Court Opinion

ID: 9446287
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 21:51:26.985783+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:30:36.136061
License: Public Domain

HUTCHESON, Chief Judge
(dissenting).
In my view, the Tax Court clearly, categorically and correctly found: that taxpayer’s primary business was buying, feeding and selling cattle; that he was not in the business of breeding cattle and had not established a breeding herd; and that the heifers in question were not used in such trade or business but were held for sale in the ordinary course of taxpayer’s primary business; and the finding in my opinion was not clearly erroneous.
I cannot, therefore, accept the exegis by which my brothers, darkening counsel and making the worse cause seem the better, have come up with the conclusion that the Tax Court’s clear and positive finding:
“We do not think that the record would justify us in making a finding of fact that petitioner was engaged in the business of breeding cattle, and we have not done so. At most it indicates a desire to start a breeding herd. The record shows in our opinion that that desire was never fulfilled.”
was a finding in favor of, rather than against, taxpayer’s contention.
The Tax Court clearly found that the heifers were held primarily for sale in the ordinary course of business. This finding, which I think the record clearly supports, was not erroneous, and we ought not to reverse it.
I respectfully dissent.