2005

2005

   Dealings with “The Gambler” (Kenny Rogers partnership with Herschend family lands in U.S. Tax Court) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, December 26, 2005, p. 24.
   Death and Taxes (IRS say heirs undervalued $70 million estate of murdered businessman Konstantinos Boulis by 70%) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, December 26, 2005, p. 24.
   Lost Horizon (80-year-old Putnam Investors Fund says $10,000 investment in 1925 would be worth $15.5 million, but doesn’t mention investment in S&P 500 would be worth $27 million) (Informer), Forbes, December 26, 2005, p. 24.
   The Courts Are Going Straight to the Dogs (Table lists dog custody court cases around North America) (Informer), Forbes, December 26, 2005, p. 24.
   Rating Nonprofits (Table lists and examines financial efficiencies of nations’ 200 largest nonprofits), Forbes, December 12, 2005, p. 202.
   Do Shoppers Get 72% Off? (IRS says Hotel Reservations Network cofounders Robert B. Diener and David S. Litman improperly avoided taxes on $114 million in capital gains) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, December 12, 2005, p. 46.
   Caught by the SEC (Slide show lists end-of-the-year cases brought by the the Securities and Exchange Commission), Forbes.com, December 20, 2005.
   Maybe He Got Caught in a Matrix (Actor Laurence Fishburne filed his 2001 tax return in 2004) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, December 12, 2005, p. 48.
   They Hold Your Hand (Study by Daniel Bergstresser, Peter Tufano and John M.R. Chalmers says stockbroker picking mutual funds create no identifiable value for customers) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, December 12, 2005, p. 48.
   Of Course Not (Table lists big-money lawsuits in which plaintiff’s side proclaimed, “It’s not about the money”) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, December 12, 2005, p. 48.
   Throwing the Booklet at the IRS (Agency wrongly told 11,000 taxpayers they had made an error) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, November 28, 2005, p. 40.  
   Your Kilowatts at Work (Environmental Protection Agency stages an energy-conservation event featuring many electric lights and :wild sound”) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, November 28, 2005, p. 40.
   Watch for Foot Faults—and Footnotes (Financial Analysts Journal article by Morgan Stanley’s Martin L. Leibowitz likens great investors to tennis champions) (Informer), Forbes, November 28, 2005, p. 40.
   Who’s Working for Whom? (Table lists criminal cases against insurance adjusters) (Informer), Forbes, November 28, 2005, p. 40.
   From Commerce One to Commerce None (IRS says Thomas Gonzales Sr., ex-official of Commerce One, used a sham tax shelter to shield $350 million in gains) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, November 14, 2005, p. 46.
   At Issue: The Principle of the Principal (Judge says IRS used “abuse of discretion” in pursuing 48-cent claim against lawyer Jerome K. Norris) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, November 14, 2005, p. 46.
   Hedgehogs (Table lists fraud claims against hedge fund managers) (Informer), Forbes, November 14, 2005, p. 46.
   Win Some, Lose Some (Jailed insurance scammer Rex K. DeGeorge, who lost four boats at sea, finally is forced to cough up some cash) (Informer), Forbes, October 31, 2005, p. 46.
   No Argument There (Study by Daniel S. Hamermesh and Joel B. Slemrod says working can be an addiction) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, October 31, 2005, p. 46.
   No Wonder It’s Called the Big Easy (Table lists recent corruption cases around New Orleans) (Informer), Forbes, October 31, 2005, p. 46.
   Maybe a Due Process Issue? (IRS pursues claim of $20 million for estate of lawyer Burton W. Kanter despite revelation U.S. Tax Court judges covered up a report clearing him of wrongdoing (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, October 17, 2005, p. 40
   They’ll Drink to That (IRS revokes tax-exempt status of American Legion James Edward Gray Post No. 100, Maryville, Mo. on grounds it was primarily a bar) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, October 17, 2005, p. 40.
   Like That Doesn’t Happen Already (Some lawyers are upset about bills in Congress that would pay doctors, but not attorneys, to advise about end-of-life situations) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, October 17, 2005, p. 40.
