Charlson v. United States

525 F.2d 1046, 208 Ct. Cl. 296, 188 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 223, 37 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 302, 1975 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 209
CourtUnited States Court of Claims
DecidedNovember 19, 1975
DocketNo. 176-71
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 525 F.2d 1046 (Charlson v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Charlson v. United States, 525 F.2d 1046, 208 Ct. Cl. 296, 188 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 223, 37 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 302, 1975 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 209 (cc 1975).

Opinion

Per Curiam :

This case comes before the court on plaintiffs’ motion filed July 16, 1975, requesting that the court adopt the recommended decision of Trial Judge Joseph V. Colaianni, filed June 8, 1975, pursuant to Buie 134(h), as the basis for its judgment in this case since defendant has failed to file a notice of intention to except thereto and the [299]*299t.imft for so filing pursuant to the rules of the court has expired. Upon consideration thereof, without oral argument, since the court agrees with the recommended decision, as hereinafter set forth, it hereby affirms and adopts the same as the basis for its judgment in this case. Therefore, it is concluded that plaintiffs are entitled to recover $32,012.56 for 1961; $56,211.67 for 1962; and $66,274.81 for 1963, along with interest for each of the years as provided by law from the date of payment, and judgment is entered for plaintiffs accordingly.

OPINION OP TKIAL JUDGE

Colaianni, Trial Judge:

This is a tax refund suit that arises as a result of Mr. Charlson’s disposition of patents1 to a corporation which was formed for the specific purpose of exploiting them. The question is whether the amounts received by plaintiffs in 1961, 3 962 and 1963 from the Germane Corporation were taxable as long-term capital gains as reported on plaintiffs’ joint federal tax return, or as ordinary income as defendant contends. The parties have stipulated that if plaintiffs prevail they are entitled to recover $32,012.56 for 1961, $56,211.67 for 1962, and $66,274.81 for 1963, along with interest as provided by law from the date of payment. For reasons hereinafter set forth, it is concluded that plaintiffs are entitled to judgment against the defendant for a refund of taxes in the amounts stipulated.

Bachgroimd Facts

The facts are fully detailed in the findings of fact which accompany this opinion and will be repeated only to the extent necessary to an understanding of the result reached.

In about 1942, plaintiffs, as partners, purchased the assets of a bankrupt Minneapolis, Minnesota, machine shop. In early 1946, plaintiffs incorporated their business as the Char-Lynn Company. Plaintiffs and their daughter, Mrs. Donna Herzog, were for all relevant times the only shareholders of the corporation. Mr. Charlson is a self-educated engineer and businessman who served as president and the [300]*300guiding light of Char-Lynn. During the early years, plaintiffs’ business was primarily a machine shop specializing in die-casting. While operating as a machine shop, the business grew from annual sales of approximately $500,000 in 1950 to $2,900,000 by 1958. Char-Lynn employed 120 persons in 1958.

Notwithstanding its growth, Mr. Charlson recognized the need, for Char-Lynn to develop a unique product line if it was to be successful. Accordingly, Char-Lynn purchased a patented pneumatic tire spreader which it redesigned and marketed until 1949. In the early 1950’s it manufactured and marketed a power pack. In 1954 or 1955 Mir. Charlson conceived, and later patented, a hydraulic valve device. ‘Production of the device did not begin until about 1951.

As a result of his continuing search for a unique product line, Mr. Charlson became aware of the market potential ' for a high-torque, low-speed hydraulic motor. Mr. Charlson sought the assistance of various hydraulic experts to design and develop such a motor, but was told that such a motor did not exist and could not be built. Charlson decided to pursue the design on his own and, after considerable reflection, in late 1955, conceived his idea for a high-torque, low-speed motor. As conceived, the motor’s key components consisted of a rotatable gerotor and a commutator valve mechanism for orbiting of the gerotor. He discussed his conception with a Mr. Harold Darr, the owner of an independent engineering consulting firm, who had assisted Mr. Charlson in the past on other projects. After considerable analysis and study, Mr. Darr concluded that the conception was sound and proceeded to build a model. Following some modifications and refinements in the design, the orbit motor was successfully reduced to practice.

A patent application on the invention was prepared and filed in the Patent Office on June 8,1956. United States Letters Patent No. 2,821,171 issued in the name of Lynn L. Charlson on January 28,1958.

Upon learning in October of 1957 of the eventual allowance of a patent on his orbit motor invention, Mr. Charlson gave serious thought to evaluating the commercial application and potential of the orbit motor. After discussions with [301]*301Mr. Darr, wbio personally made inquiries regarding exploitation of the motor patent with companies active in the fluid power field, Mr. Charlson decided to sell his orbit motor patent when it issued. Mr. Charlson’s decision to sell his patent was based on a variety of considerations, including: a desire to keep the patent, insofar as his estate was concerned, and independent business asset isolated from any possible business reversal which Char-Lynn might suffer; a concern that Char-Lynn’s limited capabilities could not adequately exploit the patent; a desire not to increase his already heavy workload at Char-Lynn; and his fear of having to include the patent in any future sale he might make of Char-Lynn.

Having decided to sell his patent, Mr. Charlson next considered the various sale options open to him. He was obviously interested in obtaining the best and highest price from a purchaser who would be monetarily motivated to exploit the full potential of the patent. Mr. Charlson was aware that the newly patented motor did not have proven applications or marketability, and was quite revolutionary in design. Thus, he did not feel that a large manufacturing company or a professional patent licensing company would offer him a fair price. He also feared that a large company might agree to purchase the patent and then not properly exploit it. The record does not indicate that he ever considered or approached any medium-size companies.

Mr. Charlson decided to sell to a group of his business associates and personal friends, and in early 1958 approached' Ward B. Lewis, Esq., Char-Lynn’s corporate counsel, his own personal attorney, and his long-time friend, to determine if he and three other individuals would be willing to form a new corporation to purchase his patents. The three others consisted of Mr. Harold Darr, who in 1959 was still a consulting engineer but would, after suffering a heart attack, become a full-time employee of Char-Lynn in 1964; Mrs. Beverly Scott, who was at the time a highly valued and trusted administrative assistant to Mr. Charlson at Char-Lynn; and Mr. Raymond O. Jensen, who had been a friend of Mr. Charlson and an employee of Char-Lynn for many years and was then serving as its comptroller.

[302]*302The above individuals, in addition to being trusted, longtime business associates of Mr. Charlson who had each, in his own way, contributed to the growth of Char-Lyxm, were suggested by Mr. Charlson because each possessed diverse business talents. Specifically, Mr. Lewis had proven legal experience; Mr. Darr had engineering and design capabilities; Mrs. Scott had administrative and coordinating experience ; and Mr. Jensen had a good business background. At the time he approached them, Mr. Lewis explained that there would be no restrictions or limitations of any kind on the new corporation’s ownership of the Charlson patents.

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Bluebook (online)
525 F.2d 1046, 208 Ct. Cl. 296, 188 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 223, 37 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 302, 1975 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 209, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/charlson-v-united-states-cc-1975.