Majestic Electronics, Inc. v. United States

63 Cust. Ct. 628, 1969 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 3723
CourtUnited States Customs Court
DecidedDecember 10, 1969
DocketR.D. 11686; Entry No. 111121, etc.
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 63 Cust. Ct. 628 (Majestic Electronics, Inc. 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
Majestic Electronics, Inc. v. United States, 63 Cust. Ct. 628, 1969 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 3723 (cusc 1969).

Opinion

Wilson, Judge:

The above reappraisement appeal covers 10 entries. The imported merchandise was manufactured by Brentwood Wig-Manufactory, Ltd. (hereinafter called Brentwood Wig) of Kowloon, Ilong Kong. Between June 9, 1964 and July 11, 1964, both dates inclusive, the involved goods were exported to Los Angeles where they were entered between June 10,1964 and July 13,1964.

The merchandise under consideration was appraised on the basis of constructed value which is defined in section 402(d) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended by the Customs Simplification Act of 1956, 91 Treas. Dec. 295, T.D. 54165. Plaintiff contends that export value as defined in section 402(b) of the above mentioned amended tariff act is the proper basis for appraisement, and alternatively, the constructed value as provided in section 402(d) of said amended tariff act if applicable “is substantially less than the appraised value.” (R.2.) Defendant contends that the proper basis for valuation is constructed value and that the appraised values represent the correct constructed values.

It is not disputed that the imported merchandise does not appear on the final list published by the Secretary of the Treasury in 93 Treas. Dec. 14, T.D. 54521, and the court so finds. The merchandise is therefore properly subject to appraisement under the new valuation sections set forth in the Customs Simplification Act of 1956, 91 Treas. Dec. 295, T.D. 54165.

The plaintiff called one witness and introduced five documents received in evidence as exhibits 1 to 5. The defendant offered in [630]*630evidence two Treasury agents’ reports which were received as exhibits A and B. Two newspaper articles were marked exhibits C and D for identification but were not received in evidence. The oral and documentary evidence will be referred to infra as deemed necessary. The official court papers were received in evidence without being marked.

Herman Krissman, called by the plaintiff, testified that he is the executive vice president of Brentwood Hair Products, formerly known as Majestic Electronics, Incorporated, hereinafter referred to as Majestic; that Majestic’s principal business is the importation of wigs and other hair products for distribution in the United States; that the name of the corporation was changed in 1967, but it is the same corporation ; that he has been buying and selling wigs since September 1963. The witness showed himself to be familiar with all phases of the human hair industry.

Under cross-examination Krissman testified that when in Hong Kong he visited other manufacturers and compared their prices with Brentwood Wig prices, before he purchased the involved merchandise, during the time involved, as well as shortly after, in 1964; that three manufacturers he mentioned made similar merchandise according to his specifications; that Majestic had no written agreement with Brent-wood Wig but purchased by means of purchase orders. He stated that he wrote a letter of inquiry in 1966 to ascertain from various Hong Kong manufacturers how they figured their overhead cost but was unable to receive any information. He also talked to such firms and stated that he spoke to George Au of Regina Hair Products, Franklin Tsu of R & D Manufacturing, and Sheba of Sheba Wigs. (R. 25 and R. 42.)

Krissman stated that the basis for his knowledge of what netting was used by Brentwood Wig in the manufacture of the imported merchandise is the fact he saw it, felt it, and saw invoices showing where the users bought it. The witness testified he was present many times when the netting was used; that he is familiar with the suppliers of hair to the exporter and named Van Yee [Van Yee Trading Company is mentioned in exhibits 3, 4, and sub-exhibits E-l and E-3 of defendant’s exhibit B], as the supplier of about 80 percent of hair in the Hong Kong market. He said that Majestic owned no stock in Brentwood Wig. He saw the latter’s minute book. He saw no stock certificates issued to Majestic.

Plaintiff’s exhibit 1, sworn to before the Vice Consul of the United States in Hong Kong on July 19, 1968, is the affidavit of Edmond C. W. Ng, vice president of Brentwood Wig from November 1963 to December 1964 in which he alleges: that by virtue of his duties and responsibilities in that capacity he was fully and personally familiar [631]*631with, the business operations of that firm and with tbe circumstances relating to ownership and control of said firm; that prior to November 1963 Kichard F. Poncber was president of plaintiff; that no stock was ever issued to Poncher; that neither Poncher nor Majestic ever exercised any control over the pricing policies of the exporter, and that prices of all wigs and other huirían hair products sold to Majestic were fixed as a result of arm’s length negotiations.

The affiant in exhibit 1 also states that Brentwood Wig sold its entire production to Majestic, and that no sales or offers were made to other purchasers; that as vice president, it was his duty and responsibility to familiarize himself with prices of other manufacturers of wigs an'd human hair products in the Hong Kong area and that he was familiar with such prices; that the prices at which Brent-wood Wig sold its products to Majestic from November 1963 to December 1964 were in line with and closely comparable to the prices charged by other manufacturers of wigs and human hair products for articles of similar construction and quality; that Brentwood Wig produced approximately 50 percent of all wigs manufactured in the Hong Kong area during the period from November 1963 until the last week of October 1964 at which time Brentwood Wigs production stopped, but sales of stock on hand continued after that date.

Plaintiff’s exhibit 2, sworn to before a notary public in Los Angeles, California, on April 30, 1968, is the affidavit of the aforementioned Mr. Ng in which he asserts that he was the vice president of Brent-wood Wig from November 1963 to December 1964; that by virtue of his duties and responsibilities in that capacity, he is fully and personally familiar with the business operations of that firm and with the cost of producing the human hair products manufactured by his firm during said period; that during said period his firm sold human hair products to plaintiff.

Plaintiff’s exhibit 3 is a sheet marked “Computations Using Yan Yee Quotations.” It refers to Yan Yee Trading Company hereinabove stated to be mentioned in several exhibits. Exhibit 3 allegedly shows constructed value data based upon figures in Hong Kong and United States dollars, sub-exhibit F of defendant’s exhibit B.

Defendant’s exhibit A is a report dated October 30, 1964 in which the customs representative makes certain statements concerning conversations with Mr. Poncher of Majestic regarding ownership of stock in Brentwood Wig from which the customs representative draws certain conclusions. He also attaches several documents without reference to them, neither of which mention Majestic or any of its personnel.

Defendant’s exhibit B is a report dated August 26, 1964, in which the same customs representative alleges interviews on various dates [not specified] with Mr. Ng Yuk Chor, “Director, Brentwood Wig [632]*632Manufacturing Co. Ltd.” He states that information was obtained and verified to the extent indicated from the business records of the company. He attaches sub-exhibits A through C. Sub-exhibits A and B are copies of the official registration respectively of Walter Company and “Brentwood Wig Manufactory Limited.” Mr. Eddie K. W.

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Bluebook (online)
63 Cust. Ct. 628, 1969 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 3723, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/majestic-electronics-inc-v-united-states-cusc-1969.