United States v. EcoVest Capital Inc., et al

  1. February 01, 2022

    US Can Seek Disgorgement In $3B Easement Fight, Court Told

    A real estate company can be forced to forfeit money it made promoting conservation easement transactions in a purported $3 billion syndicate scheme, the U.S. government told a Georgia federal court, rejecting arguments that disgorgement isn't available to the government.

  2. December 13, 2021

    Real Estate Co. Fights Disgorgement In $3B Easement Dispute

    A real estate company shouldn't have to forfeit money made from marketing conservation easement transactions the government argues were abusive, it told a Georgia federal court in a $3 billion dispute, arguing disgorgement isn't available under federal tax law.

  3. September 08, 2021

    Judge Sets 2023 Trial For $3B Tax Easement Dispute

    A real estate company and appraiser will have to wait two more years to defend themselves at trial from the government's 2018 suit over an alleged $3 billion abusive easement scheme after a Georgia federal judge scheduled trial for 2023.

  4. July 16, 2021

    Real Estate Co. Wants All Docs Given In $3B Easement Row

    The U.S. government should be compelled to hand over all the documents it is withholding from a real estate company in a $3 billion conservation easement case, the company told a Georgia federal court.

  5. July 06, 2021

    Appraiser Can Pursue Tax Privacy Claims In $3B Easement Row

    A property appraiser accused by the federal government of helping orchestrate a $3 billion conservation easement tax scheme can sue the government claiming it wrongfully disclosed his taxpayer information, a Georgia federal judge said Tuesday.

  6. July 01, 2021

    Judge Extends Discovery In $3B Conservation Easement Row

    A Georgia federal judge on Thursday extended discovery deadlines by 20 days in a $3 billion conservation easement dispute after a real estate company and appraiser accused the U.S. government of needlessly prolonging the case.

  7. June 30, 2021

    Don't Draw Out Discovery In $3B Easement Fight, Court Told

    A Georgia federal court shouldn't prolong a $3 billion conservation easement dispute that has been running for over two years by acceding to the U.S. government's request for a discovery deadline extension, an appraiser and real estate company said.

  8. April 12, 2021

    Appraiser In Alleged $3B Easement Scheme Gets Lifelong Bar

    An appraiser the Internal Revenue Service accused of taking part in an abusive conservation easement scheme worth some $3 billion was permanently barred by a Georgia federal judge Monday from participating in easement deductions. 

  9. November 09, 2020

    US Adds More Allegations In $2B Easement Deduction Row

    The U.S. government Monday amplified its suit in a federal court accusing a Georgia real estate company and several individuals of illegally generating more than $2 billion in conservation easement tax deductions, adding 40 more transactions it said were abusive.

  10. August 24, 2020

    Appraiser Can't Sue IRS For Alleged Privacy Violations

    A conservation easement appraiser accused by the government of promoting abusive schemes lost his bid Monday in a Georgia federal court to countersue the government for what he says were privacy violations.