Michael O'Keefe Sowell - Page 9




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          F.2d 131 (5th Cir. 1988).  A position is substantially justified            
          if the position is “justified to a degree that could satisfy a              
          reasonable person.”  Pierce v. Underwood, supra at 565; Powers v.           
          Commissioner, 100 T.C. 457, 473 (1993), affd. in part and revd.             
          in part 43 F.3d 172 (5th Cir. 1995).  A position that merely                
          possesses enough merit to avoid sanctions for frivolousness will            
          not satisfy this standard; rather, it must have a “reasonable               
          basis both in law and fact”.  Pierce v. Underwood, supra at 565.            
               The Court must “consider the basis for respondent’s legal              
          position and the manner in which the position was maintained.”              
          Wasie v. Commissioner, 86 T.C. 962, 969 (1986).  The fact that              
          the Commissioner eventually loses or concedes the case does not             
          establish an unreasonable position.  Sokol v. Commissioner, 92              
          T.C. 760, 767 (1989); Baker v. Commissioner, 83 T.C. 822, 828               
          (1984), vacated on other issues 787 F.2d 637 (D.C. Cir. 1986).              
          However, it remains a factor that may be considered.  Estate of             
          Perry v. Commissioner, 931 F.2d 1044, 1046 (5th Cir. 1991);                 
          Powers v. Commissioner, supra at 471.  The reasonableness of the            
          Commissioner’s position and conduct necessarily requires                    
          considering what the Commissioner knew at the time.  Compare                
          Rutana v. Commissioner, 88 T.C. 1329, 1334 (1987), with DeVenney            
          v. Commissioner, 85 T.C. 927, 930 (1985).                                   









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