American Motorists Insurance Co. v. United States

5 Ct. Int'l Trade 33
CourtUnited States Court of International Trade
DecidedFebruary 1, 1983
DocketCourt No. 82-1-00053
StatusPublished

This text of 5 Ct. Int'l Trade 33 (American Motorists Insurance Co. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of International Trade primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
American Motorists Insurance Co. v. United States, 5 Ct. Int'l Trade 33 (cit 1983).

Opinion

Re, Chief Judge:

In this action, plaintiff American Motorists Insurance Company, the surety for the importer of record, Hector Rivera-Siaca, seeks the refund of additional duties assessed upon the reliquidation of entries made by Mr. Rivera. Plaintiff alleges that the reliquidations are void because they were erroneously carried out pursuant to section 520(cXD of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. § 1520(cXD (Supp. IV 1980), which authorizes the reliquidation of entries to correct a “clerical error, mistake of fact or other inadvertence.” Defendant, in opposition, contends that although some documents were stamped with a legend indicating that the entries were being reliquidated under the authority of section 520(cXD, the entries were, in fact, reliquidated pursuant to section 521 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. § 1521 (1976). Section 521 permits the reliquidation of entries which Customs has probable cause to believe were made by fraudulent means. Defendant also contends that, even if the reliquidations were ineffective, it may retain the duties under section 592(d) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. § 1592(d) (Supp. IV 1980), which authorizes Customs to collect any duties of which the United States has been fraudulently deprived. Both parties have moved for summary judgment.

The facts of this case establish that Customs reliquidated the subject entries pursuant to section 521, based on the allegedly fraudulent acts of the importer. Mr. Rivera, the importer, knew that the entries were being reliquidated because they were fraudulently made. Furthermore, plaintiff does not allege that it was unaware of the basis for the reliquidations. Since the use of the wrong stamp did not mislead or prejudice the rights of plaintiff, or the importer, in any way, the court deems the error harmless and finds that the subject entries were properly reliquidated under the authority of section 521. It is, therefore, unnecessary to consider whether Customs might retain the duties pursuant to section [36]*36592(d). Plaintiffs motion for summary judgment is denied; defendant’s cross-motion is granted.

In ruling on cross-motions for summary judgment, the court must determine if there exist any genuine issues of material fact and, if there are none, decide whether either party has demonstrated its entitlement to judgment as a matter of law. Carson M. Simon & Co. v. United States, 3 CIT 4 (1982); S. S. Kresge Co. v. United States, 77 Cust. Ct. 154, 157, C.R.D. 76-6 (1976).

Preliminarily, the court must determine what evidentiary materials it will consider in deciding whether any genuine factual issues exist. In addition to the pleadings and official record, which the court may consider without further certification, a party seeking summary judgment must annex to its motion a statement of the material facts as to which it is contended there is no genuine issue to be tried. If the material facts set forth in the statement are not controverted by the opposing party, they are deemed admitted. Ct. Int’l Trade R. 56(i). See also Suwannee Steamship Co. v. United States, 79 Cust. Ct. 19, 21, C.D. 4708, 435 F. Supp. 389, 390 (1977); Mobilite, Inc. v. United States, 70 Cust. Ct. 359, 363-64, C.R.D. 73-11, 358 F. Supp. 267, 271 (1973).

The moving party may also support its motion for summary judgment with sworn affidavits setting forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence. The affidavits may be supplemented by depositions, answers to interrogatories, exhibits and other evidence which would be admissible at trial. Ct. Int’l Trade R. 56(f); Wright & Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure §§ 2721, 2722 (1973). If a motion for summary judgment is properly supported, the adverse party “may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of his pleadings, but his response * * * must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Ct. Int’l Trade R. 56(f). See also L. Batlin & Son, Inc. v. United States, 69 Cust. Ct. 14, 15, C.D. 4365, 345 F. Supp. 996, 997 (1972), aff’d, 61 CCPA 17, C.A.D. 1111, 487 F. 2d 916 (1973).

On these cross-motions for summary judgment, each party has submitted in compliance with Rule 56(i) a statement of allegedly undisputed material facts. In response to plaintiffs statement, defendant specifically controverts plaintiffs assertion that the section 520(c)(1) stamp indicates the basis for the reliquidations, and goes on to make additional assertions of facts tending to prove that the entries had been reliquidated pursuant to section 521 because of fraud. Plaintiff, rather than controverting defendant’s assertions, avers only that they are “subject to trial.”

In addition to its statement of undisputed facts, defendant has supported its motion for summary judgment by submitting to the court the following evidentiary items: plaintiffs responses to defendant’s requests for admissions; plaintiffs responses to defendant’s interrogatories; sworn affidavits, with accompanying exhibits, of four customs officials involved in the reliquidation of the entries; [37]*37a copy of the importer's bond; and a copy of the “Report of Investigation” generated by Customs investigation of Mr. Rivera’s importing practices.

Plaintiff does not object to any of the evidentiary material submitted to the court except certain documents included in the official record transmitted to the court of Customs pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2635(aXU (Supp. IV 1980). Included in each of the 23 packets of documents constituting the official records of the subject entries are a request for reliquidation, Miami Region Form IV-RC-79(R), and a copy of the Customs Headquarters letter granting the district director of Customs at San Juan permission to request reli-quidation of the entries. Plaintiff contends that these two documents should not be included in the official record because they are not among the documents specifically enumerated in section 2635(aXl), nor do they fall within the class of documents listed in that section. Consequently, plaintiff argues that the court may not consider the Headquarters letter or the requests for reliquidation in deciding these motions for summary judgment.

28 U.S.C. § 2635 provides, in pertinent part:

(a)(1) Upon service of summons on the Secretary of the Treasury in any civil action contesting the denial of a protest under section 515 of the Tariff Act of 1930 or the denial of a petition under section 516 of such Act, the appropriate customs officer shall forthwith transmit to the clerk of the Court of International Trade, as prescribed by its rules, and as a part of the official record—
(A) The consumption or other entry and the entry summary;
(B) The commercial invoice;
(C) The special customs invoice;
(D) A copy of the protest or petition;
(E) A copy of the denial, in whole or in part, of the protest or petition;

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Related

Suwannee Steamship Co. v. United States
435 F. Supp. 389 (U.S. Customs Court, 1977)
L. Batlin & Son, Inc. v. United States
345 F. Supp. 996 (U.S. Customs Court, 1972)
FLAGSTAFF LIQUOR COMPANY v. United States
388 F. Supp. 554 (U.S. Customs Court, 1974)
Royal Bead Novelty Co. v. United States
342 F. Supp. 1394 (U.S. Customs Court, 1972)
United States v. L. Batlin & Son, Inc.
487 F.2d 916 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1973)
Air-Sea Brokers, Inc. v. United States
596 F.2d 1008 (Customs and Patent Appeals, 1979)
Mobilite, Inc. v. United States
70 Cust. Ct. 359 (U.S. Customs Court, 1973)
S.S. Kresge Co. v. United States
77 Cust. Ct. 154 (U.S. Customs Court, 1976)

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Bluebook (online)
5 Ct. Int'l Trade 33, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/american-motorists-insurance-co-v-united-states-cit-1983.