Mount Clemens, MI
Tax Lawyer at Mount Clemens, MI
Practice Areas: Tax, Business ... +3 more
OUTCOME: Reversed trial judge's decision dismissing defense
Michigan Court of Appeals overturned lower court's dismissal in a published opinion, establishing precedent allowing a contractor to defend against claim of loss without benefit of license. The Court ... adopted my argument that the rule limiting non-licensed contractors was intended to be used as a "shield, not a sword."
OUTCOME: Established Taxpayer Advocacy Program at IRS
During the years I was employed as a young executive at the IRS District Offices in Detroit, Michigan, we were assigned, on direction of the White House, to develop a test program of internal advocacy ... on behalf of taxpayers. Four Districts were selected for the test. Each was tasked with designing means and methods whereby an IRS Ombudsman might help taxpayers with difficult problems and systemic errors arising out of IRS dealings, which were not being resolved by ordinary means. I was appointed Staff Assistant in the Assistant Director's office, and told to design the Detroit model. I did. Within two years, the Detroit model was recognized as optimal, and the guidelines and directives I composed were adopted nationwide. They remain in service today, substantially utilized by what has become the Taxpayer Advocate's Office. For this work, I was given an IRS Special Achievement Award and the Detroit Federal Executive Award.