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