T.C. Memo. 2017-191
UNITED STATES TAX COURT
LAURA STEPP AND KALEB STEPP, Petitioners v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Docket No. 13384-14. Filed September 27, 2017.
Melissa A. Lipe, for petitioners.
Jamie M. Stipek, for respondent.
MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION
PARIS, Judge: With respect to petitioners’ Federal income tax for 2011, the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS or respondent) determined a deficiency of $34,117
and an accuracy-related penalty of $6,823 under section 6662(a).1 After
1
Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal
Revenue Code in effect for the year at issue, and all Rule references are to the Tax
(continued...)
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[*2] concessions,2 the sole issue for decision is whether petitioners may exclude
from gross income under section 104(a)(2), as damages received “on account of
personal physical injuries or physical sickness”, proceeds that Mrs. Stepp received
under a settlement agreement with her employer.3
The Court concludes that the settlement proceeds compensated Mrs. Stepp
for damages she suffered on account of disability-based discrimination, reprisal
for engaging in protected Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) activity, and an
improper medical inquiry; no portion of the settlement proceeds represented
1
(...continued)
Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.
2
Respondent concedes that petitioners are not liable for the sec. 6662(a)
penalty for 2011. Petitioners did not dispute in their petition or otherwise the
notice of deficiency’s disallowance of their claimed education credits. It is
accordingly deemed conceded. See Rule 34(b)(4). Petitioners requested earlier in
this case that Kaleb be granted innocent spouse relief under sec. 6015. This Court
instructed petitioners to amend their petition or file the administrative request with
the IRS. Petitioners did neither and failed to raise this request at trial or in their
briefs; it is also deemed conceded. See Mendes v. Commissioner, 121 T.C. 308,
312-313 (2003) (holding that arguments not addressed in posttrial brief may be
considered abandoned); Leahy v. Commissioner, 87 T.C. 56, 73-74 (1986)
(finding concession by failure to argue).
3
Respondent concedes that if this Court finds Mrs. Stepp’s settlement
proceeds to be included in petitioners’ gross income for 2011, petitioners are
entitled to an above-the-line deduction of $55,000--the amount paid directly to
Mrs. Stepp’s attorney for court costs and attorney’s fees--because the lawsuit
involved claims of unlawful discrimination. See sec. 62(a)(20). The notice of
deficiency did not reflect any attorney’s fees.
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[*3] damages on account of personal injury or physical sickness. The Court holds
that petitioners may not exclude any portion of the settlement proceeds from gross
income.
FINDINGS OF FACT
The parties filed a stipulation of facts, a first supplemental stipulation of
facts, and a second supplemental stipulation of facts;4 each was accompanied by
attached exhibits. The stipulated facts and exhibits are incorporated by this
reference. Petitioners resided in Texas when they petitioned this Court.
From 2004 through the year in issue, Mrs. Stepp worked for the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA).5 She performed duties as a
baggage screener until January 2006 when she tore her left rotator cuff in an on-
the-job incident. Mrs. Stepp requested and received compensation for this injury
4
The Court sealed the first and second supplemental stipulations of facts
because of Mrs. Stepp’s concern that she not violate the terms of her settlement
agreement. Some of those facts are necessary to the Court’s analysis. See
Knuckles v. Commissioner, 349 F.2d 610, 613 (10th Cir. 1965) (determining the
nature of the claim by the terms of the settlement agreement), aff’g T.C. Memo.
1964-33; Robinson v. Commissioner, 102 T.C. 116, 126 (1994) (looking at the
intent of the payor), aff’d in part, rev’d in part, and remanded on another issue, 70
F.3d 34 (5th Cir. 1995). Mrs. Stepp’s disclosure to this Court did not violate the
terms of her settlement.
5
TSA is one of many law enforcement agencies that make up the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security.
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[*4] under the worker’s compensation program and returned to her baggage
screening position in November of 2006.
