Kellogg Brown & Root, LLC Versus Joseph P. Lopinto, III, Sheriff and Ex-Officio Tax Collector for the Parish of Jefferson

• Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
• Decided: November 2, 2022
• Docket: 22-C-204
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

KELLOGG BROWN & ROOT, LLC NO. 22-C-204

VERSUS FIFTH CIRCUIT

JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III, SHERIFF AND COURT OF APPEAL EX-OFFICIO TAX COLLECTOR FOR THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATE OF LOUISIANA

ON APPLICATION FOR SUPERVISORY REVIEW FROM THE BOARD OF TAX APPEAL, STATE OF LOUISIANA, NO. L01016, HONORABLE CADE R. COLE, JUDGE PRESIDING

November 02, 2022

STEPHEN J. WINDHORST JUDGE

Panel composed of Judges Jude G. Gravois, Robert A. Chaisson, and Stephen J. Windhorst

AFFIRMED SJW JGG RAC COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT, KELLOGG BROWN & ROOT, LLC Caroline D. Lafourcade Martin E. Landrieu John P. LeBlanc

COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/RELATOR, JOSEPH P. LOPINTO, III, SHERIFF AND EX-OFFICIO TAX COLLECTOR FOR THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON Kenneth C. Fonte WINDHORST, J.

Joseph P. Lopinto, III, Sheriff and Ex-Officio Tax Collector for the Parish of

Jefferson (the “Collector”) seeks review of the April 7, 2022 judgment from the

Board of Tax Appeals (“BTA”) overruling the Collector’s exception to lack of

jurisdiction and supplemental exception to lack of jurisdiction and denying his

motion to quash, motion to dismiss appeal, and motion to strike relative to Kellogg

Brown & Root, LLC’s (“KBR”) petition for redetermination of assessment. For the

following reasons, we affirm the BTA’s judgment.

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In its exception of lack of jurisdiction, the Collector asserted that the BTA did

not have jurisdiction to conduct a trial de novo of KBR’s tax assessment appeal and

that its review of the assessment was limited to the record developed in KBR’s

protest hearing which the Collector conducted before making the assessment. In

taking this position, the Collector relied on KBR’s choice to first request a protest

hearing before the Collector under La. R.S. 47:337.49. La. R.S. 47:337.49 allows a

taxpayer, within thirty calendar days from the date of the notice of tax due, to protest

the assessment and requires the collector to consider the protest with a hearing before

making a final determination of the tax, penalty, and interest due. The Collector

argued that because the Collector first reviewed KBR’s assessment at KBR’s

request, KBR’s request for reconsideration to the BTA is not entitled to de novo

review, and further, that KBR cannot introduce additional evidence at the BTA

hearing.

As to its motion to quash subpoenas and its motion to strike the deposition

subpoena and subpoenas duces tecum, the Collector argued that because the BTA

could only exercise appellate jurisdiction over KBR’s appeal, the BTA could not

receive or consider new evidence. As a result, the Collector asserted that the

subpoenas duces tecum issued by the BTA at KBR’s request should be quashed, and

22-C-204 1 the notice of depositions associated with the subpoenas should be stricken. The

Collector further contended that through it actions, KBR had abandoned its appeal

remedy, and that KBR’s appeal should be dismissed.

In response to the exception of lack of jurisdiction, KBR argued that the

legislature expressly intended for the “redetermination of assessment” procedure

under La. R.S. 47:337.51 and La. R.S. 47:1431 (C) to be interpreted as having the

same meaning and application as the “redetermination of assessment” procedure

under La. R.S. 47:1431 A. In support, KBR cited La. R.S. 47:337.2 D, which provides:

D. However, in the interest of making the assessment, collection, administration, and enforcement of state and local sales tax uniform, it is the intention of the legislature that both the provisions of this Chapter and the provisions of local ordinances which are similar to provisions in Chapters 2, 2-A, 2-B, and 18 of this Subtitle shall be interpreted by the Board of Tax Appeals and the courts of this state to have the same meaning and application as the provisions in those Chapters.

