- 2 - CONTENTS Page MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION.......................2 OPINION OF THE SPECIAL TRIAL JUDGE............................3 FINDINGS OF FACT..............................................6 A. The Plastics Recycling Transactions......................6 B. The Partnerships.........................................9 C. Stuart Becker...........................................12 D. Petitioners and Their Introduction to the Partnership Transactions................................16 OPINION......................................................20 A. Section 6653(a)--Negligence.............................23 1. The So-Called Oil Crisis...........................25 2. Petitioners' Purported Reliance on Becker and Miller.........................................29 a. The Circumstances Under Which a Taxpayer May Avoid Liability Under Section 6653(a)(1) and (2) Because of Reasonable Reliance on Competent and Fully Informed Professional Advice........................................31 b. Miller........................................33 c. Becker........................................38 d. Conclusion as to Petitioners' Alleged Reliance on Becker and Miller.................38 3. The Private Offering Memoranda.....................42 4. Miscellaneous......................................46 5. Conclusion as to Negligence........................49 B. Section 6659--Valuation Overstatement...................50 1. Concession of the Deficiency.......................51 2. Section 6659(e)....................................55 MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION DAWSON, Judge: These cases were assigned to Special Trial Judge Norman H. Wolfe pursuant to the provisions of section 7443A(b)(4) and Rules 180, 181, and 183. They were tried and briefed separately but consolidated for purposes of opinion. Docket Nos. 1643-89 and 618-90, each of which concerns petitioner Richard E. Snyder, were consolidated for purposes of trial, briefing, and opinion. All section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the years in issue, unlessPage: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011