T.C. M em o . 2 0 1 9 -1 5 2

UNITED STATES TAX COURT

L IOR BLAS, Pet i t i o n er v . COM M ISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Res po n d en t

Do ck etNo . 1 0 3 1-1 7. Fi l edNo vem b er 1 8 , 2 01 9
.
Li o r Bl as , p ro s e. Am y Ch an g, Co n n o r J . M o ran , an dGreg ory M . Hah n , fo r res p o n d en t .

M EM ORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION VASQUEZ, Ju d ge: Res p o n d en td et erm i n edan $ 8 ,3 2 8 d efi ci en cy i n p et i t i o n er’ s Fed eral i n co m e t ax fo r 2 0 1 4 . Th e i s s ues fo r d eci s i o n are wh et h er ad v an ce p aym en t s o f p rem i u m as s i st an ce t ax cred it s (APTC) were m ad e o n b eh al f
o f p et i ti o n er u n d er s ect i on 3 6B, Refu n d ab le Cred i t fo r Co v erag e Un d er a- 2
-

[* 2 ] Qu al i fi ed Heal th Pl an , an dwh et h er p et i t i o n er i s en ti t l ed t o d edu cta $ 2,7 9 8 al l eg edcas u al ty l o s s u n d er s ect i o n 1 6 5
. 1 FINDINGS OF FACT So m e o f t h e fact s h av e b een s ti p u lat ed an dare s o fo u n d. W e i n co rp orat e th e s t i p u l at i o n o f fact s an dth e at t ach ed ex h i b i ts b y thi s referen ce. Pet i t i o n er
res i dedi n Al as k a wh en h e t i m el y fi l edh i s p et i t i o n . I. Pet i t i o ner’ s M ark etp lace Co v erag e In No v em

b er 2 0 1 3 p et it i o n er was u n em p l o y edan dd i d n o t h av e h eal th i n s u ran ce. W o rri edab o u tb ei n g s ub jectt o a p en al ty

fo r n oth av i n g h eal th i n s u ran ce, p et i t i o n er acces s edth e Heal th In s u ran ce M ark etp l ace (M ark etp l ace) web si t e an dap p l iedfo r h eal th i n s u ran ce. Pet i ti o n er s t at edo n h i s ap p l icat i o n th at h e (1 ) was u n m arri ed , (2 ) h ada fam i l y s ize o f o n e, an d(3 ) h ada h ou s eh ol d i n co m e o f $ 15 ,0 00
. Onth e b as is o f p et i t i o ner’ s rep o rt edh o u s eh o ldi n co m e, t h e M ark etp l ace d et erm i n edth atp et i t i o n er was el i g i b l e fo r APTC p aym en t s i n th e m ax i m u m
am ou n to f $ 7 6 5 . Pet i t io n er en ro l l edi n th e M od a Heal th (M od a) Be Al i g n edp l an , wi th a m o n thl y

p rem iu m o f $ 6 9 4 an da co v erag e s t art d at e o f J anu ary 1 , 2 0 1 4
.

1 Un l es s o th erwi s e i n d i cat ed , al l s ect i o n referen ces are t o th e In t ern al Rev enu e Co de (Co d e) i n effect atal l rel ev an t t im es , an d al l Ru l e referen ces are t o th e Tax Co u rt Ru l es o f Pract ice an dPro cedu re.- 3
-

[* 3 ] Becau s e t he APTC p aym en t s co v ered the en t i re am o un to f p et i t i o n er’ s 2 0 1 4 i n s u ran ce p rem i u m s , M o d a d i dn o tb i l l p et i ti o n er fo r an y p arto f t h o s e p rem i u m s . In Decem b er 2 0 13 M o d a s en ta l et t er t o p et i t io n er wel co m i n g h i m i n to i ts Be Al i g n ed p l an . M od a al s o i s s u edan i n s u ran ce cardt o p et i t i o ner an dm ai l edi tt o h i s h o m e ad dres s i n Ch u g iak , Al as k a. Pet i t i o ner’ s fi n an ci al s itu at io n i m p ro vedi n Decem

b er 2 0 1 3 wh en h e g o ta t em p o rary jo b wi th M RI St affi n g as an i n teri m co m p tro l l er. Pet i t io n er h el dth i s p o s i t i on co n t i n u o u sl y

