Attorney Edward James Blake Jr.'s Legal Cases

Tax

Over $100,000 saved with the Internal Revenue Service

N/A

OUTCOME: We were able to reach a resolution within a short period of time, that saved the taxpayer in excess of $100,000.

We were contacted by a doctor in Southern Illinois for representation in regard to serious tax issues. The allegation was that all taxes had not been paid, and all tax returns had not been filed. We ... agreed to representation, forwarded Power of Attorneys to the Internal Revenue Service and obtained transcripts. After that, we began working with the Revenue Officer of the Internal Revenue Service and were able to reach a resolution within a short period of time, that saved the taxpayer in excess of $100,000. This result kept the medical practice of the taxpayer from being shut down, kept liens from being filed and did not interrupt the professional practice of our client. There was no publicity, including through newspapers, patients were not aware of what was occurring and this resolution took care of matters that had been developing for many years.

Estate planning

$5,000,000.00 Missing from Estate

N/A

OUTCOME: Our client prevailed and the complaining beneficiaries did not receive a favorable decision from the Court.

We represented a surviving spouse who had married a wealthy widower. Although a prenuptial agreement was entered into prior to the marriage, the widower made several changes to the estate planning doc ... uments benefitting his new wife and her children. There were also transfers of substantial assets from the husband to wife, many occurring within less than a year from the date of death of the widower. When the husband passed away, beneficiaries identified in his estate planning documents claimed there was in excess of over $5,000,000.00 missing in regard to which they were entitled to a substantial share. Issues were raised regarding fraud, undue influence, lack of mental capacity, duress and tortious interference with an expectancy. Our client prevailed and the complaining beneficiaries did not receive a favorable decision from the Court.

Child support

$75,000 Unpaid Child Support Recovery

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OUTCOME: We recovered in excess of $75,000 for our client.

Our client had been married to an Anheuser Busch executive. There was a clause in the divorce settlement agreement that provided that our client was to receive child support with an additional bonus o ... r override based on increases in income of her highly paid former spouse. Unknown and undisclosed to our client, her former spouse received substantial stock options after the divorce. Counsel for the former spouse claimed that the stock options were not income and therefore were not subject to the override or bonus for additional child support. We conducted discovery. We obtained copies of tax returns. The tax returns of the former spouse proved that he had considered same as income since they were identified as such on his tax returns. We recovered in excess of $75,000 for our client, possibly one of the largest back child support recoveries for an Edwardsville, Illinois law firm.

Divorce and separation

$585,000.00 Recovered in Divorce Case

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OUTCOME: Our client received in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the marital estate.

We represented a wife in a dissolution of marriage proceeding. Her husband was a successful business person in Southern Illinois, including in the agricultural and seed business. Tragic had struck our ... clients on many occasions before the divorce including losing three children in three separate accidents. Our client was not thinking straight. Her husband’s attorneys were attempting to coerce her into a meager settlement and divorce resolution, not in her best interests, but solely in the best interests of her husband because he had contacts with the right people. Once we agreed to become involved, we immediately disassociated ourselves from the settlement discussions that had transpired. After discovery, and after the intense settlement negotiations, our client received in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the marital estate, including because our client could not count on meaningful job opportunities in the future, and because her husband had a favorable financial future.

Tax

Over $375,000.00 saved - Resolution Reached with the Internal Revenue Service

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OUTCOME: We worked out a resolution, saved our client hundreds of thousands of dollars and kept our client in business

We were hired by a client who had previously paid in excess of $20,000.00 to a national tax representation firm that advertised on the media throughout the United States. Nothing had been accomplished ... that benefitted the client. After we took over, we immediately began communicating with the Internal Revenue Service, worked out a resolution, saved our client hundreds of thousands of dollars, kept our client in business and our client was grateful for the results obtained. We had recommended to our client that a new accountant be retained and we made a referral to a local accountant and tax return preparer. We filed suit against the national tax firm to recover substantial amounts on behalf of our client. We isolated the old corporation and then created a new limited liability company, to basically continue with the customers in regard to future work. This strategy saved our client in excess of $400,000.00. There was no criminal prosecution. We worked closely with our client for a period of time which included frequent office conferences, correspondence and telephone calls. At each step of the way our client was in contact with us regarding issues and concerns. We used a team approach which, in this case, meant that since more than one attorney was working on the file, someone was always available to respond to the concerns of the client and/or handle communications with the Internal Revenue Service. We treated the Internal Revenue Service with respect and responded to all telephone calls and inquiries. We explained to our client that the Internal Revenue Service has a job to do which is basically follow the law.

