United States v. Paul

41 F. Supp. 41, 28 A.F.T.R. (P-H) 452, 1940 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2080
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Michigan
DecidedAugust 12, 1940
DocketNo. 7544
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 41 F. Supp. 41 (United States v. Paul) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Paul, 41 F. Supp. 41, 28 A.F.T.R. (P-H) 452, 1940 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2080 (E.D. Mich. 1940).

Opinion

MOINET, District Judge.

1. This is a civil suit, in equity, seeking the foreclosure of a Federal estate tax lien arising under the laws of the United States, providing for internal revenue and the collection thereof; plaintiff being a corporation, sovereign and body politic, and the defendants being the heirs and assignees of John P. Paul, deceased, and their assignees and mortgagees, and the taxing authorities of the State of Michigan.

2. John P. Paul, a resident of the City of Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, died intestate on May 5, 1926, leaving heirs as follows: Lena Paul, his widow, and John W. Paul, Frederick P. Paul, Nettie B. Paul, Riney T. Paul, Amelia L. Paul, and Charles P. Paul, his children.

3. That Lena Paul, widow of said John P. Paul, died intestate on February 18, 1931; that Charles P. Paul died prior to the institution of this suit, leaving no children, and that the defendant, Florence H. Paul, his wife, and sole heir, was appointed administratrix of the estate of Charles P. Paul by Probate Court of Wayne County, Michigan, on the 16th day of December, 1931.

4. That on or about July 5, 1927, Lena Paul, describing herself as “widow of John P. Paul, and joint-owner with him of all his properties”, executed and filed in the office of the Collector of Internal Revenue a Federal estate tax return for the estate of the said John P. Paul, deceased, reporting a gross estate of $492,902, deductions of $329,823.49, a net estate of $164,078.51, and a tax liability of $3,450, which was duly paid.

5. That the Commissioner of Internal Revenue notified said Lena Paul by letter dated March 14, 1930, addressed to “Lena Paul, Beneficiary, Estate of John P. Paul”, of a proposed deficiency in estate tax in the sum of $23,271.84, and advised her of her right to file an appeal with the United States Board of Tax Appeals.

6. That on or about May 10, 1930, an appeal entitled “Appeal of Estate of John P. Paul, Lena Paul, beneficiary, Docket No. 48933” was filed with the United States Board of Tax Appeals.

7. That on November 4, 1932, said United States Board of Tax Appeals entered an order in connection with the appeal of the Estate of John P. Paul, determining that there was an estate tax deficiency due plaintiff in the sum of $23,271.84.

8. That no proceedings were had or appeal taken from said order of the Board of Tax Appeals entered on November 4, 1932, In re Paul’s Estate, 27 B.T.A. 1369, determining the Federal estate tax liability of said estate of John P. Paul, deceased.

9. That in accordance with the applicable provisions of revenue laws of the United States, interest on said deficiency of $23,271.84 due from the estate of John P. Paul, deceased, accrued at the rate of six per cent (6%) per annum from May 5, 1927 to February 19, 1933; and that said interest on the deficiency to February 19, 1933, amounted to $8,080.28.

10. That on February 19, 1933, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue duly assessed against the estate of John P. Paul, deceased, said deficiency in the principal amount of $23,271.84 on account of said estate tax liability as finally determined by the United States Board of Tax Appeals, together with interest on said deficiency in the sum of $8,080.28.

11. That no part of said tax deficiency or interest has been paid.

12. That at the time of the death of John P. Paul he, together with his wife, Lena Paul, owned and held legal title to a tenancy by the entirety in all the parcels of real estate described in the bill of complaint, except parcels numbered 2a, 4, 21, 25, 35, 36, and parcels 40 to 47 inclusive, as numbered in the bill of complaint filed in this cause.

13. That at the time of the death of John P. Paul he, together with' his wife, Lena Paul, owned and held land contracts covering parcels numbered 2a, 4, 21, 25, 35 [43]*43and 36, as numbered in the bill of complaint. These parcels were listed as part of the gross estate of John P. Paul in the Federal Estate Tax return filed by Lena Paul. Deeds to each of these parcels, except parcel No. 36, were later delivered by the vendors in the contract to Lena Paul, the widow, or to certain of the children of John P. Paul, in accordance with the terms of the contract.

14. That the land contract covering parcel 36 as numbered in the bill of complaint is now held by the Paul heirs. There remains a balance of $1,900 on the purchase price due to Harry E. Barnard, the vendor.

15. That parcels numbered 40 to 47 inclusive, as numbered in the bill of complaint, were conveyed by John P. Paul and Lena Paul, his wife, to certain of their children within two years before the date of the death of John P. Paul. These parcels were treated by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue as part of the gross estate of John P. Paul, as property conveyed in contemplation of death. Said conveyances were made on the dates and in the manner hereinafter described:

Parcels 40, 41, 42, 43, and 44, were conveyed by John P. Paul and Lena Paul, his wife, to Nettie Paul, unmarried, by Warranty Deed dated June 22, 1925.

Parcel 45 was conveyed by John P. Paul and Lena Paul, his wife, to Amelia L. Paul, single, by Warranty Deed dated July 10, 1925 and recorded October 20, 1925.

Parcel 46 was conveyed by John P. Paul to Amelia L. Paul by Warranty Deed dated May 1, 1925 and recorded June 16, 1925.

Parcel 47 was conveyed by John P. Paul and Lena Paul, his wife, to Nettie B. Paul by Warranty Deed dated October 5, 1925 and recorded June 4, 1926.

16. On February 13, 1931 Lena Paul, widow of John P. Paul, executed an instrument granting to John W. Paul, Frederick P. Paul, Nettie B. Paul, Riney T. Paul, Amelia L. Paul, and Charles P. Paul, children of John P. Paul, all her right, title and interest in any and all real estate standing in her name in which she had any interest by purchase, inheritance, right of succession or otherwise, located and being in the County of Wayne and State of Michigan (except the homestead property known as 207 King Avenue, Detroit, Michigan). This instrument was recorded on June 20, 1931, in Liber 3613 of Deeds, on page 291, in the office of the Register of Deeds for Wayne County, Michigan. On the same date, February 13, 1931, Lena Paul, widow of John P. Paul, executed a deed conveying the homestead property located at 207 King Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, hereinafter referred to in Parcel 19, as numbered in the bill of complaint, to John W. Paul, and Nettie B. Paul, present record owners of the property. Said deed was recorded on September 28, 1933 in Liber 4012 of Deeds, on page 173, in the office of the Register of Deeds for Wayne County, Michigan.

17. That by virtue of mesne conveyance between the Paul children, by quit claim deeds dated September 27, 1933 and April 12, 1934, record title to parcels numbered 2a, 3, 5, 6, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 39, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, and 50, as numbered in the bill of complaint, is now held by Frederick H. Paul and Ruby, his wife, as joint tenants.

18. That by virtue of mesne conveyances the Paul children by quit claim deeds dated September 27, 1933, record title to parcels numbered 4, 9, 10, 11, 18, 20, 21, and 38, as numbered in the bill of complaint, is now held by John W. Paul, single, and Nettie B. Paul, unmarried.

19.

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Bluebook (online)
41 F. Supp. 41, 28 A.F.T.R. (P-H) 452, 1940 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2080, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-paul-mied-1940.