Allen v. United States

9 Cl. Ct. 458, 57 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 742, 1986 U.S. Claims LEXIS 913
CourtUnited States Court of Claims
DecidedJanuary 31, 1986
DocketNo. 369-84T
StatusPublished

This text of 9 Cl. Ct. 458 (Allen v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Allen v. United States, 9 Cl. Ct. 458, 57 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 742, 1986 U.S. Claims LEXIS 913 (cc 1986).

Opinion

OPINION ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

MEROW, Judge:

In this pro se action, Lewis G. Allen, a taxpayer, seeks actual damages in the amount of $321,269.45, plus statutory interest and punitive damages, for an alleged breach of contract and “fraudulent levy” by the government. Defendant has filed a motion for summary judgment. In support of defendant’s motion, the government has set forth arguments addressing the jurisdiction of this court over plaintiff’s claims. The government has also addressed the merits of plaintiff’s breach of contract claim. In plaintiff’s opposition to defendant’s motion for summary judgment, he contends that genuine issues of material fact exist which would preclude the entry of summary judgment. Specifically, plaintiff alleges, as he similarly does in his complaint, that a question of fact exists as to whether defendant breached a February 22, 1980 agreement between the parties. Plaintiff also reiterates certain averments of his complaint and contends that his constitutional rights have been violated and that the United States has perpetrated a fraud by illegally levying on plaintiff’s escrow funds.

Upon consideration of the entire record, it is concluded that defendant’s motion for summary judgment is meritorious and shall be granted, and that plaintiff’s complaint shall be dismissed for the reasons set forth herein.

Background

The present dispute involves the government’s enforcement of a levy upon certain escrow funds. The escrow funds have been the subject of a series of lawsuits brought by plaintiff in the federal courts located in the state of Kansas.

Defendant has submitted with its motion for summary judgment an uncontroverted affidavit which states, inter alia, that on April 20, 1983, pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 6861, a jeopardy assessment was made by the United States against plaintiff, Lewis G. Allen, for unpaid income tax penalties [460]*460and statutory interest accrued to the date of assessment for tax years 1975 and 1976. The government asserts in its affidavit that all statutory and procedural requirements were followed in making the jeopardy assessment and in serving the notice of levy.

Prior to the jeopardy assessment, on April 22, 1980, plaintiff and defendant entered into an “Agreement For Transfer of Claims From Real Estate to Certain Proceeds of Sale and to Escrow Proceeds” (Agreement), whereby the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agreed to release its liens on a twelve acre parcel of real estate so that the property could be sold unencumbered by IRS liens. Title to the twelve acre parcel was held in the name of the Lewis G. Allen Family Trust (Allen Trust). Pursuant to the agreement, the proceeds of the sale of the twelve acre tract would be placed in an escrow account with the Johnson County Bank and Trust Company (Johnson County Bank) and remain in escrow pending the outcome of a legal dispute between the United States and the Allen Trust concerning plaintiffs individual tax liabilities for the tax years 1973 and 1974. The dispute concerning plaintiff’s tax liabilities was later resolved by a decision of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. The district court held that the Allen Trust was invalid under Kansas law and that plaintiff was the legal owner of the property since the purported conveyance from plaintiff to the Allen Trust was found by the court to be invalid.1 Pursuant to the district court’s ruling, the escrow fund became subject to a tax lien. Federal income tax liens for the years 1973 and 1974 attached to the escrow fund held at the Johnson County Bank. The United States later foreclosed its tax liens on the escrow fund and levied on the fund for tax years 1973 and 1974. The April 20, 1983 jeopardy assessment was made under 26 U.S.C. § 6861 and defendant foreclosed its tax liens on the escrow funds to satisfy the jeopardy assessment for tax years 1975 and 1976. Subsequently, the United States District Court for the District of Kansas entered an order directing the Johnson County Bank to comply with the levy.2 In response to a government motion, the district court’s order was amended so that the escrow fund would be first used to satisfy plaintiff’s outstanding tax liabilities for tax years 1973 and 1974, with the remainder to apply to plaintiff’s 1975 and 1976 tax liabilities.

Plaintiff contends that, pursuant to the February 22, 1980 Agreement, the IRS released or waived any future claim to the escrow fund. It is assumed by this court that the levy on the 1975 and 1976 tax monies due form the basis for plaintiff’s breach of contract and fraudulent levy claims.

Defendant argues in its motion for summary judgment that there has been no breach of contract, that this court lacks jurisdiction over plaintiff’s fraudulent levy claim, and that the court does not have jurisdiction to consider claims against the named individual defendants.3

Discussion

Jurisdiction

At the outset, this court holds in favor of defendant with regard to the question of jurisdiction to consider claims against the named individual defendants. This lawsuit was styled with the names of individual defendants Vernon E. Lewis, Robert S. Streepy, Clarence M. King, Jr., and James L. Gaunce, Jr. In addition, the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Justice, and United States were named as defendants.4 Each one of the named indi[461]*461vidual defendants is listed in the caption of plaintiffs complaint in their official capacities. No specific allegations, other than each having the authority to bind the government, are made against any of the above-mentioned persons in either an individual or official capacity.

The court considers the United States as the only proper party named in this action. As stated by the United States District Court for the District of Kansas:

It is apparent that this action is against the United States and only nominally against the individuals named. The general rule is that an action against an officer of the federal government, in his official capacity (which Allen alleges), is a suit against the sovereign. Helton v. United States, 532 F.Supp. 813, 819 (S.D.Ga.1982) (citing Hawaii v. Gordon, 373 U.S. 57, 58 [83 S.Ct. 1052, 1053, 10 L.Ed.2d 191] (1963)). This is true when the relief sought would “expend itself on the public treasury or domain.” Id. [citing Land v. Dollar, 330 U.S. 731, 738 [67 S.Ct. 1009, 1012, 91 L.Ed. 1209] (1947)]. Plaintiff seeks damages and a return of money paid to the IRS, and it is apparent that such an award would be paid by the government. Thus, the action is treated as one against the United States, and the individuals must be dismissed. Cf. Yannicelli v. Nash, 354 F.Supp. 143, 149 (D.N.J.1973). [Brackets in original.]

Lewis G. Allen v. United States, Mem. Nos. 83-2185, 83-2331, 83-2078 (Kan. Aug. 3, 1984).5

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9 Cl. Ct. 458, 57 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 742, 1986 U.S. Claims LEXIS 913, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/allen-v-united-states-cc-1986.