July 27, 2004

Indiana Decisions - Three Tax Court Opinions Posted Today

U.S. Steel Corporation f/k/a U.S. Steel, LLC v. Lake County Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals, et al. (7/26/04 IndTaxCT - Not for Publication) [Property tax]
Fisher, Judge

The Petitioner, United States Steel Corporation f/k/a United States Steel, LLC (US Steel), has appealed the final determination of the Indiana Board of Tax Review (Indiana Board) valuing its personal property for the 2000 tax year. The matter is currently before the Court on several motions regarding a settlement agreement. * * *

For the foregoing reasons, this Court now orders, pursuant to Indiana Trial Rule 21, that the Assessor be dropped as a party to this case. The Assessor’s motion is therefore rendered moot. Nevertheless, to the extent that this Court refrains from approving or rejecting the specific terms of the Agreement, the PTABOA’s motion is DENIED. Rather, should the remaining parties to the action choose to pursue their settlement, they must file a joint stipulation of dismissal of the action with the Court. Otherwise, the matter will proceed on its merits.

The Munster Times reports on this decision today in a story headlined "Ruling revives U.S. steel deal: Court rules Cal Township's Blumenberg not 'indispensable' to historic tax settlement."

[Update 7/28/04] The Times reports today: "Calumet Township Assessor Booker Blumenberg will appeal a ruling by Tax Court Judge Thomas Fisher that would allow the $52 million U.S. Steel settlement to move forward." Access the story here.

Logan Center Holding Corporation v. Department of Local Government Finance (7/26/04 IndTaxCT - Not for Publication) [Property tax]

"The issue to be decided by this Court is whether Logan’s improvements are entitled to additional obsolescence depreciation."

Keag Family Limited Partnership v. Indiana Board of Tax Review, et al. (7/26/04 IndTaxCT - Not for Publication) [Property tax]

"The matter is currently before the Court on Keag’s motion to extend the deadline for filing the Certified Administrative Record (Record) as well as the Respondents’ motion to dismiss."

Posted by Marcia Oddi at July 27, 2004 01:56 PM