kelley lynch - tax court petition
DESCRIPTION
This Petition was filed with Tax Court. It addresses Leonard Cohen's egregious fraud upon the Tax Court. As Kelley Lynch was the Tax Matters partner when Cohen originally filed his Petition, she does indeed believe Tax Court has the jurisdiction to hear this matter.TRANSCRIPT
UNITED ST S TAX COURTwww. EchtIdo U.S. TAX COUR1
ROBER T R. DITROLlo. CLE8h(FIRST) (MlDDLE) (LAST)
2tM.Hi!. -6 M 7: n 20l5 JUL -6 PM 2: f 6Kelley Ann Lynch(PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT) Petitioner(s)
ÚNlTED S TES BYv. TA )( C D T Docket No. DEPUTY CLERK
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE.
Respondent
PETITION17085-15
1. Please check the appropriate box(es) to show which IRS NOTICE(s) you dispute
GI Notice of Deficiency 0 Notice of Determination Concerning Your Request for ReliefFrom Joint and Several Liability. (If you requested relief from joint andseveral liability but the IRS has not made a determination, please see theInformation for Persons Representing Themselves Before the U.S. TaxCourt booklet or the Tax Court's Web site.)
O Notice of Determination
Concerning Collection Action O Notice of Determination Concerning Worker Classification
2. Provide the date(s) the IRS issued the NOTICE(s) checked above and the city and State of the IRS office(s)issuing the NOTICE(S): August 13, 2001 J c)#v
3. Provide the year(s) of period(s) for which the NOTIC. ( was/were issued: 19994. SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
If you want your case conducted under small tax case procedures, check here: O (CHECKIf you want your case conducted under regular tax case procedures, check here: IB ONE BOX)
NOTE: A decision in a "small tax case" cannot be appealed to a Court of Appeals by the taxpayeror the IRS. If you do not check either box, the Court will file your case as a regular tax case.
5. Explain why you disagree with the IRS determination in this case (please list each point separately):
notice due to the fact that the $1 million non-refundable prepayment should have
been paid or transferred to Traditional Holdings, LLC and supported by loan documents. Furthermore, the assets
sold by Traditional Holdings, LLC (for which the $1 million prepayment was paid) were owned by Blue Mist
_Touring_C_ompany..Jnc __The stipulated determination was based based upon fraud with respect to IRS Chief Trial
Counsel's office and fraud upon the Tax Court.
SERVED Jul 08 2015 2
6. State the facts upon which you rely (please list each point separately):
See Declaration of Kelley Lynch and evidence submitted.
You may use additional pages to explain why you disagree with the IRS determination or to state additionalfacts. Please do not submit tax forms, receipts, or other types of evidence with this petition.
ENCLOSURES: Please check the appropriate boxes to show that you have enclosed the following items with thispetition:
A copy of the Determination or Notice the IRS issued to you
2 Statement of Taxpayer Identification Number (Form 4) (See PR.IVACY OTICE below)
2 The Request for Place of Trial (Form 5) Ø The filing fee
PRI VACY NOTICE: Fonu 4 (Statement ofTaxpayer Identification Number) will nqt be part ofthe Court's public files.A.il other documents filed with the Court, including this Petition and any IRS Notice that you enclose with this Petition,will become part of the Court's public files. To protect your privacy, you are strongly encouraged to omit or removefrom this Petition, from any enclosed IRS Notice, and from any other document (other than Form 4) your taxpayeridentification number (e.g., your Social Security number) and certain other confidential information as specified in theTax Court's "Notice Regarding Privacy and Public Access to Case Files", available at www.ustaxcourt.gov.
1 March 2015 323 467.3589SIGNA ' RE OF .TITIONER DATE (AREA CODE) TELEPHONE NO.Ad r ss ed By Court
754 . Van Ness Avenue Hollywood, CA 90028MAILING ADDRESS CITY, STATE, 7..IP CODE
StEte of legal residence (if different from the mailing address):
SIGNATURE OF ADDITIONAL PETITIONER (e.g.,SPOUSE) DATE (AREA CODE) TELEPHONE NO.
MAILING ADDRESS CITY, STATE, 7..,lP CODE
Sta e of legal residence (if different from the mailing address):
SIGNATURE OF COUNSEL, IF RETAINED BY PETITIONER(S) NAME OF COUNSEL TAX COURT BAR NO.
1 March 2015MAILING ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE DATE (AREA CODE) TELEPHONE NO.
7P2 7667 8554 0100 5182 AUR 70042-2838
Depaitment ofthe Treasmyinternal Revenue ServiceOGDEN, UT 84201
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LEONARD COHEN419 N LARCHMONT BLVD APT 91LOS ANGELES CA 90004-3013190
-- Letter Number: 3219(SC/CG)Letter Date:
�570axp I ti ca non Number:
5124
, Tax Form: 10 40
Tax Year Ended and Deficiency
December _ 31, 1999 :$ 429,211 . 00
Contact Person: office of Mrs Housley1-800-829-8310 TOLL FREE1-801-620-7725 LOCAL FAXContact Telephone Number:
Hours to Call:
7:00 AM to 8:00 PM
IR Section
Dear Taxpayer:
We have determins nThis letter is your N EFID Nshows how we figu iency.
If you want to cont ination inLast Date to Petiti Ét (90 dayéaddressed to you o nited Statesfor a redeterminatiori ount of you axfiling a petition from the ax Ö Úri. You s400 Second Street NW., Wàshington D.C
Last Date to Petition Tax Court:. April 08, 2002
Penalties)Additions to Tax6662(a) S QNS,842.00
séJ in your incom sas shówn above.i d by law. The edÁtatement
inhany payment, you have until theÑihtter or 150 days if the letter is
ith the United States Tax Courtpsiilion form and the rules for
to it the United States Tax Court,y hf this letter tdthe petition.
The time in Which you haust file å petition withÁe s or 15qdays as the case rnay beis fixed by law and the Court cannot consider yout pètition is filed laté. .As requiredby law, separate notices ùre sent to spouses if thi Eddressed to both a husband andwife, and both want to jàéfitlön the Tax Court, both mustsis 1 the petition or each must file aseparate, signed petition
The Tax Court I ified procedure for small tax cases when the amount i diÓËte is. $50,000 or lesÈ f n ax year. You can also get information about this proòedh e, as well
asia petition for o e, by writing to the Clerk~of the United States Tax Court at40kSecond Str et ashington, D.C. 20217. You should write promptly if you intendto file a petitiöiMvit è ax Court. .
If you decide not to file a petition with the Tax Court, please sign and return the enclosedwaiver form to us. This will permit us to assess the deficiency quickly and will limit theaccumulation of interest. We've enclosed an envelope you can use. If you decide not to signand return the waiver and you do not petition the Tax Court, the law requires us to assess andbill you for the deficiency after 90 days from the date of this letter (150 days if this letter isaddressed to you outside the United States). 4665
LUNt UU V3 1U/13/4UU1
OGDEN IRS CENTER
OUR PROPOSED CHANGES TO YOUR 1999 FORM 1040CDETAILED INFORMATION FOR THESE CHANGES BEGINS ON PAGE 3)
Shown on Return Reported to IRS Proposed Change(or Proposed by IRS)
Our Proposed Changes to Your Income and Deductions
TAXABLE WAGES $ 0.00 $ 15.00 $ 15.00RENTS OR ROYALTIES $ 0.00 $ 2,570.00 $ 2,570.00NONEMPLOYEE COMPENSATION $ 588,775.00 $ 1,588,775.00 $ 1,000,000.00SELF-EMPLOYMENT TAX DEDUCTION $ 5,546.00 $ 18,978.00 $ 13,432.00
Schedule A Items e uctionsSCHEDULE A LIMITAN ITEMIZED $ 9,315.00 $ 38,989.00 $ 29,674.00
DEDUCTIONS¾l0RK$lt LINE 9)TOTAL SCHEDU *DECREASE $ 109,591.00 $ 7.9,·¶l7.00 $ -29,674.00
Total Incre e $ 1,018,827.00
Dur Proposed Chang T our Tax Computation
1. Taxable In 39 327,498.00 $ 1,346,325.00 $ 1,018,827.002 Tax linet4D T407,723.00 $ 511,179100 $ 403,456.003. Self-Employment line 50 'll-,091.00 $ 37 955.00 $ 26,864.004. Alternative Tnini ax, 91,109.00 $ 0.00 $ -1,109.00
5. al ax, line 3 00 $ 549,134.00 $6. Net Tax Increase $ 85,842 007. Accuracy-RelatRd erialty8. Interest From? 4 72000 To $ 72,872.00
11/14/2001 pr .
9. Proposed Amour ou Éwe IRS
( The proposed chang appl y o doesn' tadditional amödátsefor ax year o ay one from anotice.)
$ 587,925.00
include anyprevious IRS
Page 5 CP2000 (REV. 12/2000) 4665
Department of the Treasury - NOTIL. AUMBER : CP 01Internal Revenue Service DATE OF THIS NOTIC : 08/13/200OGDEN, UT 84201 SOCIAL SECURITY NU BERw 124
TAX FORM: 1040 TA TcAN: 1999AUR CONTROL NUMBER: 0034-0156
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LEONARD COHEN419 N LARCHMONT BLVD APT 91LOS ANGELES CA 90004-3013190
t
WHERE YOU WRITE TO US:Depart i of the TreasuryInter al Revenue ServiceDG , UT 84201
Be sure to include acopy of page one ofthis notice with yourresponse.
WHERE YOU MAY CALL US:1-800-829-8310 TOLL FREEl-801-620-7725 LOCAL FAX
---- WE ARE REQUESTING INFORMATION AB T YOUR 1999 TAX RETURN
In our review of your 1999 tax return, w found what appear to be differences betweenincome and/or deduction amounts you rep ted on your tax return and amounts reportedto us by others Cemployers, banks, or ther payers). See the payer information list
___ that begins on page 2 of this notice, and other attached page(s), for theexplanation of these differences.
If you agree that the income amoun s the payers reported to us are correct, pleaseexplain why you didn't include th-s information on your original return when youfiled it. If you think you were right not to include the information on yourreturn, please explain why. If you already included the information on your return,
__ please explain where. We need this information from you in a statement with yoursignature. ..
If we weren't able tó'match ou Ñjamounts with what your lenders reportedto us, the list will hhöw e amoùñts iiould..match. If you deducted other amountson your tax return tHàt d 't appösMo tifè?Tist, please send us verification thatyou are entitled to tho�541deductioi e hiàE have to disallow them.
Please use the enc1 sed envelope to .sehd any suppórting documents you want us toconsider. When you se d the informatiodör iffyou write to us, please include acopy of page one of t s notice to helplus'gdéhtify,your case (we have provided 2copies of page one f your convenience1MA1 oofihëlude your area code, telephonenumber, and the best time for us to calliäfgny:ess.ary. Send your information to uswithin 30 days from the date of this noti P ilthih 60 days from the date of thisnotice if you live utside the United Stètë
We will review th information you send to us we propose any changes toyour tax account we will send you a propo d cô^ ted tax computation later.
If we don't hea from you within the time perio lated above, we will send aproposed adjus ent based on the information If the adjustment resultsin an increase to your 1999 tax, we will chsi-g erest to your account fromApril 17, 200 , to the date you pay your tax 2 .
We have encl ed a copy of this notice for yoy rëcords.
Thank you fo your cooperation. ,
HOME PHONE UMBER: ( ) . HOURS:
WORK PHONE NUMBER : ( . ) HOURS :
* 6 1 4 4 2 5 1 2 4 1 9 9 9 1 M
CP2501 (REV. 11/206 174
OE N SERVICE CENTER _·5124 CDP 95 08/13/200140034-0156 -_
YOUR EMPLOYERS, BANKS, AND OTHER PAYERS REPORTED THIS INFORMATION:
Please compare your tax records with the following list which shows income amountsreported to us by your payers. Although we were able to match some of these incomeamounts to your 1999 income tax return, we weren't able to match all of them. Toassist you in reviewing your income amounts, the list may include both reported andunreported amounts from the same payer.
We have already verified any deduction amount(s) that you see on this list. However,if you deducted additional amounts on your return that don't appear on this list,please send us verification that you are entitled to those deductions.
001.PHONOGRAPH RECORD MANUFACTURERS SPE570 LEXINGTON AVENUENEW YORK NY 100226837
ACCOUNT NO.EIN 13-6180704
ISSUED FORM.,W-2 TO 614-42-5124TAXABLE WAGES $ 15SOCIAL SECURITY WAGES $ 15MEDICARE WAGES AND TIPS $ 15
002.RANDOM HOUSE INC1540 BROADWAYNEW YORK NY10036
ACCOUNT NO. 1C35150EIN 13-2558190
ISSUED FORM 1099-MISC TO 614-42-5124ROYALTIES $ 2,099
003.RANDOM HOUSE INC1540 BROADWAYNEW YORK NY10036
ACCOUNT NO. 8C348Ë5EIN 13-2558190
004.DUNVAGEN MUSIC PUBLISHERS INC1841 BROADWAYNEW YORK NY 10023. ff .
ACCOUNT NO.EIN 13-2891260
005.SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT INC.550 MADISDN AVE A P 9TH FLNEW YORK NY10022
ACCOUNT NO. 056911273EIN 13-3431958
006.SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT INC.550 MADISON AVE A P 9TH FLNEW YORK NY10022
ACCOUNT NO. 056903803EIN 13-3431958
ISSUED FORM 1099-MISC TO 614-42-5124ROYALTIES $ 3,254
e ISS D FORM 1099-MISC TO 614-42-5124ROYALT(l�540S 79
1099-MISC TO 614-42-5124. N d EE COMPENSATION $ 1,000,000
ISSUED FORMNONEMPL~0YEE
1099-MISC 14-42-5124COMPENSATION . $ 364,707
* 6 1 4 4 2 5 1 2 4 1 9 9 9 1
2 CP2501 (REV. 11/2000) 174
FROM : 00000000
Departmenter he TreasuryInternal Revenue sm,cwOGDEN, UT 84201
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LEONARD COMENRICHAtb A WESTIN3141 WARNENWOOD WVHDLEXINGTON KV 6050Z
PHONE NO. : 00000000000 NOV. 08 2002 12:55PM P43
AUR Control Numbne: 70042-2838
Notice Numbert CP-2000Motice Data. 04/29/2007Social Security . Number s .-5124Form: 1040 Taiz Vote: 1999
THIS NOTICE ·REQUIRES A RESPON5E.P}ease conehto · the reopense
....uln,1..!Illndill....llli.I pass et the. end. af ttvic tso ticeand send it in the encidw�042denvelope .te the address in theuoper left-harsd earner of ¼hpage .
For recorded information,pleaea cm311-800-529-4477 (tell free) andreeuest Tosic .Nuieber 652.