   Seeking Another Victory Lap (Nascar sues the Franklin Mint to cover $140,000 spent fighting a claim it didn’t own design of its own trophy) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, October 17, 2005, p. 40.
   What’s Riskier Than Bioterrorism? (Table lists odds of dying this year from various causes) (Informer), Forbes, October 17, 2005. P. 40.
   Mom’s Money (Children of Jacqueline Spencer Morgan, who married into Bancroft family, which controls The Wall Street Journal, are about to pay estimated $12 million to settle lawsuit against Ronnie Lee Morgan, the much younger, openly gay interior designer she married late in life) (Follow Through), Forbes, October 10, 2005, p. 44.
   No Stock Tips from Greenspan (Federal Reserve Board economist J. Benson Durham disputes conclusions that investors can profit by looking at old monetary policy data (Informer), Forbes, October 3, 2005, p. 40.
   Old Apartments Fade Away (Arthur MacArthur, reclusive son of Douglas MacArthur, receives big payout to vacant rent-control apartment in New York City) (Informer), Forbes, October 3, 2005, p. 40.
   Small Fries Know Accounting Tricks, Too (SEC accuses Martin E. Kenney Jr. on paid leave as CEO of WRC Media, with accounting fraud), Forbes.com, September 26, 2005.
   Shredding Their Taxes? (Instashred Security Services ex-owners Donald R. Thorne, Issue Rabinovitch and Thomas Dunlap fight IRS claim the used an abusive $60 million tax shelter (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, September 19, 2005, p. 44.
   Time to Rename It 99 Excuses Only (On its website 99 Cents Only Stores invites stockholders to an annual meeting without date or location) (Informer), Forbes, September 19, 2005, p. 44.
   How Much of My Tuition Goes to the Corner Office in Old Main? (Table lists highest paid college presidents per student) (Informer), Forbes, September 19, 2005, p. 44.
   Plus You Can Drink the Portfolio (New book, Wine Investment for Portfolio Diversification, by Mahesh Kumar, says adding wine to portfolios increases returns and lowers risk) (Informer), Forbes, September 5, 2005, p. 40.
   Why Would They Cut You In If It Was Such a Sure Thing? (Table lists cases of alleged scamsters offering investment opportunities with high returns and low risk) (Informer), Forbes, September 5, 2005, p. 40.
   Busy Summer for Insider Trading (Securities & Exchange Commission brings a number of insider trading cases), Forbes.com, August 19, 2005.
Even the IRS Links Death and Taxes (IRS email about “Son of Boss” abusive tax shelter calls it “Son of Sam) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, August 15, 2005, p. 28.  
   Finally Hitting the Green (Divorce judge lets ex-Gruner & Jahr boss Daniel Brewster keep membership at Connecticut’s Round Hill Club (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, July 25, 2005, p. 42  
   It Did Seem Like a Very Large Staff (Federal Election Commission says it wasn’t fraud for outside telemarketers hired by the National Republican Congressional Committee to call themselves “Congressional aides”) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, July 25, 2005, p. 42.
   Well, That Certainly Clears Up Things (Table lists entities recently changing their name) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, July 25, 2005, p. 42.
   Too Good to be True (SEC sues Stanley A. Leitner and Bradley C. Stark for luring investors to Megafund with promises of no-risk annual returns of 60% to 120%), Forbes.com, July 12, 2005.
   The Deadly Game of Soccer (U.S. Marine Corps base at Quantico warns soccer players about possibility of getting hit by gunfire (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, July 4, 2005, p. 42.  
   So Buying Stock in Enron Was Good? (Academic study by Jeffrey Rachlinksi and Gregory La Blanc says capital markets need stupid investors) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, July 4, 2005, p. 42.
   Mind Games off the Field (Study by Cade Massey and Richard H. Thaler say pro football teams overpay for high draft picks) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, June 20, 2005, p. 44.  
   Don’t Tell That to the Promoters (Study by Marie Connolly and Alan B. Krueger says average price of popular-music-concert ticket has risen at nearly double inflation since 1981) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, June 20, 2005, p. 44.
   The Feds Sure Took Their Sweet Time (Table lists penny-stock firms facing SEC sanctions that haven’t filed financial statements in years) (Informer), Forbes, June 20, 2005, p. 44.