th ro u g h ou t2 0 1 4
. Pet i t i o n er d id n o t recei ve h eal th i n s u ran ce fro m M RI St affi n g . Hi s M ark etp l ace co v erag e wi th M o d a co n t i n u edth ro u g h o u t 2 0 1 4
. 2 Th ro u g h o u t2 0 1 4 p et i ti o n er was u n aware t h atM o d a was recei v i n g t h e APTC p aym en t s o n h i s b eh al f. M o d a d i d n o ts en dan y b i l l i n g s t at em en t s t o p et i t i o n er fo r h i s 2 0 1 4 co v erag e. No r d i d th e M ark etp lace s en d an y l et ters t o p et i t i o n er reg ard i ng h i s h eal th i n s u ran ce co v erag e i n 2 0 14 . Pet i ti o n er d i dn o t recei v e an y

m ed ical care i n 2 0 1 4
. In Decem b er 2 0 14 M o d a s en t a b i l li n g s t at em en tt o p et i ti o n er n o ti fy i n g h i m th ata p rem i um

o f $ 2 3 7 was du e fo r i n s u ran ce co v erag e co m m en ci n g J an u ary

2 Pet i t i o n er n ev er rep o rt edt o th e M ark et p l ace t h at h i s fi n an ci al s i tu at i o n h ad i m p ro v ed
.- 4
-

[* 4 ] 2 0 1 5 . Pet i t i o n er fai l edt o m ak e t h e p aym en t . In2 0 1 5 M o d a al s o s en t l et t ers
an d b i ll i n g s t at em en t s t o p et i t i o n er s eek i ng p aym en t o f h is o u t st an d i n g i n s u ran ce p rem i u m s fo r h i s 2 0 1 5 i ns u ran ce co v erag e. II. Pet i t i o ner’ s 2 0 1 4 Tax Retu rn an dEx am i n at i o n OnJ an u ary

1 2 , 2 0 1 5 , th e M ark etp l ace s en tt o p et i ti o n er Fo rm 1 0 9 5 -A, Heal th In s u ran ce M ark etp l ace St at em en t , an da l et ter i n fo rm i n g h i m th ath e was req u i redt o co m

p l et e an dfi le Fo rm

8 9 6 2, Prem iu m

Tax Cred i t(PTC), wi th h i s 2 0 1 4 Fed eral i n co m e t ax retu rn . Pet i t i o ner fi l edh i s 2 0 1 4 Fed eral i n co m e t ax retu rn o n Oct o b er 1 9 , 2 0 1 5 , cl ai m i ng o n e p ers o n al ex em p t i o n an dn o d ep en d en t s . Fu rt h er, p et i t i o n er rep o rt ed ad ju s t edg ro ss i nco m e (AGI) o f $ 8 3 ,9 4 2 . Pet i t i o n er fai l edt o at t ach Fo rm 8 9 6 2 t o h i s t ax retu rn . OnJ an u ary

2 5 , 2 0 1 6 , du ri n g th e ex am i nat i o n o f p et i t io n er’ s 2 0 14 t ax retu rn , th e In t ern al Rev en u e Serv i ce as k edp et it i o n er t o co m p l et e an dfi l e Fo rm

8 9 6 2 . He
co m p l et edth i s fo rm

rep o rt i n g a fam i l y

s i ze o f t w o an da m o di fi edAGI o f $ 8 3 ,9 4 2
. He al s o en t ered$ 8 , 3 2 8 o n l i n e 1 1 , co l u m n (f), An n u al ad v an ce p aym en t o f PTC,
o f Fo rm 8 9 6 2
. OnNo vem

b er 2 2, 2 0 1 6 , res p o n d en ti s s u eda n o t ice o f d efi ci en cy t o p et i t i o n er fo r t h e t ax ab l e y ear 2 0 1 4 . In th e n o t i ce res p o nd en t d et erm i n edthat- 5
-

[* 5 ] p et i t i o n er (1 ) recei v edthe b en efi to f APTC p aym en t s o f $ 8 ,3 28 , (2 ) was n o t
en t i t l edt o an y

