Title Insurance & Trust Co. v. United States

326 F. Supp. 617, 27 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1150, 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13280
CourtDistrict Court, C.D. California
DecidedMay 16, 1971
DocketNo. 70-165
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 326 F. Supp. 617 (Title Insurance & Trust Co. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, C.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Title Insurance & Trust Co. v. United States, 326 F. Supp. 617, 27 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1150, 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13280 (C.D. Cal. 1971).

Opinion

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

IRVING HILL, District Judge.

On February 11, 1971, at 10:00 A.M., this case was tried to the Court without a jury. Upon consideration of the evidence introduced by the parties in this proceeding by way of a Stipulation of Agreed Facts, as well as the pleadings and other documents filed in this matter, and upon oral argument by counsel, [618]*618the Court makes the following Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law:

FINDINGS OF FACT

I

Plaintiff is a corporation duly organized and authorized to operate under the laws of the State of California, having its principal place of business in the County of Los Angeles, in the Central District of California. This Court has jurisdiction and venue of this action for the refund of internal revenue taxes under Title 26 U.S.C. § 7422, Title 28 U.S. C. §§ 1346(a)(1), 1402(a)(2), and the internal revenue laws of the United States.

II

The plaintiff in this action, Title Insurance and Trust Company, is the named trustee for three separate trusts created on October 17, 1957, which trusts still are in existence as of the date hereof. These irrevocable trusts (hereinafter called Greenspan trusts) were created by Sidney and Helen Greenspan for each of their three children, who were then aged 11, 6, and 3, respectively, by transferring to Title Insurance and Trust Company, as independent trustee, for each trust, 450 shares of the common voting stock of Robillwayne Corporation. All of the trust instruments were identical with the exception of the named beneficiary. Under the terms of the trust instruments, the corporation was given an option, exercisable at any time, to redeem by purchase all or any part of the shares of stock of the corporation which were a part of the trust estate, at the stock’s fair value. Neither of the trustors ever had, or now has, any ownership interest in or control over the operations of the Trustee.

Ill

Robillwayne Corporation was organized on October 21, 1954, and is still in existence. As of the date of incorporation, Sidney Greenspan jointly owned with his wife, Helen, 3000 shares (100%) of the common stock.

IV

Since the transfers into the Greenspan .trusts were made without consideration, the tax basis of the Robillwayne Corporation stock in the hands of the trusts was the same as it was in the hands of the trustors, or, $10.00 per share far a total, per trust basis of $4,500.00.

V

Each trust’s 450 shares of stock represented 15% of the total common stock of Robillwayne Corporation. Consequently, from the time of the transfers into trust up to the time of the redemption, the trusts owned a total of 45% of Robillwayne Corporation’s stock and Sidney and Helen Greenspan jointly owned the remaining 55'%. Subsequent to the redemption, Sidney and Helen Greenspan jointly owned, and still own, 100% of the outstanding stock of Robillwayne Corporation.

VI

The purpose for- the creation of each trust, as set out in the Declaration of Trust, was to provide for the education of each beneficiary, to provide an amount of money with which to establish a home or family on his marriage, and to provide a measure of financial security for him during his early adult years. The trust vehicle was used for this purpose in order to provide the desired funds in all events and to establish the funds beyond the reach of the creditors of both the trustors and the beneficiaries prior to distribution.

VII

On September 30, 1959, each of the Greenspan trusts was amended so as to provide for a broader investment authority in the trustee. Prior to the amendment, the trustee’s investment authority was limited to United States Government Bonds, Series E or Series H, or United States Government Bonds [619]*619of a similar nature. The amendment expanded this authority to include investments, when requested by Sidney Greenspan, in a limited partnership interest in any limited partnership which may be formed by Sidney Greenspan, and also, in the stock of any corporation organized by Sidney Greenspan. An option for redemption of this stock was provided for in the same manner as the stock of Robillwayne Corporation. No investments ever have been made by any of the Greenspan trusts pursuant to this expanded authority.

VIII

On August 20, 1965, Robillwayne Corporation’s board of directors considered the desirability of exercising the option to redeem the stock held by the Greenspan trusts so that corporate plans for a possible buy-out, amalgamation, or merger, and, the election of Sub-Chapter S tax status could freely be pursued. On October 19, 1965, the board resolved to exercise the option and to redeem all of Robillwayne Corporation’s stock then held by the three trusts. It further was resolved that upon the redemption the purchased shares would be carried on the corporation’s books as treasury stock. The entire impetus for the redemption came from Robillwayne Corporation and not from the trusts, trustee, or trust beneficiaries.

IX

The redemption price of $29,737.90 for the stock held by each of the Greenspan trusts was determined by reference to the book value plus one year’s net income before taxes of the corporation. This price had been proposed to the trustee on September 20, 1965, by Robillwayne Corporation’s attorney, Mr. William F. Balter, who also was the corporation’s secretary-treasurer. The investment department of the trustee reviewed the offer, along with the balance sheet and income tax return of the corporation, including a depreciation schedule, and then informed the trust investment committee that the proposed purchase price represented a fair value. The trust investment committee,, after discussing the matter, then authorized the sale of the stock to the corporation on the basis of the proposed purchase price.

X

The redemption price of $29,737.90 was to be paid, as to each of the Greenspan trusts, by $7,434.47 cash, plus a corporate promissory note for $22,303.43 dated October 27, 1965, payable on October 28, 1967, together with interest on the unpaid balance at the rate of 8% per annum. The note was paid off with respect to each trust as follows: $10,259.-58 principal, plus interest to October 28, 1967, of $1,784.27, on October 20, 1967; $12,043.85 principal, plus interest to January 23, 1968, of.$227.50, on January 23, 1968. The entire proceeds from the redemption have been retained and/or reinvested by the trustee for the sole benefit of the trust beneficiaries, and not for the benefit of either the trustors or the Robillwayne Corporation.

XI

As of the beginning of the year in which the redemption occurred, Robillwayne’s undistributed surplus was $133,-165.73. The year’s net profit after taxes was $36,709.16.

XII

The redemption of Robillwayne stock was in no way related to or the result of a contraction of the corporate business. Following the redemption, Robillwayne Corporation elected Sub-Chapter S status under the Internal Revenue Code, commencing with the fiscal year of the corporation which began on November 1, 1965.

XIII

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Bluebook (online)
326 F. Supp. 617, 27 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1150, 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13280, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/title-insurance-trust-co-v-united-states-cacd-1971.