TAX COURT OPINION

Case: Thomas J. Ratke & Bonnie F. Ratke
Docket Number: 9641-01L
Judge: Chabot
Opinion Type: reported
Filed: 09/05/2007
Pages: 22

' 129 T.C. No. 6. UNITED STATES TAX COURT THOMAS J. AND- BONNIE F. RATKE, Petitioners v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent' FILES Docket No. 9641-OlL. ^ Filed September 5, 2007. After this Court ruled for Ps in the instant I.R.C. 1986, and then for sanctions under collection case, Ps moved for an award of costs under sec. 7430, sec. 6673(a) (2), I.R.C. 1986. motions, Ps seek discovery of R's initial trial counsel time R's answer was filed in the instant case and (2) the unredacted version of sent a few months later by R's national office. provided to Ps a redacted version of the latter memorandum. memoranda,, claiming work product doctrine privilege. In connection with these a memorandum sent by (1) R resists discovery of the unredacted to R's national office at the the responding memorandum R "This opinion supplements Ratke v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2004-86. SERVED SEP - S 2007 Ps contend (1) the memoranda,are not work product the current stage of the litigation; at entitled to discovery even if the memoranda are work product: and (3) R waived the privilege. (2) Ps are 1. Held: Both memoranda were work product when prepared for the case in chief and continue to be work product in the current stage of the litigation. 2. Held, further, having examined both memoranda in camera, we conclude that neither memorandum contains information sufficiently important privacy and other concerns underlying the work product doctrine. to outweigh the . 3. Held, further, R's brief reference in the motion papers to the memoranda, but not memorandum' s contents, does not amount to either to a testimonial" use of either memorandum that would constitute an implied waiver of doctrine privilege. the work product Jack B. Schiffman, for petitioners. Robert M.'Fowler, for respondent. OPINION CHABOT, Judge': This matter is before us on petitioners' Motion for Award of Reasonable Litigation and Administrative Costs Under Section 74301 as well as petitioners' Motion for Sanctions Under Section 6673(a) (2) in the instant collection proceeding. The issue for decision is whether two memoranda 1 Unless indicated otherwise, all section references are to sections of proceedings commenced on the day the petition in the instant case was filed. the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as in.effect for ' ·The parties settled the 1996 case and, on March 13, 1997,.. the Court entered a decision pursuant to the parties' stipulated agreement that petitioners had a $2,931 deficiency and rio addition to tax" under section 6662(a). On May 19, 1997, respondent assessed this $2,931 deficiency and sent to petitioners a notice and demand for $21,164. On September 20, 2000, respondent sent to petitioners a Final NotiCe - Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of Your Right to a Hearing relating to 1993. On October 17, 2000, petitioners filed Form 12153, Request for a Collection Due Process Hearing. On June 28, 2001, respondent mailed to petitioners a Notice of Determination Concerning Collection Action(s) Under Section 6320 and/or 6330. On July 31, 2001, petitioners filed their petition in the instant case. On August 7, 2001, petitioners filed an amended petition. On September 6, 2001, respondent filed the answer to this ·amended petition. This answer was signed by Ann M. Welhaf (hereinafter sometimes referred to as Welhaf), Acting Associate Area Counsel, and dated September 5, 2001. Welhaf _also prepared a memorandum dated September 5, 2001, addressed to: Assistant Chief Counsel, Procedure and Administration, Collection Bankruptcy and Summons, Attn: Alan Levine, Chief Branch 1, CBS. - 3 - prepared in connection with the case in chief are protected from discovery under the work product doctrine privilege in connection with these motions. Background. When the petition was filed in the instant case, petitioners resided in Glendale, Arizona. Petitioners timely filed-their 1993 Federal income tax return. Petitioners showed a $9,238 tax lìability for 1993. On January 9, 1996, respondent sent to petitioners a notice of deficiency that determined a $20,710 deficiency (liability of $29,948, minus the $9,238 liability shown on petitioners' tax return) and a $4,142 penalty under section 6662.