Manufacturers Service Co. v. United States

518 F.2d 1202, 21 Cont. Cas. Fed. 84,021, 207 Ct. Cl. 185, 1975 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 228

• Court: United States Court of Claims
• Decided: June 25, 1975
• Docket: No. 336-74
• Status: Published

Opinions

Kunzig, Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court:

The question here at issue is whether the filing of a bond in an amount less than 100 percent of the net excessive profits¹ found by the Eenegotiation Board (Board) is sufficient to stay the execution of the Board’s order during de novo redetermination in this court. A similar issue is presented in Bannercraft Clothing Co., Inc. v. United States, post at 199, 518 F. 2d 605 (1975). We bold tbat execution of tbe Board’s order is stayed only by the filing of a 100 percent bond.

Plaintiff ² filed its petition in this court on September 17, 1974 for a redetermination of excessive profits for fiscal years 1967,³ 1968,⁴ and 1969,⁵ under Section 108 of the Renegotiation Act of 1951, 50 U.S.C. App. § 1218, as amended (Supp. II, 1972). Its renegotiable sales, according to the petition, were $5,655,467⁶ and its renegotiable profit was $981,957,⁷ of which the Board determined that $418,279 was excessive.⁸ Federal tax credits for the years at issue were determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be $204,294.71,⁹ leaving tbe Board’s determination of net excessive profits at $213,984.29.¹⁰

On September 27, 1974, ten days after filing its petition, plaintiff tendered to the court bonds in the amount of $150,000, approximately 70 percent of the net amount of the Board’s orders. Accompanying the bond was a motion for waiver of Ct. Cl. R. 26(b) and for leave to file bond in lesser amount. Defendant filed its opposition to plaintiff’s motion on October 3, 1974 and, on November 7, 1974, filed the present motion for judgment in aid of execution of the Board’s orders,¹¹ the single issue now before this court.

Plaintiff’s opposition to defendant’s motion is grounded on the same arguments presented to Trial Judge White in plaintiff’s motion for waiver of Ct. Cl. R. 26(b) and accompanying request to file bond in lesser amount. It is plaintiff’s position that this court has discretion to determine the amount of bond needed to stay execution of a Board order; that a trial judge, under Ct. Cl. R. 26(e) has the authority to enter an order permitting the acceptance of bonds in an amount less than 100 percent; and that the court has the authority to waive the 100 percent provision of Ct. Cl. R. 26(b).

Defendant, on the other hand, argues to the opposite effect, submitting that acceptance of a bond in an amount less than 100 percent would run directly counter to Congressional intent and be highly prejudicial to the interests of the Government. Defendant asserts that Ct. Cl. R. 26(e) must be construed consistently with both the language of the Renegotiation Act itself and with the 100 percent requirement of Ct. Cl. R. 26(b). For the reasons stated below, we hold for defendant.

Congress enacted the first Renegotiation Act (Act of April 28, 1942, ch. 247 §§ 401 et seq., 56 Stat. 245) during World War II. This first enactment contained no provision for judicial redetermination. Recognizing the unfairness of denying recourse from an adverse determination by the Board, Congress amended this Act two years later (Act of Feb. 25, 1944, ch. 63, § 701, 58 Stat. 78), allowing redetermi-nation in the Tax Court. However, the 1944 amendment specifically stated that the filing of a petition for redetermi-nation in the Tax Court “shall not operate to stay the execution of the order of the Board * * *” (Act of Feb. 25,1944, ch. 63, § 701, 58 Stat. 87). Thus, from the inception of the redetermination provision under the first Renegotiation Act, the total separation of the redetermination and collection functions clearly reflected a Congressional intent to structure judicial redetermination utilizing a collect now, litigate later technique similar to techniques used under revenue statutes.¹²

The Renegotiation Act of 1951 (as first passed, 50 U.S.C. App. §§ 1211-1223 (1952)) was enacted during the Korean conflict and in most respects paralleled the World War II Act. However, the no-stay language of the first Act was replaced by the following provision:

* * * The filing of a petition under this section shall operate to stay the execution of the order of the Board * * * if within ten days after the filing of the petition the petitioner files with the Tax Court a good and sufficient bond, approved by such court, in such amount as may be fixed by the court. 50 U.S.C. App. § 1218 (1952).