During 2006 and 2007 TSA management at the airport where Mrs. Stepp
worked began to involuntarily reassign female baggage screeners to passenger
screening. Mrs. Stepp was informed on June 23, 2007, that she was among those
reassigned. She contacted an EEO counselor on several occasions, protesting the
gender-based reassignment, and raised the issue with her managers. She also
made numerous requests to remain in baggage screening because of her shoulder
injury and the resulting mobility difficulties she experienced. These requests were
denied.
Mrs. Stepp requested that reasonable accommodations be made because the
limited mobility from her prior injury affected her ability to properly perform some
of the passenger screening duties. Before TSA denied her request, however, she
became the target of reprisal for engaging in protected EEO activities and
opposing discriminatory practices. Her supervisors created a hostile work
environment that subjected Mrs. Stepp to emotional harm and undue stress.
On January 5, 2008, Mrs. Stepp filed a formal EEO complaint against TSA
and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under the administrative
guidelines of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). She
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[*5] supplemented her initial complaint on January 12, 2010, adding claims of
gender discrimination, disability discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and
hostile work environment against TSA.6 Although the new claims included an
assertion that she had been billed for an amount TSA was responsible for (in
relation to “the case for * * * [her] work-related injury”), Mrs. Stepp did not allege
that she had suffered any physical injury.
On March 24, 2011, the EEOC issued its decision. The decision described
each of Mrs. Stepp’s claims as “broad claims of retaliation, gender discrimination,
and disability discrimination in connection with * * * [her] involuntary
reassignment in July 2007 from baggage screener to passenger screener.” None of
the issues framed in the issues section included a claim for physical injury- or
personal sickness-related damages.7
The decision concluded that TSA had subjected Mrs. Stepp to “a hostile
work environment based on reprisal for engaging in protected EEO activities
and/or opposing discriminatory practices.” It also found TSA’s misclassification
6
Mrs. Stepp’s initial complaint was not introduced into the record.
7
Each issue began with “[w]hether complainant was discriminated against
on the basis of”; included one or more of the bases, disability (shoulder injury),
sex (female), or reprisal for protected EEO activity; and concluded with a “when a
certain event happened” statement.
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[*6] of Mrs. Stepp’s medical status and failure to timely process her request for
reasonable accommodations to be part of a hostile work environment, which
caused her emotional harm and stress. The decision further found that TSA
subjected her to an improper medical inquiry in violation of 29 C.F.R. sec. 1630.8
But other than finding that Mrs. Stepp had already received worker’s
compensation for her torn rotator cuff and that she alleged that she injured her
other shoulder, the decision made no finding concerning any type of physical
injury.
After the EEOC issued its decision, Mrs. Stepp reached a monetary
settlement with TSA. The settlement agreement stated that she would withdraw
with prejudice her EEOC complaint that was the subject of the EEOC decision as
well as “any other pending informal or formal complaints filed with * * * [TSA]
and allegations of hostile work environment, harassment, retaliatory harassment,
gender and disability discrimination, and retaliation.” In return, TSA would
(among other things) pay Mrs. Stepp a lump sum of $121,500. The agreement
recited her understanding that she bore sole responsibility for “compliance with all
federal, state and local tax requirements” and “any federal or state income taxes
she may owe as the result of her receipt of the lump sum settlement amount.”
8
The decision found for TSA on all other claims.
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[*7] Mrs. Stepp and TSA executed this settlement agreement in early August
2011, resolving all issues between them, and she filed a motion to dismiss the
EEOC complaint. TSA wired $55,0009 to Mrs. Stepp’s attorney and separately
wired $66,500 directly to a bank account held jointly by petitioners. The
settlement agreement made no reference to “physical injury” or “personal illness”.
Petitioners timely filed their Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax
Return, for 2011. Before preparing this return, they received from the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security a Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income,
reporting a $121,500 payment from the litigation settlement. Petitioners reported
the settlement income on their return but deducted $55,000 as “DIRECT
PAYMENT TO OTHERS” and $66,500 as “PERSONAL INJURY
REIMBURSEMENT”, effectively excluding the settlement proceeds from their
gross income. After a document-matching examination revealed this discrepancy,
the IRS issued petitioners a timely notice of deficiency for 2011, determining that
the $121,500 payment should have been included in gross income. Petitioners
timely petitioned this Court, contending that the $121,500 payment was
excludable from gross income under section 104(a)(2).
