United States v. Andersen

• Decision Date: 22 October 2014
• Docket Number: Cause No. 3:14–MC–11–JEM.
• Citation: 109 F.Supp.3d 1049
• Court: U.S. District Court — Northern District of Indiana
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Petitioner, v. Ryan ANDERSEN d/b/a Ryno Management, Respondent.

109 F.Supp.3d 1049

UNITED STATES of America, Petitioner,

v.Ryan ANDERSEN d/b/a Ryno Management, Respondent.

Cause No. 3:14–MC–11–JEM.

United States District Court, N.D. Indiana, South Bend Division.

Signed Oct. 22, 2014.

Michael J. Zoeller, Washington, DC, Wayne T. Ault–AUSA, U.S. Attorney's Office, Hammond, IN, for United States of America.

OPINION AND ORDER

JOHN E. MARTIN, United States Magistrate Judge.

This matter is before the Court on a Petition for Enforcement of a Toxic Substance Control Act Subpoena [DE 1], filed by Plaintiff United States of America, acting on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on April 23, 2014. The Government asks that the Court order Respondent Ryan Andersen to comply with an administrative subpoena issued and served upon him by the EPA under its subpoena powers in the Toxic Substances Control Act ("TSCA"), 15 U.S.C. § 2610(c).

The Government represents that Andersen rents and sells real property in South Bend, Indiana, making him subject to the Real Estate Notification and Disclosure Rule ("Lead Disclosure Rule"), codified at 40 C.F.R. Part 745, subpart F. The Government further represents that the EPA sent an Information Request Letter to Andersen on February 8, 2012, seeking information regarding his compliance with the Lead Disclosure Rule after receiving communication from one of Andersen's tenants, alleging that Andersen had not complied with the Lead Disclosure Rule. The Government states that Andersen did not provide the information requested in the Information Request Letter after having been granted two extensions of time in which to do so.

Accordingly, on April 23, 2014, the Government filed the instant Petition for Enforcement of a Toxic Substance Control Act Subpoena on behalf of the EPA.¹ On May 23, 2014, the Court ordered Andersen to show cause, in writing, why the Court should not issue an order compelling him to comply with the subpoena. On June 14, 2014, Andersen, pro se, filed a response to the show cause order. On July 11, 2014, the Government filed a response to Andersen's response, construing it as a motion to dismiss the Petition for Enforcement and a motion to appoint counsel. On September 3, 2014, the Government requested a hearing on the Petition. A hearing was held on October 20, 2014, at which Andersen appeared pro se.

ANALYSIS

In his response to the show cause order, Andersen wrote that he has not complied with the subpoena because he "do[es] not understand what is being requested." Resp. 1. He also takes issue with the time and cost it would take to comply with the subpoena and requests that the Court appoint him counsel "in order for [him] to be able to comply with such an extensive request." Resp. 1. Finally, he asks to have the petition dismissed "due to the private nature of the documents being requested without ANY provable ‘JUST CAUSE’." Resp. 1. On July 11, 2014, the Government filed a response in which it argues that the Petition should not be dismissed and that the appointment of counsel at the EPA's expense is unwarranted.

I. Request that the Court Dismiss the Petition for Enforcement

The Government has the burden of showing that an administrative subpoena should be enforced. See 15 U.S.C. § 2610(c) (requiring the EPA to bring an action for enforcement of a subpoena in federal court instead of requiring the subpoenaed party to file a motion to quash). "In general, an administrative agency's subpoena meets the requirements for enforcement if (1) the inquiry is within the authority of the agency, (2) the demand is not too indefinite, and (3) the information sought is reasonably relevant to the investigation." Chao v. Local 743, Int'l Bhd. of Teamsters, AFL–CIO, 467 F.3d 1014, 1017 (7th Cir.2006) (citing United States v. Morton Salt Co., 338 U.S. 632, 653, 70 S.Ct. 357, 94 L.Ed. 401 (1950) ; EEOC v. Quad/Graphics, Inc., 63 F.3d 642, 645 (7th Cir.1995) ).

The Government asserts that the subpoena is within the EPA's authority. The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), 15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq, provides the EPA with "authority ... to regulate chemical substances and mixtures which present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment." 15 U.S.C. § 2601(b). 15 U.S.C. § 2615 gives the EPA the authority to carry out the civil and criminal enforcement provisions of the TSCA, found at 15 U.S.C. § 2614 and § 2689. Under section 2689, it is illegal "for any person to fail or refuse to comply with a provision of [42 U.S.C. § 4852d ] or with any rule or order issued under [it]." 42 U.S.C. § 4852d(b)(5). The Real Estate Notification and Disclosure Rule ("Lead Disclosure Rule"), codified at 40 C.F.R. Part 745, subpart F, was issued under 42 U.S.C. § 4852d. Therefore, the EPA has the authority to enforce the Lead Disclosure Rule. The EPA is also authorized to issue administrative subpoenas to "require ... the production of reports, papers, documents, answers to questions, and other information that the Administrator deems necessary" to carry out the provisions of the TSCA, including the Lead Disclosure Rule. 15 U.S.C. § 2610(c). Accordingly, the subpoena is within the EPA's powers.

The Government also asserts that the subpoena is not too indefinite and that the requested information is reasonably relevant to the investigation into Andersen's compliance with the Lead Disclosure Rule. The Lead Disclosure Rule requires lessors to include information regarding the potential presence of and dangers of lead- based paint in each contract for the lease of most housing built before 1978. 40 C.F.R. § 745.113(b). The Rule also requires a lessor to "retain a copy of the completed attachment or lease contract containing the information required under paragraph (b) ... for no less than 3 years from the commencement of the leasing period." 40 C.F.R. § 745.113(c). The subpoena seeks Andersen's lease agreements, property listings, any documentation containing the names and ages of tenants, and all documents pertaining to the disclosure of lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards from the three years prior to issuance of the subpoena. It also seeks answers to questions regarding Andersen's knowledge of the presence of lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards, tenant health problems, and any complaints regarding high blood lead levels. The Court finds that these requests are sufficiently definite to be enforceable. They are also narrowly tailored to elicit information that is directly relevant to the investigation into whether Andersen complied with the Lead Disclosure Rule's requirements to inform lessees of the potential existence of and hazards of lead-based paint and to keep copies of lease agreements containing the required language for three years. Because the Government has shown the subpoena is within its powers, is not too indefinite, and is reasonably relevant to the investigation, it has met its burden of showing that the subpoena is enforceable.

If the Government meets its burden of showing that and administrative subpoena is enforceable, a court may nonetheless deny enforcement if the subpoena "is excessively burdensome, that is, if compliance would threaten the normal operation of a respondent's business." Quad/Graphics, Inc., 63 F.3d at 645 (internal citations and quotations omitted). Andersen has the burden of showing that the subpoena is excessively burdensome. Id. at 648. In his response to the show cause order, Andersen objects to the "countless time and money" that would be required to respond to the subpoena. Resp. 1. Andersen has not, however, provided any evidence to show that complying with the subpoena would interfere with his normal business operations. He did not provide the Court with any estimates of the time and cost it would actually take to comply, but only made conclusory statements that the burden of complying with the subpoena would be costly and time-consuming. Accordingly, Andersen has not met his burden of showing the subpoena is overly burdensome. The Court also notes that the Government represents that in discussions just prior to the hearing, it offered to limit its request for documents to only those related to his current rental properties and to allow Andersen to respond to much of the rest of the subpoena by deposition, thereby potentially relieving him of much...