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Review content:
Due to medical bills, in 2007, I contemplated bankruptcy. I contacted Drake Ozment. I pondered over it and decided I would rather try and work it out myself. Then in January 2008 I had a bad accident which resulted in more medical bills. I contacted Drake Ozment again, and in June of 2008 he filed my bankruptcy. \r
Upon filing the bankruptcy petition, I was informed I needed to file for tax years 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007, which I did. I started making bankruptcy payments of $124.66. Several months later I was informed I needed to send in an additional payment of $419.52 and my payments would go up to $209.76 to include the amount owed to the IRS. I paid it off and it was discharged in 4/13. After the discharge, I called this firm to ask them if there was anything else I needed to do. The reply I received was “No”. \r
Shortly after, I received 5 certified letters from the IRS stating that I owed them over 15K. \r
I made an appointment and was seated with a junior attorney, Matthew Girardi, who tried to explain this. He told me years 2005-2007 were included but the three previous years were not and those were the years they wanted payment for. \r
He informed me that “99% of the time they discharge those years” He also stated “This never happens” and “Only twice this has happened”. So which is it? \r
I was informed by an IRS rep that they always do this. A brief summary of Bankruptcy Code 11 USC 523 (a)(1)(B)(i): A discharge does not discharge an individual debtor from any debt for any tax with respect to which a return was not filed or given. \r
I am sure Drake Ozment was trying to get me the lowest possible payment but, I would’ve had no problem paying more over the last 5 years so I could be done with it now, but now I am faced with it not being over. I am still liable because it was not included in the plan. I am going to pay not only what should have been included in the plan, but the interest that has accrued over the last 5 years that I did not know about and future accruing interest. \r
I am not one to gamble with my financial future, nor do I think my attorney should. Will they, won’t they, they are!\r
I paid this man $3000 and put my trust in him to help me through this. In my opinion, Drake Ozment was negligent and I would not recommend him.\r
Since my initial review of this attorney, he e-mailed me. His e-mail was a bit judgmental, stating that I was engaging in “unlawful action” \r
because I did not file my returns on time. I am very aware that I did not file my returns on time. I had no intention to evade paying for those years, but sometimes things in peoples’ lives prevent them from doing the right thing. This man had no idea what was going on in my life those years. When I did file them, I was glad I was finally going to be able to take care of it. We pay attorneys to help us, not be judgmental. \r
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