Estate planning

Over $425,000.00 Recovered from Phony Heir and Disqualified Administrator

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OUTCOME: With the tax-free recoveries received by our clients, they were able to pay off debts, take care of education expenses for their children and had savings for their retirement.

We were hired by clients from the Centralia and Salem areas of Marion County in regard to a disputed estate. There was a person, who had retained counsel, that was claiming that he was the only heir t ... hat should receive anything from an estate in excess of $400,000. Not only that, the same person was serving as Administrator and neither he nor his attorney advised the Court that because of an adoption decades ago he was no longer an heir, was not entitled to serve as administrator and was not entitled to any proceeds from the estate. After Court proceedings and various pleadings were filed he was removed from office and his attorney discharged. If our clients had not hired counsel they would have been none the wiser and would have lost everything and no one would have known what occurred, except possibly the person was administering the estate that turned out not to be an heir and/or his attorney. With the tax-free recoveries received by our clients, they were able to pay off debts, take care of education expenses for their children and had savings for their retirement.

Estate planning

Dispute Involving $480,000.00 of Farmland

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OUTCOME:

We prepared an estate plan for an elderly farming couple who wished to favor a child who had remained at and worked for the farm while the other children moved and/or had different careers. From a fin ... ancial standpoint, some of the other children were not in agreement with the testamentary wishes of the parents. The parents were of sound and disposing mind and memory and knew what they were doing. We explained to all that even though the parents wished to favor a certain child that was their decision.

Divorce and separation

Father’s Rights

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OUTCOME: Criminal charges were not pursued and child custody and child support issues were resolved to the satisfaction of our client.

We represented a father who was stationed with the United States Air Force at Scott Air Force Base in regard to child custody disputes that involved his Muslim wife, eight (8) children that had been ad ... opted and brought to St. Clair County, allegations of sexual abuse, and disputes in regard to child custody and child support. Our client received the result he was seeking and criminal charges were not pursued and child custody and child support issues were resolved to the satisfaction of our client.

Lawsuits and disputes

$580,000.00 Traffic Accident Settlement

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OUTCOME: Without a trial, we were able to negotiate a settlement for over $580,000.00 .

We represented clients who recovered an excess of $580,000.00 in regard to a traffic accident. A pizza delivery business was negligent in basically forcing its drivers to hustle from store to store. Th ... ere was an accident and our clients, a mother and daughter, sustained serious injuries. Without a trial, we were able to negotiate a settlement for over $580,000.00 and the expectations of our clients were succeeded.

Probate

$9,000,000.00 Estate Administration Settlement

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OUTCOME: After contested proceedings involving numerous parties and law firms in Illinois and Missouri the surviving spouse ended up with an estate in excess of $9,000,000.00

We represented a surviving spouse who was scheduled to receive basically an income interest from her predeceased husband’s fortune while the husband’s substantial corporus was to be given to his distan ... t relatives. After contested proceedings involving numerous parties and law firms in Illinois and Missouri the surviving spouse ended up with an estate in excess of $9,000,000.00 which she was then able to leave as she wished, to her side of the family and friends, including on a tax-free basis since she passed away in 2010, at time when there was no estate tax. If the surviving spouse had not contested matters timely, and if appropriate and aggressive action had not been taken immediately, she would have had relatively little to leave to her side of the family and friends upon her death.

Edward James Blake Jr.'s Legal Cases (51)

Over $100,000 saved with the Internal Revenue Service

$5,000,000.00 Missing from Estate

$75,000 Unpaid Child Support Recovery

$585,000.00 Recovered in Divorce Case

Over $375,000.00 saved - Resolution Reached with the Internal Revenue Service

Over $425,000.00 Recovered from Phony Heir and Disqualified Administrator

Dispute Involving $480,000.00 of Farmland

Father’s Rights

$580,000.00 Traffic Accident Settlement

$9,000,000.00 Estate Administration Settlement