Discussion:Is Block or Hewitt out to get me?
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Death&Taxes (talk|edits) said: | 20 January 2008 |
| In Friday's mail was a jury duty summons, and not for simple jury duty at the county court house, but State Grand Jury duty. Good lord, sometimes Grand Juries sit for months rooting out corruption, and as anyone who lives in the Garden State knows, corruption is the state's middle name. I did ask that my term of service be postponed until May, but who knows who makes these decisions. | |
| 20 January 2008 | |
| Grand Jury appointment is an honor D&T. But of course you can opt out due to your work. The Grand Jury in my county sits for 6 months, but only if a petition comes before them. So you call one time a month and see if you need to meet for the month. Guess Jury Duty was one of the highlights of my life...hehe | |
Bottom Line (talk|edits) said: | 20 January 2008 |
I know the feeling. I've got a client whose ex-wife decided to come back to the till. They divorced in 2002 and she decided in 2005 that she didn't get enough money. They've been through mediation and arbitration. Now it's going to trial. My deposition is tomorrow and the trial (THREE DAYS!!! ) is scheduled for January 28-30!!! Have I mentioned that January is my busiest (worst) month of the year (W-2's, 1099's)?!
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| 21 January 2008 | |
| Are you getting expert witness pay? This seems like a facetious question, but I'm quite serious. I've got a similar situation developing, and I tried to make it clear to the client that if I'm called to testify about their business finances, I'll be paid a hefty deposit in advance against which my hourly charges will be drawn, including any wasted trips and time sitting around twiddling my thumbs due to legal monkeyshines. She chuckled when I told her that, and I think she left my office still believing I was joking. There's not really enough there for them to be squabbling over, but you know how stupid ex-lovebirds can be. | |
Bottom Line (talk|edits) said: | 21 January 2008 |
| Unfortunately this case is about some significant money. The husband has already spent over $60,000 in attorney and forensic accountant fees and I'm sure the wife is somewhere in that neighborhood. I'm on the husband's witness list but am being deposed by the wife. Because I'm a "fact" witness instead of an "expert" witness (independent third party), I'm not being paid by the wife. BUT, you better believe that the husband is going to pay (especially for me sitting around a courthouse twiddling my thumbs for three days. | |
| January 21, 2008 | |
| It is quite customary to charge for all of the time on the witness stand and sitting around waiting, so I agree BL, that you should charge accordingly. Make sure to charge for your parking and other out-of-pocket expenses as well. They can really add up.
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| 21 January 2008 | |
| D&T ,
I got summoned in NJ. I explained I was sole prop in the mail and they excused me. Actually went quite easily. | |
Rgtaxservice (talk|edits) said: | 21 January 2008 |
| I was called for jury duty a few years ago for a civil case. I asked to be excused because 1) it was in the middle of tax season, 2) I was scheduled for surgery a few weeks after that, and 3) I knew the plaintiff. The judge joking remarked that I one person that really wanted to get out of jury duty. I was dismissed. | |
Death&Taxes (talk|edits) said: | 21 January 2008 |
| Of course, there is a difference between being a grand juror and a trial juror. Like Natalie, I served in a pool 30 years ago, and on the last day when there were 16 people left, could not even get chosen for a DUI trial. The four remaining were discharged from duty.
I believe prosecutors are the ones who do the striking of tax consultants, since our job makes us advocates defending others. How wrong they are! | |
Bottom Line (talk|edits) said: | 22 January 2008 |
| Well, had the deposition today. What a fishing exposition!! When I walked in the door (before the court reporter had even sat down), the first thing the wife's attorney asked me was if I had brought documents. I said yes and pulled out the 10 pieces of paper I had with me. She asked where the rest of it was and I said this was all I had. All the work is done at the husband's home and all the records are there (and those were subpoenaed two years ago). Wife's attorney kept trying to trip me up asking such things as "whose handwriting is this?" To which I replied "I don't know, it's not mine." Now I have to endure three wasted days for the trial.
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Bottom Line (talk|edits) said: | 22 January 2008 |
| Oh yeah, the wife's attorney asked me why I showed 100% of the business on the husband's financial disclosure. I said that the tax return (prepared by a CPA) showed that he was 100% owner. Wife's attorney said "Florida law says that assets obtained after a marriage are considered a marital asset. Don't you know that?" To which I responded "I'm not an attorney." | |
| 22 January 2008 | |
| Good job, Bottom Line!! I love that response.
I've been deposed a couple of times and testified a couple of times. My favorite occurred when two owners sued each other over the split of their jointly owned business. Both had high-powered law firms. I was the controller and responsible with a mediator and another person for the asset split. One partner was trying to trip me up on the stand. He asks me to identify some items. He shows me pictures of them, I tell him what they are, one by one. After I answer, he says, "Are you sure?" I respond, "Yes, sir." This goes on for about 10 minutes. Finally, the lawyer starts to show another photo, when the judge says, "Counselor, I think you need to move on. It's obvious he knows more than you do." Next thing I heard, "No further questions." Tom | |
Bottom Line (talk|edits) said: | 22 January 2008 |
| That's great. These people love to keep the clock ticking. | |