KBR also asserted that, in tax-related disputes, the BTA has original

jurisdiction both constitutionally and statutorily, and that the BTA acts as the trial

court in finding facts and applying the law. KBR cited to extensive case law stating

that the BTA acts as a trial court and if it correctly applies the law and adheres to

correct procedural standards, its judgment should be affirmed absent a clearly or

manifestly erroneous finding of fact. St. Martin v. State, 09-935 (La. 12/01/09), 25

So.3d 736, 740; International Paper, Inc. v. Bridges, 07-1151 (La. 01/16/08), 972

So.2d 1121, 1128; Collector of Revenue v. Murphy Oil Corp., 351 So.2d 1234, 1236

(La. App. 4 Cir. 1977).

After a hearing, the BTA overruled the exceptions of lack of jurisdiction and

denied the motions with reasons. In its reasons for judgment, citing extensive

jurisprudence, the BTA stated that the BTA’s “role in this procedure has always been

that of a trial court” and “[t]he role as a trier of fact has existed throughout the

board’s [BTA] more than 80 year history dealing with state assessment appeals.”

22-C-204 2 The BTA rejected the Collector’s argument that the passage of the 2019 Act 446 and

subsequent amendment of La. Const. art. 5 sec. 35 changed the BTA’s role,

concluding instead that the language provides for the BTA’s continuity and

explicitly acknowledges the BTA’s “jurisdiction over all matters related to state and

local taxes or fees or other claims against the state as provided [by the applicable

law].” Further, referring to more than eighty years of jurisprudence, the BTA also

rejected the Collector’s argument that no statute authorizes it to conduct a trial de

novo when hearing an appeal for redetermination of an assessment.

As to the Collector’s motion to quash subpoenas, the BTA denied that motion

disagreeing with the Collector’s contention that the BTA was exercising appellate

jurisdiction in this matter and lacked authority to issue a subpoena to produce new

evidence. The BTA also denied the motion to dismiss appeal concluding that KBR

did not abandon its appeal. With regard to these two motions, the BTA found that

KBR properly sought to invoke its original jurisdiction.

LAW and ANALYSIS

Despite the abundance of jurisprudence to the contrary, the Collector asserts

that the BTA should have reviewed this matter as if it was an appellate court

exercising appellate jurisdiction and not as a trial court exercising original

jurisdiction. We disagree.

The Legislature created the BTA as an independent agency to hear and decide,

at a minimum cost to the taxpayer, questions of law and fact arising from disputes

between taxpayers and tax collectors. La. R.S. 47:1401. It is clearly rooted in

Louisiana jurisprudence that the BTA acts as a trial court. Collector of Revenue,

351 So.2d at 1236. The BTA’s jurisdiction to resolve tax related disputes and render

judgments is granted constitutionally and statutorily. St. Martin, 25 So.3d at 741.

As noted by the BTA in its reasons for judgment, the BTA’s role as a trier of fact

has existed throughout the BTA’s more than 80 year history. The Louisiana

22-C-204 3 Supreme Court has recently reiterated that the Board acts as a trial court in finding

facts and applying the law. St. Martin v. State, 25 So.3d at 740, citing International

Paper, Inc. v. Bridges, supra. The BTA’s findings of fact should be accepted where

there is substantial evidence in the record to support them, and should not be set

aside unless they are manifestly erroneous in view of the reliable, probative and

substantial evidence on the whole record. If the Board has correctly applied the law

and adhered to correct procedural standards, its judgment should be affirmed.

Collector of Revenue, 351 So.2d at 1236. This standard of deference to the initial

findings of fact is clearly one due to a tribunal at the trial level, and except in unusual

and limited circumstances, is not afforded on appellate review.

The Collector argues that under R.S. 47:337.51 A(l), the BTA functions only

as an appellate court and cannot conduct a trial de novo, receive evidence or

testimony, or compel discovery. In support, the Collector relies on the statute’s use

of the word “appeal.” We find no merit in this contention. The term “appeal” has

been used in provisions relating to the BTA since its inception and indeed it has long

been referred to as the Board of Tax Appeals. The law provides substantial support

for the BTA’s role as a trial court and not that of an appellate court.

Based on the statutory law and the jurisprudence, the law intends for a record

of a tax dispute to be developed before the BTA. Judicial review of a decision of

the BTA is rendered on the record as made up before the BTA and is limited to facts

on the record and questions of law. R.S. 47:1434 C; Zelia, LLC v. Robinson, 19-

372 (La. App. 5 Cir. 12/30/19), 286 So.3d 1268, 1272, writ denied, 20-00253 (La.

