Propeller Assocs. v. Comm'r of Internal Revenue

Decision Date01 July 2022
Docket Number967-21
PartiesPROPELLER ASSOCIATES, L.P., RODNEY PROPP, TAX MATTERS PARTNER, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
CourtUnited States Tax Court

This case is set for trial at the New York City, New York trial session beginning at 10:00 am on Monday, October 31, 2022.

Please refer to the Notice Setting Case for Trial for more information.

STANDING PRETRIAL ORDER

Vasquez, Judge

This Order sets out the Court's standing procedures for the trial session. If this is your first time appearing before the U.S. Tax Court, please pay special attention to the attached "Petitioner's (Taxpayer's) Getting Ready for Trial Checklist."

About the Court. The U.S. Tax Court hears disputes between taxpayers (petitioners) and the IRS (respondent). The Court is independent of, and not affiliated with, the IRS. Documents previously given to the IRS are not part of the record in this case and may not be considered unless made a part of this case.

Contact Information. The parties must provide the Court with current contact information. If your phone number, email, or mailing address changes, inform the Court right away by filing a Notice of Change of Address form, available on the Court's website, www.ustaxcourt.gov.

Electronic Filing (eFiling). The Court encourages registration for DAWSON, the Court's electronic filing and case management system, so that you can electronically file and view documents in your case. If you are not registered for eFiling, you must send the opposing party a copy of any document you file with the Court. To register for DAWSON email dawson.support@ustaxcourt.gov. eFiling will remain available to parties during the trial session. For more information, see www.ustaxcourt.gov.

Communication Between the Parties. The parties must begin discussing settlement and/or preparation of a stipulation of facts (facts on which the parties agree) as soon as possible. All minor issues should be settled so that the Judge can focus on the issue(s) needing a decision. Some cases may be susceptible to partial or full settlement, and the Court expects the parties to negotiate in good faith with this goal in mind. If a party has trouble communicating with another party or complying with this Order, that party should inform the Judge right away by filing a Status Report or requesting a conference call by calling the Judge's chambers at the phone number listed below.

Language Barriers. All Court proceedings are conducted in English. All documents must be filed in English or include a certified English translation. Yo u should let the Judge know as early as possible if you require help with English. It is generally the responsibility of each petitioner to bring an interpreter. If you give advance notice, the Court may have one available. Si ThC i i i ildidii lf Sanctions. The Court may impose appropriate sanctions, including dismissal, for any unexcused failure to comply with this or other Court orders. See Rule 131(b), Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure (available at www.ustaxcourt.gov). If you have not settled your case and you do not participate in conference calls and pretrial conferences, or appear at trial, the Judge may dismiss your case and enter a decision against you. Any failures may also be considered in relation to sanctions against and disciplinary proceedings involving counsel. See Rule 202(a).

To allow the efficient disposition of all cases on the trial calendar:

It is ORDERED that the parties comply with the following deadlines and requirements, unless the Court, upon request, grants an extension:

1.No later than 60 days before the first day of the trial session: If a party wants to ask the Judge to decide all or part of the case without trial, the party may file a Motion for Summary Judgment.

2.No later than 45 days before the first day of the trial session: The parties should file any motions related to discovery or stipulations.

3.No later than 31 days before the first day of the trial session:

A. Motion for Continuance. The parties may file any Motions for Continuance (postponement of trial), which the Judge will grant only in exceptional circumstances. See Rule 133. Even joint Motions for Continuance are not automatically granted.
B. Motion to Proceed Remotely. The parties may file a Motion to Proceed Remotely. If the Judge grants the motion, you will be provided with detailed instructions, including the date, time, and Zoomgov information for the remote proceeding.

4.No later than 30 days before the first day of the trial session: If a party plans to call an expert witness at trial, that party must file a Motion for Leave to File an Expert Report and lodge (that is, submit separately through DAWSON if registered for eFiling or otherwise submit in paper) the expert report. An expert witness's testimony may be excluded if the party fails to comply with this Order and Rule 143(g).

5.No later than 21 days before the first day of the trial session: The parties must file one of the following: a Proposed Stipulated Decision, a Pretrial Memorandum, a Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Prosecution, or a Status Report.

A. Settlement. If a basis for settlement has been reached, the Proposed Stipulated Decision must be electronically filed no later than 21 days before the first day of the trial session. If the parties have reached a basis for settlement and need additional time to file the Proposed Stipulated Decision, they must file a joint Status Report including a summary of the basis of settlement no later than 21 days before the first day of the trial session. A Stipulation of Settled Issues should be attached, if available. The Status Report must state the reasons for delay in filing the Proposed Stipulated Decision. The Court may issue an Order specifying the date by which the Proposed Stipulated Decision will be due. If a basis for settlement is reached after the trial session begins, the Court will handle any required scheduling on the record.
B. Pretrial Memoranda. If a basis for settlement has not been reached and it appears that a trial is necessary, each party must file a Pretrial Memorandum no later than 21 days before the first day of the trial session. A Pretrial Memorandum form is attached to this Order.
i. Witnesses. Witnesses must be identified in the pretrial memorandum with a brief summary of their anticipated testimony. Witnesses who are not identified will not be permitted to testify at the trial without a showing of good cause.
C. Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Prosecution. If a party has been unresponsive and has failed to cooperate in preparing the case for trial or resolution or to participate in preparing a Stipulation of Facts, the opposing party should file a Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Prosecution no later than 21 days before the first day of the trial session.

6. No later than 14 days before the first day of the trial session: The parties must file a Stipulation of Facts together with all stipulated documents. Documents and pages should be numbered for parties to easily identify documents and pages within documents.

A. Stipulation of Facts. All facts and documents must be stipulated (agreed upon in writing) to the maximum extent possible. If a complete stipulation of facts is not ready for submission no later than 14 days before the first day of the trial session, or when otherwise ordered by the Court, and if the Court determines that this is due to lack of cooperation by either party, the Court may order sanctions against the uncooperative party.
B. Proposed Trial Exhibits. All documents or materials (except impeachment documents or materials) that a party expects to use at trial that are not in the Stipulation of Facts must be exchanged with the opposing party as Proposed Trial Exhibits.

7. No later than 7 days before the first day of the trial session: The parties must file with the Court either a Supplemental Stipulation of Facts with...

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