Laura Denise Seidel - Page 2

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          pursuant to section 6651(a)(1) and (2).  After concessions,2 the            
          issues for decision are (1) whether $157,0003 petitioner received           
          in connection with a settlement of a lawsuit is excludable from             
          gross income pursuant to section 104(a)(2), and (2) whether                 
          petitioner is liable for an addition to tax pursuant to section             
          6654(a).                                                                    
                                  FINDINGS OF FACT                                    
               Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found.               
          The stipulation of facts and the attached exhibits are                      
          incorporated herein by this reference.  At the time she filed the           
          petition, petitioner resided in Yuba City, California.                      



               2  Respondent conceded the sec. 6651(a)(1) and (2) additions           
          to tax.  Respondent also conceded that petitioner paid $10,835              
          for medical expenses, $6,129 for taxes, $18,911 for interest, and           
          $1,091 in charitable donations.                                             
               3  This amount equals settlement proceeds of $475,000 net of           
          petitioner’s attorney’s fees, litigation expenses, and the amount           
          paid to her as wages.  In Commissioner v. Banks, 543 U.S. 426               
          (2005), decided over 10 months before trial in this case, the               
          Supreme Court held that as a general rule, when a litigant’s                
          recovery constitutes income, the portion of the recovery paid to            
          an attorney as a contingent fee is included in the litigant’s               
          income.  At the beginning and the end of the trial, pursuant to             
          Rule 41(b) respondent orally moved to amend the pleadings to                
          conform to the evidence (i.e., to treat the entire settlement               
          proceeds of $475,000 as income).  Generally we do not consider              
          issues that are raised for the first time at trial.  See Foil v.            
          Commissioner, 92 T.C. 376, 418 (1989), affd. 920 F.2d 1196 (5th             
          Cir. 1990); Markwardt v. Commissioner, 64 T.C. 989, 997 (1975).             
          Additionally, we denied respondent’s motion as it was prejudicial           
          to petitioner to allow respondent to amend the pleadings this               
          late.  Respondent had sufficient time to amend the pleadings                
          before trial.                                                               




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