VLP & ANDREOZZI BLUESTEIN, LLP. ASSIST PRO SE TAX COURT PETITIONERS
VLP & ANDREOZZI BLUESTEIN, LLP. ASSIST PRO SE TAX COURT PETITIONERS
On April 24, 2017, the U.S. Tax Court convened in Buffalo for its annual trial calendar. This is always a challenging time for pro se petitioners who face IRS counsel in factually and legally nuanced cases involving a wide variety of tax disputes. Of the cases called that morning, five petitioners appeared, four of whom were unrepresented by counsel.
This is the 3rd year that VLP, led by LITC Staff Attorney Derek Wheeler, appeared at the Tax Court Calendar Call. We were fortunate this year to be assisted by Andreozzi Bluestein, LLP. Randall Andreozzi and Michael Tedesco showed up at Tax Court and volunteered, even though they had no cases left on the Tax Court docket.
Assisted by UB Law School Pro Bono Scholar Christine McClellan, Derek Wheeler was able to connect our volunteer attorneys with two petitioners seeking assistance. In both cases, Mr. Andreozzi and Mr. Tedesco entered appearances and were granted continuances by the Court for the petitioners, over the objection of IRS Counsel, ensuring the petitioners’ rights were protected and that their cases could be fully investigated. The volunteer attorneys’ involvement could save the petitioners thousands of dollars in disputed tax liabilities.
