Tax lien filed against Crawford Lewis

Published Jun 25, 2012 at 3:00 pm (Updated Jun 25, 2012)

A $6.6 million tax lien has been filed against the Crawford Lewis law firm for failing to pay federal employment taxes from June 2006 through September 2009. According to documents filed with Clerk of Court Doug Welborn's office, two liens were filed against the firm on April 23, one totaling more than $3.7 million, the other more than $2.9 million. The liens indicate that taxes were owed for every quarter during the more than three-year period. The liens do not indicate why the taxes were not paid, but an attorney who represents Crawford Lewis on an unrelated matter says the firm is currently working toward a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service. "Crawford Lewis is in a civil administrative process with the IRS and has a pending offer in compromise," says Mary Olive Pierson, adding that the firm is current and compliant on all tax returns since the period in question. Pierson also confirms that Crawford Lewis is under investigation by the state's Office of Disciplinary Counsel, but notes that the firm self-reported the matter to the OCD and is "in the administrative process" with the agency. The tax liens come as Crawford Lewis tries to settle another legal problem with Tres Bernhard, who recently surrendered his law license in lieu of disciplinary action after the firm sued him for pocketing proceeds from the sale of bogus movie industry tax credits while working as an attorney at Crawford Lewis. Bernhard is in an undisclosed medical facility but is cooperating with the firm and working with it toward a settlement, says Pierson, adding that the tax lien issue is not related to the Bernhard matter. —Stephanie Riegel