- 2 - 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.Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011