William N. and Moira M. Carlstedt - Page 28

                                                - 28 -                                                   
            after all, a director and officer of CDI.  Nevertheless, Mrs.                                
            Carlstedt did not testify as to her involvement with CDI, despite                            
            petitioners' knowledge that that was one of the areas that the                               
            Commissioner was exploring in determining whether petitioner                                 
            materially participated in CDI activities.  It is well                                       
            established that the failure of a party to introduce evidence                                
            within his possession which, if true, would be favorable, gives                              
            rise to the presumption that, if produced, it would be                                       
            unfavorable.  Wichita Terminal Elevator Co. v. Commissioner, 6                               
            T.C. 1158 (1946), affd. 162 F.2d 513 (10th Cir. 1947).                                       
                  We are left with petitioner's self-serving testimony that he                           
            did not materially participate in the activities of CDI in 1990                              
            and 1991.  The Court is not bound to accept the unverified,                                  
            undocumented testimony of taxpayers, and we decline to do so in                              
            the instant case.  See Hradesky v. Commissioner, 65 T.C. 87, 90                              
            (1975), affd. per curiam 540 F.2d 821 (5th Cir. 1976).                                       
                  In light of the above, we hold that petitioners have failed                            
            to meet their burden of proving that petitioner was not involved                             
            in the operation of CDI on a basis that was regular, continuous,                             
            and substantial in 1990 and 1991 within the meaning of section                               
            469(h)(1) and section 1.469-5T(a), Temporary Income Tax Regs., 53                            











Page:  Previous  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27  28  29  Next

Last modified: May 25, 2011