A lawyer who said he spoke with the family of former Duke lacrosse player Reade Seligmann this week said accusations that Seligmann owes millions in taxes to the IRS are inaccurate.
The Detriot News reported Thursday that public records indicate that Seligmann—one of the three players falsely accused of rape in 2006—allegedly owes the Internal Revenue Service $6,492,377 in income taxes from 2007. But Jim Cooney, a Charlotte-based attorney and one of Seligmann’s former attorneys, said that is wrong.
“It’s not true,’” Cooney said in an interview with The Chronicle. “He’s paid more taxes than anyone—he’s paid a lot of taxes. The claim is just wrong.”
Seligmann and his lawyer, Richard Emery, could not be reached for comment Sunday. Emery has also publicly called the accusations inaccurate since they were first published.
“I don’t understand why everyone thinks a large government organization never makes mistakes—especially the IRS,” Cooney said. “I’m sorry people are accusing him when he’s paid his taxes and then some.”
Cooney told The (Raleigh) News & Observer the taxes were on Seligmann’s settlement money, which he received from the University.
If the IRS’ figure is correct, it may indicate the approximate amount of the value of Duke’s settlement with Seligmann in 2007—a previously private number. Raleigh tax lawyer Jack Cummings told the N&O that $6.5 million in income taxes would be generated by approximately $18 million in income.
Cooney said Seligmann was unaware of the tax lien until The Detroit News reported the claim Thursday, the N&O reported.
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