Temple v. U.S.

• Decision Date: 10 March 2006
• Docket Number: No. 9:03 CV 165(TH).,9:03 CV 165(TH).
• Citation: 423 F.Supp.2d 605
• Parties: Arthur TEMPLE, Individually, and as Independent Executor of the Estate of Charlotte Dean Temple Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES of America Defendant.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Texas

423 F.Supp.2d 605

Arthur TEMPLE, Individually, and as Independent Executor of the Estate of Charlotte Dean Temple Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES of America Defendant.

No. 9:03 CV 165(TH).

United States District Court, E.D. Texas, Lufkin Division.

March 10, 2006.

COPYRIGHT MATERIAL OMITTED

George William Connelly, Larry Alan Campagna, Lawrence William Sherlock, Chamberlain Harlicka White Williams et al, Houston, TX, George Edmond Chandler, Chandler Law Offices, Lufkin, TX, for Plaintiff.

Jonathan L. Blacker, Christopher Randy Egan, Department of Justice, Dallas, TX, for Defendant.

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

HEARTFIELD, District Judge.

This is a civil action for the recovery of federal gift taxes and related interest. Plaintiff Arthur Temple ("Temple"), individually and as independent executor of the estate of his wife, Mrs Charlotte Dean ("Lottie") Temple, alleges that the federal government, through the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), erroneously and wrongfully assessed and collected gift taxes from 6. Temple and from the estate of Mrs. Lottie Temple. Specifically, Temple demands judgment in his favor in the amount of approximately $5,846,708, plus interest, and for costs and other relief that may be provided.

The Court conducted a bench trial of this matter from June 27, 2005, through June 29, 2005. Having carefully considered the weight and credibility of all oral and documentary evidence and the respective arguments and post-trial submissions of the parties, the Court finds that Temple has established his right to over $7 million in federal gift tax and interest. The following findings of fact and conclusions of law are issued under Rule 52(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Temple is a United States citizen and resides in Diboll, Texas. (Joint Pretrial Order ("JPO") Stipulation # 1; Trial Transcript ("Tr.") 28).

2. Born and raised in Texarkana, Arkansas (Tr. 28), Temple eventually moved to the Piney Woods of East Texas, where he worked to become a leader of the timber industry (Tr. 40-41).

3. Temple expanded his lumber and sawmill interests and eventually operated a publically traded corporation with sales approaching $2 billion dollars per year (Tr. 41-42, 43-44, 162-63).

4. Although he resigned from executive leadership in the timber industry, Temple remains active in banking and charitable operations (Tr. 45-47, 57-58).

5. Temple and his wife Lottie had two children, Arthur Temple, III ("Buddy Temple") and Charlotte Ann Temple.

6. Lottie Temple died on March 7, 2002, and Temple was appointed the independent executor of her estate on March 25, 2002 (JPO, Stipulation # 2).

7. In 1997 and 1998, Temple gave gifts of his interests in four separate entities: Ladera Land, Ltd. ("Ladera" or "Ladera Land"), Boggy Slough West, LLC ("Boggy Slough"), Temple Interests, L.P. ("Temple Interests"), and Temple Partners, L.P. ("Temple Partners"). Temple gifted these interests to his children, Buddy Temple and Charlotte Temple and created trusts for his grandchildren: Whitney Sage Temple Lightsey, Susan Helen Temple, Hannah Lea Temple, John Clark Hurst, Jr., W.H. Spencer, IV, Christopher Temple Spencer, Katherine Sage Spencer, and Arthur Latane Spencer. Additionally, a gift was given to Ellen Temple, the Temples' daughter-in-law. (JPO, Stipulation # 3).

8. The key issue in this case involves the fair market value ("FMV") of gifts given by Temple of his interests in Ladera, Boggy Slough, Temple Interests, and Temple Partners.

9. Ladera was formed to own and operate a ranch in South Texas.

10. Boggy Slough was formed to own and operate a winery in Napa County, California.

11. Both Temple Interests and Temple Partners (collectively, the "Temple Partnerships") were formed to own the stocks of Temple-Inland and Time Warner. These companies are publically traded Fortune 400 companies.

12. Temple's gifts of his interests in Ladera, Boggy Slough, and the Temple Partnerships transferred over $34 million of assets to his children and grandchildren.

13. Temple and his wife split the gifts provided in 1997 and 1998, with each person filing federal gift tax returns. They each timely filed United States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Returns (Form 709) for the 1997 and 1998 tax years. They also timely paid the gift tax originally reported on the returns. See Forms 709, Government Exhibits ("GX") 1-4; see also Joint Stipulation No. 5, Paragraph E of the JPO.

14. After an audit, the IRS considered the Ladera, Boggy Slough, and Temple Partnerships to be undervalued. (JPO, Stipulation # 6). The IRS increased the value of the gifts and assessed additional gift tax. For 1997, the IRS assessed $1,313,450 in gift tax and $455,109 in interest against Temple, and $1,314,400 in gift tax and $455,438 in interest against Lottie Temple. GX 5-6 and 9-10; see also JPO Stipulation # 7.

