- 25 - involved in the farming of jojoba in or about 1982, so his experience was limited, and there is nothing to suggest that he was knowledgeable about research and development of jojoba. See Kellen v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2002-19; see also Freytag v. Commissioner, 89 T.C. at 888. Further, we have found that Mr. Kellen’s “analysis” of San Nicholas was not based on anything other than the projections set forth in the offering memorandum. Kellen v. Commissioner, supra; see Tokarski v. Commissioner, 87 T.C. 74, 77 (1986). The record also establishes that Mr. Kellen was the general partner and tax matters partner of four other jojoba partnerships, including Utah Jojoba. See supra “B”. Mr. Kellen was also the close personal friend and business associate of Mr. Pace, the president (and a director) of U.S. Agri, which was the R&D contractor and licensee of San Nicholas and other jojoba partnerships. Indeed, at one time, Mr. Kellen was also a director of U.S. Agri. Accordingly, any advice that Mr. Kellen may have given can be analogized to that of an insider or promoter, which advice is inherently suspect. E.g., Addington v. Commissioner, 205 F.3d at 59; Pasternak v. Commissioner, 990 F.2d at 903. In Glassley v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1996-206, we found that the taxpayers: acted on their fascination with the idea of participating in a jojoba farming venture and theirPage: Previous 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011