Shell Seekers, Inc. v. Government of the Virgin Islands

308 F. Supp. 2d 579, 45 V.I. 561, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10912, 2004 WL 532754
CourtDistrict Court, Virgin Islands
DecidedMarch 15, 2004
DocketCIV.2001-197
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 308 F. Supp. 2d 579 (Shell Seekers, Inc. v. Government of the Virgin Islands) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, Virgin Islands primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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Shell Seekers, Inc. v. Government of the Virgin Islands, 308 F. Supp. 2d 579, 45 V.I. 561, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10912, 2004 WL 532754 (vid 2004).

Opinion

MOORE, Judge

MEMORANDUM

On May 12, 2003, I found the Territory’s property tax system unlawful because it “systemically employed] a method of assessment not calculated to determine the actual value of properties as required by 48 U.S.C. § 1401a.” Berne Corp. v. Government of the Virgin Islands, 262 F. Supp. 2d 540, 561 (D.V.I. 2003) [Berne Corp. II\. Accordingly, I entered a decree in the consolidated portion of this case awarding injunctive and other such relief common to all parties. All that remains for resolution is application of this decree to the unique facts posed in this individual case brought by plaintiffs Shell Seekers, Inc., Charles W. Consolvo, Linda B. Consolvo, Snegle Gade Associates, L.P., Charles W. Consolvo, Trustee of the Yvette B. Lederberg Trust, Arthur B. Choate, Stewart Loveland, and Stacy Loveland.

I. FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

I hereby adopt and incorporate by reference each of the conclusions of law made during the trial of the consolidated tax cases in this matter, as set forth in my May 12, 2003 Memorandum Opinion. I will now set forth the specific findings of fact and conclusions of law for each property involved in this matter.

A. Plaintiff Charles W. Consolvo, Parcel Nos. 52E-3 & 52B-2A Estate Thomas (Tax Parcel No. 1-05501-0211-00)

Until 1999, plaintiff Charles W. Consolvo leased Parcel Nos. 52E-3 and 52B-2A, Estate Thomas, on which he built a warehouse, with approximately 25% office space and 75% warehouse space, in 1992 at a cost of approximately $595,000. (Joint Tr., Vol. 3 at 104.) In 1994, Consolvo and the Tax Assessor agreed that the warehouse would be assessed at $650,000 for tax year 1993. {Id. at 104.) For tax year 1994, the Tax Assessor increased the warehouse’s assessment from $650,000 to $839,810. Consolvo timely appealed this large increase. Consolvo has never been given a hearing before the Board of Tax Review on this *564 appeal. A hearing called in 1999 failed for lack of a quorum of board members. (Joint Tr., Vol. 3 at 114-18.)

Following Hurricane Marilyn, Consolvo again met with the Tax Assessor, this time to discuss the warehouse’s valuation for the 1995 tax year. After Consolvo provided the Tax Assessor with evidence of damage to the building caused by Hurricane Marilyn and the insurance settlement he received for the damages, he and the Tax Assessor agreed to an assessment of $508,975 for the 1995 tax year. {Id. at 105 & 109.) For tax year 1996, however, the Tax Assessor assessed the warehouse at $746,147, an increase of $200,000. The Tax Assessor assessed the warehouse at $815,427 for the 1997 tax year and $805,833.00 for the 1998 tax year. Consolvo timely appealed the 1996, 1997, and 1998 assessments. Just as with his 1994 appeal, Consolvo did not receive a hearing on this appeal, as the hearing called in 1999 failed for lack of a quorum.

In 1999, Consolvo purchased the land underlying the warehouse and bought out his forty-year ground lease for a total price of $420,000. {Id. at 111-114.) According to an appraisal, however, the market value of the land was only $300,000. {Id. at 112.) The difference between what Consolvo paid and the fair market value was the premium that the owner of the property demanded to give up the valuable ground.lease. Consolvo was willing to pay the premium because he had to own the underlying land in fee simple to be able to obtain bank financing. Accordingly, I agree that the purchase was not an arm’s length transaction and the $420,000 that Consolvo paid for the land does not reflect its fair market price. (SS Tr. at 13-14.)

For the 1999 tax year, the Tax Assessor assessed the land and the warehouse together at $1,329,412, and at $1,318,537 for the 2000 tax year. Consolvo timely appealed these assessments to the Board of Tax Review. Just as with his other appeals, no hearing has ever been held. (Joint Tr., Vol. 3 at 114-118.)

At the trial of this individual case, Consolvo presented testimony and evidence that the Tax Assessor’s assessments of the warehouse and the underlying property were plagued by the same problems I noted in the consolidated case. In particular, local appraiser Steve Jarmon testified that the Tax Assessor committed numerous errors with respect to the warehouse, including (1) using the same rental rate to calculate the gross income for both the warehouse space and office space, (2) using *565 economic life factors for the warehouse that were greater than forty years, and (3) not recognizing that the 1999 land purchase was not an arms-length transaction. (SS Tr. at 10-11, 12, 13-14.) The government, on the other hand, failed to produce credible evidence to support the values assessed by the Tax Assessor’s Office. Accordingly, I will vacate the respective tax assessments for this property. See 33 V.I.C. § 2453(c).

B. Plaintiff, Snegle Gade Associates, a Limited Partnership, commercial property known as Parcel Nos. 4 (Tax Parcel No. 1-05302-3919-00), 5 (Tax Parcel No. 1-05302-3920-00), 6 (Tax Parcel No. 1-05302-3921-00), and 6A (Tax Parcel No. 1-05302-3923-00) Snegle Gade

Snegle Gade Associates, a limited partnership [“Associates”], purchased Parcel Nos. 4, 5, 6, and 6A Snegle Gade in 1987. Together, the property consists of three commercial buildings and a small yard (6A) that is integral to Parcel 4. (Joint Tr., Vol. 3 at 125-26.) Beginning in 1994, and continuing through 2000, Associates appealed their property tax assessments to the Board of Tax Appeals. Their first appeal in 1994 was prompted by a private evaluation of the property that the estimated market value of the four parcels did not exceed $390,000, whereas the Tax Assessor valued the four parcels collectively at $735,000. (Id. at 126-28; Ex. SS2.) As with Consolvo, Associates never received a hearing for any of its appeals. The hearing called in October 1999 failed for lack of a quorum of Board members. (Joint Tr., Vol. 3 at 128, 134-135.)

In 2000, Associates sold Parcels Nos. 4 and 6A together for $120,000. The Tax Assessor had valued Parcel No. 4 at $266,068 and Parcel No. 6A at $17,644, for a total of $283,000. (Id. at 129-30). As the sale was an arms-length transaction, I find that the sale price of $120,000 for the two parcels reflected their combined market value. Associates sold Parcel No. 5 in February, 2001 for $70,000. (Id. at 131.) For Tax Year 2000, the Tax. Assessor had valued Parcel No. 5 at $174,282. Associates rejected an offer to purchase Parcel No. 6 on December 10, 2002 for $175,000, because it believed that the property was worth at. least $210,000. The Tax Assessor, in contrast, assessed Parcel No. 6 at $487,017 for tax year 2000. (Id. at 132-34.)

At trial of this individual case, Associates demonstrated that the Tax Assessor’s assessments of their property were plagued by the same *566 problems I noted in the consolidated case.

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308 F. Supp. 2d 579, 45 V.I. 561, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10912, 2004 WL 532754, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shell-seekers-inc-v-government-of-the-virgin-islands-vid-2004.