Estate of Lehmann v. Commissioner

1997 T.C. Memo. 392, 74 T.C.M. 415, 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 471
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedAugust 26, 1997
DocketDocket No. 1282-96
StatusUnpublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 1997 T.C. Memo. 392 (Estate of Lehmann v. Commissioner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Tax Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Estate of Lehmann v. Commissioner, 1997 T.C. Memo. 392, 74 T.C.M. 415, 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 471 (tax 1997).

Opinion

ESTATE OF GEORGE A. LEHMANN, DECEASED, WALTER G. KEALY, JR. PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Estate of Lehmann v. Commissioner
Docket No. 1282-96
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1997-392; 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 471; 74 T.C.M. (CCH) 415;
August 26, 1997, Filed

*471 Decision will be entered under Rule 155.

James M. Kefauver and Lawrence L. Bell, for petitioner.
Warren P. Simonsen and Susan T. Mosley, for respondent.
HAMBLEN, Judge

HAMBLEN

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

HAMBLEN, Judge: Respondent determined a deficiency in petitioner's Federal estate tax in the amount of $ 266,970. Petitioner is the Estate of George A. Lehmann (decedent). The issue for decision is whether petitioner correctly valued the partnership interests in LKB*472 Associates for purposes of decedent's gross estate.

Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect as of the date of decedent's death, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated and are found accordingly. The stipulation of facts and accompanying exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference.

The Decedent died testate on April 1, 1992 (valuation date). Decedent resided in Montgomery County, Maryland. At the time the petition was filed, Walter G. Kealy, Jr., decedent's personal representative, resided in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Decedent and his sister, Marie Louise Kealy, each owned, as tenants in common, one-half interest in the land located at L Street, in Washington, D.C. (property). On December 21, 1962, they agreed to lease the property for 99 years beginning as of January 1, 1963.

The lease required the lessee to construct any type of office building or commercial structure having a value of at least $ 500,000 in excess of the value of the land, but the agreement gave the lessee sole discretion in the design and subsequent demolition*473 of the constructed structure during the first 69 years of the lease term. Thereafter, the lease required the lessee to seek permission before making any structural changes. The lease also permitted the lessee to sublet the property. During 1963 and 1964, the lessee improved the property by constructing a hotel on the property.

Decedent and Marie Louise Kealy and the lessee amended the ground lease on March 29, 1963, October 28, 1963, June 2, 1964, and November 4, 1964. The ground lease included procedures for resolving any disputes arising between the landlords and the tenant, providing in pertinent part:

14. The Lessors and the Lessee shall each appoint a disinterested real estate appraiser not related to any of them by consanguinity or affinity and who shall have knowledge of the value of commercial real estate in Washington, D.C. Written notice of such appointments by each party shall be given to the other on or before the twentieth (20th) day following the [designated] adjustments dates of the particular year, and the two appraisers so appointed shall on or before the tenth (10th) day thereafter appoint a third appraiser of like qualifications and non-interest who shall act*474 as their chairman.

* * * *

18. In the event that for any reason, whether through failure to appoint appraisers, or failure of the appraisers to act, no report of the fair market value is made within the time or times, respectively, * * * either party may apply to the American Arbitration Association or its successor for the appointment of an appraiser or appraisers to the end that the fair market value as contemplated by this Lease shall be determined.

19. In the event of a refusal or failure by the American Arbitration Association or its successor to appoint an appraiser or appraisers either party may apply to the president or senior office of the Washington Real Estate Board or its successor for the appointment of an appraiser. No appraisal shall be invalid by reason of having been delayed or not having been made within the time or times, respectively * * *. Whenever an appraisal is so delayed, it shall be effective and binding upon the parties as to the rentals to be paid by the Lessee to the Lessors commencing on the adjustment date that a new rental basis shall begin according to the terms [of the lease]. The cost of any such appraisal made under this paragraph shall be borne*475 and paid by the parties hereto whose neglect or default had made such appraisal necessary.

On December 19, 1983, decedent and his sister formed LKB Associates, a limited partnership organized under the laws of the District of Columbia (partnership). After forming the partnership, decedent and his sister conveyed the land subject to the 99-year lease to the partnership.

During his lifetime, decedent made gifts of partnership interests to various family members and to trusts, of which family members were beneficiaries. As of the valuation date, decedent owned a 1-percent general partnership interest and a 23.965903-percent limited partnership interest (decedent's interest). The partnership agreement granted the partners a right of first refusal, which required the selling partner to offer his or her interest to the other partners on the same terms before selling the interest to a third party. The agreement provided in pertinent part:

The interest of any Limited Partner may be assigned, transferred, sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of ( * * * collectively referred to as "assigned") in whole or in part, and each Limited Partner shall have a right to substitute an assignee*476

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1997 T.C. Memo. 392, 74 T.C.M. 415, 1997 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 471, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/estate-of-lehmann-v-commissioner-tax-1997.