Challenge to Ducky

[Famspear]

True story: I tried to make a joke last week about the "Delaware tax trap," which can result in federal estate tax if a perpetual trust (in a state such as Delaware that has repealed the rule against perpetuities) includes a special power of appointment, and (get this) no one laughed.

In retrospect, I think there were three problems: (1) My audience was a group of lawyers, but not tax lawyers, so they didn't really understand the Delaware tax trap. (2) I don't really understand the Delaware tax trap. (3) The Delaware tax trap really isn't funny at all.

This kinda reminds me of a thread here a while back, where we were talking about the Murphy case that caused so much stir in 2006 (Murphy I) and 2007 (Murphy II), and I learned that tax law isn't sexy. Now, I'm getting a clue that sometimes tax law isn't funny either!

[Imalawman]

True story: I tried to make a joke last week about the "Delaware tax trap," which can result in federal estate tax if a perpetual trust (in a state such as Delaware that has repealed the rule against perpetuities) includes a special power of appointment, and (get this) no one laughed.

In retrospect, I think there were three problems: (1) My audience was a group of lawyers, but not tax lawyers, so they didn't really understand the Delaware tax trap. (2) I don't really understand the Delaware tax trap. (3) The Delaware tax trap really isn't funny at all.

This kinda reminds me of a thread here a while back, where we were talking about the Murphy case that caused so much stir in 2006 (Murphy I) and 2007 (Murphy II), and I learned that tax law isn't sexy. Now, I'm getting a clue that sometimes tax law isn't funny either!

Such is the life of a tax lawyer. I will be out with a group of my lawyer friends, everyone will be swapping stories, people are laughing and having a good time. Then I'll start talking about an interesting tax case of mine, and its like the music stops playing, people get a glazed look on their faces and I feel like an ass for ending the jovial discussion. Let's face it, a guy suing Burger King for getting his ass glued to a toilet seat (which required fire department and EMS attention - true story) is just way more entertaining to the general populace than almost any tax case.

[Quixote]

I learned that tax law isn't sexy

Except the Barbie twins case.

[buck09]

Just curious, how many of you have actually read his book cover to cover?

I have a copy, though I haven't read it from cover to cover. Like others here, I attempted to figure out if Hendrickson's writing followed a defined, logical thought process from premise to conclusion - it doesn't. (Some sub-sections do, but barely and are often semi-coherent at best.)

Realizing that, there really wasn't a point reading it from cover to cover. In addition, there is only so much time in the day, and frankly, there are far better works of literature that could be digested instead.

[edit: FYI - I did not purchase the book. It was given to me. ]

[webhick]

there are far better works of literature that could be digested instead.

I hear that CtC can cause indigestion, upset stomach, and colon cancer...so you may want to cut back on your FABIES intake.