Tp speak..with erg account ·repFede»tFt ive irlease caII1-B00-523-851 TOLL FREE1 501-620-7725 LOCAL FAXbetween 7±00 AM to 4:00 PM.You may experience de.laysduring peak houés.Contact:office of Hem Nielsen
. - WE ARE PROPOS3NC CHANGES TO YOUR 1999 TAX RETURN
Thank y�042ufor .veur reoly to our prevdeus noties of 91/08/2002. We used theinformation you sent to us to refigure the amount of ter you previously owed.The e=,unts we refigured are on page 2.
If ou AGREE uith Osse Proposed Geneese
�042Check Ban A en tk�042response page et tk�042end of this notice.
a Sion and dete the tohl agreement statement,and
* Send uà the responsa page in the enclosed
19 possible.. .enckose yes,r payment in fun.year cate' t pay the eretirar enount , you
can request an instellnent aareenent bycompleting the last as,, o( tAis notice.
If you still disaer». ..ith the prooosed chonoes, you may. still have enowgh time to-file a metition with the U.S. Tax Court. However, the period during which you mayfile a petition has not been extended by the issuance of this notice, or our·reconsides-ation oø your case. If you do not file a petition within the allottedtime, an exelmined in the Statutory Notice of Deficiency we sent to you emelier,ww -il3 conclude that the orooosed channem are correct, and send you a bill. Thisbill will includo your tax. any penalties, and additionel interest.
Please respond to ua even if you don't understand our computation or can't paythe proposed tax due. Tf you delay your rescense, internet on any amount you ow�042wall ancess,se. Interent stops only when you ony the total amount you owe.
If you have any ovestions. olesse write to th. person whose nesse is shonen en thefxent ==ge of this notice, or you may cell that derson at the tolophone number shoun.
KLOO643
%M : 00000000 PHONE NO. : 00000000000 NOU. 08 2002 12:55PM P44W �042UtsutM AN5 CENTER
OUR PROPOSED CHANGES TO YOUR 1999 FORM 1840. (DETAILED INFORMATION FOR THESE CHANGES BEGINS ON PAGE 3) ·
Shown on Return Reported to IRS Prosased Change(or Proposed by IRS)
Our Proposed Chances to Your Income and Deductions
TAXABLE WAGES �042 0.00 * 15.00 �042 15.00RENTS. OR ROYALTIEs 4 0.00 4 2,570.00 �042 2,570.00SELF-EMPLOYMENT TAX DEDUCTION $ 5,546.00 $ 5,587.00 �042 41.00
Sehedule A Itemized Beductions .SCHEDutE A LIMITAT1088 (ITEMIZED �042 9,315.00 * 9,391.00 �042 76.00
DEDUCTIONS, lif0RKSHEET, LINE 9)TOTAL SCHEDULE A DECREASE �042109,591.00 4 109,515.00 �042 , o.-76.00
Total Increase 2,620.00
Dur Propesad Chances To Your Tax computation
1. Taxable Income, line 39 4 327,498.00 $ 350,118.00 '* 2,620.002. Tax, line 40 .4 107,723.00 .$ 105.761.00 .8 1,03§.003. $�0421f-EmploymentTax, line 50 �042 II,091.00 �042 11,I73.co * SE.004. Alternative minimum tax, 4 1,109.00 $ 733.00 �042 -326.00
5. �0421 ax, line 56 4 119,923.00 t 128,717.00 06. Het Tax Increase ,7. Interest From 04/17/2000 To �042 143.08
8. Peoposed Amount You owe IRS .
�254Theproposed changes apply to his notice only. Et dotán't i'ncludedò§tional neounts for tax year 1999 that you may owe from �042PreYIoMSnotice. )
IIRilli W RBRERS¤ 6. 1 4 4 2 5 1 2 4 1 9 9 9 1 ¼
Page 2 CP2000 (REV. 12/2000) 52
KLOO644
AUR 70042-2838cf the Treasury ..
. niunal Revenue Servicp Letter Date :GDEN, U1 84201
January 8, 2002
7112 7667 8554 Olù0 182
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LEONARD COHEN419 N LARCHMONT BLVD APT 91LOS ANGELES CA 90004-3013190
Taxpayer Identification Number:
Tax Form: 1040 .
Tax Year Ended and DeficiencyDecember 31, 1999 $ 429,211.00Contact Person:office of Mrs Housley1-800-829-8310 TOLL FREEl-801-620-7725 LOCAL FAX
Hours to Call:7:00 AM to 8:00 I M
Dear Taxpayer
Enclosed is A NOT .E DEFICIENCY as¼c qüín
f
Page 1
DECLARATION OF KELLEY LYNCH
I, KELLEY LYNCH, declare:
1. I am a citizen of the United States who currently resides in Los Angeles, California. I am
over the age of 18 years. I have personal knowledge of the facts contained in this declaration and if
called upon to testify I could and would testify competently as to the truth of the facts stated herein.
2. This Motion relates to fraud upon the court with respect to Tax Court Docket No. 7024-02.
The original matter related to a $1 million prepayment against a 2001 deal Traditional Holdings,
LLC entered into with Sony Music. This prepayment was made to Leonard Cohen personally and
the funds were never transferred to Traditional Holdings, LLC. This information was concealed
from IRS and Tax Court in 2002.
3. The intellectual property owned by these entities was originally created by Leonard Cohen
and other songwriters. Leonard Cohen was my former business partner. I also worked as Cohen's
personal manager for approximately 17 years. Our relationship ended in the fall of 2004 when
Cohen understood I was reporting his tax fraud to Internal Revenue Service. On April 15, 2005,
and at other times, I did report what I was ultimately advised was criminal tax fraud to Internal
Revenue Service and other tax authorities.
4. In order to understand this situation, it is essential to have an understanding of the use of
these entities and their respective ownership interests in intellectual property. In or around 1994,
singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen became interested in purstiing intellectual property deals.
Two deals were ultimately closed and a third pursued. In 1996, Sony/ATV purchased the stock of
Stranger Music, Inc. and, in 2001, Sony Music purchased the stock of Traditional Holdinks, LLC.
5. After the 1996 Sony/ATV deal closed, Leonard Cohen decided to pursue either a bond
1
securitization deal or new stock sale. All intellectual property, including with respect to Cohen's first
eleven books, was assigned to Blue Mist Touring Company, Inc. Sony began their due diligence
with this entity. However, at some point, Cohen's representatives became concerned about issues
related to collapsible corporations. Cohen and his representatives decided to pursue the 2001 deal
using a new entity, Traditional Holdings, LLC and an annuity. Leonard Cohen and his
representatives failed to transfer and/or assign Blue Mist Touring Company's intellectual property to
Traditional Holdings, LLC and therefore it still owns the intellectual property that was sold by
Traditional Holdings, LLC.
6. I have an ownership interest in Blue Mist Touring Company, Inc. (15%) and Traditional
Holdings, LLC (99.5%). However, due to a Los Angeles Superior Court Case (BC338322),.that I
was not served, my ownership interests in these entities were wrongfully converted to Leonard
Cohen via default judgment. I am attempting to have the judgment vacated.
7. The Complaint in that matter was used by Leonard Cohen to apply for and receive
fraudulent tax refunds, file his 2005 tax return, amend his 2003 and 2004 returns, and possibly with
respect to carry-backs related to his 2001 and 2002 returns. The Complaint and Default Judgment
were also used to defend Leonard Cohen with IRS in connection with complaints to IRS that Cohen
committed criminal tax fraud. The Complaint is essentially his defense.
8. I am the Tax Matters Partner with respect to the 2001, 2002, and 2003 tax returns filed on
behalf of Traditional Holdings, LLC and would like to waive any and all statutes of limitation with
respect to those tax periods. When the IRS deficiency notice was sent to Leonard Cohen on January
8, 2002, I was the Tax Matters Partner and the matter before Tax Court should have involved me.
The January 8, 2002 Deficiency Notice was sent to Leonard Cohen personally; initially handled by
his personal corporate and tax lawyer, Richard Westin; and ultimately.resolved for Leonard Cohen
by Hochman, Rettig. When I attempted to speak with Hochman, Rettig about Traditional Holdings,
2
LLC and the $1 million prepayment, Steve Blang advised me that Richard Westin coñtacted-him arid
insisted that Ldid not have attorney/client privilege 3viíh Cohen and his lawyers. They were
instructed not to discuss this matter with me. I was therefore excluded from discussing this matter,
obtaining or comrejing relevant arid material information, and unable to address the fact that the $1
inillion prepayment should have been transferred to Traditional Holdings, LLC and ultimately paid
to Blue Mist Touring Company, Inc At this juncture, Leonard Gohen continues to claim that
Traditional Holdings, LLC's assets are his personal assets. It is my personal belief that,.as of the
2002 IRS.inquiry, this situatiori may have beén�0401annedby Cohen and his i·epresentatives.
9. I am challenging the Tax Court's stipulated decision in Leonard Cohen v. Commissioner
(Docket No. 7024-02). The arguments used in connection with that case were based on a pattern of
deceit and dishonesty directed at the Tax Court and IRS Chief Trial CounsePs Office. That conduct
interfered with the ability to impartially adjudicate this dispute.
10. The $1 million non-refundable prepayment should have ultimately been paid to Traditional
Holdings, LLC - not Leonard Coheñ. This was not a refundable deposit and I am the individual
that contacted Sony and transmitted Cohen's demands with respect to this deal. At the time of the
initial Tax Court matter, the assets were owned by Blue Mist Touring Company, Inc. Leonard
Cohen personally understood that the 1998 and 1999 assignments of intellectual property to Blue
Mist Touring Company, Inc. were irrevocable. When this matter was adjudicated, the 2001 Sony
deal with Traditional Holdings, LLC had already closed. That information, as well as the
information regarding asset ownership, was concealed from the Tax Court and IRS Chief Trial
Counsel's office. The deficiency notice should have been issued to Traditibnal Holdings, LLC.
Therefore, I - as the Tax Matters Partner - should have received the notice. Leonard Cohen's
Petition was filed with Tax Court on April 5, 2002. A stipulated decision was entered on April 1,
2003.
3
11. On October 8, 2002, David Holtz, IRS Chief Trial Counsel's Office Los Angeles, wrote
Richard Westin, Leonard Cohen's personal tax and corporate lawyer. Essentially, Internal Revenue
Service received an "inadvertent" Sony 1099 related to Leonard Cohen in the sum of $1 million.
That 1099 should have been issued to Traditional Holdings, LLC as the Sony deal closed in 2001.
However, the 1099 addressed income that Lepnard Cohen personally received as a prepayment
against the 2001 Traditional Holdings, LLC deal. The income was not transferred to Traditional
Holdings, LLC. The income was not ultimately paid to Blue Mist Touring Company, Inc., the
owner of the assets. The 2001 stock sale involved the sale of intellectual property and recording
contracts. Leonard Cohen elected to handle the non-refundable prepayment on his personal tax
return as a loan for tax purposes in 1999.
12. I am the individual who Stuart Bondell of Sony called with respect to the
prepayment with respect to the Traditional Holdings, LLC deal. Leonard Cohen's representatives,
myself included, had been involved with intense negotiations with respect to this sale and a potential
bond securitization deal with CAK. Gohen ultimately decided not to pursue the CAK bond
securitization deal because Sony took the position that they would not pay royalties to a third party;
were concerned about Cohen setting a precedent with other artists; and expressed grave concern
about being without the advantage of providing Cohen with advances - the currency of the music
industry - which, among other things, permitted Sony to encourage artists to submit their
contractually obligated albums.
13. At the beginning of November 1999, Stuart Bondell of Sony phoned and informed me
that Sony was willing to pursue an intellectual property deal with Leonard Cohen. The terms of the
deal, and the intellectual property they would actually buy, was not yet fully negotiated, but Sony
offered Leonard Cohen $8 million for the deal. I then phoned Leonard Cohen, transmitted the
details of my conversation to him, and he advised me to phone Stuart Bondell back with the
4
following message: I have a good deal on the table with CAK that is about to close. If Sony pays
me a non-refundable, substantial prepayment or down payment on this deal, I will forfeit the CAK
deal and enter into negotiations solely with Sony. I conveyed this message and Cohen's terms to
Stuart Bondell who advised me that they were acceptable to Sony. CAK nevertheless was interested
in pursuing some type of deal with Cohen and presented at least one more formal offer.
14. On November 5, 1999, Sony wired $1 million to Leonard Cohen's personal account
Paul Gilbert's letter confirmed that the amount was a partial prepayment against of the proposed $8
million buy-out of future·royalty interests.
15. Sony would eventually issue the "inadvertent" $1 million 1099 to Leonard Cohen and
this ultimately led to the January 8, 2002 IRS deficiency notice. The two "inadvertent" Sony 1099s,
in the amounts of $1 million and $7 million, respectively, were eventually corrected by Sony who
replaced them with $0 1099s. This caused tremendous hysteria and paranoia on the part of Leonard
Cohen and his representatives.
16. Cohen had also borrowed heavily from Traditional Holdings, LLC accounts. Those
accounts were maintained and invested by Cohen's financial and investment adviser, Neal
Greenberg. In January and June 2004, Greenberg wrote Cohen rather alarming letters about his
level of spending and addressed "IRS warnings." The warning letters related to Leonard Cohen's
dangerous level of borrowing from Traditional Holdings, LLC.
17. In October 2004, Leonard Cohen heard I was reporting his tax fraud to IRS, and we parted
ways. In September/October 2004, my accountant and lawyers reviewed the Traditional Holdings,
LLC federal tax returns and advised me as follows: Cohen and his representatives failed to report
the income from the Sony sale on the 2001 return; extinguished my promissory note from the 2002
return (using a separate tax ID); and extinguished the annuity obligation from the 2003 return -
moving the asset to the capital account. All of this was done without my knowledge or permission.
5
19. Other litigation matters related to these matters are ongoing.
20. I have created a blog - taxpetition.wordpress.com - for the sole purpose of this Tax Court
Petition and Motion addressing fraud upon the court with respect to the April 1, 2003 stipulated
decision. I have uploaded evidence to that site which can be accessed using.the following login
information: odzerchenma (must be lower case); password: tsimar2012. The evideñce referred to
below is on this private blog. The most relevant fraud upon the court relates to the following three
facts: 1) Traditional Holdings, LLC entered into an agreement with Sony and that deal closed on or
around April 18, 2001; 2) Leonard Cohen personally received the $1 million prepayment and failed
to transfer that amount to Traditional Holdings, LLC (or account to Blue Mist Touring Company,
Inc.); and, 3) the prepayment was a non-refundable payment against the $8 million price Sony agreed
to pay with respect to this transaction. See taxpetition.wordpress.com evidence made a part hereof.
See also Exhibits A and B attached hereto and made a part hereof.
I declare under the penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing istrue and correct.
This declaration is executed on this 1st day of March 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
I lley Ly cl
6
EXHIBIT A
March 6, 2002 - Draft
See KL notes [bold] to Richard Westin
and Cohen comnments. Faxed to RW.