4/27/20), 295 So.3d 948; Barfield v. Bolotte, 15-847 (La. App. 1 Cir. 12/23/15), 185

So.3d 781, 785. Recently, in D90 Energy LLC v. Jefferson Davis Par. Bd. of

Review, the Louisiana Supreme Court noted that if the BTA could only review the

evidence presented to the assessor, a hearing would be meaningless, and that a

taxpayer is entitled to a hearing before the BTA as a matter of law when seeking a

22-C-204 4 redetermination of an assessment. Therefore, we find the BTA must accept new

evidence and hear testimony, like a trial court, in order to develop a sufficient record

for review by a court of appeal.

In addition, there are specific provisions permitting the BTA to perform

functions typically performed by a trial court. La. R.S. 47:1408 A grants the BTA

the power to compel discovery, issue subpoenas, require the attendance of witnesses

and the production of books, papers and documents pertaining to the matter under

inquiry, to examine witnesses, and to require the taking of depositions. This

provision also allows any party to a matter pending before the board to “summon

witnesses or require the production of papers, other documents, answers to requests

for admissions, or answers to interrogatories in the same manner as witnesses are

summoned, discovery completed, or papers required to be produced in civil actions

in the district courts of the state.” La. R.S. 47:1408 B.

The Legislature reaffirmed and continued the BTA’s jurisdiction and authority

in 2019 with La. Const. art. V section 35. Regarding the BTA, this provision states:

It shall have jurisdiction over all matters related to state and local taxes or fees or other claims against the state as provided by Chapter 17 of Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, subject to change by law. The legislature may extend the jurisdiction of the Board of Tax Appeals, by a law enacted by a two- thirds vote of the elected members of each house of the legislature, to matters concerning the constitutionality of taxes, fees, or other matters related to its jurisdiction which jurisdiction may be concurrent with the district courts concerning such matters.

Further, pursuant to La. R.S. 47:1401, the BTA is an independent agency

which decides questions of law and fact related to disputes between a taxpayer and

a tax collector, opposing parties herein. To assign this prerogative to the tax

collector, a party to the case, when the taxpayer first contests an assessment by the

tax collector, would result in an unfair and meaningless review, and would require

appellate deference to factual findings made by a party.

22-C-204 5 Considering the briefs in support, the oppositions thereto, and the attachments,

we find no error in the BTA’s conclusion that it acts as a trial court relative to the

redetermination of the tax assessment in this case, nor in the denial of the Collector’s

exception of lack of jurisdiction and supplemental lack of jurisdiction.

Because the BTA acts as a trial court and not an appellate court, it has the

authority to issue subpoenas. We therefore find no error in the trial court’s denial of

the motion to quash subpoenas. We further find no merit to the Collector’s assertion

that KBR has abandoned its appeal and no error in the BTA’s denial of the motion

to dismiss appeal.

DECREE

For the reasons stated herein, we affirm the BTA’s judgment of April 7, 2022

in all regards.

AFFIRMED

22-C-204 6 SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL

CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT

SUSAN S. BUCHHOLZ FREDERICKA H. WICKER INTERIM CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK JUDE G. GRAVOIS MARC E. JOHNSON ROBERT A. CHAISSON LINDA M. WISEMAN STEPHEN J. WINDHORST FIRST DEPUTY CLERK HANS J. LILJEBERG JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR. FIFTH CIRCUIT MELISSA C. LEDET JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053) DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF POST OFFICE BOX 489 GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400

(504) 376-1498 FAX www.fifthcircuit.org

NOTICE OF JUDGMENT AND CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE OPINION IN THE BELOW-NUMBERED MATTER HAS BEEN DELIVERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 2-16.4 AND 2-16.5 THIS DAY NOVEMBER 2, 2022 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, CLERK OF COURT, COUNSEL OF RECORD AND ALL PARTIES NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:

22-C-204 E-NOTIFIED BOARD OF TAX APPEALS (CLERK) CAROLINE D. LAFOURCADE MARTIN E. LANDRIEU (RESPONDENT) KENNETH C. FONTE (RELATOR) (RESPONDENT)

MAILED HONORABLE CADE R. COLE JOHN P. LEBLANC (RESPONDENT) (DISTRICT JUDGE) ATTORNEY AT LAW STATE OF LOUISIANA, 191 CHAPEL LOOP BOARD OF TAX APPEALS MANDEVILLE, LA 70471 POST OFFICE BOX 3217 BATON ROUGE, LA 70821