(a). On March 29, 1996, petitioners sent a petition to the Court (docket No. 5931- 96, hereinafter sometimes referred to as the 1996 case) disputing the entire amounts of the deficiency and penalty so determined. Also on March 29, 1996, petitioners sent to respondent a second amended 1993 tax return (Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) showing a tax liability of $21,893, and showing that this was $12,655 greater than the liability they had previously reported. On May 27, 1996, respondent made an additional assessment of the $12,655 shown on this Form 1040X, . along with interest, and notified petitioners of this additional assessment. - 5 - This memorandum, hereinafter sometimes referred to as the Welhaf memorandum, is summarized by respondent as follows:2 This memorandum is a request for advice from, Ms. in the pending litigation. to the Office of Associate Chief Counsel Welhaf (Procedure & Administration) of respondent's National Office concerning proposed legal arguments to be made at trial This request was made while this case was docketed. recommends several litigation subject memorandum also sets forth the factual background concerning this case. legal arguments to be made in the to National Office approval. The The author . Mitchell S. Hyman, Senior Technical Reviewer, Branch 1, Collection, Bankruptcy and Summons, sent a memorandum dated January 16, 2002 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the Hyman memorandum), which is summarized by respondent as follows:3 This memorandum responded to Ms. Welhaf's The January 16, 2002 memorandum September 5, 2001 memorandum seeking advice concerning the proposed legal arguments to be made at trial pending litigation. concluded that: 6201(a) (1) amended return filed by petitioners; were equitably estopped from contesting the validity of the assessment; valid contract; ·the.stipulated settlement was a the amended·return did not (1)·the IRS was authorized by section to make an assessment pursuant (2) petitioners to the in the (3) (4) 2 Pursuant to the Court's order respondent provided the Welhaf memorandum to the Court with a summary; After inspecting the Welhaf memorandum, respondent's summary 1s a fair description of memorandum. the summary was filed and served on petitioners. the Court concludes that the Welhaf for in camera inspection, together 3 Pursuant to the Court's order respondent provided the unredacted Hyman memorandum to the Court for in camera inspection, served on petitioners. After inspecting the unredacted Hyman memorandum, fair description of the Court concludes that respondent's summary 1s a the unredacted Hyman memorandum. the summary was filed and together with a summary; constitute a waiver of the restrictions on assessment; and (5) that petitioners were not precluded by section 6330 (c) (2) (B) section 6213(a). from arguing that the assessment violated On June 13, 2002, the Court issued a notice of trial in the instant case. In due course: the instant case was continued, the instant case was again set for trial, the Court dealt with motions by both sides, the trial was held, briefs were filed, the Court issued T.C. Memo. 2004-86 holding for petitioners, and the Court entered decision "that respondent may collect only $2,931 for taxable year 1993 as set forth in the Court's March 13, 1997, decision [the decision that ended the 1996 case]." On petitioners' motion this decision was vacated; petitioners then moved for an award of costs under section 7430 and later moved for sanctions under section 6673(a) (2). At some point, respondent provided to petitioners a redacted version of the Hyman memorandum. In connection with the latter motions, the parties have stipulated the redacted Hyman memorandum. Petitioners now seek to discover the unredacted Welhaf memorandum and.the unredacted Hyman memorandum. Respondent claims that ·the memoranda are protected work product and refuses petitioners' discovery requests. We directed respondent to submit these memoranda for in camera inspection along with an explanation·of why the memoranda should not be disclosed to petitioners in whole or in part. (See supra notes 2 and 3.) Both the Welhaf memorandum and the Hyman,memorandum were prepared as part of respondent's counsel's efforts to prepare legal theories and plan strategy for the instant case. A. Preliminary Discussion Petitioners want to discover the Welhaf memorandum and the unredacted Hyman memorandum. See Rules 70,4 72. Respondent objects to discovery of these memoranda on the ground that both inernoranda are privileged. See Rule 70 (b) (1) . A party opposing discovery on such a ground has the burden of establishing that the information. sought is privileged. Ames v. Commissioner, 112 T.C. 304, 309 (1999); Bernardo v. Commissioner, 104 T.C. 677, 691 (1995) . The privilege respondent claims is the one resulting from the work product doctrine. See Rules Committee Notes, 60 T.C. 1058, 1098. If the party opposing discovery establishes that the information sought is work product, then discovery will not be required unless the Court determines that, in the situation before it, the information sought should nevertheless be disclosed. Hickman v. Taylor, 329 U.S. 495, 512 (1947); Ames v. Commissioner, 112 T.C. at 31,0-311. 