John E. Wall - Page 17




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          “‘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.  Expert testimony            
          sometimes aids the Court in determining value; 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 Anderson v. Commissioner,              
          supra at 249; Estate of Newhouse v. Commissioner, supra at 217;             
          Estate of Hall v. Commissioner, 92 T.C. 312, 338 (1989).  Where             
          necessary, we may reach a determination of value based on our own           
          examination of the evidence in the record.  See Lukens v.                   
          Commissioner, 945 F.2d 92, 96 (5th Cir. 1991) (citing Silverman             
          v. Commissioner, 538 F.2d 927, 933 (2d Cir. 1976), affg. T.C.               
          Memo. 1974-285)).  Moreover, while we may accept the opinion of             
          an expert in its entirety, see Buffalo Tool & Die Manufacturing             
          Co. v. Commissioner, 74 T.C. at 452, we may be selective in the             
          use of any part of such opinion or reject the opinion in its                
          entirety, see Seagate Tech., Inc. v. Commissioner, 102 T.C. 149,            





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