Dear Leonard,
I have now reviewed all the documents that were forwarded me in order to prepare the Traditional
Holdings return. I would like to point out that I did not notice any sloppy record keeping and all the
documents were delivered to me in a timely manner.
I would like to review the structure of TH at this time because it is ornate you may need further
clarification. I will start at the beginning. TH came about as the result of Neal and myself being
approached by Kelley at your request to search for a tax structure that would benefit you with
respect to the Sony royalty buyout. At that time, you were looking at ordinary income that would
have been taxed at the rate of 47%. Traditional Holdings purchased your royalty buy-out properties
using a private annuity. A private annuity is a contract under which a person sells property in
exchange for deferred payments that end when the seller dies. The deferred payments are payments
to you (which I will address later in this letter) and it is these deferred payments that allow the tax to
be deferred. The payments cease upon your death. Private annuities have been around for decades
and are not controversial.
In the year 2011, you will begin receiving about $38,000 a month for the remainder of your life. You
will then pay taxes yearly on this amount at whatever the tax rate is on ordinary income.
You have therefore saved tremendously in taxes because you avoided the ordinary income tax of
approximately $3.5 million in the year of the sale and will pay taxes as you receive your deferred
payments. In the interim, your money is invested and if well managed it is also growing.
All monies you take from TH until 2011 need to be documented as loans. This is why some
confusion arose for Kelley in the year 2001 with respect to your personal tax return payment. Neal
made the decision that the funds should come from TH and Kelley then contacted me in order to
determine what paperwork, if any, was required. I had to prepare a note that was to be placed in the
file with a copy of the return. It is important to have these "loans" documented by notes.
RW will prepare all loan documents. He is also handling matters related to the Sony 1099.
RW and KC will discuss who will prepare the LCI and BMT returns.
To reiterate, TH obtained the properties with a private annuity in order to defer taxes. Kelley had to
be brought in, and agreed to do so in order to help you, because you need a third party's
involvement so that this transaction is not viewed as your selling something to yourself. The third
7
party should not be a relative of yours therefore Kelley was selected. We had Kelley sign a
promissory note in the amount of $245,000 to TH which shows that she invested in TH. She
is to receive $24,000 a year for the first 17 years, then $31,250 a year, which allows her to repay the
note; and, $20,000 a year which allows her to pay taxes on the amount she has received.
It complicates things for Kelley and possibly eats into her lifetime gift tax exemption that would
benefit her children.
RW - advised that the promissory note payments total $44,000/year. Addressed in
corporate books and management agreement. Cohen, RW, and NG have discussed the
profits to be allotted to me and this will be addressed in writing. Indemnity Agreement
should be placed in corporate file.
It is possible that estate taxes will change in the future and Kelley will not suffer any penalties. To
summari7.e, Kelley was brought into this situation in order to help you accomplish a beneficial tax
structure.
Leonard asked if I would be responsible for payments on the promissory note in the event
he died. Westin said no.
At this time, Kelley needs to begin repaying the note to TH. She must pay $24,000 debt service on
the note this year so that the entity remains legitimate. The way we anticipated handling this was to
allocate $240,000/year of TH profits to Kelley each year which allows her to pay the taxes on the
income that has created for Kelley.
RW will advise KL how taxes will be handled on thos $240,000/year allocation. He will
prepare all necessary tax documents.
Unfortunately, because Kelley did not make the $24,000 payment in 2001 (she was not aware that
she had to do so), this may create hardship for her with respect to taxes. In order to resolve this
situation, I propose that Kelley be allocated the sum of $ for the years 2001
and 2002. Out of this amount, Kelley will pay the note (by writing a check to TH) and pay the taxesshe incurs by receiving these monies from TH, which we will call a fee for the sake of simplicity.
It is often the case that once a structure has been established and taken out of the realm of theory, it
takes time for all parties to understand what its function is and how it operates. I have basically
raised three points here: (1) that a private annuity has been established in order to defer taxes; (2)
you will eventually begin receiving monthly payments and until that time, all withdrawals from TH
need to be documented as loans; (3) Kelley's participation was essential and requires a yearly
payment to her which allows her to repay the note and the taxes she incurs because of the payment.
On a separate note, I am giving some thought to your gift tax situation. I understand that you are
giving Adam approximately $42,000 a year in support. This cancels out the possibility of gift him
8
$11,000 a year (which is now the yearly gift amount) with respect to the property you have
purchased. I also understand that Anjani Thomas has been given sums possibly in excess of $11,000
permitted yearly gift and need to rethink how the loan to her for the house should be handled.
LC asked RW to address gifts to Lorca - including mortage payment he makes on the
Melrose property. Chudd's firm advised that Cohen should have a lease with Lorca -
$55/sq. foot. Cohen decided against this.
I would like to take some time and review the larger picture of your gifts with Kelley - this would
include your voluntary monthly gift to the children's mother which comes to $45,600 per year.
Kelley has advised me that you would like to know if there is some way for you to give gifts to your
children in a manner that does not create a gift tax. This is something Reeve Chudd and I need to
think through.
Since my involvement in your tax planning, several entities have been created: two charitable
remainder trusts (which I understand Neal will address with you separately), and Traditional
Holdings. These three entities - the two charitable remainder trusts and TH are really the essence of
your tax and estate planning.
Last year was a very complex year but going forward everything should be quite smooth and
uncomplicated.
Richard
Cohen asked Westin if I could be compensated with 15% of LCI (as was the case with
BMT). Westin advised that I should have been.
Westin advised us that TH bypasses Cohen's estate. The only entity assigned to Cohen's
revocable family trust (probate) is LCI.
Followed up with Greenberg on memo he is preparing re. charitable remainder trusts. He
will speak directly to RW re. Cohen's withdrawals from those accounts.
9
EXHIBIT BMISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS
1977 Tax Memorandum
Sony Music letter to Kelley Lynch dated November 5, 1999
Richard Westin letter to Ken Cleveland, CPA re. Leonard Cohen 1999 Return 1040
Grubman, Indursky & Schindler memorandum to Leonard Cohen & Traditional Holdings,.LLC summarizing the 2001 transaction
Leonard Cohen Declaration dated August 30, 2000 - CAK Bond Securitization DealLitigation
Richard Westin letter to Kelley Lynch dated September 16, 2000
Kelley Lynch email to Leonard Cohen & Richard Westin dated February 11, 2002
Hochman, Rettig letter to David Jojola dated January 17, 2003
10
ELMER Fox, WEsTHEIMsta & Co.CrarsFtEo Pusuc ACCOUP4TÁPdTS
Bill Dubey Date: Aúgust.22, 1977
Ken Fratto
Subject:Tax Planning for Leonard Cohen
Basis for Taxatios
. Leonard Cohan has ties with several jurisdictions which could serveas a basis for taxing income earned by him. These juriádictions are Canada,Greece and the United States. I would like to'set out the basis for taxationin each of these countries. Canada taxes the world-wide income of its residents.Canada defines residents as those individuals physically residing in Canada.Greece also taxes the world-wide income of its residents; however, the Greeklaw defines residents as those individuals who have.an actual.duelling placein Greece ag who are domiciled in Greece. he U.S., .on the other hand,taxes both citizens and residents on their world-wide income. Le U.S.,definition of residents is much broader and more encompassing than that ofCanada or Greece. Any individual who resides in the U.S., for other than on atemocrarv basis.E any individual who considers himself a domiciliary of the U.S.,whether or not physically present in the U.S., is considered to be a residentof the U.S. All three countries tax income from a source within their res-paetive jurisdiction paid to non-residents; there are, however, several exceptionsestablished by treaty.
Because of the facts in Leonard Cohen's case, a closer examination ,of what is considered U.S., source income and how it is taxed is necessary.Any compensation paid by a U.S., corporation is considered to be ES. sourceincome. If that compensation is paid in conametion with the performance ofpersonal services in the U.S..by a non-resident alien then such income isconsidered to be effectively connected with a U.S., trade or business and ista:<ed at the graduated income tax rates which apply to citizens and residents(IRC Sec.871 (b) (1)),.
If the non-resident alien does not perform personal services withinthe U.S.., then such compensation paid will. be taxable at a flat 307, rate(REG. 1,864-3 and IRC Sect.871 (a) (1)).
. .. » KLO3581
To: Blii Dubey August 22, 1977
Page 2
Recon=nendations
Leonard Cohen, while remaining a Canadian citizen, should continueto reside outside of Canada. He should, however, from ti=e to. time accomplish'acts which establish Canada as his domicile--the place he truly considershis home. Such actions, of course, must not include actually staying inCanada for other than temporary, short-term trips. Because Canada only taxindividuals who are residents, continùed citizenship and domicile-will notsubject him to Canadian taxes and will aid him in preventing taxation by theU.S., or Greece on world-wide income.
/' . Because the U.S., taxes non-resident aliens on U~.S.,source income,and because compensation paid from a U.S., corporation is:considered U.S.,source income,only royalties and performance income from services performedin the U.S., should be funnelled into the U.S., -corporations. Royaltiesand performance ineone from.sources outside the U.S., will not be taxed bythe U.S., as long as leonard Cohen remains a non-resident'alien and as longas such income is not funnelled through the U.S. corporation. . ,_,.L_
Leonard Cohen a stays in the U.S., should be continued under anon-resident visa (H-1 qualifies as such) and should be temporary in nature.Temporary residents , even of long duration, merely for the purpose oftransacting business or engaging in employment is not sufficient to establishresidency. Hutchins v. Commissioner; BTCM December 17, 178 (m). It shouldbe noted, however, that residing in the U.S.,for one year sets up a presumption .of residency. Even though such presumption may be rebutted by proper evidenceLeonard Cohen's stays should be monitored and should not extend to a year.
<
Income from royalties and perfonaance income outside the U.S., -should be funnelled through a corporation incorpoYated in a "tax. haven" country.
/ This will prevent taxation by the U.S., and will most likely limit withhold.ingby other countries where royalties and performance income are earned.
As far as Greece is concerned, so long as Leonard Cohen's domicilecan be established as being elsewhere, there is no basis for taxing any ,income other that from Greek sources. The fact that Leonard Cohen maintainsa house in Greece and will, from time to time, stay in Greece will not inand of themselves cause 'taxation. His trip to and ties to Greece should bereviewed periodically to prevent any presumption of domicile.
(Dictated but not read)
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(Onginal via mail)(Copy via facsimile)
November S. 1999
Kelley Lynch419 North Larchmoett B vd.Suite 91Los Angeles, CA 90004
Re: Leonard Cohen Royalty Buyout
Dear Kelley.
This is to inform you that we have transferred $1 million to Leonards account pursuant to the
instructiobs received from you.
This arr.ount is deemed a partial prepayment against the proposed $8 mí!h n buyo f eonar
future royalty interests in his master recordmgs anc compoSimons uSony Music and Sony/ATV
If this buyout is not concluded. this amount represents a general advance recoùpable from any and
all monies payable to Leonard under those agreements
Sincerely
Paul GilbertVíce President,Business Administration
ec: S. B ondeU. S. Francis. G. McBowman. P. LopMM- Ma f8d*)
KLO1289
ggp_g ¿gflg·d 009-1 + 83¾NIOS AXSWONI IM190&mal-! Wö6Ura t0-p2-D0
00000000000 APR. 25 2002 12;21PM P3
Propssor RichardA. Westin, Esq.* 3N1 Warrenwood Wynd
glon, KY#502859-335-1938
(Fax) 268-6017
April 25, 2002 ·.
Ken Cleveland, CPA
RE: L Cohen, 1999 Return 1040
Dear Ken.
I have attached acopy of the 1999 90-day letter's page listing alleged under-reportings.
h is extremely urgent that you inform me ofwhich items wem included in.the 1999 retum. ] needto file an amended petition at once.
Ifand to the extent any item was not included and you can te]] me why now, please do so. Otherwise1.plan to say that the item(s) was (were) issued in error, and I will await your explanatior,.
Please reply by fax or e-mail [[email protected] Fax number is on the letterhead. If the fax line isbusy, please call to clear it.
This is urgent.
With best regards,
Richard A. Wes
cc: Kelley Lynch
KLO1926
FROM : 0000000000000000000 FFR. 25 2002 12:20Pr P1
Summary of 1099 Situation of Leonard CohenFrom R WestinApril 25, 2002
2® 2001 2002 Other comments
of $ 11 on 09 omes LC sells TH in LC receives On April 24,
There is no Cleveland dat$556,408.49 for that SF has therecoupment not known. Best fo f
rrn o services, but it recoupment
Cleveland does closing includes many ngures that Sonynot mention it statement I have . elements, not yet agrees to. SF to
is from sorted out return.April 28Grubman.
Transmittal Cleveland does Fall 2001letter sent late . not report $1 Cleveland I on 1099
ests not a million on 1999 receives 90 day then $0 or
reR3m letter from 1RS corrected I 099 purchase price
demandi4 that what is inpayment with Grubman April4°i 1° SI I 8, 2001 letter?nullion and .about $370,000of other matters
KLO1927
FROM : 00000000 PHONE NO. : 00000000000 ffR. 25 2002 12: 20PM P2
1999 2000 2001 2002 Other conunents
Gilbert sends Sony recoups it may be $556.408.95 is Hohz at 1RSletter in late against royalty. possible to for studio album Tax CourtMarch accepting It does not amend the and pipeline Litigationthat it is a loan, report the Petition to add royalties and Division wantsso late that recoupment, and the $370,000 services interest on theWestin files Tax LC does not pay $1 million as if itCourt petition to tax on it. If it is were income inprotect LC from used to pay a 1999, which isdeficiency and debt, then legally extonionary.per se duty to it is income to However, LC ispay IRS and LC. The 2001 exposed toseek refund recoupment is inputation of
stated as a credit incorne on thein the closing of loan under IRC
. the sale next § 7872 whichyear, so LC did would alsoget value. I think create taxthis is 2001 liability. Movingmcome income to 2001
decreases theclaim to interest,but acceleratesincorne taxableto LC. This is anegotiationpoint.
KLO1928
MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILEA MOTION TO VACATE STIPULATED DECISION
Leonard Cohen vs. IRS CommissionerDocket No. 7024-02
BACKGROUND
By notice of deficiency, Internal Revenue Service determined that Leonard Cohen was liable for an
income tax deficiency for 1999. On January 8, 2002, Leonard Cohen received a Notice of
Deficiency in the amount of $587,925.00. After receiving the notice of deficiency, Leonard Cohenand his tax lawyer, Richard Westin, filed a Petition with the Tax Court which argued that the $1million Leonard Cohen personally received in 1999 was a loan. This is blatantly false.
On October 24, 2002, a Notice of Trial alerted Leonard Cohen that a trial was scheduled for March
24, 2003 at Los Angeles, California.