   Tracking Track Data (Track Data CEO Barry Hertz is latest target of insider trading lawsuit), Forbes.com, June 16, 2005.
   Strong Candidate for Chutzpah Award (SEC accuses disbarred Santa Monica, Calif. lawyer Kevin J. Quinn of violating orders prohibiting agency practice and penny-stock involvement (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, June 6, 2005, p. 42    
   Security Needed for All Those Checks (Study says locksmiths and check-cashing services had top four-year growth rate) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, June 6, 2005, p. 42.
   Brother-in-law, Can You Spare a Dime? (Table lists public company CEOs that pay money to their brothers-in-law) (Informer), Forbes, June 6, 2005, p. 42.  
   No Nobel Prize for Accountability (Wise Giving Alliance of Better Business Bureau faults Carter Center) (Informer), Forbes, May 23, 2005, p. 40.  
   Shocker: Government Skims Money (Court of Federal Claims prepares to rule on case challenging diversion of patent fees by Congress) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, May 23, 2005, p. 40.
   Easier Said Than Done (Financial Analysts Journal article by Paul McCulley sets out strategy for impending inflation) (Informer), Forbes, May 23, 2005, p. 40.
   Not Yet on the Fiction List (Table list investment advice books from late 1990s with optimistic predictions and low prices) (Informer), Forbes, May 23, 2005, p. 40.
   Uncle Sam Warns You! (Federal Government issues advisories about frauds and scams), Forbes.com, May 20, 2005.
   Money Talks Louder Than Words (Listing of legal proceedings in Morgan Stanley 10-K is longer than description of business segments) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, May 9, 2005, p. 34.
   Look Out, Taco Bell (Qwest Communications files trademark infringement suit over use of ma-bell.com domain name by Michele Yontef (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, May 9, 2005, p. 34.
   Did Humans Pay Antidumping Penalty? (Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization study by Jason Shogren, Richard Horan and Erwin Butte says early modern humans used economics against Neanderthals) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, May 9, 2005, p. 34.
   Eternal Life and Eternal Pitches (Table lists press releases tied to death of Pope John Paul II) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, May 9, 2005, p. 34.
   Hey Buddy, Want a Share? (Regulators warn about worthless-stock scams), Forbes.com, April 25, 2005.
   No Midas Touch for Taxes (Forbes Midas List member Dixon R. Doll sues advisers he said put him into an abusive tax shelter) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, April 25, 2005, p. 30.
   Seems Like a Good Place for Him (Businessman A. Demetrius Brown, a/k/a Tony Brown, has relocated from the Chicago area to Las Vegas amid an unpaid bill, a revoked corporate charter for Commodities Management Exchange, a lapsed domain registration and disconnected phones without forwarding. (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, April 25, 2005, p. 30.
   Drilling for Suckers (Energy-industry fraud is back in a regulators’ group list of the top 10 threats to investors) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, April 25, 2005, p. 30.
   Wall Street’s Gong Show (New York Stock Exchange has succeeded yet in efforts to trademark “The Opening Bell” and “The Closing Bell”) (Informer), Forbes, April 18, 2005, p. 44
   Perhaps More Evidence for That View (Section 526 of the pending bankruptcy reform bill appears to prohibit counselors from asking for their fees) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, April 18, 2005, p. 44.
   Smile for the Camera—Then Duck (New York Stock Exchange website, http://www.nyse.org, contains many photos of now-fallen leaders ringing the storied opening bell) (Informer), Forbes, April 11, 2005, p. 42.
   Finally, a WMD Linked to Iraq (Latest Nigerian-style scam involves an email from a U.S. soldier seeking to cash in on two trunks of jewelry and money from Saddam Hussein) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, April 11, 2005, p. 42.
   Gotta Watch That Fine Print (Orthodox Union sues Brach’s Confections claiming ® on Star Brites peppermint mint wrappers looks like the U-inside-a-circle sign for Kosher (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, April 11, 2004, p. 42.
   Securities Lawsuit Names Rottweiler as Defendant (Table lists civil lawsuits brought by regulations involving bad accounting at smaller firms) (Informer), Forbes, April 11, 2005, p. 42.
