Bates v. Bates
In appreciation case, appeals court says it was error to value owner’s separate, minority interest in car dealership based on buy-sell agreement; however, alternate valuation by nonowner spouse’s expert offered based on standard methods, including use of discounts, provided “appropriate valuation.”
Buy-Sell Stock Agreement Does Not Determine Value of Owner Spouse’s Separate Property
In appreciation case, appeals court says it was error to value owner’s separate, minority interest in car dealership based on buy-sell agreement; however, alternate valuation by nonowner spouse’s expert offered based on standard methods, including use of discounts, provided “appropriate valuation.”
Papin v. Papin
High court upholds classification and valuation of husband’s investment management business, noting business consists of book of business, which can exist without owner, and owner’s skills and expertise, which are his separate property; proceeds from sale of book of business are community property.
Trajectory of Owner’s Investment Management Business Raises Characterization and Valuation Issues
A complex divorce case in front of the Idaho Supreme Court featuring an investment management business that the husband had set up before and sold during the marriage raised noteworthy issues about the nature of the business and the characterization and valuation of its various components (book of business vs. owner’s skills). A related flashpoint was whether the nonowner spouse was entitled to any appreciation (enhancement) in the value of the business that occurred ...
Perser v. Perser
Court upholds award to nonowner spouse related to value of husband’s medical practice where husband bought practice prior to marriage and was sole owner; court notes there was goodwill attributable to the business and finds other factors indicate business had assets that were marital property.
Factors Other Than Goodwill Support Award to Nonowner Spouse Related to Owner’s Medical Practice
Court upholds award to nonowner spouse related to value of husband’s medical practice where husband bought practice prior to marriage and was sole owner; court notes there was goodwill attributable to the business and finds other factors indicate business had assets that were marital property.
In Florida divorce, expert’s ‘with-and-without’ valuation withstands appeal
In a nasty Florida divorce case, an appellate court recently upheld the trial court’s valuation findings concerning the husband’s 50% interest in a successful company that operates in the waste disposal industry.
Appreciation in Liquor Company’s Value Represents Marital Property, Appeals Court Finds
Appeals court upholds ruling that appreciation in value of husband’s interest in family liquor business is marital asset; trial court carefully analyzed husband’s role in company to find he “substantially contributed” to the increase and husband stipulated to wife’s substantial contribution.
Burchfield v. Burchfield
In valuing husband’s law firm partnership interest, court finds undistributed earnings, even though allocated to husband before separation, are not marital property because money was based on firm’s anticipated net profits; money was not earned during marriage but after parties’ separation.
Court Explains Treatment of Undistributed Earnings in Valuing Law Firm Partnership Interest
In valuing husband’s law firm partnership interest, court finds undistributed earnings, even though allocated to husband before separation, are not marital property because money was based on firm’s anticipated net profits; money was not earned during marriage but after parties’ separation.
Fox v. Fox
Appellate court affirms that increase in value of husband’s company is subject to equitable distribution but says trial court erred when it assumed company had zero value on the date of marriage because company then was not profitable; court remands for determination of company’s premarital value.
Court Remands for Determination of Separate Asset’s Premarital Value
Appellate court affirms that increase in value of husband’s company is subject to equitable distribution but says trial court erred when it assumed company had zero value on the date of marriage because company then was not profitable; court remands for determination of company’s premarital value.
Lucchesi v. Lucchesi
Appeals court upholds ruling that appreciation in value of husband’s interest in family liquor business is marital asset; trial court carefully analyzed husband’s role in company to find he “substantially contributed” to the increase and husband stipulated to wife’s substantial contribution.
Court Looks to Owner’s ‘Proportionate’ Share in Business to Quantify Appreciation in Value
In quantifying marital portion of appreciation of owner spouse’s separate property, trial court relies on owner’s “proportionate” share in company but also considers expert testimony as to third parties’ efforts and owner’s role in generating revenue; court rejects passive factor analysis.
Herbert v. Joubert
In quantifying marital portion of appreciation of owner spouse’s separate property, trial court relies on owner’s “proportionate” share in company but also considers expert testimony as to third parties’ efforts and owner’s role in generating revenue; court rejects passive factor analysis.
Hebert v. Cote
In appreciation in value case, court excludes nonowner spouse’s valuation testimony under Daubert, finding expert’s calculation of “minimum marital component” is not a methodology approved under the applicable SSVS for determining fair market value and also violated other SSVS requirements.
Court Rejects Appreciation in Value Calculation, Citing SSVS Violations
In appreciation in value case, court excludes nonowner spouse’s valuation testimony under Daubert, finding expert’s calculation of “minimum marital component” is not a methodology approved under the applicable SSVS for determining fair market value and also violated other SSVS requirements.
Three different court rulings on the use of discounts in the divorce context
Case law matters. Every month, BVLaw analyzes the most noteworthy court decisions dealing with valuation and damages issues. Subscribers should check out digests of three recent divorce rulings different state courts issued. All the cases dealt with the issue of whether it was appropriate to discount the owner-spouse’s interest in a closely held business.
Tenn. Appeals Court says DLOM in divorce appropriate under facts of case
A recent Tennessee appeals court decision found that the trial court presiding over a drawn-out divorce had discretion to apply a marketability discount when it valued the owner-spouse’s interest in two companies in 2016.
Michigan court explains treatment of S corp’s retained earnings in divorce
The overarching issue in a recent Michigan divorce case was appreciation. Did the nonowner spouse (wife) have a right to a portion of the increase in value of her husband’s separate property, an S corporation? A related issue, and one that posed a question of first impression in Michigan, was how to treat the company’s retained earnings.
Michigan Court Explains How to Handle Retained Earnings in Divorce Cases
In deciding whether, in divorce, retained earnings in a closely held company that is separate property are includible in marital estate, appeals court creates presumption against inclusion and requires trial court to perform totality of circumstances review.
Jensen v. Jensen
In deciding whether, in divorce, retained earnings in a closely held company that is separate property are includible in marital estate, appeals court creates presumption against inclusion and requires trial court to perform totality of circumstances review.
Nebraska Supreme Court Adopts Majority View on Appreciation
State Supreme Court adopts active appreciation rule, aligning itself with majority of jurisdiction that finds appreciation of nonmarital asset is marital property to the extent marital efforts caused it, i.e., the owner or nonowner spouse or both.
Muszynski v. Muszynski
Trial court adopts valuations of wife’s expert for husband’s 50% interest in waste industry company, finding expert used methods that properly separated out husband’s personal goodwill; court also accepts inclusion of identifiable intangibles shown to belong to company; appeals court affirms.
Court Validates Expert’s Method for Separating Out Owner’s Personal Goodwill
Trial court adopts valuations of wife’s expert for husband’s 50% interest in waste industry company, finding expert used methods that properly separated out husband’s personal goodwill; court also accepts inclusion of identifiable intangibles shown to belong to company; appeals court affirms.