4 Unless indicated otherwise, all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure. B. Parties' Contentions - 8 - Respondent contends that both (1) the entire Welhaf memorandum and (2) the redacted portions of the Hyman memorandum are protected from discovery pursuant to the work product doctrine. Respondent maintains that (a) both memoranda are work product, (b) to the extent the memoranda include "fact" work product, petitioners cannot show a substantial need or undue hardship because "they are well aware of all the facts in this case", and (c) to the extent the memoranda include "opinion" work product the memoranda are "absolutely protected from disclosure" or in. any event are not disclosable because petitioners "have not made a far stronger showing than the 'substantial need' and 'without undue hardship' standard". Petitioners assert that the work produ'ct doctrine is not absolute, relying on rule 26(b) (3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. They contend that (1) they need to have access to the Welhaf memorandum in order to determine whether "Welhaf 'cherry picked' the.facts favorable to her position, and did not include facts unfavorable to her position", (2) this information would be relevant to (a) "substantial authority under I.R.C. § 7430(c) (4) (B)" and (b) "sanctionable misconduct under I.R.C. § 6673(a) (2)", and (3) Rule 91(a) (1) has the effect of requiring disclosure so that the parties can stipulate to the matters relevant to the motions before the Court. Petitioners contend that the same considerations apply to the unredacted Hyman memorandum. 'Petitioners also maintain that the memoranda were prepared for "the case' in chief" and are not work product with respect to "the post-decision application for litigation costs and sanctions". Finally, petitioners maintain that respondent's efforts to use the redacted version of the Hyman memorandum "as support for its claim of substantial justification under I.R.C. § 7430(c) (4) (B)" should be treated as a waiver of the work product doctrine privilege for the »entire Hyman memorandum. C. Summary and Conclusions Both the Welhaf memorandum and the Hyman memorandum are work product and so are privileged. The privilege is qualified. We examined both memoranda in camera and conclude that (1) exceptions to this privilege do 'not apply and (2) this privilege has not been waived. Accordingly, neither memorandum is required to be disclosed in the present proceeding. D. Analysis 1. In General We set forth this Court's general view of the work product doctrine.in P.T. & L. Construction Co. v. Commissioner, 63 T.C. 404, 407-408 (1974), as follows: The work product doctrine was given its first thorough exposition in the Federal courts in Hickman v. Taylor, - 10 - including witness' statements, were not to discovery as a matter of right because such 329 U.S. 495 (1947).m In'that case the Supreme Court held that materials prepared in anticipation of litigation, subject discovery would be harmful and defense of "Work product," as a term of art, such protected materials. at 510. to the orderly prosecution legal claims in adversary proceedings. is used to describe See Hickman v. Taylor, subra , The holding in Hickman v. Taylor, supra, ha's been specifically incorporated in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as rule 26(b) (3). Further, doctrine is given.negative recognition in the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure in that, even though it is not mentioned in the body of the Rules, it is dealt with in the notes of our Rules Committee to Rule 70(b). These notes state, in pertinent part, as follows: the work product i.e., the "work product" of litigation or for trial, are generally The other areas, 'counsel and material prepared in anticipation of intended to be outside the scope of allowable discovery under the specific provisions for disclosure of such materials in FRCP 26(b) (3) have not been adopted. Cf. Hickman v. Taylor, 329 U.S. 495 (1947). these Rules, and thèrefore (60 T.C. 1098.] { . 