PTC fo r 2 0 1 4 , an d(3 ) was res p o n s i b l e fo r rep ay i n g t h e ex ces s o f APTC p ai do n h is b eh al f i n 2 0 1 4 ($ 8 ,3 2 8 ) o v er t h e PTC t o wh ich h e was al l o wed ($ 0 ). OnJ an u ary 1 3 , 2 0 1 7, p et i t i o n er t i m el y fi l ed a p et i t i o n t o co m

m en ce t h i s
cas e. In h i s p et it i on , p et i t i o n er al leg es “ Ph an t o m i n co m e” an d“ d is p u te[s ] recei v i ng an d/ o r u s i n g th e [APTC] cred i t s ”. OPINION I. Bu rd en o f Pro o f an d Bu rd en o f Pro du ct i o n Th e Co m m is s i o n er’ s d et erm i n at i o n s i n a n o t i ce o f d efi ci en cy are g en eral l y p res u m edco rrect , an dth e t ax p ay er o rd in ari l y b ears th e b u rd en o f p ro vi n g t h o s e d et erm i n at i o n s erro n eo u s . Ru l e 1 4 2 (a); W el ch v . Hel veri n g , 2 9 0 U.S. 1 1 1 , 1 1 5 (1 9 3 3). Pet i ti o n er arg u es thatres p o n d en t m u s tp ro du ce ev i d en ce th at th e APTC p aym en t s were m ad e o n h i s b eh al f i n 2 01 4 . Res p o nd en t d i s ag rees an d co nt en d s th atn o th i n g i n th e Co de p l aces th e b u rd en o n h i m t o p ro du ce affi rm at i v e p ro o f o f th e APTC p aym en t s. Sp eci fi cal l y , res p o n den targ u es th ath e d o es n o tb ear t h e b u rd eno f p ro du ct i o n u n d er s ect i o n 6 20 1 (d ). Th e res ol u t i o n o f t h i s cas e, h o wev er, d o es no td ep en d o n wh i ch p art y h as th e b u rd en o f p ro du ct i o n . W e d eci d e t h i s cas e- 6
-

[* 6 ] o n th e p rep o n d eran ce o f t he ev i d en ce i n the reco rd
. 3 See Kn u d s en v . Co m m i s s i o n er, 1 3 1 T.C. 1 8 5 , 1 8 9 (2 0 0 8), s up p lem en t i n g T.C. M em o . 2 0 0 7 -3 4 0 ; Sch an kv . Co m

m is s i o n er, T.C. M em o . 2 0 1 5 -2 3 5 , at* 1 6
. II. Th e Prem i u m

Tax Cred i t Sect io n 3 6 B al l o ws a PTC t o s ubs i d i ze t h e co s to f h eal th i n s u ran ce p u rch as edth ro u g h a h eal th i n s u ran ce m ark etp lace b y t ax p ay ers m eet in g cert ai n
s t atu to ry req u i rem en t s . See s ec. 1
. 3 6 B-2 (a), In co m e Tax Reg s . Th i s p ro v i s i o n
was en act edas th e Pat i en tPro t ect i o n an d Affo rd ab l e Care Act (ACA), Pub . L. No
. 1 1 1 -1 4 8 , s ecs . 1 4 0 1 an d 1 0 1 05 (a), 1 2 4 St at . at2 1 3, 9 0 6 (2 0 1 0 ). Th e PTC i s g en eral l y av ai l ab l e t o i n d i v idu al s wi th h ou s eh o l d i n co m es b et ween 1 0 0 % an d 4 0 0 % o f t h e Fed eral p o vert y l i n e (FPL). Sec. 3 6 B(c)(1 )(A), (d )(3 )(B); s ee M cGu i re v . Co m

m is s i o n er, 1 4 9 T.C. 2 5 4 , 2 5 9 (2 0 1 7 ) (p ro v i d i n g a fu ll d i scu s s i o n
o f el i gi b i l i ty

req u i rem en t s ).

3 Sec. 7 4 9 1 (a)(1 ) p ro v i d es th at , i f a t ax p ay er o ffers cred ib l e ev i d en ce wi t h res p ectt o an y

fact u al i s s u e rel ev an tt o d et erm i ni n g h i s t ax l i ab i l it y , th e b u rd en o f p ro o f wi th res pect t o th e i s su e i s o n th e Co m m i s s i o n er. See Hi gb ee v . Co m m i s s i o n er, 1 1 6 T.C. 4 3 8 , 4 4 2 -4 4 3 (2 0 0 1). Th i s s ect i o n ap p l i es o n l y i f t h e t ax p ay er co m

p l i es wi th t h e s ub s t an t i at i o n req ui rem en t s i n t h e Co d e, m ai n t ai n s al l req u i redreco rd s , an dco o perat es wi th th e Co m m i s s i o n er wi th res pect t o wi tn es s es , i n fo rm at i o n , d ocu m en t s , m eet i n g s , an d i nt erv i ews . Sec. 7 4 91 (a)(2 )(A) an d(B). W e n eedn o t al l ocat e t h e b u rd en o f p ro of b ecau s e o ur fi n d i n g s are b as edo n a p rep o n d eran ce o f t h e ev i den ce.- 7
-

