McKean v. U.S.

• Citation: 563 F.Supp.2d 182
• Decision Date: 30 June 2008
• Docket Number: Civil Action No. 07-02202 (ESH).
• Parties: Jay C. McKEAN, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES, et al., Defendants.
• Court: U.S. District Court — District of Columbia

563 F.Supp.2d 182

Jay C. McKEAN, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES, et al., Defendants.

Civil Action No. 07-02202 (ESH).

United States District Court, District of Columbia.

June 30, 2008.

Jay C. McKean, Roberts, MO, pro se. Pat S. Genis, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Defendants.

MEMORANDUM OPINION

ELLEN SEGAL HUVELLE, District Judge.

Plaintiff Jay C. McKean has filed suit pro se alleging that the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") improperly levied against his credit union bank account and social security benefits in the total amount of $22,900 without sending him a notice of deficiency. Plaintiff seeks relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2410 to quiet title to the levied funds, a refund, and an order to release the levies.¹ Defendants have filed a motion for summary judgment.² For the reasons stated herein, defendants' motion will be granted.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff failed to file tax returns for 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. (Defs.' Exs. 1-5.) The IRS determined plaintiffs tax liability and issued notices of deficiency for each year. (Id.) On May 1, 2007, the IRS served a notice of levy for $19,084.86 on Avanta Federal Credit Union. (Pl.'s Ex. C.) By letter dated May 4, 2007, Avanta notified plaintiff that his funds had been levied and that it had sent $12,660.37 to the IRS in compliance with the levy. (Id.) On May 11, 2007, plaintiff filed an appeal of the notice of levy seeking return of the levied funds and release of the levy. (Pl.'s Ex. A.) The IRS determined that the levy was appropriately issued and notified plaintiff of its determination in a letter dated July 11, 2007. (Pl.'s Ex. B.)

In January 2005, the IRS began levying against plaintiffs social security benefits. (Pl.'s Ex. E.) By letter dated April 9, 2007, the Social Security Administration notified plaintiff that it intended to reduce his benefits by $367.80 each month in response to the notice of levy. (Pl.'s Ex. D.) Plaintiff alleges that the amount of $7,700 was seized from his social security benefits by levy. (Compl. ¶ 5.)

Plaintiffs tax liabilities have been fully paid for tax years 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002. (Defs.' Exs. 1-4.) As of March 3, 2008, plaintiff still owed $3,110.01 for 2003. (Defs.' Ex. 14.)

ANALYSIS

Plaintiffs complaint raises seven counts, each of which alleges that the IRS's levies are invalid. In Count I, plaintiff seeks to quiet title to the property seized from him by IRS levies pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2410. (Compl. 12.) Count II alleges that the IRS seized his property in violation of 26 U.S.C. §§ 6212, 6213(a), and 6330(e). (Id. 15.) Count III alleges that defendant violated plaintiffs rights under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. (Id. 16.) Count IV alleges that defendant is entitled to a return of the seized property and damages pursuant to 26 U.S.C. §§ 7431 and 7433. (Id. 16-17.) Count V alleges a violation of plaintiffs rights under the "Just Compensation Clause" of the Fifth Amendment. (Id. 18.) Count VI asserts that the seizure of plaintiffs property "constitutes a bill of attainder at Article I, Section 9 Clause 3 and Article I, Section 10 Clause I." (Id. 20.) Finally Count VII, alleges that defendants' administrative seizure of plaintiffs property is an intentional misapplication of the internal revenue laws. (Id. 21.)

Defendants have filed a motion for summary judgment on all counts. Summary judgment is appropriate if "there is no genuine issue as to any material fact" and the "moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). See also Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-48, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); Holcomb v. Powell, 433 F.3d 889, 895 (D.C.Cir.2006). When considering a motion for summary judgment "the evidence of the non-movant is to be believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in his favor." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505. The nonmoving party's opposition must, however, consist of more than mere unsupported allegations or denials. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Rather, he must provide evidence that would permit a reasonable factfinder to find in his favor. Laningham v. U.S. Navy, 813 F.2d 1236, 1242 (D.C.Cir.1987). Where, as here, the nonmoving party bears the burden of proof on an issue, the movant need not produce any evidence showing the absence of a genuine issue of material fact, but instead the movant may discharge its burden by showing "that there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party's case." Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 325, 106 S.Ct. 2548. The Court will address each of plaintiffs claims in turn.