In November 1999, Leonard Cohen personally requested and received a non-refundable prepayment
against a 2001 stock deal with Sony Music. While the Sony transmittal letter, related to the $1million prepayment, indicates that the payment was not a loan, Leonard Cohen and his
representatives decided to handle this payment as a loan on Cohen's 1999 return. Leonard Cohen
personally approved that matter. At some point in 2001, Sony issued a 1099 with respect to this $1million which ultimately caused IRS to issue a deficiency notice. Evidently, Sony also recouped
against certain prepayment amounts and Cohen evidently did not pay taxes on what was essentially a
recoupment to Leonard Cohen's personal account debt to Sony. The $1 million prepayment and the
recoupment amount (approximately $500,000) were deducted from the gross amount paid at theclosing of the 2001 Traditional Holdings, LLC stock sale with Sony. These amounts should havebeen paid to Traditional Holdings, LLC and ultimately transferred to Blue Mist Touring Company,Inc., the owner of the intellectual property assets. Amounts for additional delivery requirements
should have been paid in full to Traditional Holdings, LLC and transferred to Blue Mist TouringCompany, Inc.
In 2002, Sony also issued a $7 million 1099 to Leonard Cohen personally. Both of these 1099s ($1million and $7 million) were referred to as "inadvertent" and later corrected to $0. David Holtz, IRS
Chief Trial Counsel's office, argued that the Tax Court Litigation Division wanted interest on the $1million as it was income in 1999. I do not believe that IRS ever addressed the inadvertent $7 million
099.
Traditional Holdings, LLC - not Leonard Cohen personally - entered into an intellectual property
deal with Sony. Leonard Cohen and Richard Westin understood that the assets had to be properly
formally removed from Blue Mist Touring Company, Inc. and formally assigned to Traditional
Holdings, LLC. It was the understanding of all parties, Lynch included, that as of the date theAnnuity Agreement was signed and Traditional Holdings, LLC formed, the assets would be formally
removed from Blue Mist Touring Company, Inc.'and formally assigned to Traditional Holdings,
LLC. Cohen and Westin failed to ensure that these steps were taken.
In March of 1999, Leonard Cohen and Richard Westin cancelled Leonard Cohen's sole ownership
interest of the total outstanding shares (500 shares) in Blue Mist Touring Company, Inc. and issued
Lynch seventy-five shares of Blue Mist, which represented a 15% equity interest. The corporate
minutes for the stock issuance, drafted by Westin with language dictated by Leonard Cohen, indicate
that Lynch's 75 shares were issued "as compensation for her services to the Corporation, with great
gratitude for her efforts." It is important to note that Lynch's services were not to Leonard Cohen
personally. The following property was irrevocably assigned to Blue Mist Touring Company, Inc:
Leonard Cohen's interests in the writer's royalties, artist royalties, master recordings of 1979, 1988,
and 1993 live albums and other intellectual property. These assignments were executed by Leonard
Cohen as Assignor and President of Blue Mist Touring Company, Inc. The assignments wereexecuted by Cohen on December 29, 1999 and with respect to the master tapes of 1979, 1988, and
1993 live performances on December 28, 1998. The first eleven books Cohen published were also
assigned to Blue Mist Touring Company, Inc.
Leonard Cohen's Complaint, filed with LA Superior Court (Case No. BC338322) on August 15,2005, unequivocally states that: "When the Blue Mist Transaction was abandoned, Westin did not
properly rescind the assignment agreements before engaging in subsequent asset [failed] transfers
and transactions involving the same musical properties. Westin failed to properly 'unwind' the steps
taken toward completion of the Blue Mist Transaction. As a result of Westin's failure, Lynch has
asserted claims as to ownership of 15% of Cohen's remaining intellectual property assets." Lynch
was not a participant in this lawsuit; Cohen failed to serve her (and refused to do so); and she has
not "asserted claims as to ownership" but rather owns 15% of Blue Mist Touring Company, Inc.
and the intellectual property assets irrevocably assigned. These assets are not Cohen's personal
intellectual property assets but rather assets owned by a corporation.
Inconceivably, Cohen's Complaint (which is an entirely fabricated and fraudulent narrative) states:
"Sony purchased Cohen's Artist Royalties from THLLC for $8 million. Cohen netted, aftertpansactions costs and taxes, approximately $4.7 million. Cohen's professional advisers, Greenberg
and Westin, in promoting the sale, never disclosed to Cohen that nearly 33% of the sale proceeds
would be spent on taxes and transaction costs, which, on information and belief as subject to final
audit included ... $500,000 for federal income taxes and penalties due on Sony's $1 million advance
paid on the sale in 1999." First of all, none of these transaction fees were personal expenses andrelated to Cohen's personal representatives, litigation settlement in unrelated matters, and other
items that were not corporate expenditures. Beyond that, IRS issued a Notice of proposed changesto Cohen's 1999 tax return on April 29, 2002. Based upon Leonard Cohen and Richard Westin'sassurances that the form 1999 in the amount of $1,000,000 was erroneous, the IRS Ogden ServiceCenter accepted these explanations and proposed a change to Cohen's personal 1999 liability in the
amount of $937. Cohen paid the outstanding sum of $937. The settlement with IRS, according toHochman Rettig's January 17, 2003 letter included "a concession from the Internal Revenue Service
in the above-referenced case in consideration for a copy of an amended 2001 return whereby Mr.Cohen reports all income that was previously treated as a deposit [loan] and not reported."
Therefore, it is impossible to imagine why the Complaint in the Los Angeles Superior Court caseindicates that there were "$500,000 for federal income taxes and penalties due on Sony's $1 millionadvance paid on the sale in 1999." Leonard Cohen personally received the $1 million in 1999 and it
was not transferred to Traditional Holdings, LLC in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and/or 2004.Lynch has no idea what occurred after they parted ways but believes she is entitled to thatinformation. That would include with respect to any "mistake" that Cohen and Westin "rectified"
with respect to her ownership interest in Traditional Holdings, LLC.
The Traditional Holdings deal closed in or around April 2001. The IRS Notice of Deficiency wasissued on January 8, 2002.
Grubman, Indursky & Schindler's April 18, 2001 letter to Leonard Cohen and Traditional Holdings,LLC summarizes the transaction. Paragraph A(1) refers to a $1 million advance to Leonard Cohen
which should not be confused with the $1 million prepayment on the deal itself. That particularadvance related specifically to Cohen's advance against the delivery of his 2001 studio album "Ten
New Songs" and was paid to Leonard Cohen in 2004 According to the terms of this transaction,
Leonard Cohen was also personally obligated to deliver two live albums and two additional studioalbums.
By the time IRS Chief Trial Counsel's office negotiated with Leonard Cohen's representatives, the
deal had long since closed and the entity itself, not Leonard Cohen, should ultimately have received
the $1 million prepayment. This information was concealed from Tax Court. Additionally, the
assets Traditional Holdings, LLC sold belonged to another entity, Blue Mist Touring Company, Inc.
A stipulated decision was entered on April 1, 2003. This decision was the product of both fraudupon the court and fraudulent information transmitted to Internal Revenue Service in connection
with the $1 million prepayment and the 2001 Traditional Holdings/Sony transaction.
LEGAL ARGUMENT
Kelley Lynch seeks to vacate a stipulated decision of this Court entered on April 1, 2003. Shecontends that the stipulated decision was entered as a result of fraud upon the Court. Although
Lynch was not the Petitioner in the original matter, she has a 99.5% interest in Traditional Holdings,LLC; was designated Tax Matters partner with respect to the 2001, 2002, and 2003 federal tax
returns; and is seeking leave to file a motion to vacate the stipulated decision entered on April 1,
2003. Lynch has also recently learned, through testimony provided in an LA Superior Court case,that Leonard Cohen was now "rectified" a "mistake" with respect to her ownership interest inTraditional Holdings, LLC although he, and his representatives, refuse to provide her with anyadditional information about that rather sinister issue.
Because Lynch was unaware of the facts of this Tax Court Matter, and excluded from receivingmost information based on the fact that she did not share attorney/client privilege with Leonard
Cohen or his legal representatives, she did not file a notice of appeal or timely motion to vacate orrevise that decision. It therefore became final.
Lynch was the Tax Matters Partner with respect to the 2001, 2002, and 2003 tax returns filed on
behalf of Traditional Holdings, LL. When the IRS deficiency notice was sent to Leonard Cohen on
January 8, 2002, she was the Tax Matters Partner and the matter before Tax Court should have
involved her. The TMP is "the central figure of partnership proceedings" and "serves as the focalpoint for service of all notices, documents and orders of the partnership." Computer Programs
Lambda, Ltd. ("Lambda I"), 89 TC 198, 205, Dec. 44,072 (1987). The presence of a tax matterspartner during litigation is essential to the operation of the statutory procedures of sections 6221 et
seq., and to the fair, efficient, and consistent disposition of partnership proceedings. The tax matters
partner must keep each partner informed of all judicial proceedings relating to the adjustment of
partnership items at the partnership level. Sec. 6223 (g). H.e or she must furnish to all partners
information not only on the filing of the petition for judicial review, but also on the progress of thelitigation, settlement negotiations and offers, trial preparation, discovery, motions, and trial, and alsoon the filing of any appeal from our decision. The tax matters partner serves as the focal point for
service of all notices, documents, and orders on the partnership during litigation. The Tax Matters
Partner's initiative during the proceeding as well as the execution of their statutory duties have a
substantial effect upon the rights of all partners in the partnership. Computer Programs Lombda, Ltd. v.
Commissioner. Without a tax matters partner, the Court could not assure that all partners interested in
the outcome of any partnership proceeding and who are (or should have been) parties to litigationwill receive sufficient information concerning the litigation to allow them to protect their interests.
Moreover, the absence of a tax matters partner prevents the orderly and efficient resolution of the
controversy before Tax Court.
Rule 162 provides that a party seeking to vacate a decision must file an appropriate motion within 30days after the decision is entered, unless the Court allows otherwise. Because Kelley Lynch did not
file a motion to vacate within the 30-day period, she is requesting leave from the Tax Court to file
that motion at this time.
The disposition of a motion for leave to file a motion to vacate or revise a decision lies within the
sound discretion of the Court. See Heim v. Commissioner, 872 F.2d 245, 246 (8th Cir. 1989), affg.T.C. Memo. 1987-1; see also Toscano v. Commissioner, 441 F.2d 930, 938 (9th Cir. 1991) (Byrne, J.,dissenting), vacating 52 T.C. 295 (1969); Commissioner v. Estate of Long, 304 F.2d 136, 144 (9thCir. 1962). Lynch is challenging the decision based on fraud upon the court and jurisdiction of the
Court with respect to Leonard Cohen as the income belonged to Traditional Holdings, LLC and was
essentially embezzled from that entity. Leonard Cohen, who entered in an Annuity Agreement with
Traditional Holdings, LLC in December 2000, personally understood that his loans/expenditures
must be repaid to Traditional Holdings, LLC within 3 years at 6% interest. He steadfastly refuses to
address his loans/expenditures which now total approximately $6.7 million with interest.
Once a decision of this Court becomes final, Tax Court may vacate the decision in certain narrowly-
circumscribed situations. See Helvering v. N. Coal Co., 293 U.S. 191 (1934); Drobny v.
Commissioner, 113 F.3d 670, 677 (7th Cir. 1997), affg. T.C. Memo. 1995-209; Curtis v.Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1996-371. The Courts of Appeals have consistently held that the TaxCourt lacks the authority to vacate or revise an otherwise final decision on grounds such as newly-
discovered evidence or excusable neglect. Abatti v. Commissioner, 859 F.2d 115, 117-118 (9th Cir.
988), affg. 86 T.C. 1319 (1986). The Courts of Appeals have generally allowed an exception to theusual rule of finality of Section 7481 for fraud on the Court. Id. at 118. In addition, the Courts ofAppeals, and in particular the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the court to which this case isappealable, has held that the Tax Court may vacate a final decision if that decision is shown to be
void, or a legal nuHity, for lack of jurisdiction over the subject matter. Billingsley v. Commissioner,868 F.2d 1081 (9th Cir. 1989); see also Roberts v. Commissioner, 175 F.3d 889, 892 n.3 (11th Cir.:999).
As a general rule, the Court lacks jurisdiction to vacate a decision once it becomes final. Abatti v.
Commissioner, 859 F.2d 115, 117-118 (9th Cir. 1988), affg. 86 T.C. 1319 (1986); Cinema '84 v.Commissioner, 122 T.C. 264, 270 (2004). An exception to this general rule applies where a decision
was obtained by fraud on the Court. Drobny v. Commissioner, 113 F.3d 670, 677 (7th Cir. 1997),affg. T.C. Memo. 1995-209; Abatti v. Commissioner, supra at 118. The Court of Appeals for theNinth Circuit, whose opinions are controlling in this case, defines fraud on the Court as "'an
unconscionable plan or scheme which is designed to improperly influence the court in its decision.'"
Abatti v. Commissioner, supra at 118 (quoting Toscano v. Commissioner, 441 F.2d 930, 934 (9thCir. 1971), vacating 52 T.C. 295 (1969)).
To prove fraud on the Court, an individual has the burden of establishing by clear and convincing
evidence that "an intentional plan of deception designed to improperly influence the Court in its
decision has had such an effect on the Court." Abatti v. Commissioner, 86 T.C. at 1325. See Drobny
v. Commissioner, supra at 677-678; Pulitzer v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1987-408. The burden ofproof cannot be met by broad assertions, and the moving party must come forward with "'specific
facts which will pretty plainly impugn the official record."' Drobny v. Commissioner, supra at 677
(quoting Kenner v. Commissioner, 387 F.2d 689, 691 (7th Cir. 1968)).
Lynch has submitted specific and credible evidence, in the form of her declaration and evidence,
which support her allegations that this stipulated decision was the result of fraud on the court.
Lynch requests an order granting leave to file a motion to vacate the stipulated decision.
In response to the deficiency notice, Leonard Cohen and his representatives attempted to argue that
the $1 million prepayment was a loan to Leonard Cohen from Sony Music. That was not the case.It was indeed an unconscionable scheme calculated to interfere with this Court's ability to impartially
adjudicate a matter. The scheme was not only directed at the Tax Court but also against the Internal
Revenue Service. That scheme is ongoing. Lynch's declaration and evidence substantiate an
intentional plan of deception designed to influence the Court in rendering its decision. Lynch wasnever a party to the case or resulting decision.
Fraud upon the court consists of a pattern of deceit and dishonesty directed at the court, so as to
interfere with its ability to impartially adjudicate a dispute. Kenner v. Commissioner, 387 F.2d 689,
691 (7th Cir. 1968). It occurs where it can be clearly and convincingly demonstrated that a party has
set in motion an unconscionable scheme calculated to interfere with the judicial system's ability to
impartially adjudicate a matter. Aoude v. Mobile Oil Corp., 892 F.2d 1115, 1118 (1st Cir. 1989). Itis a special species of fraud regarded not only as harmful to adverse parties, but to the judicialprocess itself. Kenner, 387 F.2d at 691.
