August 2013 archive

Swiss Banks No Longer a Haven?

Since 2009, the U.S. Department of Justice has charged more than 30 banking professionals and 68 U.S. accountholders with violations arising from their offshore banking activities, with ongoing investigations proceeding against 14 additional Swiss-based financial institutions.  In an effort to improve this process, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Swiss Federal Department of Finance jointly announced …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2013/08/swiss-banks-no-longer-a-haven/

IRS still needs to shore up its fraud detection efforts

With a self reported estimate of $19.2 billion worth of tax return fraud each year, the IRS is working to improve its detection efforts.  The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (“TIGTA”) issued a July report highlighting weaknesses in the IRS’ Return Review Program (“RRP”).  The TIGTA recommended that the IRS Chief Technology Officer implement the …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2013/08/irs-still-needs-to-shore-up-its-fraud-detection-efforts/

“Dirtiest Hotel in America” Loses Again

The owner of a Tennessee hotel named at the top of TripAdvisor’s 2011 list of America’s dirtiest hotels has lost its bid to sue the website for defamation.  A federal appeals court agreed with the 2012 ruling by U.S. District Judge Thomas Phillips’ determination that users would not reasonably conclude that the resort was literally “America’s dirtiest …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2013/08/dirtiest-hotel-in-america-loses-again/

Best Places to Work in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Business Journal (LABJ) just published its list of the best companies to work for in Los Angeles for 2013.  The LABJ ranks the top 100 companies in Los Angeles, and segregates the list into Large (250+ employees), Medium (50-249 employees) and Small (15-49 employees) companies. The best places to work in Los …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2013/08/best-places-to-work-in-los-angeles/

Will Shopping Center Be Held to Estimates In A Letter of Intent?

The California Court of Appeals has reversed a trial court’s decision to dismiss a tenant lawsuit against a shopping center landlord based on differences between the landlord’s estimates of certain charges outlined in a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) as part of lease negotiations versus the amounts charged by the landlord upon occupancy. Prior to entering …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2013/08/will-shopping-center-be-held-to-estimates-in-a-letter-of-intent/

PCAOB Reports Auditors and Broker Dealers are Too Close for Comfort

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) has issued its second report regarding auditors of brokers and dealers registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). This report relates to inspections of 60 audits conducted by 43 firms, which the PCAOB performed from March 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. The overall result was dismal, and as follows:  In contrast to …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2013/08/pcaob-reports-auditors-and-broker-dealers-are-too-close-for-comfort/

Whistleblower’s litigation costs are deemed deductible business expenses

A federal district court, in the matter of Bagley, No. 2:10-cv-00483-RT-FMO (C.D. Cal. 8/5/13), has determined that Richard Bagley was engaged in the trade or business of pursuing False Claims Act lawsuits against his former employer and was thereby entitled to deduct legal expenses related to that endeavor as ordinary and necessary business expenses. The False Claims Act (FCA) …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2013/08/whistleblowers-litigation-costs-are-deemed-deductible-business-expenses/

Beer Companies Are Losing Ground, Especially With Younger Consumers

What alcoholic beverage do people like to drink?  Well Gallup conducted its annual Consumption Habits poll and the verdict is in.  Jeffrey M. Jones summarizes the survey results on behalf of Gallup (see here). A majority of American’s drink alcoholic beverages, with 63% percent of survey respondents since 1939 historically indicating that they drink occasionally.  …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2013/08/beer-companies-are-losing-ground-especially-with-younger-consumers/

Medical Diagnostic Errors are the Primary Cause of Malpractice Claims

Based on a Johns Hopkins University study, a prior blog post provides some alarming statistics on surgical “never events” (a term used in the medical community to describe a preventable surgical event that is “never” supposed to occur) that actually do occur.  More recently from the same university, a study concluded the following: Of approximately …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2013/08/medical-diagnostic-errors-are-the-primary-cause-of-malpractice-claims/

5 Reasons Californians Purchased Homes in 2013

The California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) released the results of their 2013 Home Buyer Survey, which highlights why Californian’s purchased homes this year.  The following are the reasons and related percentages reported: 38% – Price reductions 12% – Favorable prices and/or financing 10% – Desired a new or better location 9% – Investment or tax …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2013/08/5-reasons-californians-purchased-homes-in-2013/