[* 7 ] Rat h er t h anreq u i re an el i g i b l e i n d i v i du al t o wai tu nt i l aft er fi l i n g a t ax retu rn t o real i ze th e b en efi t o f t h e PTC, t h e ACA p ro v id es fo r APTC p aym en t s i f th e i n d i v i du al qu al ifi es u n d er an ad v an ce el i g i bi l i ty d et erm i n at io n . M cGu i re v . Co m m i s s i o n er, 1 4 9 T.C. at2 6 0 (ci t i n g ACA s ec. 1 4 1 2 (a)(3 ), 1 2 4 St at . at2 3 2 (co d i fi edat4 2 U.S.C. s ec. 1 8 0 8 2 (a)(3 ) (2 01 2 ))). Th e Secret ary o f t h e Dep art m en t
o f Heal th an dHu m an Serv i ces (HHS Secret ary ) i s req u i red t o d et erm i n e wh et h er i n d i v i du al s en ro l l i n g i n qual i fi edh eal th p l an s th ro u g h a m ark et p l ace are el i g i b l e fo r t h e PTC an d , i f s o, t o n o t ify th e Secret ary

o f t h e Dep art m en to f t h e Treas u ry (Treas u ry Secret ary ) o f th atfact . 4 2 U.S.C. s ec. 1 8 0 82 (c)(1 ). Th e Treas u ry Secret ary , i n tu rn , i s req ui redt o m ak e p eri o di c APTC p aym en t s t o th e i n s u rers
o fferi n g t h e qual i fi edh eal th p l an s i n wh i ch th e el i g i b l e i n d i v i du al s en ro ll ed . Id
. p ara. (2 )(A). Th e i n su rers wh o recei v e t h e p aym en t s are req u iredt o n o t i fy the HHS Secret ary an d th e rel ev an tm ark etp l ace o f t h e redu ct i o n i n p rem i u m s. Id . s ub p ara. (B)(i ) an d (i i ). Th e i n s u rers m us tal s o s en d b i l l i n g s tat em en t s an d i n cl u d e wi th each b i l l i n g s t at em en tth e am o un tb y wh i ch th e p rem i u m

fo r t h e p l an h as b een redu ced by

reas o n o f t h e APTC. Id . cl . (i ii ). So m et i m es ci rcu m s t an ces ch an g e an d a t ax p ay er’ s actu al an n u al i n co m e
m i g h ttu rn o u tt o b e m ore o r l es s th anwas es t i m at edi n m ak in g th e el i g i b i l it y- 8
-

[* 8 ] d et erm i n at i o n fo r t h e APTC p aym en t s . In thatev en tth e APTC p aym en t s
m ad e o n an i nd i v i dual ’ s b eh al f m u s tb e reco n ci l edwi th th e PTC fo r wh i ch th at i n d i v i du al i s actual l y

el i g i b l e fo r t h e t ax ab le y ear. Sec. 3 6 B(f). An y ex ces s o f APTC p aym en t s i s th en refl ect edas an i n creas e i n th e i n d i v i dual ’ s i n co m e t ax l i ab i l i ty fo r t h att ax ab l e y ear. Sec. 3 6 B(f)(2 ); s ee M cGu i re v . Co m m i s s i o ner, 1 49 T.C. at2 6 1
. Th e M ark et

p l ace d et erm i n edth atp et i t i o ner’ s h o u seh o l d i n co m e 4 was b el o w 4 0 0 % o f t h e FPL wh enh e ap p li edfo r h eal thcare co v erag e i n No v em ber 2 0 1 3
. Ho wev er, p et i ti o n er’ s h o u s eh o l di n co m e s i g n i fi can t l y i ncreas edwh en h e b eg an
wo rk i n g i n Decem

