy, Halle, and Maddex. She is a para at the Holdrege Elementary School, and Kyle works for Husker Irrigation. Spencer is a Program Director for the YMCA at an elementary and a middle school in Lincoln. I have 3 step-children, Chelsea, who is the manager of a Caribou Coffee in Omaha, Grant, who is in the uniformed division of the Secret Service protecting Embassy Row in Washington D.C. and is getting married this summer, and Bryce who is an assistant manager of a Hy-Vee in Lincoln. I live on a farm near Axtell, but I am originally from the Holdrege area.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>How long have you worked for Fye Law Office?</b><br />
A year and 5 months.<br />
<br />
<b>What is your work experience/education/training prior to coming to work for Fye Law Office?</b><br />
<b> </b> I worked for several years as a bookkeeper for a couple of local farmers and then took a position at CPI at their Funk location as a grain merchandiser and scale operator for 4 years before deciding to try something new and went to work for a friend of mine at her family’s car dealership in Holdrege. When the dealership sold, the opportunity to work for Fye Law Office was available and I decided to yet again try something new! I had absolutely no law background and Tana took a chance with me!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>What advice do you have to potential clients who are meeting with an attorney for the first time?</b><br />
Be as upfront and honest as you can. Attorneys can only deal with the information they are given and it is better for them to find out right away then to have something pop-up in court and not be prepared to deal with the information.<br />
<br />
<b>What advice do you have to clients in working more effectively with their attorneys?</b><br />
A couple of the main things would be to make sure your attorney has an updated address and phone number and if possible set up your voicemail so messages can be left. Another thing would be to not wait until the day or two before court to try and talk to your attorney. Their schedules fill rather quickly.<br />
<br />
<b>Do you have any memorable experiences since working at Fye Law Office that you'd like to share?</b><br />
Without getting into much detail, I’ve had a client tell me they were going to sue me, which scared the crap out of me!! Other than that, probably just things that clients seem to think they need to share with us!<br />
<br />
<b>What do you like about working in a law office?</b><br />
We have such a variety of cases that we work with and some of them can be very interesting. Our office is pretty laid back and we all get along so well!<br />
<br />
<b>What is your favorite type of case or matter to work on? Why?</b><br />
I haven’t worked on many, but probably the adoptions. It’s just so rewarding to see these kids adopted by loving families and to finally have some stability in their lives.<br />
<br />
<br />
Thanks to Kristi for sharing a little bit about herself, as well as her thoughts with all of you.Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Holdrege, NE 68949, USA40.4402885 -99.36982169999998940.391946000000004 -99.450502699999987 40.488631 -99.28914069999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339251214269345933.post-52236195132509780062017-03-28T15:01:00.000-05:002018-09-04T17:02:14.468-05:00Non-Profit Series: 7. Benefits of 501(c)(3) StatusWritten by Sagan L. Carman-Downer<br />
<br />
The previous article in this series explained what the term 501(c)(3) means, and briefly which organizations can qualify for tax-exempt status under 501(c)(3). As explained in that article, many non-profit entities seek tax-exempt status under this provision as charitable organizations.<br />
<br />
In order to qualify under the charitable portion of 501(c)(3), your organization must be operated for a purpose that is recognized by the federal government as “charitable.” Purposes that are recognized include:<br />
<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Relief of the poor, the distressed, or the underprivileged;<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Advancement of religion;<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Advancement of education or science;<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Erecting or maintaining public buildings, monuments, or works;<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lessening the burdens of government;<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lessening neighborhood tensions;<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eliminated prejudice and discrimination;<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Defending human and civil rights secured by law; and<br />
•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Combating community deterioration and juvenile delinquency.<br />
<br />
When seeking tax-exempt status, the non-profit organization must go through an application process to be recognized as having 501(c)(3) status. During this process, the organization must ensure that they operate for one or more of the purposes listed above to qualify as a charitable organization.<br />
<br />
If the organization’s application is approved, it will be considered tax-exempt for purposes of federal law. There are two major tax benefits to obtaining 501(c)(3) status. First, the organization is exempt from paying federal income tax. Second, the organization can receive tax deductible contributions. This allows people who donate to the organization to deduct their contribution from their income, which may lower the income tax they would otherwise owe. This provides a direct benefit to the donors, and an indirect benefit to the organization. Because the donors’ contributions may help lower their tax burden, it can encourage donors to contribute to an organization that has 501(c)(3) status over one that doesn’t.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
If you believe your organization could benefit from having status as 501(c)(3), it is best to speak with an attorney in your state to discuss the requirements further. This article provides general guidelines, but you should seek advice specific to your situation to determine whether this is the best option for your organization.</div>
Tana Fyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02843667976664212854noreply@blogger.com0Lexington, NE 68850, USA40.7808398 -99.74150450000001940.6846368 -99.902866000000017 40.877042800000005 -99.580143000000021