The leading case on fraud upon the court is .Hagel-Atlas v. Hartford-Empire, in which the U.S.
Supreme Court held that a judgment based on fraud upon the court can, and should, be vacated,
regardless of its age. Hazel-Atlas Glass Co. v. Hartford-Empire, 322 U.S. 238, 250 (1944). The factsof Hazel-Atlas revealed an extensive fraudulent scheme directed not only against the adverse party,but also against both the trial and appellate courts. The U.S. Supreme Court referred to this
particular species of fraud as not only "an injury to a single litigant. It is a wrong against the
institutions set up to protect and safeguard the public, institutions in which fraud cannot
complacently be tolerated consistent with the good order of society."
After a decision has been entered by the Tax Court, either in a tried or settled case, it should not bedisturbed after the decision becomes final, unless it is shown that such decision was produced by
fraud upon the court. Fraud upon the court has been defined as embracing only that species of fraud
which does, or attempts to, defile the court itself or is a fraud perpetuated by officers of the court so
that the judicial machinery cannot perform in the usual manner its impartial task of adjudgingcases. See 7 J. Moore & J. Lucas, Moore's Federal Practice, P. 60.33 at 60-360 (2d ed. 1990).
Kenner vs. C.I.R. conchided that a decision obtained by fraud on the Tax Court can be set aside by it
at ariy time because it is not a decision at all- a view strongly supported, as applied to the Court of
Appeals, by the Supreme Court in Hazel-Atlas Glass Co. v. I-lartford Empire Co., 1944, 322 U.S.238, 64 S.Ct. 997, 88 L.Ed. 1250.
The stipulated decision is also a void judgment due to the fact that, at the time of the decision, Tax
Court failed to obtain jurisdiction over Traditional Holdings, LLC or Lynch as a partner with a99.5% ownership interest. When a party legitimately challenges the jurisdiction of this Court, theCourt should freely exercise that discretion, notwithstanding the time of the challenge and even if
the decision under attack is otherwise final. See Brannon's of Shawnee, Inc. v. Commissioner, 69T.C. 999, 1002 (1978). The Court has jurisdiction to vacate a decision that is void, Abeles v.Commissioner, 90 T.C. 103, 105-106 (1988), which means that the Court also has jurisdiction togrant a motion for leave to file a motion to vacate a void decision, Adkins v. Commissioner, T.C.
Memo. 2005-260.
When the deficiency was assessed to Leonard Cohen personally, and Cohen petitioned the Tax
Court for redetermination, he carried the fraud into the Tax Court. Thus he was continuing to
defraud the Commissioner, while essentially embezzling the $1 million prepayment from both
Traditional Holdings, LLC and Blue Mist Touring Company, Inc., and committing fraud upon theTax Court. Kelley Lynch therefore requests leave to file a motion to vacate decision out of time.
Lynch has demonstrated that Leonard Cohen engaged in conduct that was intended to deceive and
rnislead the Court and that conduct affected the outcome of the case. Lynch's declaration, and the
évidenced used to support that declaration, explain how the conduct induced, caused, or had a
material effect upon the decision.
Dated: 1 March 2015
Kelley Lync
GRUBMAN INDORSHY 8e SCHINDLER, P.C.I
ALLEN J. GRUBMAN. ARTHURLINDUBSEY
FAULD.SGBlNDLER
DONALDR. FRIEDMAN
JONATHAN A.EERL3CH
HOWARD L WATTENBERG
DONALD L KAPLAN
R]CBARD J. GBA BEL
LAWRENCESHIREDAVID R. TORAYA
JESS B. DRA BR I N
MATTHEV GREENBERO
IRA B. SELSKYKENNETH R. NE]SELA S
J OSEPH M. BRENNER
JONATHAN F. HORN
ERIC GATOFF
TBEODORE P. HARRIS
STUARTFRIED
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
CA.RNEGIE HALL TOWER
152 WEST 572u STREET
NEW YoRE, N.Y. 10019- 3301
TELEPHONE: (212) 554-0400
TELEFA'X: (Elm 554-0444
MICHAEL K. GOLDSMITB"
KAREN J. GOTTLIEBJOSEPE D. PENACB]O
GARY R. ELINE
BHUGE G. GROSSBEEG
MICHELL1GOROVE'THEODORE J. STACHTIAR]S
DEBRA A.WHYTE
TODD S. BRECHER**
PETER E. G RANTSONYA W. GUARDO
.WRITER'S DIRECT NUMBER LARETH.SCBATZ
(2 12) 554-0409 GIL A. KARSONOF COUNSEL
ATTORNEY CLIENT ma»²N CAurORm outCOMMUNICATION: ^�442'/.,�442 °"°"�442°PRIVILEGED ANDCONFIDENTIAL
Via Regular Mail
April 18, 2001
Mr. Leonard CohenTraditional Holdings, LLCc/o Stranger Management419 Larchmont BoulevardSuite 91Los Angeles, California 90004
Re: Agreement between Sony Music International, Leonard Cohen and TraditionalHoldings LLC
Gentlemen:
We are close to completing the negotiation of the agreement on behalf of LeonardCohen (hereinafter referred to in this letter as "you") and Traditional Holdings, LLC("Holdings") with Sony Music International ("Sony"). (The agreement is sometunes rererredto in this letter as the "Agreement".)
Before you and Holdings enter into the Agreement, however, we want to provide youand Holdings with the following general summary of the Agreement and discussion of certamimportant provisions contained therein. Please note, this summary does not address all of theprovisions set forth in the Agreement. Accordingly, this summary is not a substitute for thecareful review and understanding of the Agreement itself prior to execution.
As a separate matter, we also want to advise you and Holdings that this firm is.not afinancial or tax advisor and has no_t provided any tax-related advice to you or Holdings inconnection with this transaction. In addition, we have had no role in the formation of Holdings(and have not reviewed or been provided with copies of any of its formation documents) or instructuring the legal arrangement between you and Holdings. While we have prepared certamdocuments required to implement the tax and financial advice of your other advisors, we havedone so at their request and direction. We have also assisted your tax and financial advisors by
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d lanations of the relevant entertainment industry and intellectual property issuesa sed y transaction. With respect to the tax-related issues presented by the Agreement,
R c ard stin It s ur unders a yo e eÛg*oÎth a ce eg ng
matters.
A. Sale of Rights: New Albums
i) Purchase Price - $8 million, less the unrecouped balance in your royalty account
through December 31, 2000 (approximately $501, 43) p oya ies os andDecember 31, 2000 through closmg (approximate y "2001anticipated mastering and remixmg costs pai by onyStudio Album"), the "Field Commander Cohen album an 000 m
Io gs u n g eem n , $e di bu , 5 t Ho gs'88-'93" album, and (c) upon delivery and rdin costs paid by Sony for the$1 000,000 to Leonard (less the unrecouped balance reco g2001 Studio Album and the Live Albums, plus the pipeline).
ii) Bonus - $250,000 bonus if the 2001 Studio Album achieve 1 5 nulli
worldwide net sales through normal retail channels (a ati limi within which the albumSony's so-called "CRISIS system. Note t a W he 2001 Studiomust meet the threshold. Therefore, you You must remember to monitor theAlbum ey_er reaches the necessary number o um .sales of this album.
iii) Royalty Rights Transferred - All of your Ho ngs' right to recei anroyalties or other payments (such as mas erluch u f ected by the Agreement) at any time(other than music publi hing paymr the exploitation of: (a) any of your catalogue of masterunder any agreement w ony " ve" cordin s "outtakes" and other recordings mrecordings (includmg all so-called li re ,and (b) any master recordings embodiedSony's possession which have never been r easalbum or the "Field Commander Cohen" albumon the 2001 Studio Album, the Live " he bu out applies to all uses of the Royalty(collectively, the "Royalty Buyout Recordings ) (includin videos movies and televisionBuyout Recordings m any medmm or configurd time 4either ou nor Holdings willand all new technologies) throughout the wor ny .receive any further royalties or other payments xcept asa t es and other income they wouldrespect of the Royalty Buyout Reco mgs even exceedÑe $8 minion purchase price. Thehave otherwise generated for you a t of the Royalty Buyout Recordings (asideonly royalties you will contmue to receive m espec 1·suant to statute, are specifically payablefrom publishing mcome), will be royalties d to thoPeu a able to the owner of the particularto the performer on a recording (as oppose P y . . .fi t )recording). (The amount of these statutory royalties is currently msigm can . .
iv) New Albums Delive d - You ar quired to 1 e (a)2 1 S d bum
Decembe 3 2 1) a (c) the "Field Commander Cohen" album (previously delivered)
2You and Sony will mutually select the recordings on this album. The album willcontain no more than 12 recordings unless you agree to mclude more.
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(collectively, the "New Albums").
v) Future Albums- Sony still has 2 remaining options (for 1 album each) under theexisting 1972 recording agreement (the "1972 Recording Agreement"). The terms of the 1972Recording Agreement are unaffected as to either of the option albums (eg, you will receivethe advances and royalties provided for under the 1972 Recording Agreement in connectionwith these albums).
vi) Parties Responsible For Delivery - You are the party responsible for deliveringeach of the New Albums. You are also the party selling the royalty entitlement to the 2001Studio Album. Prior to the transaction with Sony, you had sold your royalty entitlement foryour catalogue and for the Live Albums to Holdings, and, accordingly, under the Agreement,Holdings is the party selling those rights to Sony. (The Agreement also provides that if thetransfer to Holdings is ineffective for any reason, that you will be deemed to have sold theroyalty entitlement for your catalogue and the Live Albums to Sony.)
B. Producers and Future Costs
i) Producers - Sony has agreed to pay all producer royalties on the Royalty Buyout
Recordings (with respect to the producers of the New Albums, Sony will pay producerroyalties of up to 4% retail, which, we understand, is the rate you have agreed to pay theproducers of those albums). You are still responsible for completmg the producer agreementsfor the Live Albums. You agree to cooperate with Sony to determine the producer obligations
for the outtakes and other previously unreleased recordmgs m Sony s possession (but Sony issolely responsible for paying the producers of those recordings).
ii) Future Costs - Any costs Sony incurs in connection with the exploitation of theRoyalty Buyout Recordings (including the cost of making any videos, etc.) will be paid bySony and will be nonrecoupable (that is, the costs cannot be recouped from royalties.payable toyou for any future albums you deliver under the 1972 Recording Agreement).
C. Previously Unreleased Recordings
i) Recordings In Sony's Possession - Under the existing language in your 1967recording agree111ent and the 1972 Recording Agreement (collectively, the "Recordmg
Agreement"), Sony owns all recordings which are "made under" the Recordmg Agreement.Sony has insisted that this language be modified, with retroactive effect from 1967, to providethat Sony also owns any recordings made during the term o_f the Recording Agreement which.(i) were previously (or are hereafter) delivered to Sony or (ii) are currently m (or whichhereafter come into) Sony's possession. This means that Sony will now own, and can exploit(subject to the restrictions set forth below), all of the live recordings and outtakes which havebeen stored with Sony over the years (regardless of whether those recordings were merelystored with Sony for archival purposes or for safekeeping). These recordings are alsoconsidered part of the Royalty Buyout Recordings (and, accordingly, Sony will not pay you orHoldings any royalties or other sums [other than publishmg momes) m connection with Sony sexploitation of these recordings.) Kelley has advised us that there are a sigmficant number ofthese recordings in Sony's possession. For your information, we argued strenuously to Sonythat under a fair interpretation of the old language in the Recordmg Agreement, Sony did notown the live recordings as those recordings were not "made under" the Recordmg Agreement(we also argued that Sony did not own the outtakes, although we believe Sony probably had astrong argument that it did own those recordings). Sony argued that under their mterpretation·
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of the "made under" language, they have always owned these recordings. Please keep in
mind that this change also applies prospectively and that Sony wdl now own all recordingsou give to them in the future (regardless of the reason you are giving the recordings tohem). Sony will, however, have to pay you royalties if they exploit any such future
recordings (other than those on the 2001 Studio Album and the "Live '88-'93 album).You should not give any future recordings to Sony (other than those on the 2001 Stu noAlbum and the "Live '88-'93" album) unless you have a clear understandmg of thebusiness terms which will govern Sony's exploitation of those recordings.
ii) Restrictions on Sony's Exploitation Rights_ - Under the existing RecordingAgreement there are no restrictions on Sony's ability to exploit outtakes and previously-unreleased recordings owned by Sony. When Sony insisted on owmng the outtakes andunreleased live recordings in its possession, we negotiated the followmg restrictions on ony sability to exploit these recordings:
(a) Previously-Unreleased Live Recordings - During your lifetime, Sony
will not exploit previously-unreleased live recordings without your consent. There are norestrictions on Sony's exploitation rights after your death.
(b) Outtakes and Other Previously-Unreleased Recordings - Sony can
) h r rd ng q l t must be o arable to the quality of other master
recordings of the same era; . .2) Sony must meaningfully consult with you during your lifetime,3) Sony can use up to 2 of such recordings on each re-release of existing
) Sony can use a "reasonable" number of outtakes on a "boxed set";5) during your lifetime, Sony cannot otherwise exploit these recordings without
your consent. There are no restrictions on Sony's exploitation rights after your death.
" ) Unreleased Recordings Not Delivered to Sony - With respect to previously-unrele d recordings which are in your possession (and future recordings made durmg the
term of the Recording Agreement which you do not give to Sony), Sony does not own esrecordings; however, they have insisted that you agree that you w I not exp it these
n the cor ing Agreemen , e only rig y d to exploit these recordings wasguag (which meant that there was very little you could
for non-phonograph record purposes ,, .s ve broad and includes botheffectively do because the definition of a "phonograph reco i rysound recordings and audiovisual recordings intended for home use [e&, home vicould also have argued that you had the right to exploit these recordings through n o
(be di ital distribut on rights were not expressly include
yo f o s expl t th ecord nps r ary a e e t of e e
r c ings so th y o n o precis y w ch recordings are covered by this provision.
²Under the existing definition in the Recording Agreement, a "phonograph record"does however, include any form of reproduction "now known or which may hereafter becomeknown". Sony would have relied on this language to argue that digital transnussions are
phonograph records.
