EX-8.1 3 ex8-1.txt Exhibit 8.1 SULLIVAN & WORCESTER LLP ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109 (617) 338-2800 FAX NO. 617-338-2880 IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IN NEW YORK CITY 1666 K STREET, N.W. 565 FIFTH AVENUE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006 NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017 (202) 775-8190 (212) 486-8200 FAX NO. 202-293-2275 FAX NO. 212-758-2151 March 27, 2002 Hospitality Properties Trust 400 Centre Street Newton, Massachusetts 02458 Ladies and Gentlemen: In connection with the filing by Hospitality Properties Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the "Company"), of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 (the "Form 10-K"), under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), the following opinion is furnished to you to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") as Exhibit 8.1 to the Form 10-K. We have acted as counsel for the Company in connection with the preparation of the Form 10-K, and we have reviewed originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of corporate records, certificates and statements of officers and accountants of the Company and of public officials, and such other documents as we have considered relevant and necessary in order to furnish the opinion hereinafter set forth. In doing so, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such documents. Specifically, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we have reviewed: (i) the declaration of trust and the by-laws of the Company, each as amended and restated; and (ii) the sections in the Form 10-K captioned "Federal Income Tax Considerations" and "ERISA Plans, Keogh Plans and Individual Retirement Accounts." The opinion set forth below is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the Treasury Regulations issued thereunder, published administrative interpretations thereof, and judicial decisions with respect thereto, all as of the date hereof (collectively, the "Tax Laws"), and upon the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of Labor regulations issued thereunder, published administrative interpretations thereof, and judicial decisions with respect thereto, all as of the date hereof (collectively, the "ERISA Laws"). No assurance can be given that the Tax Laws or the ERISA Laws will not Hospitality Properties Trust March 27, 2002 Page 2 change. In preparing the discussions with respect to Tax Laws and ERISA Laws matters in the sections of the Form 10-K captioned "Federal Income Tax Considerations" and "ERISA Plans, Keogh Plans and Individual Retirement Accounts," we have made certain assumptions and expressed certain conditions and qualifications therein, all of which assumptions, conditions and qualifications are incorporated herein by reference. We have relied upon, but not independently verified, the foregoing assumptions. If any of the foregoing assumptions are inaccurate or incomplete for any reason, or if the transactions described in the Form 10-K (or the documents incorporated therein by reference) have been consummated in a manner that is inconsistent with the manner contemplated therein, our opinion as expressed below may be adversely affected and may not be relied upon. Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the discussions with respect to Tax Laws and ERISA Laws matters in the sections of the Form 10-K captioned "Federal Income Tax Considerations" and "ERISA Plans, Keogh Plans and Individual Retirement Accounts," in all material respects are accurate and fairly summarize the Tax Laws issues and the ERISA Laws issues addressed therein, and hereby confirm that the opinions of counsel referred to in said sections represent our opinions on the subject matter thereof. Our opinion above is limited to the matters specifically covered hereby, and we have not been asked to address, nor have we addressed, any other matters or any other transactions. Further, we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes of the matters stated, represented or assumed herein or any subsequent changes in the Tax Laws or the ERISA Laws. This opinion is intended solely for the benefit and use of the Company, and is not to be used, released, quoted, or relied upon by anyone else for any purpose (other than as required by law) without our prior written consent. We hereby consent to filing of a copy of this opinion as an exhibit to the Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference in the Company's Registration Statements on Form S-3 (File Nos. 333-43573, 333-89307, 333-84064) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and to the references to our firm in the Form 10-K and such Registration Statements. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or under the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder. Very truly yours, /s/ SULLIVAN & WORCESTER LLP SULLIVAN & WORCESTER LLP