Penn Athletic Club Bldg. v. Commissioner

10 T.C. 919, 1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 180
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedMay 24, 1948
DocketDocket No. 9007
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 10 T.C. 919 (Penn Athletic Club Bldg. 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
Penn Athletic Club Bldg. v. Commissioner, 10 T.C. 919, 1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 180 (tax 1948).

Opinions

OPINION.

Disney, Judge:

The primary issue relates to the rentals realized from the Penn Athletic Club Building during the taxable years. The respondent contends that as a result of the deed executed by the club on January 21, 1942, petitioner became the absolute owner in fee of the club building and should have included the rentals in its gross income; but the deficiency notice as to 1942 disallowed the deduction for taxes paid, taken in the first return filed. Petitioner contends that the rentals are not includible in its gross income because, under paragraph 14 of the supplemental mortgage agreement, it had only the right as a mortgagee in possession, to lease and operate, apply the rentals to taxes, expenses, and the mortgage debt, account for and pay to the club any balance remaining, and then retransfer the property itself to the club.

It is well settled that a mortgagee in possession is obligated to apply collected rents on the mortgage debt, and to account for the surplus. See 41 C. J. 830, citing a great number of cases. Therefore, the crucial question here is whether the petitioner was a mortgagee in possession, for if it was, the rents received were merely collections upon the debt and to tax them as income would be a tax upon capital being recovered. A mortgagee in possession has been defined as “one who has lawfully acquired actual possession of the premises mortgaged to him, standing upon his rights as mortgagee and not claiming under another title, for the purposes of enforcing his security upon such property or making its income help pay his debt. * * *” See 41 C. J. 612 and cases cited. One holding under an absolute deed given as security is a mortgagee in possession. Peugh v. Davis, 113 U. S. 542; Mahoney v. Bostwick, 30 Pac. 1020; Jordan v. Warner's Estate, 83 N. W. 946; Wilmer v. Light Street Savings & Building Assn., 122 Atl. 129.

The evidence discloses that because of the prevailing court practice to restrict leases by mortgagees in possession to one year, an additional remedy had been placed in the supplemental mortgage, as paragraph 14, empowering the mortgagee, after default of one year, to demand a conveyance of the property and to lease or sell it and account to the mortgagor; and that on January 13, 1942, when the club had been in default for a continuous period of over one year, petitioner made a request in writing that the club transfer and convey to it the mortgaged premises, equipment, furniture and furnishings, etc., subject to the lien of the mortgage, in accordance with the terms of paragraph 14 of the supplemental mortgage agreement. Examination of the provisions of paragraph 14, and of the facts set forth in our findings, which need not here be restated, convinces us that the parties contemplated a transfer of title under the remedy provided in the mortgage and as additional security only, and that petitioner was a mortgagee in possession, and, as such, liable to account to the club for income realized from the mortgaged premises, after payment of the mortgage indebtedness and expenses. Paragraph 14 of the supplemental mortgage agreement refers to transfer of the property to the mortgagee as “This remedy,” saying: “This remedy * * * shall be in addition to all other remedies granted under the provisions of said mortgage and this Agreement, and any of said remedies may be pursued singly or concurrently.”

The respondent can not, and does not, deny that the demand for the conveyance, made on January 13, 1942, was under the mortgage; but, in effect, he contends that the conveyance dated January 21,1942, was nevertheless not made under the mortgage, but was (despite the specific retention of mortgagee status by the petitioner, in the deed set forth) an absolute conveyance, rendering the petitioner liable for all income, yet depriving it, because of ownership, of the right to deduction for taxes paid by it, but assessed while the club held title. We are unable to find anything in the record to demonstrate that in a period of a few days the petitioner ceased to proceed under its mortgage remedies, under which it started on January 13; on the contrary, we think it clear that it did so proceed. It obtained a “conveyance” just as paragraph 14 of the supplemental mortgage agreement provided, by giving the notice there provided. The conveyance was carefully made subject to the mortgage lien, and to continue the mortgage “in full force and effect,” also, “for all purposes as though the present conveyance had not been made.” Could language be plainer that the petitioner expressly was “standing upon his rights as mortgagee and not claiming under another title,” precisely within the above definition of mortgagee in possession? On the face of the writings alone, we find no sufficient reason to think that the position of mortgagor and mortgagee was abandoned, but conclude that, as the instruments indicate, the status was preserved. The mortgagee did take possession, and such taking of possession can not be attributed solely to those portions of the deed expressing the usual forms of absolute conveyance, but is seen to be based upon the whole contract expressed in the instrument (to say nothing just here of the agreement otherwise proven). It immediately leased the property— as provided for by paragraph 14, after conveyance demanded and obtained. In leasing and accounting it is “operating” the property as by the mortgage specifically empowered. In our opinion the deed itself demonstrates that the petitioner did not become absolute owner, but was merely enforcing the mortgage, collecting rents, and paying back taxes for the benefit of the grantor and its bondholders, and it was in a position of accountability both to them and to the club if and when the indebtedness should be paid. It is to be noted that sections 1 and 2 of article VI of the mortgage require written notice of default,' and to put the whole indebtedness in default for foreclosure. Such notice has never been given.

Essentially the respondent’s position is that on January 21, 1942, the club waived its right of redemption and conveyed in lieu of foreclosure. The deed does not so state, as it could easily have done and, it would seem, logically would have recited, if such had been the intent. On the contrary, the mortgage is specially mentioned only to maintain it as before. Of course, the conveyance provided in paragraph 14 of the supplemental mortgage agreement could not mean an absolute conveyance, for, if so, it would have been altogether superfluous then to provide that the grantee could lease or sell. An absolute grantee need be given no such rights. It is to be noted that the respondent does not say that the deed intended by the mortgage was to be an absolute conveyance. Such a provision would be ineffective against the right of redemption, for a multitude of cases, including cases from Pennsylvania, hold that, under the maxim “Once a mortgage always a mortgage,” a mortgagor can not in advance “by any device or contrivance” waive his right to redemption. See authorities cited, 42 C. J. 348, 356. “It is beyond the power of the parties.” Peugh v. Davis, supra. Moreover, though of course it is recognized that it is possible for a mortgagor subsequently by deed to give up its equity of redemption to a mortgagee, it is hornbook law that if the original instrument was by way of security it should plainly appear that the later deed was intended as absolute and not by way of security. The transaction will be “closely scrutinized.” Peugh v. Davis, 96 U. S.

Related

Murray v. Commissioner
21 T.C. 1049 (U.S. Tax Court, 1954)
Cox v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue
176 F.2d 226 (Third Circuit, 1949)
Penn Athletic Club Bldg. v. Commissioner
10 T.C. 919 (U.S. Tax Court, 1948)

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Bluebook (online)
10 T.C. 919, 1948 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 180, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/penn-athletic-club-bldg-v-commissioner-tax-1948.