9
This represented $5,000 in court fees and $50,000 in attorney’s fees.
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[*8] OPINION
The IRS’ determinations in a notice of deficiency are generally presumed
correct though the taxpayer can rebut this presumption. Rule 142(a); Welch v.
Helvering, 290 U.S. 111, 115 (1933). The taxpayer bears the burden of proving
her entitlement to deductions allowed by the Code and of substantiating the
amounts of claimed deductions. INDOPCO, Inc. v. Commissioner, 503 U.S. 79,
84 (1992); sec. 1.6001-1(a), Income Tax Regs. In certain circumstances the
burden of proof on factual issues may shift to respondent. See sec. 7491(a); Rule
142(a)(1). Petitioners do not contend that this provision applies here, and they
thus bear the burden of proof.
Section 61(a) defines “gross income” as “all income from whatever source
derived”. This definition has broad scope, and exclusions from gross income must
be narrowly construed. Commissioner v. Schleier, 515 U.S. 323, 328 (1995);
Commissioner v. Glenshaw Glass Co., 348 U.S. 426, 429 (1955); Helvering v.
Clifford, 309 U.S. 331, 334 (1940). Litigation settlement proceeds constitute
gross income unless the taxpayer proves that the proceeds fall within a specific
statutory exclusion. Commissioner v. Schleier, 515 U.S. at 328-337; Save v.
Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2009-209.
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[*9] The exclusion from gross income upon which petitioners rely appears in
section 104(a)(2). It provides that gross income does not include “the amount of
any damages * * * received (whether by suit or agreement * * *) on account of
personal physical injuries or physical sickness.” Congress intended this exclusion
to cover damages that flow from a physical injury or physical sickness. See H.R.
Conf. Rept. No. 104-737, at 301 (1996), 1996-3 C.B. 741, 1041. For this purpose,
“emotional distress shall not be treated as a physical injury or physical sickness,”
sec. 104(a) (penultimate sentence), nor shall “mental anguish, humiliation and
embarrassment”, Shaltz v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2003-173.
When damages are received under a settlement agreement, the nature of the
claim that was the actual basis for the settlement determines whether the damages
are excludable under section 104(a)(2). United States v. Burke, 504 U.S. 229, 237
(1992). “The nature of the claim” is typically determined by reference to the terms
of the agreement. See Knuckles v. Commissioner, 349 F.2d 610, 613 (10th Cir.
1965), aff’g T.C. Memo. 1964-33. The “key question” is: “In lieu of what were
the damages awarded?”. Robinson v. Commissioner, 102 T.C. 116, 126 (1994)
(quoting Raytheon Prod. Corp. v. Commissioner, 144 F.2d 110, 113 (1st Cir.
1944), aff’g 1 T.C. 952 (1943)), aff’d in part, rev’d in part, and remanded on
another issue, 70 F.3d 34 (5th Cir. 1995). If the agreement does not explicitly
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[*10] state which claims the payment was made to settle, the “dominant reason for
[the payor’s] making the payment” is critical. Green v. Commissioner, 507 F.3d
857, 868 (5th Cir. 2007), aff’g T.C. Memo. 2005-250.
The intent of the payor is determined by taking into consideration all of the
facts and circumstances, including the amount paid, the circumstances leading to
the settlement, and the allegations in the injured party’s complaint. Id. at 868;
Bent v. Commissioner, 87 T.C. 236, 245 (1986), aff’d, 835 F.2d 67 (3d Cir. 1987).
“[T]he nature of underlying claims cannot be determined from a general release
that is broad and inclusive.” Ahmed v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2011-295, 102
T.C.M. (CCH) 607, 608 (2011), aff’d, 498 F. App’x (11th Cir. 2012). And where
there is a general release but no allocation of settlement proceeds among various
claims, this Court has held that all settlement proceeds are includible in gross
income. See Green v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2014-23, at *11; Evans v.
Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1980-142.
Mrs. Stepp’s complaints against TSA were expressed in a variety of formats
over several years from 2007 to 2011. These included informal counseling with
TSA EEO counselors, formal and informal internal complaints, a formal EEOC
proceeding that entailed extensive discovery, and a settlement offer from TSA that
Mrs. Stepp accepted. At every stage of these proceedings, Mrs. Stepp uniformly
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[*11] alleged as the bases for her complaints some combination of disability- or
gender-based discrimination and reprisal for protected EEO activity. Mrs. Stepp
points to the EEOC decision discussing her shoulder injuries as proof that the
nature of her claims involved personal physical injury. But the EEOC opinion’s
discussion of her left shoulder injury--and her alleged right shoulder injury10--was
included to establish that she was “disabled” and therefore entitled to recover
under the standards of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.11
The settlement agreement states that it is “in full and final satisfaction of all
claims against the Agency”. The nonpecuniary relief she secured was employment
related and responded directly to her claims of discrimination. TSA promised to
reassign Mrs. Stepp to baggage screening for a certain period, expunge any
disciplinary marks relating to the EEOC case, and approve a certain quantity of
leave that Mrs. Stepp would request. The settlement agreement mentions no
personal injury or physical sickness and provides her no relief for such an injury or
sickness.
10
Petitioners did not introduce evidence proving that Mrs. Stepp raised a
personal injury claim against TSA with respect to her right shoulder.
11
In contrast, the EEOC decision speaks in terms of “emotional harm” and
“financial harm” Mrs. Stepp suffered as a result of the hostile TSA actions.
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[*12] In exchange for TSA’s promises as set forth above, Mrs. Stepp made
several reciprocal promises. She agreed to withdraw with prejudice the EEOC
complaint that was the subject of the pending litigation as well as “any other
pending informal or formal complaints filed with * * * [TSA] and allegations of
hostile work environment, harassment, retaliatory harassment, gender and
disability discrimination, and retaliation.” She promised not to institute any claim
against TSA under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, or any other law, regulation or
directive. And she agreed to “release[] the United States, the Agency, and its
employees * * * from any employment discrimination claims or liabilities * * *
that were or could have been raised”.
The settlement agreement executed by the parties in August 2011 stated
quite clearly what claims the payment was made to settle--namely, the claims of
discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and hostile work environment that were the
subject of the EEOC litigation. Looking more broadly at the dominant intent of
the payor, the Court finds it clear from the record that TSA’s dominant reason
behind this agreement was to settle the EEOC litigation. The settlement
documents nowhere refer to physical injury of any kind. And there is no
suggestion in the broad and inclusive, general release clause that she had made, or
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[*13] was releasing the defendants from, any claim for damages on account of
physical injury or physical sickness.12
This Court has considerable sympathy for Mrs. Stepp’s position. She
endured great indignities in her workplace and undoubtedly suffered consequential
emotional distress for a very long period. But Congress has limited the section
104(a)(2) exclusion from gross income to damages received “on account of
personal physical injuries or physical sickness”, and Congress explicitly provided
that “emotional distress shall not be treated as a physical injury or physical
sickness.” “Damages received on account of emotional stress, even when resultant
physical symptoms occur, are not excluded from income under section 104(a)(2).”
Shelton v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2009-116, 97 T.C.M. (CCH) 1592, 1594
(2009) (citing Hawkins v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2005-149). Petitioners
have not carried their burden of proving that any portion of the settlement
proceeds was paid on account of “physical injury” thus defined. The Court
accordingly has no alternative but to conclude that the $121,500 payment reported
12
Even assuming arguendo that some portion of TSA’s settlement payment
was intended by TSA to compensate Mrs. Stepp for her shoulder injuries, she has
not shown the extent to which the settlement proceeds were allocated among her
many claims.
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[*14] on the Form 1099-MISC was includible in full in petitioners’ gross income
for 2012.
To reflect the foregoing,
Decision will be entered
under Rule 155.