Janex Corp. v. United States

80 Cust. Ct. 146, 1978 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 1026
CourtUnited States Customs Court
DecidedJune 7, 1978
DocketC.D. 4748; Court No. 77-5-00721
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 80 Cust. Ct. 146 (Janex Corp. 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
Janex Corp. v. United States, 80 Cust. Ct. 146, 1978 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 1026 (cusc 1978).

Opinion

Newman, Judge:

This action presents a classic instance for the appropriate utilization of a summary judgment — the procedural remedy which obviates protracted, expensive and unnecessary litigation where there is no justiciable question of fact.

The within case is before the court on cross-motions for summary judgment pursuant to rule 8.2. Presented for determination is the proper tariff classification for certain articles described on the invoices as “Eaggedy Ann Nite Timers” and “Eaggedy Andy Nite Timers”, imported from Hong Kong through the port of New York in 1976.

[147]*147The three entries involved herein were liquidated by the regional commissioner of customs as follows: In entry Nos. K520162 and K523068, the merchandise was assessed duty at the rate of 17.5 per centum ad valorem under the provision for "Dolls” in item 737.20, TSUS, as modified by T.D. 68-9; in entry No. K436738, the identical merchandise was assessed at the rate of 8.5 per centum ad valorem under the provision in item 772.15, TSUS, as modified by T.D. 68-9, for “household articles not specially provided for * * * of rubber or plastics: * * * Other”.

Plaintiff challenges the Government’s classifications, contending that the merchandise is properly dutiable at the rate of 5.5 per centum ad valorem under the provision in item 688.40, TSUS, as modified by T.D. 68-9, for “Electrical articles * * * not specially provided for”.

I.

To the extent relevant to these cross-motions, the record comprises the pleadings (including plaintiff’s sales brochure depicting the imported articles, which' is attached to the complaint and marked exhibit A), and the following:

Plaintiff submitted: an affidavit by its president, A. W. Hughes, Jr., and a sample of the Raggedy Andy Nite-timer containing two "D” size dry cell batteries.1

Defendant submitted: a sample of the Raggedy Andy Nite-timer (marked exhibit A), which is identical to plaintiff’s sample, except that a plastic ring at the end of a pull-cord at the rear of the figure is missing; two “D” size dry cell batteries in a brown bag (marked exhibit B); and a copy of a letter (marked exhibit C) from plaintiff’s counsel, stating that certain samples of the merchandise in issue submitted to defendant are identical to those covered by the entries in this action.

There is no dispute that the Raggedy Andy samples before the court are representative of the Raggedy Ann articles, for which no sample was furnished by either party.

Mr. Hughes’ affidavit avers:

As president of Janex Corp., he was personally involved in the design and development of the “Nite-timers”. These Nite-timers were designed, developed and sold by plaintiff as night-lights for small children, and “include features, which make them capable of being placed on a night table, dresser, or similar piece of children’s furniture so that when lifted they would provide a source of illumination in the dark, or could provide such illumination by pulling the cord on [148]*148the back”. Page 6 of plaintiff’s 1976 catalog (exhibit A attached to> the complaint) accurately depicts the Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy Nite-timers. Plaintiff’s sample of the Raggedy Andy Nite-timers is identical to the imported Raggedy Andy Nite-timers, and is representative of the imported Raggedy Ann Nite-timers. The-Raggedy Andy and Raggedy Ann Nite-timers differ “only to the-extent that the doll housing is Raggedy Ann rather than Raggedy Andy”. The imported articles were not sold, marketed or advertised: as dolls, but as “Nite-timers”.

Defendant interposed no supporting or opposing affidavit.

II.

Fundamentally, of course, samples are potent witnesses and have-great probative effect respecting the purpose for which an article is^ designed. Amico, Inc. v. United States, 79 Cust. Ct. 125, 130, C.D. 4723, 447 F. Supp. 444 (1977), appeal pending; The Ashflash Corporation v. United States, 76 Cust. Ct. 112, 120, C.D. 4643, 412 F. Supp. 585 (1976); Amico, Inc. (Formerly Known As: Exhibit Sales, Inc.) v. United States, 71 Cust. Ct. 182, 186, C.D. 4494 (1973). And this probative effect is particularly true here.

An examination of the samples submitted by the parties discloses that the imported articles consist of plastic figures, approximately 8-X inches in height, representing the form and features of the well-known storybook characters, Raggedy Andy and Raggedy Ann. The figures have a hollow interior which accommodates two “D” size dry cell batteries,2 electrical switches, wiring, a bulb and other electrical components for illumination through the top of the figures. The articles are designed to light automatically when lifted off a surface (i.e., a dresser top), and switch off when set down again. This operation is accomplished by a pressure switch, which protrudes through the figure’s feet when the article is lifted off a surface, and is depressed when the figure is set down again. Additionally, each figure has a pull-cord switch with a ring attached by which the light may be turned on for a brief period and then automatically turned off. Activation of the pressure or pull-cord switches, in addition to making the light turn on and off, also causes the figure’s eyes to raise and lower simultaneously with turning the light on and off.

Defendant’s exhibit A was operated in a darkened room and in artificial light, and was found to emit illumination typical of a nightlight. Cf. The Ashflash Corporation v. United States, supra; Amico, Inc. (Formerly Known As: Exhibit Sales, Inc.) v. United States, supra. Although defendant asserts (brief, p. 7) that its sample (exhibit A) illuminates for only three seconds, my examination revealed that when [149]*149tRe sample was lifted from a' surface and held in the hand, it remained illuminated indefinitely, and when the pull-cord switch was utilized, it remained illuminated for approximately fifteen seconds.

Each Nite-timer is packaged for retail sale in a cardboard box, upon which is prominently printed:

Raggedy Andy t.m. Nite-Txmek t.m.

Pobtable! Take It, Cabby It, Anywhebe!

The Auto-Magic Boy & Gihl Nite-Time Light

Pick Me Up ... Light Goes On ... Eyes Open Wide!

Fob Ages 4 & Oyeb

Put Me Down .... Light Goes Oef .Eyes Close!

BATTERY OPERATED Requires 2 “D” Cell batteries (not included)

Set Timeb. Raggedy Andy Keeps His Light on Until You’be Safely in Bed .... And He Goes To Sleep With You!

Significantly, nowhere on the package is the merchandise referred to as a “doll”.

III.

Turning now to the legal aspects, plaintiff contends that the nightlight feature makes the imported articles “more than” dolls and properly classifiable under item 688.40, TSUS, as electrical articles, not specially provided for. Further, plaintiff argues that the articles covered by entry No. K436738 are more specifically provided for under item 688.40, TSUS, than under item 772.15, TSUS.

Defendant’s position is that the articles in all three entries are classifiable as dolls under item 737.20, TSUS; and that respecting entry No. K436738, plaintiff’s claim under item 688.40 should be overruled without affirming the classification under item 772.15, TSUS.3

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Bluebook (online)
80 Cust. Ct. 146, 1978 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 1026, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/janex-corp-v-united-states-cusc-1978.