Fisher Tousey is extremely saddened to announce the passing of beloved shareholder Harris LaRue Bonnette, Jr. Harris passed on December 29th, 2023, in Jacksonville, FL after his battle with cancer. Harris joined Fisher Tousey in 2011 to create and lead the firm’s Tax Controversy department, which he oversaw for the past twelve years. Harris will be deeply missed by our firm and all those who had the pleasure of knowing him. This page is being maintained in memory of Harris.
Harris concentrated his practice in all areas of Federal tax controversies including tax deficiency and collection due process litigation in U.S. Tax Court and refund, summons enforcement, and FBAR penalty litigation in U.S. District Court as well as all trust and estate disputes including will and trust contests, estate and trust litigation, and estate and trust administration.
After earning his LL.M. in Taxation degree, he became an attorney with the Internal Revenue Service Chief Counsel’s Office from 1990 to 1995, first in Austin, Texas, and then in Jacksonville, Florida. He joined Fisher, Tousey, Leas & Ball in 2011. After leaving the IRS and before joining Fisher Tousey, Harris was a partner at two well-respected boutique tax law firms in Jacksonville, one for 13 years and the other for four years.
Harris was an adjunct professor for the Graduate Program in Estate Planning at the University of Miami School of Law (2009 to 2022). He was a frequent lecturer on topics in the areas of tax controversies and trust and estate disputes.
Harris is survived by his wife, Linda, and his son, Marshall.
Areas of Practice
- Tax Controversies
- Trust and Estate Disputes
- Probate Administrations
- Trust Administrations
Education & Credentials
- Washington University in St. Louis (LL.M. in Taxation, 1990)
- University of Miami (J.D., 1989)
- University of Florida (B.S. in Agriculture, 1986)
- Florida Bar Board Certified Tax Lawyer
- AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
Bar Admission
- The Florida Bar
- Jacksonville Bar Association
- U.S. Tax Court
- All U.S. District Courts in Florida
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
Memberships
- Tax Certification Committee, The Florida Bar (Member 2011–2017; Chair 2014–2015)
- Tax Section of the Florida Bar
- – Immediate past Chair as of July 1, 2022
- – Chair 2021–2022
- – Chair-elect and Director at Large, 2020–2021
- – Chair-elect designate and Director at Large, 2019–2020
- – Director, Long Range Planning Committee, 2018–2019
- – Director at Large, 2016–2018
- – Treasurer for the Tax Section, 2014–2016
- – Secretary for the Tax Section, 2012–2014
- – Co-director of Education, 2009–2012
- – Member, Executive Council, 2003–present
- Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar
- – Liaison with Tax Section of Florida Bar, 2012–2013
- – Co-vice chair of the Estate and Trust Tax Planning Committee, 2009–2012
- – Circuit Representative for the 4th Circuit of Florida, 2005–2009
- – Member, Executive Council, 2005–2013
Publications and Presentations
- The IRS and Their Pesky Summonses: A Primer on Enforcement and Common Defenses, The Florida Bar Journal (December 2016, Vol 90, No. 10)
- The IRS Will Absolutely, Positively Not Pay Your Attorneys’ Fees (Or Will They?), The Florida Bar Journal (May 2010, Vol. 84, No. 5)
- Fiduciary Administrative Challenges, The Duty of Disclosure, Florida Banking (March 2004, Vol. 19, No. 3) (co-authored with John P. Cole)
