Sean M. Lebowitz studied in the University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2007 and Binghamton University (SUNY), B.A., summa cum laude, 2004.

Recent News

15 Jul 2019

Wallace v. Comprehensive Personal Care Services, Inc.

This decision highlights the disconnect between the Appellate Courts and the reality of practicing guardianship law. Here, prior to an incapacity proceeding, the court in a related trust matter entered a protective order dealing with the dissemination of medical records. Later, prior to filing for guardianship, the AIP’s son sought an order from the court allowing him to attach those medical records to his petition to determine incapacity. The trial court denied his request.

15 Jul 2019

Mullins v. Mullins

By Jenna G. Rubin

This decision deals with the effect of an order determining homestead on a beneficiary’s interest in the homestead property. Specifically, the Court considered whether a consent to the entry of an order determining homestead, where that order does not properly lay out the ownership interests in the property, is enough to actually alter the parties ownership interests. The Court held that it did not.

15 Jul 2019

Kaminsky v. Hecht

By Jenna G. Rubin

Does the Florida long-arm statute reach trustees of trusts administered elsewhere with beneficiaries in Florida? Committing a tortious act within the state is one of the enumerated acts which can give rise to jurisdiction for purposes of the long-arm statute. Fla. Stat. 48.193(1)a.2. While physical presence is not required to commit a tortious act for purposes of the long-arm statute, mere injury in Florida from a tortious act committed elsewhere is not enough.

06 Jul 2019

Update: Appellate Court Upholds Denial of Charitable Deduction for Reporting Omission

Back in 2017, I discussed the case of Reri Holdings I, LLC here. There, the Tax Court denied a charitable deduction of over $33 million since the taxpayer did not include the adjusted basis information for the property in its Form 8283 filing. The Tax Court concluded that the substantial compliance doctrine could not be used. . .

06 Jul 2019

Employers Can Truncate Employee Social Security Numbers on Forms W-2

In an effort to reduce identity theft, the IRS has issued final regulations that permit employers to truncate the social security numbers of employees on Forms W-2. Thus, the employer can elect to report the number in the format of XXX-XX-1234 or ***-**-1234 instead of providing the whole number. It is not a mandatory provision – the employer can choose to do it if it wants.

Full taxpayer identification numbers are still required. . .

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