In the story ‘ Southside couple loses court case over tax conspiracy’ published in the Lakes District News’ June 10, 2015, edition, http://www.ldnews.net/news/306823911.html?c=n, a Southside couple who claimed Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) had targeted them out of jealousy and envy lost their court case after a lengthy trial at the Prince George provincial courthouse.

The couple is now appealing the B.C. Supreme Court Justice’s decision, according to story published by the Prince George Citizen.

Nathan and Elly Foote first took the CRA to court in March 2010. Justice Lisa Warren said the couple alleged CRA officials “motivated by jealousy and envy, conjured up a scheme to inaccurately inflate Mr. Foote’s net income so as to unjustifiably pursue criminal charges against him, and reassess him hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax arrears, penalties and interest.”

In a 59-page decision outlining the events and allegations, Warren agreed officials did make mistakes in their analyses of the couple’s finances but asserted much of the problem was to do with the state in which the Footes kept their records.

In an email to The Prince George Citizen, Elly said, in part, that Warren refused to allow documents essential to their ability to cross-examine CRA witnesses, including sections of the CRA manual related to auditing farms. Elly said they were also not allowed to include testimony from an independent forensic accountant and charts demonstrating random omissions by CRA investigator of receipts and cancelled cheques she had seized.

The Footes, who argued the case themselves, are seeking a lawyer and are asking for help to finance their appeal.