Anthony and Linda Walters - Page 15

                                       - 15 -                                         
          authorized access to the safety deposit boxes that contained the            
          cashier's checks.                                                           
               Although respondent's determinations are presumed to be                
          correct, we think petitioners have sufficiently rebutted that               
          presumption with regard to this issue.  Petitioner's handling of            
          the funds used to purchase the cashier's checks and his                     
          subsequent control of those cashier's checks is indeed                      
          unconventional.  But it is nonetheless consistent with the                  
          partnership agreement.  Furthermore, this unorthodox management             
          of financial assets is consistent with testimony provided by both           
          petitioner and Carlton.  Carlton, perhaps naively, consented to             
          petitioner's control of the money which he used to purchase the             
          cashier's checks.  Moreover, although he was uncertain of the               
          amount invested in cashier's checks, Carlton testified that he              
          knew the cashier's checks existed.  Additionally, Carlton                   
          testified that petitioner would inform him of his plans to                  
          purchase additional cashier's checks prior to purchasing them.              
               When the evidence is considered in the aggregate, the                  
          outcome is unfavorable to respondent.  Petitioners have presented           
          corroborated and uncontradicted testimony that necessitates a               
          conclusion that petitioner did not embezzle funds from Fruitland.           
          Carlton's testimony is the most compelling evidence in this                 
          regard.  If this Court were to sustain respondent's                         
          determination, it would be necessary for us to conclude that the            
          victim of respondent's embezzlement theory committed perjury when           




Page:  Previous  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  Next

Last modified: May 25, 2011