Equity Hernando Woods, Inc. v. United States

888 F. Supp. 135, 76 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5271, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7157, 1995 WL 321520
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedMay 22, 1995
DocketNo. 93-1104-CIV-T-17
StatusPublished

This text of 888 F. Supp. 135 (Equity Hernando Woods, Inc. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Equity Hernando Woods, Inc. v. United States, 888 F. Supp. 135, 76 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5271, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7157, 1995 WL 321520 (M.D. Fla. 1995).

Opinion

ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

KOVACHEVICH, District Judge.

The cause is before the Court on defendant’s motion for summary judgment, filed February 15, 1995 (Docket Nos. 27-29), and response thereto, filed April 7, 1995 (Docket Nos. 31-32).

This circuit clearly holds that summary judgment should only be entered when the moving party has sustained its burden of showing the absence of a genuine issue as to any material fact when all the evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Sweat v. Miller Brewing Co., 708 F.2d 655 (11th Cir.1983). All doubt as to the existence of a genuine issue of material fact must be resolved against the moving party. Hayden v. First National Bank of Mt. Pleasant, 595 F.2d 994, 996-7 (5th Cir.1979), quoting Gross v. Southern Railway Co., 414 F.2d 292 (5th Cir.1969). Factual disputes preclude summary judgment.

The Supreme Court of the United States held, in Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986):

In our view the plain language of Rule 56(c) mandates the entry of summary judgment, after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. Id. at 322, 106 S.Ct. at 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d at 273.

The Court also said, “Rule 56(e) therefore requires that nonmoving party to go beyond the pleadings and by her own affidavits, or by the ‘depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file,’ designate ‘specific facts showing there is a genuine issue for trial.’ ” Celotex Corp., at p. 324, 106 S.Ct. at p. 2553, 91 L.Ed.2d at p. 274. As the district court in Coghlan v. H.J. Heinz Co., 851 F.Supp. 808 (N.D.Tex.1994), summarized:

Although a court must “review the facts drawing all inferences most favorable to the party opposing the motion,” ... the nonmovant may not rest on mere allegations or denials in its pleadings; in short, “the adverse party’s response ... must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” FED.R.CIV.P. 56(e). However, merely colorable evidence of evidence not significantly probative will not defeat a properly supported summary judgment ... The existence of a mere scintilla of evidence will not suffice ... (cites omitted) at 810-811.

This case commenced on July 8,1993, with the filing of a “Complaint for Return of Property” by the plaintiff. The complaint stated the following: 1) the claim is pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code for return of property wrongfully delivered by a third party to the defendant; 2) the plaintiff owned the proceeds in a certain bank account formerly titled in the name of Aurora Investments, Inc. and maintained at First Union National Bank in Largo, Florida, account [137]*137number 14806069215; 3) the plaintiffs interest was acquired pursuant to a state court judicial foreclosure sale and Amended Certificate of Title, issued December 16, 1991; 4) in January 1992, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) District Office in Jacksonville, Florida issued a levy against the property of a taxpayer known as Hernando Woods, a Florida general partnership and an entity distinct from and unrelated to plaintiff; and 5) by mistake or oversight, and in derogation of the rights of the plaintiff in the proceeds of the account, First Union National Bank erroneously delivered $22,335.62 to the defendant from plaintiffs account. Plaintiff seeks return of this money, minus $1,534.72 (plus $92.02 interest) which was returned to the plaintiff by the defendant.

The defendant has now moved for summary judgment on the ground that it has not waived sovereign immunity because the statute of limitations expired prior to the filing of the complaint. The defendant asserts the following to be material facts as to which there is no genuine issue:

1. The IRS mailed a notice of levy to the First Union National Bank of Florida, 5250 E. Bay Drive, Clearwater, Florida, on January 16, 1992, to collect a tax liability of Hernando Woods, in the amount of $20,-800.90.
2. The levy was received by the bank, at the Clearwater location, on January 22, 1992, and was sent by facsimile that date to the bank’s central levy processing unit. (See Ex. A, Docket No. 29).
3. The bank honored the levy on January 23, 1992, by remitting $20,800.90 to the United States.
4. The plaintiff here is not the taxpayer who is the subject of the levy.
5. The plaintiff does not allege the date of any administrative claim for the return of the funds.

Attached to the defendant’s Exhibit A, is the acknowledgement and results form which was completed by the bank, Form 668-A. That form indicates that the levy was received on January 23, 1992.

In response, the plaintiff, through the affidavit of its counsel Catherine Peek McEwen (Docket No. 31) alleges the following “facts”:

1. By letter of October 23, 1992, Ms. McEwen made a claim on behalf of the plaintiff for a return of the funds in question. The original of this letter is with the IRS; Ms. McEwen has misplaced her copy, and the defendant received a copy of the letter, and mail receipt, on October 21, 1994.
2. The plaintiff has not received any notice of disallowance of the claim of October 1992 from the IRS.

Attached to the affidavit is a copy of a letter from George A. Green, Chief Advisory Unit Special Procedures Function, IRS, dated January 4, 1993. The letter refers to the plaintiff’s “claim for -wrongful levy dated October 23, 1992.”

As a sovereign, the United States is immune from suit except where it has specifically been waived and may be sued only to the extent of an unequivocal waiver. United States v. Mitchell, 463 U.S. 206, 103 S.Ct. 2961, 77 L.Ed.2d 580 (1983); Overton v. United States, 925 F.2d 1282 (10th Cir.1991). Any waiver should be strictly construed, including any applicable limitations period, and the courts should neither expand nor restrict the waiver. United States v. Kubrick, 444 U.S. 111, 100 S.Ct. 352, 62 L.Ed.2d 259 (1979); Hunt v. Air Force, 29 F.3d 583 (1994). Furthermore, the party bringing a cause of action against the sovereign bears the burden of showing that there is a waiver of its immunity from suit. Baker v. United States, 817 F.2d 560 (9th Cir.1987). If this action was filed outside of the statutory time limits, there is no valid waiver of immunity and the defendant must be found free from suit.

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888 F. Supp. 135, 76 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5271, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7157, 1995 WL 321520, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/equity-hernando-woods-inc-v-united-states-flmd-1995.