2. Are the Memoranda.Work Product? The Welhaf memorandum describes Welhaf's intended arguments in defending the instant case and asks for concurrences or opinions regarding these intended arguments. The Hyman memorandum responds to the elements of the Welhaf memorandum. The Welhaf memorandum was sent about the time respondent filed 5 For a summary of.the discovery evolution that led to .Hickman v. Taylor, 329 U·.S. 495 (1947), and interpretations of the law since 1947, see 8 Wright, Miller & Marcus, Federal Practice and Procedure: Civil 2d secs. 2021-2028; and its most recent pocket part are hereinafter sometimes referred to as Wright, Miller & Marcus. that treatise - 11 - the answer in the instant.case. The Hyman memorandum was sent before the instant case was first noticed for trial. Thus, both memoranda were prepared as part of respondent's counsels' efforts to "prepare * * * legal theories and plan * * * strategy" for the instant case. Hickman v. Taylor, 329 U.S. at 511. It follows that both memoranda are work product for the instant case. Petitioners contend that both memoranda were prepared for "the case in chief" and are not work product with respect to "the post-decision application for costs and sanctions". We disagree. Firstly, the instant case is the same litigation for which the memoranda were prepared. The litigation for which the memoranda were prepared will not be concluded, by entry of decision, until petitioners' motions under sections 7430 and 6673(a) (2) have been dealt with.6 .We have not found, and petitioners have not directed our attention to, any case law .indicating that one lawsuit should be segmented for purposes of determining whether.a document is work product. Secondlv, in Ames v. Commissioner, supra, we dealt with a document prepared by the Commissioner's counsel in anticipation of criminal tax prosecution. The taxpayer sought production of 6 Rule 232(f) provides that the.disposition of the sec. 7430 motion "shall be included in the decision entered in the case." Indeed, when the Court entered decision for petitioners in the instant case after issuing T.C. Memo. 2004-86, petitioners moved to vacate the decision so that they would be permitted to file their sec. 7430 motion. - 12 - that document in the civil tax proceeding,that followed the criminal tax case. We concluded in Ames that there was sufficient nexus between the criminal .litigation for which the document had originally been prepared, and the civil litigation before this Court, so that the document qualified as work product in the civil litigation. Ames v. Cominissioner, 112 T.C. at 309- 3,10 . Additionally, the Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit noted that "it appears every circuit to address the issue has concluded that, at least to some degree, the work product doctrine does extend to subsequent litigation." Frontier Refining Inc. v. Gorman-Rupp Co., 136 F.3d 695, 703 (10th Cir. 1998 (and cases cited therein). Compare the foregoing with Hartz Mountain Industries v. Commissioner, 93 T.C. 521, 527-528 (1989), in which we concluded that the fact that "the work product at issue was prepared approximately a decade ago in distinctly different litigation" was one of three factors that collectively led us to rule that the work product doctrine privilege did not protect against disclosure in that case. In this respect, the instant case is clearly distinguishable from Hartz Mountain Industries. A fortiori, a document prepared for the same litigation, as in the instant case, qualifies as work product. See discussion in Ames v. Commissioner, 112 T.C. at 310 & n.4: - 13 - see also Bernardo v. Commissioner, 104 T.C. at 688 n.14. See generally Wright, Miller & Marcus, sec. 2024 nn. 12-15. We hold that both memoranda are work product for purposes of the litigation as to petitioners' motions under sections 7430 and 6673. 3. Extent of the Privileoe The privilege resulting from the work product doctrine7 is qualified; it may be overcome by an appropriate showing. Ames v. Commissioner, 112 T.C. at 310; Hartz Mountain Industries v. Commissioner, 93 T.C. at 527 (1989). Rule 26(b) (3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires a showing of "substantial need"'and an inability to otherwise obtain the substantial equivalent "without undue hardship"; that rule sets aside "disclosure of the mental impress1ons, conclusions, opinions, or legal theories of an attorney or other representative of a party concerning the litigation." As to such opinion work product, the Court of Appeals for the,Ninth