Success Stories

Tax Reform Act of 1986

The Tax Reform Act of 1986 phased out the deduction for personal interest. I was the only attorney in the nation to amend my clients' Chapter 13 bankruptcy plans to maximize my clients' interest deductions before they were phased out. The IRS appealed the decision to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. The U.S. Solicitor Generals office dismissed this appeal upon review because they agreed this was permissible.

First Successful Use of Duress

A client was married to a member of the Posse Comitatus. She signed the federal returns that were problematic after numerous threats to herself and her children. The IRS refused to grant her relief until a lawsuit was filed. Prior to trial, the IRS conceded. This was due to our efforts that resulted in the judge saying he would admit into evidence the photographs of the hand grenades and sub-machine guns she took prior to leaving their house. At the time of this decision, there were no reported cases of the IRS conceding a duress defense.

$150,000 Relief for Spouse

A client was assessed more than $150,000 in back taxes associated to his income. The couple divorced and the wife received all their personal property in the divorce decree. One year later, after his bankruptcy discharge was granted, the couple remarried.