American Airlines, Inc. v. United States

71 Fed. Cl. 744, 2006 U.S. Claims LEXIS 174, 2006 WL 1737941
CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedJune 21, 2006
DocketNo. 04-1736C
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 71 Fed. Cl. 744 (American Airlines, Inc. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Federal Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
American Airlines, Inc. v. United States, 71 Fed. Cl. 744, 2006 U.S. Claims LEXIS 174, 2006 WL 1737941 (uscfc 2006).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

BRADEN, Judge.

RELEVANT FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND1

The remaining issue, to be determined by the court, is the amount of damages that the Government allegedly owes American Airlines. The Government and American Airlines, however, disagree as to how damages should be calculated. See Gov’t Mot. at 4-6; Pl. Resp. at 2.

On November 30, 2005, the court issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order granting American Airlines’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment, holding that the Government exceeded the statutory authority granted by Congress in the Immigration User Fee Statute, 8 U.S.C. § 1356,2 by requiring American Airlines to remit fees that were not collected by the airline from qualifying passengers. See Am. Airlines v. United States, 68 Fed.Cl. 723, 731-32 (2005). In addition, [745]*745the court held that the Government exceeded the authority proscribed in the Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (“AQI”) User Fee Regulations, 7 C.F.R. § 354.3(f), promulgated by the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 136a, by requiring American Airlines to remit fees that were not collected by the airline from qualifying passengers. Id. at 731-32.3

On March 29, 2006 the Government filed a motion to amend the November 30, 2005 Memorandum Opinion and Order and requested certification for interlocutory appeal, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(d)(2). Therein, the Government argued that the issue of liability, based on the interpretation of both the Immigration User Fee Statute and the AQI User Fee Regulations, should be certified to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for interlocutory appeal. See Gov’t Mot. at 1-2. On April 11, 2006, American Airlines filed a Response. On April 26, 2006 the Government filed a Reply.

The court has determined that the Government’s motion does not meet the standard for interlocutory appeal set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 1292(d)(2).

DISCUSSION

A. Jurisdiction.

The court previously determined that the United States Court of Federal Claims has jurisdiction to adjudicate the claims alleged in the December 6, 2004 Complaint. See Am. Airlines, 68 Fed.Cl. at 728.

B. Standard For Interlocutory Appeal.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has jurisdiction over “final decision[s] of the United States Court of Federal Claims.” 28 U.S.C. § 1295(a)(3). A decision is final when it “ends the litigation on the merits and leaves nothing for the court to do but execute the judgment.” Catlin v. United States, 324 U.S. 229, 233, 65 S.Ct. 631, 89 L.Ed. 911 (1945) (citations omitted).

Congress, however, established an exception to this finality requirement: if the trial court certifies a question for interlocutory appeal and the appellate court accepts the question. See 28 U.S.C. § 1292(d)(2). Interlocutory appeals, however, are only reserved for “exceptional eases.” See Caterpillar Inc. v. Lewis, 519 U.S. 61, 74, 117 S.Ct. 467, 136 L.Ed.2d 437 (1996) (discussing that “Congress’ design [was] to reserve interlocutory review for exceptional cases” under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b), the courts of appeals’ companion rule to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(d)(2) (citations and internal quotations omitted)).

Section 1292(d)(2) of the United States Code sets forth a three-part test to determine whether a question may be certified for interlocutory appeal, ie., whether: “a controlling question of law” is presented; that question is one “with respect to which there is substantial ground for difference of opinion;” and “an immediate appeal from that order may materially advance the ultimate termination of the litigation.” Id. This test is to be applied strictly to preserve the important policies that underlie the final judgment rule, i.e., avoiding piecemeal litigation, avoiding harassment due to separate appeals from the same litigation, and “promoting efficient judicial administration.” Pause Tech. LLC v. TiVo Inc., 401 F.3d 1290, 1293 (Fed.Cir.2005) (citing Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. v. Ris[746]*746jord, 449 U.S. 368, 374, 101 S.Ct. 669, 66 L.Ed.2d 571 (1981)).

C. The Court’s Resolution Of The Government’s Motion For Certification In This Case.

1. The Court’s Interpretation of The Immigration User Fee Statute And The AQI User Fee Regulations Is A Controlling Question Of Law.

The Government challenges the court’s interpretation of the Immigration User Fee Statute, 8 U.S.C. § 1356, and the AQI User Fee Regulations, 7 C.F.R. § 354.3(f), in American Airlines, and asserts that the court’s interpretation presents a “controlling question of law.” See Gov’t. Reply at 1 (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1292(d)(2)). Therein, the court held that the plain language of the Immigration User Fee Statute and the AQI User Fee Regulations did not require American Airlines to remit user fees that it was unable to collect. See Am. Airlines, 68 Fed. Cl. at 733. Therefore, the question presented is a controlling question of law, because a different interpretation of the statute and regulations would entitle the Government to judgment and obviate the damages portion of the this case. See Marriott Int’l Resorts, L.P. v. United States, 63 Fed.Cl. 144, 145 (2004), rev’d & on other grounds, 437 F.3d 1302 (Fed.Cir.2006) (controlling questions of law are those that “materially affect issues remaining to be decided in the trial court” (quoting Pikes Peak Family Housing, LLC v. United States, 40 Fed.Cl. 673, 686 (1998))) (reversed and remanded on other grounds). Accordingly, the court has determined that the first requirement under 28 U.S.C. § 1292

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71 Fed. Cl. 744, 2006 U.S. Claims LEXIS 174, 2006 WL 1737941, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/american-airlines-inc-v-united-states-uscfc-2006.