Smith v. Commissioner

59 T.C. 107, 1972 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 42
United States Tax Court·Decided October 18, 1972·No. Docket No. 6832-70·Published·Cited by 19 cases

Opinion

Dawson, Judge:

Respondent determined a deficiency of $2,220.65 in petitioners’ Federal income tax for the year 1966.

We must decide whether $5,804.85 of a lump sum of $44,500 received by the petitioners in 1966 in settlement of a Pennsylvania condemnation proceeding is taxable as ordinary income in that year under section 61 (a) (4), I.R.C. 1954. .

BINDINGS OK PACT

Most of the facts have been stipulated by the parties. The stipulation of facts and attached exhibits are incorporated herein by this reference.

Russell C. Smith and Mary A. Smith (herein called petitioners) were legal residents of Upper Darby, Pa., when they filed their petition in this proceeding. They filed a joint Federal income tax return for the year 1966 with the district director of internal revenue at Philadelphia, Pa.

A portion of the property owned by the petitioners was condemned on June 23, 1964. The property condemned comprised only a portion of three parcels of land owned by them. The basis of the entire property, including that condemned, was $10,501.

Petitioners had a realized gain on that portion of the three parcels condemned.

The land was taken by condemnation pursuant to the plan of L. R. 23062, section 3, for the County of Delaware.' This plan was signed by the Governor on June 23, 1964, with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Highways, thereby acquiring by condemnation an easement for highway purposes of a portion of the petitioners’ property.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania employed Samuel C. Warwick, a real estate appraiser, to make an appraisal of the property taken. On August 16, 1965, he submitted a report to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania wherein he found that the property taken had a value of $11,600. Because of changes in construction plans, Mr. Warwick amended his original appraisal on July 13, 1966, finding that the total damages were in the neighborhood of $25,800.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania also obtained an appraisal from William J. Sammon who found that the damages resulting from the condemnation were $33,100.

Petitioners obtained an appraisal from Harry L. Haeberle in the amount of $54,500.

Since the petitioners and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania were not able to agree as to the amount to be paid for damages resulting from the condemnation, the petitioners filed a Petition for Appointment of a Board of Viewers on June 13,1966. Their petition requested just compensation and detention damages.1 More specifically, the petitioners requested the following relief from tte court:

Wherefore, your petitioners pray your honorable court to appoint a Board of Viewers in the manner provided by law to ascertain and award the just compensation due to the petitioners along with damages in delay of payment thereof. [Emphasis supplied.]

On June 13,1966, the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, appointed a “Board of Viewers, to view the petitioners’ premises and to assess the damages done thereto in accordance with law.”

On August 18, 1966, the petitioners’ counsel demanded $50,000 to settle their claim for damages as a result of the condemnation.

On September 27, 1966, Edward D. Werblun, assistant attorney general, made a counteroffer to settle the petitioners’ claim as follows:

I am prepared to offer., and I hereby do offer the sum of $44,500 as full settlement of this matter, including detention damages, interest to date of payment and costs of the proceedings. [Emphasis supplied.]

Petitioners’ condemnation claim was settled on the basis of the counteroffer made by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania which included detention damages, interest, and cost of litigation.

Offers made by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in settlement of condemnation actions provide that interest is included as part of a gross amount as a standard practice.

Settlements on a gross amount basis which includes all elements of damages (i.e., land taken, severance damages, and delay compensation) is the usual practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania pays the total amount of interest due, i.e., that required by law.

Edward D. Werblun, acting for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, did take into consideration interest or detention damages which the petitioners were entitled to herein. He does not know whether a jury would have allowed the petitioners delay compensation if he opposed it on the basis of a failure on their part to negotiate in good faith or for some other reason.

Michael Deckman, who was Edward D. Werblun’s superior and an assistant attorney general and principal right counsel in charge of the Eminent Domain Section of the Department of Transportation Legal Bureau, interprets Pa. Stat. Ann., tit. 26, sec. 1-611, as entitling a condemnee to delay compensation as a matter of right.

A settlement memorandum signed by Michael Deckman noted that there was insufficient evidence to indicate a refusal to negotiate in good faith; and. it was Michael Deckman’s opinion that the petitioners were entitled to detention damages.

The settlement reached between the petitioners and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was stipulated to and submitted to the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County on October 31, 1966. The stipulation signed 'by the parties in the eminent domain proceedings provides in pertinent part:

it is agreed that said settlement shall be in full and final settlement of any and all claims that the said Claimants may have as a result of the condemnation instituted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and it is further agreed that said sum shaU include therein any amount claimed for interest or detention damages up to and including the 23rd day of November, 1966, and that if payment is delayed beyond November 23, 1966, interest shall be paid on said agreed sum of Forty-four Thousand Five Hundred ($44,500.00) Dollars at the legal rate of interest.

The order entered by the court reads as follows:

And Now, to wit, this 31st day of October, A.D., 1966, upon consideration of the within Stipulation, the Court hereby approves the settlement between Russell C. Smith, et ux. and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Highways in the amount of Forty-four Thousand Five Hundred ($44,500.00) Dollars as a full and final settlement of any and all claims the said Claimants may have as a re,sult of the condemnation of Plaintiffs’ property located at the corner of Hampton Road and Marshall Road, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. And, it is further ordered that the said sum of Forty-four Thousand Five Hundred ($44,500.00) Dollars shall be allocated to Fourteen Thousand Five Hundred ($14,500.00) Dollars for the land condemned and Thirty Thousand ($30,000.00) Dollars for the severance damages to the part of the property not condemned.

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Smith v. Commissioner, 59 T.C. 107, 1972 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 42 (tax 1972).

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