In re September, 1975 Special Grand Jury

435 F. Supp. 538, 1977 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15370
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Indiana
DecidedJune 17, 1977
DocketMisc. No. 300
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 435 F. Supp. 538 (In re September, 1975 Special Grand Jury) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Indiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re September, 1975 Special Grand Jury, 435 F. Supp. 538, 1977 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15370 (N.D. Ind. 1977).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION

McNAGNY, District Judge.

This matter is before the Court on the Motion of Thomas R. Fadell, by counsel, to quash a subpoena duces tecum duly issued to him by the September, 1975 Special Grand Jury for this District. The subpoena requires the production of the books and business records of the business entity known as Mansard du Lac, with which the witness Thomas Fadell is associated.

A hearing was conducted on the motion on April 28, 1977, at which the petitioner was represented by counsel and evidence and oral argument were received by the Court. The sworn testimony of witnesses and other credible evidence admitted at the hearing of this matter are the basis for the following Findings of Fact:

1. The September, 1975 Special Grand , Jury issued and caused to be served upon Thomas R. Fadell a subpoena duces tecum requiring the production of certain records of Mansard du Lac, allegedly a partnership. Said subpoena was served on April 18, 1977, and required the presence of the witness with the documents on April 28,1977.
2. The subpoena is not overly broad and specifies with particularity the documents to be produced.1
3. The entity Mansard du Lac was formerly known as Town and Country Mobile Home Estates.
4. Town and Country Mobile Home Estates was established in approximately 1969. At the establishment of Town and Country Mobile Home Estates the witness Fadell and his spouse owned a one-half (V2) interest and another couple, Larry and Vernie Stevens, owned the remaining one-half (V2) interest.
5. No written instrument memorialized the agreement between the owners of Town and Country Mobile Home Estates.
6. Town and Country Mobile Home Estates was formed to run, build and operate a mobile home park. Each of the four owners contributed one-fourth (Vi) toward funding the mobile home park.
7. The witness Thomas Fadell kept the books and records of Town and Country Mobile Home Estates. The witness did not receive a salary for his efforts.
8. In approximately 1970 or 1971, Thomas Fadell and his spouse equally contributed to purchase the interests of Larry Stevens and Vernie Stevens and changed the name of the business [541]*541to Mansard du Lac. Again, no written instrument memorialized the business relationship.
9. Neither Thomas Fadell nor his wife have ever received a salary for their efforts in managing Mansard du Lac.
10. Profits derived from the operation of Mansard du Lac have been divided equally between Thomas Fadell and his spouse, Barbara. Fadell.
11. Thomas R. Fadell maintained the books and records of Mansard du Lac and kept said books and records within his custody and control.
12. The business entity maintains stationery or letterheads in the name of Mansard du Lac. The business also advertises under the name of Mansard du Lac.
13. Some business transactions in the mobile home park are conducted by Thomas Fadell personally and not as Mansard du Lac. This business is carried on separate books and is reported separately on Thomas Fa-dell’s personal income tax returns.
14. Federal partnership tax returns in the name of Town and Country Mobile Home Estates were filed for the calendar years 1970 and 1971. .
15. Federal partnership tax returns were filed by Mansard du Lac for the calendar years 1972 through 1975.
16. Both Thomas Fadell and Barbara Fadell have signed tax returns in the capacity as partners of the entity Mansard du Lac.

The principal issue presented for decision is whether the documents sought by the Grand Jury are of such a nature that the petitioner, Thomas R. Fadell, may assert the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination with respect to their production. In order to resolve this issue it is necessary to determine the character of the business entity involved and petitioner’s relationship to that entity.

A. Mansard du Lac is a Partnership.

A crucial first step in deciding whether the books and records of a business entity are subject to a subpoena duces tecum is determining the nature of the business enterprise. The facts developed at the hearing coupled with the commercial law of the State of Indiana lead the Court to conclude that Mansard du Lac is in fact and law a partnership.

At the hearing of April 28, 1977, Thomas R. Fadell testified that he and his wife, Barbara, were the co-owners of Mansard du Lac. Mr. Fadell further testified that he and his wife contributed equally to the business and each expected to share equally in any profits. Mr. Fadell related that since the enterprise took the name Mansard du Lac in approximately 1970, advertisements, stationery and letterheads have employed that assumed name. The petitioner testified that in recent years Mansard du Lac has filed federal partnership tax returns. This was verified by a witness from the Internal Revenue Service who produced copies of those partnership tax returns for the years 1972 through 1975.

Indiana partnership law is contained in I.C. 23-4-1-1 (1976), et seq., the Uniform Partnership Act. I.C. 23-4-1-7 (1976) establishes rules for determining the existence of a partnership. Under that section, the sharing of profits is prima facie evidence of partnership. No facts were produced to destroy the inference that Thomas and Barbara Fadell were in fact partners in the operation of the mobile home park. • On the contrary, Mr. Fadell testified that neither he nor his spouse drew a salary, but shared the profits equally. The fact that no express partnership agreement was entered into is irrelevant to the legal existence of a partnership. Trojnar v. Bihlman, 136 Ind.App. 263, 200 N.E.2d 227 (1964).

While the decision of the Fadells to file partnership tax returns is not in itself determinative, it does provide insight as to how the parties themselves viewed their relationship. Evidence of joint control over the affairs of Mansard du Lac is further provided by the fact that Barbara Fadell signed at least one federal partnership tax [542]*542return representing both partners. This contradicts the testimony of Thomas Fadell that the enterprise was operated solely by him.

The testimony of Thomas Fadell at the hearing on the motion to quash the subpoena, Indiana partnership law, and the filing of partnership tax returns combine to persuade the Court that Mansard du Lac is in fact a partnership.

B. The Partnership Mansard dn Lac is an Independent Institutional Entity and its Records are Subject to Production.

The relationship between a business enterprise and the privilege against self-incrimination has tortuously developed over the years. Corporation have long been held subject to the subpoena power of the Court of Grand Jury despite any claimed personal Fifth Amendment rights. Wilson v. United States, 221 U.S. 361, 31 S.Ct. 538, 55 L.Ed. 771 (1911).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

In re 25 Grand Jury
654 F. Supp. 647 (N.D. Indiana, 1987)
In Re Grand Jury Subpoena Duces Tecum (Doe)
605 F. Supp. 174 (E.D. New York, 1985)
Burford v. Commissioner
1984 T.C. Memo. 466 (U.S. Tax Court, 1984)
Paramount Pictures Corp. v. Miskinis
344 N.W.2d 788 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1984)
People v. Doe
89 A.D.2d 605 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1982)
Crocker United Factors, Inc. v. Schultz
496 F. Supp. 141 (S.D. New York, 1980)
People v. Lynch
404 N.E.2d 814 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1980)
United States v. Lefkowitz
464 F. Supp. 227 (C.D. California, 1979)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
435 F. Supp. 538, 1977 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15370, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-september-1975-special-grand-jury-innd-1977.