Michael A. Lacher and Judith W. Lacher - Page 14




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          contradicted by letters dated December 19, 1991, and June 1,                  
          1992.  These letters indicate that petitioners were given the                 
          opportunity to enter into a piggyback arrangement.  Moreover,                 
          petitioner also testified that he did not remember signing the                
          Forms 872.  Again, petitioner’s testimony was contradicted.  At               
          trial, respondent introduced signed copies of the Forms 872.                  
          These instances reveal that with regard to events surrounding                 
          this case petitioner’s memory is failing and unreliable.  Apart               
          from petitioner’s own testimony, petitioners have failed to                   
          present any evidence that demonstrates that they were not offered             
          the standard settlement offer.  Under these circumstances, we are             
          unconvinced by petitioner’s self-serving and failing memory.                  
          There is in this record no credible evidence that respondent                  
          failed to send the standard settlement offer to petitioners                   
          although the offer was sent to all other investors in the                     
          plastics recycling project.  On the other hand, respondent has                
          presented no affirmative evidence of mailing the standard offer               
          to petitioners.  Respondent urges, quite reasonably, that it is               
          unfair to expect him to produce evidence concerning newly alleged             
          circumstances years after the events in question.  Moreover,                  
          petitioners have failed to convince us that they were inclined to             
          accept the standard settlement offer.  Petitioner is an                       
          experienced attorney who is aware that cases can be resolved                  
          through settlement.  We also note that petitioners have been                  






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