Taft v. Commissioner

1987 T.C. Memo. 542, 54 T.C.M. 962, 1987 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 534
CourtUnited States Tax Court
DecidedOctober 26, 1987
DocketDocket No. 25822-83.
StatusUnpublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 1987 T.C. Memo. 542 (Taft 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
Taft v. Commissioner, 1987 T.C. Memo. 542, 54 T.C.M. 962, 1987 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 534 (tax 1987).

Opinion

ROBERT S. TAFT AND MARLENE R. TAFT, Petitioners v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Taft v. Commissioner
Docket No. 25822-83.
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo 1987-542; 1987 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 534; 54 T.C.M. (CCH) 962; T.C.M. (RIA) 87542;
October 26, 1987; As amended October 28, 1987
Barry I. Fredericks and David M. Brandes, for the petitioners.
Patricia A. Donahue and Nancy M. Vinocur, for the respondent.

CLAPP

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

CLAPP, Judge: Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioners' Federal income tax returns as follows:

Taxable YearDeficiency
1975$ 16,375.70
19767,686.78
19771,956.81
19792,195.15

The issues to be decided are:

(1) Whether petitioners are entitled to an investment tax credit and miscellaneous deductions in relation to their investment in Chase Expedition*537 Partners, a limited partnership formed to purchase and commercially exploit a motion picture;

(2) whether petitioners are liable for additional interest under section 6621(c); 1 and

(3) whether petitioners are liable for damages under section 6673.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts were stipulated and are so found. The stipulation of facts and attached exhibits are incorporated herein by reference. Petitioners resided in Great Neck, New York, at the time of filing the petition in this case.

Robert Taft ("petitioner") is an attorney with a primary field of specialization in tax. He is a member of the bars of the States of New York and Florida, as well as the District of Columbia. Some time during 1975, petitioner was approached by E. Donald Shapiro, a client and social acquaintance, about an opportunity to invest in a motion picture. Petitioner had no prior experience in the film industry. E. Donald*538 Shapiro was an attorney who owned two movie theatres. The investment opportunity had been brought to his attention by his uncle, Erwin Shapiro. Petitioner was told that a young producer, Richard Martin ("Martin") had run out of funds while trying to finish two movies and was unable to get the films out of the lab. Erwin Shapiro told petitioner that he personally knew Martin and felt that his movies would "make it." He also told petitioner the film was a G-rated children's movie.

Petitioner described Erwin Shapiro as a "movie entrepreneur." However, there is no evidence in the record reflecting his background, experience or qualifications in the entertainment industry. Petitioner did not conduct any sort of investigation of Martin or the statements made by Erwin Shapiro as to the likelihood of success of Martin's films.

Petitioner discussed the opportunity to invest in the film with Edgar Hatfield, another partner in his law firm. Subsequently, petitioner and Hatfield met with an attorney for Berkshire Pictures Corp., an entity owned by Martin and to which Martin had sold the movie, to discuss purchasing the film. The parties entered into an agreement whereby a partnership*539 would be formed specifically to purchase and commercially exploit the film "The Chase Expedition." The parties agreed on a purchase price of one million dollars. The partnership was to provide cash in an amount sufficient to get the film released from the lab, and the balance in the form of a promissory note in an amount approximating the cost of making the movie. Cost was determined by reference to a budget prepared by Martin, the producer, director, and seller, and certified as correct by him. Petitioner was told by Erwin Shapiro that he could trust the certified budget. The total cost of making the film as shown on the budget was $ 950,013. Petitioner did not view the film, nor did he make any attempt to ascertain the veracity of the figures used in Martin's budget.

On November 20, 1985, petitioner and his law partners, as well as a few clients and friends, formed a limited partnership known as The Chase Expedition Partners ("the partnership"). Hatfield served as the general partner. Petitioner prepared the partnership agreement and some related documents.

The partnership acquired the film "The Chase Expedition" for $ 90,000 cash and a promissory note in the amount of $ *540 910,000 at 8-percent interest. The note was payable only out of net receipts derived from the exploitation of the film as follows:

(i) 50 percent of net receipts derived from non-television exhibition in the United States and Canada;

(ii) 75 percent of net receipts derived from television exhibition in the United States and Canada;

(iii) 75 percent from exhibition in other territories. "Net receipts" was defined as "all gross sums actually paid to [the partnership] by any distributor * * * from the exploitation of the photoplay, after the deduction therefrom * * * of all fees and expenses of such distribution and exploitation which such distributor is entitled to deduct." Payments on the note were to be applied first to interest and then to principal. The note was secured by the film. The note provided that in the event of default, the partnership and its successors, licensees and assigns would have no personal liability on the note, except by reason of tortious or willful misconduct.

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Related

Regents Park Partners
1992 T.C. Memo. 336 (U.S. Tax Court, 1992)

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Bluebook (online)
1987 T.C. Memo. 542, 54 T.C.M. 962, 1987 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 534, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/taft-v-commissioner-tax-1987.