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D) Renewal And Termination of Transfer Rights
U.S. copyright law, broadly speaking, gives artists certain opportunities to recapture,
without cost, the right to exploit their works from third parties to whom the veeviously assigned or transferred those rights. These recapture rights, c
ate ories "renewal rights" and "termination of transfer rights", are mtended to protect artistsfrom improvident business deals made early in their careers before the artists are awar of thevalue of their work. It is generally believed that the recapture rights only pl in ethat if an artist has granted another party the right to exploit his work m . .countries the artist can only recapture the right to exploit his work m the U.S.). Sony isconcerne i that you or your children (or the other successors hsted in the copyright statute)exercise these renewal rights or termination of transfer rights with respect to all or a portion o
talo e and that Sony will not be receive the full benefit of its bargam. The speci icre of th recapture rights, and the protections Sony is requiring from you, your children
and your other statutory successors are described more fully below:
i) Pre-1972 Master Recordines:
Recordings released before February 15, 1972 ("Songs of Leonard Cohen", "SongsF a Room" and "Songs of Love and Hate") are not subject to Federal copyright protection
(t e "Early Recordings"). Accordingly, there are no renewal rights or termmation of transferrights for the Early Recordings, and under the terms of the 1967 recordmg agreement, onycurrently owns all rights in the Early Recordings in perpetuity.
ii) 1972-1977 Master Recordines:
(a) Renewal Rights
(1) Master recordings which were released between February 15, 1972 andDecember 31 1977 (which we understand includes the master recordings on the albums, NewSkin for the óld Ceremony" "Death of a Ladies Man", "Leonard Cohen: L ve Songs an
any previously-unreleased recordings on "The Best of Leonard Cohen ) ( ective y,("Middle Recordings") are subject to Federal copyright protection underC ght Act (the "Current Act") for: (A) an nutial term of twenty-eight (2 ) y
release, and (B) a renewal term of an additional sixty-seven (67) years, for a total term95 Under the terms of the Current Act, at theof copyright protection of mnety-five ( ) years . . the Middle
end of the initial 28 year term you would be entitled to renew the cop r ghtRecordings in your name, and thereby terminate Sony s right to exp
the U S However under the existing terms of the 1972 Recordmg Agreement, you ve
t 28 s f e en 1 6 ye s you o not
ha e an renewal rights in the Middle Recordings because you have already assigned theserights to Sony under the 1972 Recording Agreement.
(2) If however, you are deceased at the time that the renewal right for any
of the Middle Recordings would have otherwise vested in you, under the Current Act, therenewal rights in those particular Middle Recordings would instead vest in your statuto
(ä our wife [if you have one) and children, or, if none o eme e executor of your estate) instead of in Sony. The rights of your statutory succes ors
are not affected by the fact that you have previously assigned your renewal rights m
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Recordings to Sony. To protect against the possibility of your successors exercising theirrenewal nghts (and their termination of transfer rights as discussed below), Sony is nowrequirmg that your children and the executor of your estate each sign an agreement (a "Rights
Transfer Agreement"or "RTA"), and that you add a codicil to your will, which states that yoursuccessors are obhgated to automatically transfer to Sony any interest in any Royalty BuyoutRecordings (includmg the Middle Recordings) which vests in them at any time. To be clear, ifyou did not undertake this buyout transaction, and you were not alive at the time the renewalnghts in any of the Middle Recordings vested (LL, 28 years after the respective initial releaseof each of the Middle Recordings [that is, between now and 12/31/05]), the right to exploit theParticular Middle Recordings concerned in the U.S. for the next 67 years would otherwisehave vested in your children (and not Sony).
. . (3) Under the Agreement, if any new potential statutory successors comemto existence (q&, you change your executor, or you get married and/or have more children)you and Holdmgs are required to immediately cause that person to execute an RTA3. Sony isparticularly concerned about the possibility of you marrying or having future children and hasmsisted on including significant financial penalties if you or Holdings do not obtain an RTAfrom your new wife within 20 days of your marriage, and from your new child within 90 daysof the child's birth. The penalties range from $2 million down to $500,000, depending onwhen the event occurs. The money is paid to Sony but is returned to you on a pro rata basis(i&, 25% of the rnoney for each of the four albums on which the Middle Recording are
contained) with interest if either: (A) you are alive on the date on which the renewal rights forthe particular album have vested in you (and are, therefore, automatically assigned to Sony) or(B) Sony obtains (without having to make any payments to your wife or child) the necessaryRTA at any time (but no later than 20 days after your death).
(b) Termination of Transfer Right
(1) Under the Current Act, in addition to the renewal rights discussed above, youor if your are deceased at the relevant time, your statutory successors (iA, your wife, childrenand, if any of your children are deceased, their children [i.A, your grandchildren), or, if noneof them are alive at that time, the executor of your estate) are granted the right to terminateSony s U.S. exploitation nghts for the Middle Recordings. This "termination of transfer right"can be exercised during a five (5) year window beginning fifty-six (56) years after the initialrelease of the Middle Recordings (LL, beginning in 2028). Under the Current Act, the list ofpotential statutory successors who are entitled to exercise the termination of transfer rights isslightly different from the list of statutory successors entitled to exercise renewal rights. Themam difference m your case, is that the termination of transfer rights may eventually vest inyour grandchildren whereas, so long as you have a will at the time of your death, the renewal
nghts will never vest in your grandchildrend. In order to protect against the possibility of your
³ Please note that if a minor child (such as a grandchild or a future born child) isrequired to sign a RTA, it is likely that it will be necessary to have a guardian appointed forthe child for that purpose and to have the RTA approved by a court.
4Under the Current Act, the statutory successors entitled to exercise renewal rightswould be your wife and children and, if they are deceased at the time the renewal rights vestyour executor. Under the terms of the codicil to your will which you are required to executein connection with the Agreement, your executor is obligated to exercise the renewal rights forthe benefit of Sony.
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grandchildren exercising their termination of transfer rights, Sony is also insisting that if anyof your children pass-away and leave surviving children (tl, your grandchildren), that you (or
our estate, if you are deceased) or Holdings obtain an RTA from those grandchildren withm90 days of the death of their parent (11, your child). In addition, the Agreement also contamsan express waiver by you of your termination of transfer rights m respect of the RoyaltyBuyout Recordings.
(2) The waivers contained in the RTA's (both those signed by your grandchildrenand by your other statutory successors) are intended to apply to both the renewal rights and thetermination of transfer rights (because under the RTA's, your successors agree to transfer
rights they ever acquire in the Royalty Buyout Recordings [whether by operation of renewarights or termination of transfer rights] to Sony). Notwithstanding the language contame mthe RTA's (or your waiver of your termination of transfer nghts under the Agreetnent), u erthe terms of the Current Act neither you nor your statutory successors are able to waive your
(or their) termination of transfer rights. The Current Act provides that a termmation may beeffected "notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary" Accordingly, we beheve it isunlikely that the waivers of termination of transfer rights which Sony has msisted upon, areenforceable5 Because we believe the RTA's are probably unenforceable insofar as the waiverof termination of transfer rights is concerned, we argued, ultimately unsuccessfully, that it wasunnecessary for you to obtain RTA's from your grandchildren ause, as d cussed a vethe only recapture rights which can possibly vest in your grantermination of transfer rights). Accordingly, although you, your estate gobligated to obtain RTA's from your grandchildren upon the death f the r aren yourchildren) we do not know what type of damages, if any, Sony wou
str ng ar men tha since h ngh are no aiv ble the R A ou d not hav effectiveand, therefore, Sony had not been damaged by the failure to obtam the RTA.
iii) Post-1977 Master Recordings:
Under the Current Act, for master recordings created on or after Januar 1, 1978 (
master recordings on "Recent Songs", "Various Positions", "I'm Your Man , The Future ,"Cohen Live" "More Best of", the New Albums and any future album dehvered to Sony{collectively, the "Late Recordings"]), there is a single term of copyright which lasts forlife of the author and for 70 years after the author's death. There are no renewa rights r eLate Recordings, however, a termination of transfer right with respect to the . . exprights ma_y exist for the Late Recordings. If the termination of transfer nght exists, it can
3The waivers will likely still be enforceable for purposes of the renewal rights.
'Please also note that, under the Agreement, if you should die before 2006, your
executor is obligated to keep your estate open until January 1, 2006 (this provision was ad eby Son to ensure that, if your children should predecease you, that your executor wouexercis any renewal rights which might vest in him for Sony's benefit - all of the renewalrights will vest by January 1, 2006). If you should die after January 1, 2006, there is noobligation under the Agreement for your executor to keep your estate open for any particu arperiod of time. Accordingly, it is unclear whether Sony would have any clann m the event ouwere obligated to obtain an RTA from a grandchild at a tune after you had died and your eshad been probated and closed. Sony would, however, stdl have a claim against Holdmgs r
failure to obtain the RTA.
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exercised, at the earliest, during a five (5) year window beginning at the end of the 2012.Sony is also expecting you and your successors to waive these termination of transfer rights.The waivers would be contained in the RTA's discussed above. Under the Current Act, thesetermination of transfer rights, like the termination of transfer rights discussed above for theMiddle Recordings, are also not waivable. There is a serious question, however, as to whetheryou actually have any termination of transfer rights with respect to the Late Recordings.Under the Current Act these rights only apply to "transfers" which are "executed" by theauthor on or after January 1, 1978. In your case, the Recording Agreement under which youtransferred (and will continue to transfer) your rights in the Late Recordmgs to Sony, wasexecuted in 1972. Therefore, in our view, there is a good possibility - perhaps even aprobability - that the termination of transfer provisions are no.t applicable to the LateRecordings.
iv) Work Made For Hire -
(a) Re-Characterizing Recordings as "Works Made For Hire" - Under the existingRecording Agreement, you grant to Sony the ownership in all master recordings made under theRecording Agreement. Sony is insisting that the existing Recording Agreement be modified toalso include an acknowledgment by you that all such recordings are "works made for hire forSonyt The "author" of a "work made for hire" is deemed to be the employer or commissiomngparty, rather than the natural individual(s) who created the work. Accordingly, if the masters are"works made for hire", then neither you nor your successors will have any renewal rights ortermination of transfer rights because: (1) Sony, as the author of the masters would be entitled toexercise the renewal right in its own name, and (2) the termination of transfer rights wouldsimply not be applicable because those rights can only be exercised by "natural" authors. Sonyhas insisted that the "work made for hire" designation apply to all master recordmgs under theRecording Agreement (and not just the Royalty Buyout Masters). Accordingly, any masters you
. deliver to Sony in the future will also be characterized as "works made for hire .
(b) Effectiveness of Re-Characterization - Certain works are considered "works
made for hire" under copyright law. Under the Current Act, a work is a "work made for hireonly if: (i) it is created by an employee within the scope ofhis/her employment; or (ii) 11 isspecially commissioned for, or as, one of the categories of works enumerated m the Current Actand the parties expressly agree in a written agreement that it is to be considered a work madefor hire".' Although there is not a significant amount ofrelevant case law and the issue remams
unsettled, in our view (based on our experience, a plain reading of the statute and ourpreliminary research) sound recordings such as those made by you for Sony are probably.not"works made for hire", regardless of the language in the Agreement, since the recordmgs wereneither made by an employee within the scope of his employment nor do they fall within one ofthe specifically enumerated categories ofsuch works. It should also be noted that if Sony was
7The "work made for hire" acknowledgment is now a standard provision contained inall modern recording agreements and is required by all of the record compames.
8These categories are, works specially ordered or commissioned for use: as acontribution to a collective work, as part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, as atranslation, as a supplementary work, as a compilation, as an mstructional text, as a test, asanswer material for a test, or as an atlas.
9The earlier version of the Copyright Act had a similar, although less precise definition.
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confident that the Royalty Buyout Recordings are works made for hire, they would not haveinsisted on all of the other provisions in the Agreement (ig, the RTA's, etc..) which are mtendedto prevent you and your successors from exercising your (and their) renewal rights andtermination of transfer rights.
E) Website
i) Sony is granted the exclusive right to host the "Official Leonard CohenWebsite" at Leonardcohen.com until the earlier of: (a) the end of the term of the RecordingAgreement, or (b) 5 years after you deliver an album to Sony (the "Exclusive LC.COMPeriod"). If you deliver additional recordings to Sony after the end of the Exclusive LC.COMPeriod, then the Exclusive LC.COM Period will be reinstated until the earher of (a) the end ofthe term of the Recording Agreement, or (b) 5 years after you deliver those additionalrecordings. After the exclusive LC.COM Period, the domam name "Leonardcohen.comreverts to you and Sony can maintain a site under another name (selected by Sony). In order toensure that Sony has an appropriate domain name available for their use after the ExclusiveLC.COM Period, the Agreement provides that you cannot do anything which would preventSony from: (A) selecting any of the following as their new domain name: 1eonardcohen.net ,"leonardcobenmusic.com" or "leonardcohenonline.com", or (B) having a reasonable selectionof domain names which include your name in them. The costs incurred by Sony m connectionwith its website are nonrecoupable. You receive 40% of the net revenues directly attributableto Sony's website (such as, from advertisements, etc.). Sony will not.place advertisements onits website for products or services related to: firearms, x-rated or NC-17 rated entertainment,tobacco, alcohol, political or religious endorsements or personal hygiene, without yourconsent. You also have the right to approve the overall presentation and editorial direction ofthe Sony site.
ii) You can maintain other websites undef any domain name(s) (other than thedomain name Sony is then using) for any purpose. The only restriction on your Internetactivities is that during the Exclusive LC.COM Period, you cannot refer to any website (otherthan Sony's "Leonardcohen.com" website) as the "official" Leonard Cohen website or the"official" I.eonard Cohen music-related website. You can, however, refer to other sites as"official" sites so long as they relate to an activity other than your career as a recording artist(so for example, you can have the "Official Leonard Cohen Concert Tour Website", or the"Official Leonard Cohen Fan Club Website", etc..). Any sites mamtamed by you must containan "above-the-fold" link (iA, a link that is visible when the homepage appears without theuser having to scroll up or down or side-to-side) on its homepage to the Sony site.
iii) Sony would like you to use reasonable efforts to promote the Sony site inconnection with the release of each of your albums, provided, your failure to do so is no_t a
breach of the Agreement.
F) Indemnity
You and Holdings individually and collectively indemnify Sony for any claims madeagainst Sony arising out of a breach of any representation or warranty contained m theAgreement or otherwise arising out of your or Holdings's acts or omissions. Sony has also.insisted that you and Holdings indemnify them in the event you or Holdings ever becomesinsolvent, and as a result thereof, any of your or Holdings' creditors attempt to undo or modifythe transfer to Holdings or the transfer by Holdings to Sony of your royalty entitlement or theother assets transferred under the Agreement (a creditor might attempt to do tius if they felt the
KLO1721
GnunxAN Ixpussxy & ScInNDLER, P.C.
assets had been sold to Sony for too little money, but it would be difficult for a creditor toprevail on such a claim).
G) Guarantee
You are required to guarantee the performance by Holdings of all of its obligationsunder the Agreement. This includes the indemnification obligations set forth immediatelyabove. Accordingly (by way of example of your potential exposure under this guarantee), ifHoldings becomes insolvent at some time in the future, and a creditor of Holdings attempts toundo the transaction with Sony, you would be required to indemnify Sony for any losses it mayincur in the event Holdings did not honor its own indemnity obligation. Holdmgs also hasother obligations under the Agreement, such as obtaining RTA's from your successors if youfail to do so (or, in the case of your grandchildren, you are deceased). It is, therefore,
important to ensure, to the extent possible, that the people who control Holdings are not likelyto cause it to become insolvent and will cause Holdings to comply with its obligations underthe Agreement. It would also be appropriate for you to have an indemmty from Holdmgs tocover any payments you are required to make on behalf of Holdings under this guarantee. Ourfirm has not been involved in the formation of Holdings and we are not privy to the legalarrangements between you and Holdings. We do not know if you currently controlHoldings and we do not know about any plans you may have to transfer your mterest mHoldings. However, we feel it is important for you to understand that you will beresponsible for guaranteeing Holdings' performance regardless of whether you controlHoldings. It is our understanding that Richard Westin has been handhng these mattersfor you. We have advised Richard of this issue and we recommend that you consult withhim before signing the Agreement.