In explaining the addition of this bond provision, Representative Wilbur Mills of the House Ways and Means Committee stated on the floor of the House that the purpose of the bond language was to recognize in the statutory scheme existing informal practices followed by the Government under the first Eenegotiation Act.¹³

50 TJ.S.C. App. § 1218 was subsequently amended by the Act of August 1,1956, ch. 821, § 11 (a), 70 Stat. 791, to read:

* * * The filing of a petition under this section shall operate to stay the execution of the order of the Board * * * only if within ten days after the filing of the petition the petitioner files with the Tax Court a good and sufficient bond, approved by such court, in such amount as may be fixed by the court. (Emphasis added)

Both the House and Senate Eeports specifically stated that the word “only” was inserted to clarify the original intention of Congress: that the filing of a good and sufficient bond is required to stay an order of the Eenegotiation Board. H.E. Bee. No. 2549, 84th Cong., 2d Sess. 9-10 (1956) and S. Bee. No. 2624,84th Cong., 2d Sess. 11 (1956).

The transfer of jurisdiction to this court in 1971 under Public Law 92-41 retained the substantive language of § 1218 after the 1956 amendment, and merely substituted the Court of Claims in place of the Tax Court as the redetermining court. This transfer of jurisdiction brought about one inci-dential change of possible significance. For the first time, both the collecting court and the redetermination court were one and the same. However, as we stated in Sandnes’ Sons, Inc. v. United States, 199 Ct. Cl. 107, 111, 462 F. 2d 1388, 1390 (1972), “without any clear indication [from Congress] that the position of the parties respecting collection is altered, no change would be implied.” In other words, the pay now, litigate later sequence has been carried over to judicial re-determination in this court.

To summarize, Congress has consistently provided for immediate execution of an order of the Eenegotiation Board separate and apart from judicial redetermination in such cases. The legislators finally did permit a stay of execution, but then only together with the timely filing of a bond.

Plaintiff, while not challenging the constitutionality of the pay now, litigate later technique employed by 50 U.S.C. App. § 1218, seems to take the position that the term “good and sufficient bond” when read in conjunction with “in such amount as may be fixed by the court” confers judicial discretion to set bond requirements on a case-by-case basis. In support of this premise, plaintiff places great reliance on the language of Ct. Cl. E. 26(e). However, plaintiff has misconstrued the court’s intention in promulgating this rule and reads more discretion into § 1218 than we feel was intended by Congress.

In promulgating Ct. Cl. E. 26, this court followed the mandate of § 1218. In order to stay the execution of a Board order, plaintiff must file a bond within ten days after filing a petition. Ct. Cl. E. 26(a). A 100 percent surety¹⁴ or collateral¹⁵ bond has been fixed by the court as being “good and sufficient” to stay the execution of the Board’s order. Ct. Cl. E. 26(b). In addition, the court added the following proviso:

* * * Nothing contained in this rule [Ct. Cl. E. 26] shall preclude the entry at any time by the court (or the commissioner) of an order requiring that the amount of the bond be increased or decreased, upon a satisfactory showing that such increase or decrease is necessary. Ct. Cl. E. 26(e).

It is our view that the 100 percent bond requirement embodied in this rule adequately provides the protection Congress intended. After reviewing the legislative histories of the various Eenegotiation Acts, there can be little doubt that Congress, in providing for the immediate execution of the Board’s order, intended to insure the protection of the Government’s interest against the dissipation of a plaintiff’s assets during the pendency of the litigation. Surely no less protection was intended by permitting a stay of the execution and the prompt filing of a good and sufficient bond. We are convinced that Congress chose the words “in such amount as may be fixed by the court” to allow this court to decide if a 100 percent bond was sufficient to provide the same security as would the execution of a judgment. While this court could have set some higher percentage amount, we are persuaded that 100 percent is sufficient to comply with the Congressional mandate of § 1218 and have fixed this amount accordingly.¹⁶

Having fixed in our rules the required bond amount at 100 percent, we are of the opinion that Congress has prohibited us from even considering the proffer of a lesser percentage. This Congressional prohibition is the only logical interpretation of the ten day filing requirement imposed by § 1218. As we noted earlier, Congress amended § 1218 in 1956 to clarify the original intention of the bond provision. Only the prompt filing of the required bond would serve to stay the execution of the Board’s order. By limiting the filing time, we think Congress implicitly precluded a case-by-case determination of what constitutes a “good and sufficient” bond. The very nature of plaintiff’s original motion (to file a 70 percent bond) and opposition to defendant’s motion for judgment in aid of execution would require this court to defer action beyond the ten day limit, particularly when the lesser bond is not even tendered until the final filing day. This is precisely the kind of situation which we believe Congress intended to avoid.¹⁷

Given the statutory constraints, we are of the opinion that plaintiff’s suggested interpretation of Ct. Cl. B. 26(e) is misconceived. This rule was promulgated for a specific, limited purpose. Bather than authorizing this court to tailor the bond to an individual plaintiff at its original filing, Ct. Cl. B. 26(e) merely provides a mechanism for adjusting the dollar amount of an already filed bond where changed circumstances dictate such an alteration.¹⁸ Such alteration of the dollar amount would be permitted only in those situations where one of the parties makes a showing that such adjustment is necessary to maintain the 100 percent equilibrium. To give this rule any other interpretation would have the effect of rendering the ten day filing time meaningless.