Circuit, to which the instant case is appealable, has summarized the standards in Holmaren v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 976 F.2d 573, 577 (9th Cir. 1992), as follows: A party seeking opinion work product must make a showing beyond the substantial need/undue hardship test required under Rule 26(b) (3) product. Upiohn Co. v. United States, 449 U.S. 383, 401-02, 101 S.Ct. 677, 688-89, 66 L.Ed.2d 584 (1981). for non-opinion work 7 See Wright, Miller & Marcus, sec. 2025, nn. 3, 4, and 5. - 14 - The Supreme Court, however, has so far declined to - decide whether opinion work product protected from discovery._ Id. at 401, 101 S.Ct. at 688. is absolutely We agree with the several courts and commentators that have concluded that opinion work product may be discovered and admitted when mental issue in a case and the need for the material compelling. impressions are at is * * * . Both elements are met here. insurance claim settlement case, impressions and opinion of concerning the handling of issue". was compelling. * .* * * * In a bad faith the "strategy, mental [the insurer's] agents the claim are directly at * Further, Holmgren's need for the exhibits See generally WrighÊ, Miller & Marcus, sec. 2026. Petitioners contend that our Rule 91(a) (1)8 "requires Respondent to provide Ms. Welhaf's Memorandum in its entirety so 8 Rule 91(a) (1) provides, in pertinent part, as follows: RULE 91. STIPULATIONS FOR TRIAL (a) Stipulations Required: (1) General: The to the fullest law to fact. regardless of· to the pending case, to which complete or qualified agreement can or parties are required to stipulate, extent fairly should be reached, all matters not privileged which are relevant whether such matters involve fact or opinion or the application .of required to be stipulated are all and'papers or contents or aspects thereof, and all evidence which fairly should not be in dispute. The requirement of stipulation applies under this Rule without.regard to where the burden of proof may lie with respect Documents or papers or other exhibits annexed to or filed with the stipulation shall be considered to be part of stipulation. to the matters involved. facts, all documents Included in matters the * * * - 15 - that counsel can stipulate as to which facts were set forth and which facts were not set forth (omitted) in Ms. Welhaf's Memorandum to the Chief Counsel's Office." Respondent contends: 8. As far as Ms. Welhaf's opinion work:product is concerned, it is respondent's view that such opinion work product is absolutely protected from disclosure. We reject both sides' contentions insofar as they would preclude us from conducting an appropriate balancing of interests in section 7430 and section 6673(a) (2) disputes. We decline to adopt either side's approach. In an effort to give meaningful effect to the relevant public policies in a practical way in the instant case,·we chose to conduct in camera inspections of the two unredacted memoranda. We recognize that other courses of action may be preferable in other circumstances. 4. .Application to This Case Having conducted an in camera review of the Welhaf memorandum and the unredacted Hyman memorandum, we- conclude there is neither a substantial need to discover any of the fact-based work product nor compelling need to discover any of the opinion work product. A redacted version of the Hyman memorandum was provided to petitioners. The redacted version of the Hyman memorandum discloses the statements about matters of fact, but not all of the legal strategies or opinioks, set forth in the unredacted - 16 - Hyman memorandum. The statements about matters of fact presented in the redacted memorandum are identical to those presented in , the unredacted Hyman memorandum. Petitioners have the redacted version of the Hyman memorandum, and so we conclude that petitioners are in possession of the fact-based work product. We further conclude that, as t·o the.legal strategies and opinions, the redacted version of the Hyman memorandum and respondent's summary of the unredacted version of the Hyman memorandum (supra notes 2, 3, and 7) taken together provide a fair representation of the legal strategies and opinions -in the unredacted version of the Hyman memorandum. Because (1) petitioners were provided with a fair representation of the unredacted legal strategies and opinions, and (2) the' redacted portions would not impact the outcome of petitioners' motions under sections 7430 and 6673'in the instant case, we conclude ·that petitioners do not have a compelli'ng need to discover this