In Department of Justice v. Tax Analysts (IW2). Bill

In Department of Justice v. Tax Analysts (IW2). Bill won a ease brought on behall ol Tax Analysis, a client lor over .15 years Bill represented lax Analysis, a leading publish er of tax-related news, in a number of cases that forced the internal Revenue Service to disclose a wide range of documents that provide taxpayers with guidance as to how IRS interprets the nation's lax laws The case that reached the Supreme Court involved access to opinions of federal trial judges that construed the lax laws, which were difficult to obtain prior to the Internet age The Supreme Court ruled. HI, that Tax Analysts could obtain these rulings frpm the Justice Department, which represented the IRS in all lax cases Bill's most recent victory for Tax Analysts came in the District of Columbia Circuit in July 2007. where the court rejected IRS' claim that interpretations of the tax laws that the IRS sent out via e mall were "informal'' advice that did not have to be disclosed to the public Given the prevalence of e mail as a medium of communication, this will he an important ruling for taxpayers in the years ahead. As these examples show, a focus of Bill's practice, both in Washington and tn Virginia, was representing the "little guy,'' including government employees facing job discrimination, whistle blowers, and employees losing pension protections. One of his last cases involved a large class action suit involving the Interior Department's stewardship of trust accounts held for the benefit of members of Indian tribes Bill moved to Rappahannock County in the mid-1080s. where he practiced law in Warrenton, and then Irom his home until shortly before his death.Bill was active in volunteer work in Rappahannock County. He was a past president of the Rappahannock Animal Welfare league (RAWLi He currently served on die boards of director* of the Rappahannock County Conservation Alliance (RCCAl and the Rappahannock County l ibrary. Bill was an avid fox hunter Bill's survivors inc lude his wife, Mary Dobrovir. his sister I .lien Ann Dobrovir (of New York City i and his ihrec horses, five cals and two Basset Hounds Tax deduc tible con tributions may be made in fill’s memory to The Rappahannock County Conservation Alliance 1*0 Box I lb Sperryville. VA 22740; The Rappahannock Animat Welfare league PO Box 1%, Amissville, VA 20106, and Rapp CATS. PO Box 107 Washington. VA 22747