H) Mechanical Royalties
For the Live Albums, Sony has agreed to increase the mechanical royalty rate to the100% of the minimum statutory rate (under the existing Recording Agreement, they are onlyrequired to pay 75% of the minimum statutory rate).
I) Audit Settlement
The Agreement contains an audit settlement for all agreements between you and Sony(other than your publishing agreement) for all accounting periods through December, 2000.In addition, you and Holdings acknowledge that you will not receive any further royaltystatements (or payments, other than publishing monies), and will not have any future auditrights, in respect of the Royalty Buyout Recordings.
J) Miscellaneous
i) As a result of the tax structure, Sony has requested that you and Holdings makea series of representations as to your and Holdings' solvency and ability to pay your debts.These representation include statements that: (a) your (and Holdings') assets exceed your (andHoldings') liabilities, (b) you (and Holdings) will be able to meet your (and Holdmgs')liabilities as they come due (c) neither you nor Holdings are, or intend to be, engaged in abusiness transaction for which you (or Holdings) have unreasonably small capital, and (d)neither you nor Holdings is involved in any litigation or any dispute which could lead tolitigation.
KLO1722
GRUBMAN IKDURSET & SciaxDLEn, P.c.
ii) Sony has insisted that you be responsible for complying with (and the cost of.complying with) all union requirements applicable to the recording of the Live Albums. Giventhat these albums were recorded at live concerts, we do not know if there are any umonobligations associated with releasing these recordings on records.
iii) Sony has.agreed that they will not license any master, recording for use inadvertisements in connection with alcohol, tobacco, firearnis,.feminine hygiene products orpolitical or religious endorsements, without your prior written consent.
iv) Sony is expecting that you will cooperate with them (at Soný's non-recoupableexpense) in connection with the promotion of the New Albums. Sony also expects that youwill tour in support of the 2001 Studio Album in at least 5 major markets m the U.S. and 8major foreign markets. Sony is also expecting that you will consult with them on your touritinerary. Your failure to do any of the foregoing is n£Lt a breach of the Agreement.
Please do not hesitate to call us if you should have any questions at all regarding any of
the above matters.
Best regards.
Very Truly Yours,
Donald R.. Friedman
Stuart J. Fried
KLO1723
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTSOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK_-_______..______________________________X 00 Civ. 1068 (DAB)
UCC LENDING CORP. and C.A.K.UNIVERSAL CREDIT CORPORATION, :
Plaintiffs, :DECLARATION OF LEONARD COHEN
-agamst- :
LEONARD COHEN,
Defendant. :
------------------------------X
1, Leonard Cohen, being duly sworn, do depose and state as follows:
L 1 am the defendant in this action. I submit this affidavit in support of my
opposition to the plaintiffs' motion for an order of attachment. The averments set forth herein
are based upon my personal knowledge of the events recited, except where stated upon my
understanding, in which event I believe the same, in good faith, to be true.
2. I have been a resident of the state of California for nearly ten years. I have owned
a home in California for more than 25 years.
3. I am a poet and a composer of musical compositions, which I perform both at live
concerts and on recordings. During the course of my career, which has spanned nearly 40 years,
I have authored hundreds of compositions and recorded in excess of a dozen albums. Certain of
my compositions appear on my own albums, and, as well, many of my compositions have been
recorded by hundreds of other artists. I receive what I view to be substantial royalties, on a
regular basis, from sales of rny albums and uses ofmy compositions.
KLO3877
4. In early 1999, certain of my representatives engaged in discussions with plaintiffs
concerning the possibility of their making a loan to an entity that I was to establish for that
purpose. The contemplated loan was to be secured by a security interest in my rights in, among
other things, my compositions (the "Rights") and the royalty income generated therefrom.
5. Following further discussions between the parties, on or about May 10, 1999,
UCC Lending Corp. ("UCC") and I signed a document entitled "Proposed Royalty Income Loan
for Leonard Cohen - Summary ofTenns and Conditions" (the "Term Sheet"). A copy of the
Term Sheet is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
6. Following the execution of the Term Sheet, I paid plaintiffs $75,000, which, as I
understood it, was to be applied against out-of-pocket expenses incurred by UCC in connection
with processing and evaluating my loan application.
7. My representatives subsequently engaged in discussions with plaintiffs in an
effort to agree upon a mutually acceptable amount of the loan. On June 24, 1999, my
transactional counsel advised.plaintiffs, in writing, as follows:
As we discussed earlier today, due to the significant change inexpectations conceming the possible loan amount, our clientLeonard Cohen and his manager Kelley Lynch have decided toterminate the previous engagement letter with C.A.K. UniversalCredit Corporation and to pursue another opportunity.
A copy ofmy counsel's June 24,-1999 letter is attached hereto as Exhibit B.
8. To the best ofmy knowledge, plaintiffs never took issue with or otherwise
challenged the termination of their engagement or my intent to explore a possible transaction
with another party.
9. My representatives subsequently discussed with Sony Music ("Sony") the
possibility of Sony's acquisition of the Rights. During this period of time, my representatives
2 KLO3878
also communicated with plaintiffs in respect of a possible loan transaction. Ultimately,plaintiffs
offered to advance $5.8 million as part of a proposed loan transaction.
10. It is my understanding that in November of 1999, my representatives informed
plaintiffs that I was seriously considering selling the Rights to Sony, if acceptable financial and
related terms could be reached. In response, on or about November 8, 1999, plaintiffs wrote to
my personal manager and advised her that "In light of the recent events regarding Sony and their
potential offer to purchase Leonard Cohen's assets, we offer an alternative to the proposed Loan
structure." A copy ofplaintiffs' November 8, 1999 letter is attached hereto as Exhibit C.
I 1. I later learned that, without prior notice to me or my representatives, on or about
November 11, 1999, plaintiffs sent a so-called "commitment lettef' to me, in care of my
manager's office. During the entirety of the parties' relationship in this matter, plaintiffs
consistently had communicated with my transactional counsel. In this instance, however,
plaintiffs did·not, as ] understand it, send this supposed "commitment letter" to my attomey or
even provide a copy of the letter to him. A copy of plaintiffs' November 11, 1999 letter is
attached hereto as Exhibit D.
12. This supposed "commitment letter" requested that ] confirm my agreement
thereto by signing the letter and returning a fully executed copy to plaintiffs by 5:00 pm on
November 19, 1999. I refused to sign the "commitment letter."
13. .It is my understanding that, in mid-November of 1999, my representatives
discussed with plaintiffs the possibility that ] might still enter into a loan transaction with
plaintiffs. It is my further understanding that, on or about November 16, 1999, plaintiffs sent
revised drafts of loan documents to my counsel.
3
. súE.03
. . 0/00 WED 14:16 FAI°'�442N8 ,2 :32 213saSæ47
Ispoe
14. I uhirnately decidgnot to proceed with the foa . and rny repreeentatives so
adwsed plaintiffs. Plaintiffs. TWonded by making deand for payrnént ofa S290 000
Origination Fee and fo relr inbursement ofexpeases (¿a.additio to th
$75 000 d�042 cPosiÚ in an amount ofnearly 375,000. As I do
ax diove I am bble for thoseamounts, I refused to accede to plaintiffs' demands.
15. I have not reached an agreement with Sony (or any other party) regarding a sale
or other transaction involving the Rights. While diMY sæ succ: mth Sony con:inue, it is
certainly not clear at this juncture whether we ukirnately will roch an accord regarding such asale.
I declare under penal ofp u 1&
Dated: August 30, 2000
Leonard C.Nen
4
KLO3880
cm 3e 2000 15 25
Professor Ricitard A. Westin, Esq.3141 Warrenwood IVynd
Lexington, KY 40502859-335-1938(Fax)268-8017
September 16. 2000
KeVey LynchStranger Management419 North Larchmont. Suite 9Los Angeles 90004
Re: Files
Dear Kelley,
J went through the books. Here are mv obsenations:
1. Blue Mist Binder
At the back are the two stock certificates. Keep them in a safe place. Do not send them out forreview. Thev are too valuable and do not need to be reviewed by the other side.
1 inserted the three years' of tax retums at the back of the binder. I am glad to see they exist.
I placed the original stock 500 share certificate for.Leonard Cohen Productions after the particularset ofMinutes and wrote "VOID/ CANCELED" over'the certificate of Leonard Cohen Productionsstock
I discarded some tri vial correspondence with the ]RS. It wou!d only confuse things to include it. Thesubject was the correct taxpayer ID number. i placed the IRS's unrice of the new ID nornber in thereme area as the tax retums.
I inserted in chronological order the letter rium the State ofCalifornia acknowledging that Blue Misthas a designated agent in California,
i discarde d me extra copies orthe lener frem Dela wsre certifying to llje name change (the cenificateof Amendm�523í).
I put the evidence of payment ofa CT bill m a separate envelope. If you have a tax ñ!e for Blue Mist,
U ·vgjenerecohen-legditycheck wpd
KLO1418
or some kind of miscellaneous file for the entity, put the envelope there. It is very minor piece ofpaper. I did the same for some Blue Mist-related corresporídence from me. It should go into acorrespondence or miscellaneous file.
I removed Directors' minutes from the Blue Mist binder .and put them in the Leonard Cohen .Productions binder.
1 put a copy of a letter from you to Jeff Newman in the same ënvelope. I would put it in amiscellaneous or correspondence file for Blue Mist. They are all duplicates, but they show whatNewman got, in case it ever matters.
1 threw away the minor bills from CT. They have been.paid per your notation and will únly createconfusion.
1 put some pages on the front of the binder with an explanation that the first page needs to berewritten because ofmy folly. Also, there was an additional page that you map not have included;1 added it to the four pages attached to the front. This additional page is a list of properties, and isreferred to in the Assignment, so it needs to be included.
1 cooked up some minutes to adopt the new By-Laws. I tabbed.the page in.blue. Please.sign it. It isfairly important.
1.made entries in the stock transfer ledger to reflect the cancellation of LC's 500 shares, his receiptof 425 shares and K1 s receipt for services of 75 shares.
The big problem is the SONY.assignments. 1 found a cover letter ofmine.and various enclosureste the letter. I think they are the right items. I attached them to the top of the Blue Mist binder.
2. Leonard Cohen Productions Binder
1 placed the original cértificate of incorporation at the front of the binder, where it belongs.I discarded the extra ecpy af the certificate.
1 left duplicates in the front relating to the certificate of incorporation in the binder at the front.
I put a copy of the documents relating to the name change at the front of the binder.
1 eliminated the piece ofpaper naming the brown file "BLUE MIST TOURING. INC." and left theoriginal cover printing that reads 'LEONARD COH EN PRODUCTIONS, INC., Now it makes sensethat there are two binders.
DF,wp\letters\cohen-legalitycheck.wpd
. KLO1449
I changed the order of a number ofentries to make thern flow chronologically. Except for the.trivialfact that tax returns (showing no income) should have been file,.I think the volume is in adequateorder to pass muster in a "due diligence"ingtniry. The lack ofreturns is unlikely to upset anyone. Thecorporation was inert, but it has clearly been brought back to life.
3. LC lnvestments, LLC
I want to hang onto this folder. There are sorne problems that need to be straightenéd out.
Sincerely,
D:\wpiletters\cohen-legalitycheck.wpd
KLO.1420
Subj: No Subject
Date: 2/11/02 7:43:37 AM Pacific Standard TimeFrom: Tsimar
To: BALDY MONK, rwest0(dtuky.edu
Dear Leonard,
I am going to go through Ken's letter point by point to give my point of view to the various matters he raises.
1. With respect to the record keeping and the deal. This is rubbish. There were lawyers involved, tax advisers, and so ,on an so forth. These records were impeccable and were provided to Ken but not only myself but also Burt Gofdstein'soffice (who handled the appraisal of the stock), and others. Every detail of this deal and it's record keeping wasoverseen by your attorneys and accountants.
On one occasion i had a very casual conversation with Ken re. the way in which Jen Brown had handled records. Ihad a very difficult time finding anything and nothing was particularly documented, paid bills were not kept, copies ofdraft requests, etc. were no where to be found - he was aware of this and that was a very long time ago. He hasnever brought up anything about record keeping since he first began doing work on your behalf.
2. The issue with respect to the S1 million advance from Sony is not something that I would advise Ken should betreated as a deposit instead of income. The reason for this is that I am not a tax adviser, nor am I an accountant, and Ihad never before heard that monies paid as a deposit, which needed to be paid back were the deal to not go through.were treated as loans for tax purposes.
Furthermore, Ken fails to mention that he has had discussions with Richard Westin and Greg McBowman on thismatter.
Sometime in October, I forwarded Ken a notice received from the IRS which I fully expected him to handle with theIRS. On October 24, I forwarded Ken a letter from.Sony that he had requested. I heard nothing further and assumedthat he was working this out with the IRS because these things can take months to resolve.
.spproximately two weeks ago, I received another notice from the IRS with respect to this matter which i forwarded toKen and asked him to please call me Monday. I have heard nothing bacit
I would like to point out that I am incapable of resolving anything with the IRS and I assume, as has always been thecase in the past with all accountants, that when I forward something to them they are dealing with it. When Ken didnot call me back to discuss it, I put it aside thinking that he was following through with the IRS and would then getback to me.
For Ken to then write and say that he doesn't know if this has been paid is ludicrous. He never instructed me oranyone else to pay this bill. In addition, at least half of these monies have been recouped by Sony and thereforewould have been handled on your 1999 and 2000 tax returns.
I think Ken needs to explain what he has been doing with the IRS since October as I have heard absolutely nothing. .
3. With respect to Ken's point (2), I have an early letter on file from Ken stating that "I will file extension for the trustand the individuals until October 15. 199. However, since this is the first year we have done the returns, I would like tohave the information by September 15 in order to have plenty of time to prepare the returns and ask any questions thatmay arise. You are correct, the corporate returns are due by September 15. I would appreciate this information by -iAugust 15."
i have always assumed that these were the dates that Ken needed information by. This year, my own information onmy own retums was sent in very late however there were certain details such as "What was the $55 to AA" for and wehad to look that up. Or, "what is the mileage on Leonard's car?" The major records were in fact given to Ken. All ofthe corporate and trust information was supplied to Ken in August.
