Thoughtful Insight and Updates on Legal Issues that Matter to You

Perspectives

IRS halts fraudulent tax refund scheme involving stolen identities and fake income tax returns

On May 1, 2012, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the South District of Florida reported that a IRS and FBI undercover operation targeting identity theft tax refund fraud had resulted […]

Joseph A. DiRuzzo, III OF Fuerst Ittleman convinces Third Circuit to reverse District Court regarding ineffective assistance of counsel allegations

On May 2, 2012, Circuit Judge Aldisert, in writing for a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in the case of United States v. James […]

Electronic Check Processing Under Increased Scrutiny By U.S. Bank Regulators Because Of Increased Risk of Money Laundering

As banking and payment processing technology continually evolve, so too does the threat that such technology may be used for illicit and illegal purposes, such as money laundering. One such […]

IRS Commissioner Ignores Taxpayer Advocate’s Recommendations Seeking to Address Unduly Harsh Penalties Faced by Participants of the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program

As we previously reported here, in August of 2011 the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Taxpayer Advocate Service released Taxpayer Advocate Directive 2011-1 (TAD) which addressed the IRSs failure to treat […]

Third Circuit Court of Appeals Affirms Decision Against Taxpayer Whose Check Was Incorrectly Processed

On April 19, 2012, the Third Circuit in the case of United States of America v. Zarra, case no. 11-3622, affirmed the decision of the District Court granting summary judgment […]

FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Use of Nanotechnology in Cosmetic Products

On April 20, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA” or the “Agency”) issued a Draft Guidance for Industry entitled “Guidance for Industry: Safety of Nanomaterials in Cosmetic Products” […]

FDA Issues Draft Guidance on the Safety and Regulatory Status of Nanotechnology in Food

On April 20, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a Draft Guidance addressing the use of nanotechnology by manufacturers of food ingredients, manufacturers of food contact substances, and […]

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Urged To Issue Final Rule on Physician Gift and Disclosure Regulations

On April 4, 2012, Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Herb Kohl (D-WI), authors of the Physician Payments Sunshine Act (“Sunshine Act”), wrote a letter to the Centers for Medicare and […]

Fourth Circuit Creates Circuit Split in Virgin Islands Tax Case

On April 16, 2012, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals based in Richmond, Virginia affirmed the decision of the Tax Court denying the motion to intervene filed by the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands (“GVI”) in McHenry v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, case nos. 11-1239, 11-1366.

FDA’s Import Trade Auxiliary Communication System (“ITACS”) Now Available

With an increased number of imports entering the United States, new enforcement initiatives under such programs as the Food Safety Modernization Act, decreasing budgets and a limited number of employees, […]