Estate of Philip Meriano, Deceased, Anita Panepinto, Administratrix - Page 2

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          and Rules 180, 181, and 183.1  The Court agrees with and adopts             
          the opinion of the Special Trial Judge, which is set forth below.           
                         OPINION OF THE SPECIAL TRIAL JUDGE                           
               DINAN, Special Trial Judge:  Respondent determined a                   
          deficiency in petitioner's Federal estate tax in the amount of              
          $732,106.81 and an addition to tax of $366,053.41 for fraud                 
          pursuant to section 6653(b).                                                
               Many of the issues have been settled by the parties pursuant           
          to a Stipulation of Disposition of Issues filed September 3,                
          1985, and a Second Stipulation of Disposition of Issues filed               
          November 26, 1993.                                                          
               The issues remaining for decision are:  (1) Whether                    
          petitioner is entitled to a theft loss deduction of $274,505.09             
          for Federal estate tax purposes; and (2) whether petitioner is              
          entitled to deduct for Federal estate tax purposes legal fees of            
          $193,004.43 allegedly paid to the law firm of Tupitza and                   
          Marinelli for services performed from August 1990 through                   
          December 1994.2                                                             




          1         All section references are to the Internal Revenue Code           
          in effect as of November 14, 1977, the date of decedent's death.            
          All Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and              
          Procedure.                                                                  
          2         The invoices for legal fees introduced into evidence at           
          trial (Exs. 17-Q and 47) show petitioner may have overpaid legal            
          fees by $3,095.57.                                                          




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