Taxes.com Wins Right To Criticize Rival
from the right-decision dept
It's been just about a year since we wrote about the Taxes.com/JKHarris lawsuit, where JK Harris, a tax preparer sued Taxes.com for trademark infringement - saying they mentioned the JK Harris name too often on the Taxes.com website, thereby skewing search engine results. At the time, I pointed out it was strange that a company with the domain name Taxes.com would need to steal traffic from jkharris.com, but then came up with the real issue. Taxes.com was accusing JK Harris on their website of being a scam. However, it was based on factual information, and thus, the only way JK Harris could figure out to get the info down was to sue for trademark infringement. At the time, we were disappointed that they appeared to have won the case, and pointed out that, as long as the information was true, Taxes.com should have every right to post the info. Now, it appears, a district court has agreed, saying that Taxes.com can talk about JK Harris on their site, assuming they're providing truthful information.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Better Business Bureau gives Taxes.com the Boot-Up
Taxes.com
1101 El Camino, 2nd Floor
San Bruno, CA 94066
General Information
Original Business Start Date: January 1992
Principal : Mr. Steven H. Kassel, E.A. President & CEO
Phone Number: (650) 742-7700
Fax Number: (650) 742-7771
Type-of-Business Classification: TAX NEGOTIATOR
The information in this report has either been provided by the company, or has been compiled by the Bureau from other sources.
BBB Membership
The membership of Taxes.com has been suspended for the following reasons: for failing to promptly respond to complaints, copyright and trademark infringement as well as conduct detrimental to the Bureau's image.
Customer Experience
When evaluating complaint information, please consider the company's size and volume of business. The number of complaints filed against the company may not be as important as the type of complaints and how the company handled them.
Closed Complaints
Number of complaints processed by the BBB in last 36 Months: 8
Number of complaints processed by the BBB in last 12 months: 7
Of these complaints, 2 were closed as resolved, 1 was closed as resolved but not within the Bureau's time frame and 5 were closed when the company addressed the disputed issues even though the situation was not resolved.
Additional Information
Additional Doing-Business-As Names: FIRSE TAX
Additional Phone Numbers: 877-238-2204
Additional TOB Classifications: TAX REPRESENTATION
Educational Tips
Tips on... Tax Preparers
Report as of 03/31/2003
Copyright 2003 Better Business Bureau
As a matter of policy, the Better Business Bureau does not endorse any product, service or company. BBB reports generally cover a three-year reporting period, and are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. Information contained herein is believed reliable but not guaranteed as to accuracy. Reports are subject to change at any time.
The Better Business Bureau reports on members and non-members. Membership in the BBB is voluntary, and members must meet and maintain BBB standards. If a company is a member of this BBB, it is stated in this report.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Steve Kassel EA Apology Letter to Don Fitch CPA
The letter stated the following:
Don Fitch Accountancy
74-478 Highway 111 Suite 3
Palm Desert, CA 92260
June 24, 2003
Dear Mr. Fitch:
I apologize for my accusations of unprofessional or unethical conduct that I made against you, including any made to the California State Board of Accountancy, IRS Director of Practice and AICPA, and any problems that these statements may have caused. I know that your work as a tax professional is competent and I wish you success in the future.
Sincerely,
Steven H. Kassel, EA
Founder & CEO
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Steve Kassel EA Apology Letter to Don Fitch CPA
The letter stated the following:
Don Fitch Accountancy
74-478 Highway 111 Suite 3
Palm Desert, CA 92260
June 24, 2003
Dear Mr. Fitch:
I apologize for my accusations of unprofessional or unethical conduct that I made against you, including any made to the California State Board of Accountancy, IRS Director of Practice and AICPA, and any problems that these statements may have caused. I know that your work as a tax professional is competent and I wish you success in the future.
Sincerely,
Steven H. Kassel, EA
Founder & CEO
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Steve Kassel EA's Internet Posts
http://web.archive.org/web/20030611151904/http://paylesstax.com/steve_kassel.html,
or enter into the way back machine the url http://www.paylesstax.com/steve_kassel.html
Note: JK Harris had sued Steve Kassel, EA of Taxes.com
*****Steve Kassel EA's--> Various internet posts/publications and/or Quotes*****
Sent to Paul A. Thomas, CPA----> you are so full of crap, it has to be coming out of your nose and every other orifice.
Sent to Paul A. Thomas, CPA----> all you have are the lies out of your maggot-infested brain.
Sent to William Gustoffson, CPA ----> Post this anywhere you please, you gutless piece of shit
Sent to Debbie Pitts (discussion related to JK Harris) ----> a toilet seat has seen your contributions to society.