b er 2 01 3 . Pet i t i o ner rep o rt ed AGI o f $ 8 3 ,9 4 2 o n h i s 2 0 1 4 t ax retu rn . Pet i t io ner d o es n o td en y th ath i s rep o rt edi n co m e l ev el m ak es h i m i n el i g i b l e fo r t h e PTC. Becau s e p et it i o n er d o es n o trai s e a p o i n t o f l aw o r an y
o th er fact u al d i s pu t e, we n eedn o td el v e i n t o th e d et ai ls o f t h e PTC. Pet i t i o ner’ s s o le co nt en t i o n i s th atn o APTC p aym en twas actu al l y m ad e o n h i s b eh al f, an dthu s h e s h ou l dn o tb e h el dl iab l e fo r “ Ph an t o m i n co m e”. Pet i t i o n er arg u es th atth e ab sen ce o f b i l l i n g s t at em en t s fo r h is 2 0 14 co verag e i s t h e s tro n g es t
ev i d en ce t h atn o APTC p aym en twas m ad e o n h is b eh al f du ri n g th aty ear. In

4 Pet i t i o n er’ s rep ort edh o u s eh o l di n co m e o f $ 1 5 ,0 00 was co m p u t edt o b e 1 0 4 .5 3 % o f th e FPL o n h i s h eal th i n s u ran ce ap p l i cat i o n.- 9
-

[* 9 ] res p o n s e, res p o n d en targ u es th at p et i t io n er d i dn o trecei ve b i l l i n g s t at em en t s b ecau s e th e APTC p aym en ts co v eredth e fu l l am o u n t s o f h i s p rem i u m s . Des p i t e t h e l acko f b i l l i n g s t at em en t s fo r p et i t i o n er’ s 2 0 1 4 i ns u ran ce
co v erag e, th e p rep o n d eran ce o f t h e ev i d en ce es t ab l i s hes th atp et i t i o n er was th e b en efi ci ary

o f APTC p aym en t s i n 2 0 1 4
. Attri al res p on d en ts ub m i t t edb u s i n es s
reco rd s fro m M od a an d t he M ark etp l ace. Th e M ark etp l ace’ s reco rd s es tab l i s h th at i n 2 0 1 3 p et i t i o n er ap pl i edfo r i n s u ran ce co v erag e o n th e M ark etp l ace web s i t e. On h i s ap p l i cat i o n p et i t i o n er rep ort edh ou s eh ol di n co m e o f $ 1 5 ,0 0 0 , wh i ch qual i fi ed h i m fo r m o n th l y APTC p aym en t s o f up t o $ 7 6 5
. Attri al p et i t i o n er ack n o w l ed g ed
co m p l et i n g th i s ap p l i cat i o n . M o d a’ s b us i nes s reco rd s es t ab l i s h thatp et i t i o n er was en ro l l ed i n i t s Be Al i g n ed p l an wi th a co v erag e s t artd at e o f J an uary1 , 2 0 1 4 . In 2 0 1 4 the m o n th l y p rem i u m fo r t h i s p l an was $ 6 9 4 , wh i ch i s th e s am e m o n th ly am o u n trep o rt edo n th e Fo rm 1 0 9 5 -A. W e u n ders t an dp et i t i o n er’ s co n cern s ab o utth e l acko f b i l l i n g s t at em en t s , wh i ch i n d ifferen t ci rcu m s t an ces m i g h ts up po rta fi nd i n g th atn o APTC p aym en t s
were m ad e. In th is cas e, h o wev er, p et i t i o n er ad m i t t edap p l y i n g fo r i ns u ran ce th ro u g h th e M ark etpl ace, an dres p o n d en tp ro vi d ed ev id en ce t h ath e recei ved- 1 0 -

[* 1 0 ] i n s u ran ce co v erag e fo r wh i ch APTC p aym en t s were m ad e. Th us , we fi n d i t
m o re l i k el y

th an n o tth atp et i t i o n er was th e b en efi ci ary o f t he APTC p aym en t s . Al th ou g h we are s ym

p at h et i c t o p et i ti o n er’ s s i tu at i o n, we are n o ta co u rto f equ it y , an dwe can n o ti g n o re t he l aw t o ach i ev e an equ i t ab l e en d
. Co m m i s s i o n er
v . M cCo y , 4 84 U.S. 3 , 7 (1 9 8 7 ); St o v al l v . Co m m i s s i o n er, 1 0 1 T.C. 1 4 0 , 1 4 9 -1 5 0 (1 9 9 3); Pax m an v . Co m

m i s s i o n er, 5 0 T.C. 5 6 7, 5 7 6 -5 7 7 (1 9 6 8 ), aff’ d , 4 1 4 F.2 d 2 6 5 (1 0t h Ci r. 1 96 9 ). Th e s t atu t e i s cl ear; ex ces s APTC p aym en t s are t reat edas an i n creas e i n th e t ax i m

