- 21 - was paid to settle petitioner's two contract claims, and 9 per- cent was paid to settle his tort claim. We, therefore, conclude that 9 percent of the legal expenses, or $27,000, is not deduct- ible. Also, $54,000 of the legal fees, the amount related to petitioner's two contract claims, is deductible as a miscel- laneous itemized deduction. Next, we must decide whether the legal fees allocated to the sale of petitioner's stock, or $219,000, were properly added to the basis in petitioner's stock, as argued by petitioner, or whether the fees are deductible as miscellaneous itemized deductions, as respondent contends. In litigation involving the acquisition or disposition of capital assets, the origin and character of the claim control in deciding whether or not legal expenses should be capitalized. Woodward v. Commissioner, 397 U.S. 572 (1970). This Court has applied the same rule to cases involving the defense or perfection of title to property. See Boagni v. Commissioner, 59 T.C. 708 (1973). Consideration must be given to the issues involved, the nature and objectives of the litigation, and the background and the facts surrounding the controversy. Id. at 713. Petitioner transferred his Pizza Hut franchises in exchange for PMI stock because he was under the impression that PMI possessed the right to issue its stock in a public offering without restrictions from Pizza Hut. When PepsiCo contested PMI's public offering, petitioner instituted a lawsuit to enforcePage: Previous 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Next
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