Employer sues H&R Block, tax preparer for slander regarding statements about accounting practices

GRETNA – A River Ridge H&R Block location and a tax preparer are being sued by a restaurant owner who claims his employees were told he was engaged in illegal activities regarding withholding taxes from their paychecks.

Dennis Kelley filed suit against H&R Block and Meaghan Babin (also known as Meaghan Kein) in the 24th Judicial District Court on April 10.

Kelley contends that on Jan. 31 he provided W-2 tax forms, which had been prepared by accounting service Tax Help Inc., to two of his employees working at his restaurant, Kelley’s Village Inn of River Ridge, who went to the H&R Block located on Jefferson Highway in River Ridge to have their taxes done. The plaintiff asserts his employees met with Babin who prepared their taxes and informed them that he had illegally failed to withhold enough federal and state taxes from their wages. Kelley claims Babin went on to tell his employees that they should call law enforcement authorities if he failed to correct three W-2 forms and that one of the employees followed her advice by contacting the sheriff’s office.

The plaintiff further alleges that when a third employee went to the defendants for tax preparation they were told that he was engaged in illegal conduct.

The defendant is accused of slander.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought by the plaintiff.

Kelly is represented by attorney Robert T. Garrity Jr. of Harahan.

The case has been assigned to Division I Judge Nancy A. Miller.

Case no. 748-575.