Sent to Paul J. Berg ----> has decided that private e-mail should be posted publicly which merely proves that he is a cretin with no scruples whatsoever
Sent to William Gustoffson, CPA ----> _uck you
Sent to Mike Wellman CPA----> Bullshit
Sent to Don Fitch, CPA ----> I will sue your butt
Sent to Paul A. Thomas, CPA----> you are that stupid, Paulie, It appears the state board of accountancy in Georgia will let anyone in. Again, the web site is CORRECT. It is not meant to be a dissertation on taxes. Reading is fundamental, Paulie..you should try it some time
Sent to Easy2000 ----> your lies are about as absurd as some of the protester wackos on this board. I quoted directly from the MSN Money Central website. You have absolutely no scruples whatsoever. You lie, lie, lie and expect people not
to see through them. Well, frankly, you have zero credibility because it is all there in black and white.
Sent to Debbie Pitts ----> JK Harris is a scum bag
Sent to Paul J. Berg ----> You seem to have a hard-on for me and Mike Cooper for some reason and appear to be a jealous, frustrated old man with a great deal of time on your hands. You frequently cross the line into slander and those
actions will put us in court where you will have to prove your charges. So, post this wherever you wish. The time for you to put up or shut up is coming and I relish the opportunity to see you in court
Sent to Mike Wellman CPA----> your site counter claims you have had 281,000+ visitors. We all know that is misleading as hell
Sent to Paul A. Thomas, CPA---> Your actionable statements (there are so many, it's hard to keep sending all of them to our attorneys) are wonderful
Sent to Mike Wellman CPA----> Who the hell do you think you are kidding Sent to Easy2000 ----> Easy2000 is truth and fact impaired. In fact, his postings are erroneous more often than anyone on this board and he/she continues to hide behind a screen name. Ignorance will do that to you.
Sent to Paul Berg, CPA---> you are going to jail
Sent to Paul Berg, CPA---> you better have one helluva good attorney.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Taxes.com and Steve Kassel Sanctioned
Did you know that on April 15th 2003 Steve Kassel EA was sanctioned by the court and ordered to pay Don Fitch CPA?
In the case Donald R. Fitch VS Steven H. Kassel, ET.AL.: Don Fitch filed a Motion to Compel Attend Depo & Sanctions.
The court awarded Don Fitch:
SANCTIONS OF $1,183 against defendant (Steve Kassel).
Steve Kassel was also being sued by JK Harris.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
STEVE KASSEL APPREARS BEATEN BY JK HARRIS
Upon your search of the term JK Harris on the Taxes.com website you will discover that Steve Kassel's website Taxes.com no longer has any references to JK Harris. As everyone knows, Mr. Kassel has had many pages devoted to JK Harris, what happened?
Lets see if Mr. Kassel will share the other terms of his apparent loss to JK Harris?
How much did Mr. Kassel have to pay JK Harris?
Search Results From This Site
No pages found that include all search words.
Search term JK Harris
Warm Regards,
Mark Gronke, CPA
MarkEGronkeCPA@aol.com
[ link to this | view in thread ]
STEVE KASSEL APPREARS BEATEN BY JK HARRIS
by Mark Gronke, CPA on Monday, June 21st, 2004 @ 08:04AM
http://www.cpataxstars.com
All references to JK Harris have been removed (see below) from Taxes.com (aka Steve Kassel, EA).
Upon your search of the term JK Harris on the Taxes.com website you will discover that Steve Kassel's website Taxes.com no longer has any references to JK Harris. As everyone knows, Mr. Kassel has had many pages devoted to JK Harris, what happened?
Lets see if Mr. Kassel will share the other terms of his apparent loss to JK Harris?
How much did Mr. Kassel have to pay JK Harris?
Search Results From This Site
No pages found that include all search words.
Search term JK Harris
Warm Regards,
Mark Gronke, CPA
MarkEGronkeCPA@aol.com
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Steve Kassel EA stiffs Ervin Cohen & Jessup
(beginning of post)
************************************************
Kassel (aka filth & irsofferexpert) stiffs Ervin Cohen & Jessup
Thanks right, Steve Kassel EA hired Ervin Cohen & Jessup (310)273-6333 or (310)273-9618 a southern California law firm to represent him with the JK Harris v Kassel case only to stiff Ervin Cohen & Jessup (310)273-6333 or (310)273-9618 for approx 70k!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Since Kassel is claiming that he is doing well, maybe be could start paying back Ervin Cohen & Jessup (310)273-6333 or (310)273-9618, lol.
My understanding is that Kassel was claiming that he was in a financial hardship (no assets) and was about to file bankruptcy if a judgement was entered against him.
Lets see what the "Filth Man" has to say about this. I would recommend that everyone call this law firm about Kassel's claimed new found income and success. lol.
Come Clean Kassel (aka Filth Man) and now deadbeat (does not pay his bills).
[ link to this | view in thread ]
handyspiele
[ link to this | view in thread ]
LIARS
[ link to this | view in thread ]