p o sed
. Sec. 3 6 B(f)(2 )(A). Pet i t i o n er recei vedan APTC t o wh i ch h e u l t i m at el y

was n o ten t i t l ed . He i s l i ab l e fo r th e $ 8,3 2 8 d efi ci en cy . III. Pet i t i o ner’ s Al l eg edCas u al ty Lo s s Attri al an dfo r t h e fi rs tt i m e i n th i s l i t ig at io n , p et i ti o n er al leg edth ath e h ad
a cas u al ty l o s s o f $ 2 , 7 9 8 i n Feb ru ary 2 0 14 . No s u ch l o s s was rep o rt edo n p et i t i o n er’ s t ax retu rn fo r 2 0 14
. 5 Tax p ay ers m ay

d edu ctl os s es s u st ai nedi n a t ax ab l e y ear an dn o t
co m p en s at edfo r b y

i n su ran ce o r o th erwi se. Sec. 1 6 5 (a). Fo r i n d iv i du al t ax p ay ers th e d edu ct i o n i s l i m i t ed t o l os s es i n cu rredi n a t rad e o r b us i n es s , i n an y tran s act i o n
en t eredi n t o fo r p ro fi t, o r o th erwi s e i f t h e l o s s ari s es “ fro m fi re, s to rm , s hi p wreck ,

5 Pet i t i o n er rai s edth i s co n t en t i o n attri al wi th o uto b ject i o n b y

res p o n d en t . Th i s m at t er was therefo re tri edb y co ns en t an di s treat edas i f i th adb een rai s edi n th e p l ead i n g s . See Ru l e 4 1 (b )(1 ).- 1 1 -

[* 1 1 ] o r o ther cas u al ty , o r fro m th eft .” Sec. 1 6 5 (c). Ot h er cas u al t ies are t h o s e

“ cau s edb y

a s ud d en , u n ex p ect ed , o r u n u s u al ev en t ”. M ah er v . Co m m i s s i o n er, 6 8 0 F.2 d9 1 , 9 2 (1 1 th Ci r. 1 98 2 ), aff’ g 7 6 T.C. 5 9 3 (1 9 8 1 ); s ee Ap p l em an v . Un i t ed St at es , 3 3 8 F.2 d7 2 9 , 7 3 0 -7 3 1 (7 th Ci r. 1 9 6 4 ); Rev . Ru l . 7 2 -5 9 2 , 1 9 7 2 -2 C.B. 1 0 1
. Fu rt h er, a l o s s m

u s tb e ev i d en cedb y

cl o sedan dco m

p l et e t ran s act i o n s, fi x edb y i d en t i fi ab l e ev en t s, an dactu al l y s u s t ai neddu ri n g th e t ax ab l e y ear. Sec. 1 .1 6 5
- 1 (b ), In co m e Tax Reg s . Th e b u rd en o f s h o wi n g en t i t l em en tt o a cl ai m ed d educt i o n i s o n th e t ax p ay er. W el ch v . Hel v eri n g , 2 9 0 U.S. at1 15
. Attri al p et it i on er g en eral l y t es ti fi edab o u th i s en ti tl em en t t o a cas u al ty l o s s . Ho wev er, h e p ro v i d ed n o d et ai l s ab o u tth e ci rcu m s t an ces o r t i m i n g o f t h e l o s s . 6 Th erefo re, we h ol dthatp et i t i o n er h as n o tes t ab l is heden ti t l em en tt o an y cas u al t y l o s s fo r 2 0 1 4
. W e h av e co n s id eredal l o th er arg u m en t s m ad e b y th e p art i es , an dt o t h e
ex t en tn o td i s cu ss edab o v e, fi n dth o s e arg u m en t s t o b e i rrel ev an t , m o o t , o r wi th o u t
m eri t .

6 Inh i s o pen i n g b ri ef p et i t i o n er ex p l ai nedth ath is al l eg edcas u al ty l o s s res u l ted fro m

tw o “ m o d ifi cat i o n p aym en t s m ad e b y * * * [p et i t i o n er] th at were l os t b y Ban ko f Am eri ca”. Ho wev er, s t at em en t s i n b ri efs are n o tev i d en ce. See Ru l e 1 4 3 (c).- 1 2 -

[* 1 2 ] To refl ectthe fo reg o i n g , Deci s i o n wi ll b e en t eredfo r
res p o nd en t .