Welcome
You are more than a number to us!
At the Law Offices of Ruch & Shipon based in Philadelphia, we find satisfaction in helping clients benefit from our experience. Our attorneys focus on practice areas in which they can offer exceptionally strong representation: Social Security Disability, immigration applications and appeals, personal injury claims, and criminal tax fraud defense.
In order to better serve the community, Ruch & Shipon maintains offices at several Philadelphia and Bethlehem area locations. We encourage you to call or come in for a free half hour consultation. You will be able to work directly with one of our lawyers, who will listen to your concerns, suggest actions you may want to consider, and give you valuable advice about your case. This initial consultation does not obligate you to any future use of our services. In fact, you don't even have to provide any personal information at the consultation. E-mail us, call us locally at (215) 708-1234, or call toll-free (888) 541-0300 to make an appointment. We return all calls within three business days. If you are not in the Philadelphia area, we can represent you in Social Security matters by phone, email, or mail.
In many situations, mistakes made early in the legal process create problems that are difficult to correct later. Contact an attorney :
- before you begin your application for Social Security benefits, if your application has been denied, or if you need help with an SSI/SSDI appeal. Our Social Security Disability attorneys can help you get the benefits you deserve. You pay no attorney fees unless we obtain benefits for you. Looking for representation in your Social Security case outside of Pennsylvania & New Jersey? Click here for USDISABILITY.COM.
- before you submit your immigration application, when you receive a BIA court date for deportation/removal proceedings, or if you need help with an immigration appeal
- as soon as possible after you are injured in an accident or if your claim for damages has been denied
- as soon as you become the subject of an IRS criminal investigation or if your tax audit appears to reveal illegal activity
At Ruch & Shipon, P.C., based in Philadelphia, lawyers focus on Social Security Disability benefits claims, personal injury claims, and IRS criminal investigations. The firm serves the communities of Doylestown, West Chester, Media, Norristown, Philadelphia County, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, and New Jersey.
Our Social Security Disability attorneys handle claims throughout the US. Looking for representation in your Social Security case outside of Pennsylvania & New Jersey?
Practice Areas
Social Security Disability Claims - Personal Injury - IRS Criminal Investigations
At the Law Offices of Ruch & Shipon, our attorneys focus on select areas of law in which we are able to offer exceptionally strong representation. As our client, you will work directly with a lawyer with extensive experience in issues similar to yours.
You may feel you can't afford an attorney. If you are dealing with the Social Security Administration, an insurance company, the USCIS (immigration services, formerly the INS), or the IRS, you may feel that even a lawyer can't help you against such powerful organizations.
To give you the opportunity to get legal advice about your situation and determine whether you want to hire a lawyer, Ruch & Shipon offers you a completely free half-hour consultation, with no obligation. In fact, you don't even have to provide personal information at the initial consultation. Contact our Philadelphia law firm and make arrangements to speak with an attorney about your concerns.
Our primary areas of practice include the following:
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Claims: Since the Social Security Administration is a federal agency, we are able to represent clients from across the United States. Call toll-free: (888) 541-0300. You pay no attorney fees in Social Security matters unless we recover benefits for you. Often people do not realize that Social Security benefits are available for many people who, although they haven't reached retirement age, are not able to work. For example, certain low income children with disabilities can get benefits, and widow's benefits may be available to surviving spouses who were married for over 10 years and are over age 50. If you need to file for Social Security benefits, you may be discouraged by the forms.
Our attorneys and experienced paralegals will help a client with a Social Security disability claim, completing social security application forms, and appealing denied Social Security claims/decisions. When an appeal is necessary, the quality of the original application is an important factor. More information is available on the following questions:
Personal injury and wrongful death claims: contact our law firm as soon as possible for advice about your case, how to proceed, and how to maximize your recovery. It costs you nothing to have personal injury attorneys Marc Shipon and Louis Ruch look at an insurance company's settlement offer before you decide whether to accept. Contact us if you have been injured in an accident, or as the result of a dog bite, medical malpractice, prescription drug errors, or an assault, or if the negligent, reckless, or illegal conduct of another is responsible for the tragic death of a loved one.
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations: Partner Louis Ruch has experience both as an IRS CI special agent and as a tax fraud prosecutor with the US Attorney's office. If you are under investigation by the IRS, you are at risk of losing your freedom and your property. You need to seek well-qualified counsel before speaking with investigators.
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Personal Injury Claims
Philadelphia Injury Claims Attorneys
The insurance company has a lawyer - you should have one too.
If you have been injured in an auto accident or by falling on a slippery floor, it is likely that soon after, an insurance company made you a settlement offer for your expenses. Insurance companies hope to pay less than a fair amount on personal injury claims.