I had asked Ken if he could let me know what amounts would be due in advance (knowing that monies would have to ..,e requested from your investments). He could not give me any numbers. Therefore when the returns were.nessengered to me on the 15th (which is always the date i receive them), i did not know what to do.
I called Ken and he was not in the office and I left this message: "I have Leonard's personal tax return however he
KLOO596
i then called Neil and Richard to determine where the funds should come from. It w®s agreed that they would comeout of Tradi+ional Holdings, but due to the structure of Traditional Holdings, paperwork would need to be prepared fromRichard. I spoke to Richard about this paperwork and he said he would prepare. Sometime in mid-November I
received the paperwork and put it aside with the retum, awaiting Ken's advice. I never heard from him and I am sorry' say that the return was not sent in.
I asked Richard about this yesterday when I was preparing to go through the letter with you as I do not understand iffurther extensions can be filed, and what if any additional penalties apply. Richard has said we should send the returnin now, that he will redo and update the paperwork first, and the IRS will notify us of any penalties. I will reimburseyou for all penalties owed to the IRS from October 15th through the date of the filing as I should have moreaggressively followed up with Ken on this matter and I fully accept responsibility for this.
4) The 1099 issued by Sony was in error. That is why I faxed it to Ken. I advised Stu Bondell of this and after youreceived Ken's letter, I had Stu confirm to you that it was being resolved.
Ken was involved in the sale of your royalties to Sony and had many conversations with Richard Westin, GregMcBowman, the Grubman firrn, and so on. For him to see this 1099 and not realize that it was issued in error isalarming. Again, as seems to be the case in hindsight, Ken did not bother to call me and therefore assumed that youhad $7 million of income that I had not advised him of and were sitting on a huge tax bill and huge penalties andinterest. From my point of view, it was unprofessional and alarming for him to not follow through to determine if thisvery serious 1099 was real or not before sending off a letter that really points out to me that Ken is not doing his job asan accountant very well. I am not an accountant and it is not my job to handle many of the things that Ken is blamingon your management team. That would extend to notifying Sony that the 1099 had been issued in enor after l caughtthe mistake. ?
5) Ken's bills. Now that you have many entities that need returns filed, the bills for accounting services need to bepaid by the entity for which the work was done. When I received Ken's bills, I sent a fax to Tim at Greenberg &Associates asking that he arrange to have them paid out of the various entities. I then assumed, because I heardnothing back (including from Ken) that they had been paid. Only recently (and not every month as Ken asserts -- once)did I receive notice that these invoices were not paid. I called Tim and he apologized and said it had slipped throughthe cracks. He then called me back and said that because the checks would not be issued.to your name or to youraccount, they would require your signature. I just recently received this paperwork and it does require your signature
plained this to Ken and he was fine with it. Today I will issue a check to Ken for all the entities and have Tim re-dome paperwork so that you are reimbursed for paying bills on behalf of the various trusts.
I would like to say something else. In the past when i have worked with your accountants, they would send me faxesor call me to tell me when estimated taxes were due; they would send me faxes or caH me to tell me how they hadhandled an IRS notice or a particular issue. Even with respect to the refinancing of the properties, I have been callingKen since the beginning of October. Also, on Adam's.tax bill, I had asked that he set up a payment schedule with.theIRS and I have still heard nothing back. Ken does not return calls and he does not follow up. I personally feel that thisletter was a blessing in disguise because what it says to me, and Richard can correct me if l'm wrong in myassumptions, is that Ken has dropped the ball on many recent issues, is trying to shift accounting and taxresponsibilities onto me, and apparently has amnesia about all conversations with Greg, Richard, Stuart Fried, and soon with respect to the royalty sale, the handling of the deposit, and so forth.
Again, I take full responsibility for any and all penalties that you will receive due to the late filing of your return. I amnot going to take the blame however for tax and accounting issues and out and out lies -- ie., conversations aboutrecord keeping, bills being faxed monthly, asking me for documents for two years and so on and so forth. I have takenall steps necessary to convey all information, notices, 1099s, and so forth to Ken Cleveland. Your records are properlymaintained.
Ken Cleveland wrote this letter to you because, as I have said, he freaked out when he thought you had received"income" of $7 million. It seems to me that he then decided to look to see what he had not resolved, put them all inthe letter and blamed them on me. All three of the main issues are issues I was awaiting Ken's response to: the IRSissue with the deposit what to do with your retum; and a phone call with respect to the incorrect 1099. I also find itoffensive that Ken, on a personal note, mentions that he still has not been paid, lies that he has sent statementsthrough every month, and fails to mention that he and I recently discussed this and that he was fully aware of the factthat Tim had let this slip through the cracks.
elley
KLOO597
Subj: Re: No SubjectDate. 2/11/02 9:57:47 AM Pacific Standard Time.From: [email protected]: [email protected], [email protected]
'ent from the Internet (Details)
Dear Leonard and Kelley,
I agree with Kelley on the points she has made. Someone sophisticated intax procedure would have realized earlier that there was a problem. Kenassumed a level of knowledge (if not an ability to read minds) on the partof Kelley that was unreasonable and his lack of communication isremarkable. In my view, the steps to take now are:
1. File the returns and pay the taxes ASAP to minimize penalties (lettingthe IRS compute the penalties, which it wiH do) and
2. Get a new accountant.
Ihcidentally, up to now I have liked Ken. There is nothing personal in mysuggestion.
Best regards,
Richard
At 10:43 AM 2/11/02 -0500, [email protected] wrote:»Dear Leonard,
>l am going to go through Ken's letter point by point to give my point of viewo the various matters he raises.
>1. With respect to the record keeping and the deal. This is rubbish. There>were lawyers involved, tax advisers, and so on an so forth. These records>were impeccable and were provided to Ken but not only myself but also Burt>Goldstein's office (who handled the appraisal of the stock), and others.>Every detail of this deal and it's record keeping was overseen by your>attorneys and accountants.
>On one occasion I had a very casual conversation with Ken re. the way in>which Jen Brown had handled records. I had a very difficult time finding>anything and nothing was particularly documented, paid bills were not kept,>copies of draft requests, etc. were no where to be found -- he was aware of>this and that was a very long time ago. He has never brought up anything>about record keeping since he first began doing work on your behalf.
>2. The issue with respect to the $1 million advance from Sony is not>something that I would advise Ken should be treated as a deposit instead of>income. The reason for this is that I am not a tax adviser, nor am i an>accountant, and I had never before heard that monies paid as a deposit, which>needed to be paid back were the deal to not go through, were treated as loans>for tax purposes.
>Furthermore, Ken fails to mention that he has had discussions with Richard>Westin and Greg McBowman on this matter.
>Sometime in October, 1 forwarded Ken a notice received from the IRS which Ifully expected him to handle with thelRS. On October 24, 1 forwarded Ken a
Aetter from Sony that he had requested. I heard nothing further and assumed>that he was working this out with the IRS because these things can take>months to resolve.
KLO1876
>conversations with Richard Westin, Greg McBowman, the Grubman firm, and so>bn. For him to see this 1099 and not realize that it was issued in error is>alartning. Again, as seems to be the case in hindsight, Ken did not bother to>call me and therefore assumed that you had $7 million of income that I had>not advised him of and were sitting on a huge tax bill and huge penalties andwinterest. From my point of view, it was unprofessional and alarming for him
to not follow through to determine if this very serious 1099 was real or not>before sending off a letter that really points out to me that Ken is not>doing his job as an accountant very well. I am not an accountant and it is>not my job to handle many of the things that Ken is blaming on your
>management team. That would extend to notifying Sony that the 1099 had been>issued in error after I caught the mistake.
>S) Ken's bills. Now that you have many entities that need retums filed.>the bills for accounting services need to be paid by the entity for which the>work was done. When I received Ken's bills, I sent a fax to Tim at Greenberg>& Associates asking that he arrange to have them paid out of the various>entities. I then assumed, because I heard nothing back (including from Ken)>that they had been paid. Only recently (and not every month as Ken asserts>- once) did I receive notice that these invoices were not paid. I called>Tim and he apologized and said it had slipped through the cracks. H en>called me back and said that because the checks would not be ed to your>name or to your account, they would require your signature. ust recently>received this paperwork and it does require your signature: I explained this>to Ken and he was fine with it. Today I will issue a check to Ken for all>the entities and have Tim re-do the paperwork so that you are reimbursed for>paying bills on behalf of the.various trusts.
>l would like to say something else. In the past when I have worked with your>accountants, they would send me faxes or call me to tell me when estimated>taxes were due; they would send me faxes or caH me to tell me how they had>handled an IRS notice or a particular issue. Even with respect to the>refinancing of the properties, I have been calling Ken since the beginning of
Jctober. Also, on Adam's tax bill, I had asked that he set up a payment-schedule with the IRS and I have still heard nothing back. Ken does not>return calls and he does not follow up. I personally feel that this letter>was a blessing in disguise because what it says to me, and Richard can>correct me if I'm wrong in my assumptions, is that Ken has dropped the ball>on many recent issues, is trying to shift accounting and tax responsibilities>onto me, and apparently has amnesia about all conversations with Greg>Richard, Stuart Fried, and so on with respect to the royalty sale, the>handling of the deposit, and so forth.
>Again, I take full responsibility for any and all penalties that you will>receive due to the late filing of your retum. I am not going to take the>blame however for tax and accounting issues and out and out lies - ie.,>conversations about record keeping, bills being faxed monthly, asking me for>documents for two years and so on and so forth. I have taken all steps>necessary to convey an information, notices, 1099s, and so forth to Ken>Cleveland. Your records are properly maintained.
>Ken Cleveland wrote this letter to you because, as I have said, he freaked>out when he thought you had received "income" of 57 million. It seems to me>that he then decided to look to see what he had not resolved, put them all in>the letter and blamed them on me. All three of the main issues are issues I>was awaiting Ken's response to: the IRS issue with the deposit; what to do>with your return; and a phone cali with respect to the incorrect 1099. I>also find it offensive that Ken, on a personal note, mentions that he still>has not been paid, lies that he has sent statements through every month, and>fails to mention that he and I recently discussed this and that he was fully
aware of the fact that Tim had let this slip through the cracks.
>Kelley
KLO1878
LAW OFFICES
HOCHMAN, SALKIN, RETTIG, TOSCHER & PEREZ P.C9 I SO WILSHIRE BOULEVARD
SulTE 300 3(310)28l-3292
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFoRNIA 90212-3414 FACS IM LE
1
January 17, 2003 t
David R. Jojola, Esq.Internal Revenue ServiceOffice of Chief Counsel
Small Business/Self-Employed Division Counsel3018 Federal Building300 North Los Angeles StreetLos Angeles, California 90012
RE: Cohen v. Commissioner-- Docket Number: 7024-02
Dear Mr. Jojola:
Pursuant to your request, the following represents the factual and legal analysis of the above-referenced matter.
Leonard Cohen, through his representatives, began negotiations in 1999 with Sony MusicInternational ("SMI") for a buyout of his SMI master recordings catalog. In an effort tosecure that SM1 was serious about the buyout and to secure future performance, Mr. Cohendemanded a deposit of $1,000,000. Ultimately, SMI agreed to this request and onNovember 5, 1999, wired Mr. Cohen $1,000,000. Accompanying the wire transfer was aletter dated November 5, 1999 which is attached hereto as Exhibit A. The letter from PaulGilbert of SMI provides:
"This amount is deemed a partial prepayment against theproposed $8 million buyout ofLeonard's future royalty interestsin his master recordings and compositions under all of hisagreements with Sony Music and Sony/ATV."
The factual basis for treatment as a deposit is further supported by Mr. Gilbert's letter datedApril 1, 2002 (attached hereto as Exhibit B) which provides:
". . . this letter is to confirm that the $1,000,000 paid to you bySony Music Entertainment, Inc. ("SMEI") in November of 1999was a deposit towards a possible royalty buyout . . ."
0 O
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David R. Jojola, Esq.Internal .Revenue ServiceOffice of Chief Counsel
Small Business/Self-Employed Division CounselJanuary 17, 2003Page 2
The legal authority is derived from the Supreme Court decision in Commissioner vIndianapolis Power & Light Co., 493 U.S. 203, 110 S. Ct. 589 (1990). The Court created adistinction between the taxation of advance payments and the taxation of refundabledeposits, although the Court confirmed that advance payments are generally taxable anddefined "advance payment" as a non-refundable payment.
The Court, however, held that deposits are not taxable. The Court defined "deposits" asrefundable payments that are made to secure the payor's performance of its legal obligationsunder the contract. Please note that the Court also found that a deposit is not taxable evenif the payor elects to apply the deposit against amounts owed to the payee. Thus, ifthe payor
fulfills its obligations under the contract, the deposit is refunded. That is the exact scenariopresented in this rnatter.
This analysis is also consistent with the United States Tax Court's longstanding treatmentof real estate lease deposits where the Court has distinguished between a sum designated asa prepayment of rent (taxable upon receipt) and a sum deposited to secure the tenant'sperformance of a lease agreement. J & E Enterprises, Inc. v. Commissioner, 26 TCM 944(1967).
Moreover, as you are aware, as a matter of policy, the Ogden Service Center has previouslyresolved this matter with the Taxpayer. The Service Center issued a Notice dated August 132001 (attached hereto as Exhibit C), whereby the Service requested explanations from theTaxpayer with respect to certain discrepancies including the 1999 SMI Form 1099 in theamount of $1,000,000. After receiving the Notice, Richard Westin, on behalfof Mr. Cohen,contacted the Service Center and explained the situation that the Form 1099 in the amountof $1,000,000 from SMI was erroneous. The Service Center requested a letter from SMIconfirming that the Form 1099 was issued in error. Based upon Mr. Cohen's submission (seeExhibit B), the Ogden Service Center issued a Notice dated April 29, 2002 accepting SMIand Leonard Cohen's explanation and proposed a change to the 1999 liability in the amountof $937 (in'cluding interest). A copy of this Notice is attached hereto as Exhibit D. Finally.
on May 2, 2002, Mr. Cohen consented to the 1999 assessment and paid the outstandinÁbalance in the amount of $937. A copy of the consent and transmittal to the Ogden ServiceCenter is attached hereto as Exhibit E.
To that end, as we discussed, the settlement will include a concession from the InternalRevenue Service in the above-referenced case in consideration for a copy of an amended2001 return whereby Mr. Cohen reports all income that was previously treated as a deposit
and not reported. I have spok.en with Mr. Cohen's representatives and have been informed
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David R. Jojola, Esq.Internal Revenue ServiceOffice of Chief CounselSmall Business/Self-Employed Division CounselJanuary 17, 2003Page 3
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that a 2001 amended return will be prepared and filed. I will provide you with a copy as soonas it becomes available.
In the meantime, if you have any questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate tocall the undersigned.
Sincerel
E EN D. BLANC
SDB/jeEnclosurescc: Charles P.. Rettig, Esq.bec: Mr. Leonard Cohen (c/o.Ms. Kelley Lynch)
Professor Richard A. Westin, Esq.
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