15. For 1998, the IRS assessed $891,568 in gift tax and $262,683 in interest against Temple and $891,567 in gift tax and $262,493 in interest against Lottie Temple. See GX 11-12; see also JPO Stipulation # 7.

16. The Temples paid these assessments and timely filed claims for refund with the IRS. See JPO Stipulation # 8.

17. Temple seeks a refund of $1,768,559 for 1997 and $1,154,251 for 1998. See Complaint, ¶ 7. The Estate of Lottie Temple seeks $1,769,838 for 1997 and $1,154,060 for 1998. Id.

18. The Temples' refund claims satisfy the statutory requirements listed in Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C.) § 6511. The IRS has disallowed the Temple refund claims. See JPO, Stipulations 8 and 9.

19. A critical factor in this case is determining the appropriate diminution in value between a hypothetical willing buyer and hypothetical willing seller for the interests in Boggy Slough and the Temple Partnerships.

20. Determining the "net asset value" ("NAV") of Ladera, Boggy Slough, and the Temple Partnerships is the first step in resolving this case.

21. After the NAV is calculated, the Court must then determine whether a discount to the value of the gifts is appropriate.

22. If a discount is appropriate, the Court must determine the extent of the discount.

23. Once the discount amount is determined, the fair market value for all of Temple's gifts must be calculated.

Ladera Land

24. Ladera Land was formed on August 25, 1992. See JPO Stipulation # 10.

25. As a limited partnership, Ladera Land is comprised of two partners: Temple Land and Cattle Company ("TLCC") and Temple. TLCC, as the general partner, received a 1% partnership interest. Temple received a 99% limited partnership interest. Buddy Temple was the president of TLCC.

26. Ladera's term runs until December 31, 2025, or until such time as termination occurs in accordance with the partnership agreement.

27. The Ladera partnership agreement states that Ladera's purposes were to (I) acquire real property (the Gray ((Temple)) Ranch), (ii) acquire, raise, and breed livestock, (iii) develop and lease the real property for hunting and wildlife management, and (iv) such other purposes consistent with farming and ranching operations. See GX 13.

28. Buddy Temple testified that Ladera's purpose was "to own the land and to hope that it appreciated in value and some day we might sell it." (Tr. 91).

29. Ladera Land's general partners retain exclusive authority to manage the operations and make all business decisions. See GX 13, Tab 2. Ladera's limited partners do not have the right to manage and control the business. Id.

30. In 1992, Temple first gifted his Ladera limited partnership units to Buddy Temple (both individually and as Trustee of the South Texas Land Trusts) and to Ellen Temple. See GX 15.

31. The South Texas Land Trusts were formed to benefit Temple's grandchildren. Temple gave similar gifts of his Ladera partnership units from 1993-1996. See GX 17-20.

32. Temple's Ladera Land gifts from 1992-1996 were discounted 40%. See GX 15-20. No appraiser was used on these gift valuations prior to the gifts. (Tr. 191).

33. The composition of Ladera Land's financial structure, assets, and liabilities did not change between 1992 and 1997. See GX 28.

34. Temple transferred 490.008 limited partnership units (representing 49.0008% of Ladera) to Buddy Temple, Ellen Temple, and his grandchildren on February 24, 1997. Buddy Temple received a 42.3343% limited partnership interest. Ellen Temple and Temple's grandchildren each received 1.3333% limited partnership interests. Ladera's NAV was $3,583,064, consisting of the following assets and liabilities: cash and equivalents—$13,709, tractors— $42,355, Temple Ranch—$3,6000,000¹, and a note payable of $73,000. See GX13.

35. In 1992 through 1996, Temple valued his previous Ladera gifts with a 40% total discount.

36. From 1992 through 1997, Ladera's assets, liabilities, and financial structure did not change.

37. However, Temple attempted to increase the Ladera discount in 1997. He hired Nancy M. Czaplinski ("Czaplinski") to appraise the value of his 1997 gifts. Czaplinski calculated the discounts at a higher percentage than the 40% used by Temple from 1992 through 1996.

38. Czaplinski valued Temple's gifts by using a minority interest (lack of control) discount of 25% and a lack of marketability discount of 45%. The total combined discount was roughly 58.75%. The undiscounted fair market value of Temple's Ladera gifts in 1997 was $1,755,730. Czaplinski's calculations, however, discounted the Ladera gifts to $731,205.

Boggy Slough West LLC

39. Boggy Slough was formed as a California limited liability company on July 29, 1995. Temple gave $2,000,000 in exchange for a 99% membership interest. Charlotte Temple contributed $20,202 in exchange for a 1% membership interest. Charlotte became the managing member of Boggy Slough. See GX38. Boggy Slough's term runs through December 31, 2050 (or until termination under the operating agreement). Id.

40. Boggy Slough was formed to acquire real property, operate a...