Johnson v. United States

927 F. Supp. 36, 1996 WL 303314
CourtDistrict Court, D. Connecticut
DecidedMarch 18, 1996
DocketCivil No. 3:94CV1853 (AHN)
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 927 F. Supp. 36 (Johnson v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Connecticut primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Johnson v. United States, 927 F. Supp. 36, 1996 WL 303314 (D. Conn. 1996).

Opinion

RULING ON CROSS MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

NEVAS, District Judge.

The plaintiff, Thomas A. Johnson (“Johnson”), brings this action pro se against the United States to obtain a refund of amounts collected and applied to his tax liabilities for the 1984 tax year by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). Johnson contends that the IRS failed to make a legal assessment on December 19,1991 against his 1984 tax year.

Presently pending are the United States’ and Johnson’s motions for summary judgment. For the reasons set forth below, the United States’ Motion for Summary Judgment [doc # 11] is GRANTED, and Johnson’s Motion for Summary Judgment [doc. # 17] is DENIED.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

In a motion for summary judgment, the burden is on the moving party to establish that there are no genuine issues of material fact in dispute and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Rule 56(c), Fed.R.Civ.P.; Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 256, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2514, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). A court must grant summary judgment “ ‘if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact.’ ” Miner v. City of Glens Falls, 999 F.2d 655, 661 (2d Cir.1993) (citation omitted). “A dispute regarding a material fact is genuine ‘if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.’ ” Aldrich v. Randolph Cent. Sch. Dist., 963 F.2d 520, 523 (2d Cir.) (quoting Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. at 2510), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 965, 113 S.Ct. 440, 121 L.Ed.2d 359 (1992). After discovery, if the nonmoving party “has failed to make a sufficient showing on an essential element of [its] case with respect to which [it] has the burden of proof,” then summary judgment is appropriate. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). The court resolves “all ambiguities and draw[s] all inferences in favor of the nonmoving party in order to determine how a reasonable jury would decide.” Aldrich, 963 F.2d at 523. Thus, “[o]nly when reasonable minds could not differ as to the import of the evidence is summary judgment proper.” Bryant v. Maffucci, 923 F.2d 979, 982 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 849, 112 S.Ct. 152, 116 L.Ed.2d 117 (1991). See also Suburban Propane v. Proctor Gas, Inc., 953 F.2d 780, 788 (2d Cir.1992).

The movant’s burden does not shift when cross-motions for summary judgment are before the court; rather, each motion must be judged on its own merits. See Schwabenbauer v. Board of Educ., 667 F.2d 305, 313-14 (2d Cir.1981). The mere fact that both parties insist that no material is[38]*38sues of fact exist “does not establish that a trial is unnecessary____” 10A Charles A. Wright, Arthur A. Miller, & Mary Kay Kane, Federal Practice and Procedure, § 2720, at 17 (2d ed.1983). Indeed, “[c]ross motions are no more than a claim by each side that it alone is entitled to summary judgment, and the making of such inherently contradictory claims does not constitute an agreement that if one is rejected the other is necessarily justified____” Rains v. Cascade Indus., Inc., 402 F.2d 241, 245 (3rd Cir.1968). See also Home Ins. Co. v. Aetna Casualty & Sur. Co., 528 F.2d 1388, 1390 (2d Cir.1976) (even though both sides seek summary judgment in a case, it “does not [become] more readily available.”).

FACTS

The court finds the following relevant facts. On April 1, 1987, the IRS issued a notice of deficiency to Johnson for the tax years 1980 through 1984. (See Def.’s Statement Undisputed Mat. Facts at 1 [hereinafter “Def.’s Mat. Facts”].) On March 7, 1990, the Tax Court determined the deficiencies due from Johnson for this four year period. See Johnson v. Commissioner, 59 T.C.M. (CCH) 41, 1990 WL 20138 (1990).

On September 24, 1990, the IRS assessed the deficiencies determined by the Tax Court decision (“original assessment”). On July 9, 1991, the IRS filed a notice of federal tax lien, based on the original assessment. (See Def.’s Mat. Facts at 2.)

On August 12, 1991, Johnson filed suit in the United States District Court, District of Connecticut, and alleged that the original assessment was premature in violation of 26 U.S.C. §§ 6213(a) & 7481(a)(1), and requested a court order to remove the liens against his property. (Id.; Johnson v. United States, Civ. No. 2:91CV00724(PCD), 1992 WL 391388 (D.Conn. Aug. 19, 1992).)

On December 19, 1991, the IRS again assessed Johnson for the 1984 deficiency. (See Def.’s Mat. Facts at 2, 3 n. 4.) On August 19, 1992, the district court granted summary judgment in favor of the United States. (Id. at 3; Johnson, 1992 WL 391388, at *2.) On February 3, 1992, the IRS abated the original assessment. (See Am.Compl. ¶ 9; Answer Am.Compl. ¶ 9.)

On March 31, 1993, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed the district court and found the original assessment void pursuant to section 6213(a) because it was filed before the Tax Court decision became final under section 7481(a)(1). See Johnson v. United States, 990 F.2d 41, 42-43 (2d Cir.1993).

On November 2, 1994, Johnson filed the present action.

DISCUSSION

The United States contends that the second assessment of December 19,1991 is valid for two reasons. First, it contends that the second assessment is a valid supplemental assessment under 26 U.S.C. § 6204(a). Second, in the alternative, it argues that it need not rely on section 6204(a) as a basis for assessing Johnson’s 1984 tax liability because nothing in the tax code prohibits the IRS from simply reassessing tax liability for a given year when the limitations period for that year has not yet expired.

Johnson raises three challenges to the second assessment. The court addresses his challenges seriatim.

I. Existence of Second Assessment

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