United States v. Ellsworth, 71-1921.

• Decision Date: 08 May 1972
• Docket Number: No. 71-1921.,71-1921.
• Citation: 460 F.2d 1246
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America and Lyman M. Nicoll, Internal Revenue Agent, Petitioners-Appellants, v. W. Vaughn ELLSWORTH, Respondent-Appellee.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit

460 F.2d 1246 (1972)

UNITED STATES of America and Lyman M. Nicoll, Internal Revenue Agent, Petitioners-Appellants, v. W. Vaughn ELLSWORTH, Respondent-Appellee.

No. 71-1921.

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

May 8, 1972.

Richard K. Burke, U. S. Atty., William C. Smitherman, Richard C. Gormley, Asst. U. S. Atty., Phoenix, Ariz., Scott P. Crampton, Asst. Atty. Gen., Meyer Rothwacks, John P. Burke, John M. Brant, Washington, D. C., for petitioners-appellants.

W. Vaughn Ellsworth, Mesa, Ariz., for respondent-appellee.

Before HAMLEY, CHOY and GOODWIN, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

This matter is before us on the Government's appeal from a district court order enforcing an Internal Revenue Service summons but attaching conditions thereto, and on cross-appeal by the custodian of the records.

W. Vaughn Ellsworth is allegedly the custodian of certain corporate records of Sonel Research and Development, Inc., an Arizona corporation. In 1970, the Internal Revenue Service sought to subpoena those records for the purpose of determining the correctness of the corporation's 1968 income tax return. Acting under 26 U.S.C. § 7602(2), a summons was issued by the Secretary of the Treasury directing Ellsworth to appear on a certain date, bring with him specified corporate documents, and "give testimony relating to the tax liability" of the corporation.

Ellsworth did not appear and the Internal Revenue Service filed a petition in the district court to judicially enforce the summons under 26 U.S.C. § 7604. A show cause order was issued, a hearing held, and an order issued, the relevant parts of which are quoted in the margin.¹ The Government appeals from that portion of the order restricting its inquiry concerning matters other than the whereabouts of the records. Ellsworth cross-appeals from that portion of the order compelling him to produce the records and submit to questioning.

Ellsworth's cross-appeal is without merit. A corporation has no Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination and the custodian of corporate records may be compelled to produce the books of the corporation even though they may ultimately be used to incriminate him. Curcio v. United States, 354 U.S. 118, 122, 77 S.Ct. 1145, 1 L.Ed.2d 1225 (1957); Wilson v. United States, 221 U.S. 361, 382, 31 S.Ct. 538, 55 L.Ed. 771 (1911); Hale v. Henkel, 201 U.S. 43, 26 S.Ct. 370, 50 L.Ed. 652 (1906); United States v. Bell, 448 F.2d 40, 41 (9th Cir. 1971). Likewise, the Fourth Amendment has no application to Ellsworth's situation (United States v. Bell, supra), and his remaining arguments are either premature or frivolous.

We find merit in the Government's contention, on its appeal, that the district court's order does, in effect, improperly impose a blanket assertion of the self-incrimination privilege before any questions are asked. Under the statute the person summoned "must present himself for questioning, and as to each question elect to raise or not to raise the defense." The district court may then determine by considering each question whether, in each instance, the claim of self-incrimination is well founded. United States v. Bell, supra, 448 F. 2d at 42. In addition, the order seems to mistakenly imply that Ellsworth has no privilege as to questions concerning the whereabouts of...