International Business MacHines, Corp. v. United States

26 Ct. Int'l Trade 232, 2002 CIT 17

• Court: United States Court of International Trade
• Decided: February 21, 2002
• Docket: Court 94-10-00625
• Status: Published

Opinion

Final Order

Restani, Judge:

This Matter Was The Original Test Case regarding interest on Harbor Maintenance Tax refunds. Before the court is plaintiffs motion of February 4, 2001 to lift stay and enter judgment.

After the court’s original judgment in favor of plaintiff herein, the Court of Appeals reversed the part of the judgment finding interest owing under the applicable statute. See IBM v. United States, 201 F.3d 1367 (Fed.Cir. 2000), rev’g 22 CIT 519 (Ct. Int’l Trade 1998), amended by Errata dated June 9, 2000 (partial reversal substituted for remand). Plaintiff did not raise its constitutional arguments (which this court did not reach) in its response brief in the appeal. After mandate issued, plaintiff attempted to raise such issues here and defendant opposed the attempt. See Pl.’s Mem. Supp. Summ. J. at 3; Def.’s Resp. at 4-7; Pl.’s Reply at 12-16. The court stayed this case pending resolution of the constitutional issues in other cases. See Order dated June 4, 2001.

No party with a judgment for refund of Harbor Maintenance Taxes pursuant to 28 U.S.C.§1581(i) jurisdiction, and whose interest award depended on a favorable resolution of this action, asked the court to amend such judgment to reference a different test case prior to partial reversal in this matter, even though constitutional issues had not been placed squarely before the appellate court. Thus, this remains the test case for all such judgments, and the court finds that this matter should be completed at the earliest time possible.

The Court of Appeals did not remand this matter for the court to consider constitutional issues after plaintiffs sought reconsideration in the appellate court on such grounds. The appellate court simply reversed the interest award aspect of the judgment. See IBM, 201 F.3d at 1374-75 (subsequent errata amending conclusion to reverse “[t]he portion of the judgment of the Court of International Trade ordering interest pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2411 as owing on the principal amount adjudged.”). Therefore, the court will not consider plaintiffs March, 2001 motion for summary judgment further. If the appellate court intended this court to consider the issue, the court would deny any award of interest for the reasons stated in Swisher Int’l, Inc. v. United States, Slip Op. 01-144 (Ct. Int’l Trade Dec. 11, 2001).

If the Court of Appeals reverses Swisher or any other HMT interest case addressing constitutional claims, it is up to it to recall the mandate in this matter, if possible. This court may not amend the judgment of the appellate court.

Accordingly, plaintiffs motion of February 4, 2002, to lift stay and enter judgment is granted in part, plaintiffs motion for summary judgment for award of interest is denied and this matter is terminated.