Legal advice at no cost, with no obligation
At Ruch & Shipon, our Philadelphia personal injury practice, our attorneys are committed to helping you receive just compensation for your losses. For that reason, we encourage you, with absolutely no future obligation, to contact our office and arrange for a free consultation about your injury claim.
Current and future expenses should be considered in personal injury claims.
Your attorney will, when negotiating with an insurance company, consider not only medical expenses, the cost of therapy, and lost wages, but also the possibility of temporary or permanent disability, pain and suffering, and possible future inability to work.
Accidents and injuries
You may not realize another party is responsible for your expenses from your accident or assault. Personal injury attorneys Marc Shipon and Louis Ruch help clients with insurance negotiations and lawsuits including those involving the following:
Auto accidents: The web of insurance, including Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and full and limited tort insurance that covers auto accident victims can be confusing. If a commercial delivery vehicle or semi-truck is involved, multiple insurance carriers may be involved. Our attorneys will consider all sources of compensation for your losses, and arrange to have medical bills paid directly by the insurance company.
Slip and fall accidents, dog bites, assaults: The owner/manager of residential, commercial, or business property is responsible for maintaining a safe environment. An unnecessary fall on a slippery sidewalk or grocery aisle, injuries suffered in an assault in a poorly lighted parking ramp, animal bites, or construction site accidents all should be covered by the property owners' premises liability insurance.
Defective and dangerous products / products liability: Losses from injuries caused by seat belt failure, a tire blowout due to a tread separation, poorly designed baby equipment, or other dangerous products may be the responsibility of the manufacturer, distributor, or seller.
Accidents, assaults, or molestation of children: Schools and day care centers are responsible for the physical and emotional safety of children entrusted to their care, and property owners (in addition to the perpetrator) may be held responsible for injuries caused in an assault.
Catastrophic Injury and Wrongful Death : If a member of your family has suffered devastating injuries causing permanent disfigurement or disability, or if you have lost a loved one due to the negligent, reckless, or intentional act of another, you may be entitled to compensation for your loss of companionship and support.
Have us evaluate your injury claim.
When you contact our firm about an injury claim, an attorney will answer your call or E-mail within 72 hours. We offer appointments at five Pennsylvania locations, and if you are confined, in your home or hospital. We charge no attorney fees unless you recover damages.
We offer Spanish, Asian, and Russian language services.
Philadelphia Injury Claims Attorneys
At Ruch & Shipon, P.C. based in Philadelphia, lawyers focus on personal injury claims, Board of Immigration applications and appeals, Social Security Disability benefits claims, and IRS criminal investigations. The firm serves the communities of West Chester, Media, Norristown, Doylestown, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia County, Bucks County, and New Jersey.
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Practice Areas
Catastrophic Injury / Wrongful Death
Philadelphia Wrongful Death Attorney - Serious Injury Lawyer
If a tragic accident has resulted in the death of your child, spouse, parent, or other loved one; or if a member of your family has suffered catastrophic injuries and is living with permanent disabilities, you may be overwhelmed with medical, financial, and emotional burdens. At Ruch & Shipon, our attorneys and staff realize how difficult this time is for you. We will handle correspondence with insurance companies and medical providers, allowing your family to focus on healing.
Do not let an insurance company pressure you while you are vulnerable.
A fair settlement for your loss should not be based on a quick calculation from an insurance chart. Our serious injury and wrongful death attorneys will insist that the insurance company consider all present and future costs of your loss. If a lawsuit is the best way to achieve justice, we will aggressively represent your interests at trial.
In order to help you decide how to proceed, we are happy to offer a free consultation with no obligation. Contact our Philadelphia office, and a lawyer will return your call or E-mail within 72 hours. We will meet with you in your hospital or home if you are not able to travel to our offices in Jenkintown, Germantown, or Philadelphia.
Wrongful Death
An attorney will explain the legal definition of "wrongful death" at your initial consultation. Certainly any premature death is tragic, but the basis for a wrongful death lawsuit or claim involves certain specific losses on the part of survivors, and negligent, reckless, or intentional harm on the part of a responsible party. Some examples of situations causing wrongful death include the following:
- Medical malpractice: Doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, hospitals, and nursing homes are all required to maintain a professional standard of care. Medical malpractice claims may result from medication errors, surgical mistakes, nursing home neglect, failure to perform a cesarean section when a fetus is in distress, failure to diagnose cancer, or similar avoidable mistakes.
- Fatal car accidents: A fatal car accident caused by drunk driving, reckless driving, defective auto equipment, or even poor weather conditions may entitle survivors to a wrongful death claim.
- Swimming pool drowning, parking ramp assaults: If a death results from poor property maintenance or inadequate premises security, the owner/manager may be responsible.