   What’s Voluntary About Taxes? (IRS report summarizes “frivolous” tax objections), Forbes.com, April 4, 2005.
   What’s He Investigating? (The mysterious Regulatory Compliance Commission at www.regcc.us denies it’s posing as a governmental agency) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, March 28, 2005, p. 44.
   Do What We Say, Not What We Do (Gannett Co. doesn’t deny it set up Media West unit in Nevada, which lacks a corporation tax, to own newspaper logos and lower its state tax bite) (Informer), Forbes, March 28, 2005, p. 44.
   Option That Lawsuit (Lawsuit by billionaire Ronald W. Burkle against Michael Ovitz reads like a story treatment) (Informer), Forbes, March 28, 2005, p.44
   We Assume All Doctors Are Honest (U.S. Postal Inspection Service sends “Dear Dr” letters to physicians in Xelan tax scandal (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, March 28, 2005, p. 44.
   Are You Still Waiting For Yours? (Table lists civil lawsuits that IRS files to recover mistaken refunds) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, March 28, 2005, p. 44.
   Only Geckos Were Polled? (Geico won’t document claim of 97% customer satisfaction) (Informer), Forbes, March 14, 2005, p. 36.
   Watch Those Swinging Doors (Family of David K. Welles Sr., founder of Therma-Tru, fights IRS demands for records of an allegedly abusive tax shelter) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, March 14, 2005, p. 36.
   If It Sounds Too Good to Be True (Table lists defendants in prime bank fraud cases) (Informer), Forbes, March 14, 2005, p. 36.
   Whence Those Fiscal Woes? (IRS says Silicon Valley executive David J. Shimmon earned $70 million in 1999 but, thanks to a questionable tax shelter, reported only $2.8 million) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, February 28, 2005, p. 28.
   Justice Delayed Can be Very Lucrative (Waddell & Reed Financial executives Keith A. Tucker and Robert L. Hechler win appeal of ruling they stalled release of their names by their accountants past the statute of limitations) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, February 28, 2005, p. 28.
   Like There’s Not Enough Junk Mail Now (U.S. Postal Service planning to start Details, a magazine for direct marketers) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, February 28, 2005, p. 28.
   States’ Rights (Table lists specific medical conditions or benefits mandate in certain states) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, February 28, 2005, p. 28.
   Sunlight for Insurance (Insurance agents may finally have to act in the best interest of clients), Forbes.com, February 24, 2005.
   A Little More Monkey Business, Y’all? (Estate of Betty Slick Moorman, whose family founded the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, is fighting claim it undervalued her estate by 95%) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, February 14, 2005, p. 38.
   A Buy Signal or Internet Discounting? (New York Stock Exchange seat just sold for $975,000, 63% drop since $2.65 million peak in 1999 (Informer), Forbes, February 14, 2005, p. 38.
   We Can’t Wait for the Sequels (Table lists corporate leaders who wrote books and later encountered problems) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, February 14, 2005, p. 38.
   No Wonder He Wants Secrecy (Divorce file of billionaire Ronald W. Burkle reveals $101,000 contract with Merv Griffin Event Productions for a child’s birthday party) (Informer), Forbes, January 31, 2005, p. 40.
   Legal Issue Here: Kosher or Chutzpah? (Orthodox Union sues Avon Products over use of kosher symbol on Slimwell Balanced Meal Shakes (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, January 31, 2005, p. 40.
   After the Deluge, Another Deluge (Table lists publicity pitches made in wake of Dec. 26 tsunami) (Informer, with co-author), Forbes, January 31, 2005, p. 40.
   Welcome to the Casino (Stockbrokers soon will be allowed to predict likelihood of investment success), Forbes.com, January 11, 2005.
   It’s That Other 0.2% We Worry About (Some 9% of all Cessna 208 Caravan turboprops ever made have been in an accident, killing as many as 240 people) (Informer), Forbes, January 10, 2005, p. 32.
   Imagine if the Chinese Privatized It All (Financial Analysts Journal article by Fenghua Wang and Yexiao Zu says free float helps predict future returns of Chinese stocks (Informer), Forbes, January 10, 2005, p.32.