Fisher Scientific Co. v. United States

35 Cust. Ct. 383
CourtUnited States Customs Court
DecidedJuly 21, 1955
DocketReap. Dec. 8469; Entry No. 582, etc.
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 35 Cust. Ct. 383 (Fisher Scientific Co. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Customs Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Fisher Scientific Co. v. United States, 35 Cust. Ct. 383 (cusc 1955).

Opinion

Ekwall, Judge:

These cases, which have been consolidated, involve importations of various types of analytical balances, with one exception, reappraisement No. 187910-A, which involves only special magnifiers for use with said balances. All were exported from Switzerland during the period between March 1949 and March 1952. The magnifiers were entered under duress. The magnifiers were appraised at Swiss francs 15 each, plus 31.25 per centum packed, whereas plaintiff claims the invoice values are the proper values. In the initial case, reappraisement No. 186965-A, which was entered under duress, the merchandise consisted of item No. 100 A5M. Appraisement was made at Swiss francs 2,400 each, plus packing Swiss francs 50 each. Plaintiff claims a value of Swiss francs 1,800.

The issues, with the exception of the issue of the sales tax, are the same as in United States v. Fisher Scientific Company, 40 C. C. P. A. (Customs) 164, C. A. D. 513. It has been agreed that there is no export value and that foreign value, as defined in section 402 (c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended by the Customs Administrative Act of 1938, is the proper basis of valuation.

The record in the earlier Fisher case, supra, was incorporated over objection of Government counsel.

In the incorporated case, the documentary evidence consisted of an original and a supplementary affidavit (exhibits 1 and 2, suit 4740) of Hans H. Mettler, a director of the firm which manufactured and exported the goods, together with a report of the United States consul at Zurich, Switzerland, (exhibit A). Attached to said exhibit A is a list of 13 sales, covering some of the principal ones made by said firm during the period from April 1948 to February 1949. The merchandise there involved was exported between September 1948 and March 1949. In the instant case, in which the dates of exportation extended from April 1949 to and including March 1952, two affidavits by the same person were offered by plaintiff and received in evidence as exhibits 1 and 2 herein.

In the incorporated case, the entered values were affirmed by this court and the appellate court. The objection of the Government to [385]*385the admission of the earlier record related only to the extent of excluding that portion of such record which involved exhibit A, which is made a part of exhibits 1 and 2 in the instant case. Inasmuch as said exhibit A is now a part of the instant record, the court is of the opinion that it is immaterial whether or not it be excluded from the incorporated record.

Attached to the affidavit of Mr. Mettler (exhibit 1 herein) is a list of sales, which affiant states are in seven different categories. Six of these categories are sales of one each, consisting of sales to agents entitled to the wholesale price, irrespective of quantity; sales of demonstrator, modified, used or worn, and outdated or damaged models; sales to educational, scientific, and nonprofit-making institutions for their own use at special discounts; sale at a trade fair at reduced price to promote trade; sale to a favored customer for his own use and not for resale; and sales to purchasers for their own use and not for resale. The remaining group consists of sales in quantities of 7, 5, and 6 each to purchasers for resale and to purchasers for their own use and not for resale. The sales to purchasers for resale and to purchasers for their own use and not for resale constitute the only sales therein cited that might be considered made in the ordinary course of trade. The sales to purchasers for resale and to purchasers for their own use and not for resale are stated to be five; one of 7, one of 6, and three of 5 models. All the remaining 31 transactions are sales only to purchasers for their own use and not for resale, each consisting of 1 model. The list of sales fails to show names or addresses of the purchasers.

Affiant also states that there was no transaction in the ordinary course of trade in any quantity less than five to any purchaser who bought for the purpose of resale.

This affidavit also confirms every statement and everything contained in exhibit A, suit 4740, the report on investigation of market value, and in the price lists, dated September 1, 1948, and May 7,1949. Affiant further states that the Swiss sales tax was not included in the unit selling price, but was charged extra; that the tax attached only when the balances were sold to unregistered dealers or to purchasers who bought for their own use and consumption; and that balances were not freely offered for sale for home consumption in Switzerland in quantities of five or more at prices which included the tax.

Exhibit 2, which is by the same affiant, also has attached thereto copies of the affidavits (exhibits 1 and 2, suit 4740) and a photostat of the report, exhibit A, sufra, together with copies of price lists of September 1, 1948, and May 7, 1949, all of which were part of the record in suit 4740. There is also attached to this exhibit a price list of November 1, 1951, which is not translated and, therefore, is without probative value. Affiant, further reaffirms and confirms [386]*386each and every statement and everything contained in said earlier affidavits (exhibits 1 and 2 in suit 474Q), in the report on investigation of market value of E. Mettler analytical balances, and in the E. Mettler price lists, dated September 1, 1948, May 7, 1949, and November 1, 1951. Affiant further affirms that the statements and matter contained in said documents were equally valid from August 1, 1948, to October 31, 1951; that the statements contained in the price list, dated September 1, 1948, obtained and were equally valid from August 1, 1948, to and including May 6, 1949; that the matter appearing in the price list, dated May 7, 1949, obtained and was equally valid from May 7, 1949, to October 31, 1951; and that the statements contained in the price list, dated November 1, 1951, were equally valid from November 1, 1951, to September 2, 1953. Further, affiant affirms that all statements contained in the aforesaid documents were equally valid from November 1, 1951, to September 2, 1953, except as modified by the price list, dated November 1, 1951; except that, from and after the last-mentioned date, purchasers who bought for the purpose of reselling to others purchased in quantities of three or more balances of one or assorted models and never, in the ordinary course of trade, purchased in any quantity less than three of one or assorted balances; and except that, of all the sales made from and after November 1, 1951, to September 2, 1953, in quantities of three or more of one or assorted models to any and all purchasers, those who bought for resale to others and any other purchasers, the sales in quantities of three numerically exceeded and were more numerous than sales thereof in any other quantity. Affiant further affirms that these analytical balances were freely offered for sale and sold to all purchasers for home consumption in Switzerland as follows:

a) in quantities of five (5) or in quantities of more than five (5) of one or assorted models from August 1, 1948 to and including May 6, 1949 at the prices for quantities of five (5) or more set forth in the aforesaid price list dated September 1, 1948;
b) in quantities of five (5) or in quantities of more than five (5) of one or assorted models from May 7, 1949 to October 31, 1951 at the prices for quantities of five (5) or more set forth in the aforesaid price list dated May 7, 1949; and

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Related

Fisher Scientific Co. v. United States
36 Cust. Ct. 649 (U.S. Customs Court, 1956)

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Bluebook (online)
35 Cust. Ct. 383, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/fisher-scientific-co-v-united-states-cusc-1955.