Has she considered serving up a slewfoot instead of a lawsuit? It would have more merit, and I know I'd respect the hell out of her for it.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

Maybe we could put Dan Boyle in a room with Mrs. Stack for 30 seconds and call it even.

I see what you're saying, SF1980.

Much like PSP said though, before jumping the gun and possibly looking like a complete moron for doing so, this woman should have waited until the cops do their job and investigate the matter before assuming anything. Say the wife of pilot heard him say he was going to crash the plane. Would she have known it was going to be into a building, the ground or a hanger? I'm sure for her to even hear him mumble something of the sorts would be brushed off like a grain of salt since she of all people would have known him better than anyone else. Or at least, she should have. A lot of speculation will be slung around on this matter until official police reports come forward, if at all.

It just doesn't make any sense to me when something either on this scale happens, or of a lesser magnitude that people think the almighty dollar is going to act as a comfort zone to replace a human life. Shit, I had a hockey bud murdered on new years eve this year and the pansy little cunt scab who is responsible is still on the lam. But his family hasn't launched any kind of lawsuit for their loss against the suspect's family for his actions. They want him brought to justice VIA due process.

I don’t know, I still think she's out for a quick buck. Some people are just that messed up.

not a laughing matter, this topic is, but god damn I just lol'd.

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

Meh. I still think she's a cunt.

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Aud, I don't argue or disagree with anything in your first paragraph. It very well may turn out that Mrs. Stack didn't know squat about what would happen.

Your second paragraph - I read your earlier posting about that, and it's a horrible example of what some people are willing to do. If the guy's family had any prior knowledge that a murder would occur, than there would be a just cause for a lawsuit. Even if the one family only suspected the other family knew, I couldn't judge them for trying civil court.

To say she's just out for a buck just doesn't compute. People who sue the grocery store for a million dollars because they slipped on a squashed banana and bruised their back are "just out for a buck" (true story btw). I can't possibly think a woman who just lost her husband that way is just out for money. She may be clouded by anger and vengence right now, but not frivolity.

Good point SF, I guess we'll have to wait and see how this all pans out.

Speaking of that banana situation, some bitch sued Tim Hortons’ a few years ago because she sustained major burns on her chest after she literally took a hot cup of coffee and splashed it on herself in her car. I'll have to find the link to this case but I know it didn't hold up in court. Too many witnesses said she was loony tunes, lol. This bogus case popped up after a woman was badly burned in a similar way, although it was at fault of the person working the d/t window. The coffee fell into the car burning the woman’s upper thighs some awful. She sued Tim’s and got a decent payout from it.

That was the reason why I said she may be out for a quick buck. It's sad that a few, although they do exist, will resort to anything possible to nab a dollar.

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

Ever since that grandma sued McDonald's over the hot coffee 20 yrs ago it's gone downhill.

I am on the fence about the lawsuit; I cannot speak for another. And, yes, she's looking for answers over a senseless act of violence against an impersonal entity that by virtue of it being her husband's employer, took her world away from her. It became very personal for her. Whether or not I agree with her decision to move forward is immaterial; she has that right, and must do what she feels she needs to do to make things right in her world. As outside observers, none of us can begin to know the inner workings of how someone grief-stricken is going to deal with this tragedy. There are NO winners here. Thus, none of us are in a position to judge or denigrate her actions.

Having said this, the entity that I am employed by is an agency closely allied with what this gentleman did for a living.

Stack's wife knew, IMHO. Whether there is a way to hold her accountable remains to be seen. People's tax issues are 99 times out of 100 are created by their own (however inadvertent or deliberate or simply living beyond their means) actions. I had a tax issue some years ago where payment was not properly applied and went through the process. It is a lot less intimidating than I ever thought it would be. It took me four months to get it resolved, but I have a respect for the people who do the collections job. Collection Reps are vilified and maligned, when ultimately, it is the actions of the taxpayer that created the situation in the first place.

The Service sends letters to these people telling them WHY they owe. Nothing posts to an individual's account without concise, written communication. If you get the notice and don't understand, there is a contact number to have it explained to you. You can request copies of audit reports, audit reconsiderations, and automated substitute for return reconsiderations (when the taxpayer doesn't file a return and has a filing requirement, the Service will compile a return on behalf of the taxpayer, with no deductions and only one exemption.) This creates a balance due. A notice is generated periodically over the course of several months as an incentive to the person to file the delinquent return. If you file the original return with the supporting schedules to show that the liability the service assessed you is not valid, you can get reconsideration which will either substantially reduce your debt, or you may end up not owing at all. Most people ignore these notices; after six months and four notices, the next action becomes levy and lien, which further compounds whatever issue it is they are having.

Unless he completely shielded her from the finances and they were not married filing jointly, or even if they were, some wives never are privvy to financial information either because the other party hides it, or they chose not to be involved. It's pretty hard to say she didn't know about their tax issues and how upset her husband was.

In this economy, the suicide calls, and desperation in people's voices are clearly evident. In all fairness, there ARE people who are trying to do the right thing, but for (mostly economic/health issues) whatever reason, are drowning in their debt. Another incentive to get people to respond to the notices asking them to resolve their account, hefty penalties and interest can often end up outstripping the original additional assessed tax. It never stops accruing, and can be very substantial if the debt is left unpaid. Instead of addressing it, people ignore it. There are solutions available--due to the RRA (Reform and Restructuring Act) of 1998, taxpayers have more rights than ever. Lien filed? You have 30 days to appeal it. You miss the 30 day window? You still have appeal rights (although less than you'd have had if you made the initial deadline). There are Taxpayer Advocates who act as liasons between taxpayers and the Service to resolve ongoing issues. Many good things came of this act.

Agents cannot willfully harass someone, file liens/levys just because a taxpayer pissed them off. It is for this reason that IRS employees are held to a much higher standard than the general public. They are accountable to the public and their own internal checks and balances. This way, no one can point a finger. I am sure there are some bad apples in the bunch who put a black eye on the entity as a whole, but they are weeded out and it is just a matter of time before they are dealt with very harshly.

People don't understand that the taxes they willfully or unwittingly don't pay are what fund this country's public service programs (and I am not just talking about welfare) and run this country. You want certain freedoms and benefits? Then you have to pay for them, just like everyone else. Why should some people feel they are so above the law, or have the right to destroy the entity who is doing the job to protect the people who are taxpaying, law abiding citizens?

The man went off the deep end, for sure, but my feeling is that he probably had other issues prior to this and was a ticking time bomb. It's just unfortunate that his tax problems were the final straw.

/endrant

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