Economic damages culminate suit over war journalist’s extrajudicial killing
A civil suit arising out of the “deliberated” killing of a well-respected American war correspondent illustrates that valuation and damages issues play a critical role in most litigation.
Pratt’s Stats/DealStats Market Analysis Survives Appeal by Owner Spouse
Appellate court finds no error in trial court’s adoption of market-based value determination by husband’s expert; expert acknowledged this was not the preferred method to value the small company, but company’s problematic financials and uncooperative attitude “compelled” use of this approach.
Hultz v. Kuhn
Appellate court finds no error in trial court’s adoption of market-based value determination by husband’s expert; expert acknowledged this was not the preferred method to value the small company, but company’s problematic financials and uncooperative attitude “compelled” use of this approach.
Zausch v. Schnakenburg
Appeals court upholds trial court’s upward adjustment of father’s child support obligation based on a significant improvement in his economic circumstances; trial court followed applicable case law when calculating income related to father’s minority interests in several pass-through entities.
Indiana Court Upholds Child Support Calculation Involving Pass-Through Entities
Appeals court upholds trial court’s upward adjustment of father’s child support obligation based on a significant improvement in his economic circumstances; trial court followed applicable case law when calculating income related to father’s minority interests in several pass-through entities.
Colvin v. Syrian Arab Republic
In wrongful death suit arising from extrajudicial killing of famed war correspondent, court credits plaintiff expert’s “reasonable estimate” of loss of prospective income and benefits but finds expert failed to offset amount by consumption costs; court asks for updated expert report.
Court Awards Loss of Income Damages Related to Acclaimed War Correspondent’s Killing
In wrongful death suit arising from extrajudicial killing of famed war correspondent, court credits plaintiff expert’s “reasonable estimate” of loss of prospective income and benefits but finds expert failed to offset amount by consumption costs; court asks for updated expert report.
Simplified MUM approach weathers attacks in Illinois divorce case
One of the key questions in an Illinois divorce case was how to allocate goodwill between enterprise and personal goodwill.
Tax Court’s Exelon ruling, turning on compromised appraisals, withstands appeal
In 2016, Tax Court Judge Laro ruled on the legitimacy of a series of Section 1031 transactions involving Exelon, an Illinois-based energy giant.
Failure to explain inputs gets expert excluded under Daubert
If more proof is necessary to show that courts across all legal fields dive deep into the details of valuation testimony, a recent damages case that arose in the context of a condemnation proceeding should do the trick.
Expert’s inability to defend income analysis ‘is decidedly troubling,’ court says
Judges are alert to incongruities in valuations, as is clear from a recent condemnation case in which landowners hired three experts to calculate the compensation owed to them.
Appeals Court Upholds Tax Court’s Section 1031 Decision Pivoting on ‘Tainted Appraisals’
Appeals court upholds Tax Court’s ruling that taxpayer’s transactions do not represent section 1031 like-kind exchanges because taxpayer never assumed ownership of replacement plants; improper input from taxpayer’s law firm tainted appraisals used to show otherwise; accuracy penalty is justified.
Exelon Corp. v. Commissioner
Appeals court upholds Tax Court’s ruling that taxpayer’s transactions do not represent section 1031 like-kind exchanges because taxpayer never assumed ownership of replacement plants; improper input from taxpayer’s law firm tainted appraisals used to show otherwise; accuracy penalty is justified.
Courts are alert to valuations unmoored from the facts
Perhaps experts feel pressure from the hiring attorney or the client, perhaps they are unable to access key documents or information, or perhaps they simply lack valuation and litigation experience.
Expert’s Failure to Explain Basis for Compensation Analysis Renders Testimony Inadmissible
In condemnation case requiring fair market value analysis to determine compensation due to landowners, court excludes defense expert testimony, citing failure to follow mandated methodology and standard of value; court calls aspects of loss calculation based on income approach “disturbing.”
Rover Pipeline LLC v. 10.55 Acres
In condemnation case requiring fair market value analysis to determine compensation due to landowners, court excludes defense expert testimony, citing failure to follow mandated methodology and standard of value; court calls aspects of loss calculation based on income approach “disturbing.”
Expert’s Detailed Risk Analysis Bolsters Use of Deep Discount in Law Firm Valuation
In buyout dispute over law firm interest, court credits firm’s expert, noting his extensive relevant experience, his taking care to value interest under fair market value standard, as required by the partnership agreement, and his detailed risk analysis to support a deep discount.
Fredericks Peebles & Morgan LLP v. Assam
In buyout dispute over law firm interest, court credits firm’s expert, noting his extensive relevant experience, his taking care to value interest under fair market value standard, as required by the partnership agreement, and his detailed risk analysis to support a deep discount.
In re Marriage of Preston
In divorce case, appellate court upholds valuation based on opinion of husband’s expert using MUM method to separate total goodwill value into personal and enterprise components; court also upholds use of small marketability discount where owner spouse is the sole owner of the company.
Court Favors MUM Method for Goodwill Allocation in Illinois Divorce Case
In divorce case, appellate court upholds valuation based on opinion of husband’s expert using MUM method to separate total goodwill value into personal and enterprise components; court also upholds use of small marketability discount where owner spouse is the sole owner of the company.
Louisiana Appeals Court Affirms Use of Discounts in LLC Valuations
Appeals court supports trial court’s decision to value departing member’s minority interest on fair market value basis pursuant to state statute rather than method specified in some existing corporate documents; appeals court affirms lower court’s discretion to apply post-Cannon discounts.
Wall v. Bryan
Appeals court supports trial court’s decision to value departing member’s minority interest on fair market value basis pursuant to state statute rather than method specified in some existing corporate documents; appeals court affirms lower court’s discretion to apply post-Cannon discounts.
20 Points to Consider for Valuations Under the New Tax Law
Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was enacted, BVR has been gathering opinions and observations from valuation experts about the impacts of the new tax law on valuations. Here's a list of some points to consider that is by no means exhaustive but is a good starting point.
Cristofano v. Chahal
In fair value dispute, court credits defense expert analysis based on capitalized economic income method and working with company’s historical earnings and growth rates; analysis properly accounts for particular facts of the case, including expiration of lucrative client contract.
Court Favors Fair Value Analysis Based on Historical Data and Case Facts
In fair value dispute, court credits defense expert analysis based on capitalized economic income method and working with company’s historical earnings and growth rates; analysis properly accounts for particular facts of the case, including expiration of lucrative client contract.