Permanent disabling injury
The lifelong cost of permanent disability must be carefully calculated. At Ruch & Shipon, our serious personal injury lawyers have extensive experience in documenting and presenting current and anticipated expenses and losses due to permanent disabilities including brain damage, paraplegia, quadriplegia, chronic pain, and medication side effects. We may also be able to help those with temporary or permanent disabilities collect Social Security disability benefits
We offer Spanish, Asian, and Russian language services.
Philadelphia Wrongful Death Attorney - Serious Injury Lawyer
At Ruch & Shipon, P.C., based in Philadelphia, lawyers focus on serious personal injury and wrongful death claims, Social Security Disability benefits claims, Board of Immigration applications and appeals, and IRS criminal investigations. The firm serves the communities of Doylestown, West Chester, Media, Norristown, Philadelphia County, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, and New Jersey.
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IRS Criminal Investigations
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations Defense Attorney
Over Thirty Years of Experience
The Law Offices of Ruch & Shipon, P.C., from offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, provides effective representation to businesses and professionals facing Internal Revenue Service (IRS) criminal investigations. Our tax fraud practice is led by IRS tax fraud attorney Louis J. Ruch. Mr. Ruch, a partner with over thirty years of legal experience, served as a special agent with the IRS Criminal Investigation division, and later with the US Attorney's office as a tax fraud prosecutor.
If you have been notified that you are under investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation division, or if, during an IRS audit of your business or personal taxes, your accountant or the investigator indicates that the audit may turn into a criminal investigation, you should seek legal council from a qualified lawyer before making a statement or providing information to IRS investigators. If you would like to speak with Mr. Ruch, E-mail or call (215) 708-1234 (our main office). Note: Our firm does not handle IRS audits unless they become criminal investigations.
The importance of well-qualified representation in a tax fraud case cannot be over-emphasized. An illegal action may have seemed like a common and acceptable corporate accounting practice at the time your return was filed. However, it can have serious consequences. The rate of conviction in cases involving tax offenses is high, and jail sentences are common.*
At Ruch & Shipon, our attorneys represent corporations, professional associations, self-employed clients, and individuals facing tax fraud charges including failure to file, failure to report income, falsifying expense account entries, and schemes to inflate expenses.
Click here for frequently asked questions
*Trail of a Tax Fraud Case, a Prosecutor's Perspective, by David G. Barger, FindLaw Library, 1999
IRS Tax Fraud Attorney
At Ruch & Shipon, P.C. based in Philadelphia, lawyers focus on IRS criminal investigations, Board of Immigration applications and appeals, personal injury claims, and Social Security Disability benefits claims. The firm serves the communities of Doylestown, West Chester, Media, Norristown, Philadelphia County, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, and New Jersey.
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Common Questions About
IRS Criminal Tax Investigations
How Long can the investigation take? Normally, most investigations can take a long time to resolve. The average length of an investigation is about 2 years. After the investigation begins it is possible that it could take three years for an indictment to be filed.
How does the IRS agent investigate a Criminal tax fraud claim? The agent can obtain information from many sources including the subject who is being investigated, tax returns, the subject's accountant, record keeping, family members, business associates and others. Many clients do not know that their accountant and others can be a potential witness.
Do IRS criminal tax fraud agents attempt to surprise the target? Yes, often times the IRS criminal tax fraud agent will surprise the target at his or her business or home and try to get information early before the target can speak with an attorney.
How does the IRS criminal tax fraud agent prove a Criminal tax fraud claim? There are many tactics an IRS criminal tax fraud agent uses to support a tax fraud case. One major way an agent pursues a case is to obtain documentation that the net worth of the target is above the amount it should be based on the prior year tax returns. The difference between the reported income and the increase net worth is then presumed to be unreported taxable income. Another tactic the agent uses is the specific items method. For example, unreported commissions, kickbacks, or gains from securities or real estate which are left out of the tax return. Another tactic the IRS criminal tax fraud agent can use is an analysis of the bank deposits of the target. If the amount of the total deposits are above the reported income there could be a problem.
What are the criminal penalties? If a person is convicted of a tax loss of $12,500 to about $30,000 they could be in prison for 10-16 months. From $30,000 to $79,000 the target could be in prison 21-27 months. Under the Federal Sentencing guidelines there is NO PAROLE. Please note that the criminal penalties do not include the civil fraud penalties and interest which are high. Generally, the civil penalties could be 2-3 time the actual amount due.
IF YOU ARE BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE IRS CONTACT OUR OFFICE AND SPEAK WITH ATTORNEY LOUIS J. RUCH, ESQ. (215-722-4433) MR. RUCH WAS A SPECIAL AGENT WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AND AN ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY IN THE CRIMINAL DIVISION AND NOW SPECIALIZES IN TAX FRAUD CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATIONS.
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