opinion work product; petitioners' desire to discover the unredacted version of the Hyman memorandum is outweighed by the protection afforded by the privacy privilege under the work product doctrine. The Welhaf memorandum presents statements about matters of fact that are substantially similar to those presented in the redacted version of the- Hyman memorandum.. Because petitioners are already in possession of the equivalent fact-based work product (in the form of the redacted version of the Hyman - 17 - memorandum), we conclude that petitioners have neither a substantial need to discover the fact-based work product in the Welhaf memorandum nor an inability to obtain a substantial equivalent of this fact-based work product without incurring undueí hardship. The Welhaf memorandum suggests and analyzes various positions respondent might take in the litigation in the instant case. There is no "smoking gun" in the Welhaf memorandum establishing that respondent's position in the underlying litigation was not substantially justified and thereby possibly entitling petitioners to litigation costs under section 7430. Nor is there a "smokir}g gun" in the Welhaf memorandum that would prove respondent's attorney unreasonably and ,vexatiously multiplied the proceedings, and thereby entitle petitioners to litigation costs under section 6673(a) (2). Because the Welhaf memorandum would not impact the outcome of-petitioners'.motions under sections 7430 and 6673 in the instant case, we conclude there .is. no compelling need to discover the memorandum; petitioners' desire to discover the Welhaf memorandum is outweighed by the protection afforded by the privacy privilege under the work product doctrine. ., Accordingly, we asustain respondent's contention that the work.product doctrine privilege protects both memoranda from discovery. 5. Waiver - 18 - Petitioners contend that, even if the memoranda were privileged under the work product doctrine, respondent should be treated as having waived the privilege, because: To permit Respondent to withhold Ms. Welhaf's factual representation to the Chief Counsel's Office from the Ratkes would allow Respondent to use the work product doctrine as both a "sword and shield litigation tactic" in this post-decision proceeding for litigation costs and sanctions. EchoStar 1294 (Fed. Cir. 2006)]: [In re EchoStar Communications Corp., 448 F.3d As opined by the Federal Circuit in We recognize that work product and "opinion" work product not always distinct, especially when, as here, an attorney's yopinion may itself be the line between "factual" i's factual" work product. When faced with the distinction between where that however, a...court should balance the policies «to prevent sword-and-shield litigation tactics with the policy to protect work product. line lies, Id. at 1302.' The.overarching goal of waiver in such a case is to prevent a party from using the advice. he received as both ·a sword, by waiving privilege to favorable advice, and a shield, by asserting privilege to unfavorable advice. See ·Fort James Corp..fv. Solo Cup Co.], 412 F.3d [1340] at 1349 [Fed. Cir. 2005); {In re] Martin Marietta Corp.,.856 F.2d [619] at 626 .[4th Cir. 1988]; In re Sealed.Case, 676 F.2d 793, 818 (D.C. Cir..1982) seeks greater advantage from its control over work product maintain a healthy adversary system[,] the balance of interests. recognized in than the law must provide to ("[W]hen a party then - 19 - Hickman...shifts."). product it is waived. immunity could have such an effect, To the extent the work- . Id. at 1303. In Hartz Mountain Industries v. Commissioner, 93 T.C. at 527, we summarized the waiver rules as follows: Protection derived from the work product doctrine the work product doctrine, is not absolute. United States v. Nobles, 422 U.S. 225, 239 (1975). Further, like the attorney-client privilege, may be waived. United States v..Nobles, supra. Protection afforded by the work product doctrine to "opinion work product" may also be waived. 