Post-trial briefs in Vinoskey ESOP trial point to fierce valuation fight
The DOL’s aggressive oversight strategy concerning ESOPs has led to a number of controversial lawsuits, including, most recently, the Acosta v. Vinoskey case, which, in the past few months, went to trial over the DOL's overpayment claim.
Starkly different valuation narratives in Vinoskey ESOP trial
Post-trial briefs in last year’s Acosta v. Vinoskey ESOP case reveal insights into how each side shaped the valuation narrative.
Appeals Court Validates Trial Court’s Reliance on Calculation of Value
Appeals court rejects claim that expert’s value determination pursuant to a calculation engagement rather than a valuation engagement was unreliable; trial court properly considered limitations inherent in a calculation engagement when crediting expert’s value estimate, appeals court says.
Rohling v. Rohling
Appeals court rejects claim that expert’s value determination pursuant to a calculation engagement rather than a valuation engagement was unreliable; trial court properly considered limitations inherent in a calculation engagement when crediting expert’s value estimate, appeals court says.
McNee v. McNee
Trial court did not err in classifying owner-spouse’s personal loan to his business during marriage as a marital asset, appeals court finds; loan could be seen as an increase in value of owner’s business or a debt owed to parties, appeals court says.
Different Theories Justify Classifying Loan to Business as Marital Asset
Trial court did not err in classifying owner-spouse’s personal loan to his business during marriage as a marital asset, appeals court finds; loan could be seen as an increase in value of owner’s business or a debt owed to parties, appeals court says.
NAV Alone Fails to Capture Distributional Interest’s Fair Value
Appellate court affirms fair value determination of distributional interest in family farm based on multiprong valuation; company is not a holding company, and net asset valuation alone fails to capture fair value of dissociating members’ interest.
Expert’s Best-Effort Medical Practice Valuation Holds Up on Appeal
Appeals court upholds medical practice valuation despite gaps in expert analysis, including failure to analyze goodwill and exclude premarriage value portion of practice; expert’s job was “complicated” due to owner-spouse’s noncompliance with discovery.
Schewe v. Schewe Farms
Appellate court affirms fair value determination of distributional interest in family farm based on multiprong valuation; company is not a holding company, and net asset valuation alone fails to capture fair value of dissociating members’ interest.
NAV Alone Fails to Capture Distributional Interest’s Fair Value
Appellate court affirms fair value determination of distributional interest in family farm based on multiprong valuation; company is not a holding company, and net asset valuation alone fails to capture fair value of dissociating members’ interest.
Ramundo v. Ramundo
Appeals court upholds medical practice valuation despite gaps in expert analysis, including failure to analyze goodwill and exclude premarriage value portion of practice; expert’s job was “complicated” due to owner-spouse’s noncompliance with discovery.
Expert’s Best-Effort Medical Practice Valuation Holds Up on Appeal
Appeals court upholds medical practice valuation despite gaps in expert analysis, including failure to analyze goodwill and exclude premarriage value portion of practice; expert’s job was “complicated” due to owner-spouse’s noncompliance with discovery.
Court Disapproves of Nonexpert Valuation of Key Marital Asset
Appeals court rejects trial court’s valuation of husband’s fitness training company noting trial court lacked necessary financial evidence as well as testimony from experts; appeals court remands requesting “adequate valuation,” excluding goodwill.
Lacoste v. Lacoste
Appeals court rejects trial court’s valuation of husband’s fitness training company noting trial court lacked necessary financial evidence as well as testimony from experts; appeals court remands requesting “adequate valuation,” excluding goodwill.
Court Disapproves of Nonexpert Valuation of Key Marital Asset
Appeals court rejects trial court’s valuation of husband’s fitness training company noting trial court lacked necessary financial evidence as well as testimony from experts; appeals court remands requesting “adequate valuation,” excluding goodwill.
Court Snubs Lost Earnings Analysis Based on ‘Incomplete Use’ of Data
Court rejects expert’s loss of business opportunity and lost earnings calculations, finding capitalization of earnings method is inappropriate for valuing company with unstable earnings and lost salary projections are based on “incomplete use” of data.
Lay Testimony About Offer to Buy Represents Admissible Valuation Evidence
Appeals court says nonexpert testimony on a real-world offer to buy owner-spouse’s company was relevant and, therefore, admissible because it provided valuation evidence based on market approach; court remands for rehearing on all valuation testimony.
Bocek v. JGA Assocs., LLC
Court rejects expert’s loss of business opportunity and lost earnings calculations, finding capitalization of earnings method is inappropriate for valuing company with unstable earnings and lost salary projections are based on “incomplete use” of data.
Service Business Valuation Triggers Double-Dip Rule
New York appellate court finds trial court’s spousal support determination violated double counting rule where expert valued husband’s solely owned engineering company based on an income approach and the business was a service business.
Berger v. Berger
Appeals court says nonexpert testimony on a real-world offer to buy owner-spouse’s company was relevant and, therefore, admissible because it provided valuation evidence based on market approach; court remands for rehearing on all valuation testimony.
Court Nixes Double-Dip Claim Based on Accounts Receivable Treatment
Appeals court rejects claim that accounts receivable used in asset-based business valuation by wife’s expert are analogous to future income stream for purposes of arguing double dip in light of income determination for spousal support award.
Husband's Roles in Company Negate Need for DLOC
Court affirms valuation of husband’s minority interest in business featuring zero DLOC where husband was key driving force behind business’s success and wielded influence and control; use of asset approach rendered double-dip theory inapplicable.
Gifford v Gifford
New York appellate court finds trial court’s spousal support determination violated double counting rule where expert valued husband’s solely owned engineering company based on an income approach and the business was a service business.
Settele v. Settele
Appeals court rejects claim that accounts receivable used in asset-based business valuation by wife’s expert are analogous to future income stream for purposes of arguing double dip in light of income determination for spousal support award.
Sieber v. Sieber
Court affirms valuation of husband’s minority interest in business featuring zero DLOC where husband was key driving force behind business’s success and wielded influence and control; use of asset approach rendered double-dip theory inapplicable.