Bernie Kosar gets thrown for a loss by the IRS

Aug/06/08 10:18 PM Filed in: Bernie Kosar
BernieKosar
The tax man is trying to sack Bernie Kosar, former Hurricane and NFL star. The Internal Revenue Service filed a $228,806.21 lien -- income tax owed for 2006, according to Broward County records. Kosar is also delinquent on his 2007 property tax for his Weston home, on Paddock Road in Windmill Ranch Estates. He failed to pay $52,724.95 due last March 31 and now owes $59,881.49 with penalties, interest and other charges.

Kosar -- developer, restaurateur, Arena Football team president, and Florida Panthers limited partner -- says the tax bills fell through the cracks. ''I just found out about it.'' He intends to make good.

Kosar, who played for the Browns, Cowboys and Dolphins, went through a contentious split from wife Babette that became final in December. He says some of the tax notices went to his old address. ``When you go through a divorce and you have to switch all the names and all of the paper and all of the accounts, this stuff happens.''

Also, he says, he was busy with the Cleveland Gladiators -- he owns a piece of the team with attorney Jim Ferraro, majority owner and CEO. And Kosar runs Bernie Kosar's Steakhouse in South Miami, amid a battle over money with Dan Harri, his former chef and partner.

Harri says he loaned Kosar and the business $142,612.62, according to a letter to Kosar from Harri's attorney, Timothy Perenich. Harri declared bankruptcy in January.

Kosar says Harri owes him money. They've had terse e-mail exchanges over the past few months.

Harri: ''I have to do what I have to do . . . '' Kosar: ``I trusted and gave you 10 extra chances and still haven't asked what happened with all the early yrs money when we were over 100K per month.''

Harri: ''Kosar Hospitality owes me . . . I have kept very low profile on this.'' Kosar: ``I went way above what I should to help you and you haven't even repaid one thing let alone all the mess and crimes I am cleaning up from you.''

Harri: ''Am available . . . if you would like to discuss.'' Kosar: ``U ungrateful stupid idiot . . . You can rot in hell . . . You aren't even close to professional.''

Kosar's Cleveland lawyer, John Climaco, says Harri and Jacob Kreuzer, a Houston collection agency investigator, are using strongarm tactics. Climaco cites an e-mail that Kreuzer sent to a Kosar assistant, saying Harri planned to ''air a lot of dirty laundry about Bernie's personal life'' to media outlets including ESPN.

Climaco wrote Kreuzer and Perenich: ''Such extortionary threats are not taken lightly'' and warned that Harri could face a defamation suit if he discusses his ''unfounded claims'' with the media.

Harri is now business development director for a Tampa-area plumbing company.

(miamiherald.com)