Estate of H.A. True, Jr. - Page 86




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                                       OPINION                                        
          I. Expert Opinions                                                          
              As is customary in valuation cases, the parties rely                    
          primarily on expert opinion evidence to support their contrary              
          valuation positions.  We evaluate the opinions of experts in                
          light of their demonstrated qualifications and all other evidence           
          in the record.  See Anderson v. Commissioner, 250 F.2d 242 (5th             
          Cir. 1957), affg. in part and remanding in part on another ground           
          T.C. Memo. 1956-178; Parker v. Commissioner, 86 T.C. 547, 561               
          (1986).  We have broad discretion to evaluate “‘the overall                 
          cogency of each expert’s analysis.’”  Sammons v. Commissioner,              
          838 F.2d 330, 334 (9th Cir. 1988)(quoting Ebben v. Commissioner,            
          783 F.2d 906, 909 (9th Cir. 1986), affg. in part and revg. in               
          part T.C. Memo. 1983-200), affg. in part and revg. in part on               
          another ground T.C. Memo. 1986-318.  Although expert testimony              
          usually helps the Court determine values, sometimes it does not,            
          particularly when the expert is merely an advocate for the                  
          position argued by one of the parties.  See, e.g., Estate of                
          Halas v. Commissioner, 94 T.C. 570, 577 (1990); Laureys v.                  
          Commissioner, 92 T.C. 101, 129 (1989).                                      
              We are not bound by the formulas and opinions proffered by              
          an expert witness and will accept or reject expert testimony in             
          the exercise of sound judgment.  See Helvering v. National                  
          Grocery Co., 304 U.S. 282, 295 (1938); Anderson v. Commissioner,            
          250 F.2d at 249; Estate of Newhouse v. Commissioner, 94 T.C. at             





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