811 (D.C. Cir. 1982); Coleco Industries, Inc. v. Universal City Studios, 110 F.R.D. 688, 690-691 (S.D.N.Y. 1986). See In re Sealed Case, 676 F.2d 793, In Hartz Mountain Industries and each of the three cited cases; therein, the relevant court (1) concluded that the proponent of the privilege attempted to present a one-sided view of a critical matter in dispute and (2) refused to sustain the privilege in that setting. In Nobles, a defendant in a criminal case was not permitted to present testimony of an investigator unless the defendant turned over to the prosecution those portions of the investigator's report that related to the investigator's expected testimony. When the defense called its investigator as a witness, the trial court ruled that the investigator's report (afte inspection and editing in camera) would have to be turned over to the prosecutor. The defense stated that the report would not be turned over. Whereupon the trial court ruled that the - 20 - investigator would not be permitted to testify. United States v. Nobles, 422 U.S. 225, 229 (1975). The Supreme Court held that the trial "court's preclusion sanction was an entirely proper method of assuring compliance with its [disclosure] order." Id. at 241. In Hartz Mountain Industries v. Commissioner, 93 T.C. at 528,.we ruled as follows: Finally, petitioner has waived the work product Inc. v. Universal City Studios, See In re Sealed Case, supra at 817-818; doctrine by making a "testimonial use" of work product materials. Coleco Industries, supra at 691. Petitioner submitted affidavits from its in-house counsel respect to the antitrust litigation. selective disclosure of work product intent, petitioner has waived all work product protection relevant requires discovery of all work product its internal position with By offering this to the same issue, and fairness to support to establish its that pertains to -.petitioner's antitrust settlement intentions. Coleco Industries, Inc. v. Universal City Studios, supra. Thus, although partial disclosure is not necessarily fatal to a claim of work product doctrine privilege, a "testimonial use" of the disclosed material may result in a conclusion that in fairness the related material must be disclosed even though it would otherwise be protected from disclosure.' This has some similarity to Fed. R. Evid. 106, under which a party may interrupt another party's presentation in order to require "the introduction at "which ought theiother party's evidence. in fairness to be considered contemporaneously with" that time" of certain evidence - 21 - In In re Echostar Communications Corp., 448 F.3d 1294 (Fed. Cir. 2006), defendants to a willful patent infringement suit asserted the defense of reliance on advice ·of counsel. The Court of Appeals ruled: Work-product waiver.extends only so far as to ·inform the court of the infrincer's state of mind.. * * * The overarching goal of waiver in such a case is to prevent a party from using the advice he received as both a,sword, by waiving privilege to favorable advice, and a shield, by asserting privilege to unfavorable advice. Id. at 1303. - We note that, in response to petitioners' se'ction 7430 motion, respondent refers to the two memoranda and respondent's actions under section 6110 resulting in disclosure of the redacted Hyman memorandum. As we view it, respondent's references to the two memoranda are in the course of a recital of sequence of events. The references are not by way of a contention that the existence.of the two memoranda or the text of the redacted Hyman memorandum.is evidence showing that respondent's position was·substantially justified, within the meaning of section 7430 (c) (4) (B) (i). Petitioners have not , directed our attentiòn to any attempt by respondent to make a "testimonial use" of either of the two memoranda (Hartz Mountain industries v. Commissioner, 93 T.C. at 528), or to use either of the two memoranda as "a sword" (In re EchoStar Communications Corp., 448 F.3d at 1303). - 22 - We.conclude that respondent has.not waived the work product doctrine privilege with respect to the Hyman memorandum. We do not'understand petitioners to contend that respondent waived the privilege with respect to the Welhaf memorandum, except as a derivative of their contention as to the Hyman memorandum. We hold that the privilege has not been waived as to either . memorandum. 6.. Conclusion The unredacted memoranda are privileged from disclosure under the work product doctrine privilege. Neither memorandum includes material such that the need to discover the work product is compelling. Finally, respondent has not waived the protection of the work product doctrine privilege. An appropriate order will be issued denvina petitioners' request to discover the unredacted memoranda.1° 1° We note that.the parties have stipulated.the text of the redacted Hyman memorandum as a joint exhibit relating to . petitioners' secs. 7430 and 6673 motions. We have concluded that respondent's references to the two memoranda in materials filed with the. Court up to now do not constitute a use leading.to waiver of the work product doctrine privilege.