I. Counts I and II Fail Because the Issuance of the Levies Was Procedurally Valid

In Count I, plaintiff seeks to quiet title to money seized from him by IRS levies pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2410. A claim brought under § 2410 is limited to a challenge to the legality of the procedures used to enforce a tax lien and may not be used to attack the validity of the tax assessment. See Aqua Bar & Lounge Inc. v. Dept. of Treasury, 539 F.2d 935, 939 (3d Cir.1976). Plaintiff alleges that the IRS's levies are invalid because it "failed to comply with the procedural requirements of 26 U.S.C. §§ 6212 and 6213 and never caused Notices of Deficiency to be served for tax years 1999 through 2003...." (Compl. 1116.) In Count II, plaintiff realleges that the IRS issued the levies in violation 26 U.S.C. §§ 6212 and 6213 and further asserts that the IRS acted in violation of § 6330(e). (See Compl. 15.) All of these claims fail because the IRS's levies were procedurally valid.

Pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 6212, upon determining that a tax deficiency exists, the IRS must send the taxpayer a notice of deficiency at the taxpayer's last known address. See 26 U.S.C. § 6212(a) & (b). Section 6213 provides that a taxpayer has 90 days after the mailing of the notice of deficiency to file a petition in the Tax Court for a redetermination of the deficiency. See 26 U.S.C. § 6213(a). It also provides that no assessment or tax collection activity may be done until the expiration of the 90-day period, or if a Tax Court petition is filed, until after a decision is reached. Id.

In this case, the IRS sent plaintiff notices of deficiency at his last known address for each tax year at issue. On June 4, 2003, the IRS sent notices of deficiencies for tax years 1999 and 2000. (See Defs.' Exs. 6, 7.) On October 24, 2003, July 27, 2004, and June 21, 2005, the IRS sent notices of deficiencies for tax years 2001, 2002, and 2003 respectively. (See Defs.' Exs. 10, 12, 13.) Certified transcripts indicate that the IRS did not assess plaintiffs tax liabilities until November 3, 2003 for tax years 1999 and 2000 and until March 29, 2004, December 20, 2004, and February 6, 2006 for years 2001, 2002, and 2003, respectively. (See Defs.' Exs. 1-5.) Furthermore, the two levies that plaintiff challenges were served on May 1, 2005 and on April 9, 2005. The record therefore establishes that all assessment and tax collection activity occurred well after the expiration of the 90-day period. Plaintiff has offered no evidence to refute this finding.³ The levies were thus procedurally proper and summary judgment will be granted with respect to Counts I and II.⁴

II. Counts III, V, and VI Fail Because the Court Lacks Jurisdiction Over Plaintiff's Constitutional Claims

In Counts III, V, and VI, plaintiff asserts that the levies violated his constitutional rights. The doctrine of sovereign immunity bars suits against the United States that are not specifically allowed by statute. Jackson v. Bush, 448 F.Supp.2d 198, 200 (D.D.C.2006). Congress has not waived sovereign immunity for suits seeking monetary damages that arise under the Constitution. Id. at 201. See also Clark v. Library of Cong., 750 F.2d 89, 102-03 (D.C.Cir.1984). Thus, the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over plaintiffs constitutional claims and summary judgment will be granted as to these counts.⁵

III. Count IV Fails Because this Court Lacks Jurisdiction Over Plaintiffs Request For a Refund and Because Plaintiff is Not Entitled to Damages Under 26 U.S.C. § 7433.

In Count IV, plaintiff requests the return of his seized property, as well as damages based on defendants' failure to respond to his administrative claim by releasing its levies. (Compl. ¶¶ 40, 42.) To the extent that plaintiff seeks a tax refund, the Court lacks jurisdiction because plaintiff does not allege that he filed a claim for refund, as required by 26 U.S.C. § 7422.⁶ See United States v. Dalm, 494 U.S. 596, 601-6G2, 110 S.Ct. 1361, 108 L.Ed.2d 548 (1990) (a claim for refund is necessary before filing a suit for a tax refund).

Nor can plaintiff claim damages under 26 U.S.C. § 7433.⁷ "A judgment for damages shall not be awarded under [7433] subsection (b) unless the court determines that the plaintiff has exhausted the administrative remedies available to such plaintiff within the Internal Revenue Service." 26 U.S.C. § 7433(d)(1). Under the applicable regulations, a taxpayer is required to send a claim in writing to the area director in the district in which he lives and include the following: (1) the grounds for the claim; (2) a description of the taxpayer's injuries; (3) the dollar amount of the claim, including reasonably foreseeable damages; and (4) the signature of the taxpayer. See 26 C.F.R. § 301.7433-1(e)(1) and (2). Failure to complete this process deprives a court of jurisdiction. See McGuirl v. United States, 360 F.Supp.2d 125, 128 (D.D.C. 2004). Plaintiff has not filed an administrative claim based on the levies of his social security benefits. Accordingly, plaintiff has failed to exhaust his administrative remedies with respect to the $7,700 seized from his social security benefits, and the Court lacks jurisdiction to consider this claim.

Plaintiff did, however, file an appeal of the Avanta notice of levy in a letter dated May 11, 2007....