Since we deem it clear from the above discussion that plaintiff’s tender of less than a 100 percent bond does not comply with our rule to stay the execution of the Board’s orders, defendant’s motion for judgment in aid of execution must be granted absent some unusual or mitigating circumstances that excuse plaintiff’s failure. In the instant case, plaintiff has not succeeded in making such a showing.

This court has previously stated that a plaintiff seeking to avoid suffering execution of a judgment for failure to file the required bond must clearly show that the granting of the judgment might serve to “chill” the de novo redetermination litigation. Sandnes’ Sons, Inc. v. United States, supra. The mere showing of financial hardship has been held to be insufficient to excuse noncompliance. O'Brien Gear & Machine Co. v. United States, 199 Ct. Cl. 1014 (1972).

Plaintiff has not shown any circumstances which would justify our denial of defendant’s motion. In fact, plaintiff has merely asserted that the bond tendered in the instant case might well provide defendant with better protection than the Government might obtain through seizure of plaintiff’s assets under a judgment. Even assuming plaintiff’s assertions to be correct, we feel constrained to point out that it is defendant’s prerogative to decide for itself how it can best protect its interest. It is not the role of this court or plaintiff to make this executive determination.

We thus conclude that where a 100 percent bond is not timely filed, the Government possesses an immediate right to seek a judgment in aid of execution. Such judgment will be granted absent some compelling showing of unusual or mitigating circumstances. It is defendant’s responsibility to use the judgment wisely. If defendant ascertains that the Government is in little danger of dissipation of plaintiff’s assets, then it should negotiate a payment plan or other alternative with plaintiff so that plaintiff’s business is not unnecessarily disrupted. But we as a court must presume that the Government will act in good faith and in the public interest. Plaintiff has not made any showing which rebuts this presumption.

Accordingly, defendant’s motion for judgment in aid of execution of the Board’s order is granted and judgment is entered in the amount of two hundred thirteen thousand nine hundred eighty-four dollars and twenty-nine cents ($213,-984.29), with interest as provided by law. 50 U.S.C. App. § 1215(b) (2).

1 Net excessive profits are the excessive profits found by the Renegotiation Board less appropriate tax credits. Before issuing an order, the Board adjusts the excessive profit computation to reflect allowable credit for any taxes measured by income, exclusive of Federal Income taxes. A further credit for Federal Income taxes is computed by the Internal Revenue Service subsequent to the Board’s order. In computing the amount of the bond to be filed In order to stay the execution of the Board’s order, our court rules require 100 percent of the net amount owed. Where the Internal Revenue Service has not yet determined the exact amount of the Federal tax credit, this court will accept plaintiff’s good faith estimate of the offset, subject to modification when the actual figures are known. See text at pages 191-93 infra where Ct. Cl. R. 26(e) is discussed.

2 Plaintiff commenced business in 1956; became a partnership in 1959; was incorporated pursuant to the laws of Wisconsin on November 11, 1967; and was dissolved by resolution of the shareholders effective January 31, 1970.

3 Fiscal year 1967 commenced January 1,1967 and ended November 11,1967. The ending date corresponds to the date of Incorporation. Plaintiff was thus a partnership for fiscal year 1967.

4 Fiscal year 1968 commenced November 12, 1967 and ended May 31, 1968. Plaintiff was first treated as a corporation for fiscal year 1968.

5 Fiscal year 1969 commenced June 1,1968 and ended May 31,1969.

6 Renegotiable sales for each component year were as follows:

FY 1967 — $1,798,179

FY 1968 — $1,395,819

¡FY 1969 — $¡2,461,469

7 Renegotiable profit for each component year was as follows:

FY 1967 — $304,105

FY 1968 — $278,130

FY 1969 — $399,722

8 Annual excessive profits, adjusted for taxes measured by Income, other than Federal taxes, were as follows:

FY 1967 — $110,699

FY 1968 — $145,862

FY 1969 — $161,718

9 Federal tax credit for each component year as determined by the Internal Revenue Service was as follows:

FT 1967 — 543,625.47

FT 1968 — 575,282.12

FT 1969 — 585,387.12

10 Net excess profits found by the Renegotiation Board adjusted for Federal tax credit for each component year were as follows:

FT 1967 — 567,073.53

FT 1968 — 570,579.88

FT 1969 — 576,330.88

11 On November 18,1974, Senior Trial Judge White denied, without prejudice, plaintiff’s September 27, 1974 motion and stated, “the matter will be determined by court on defendant’s motion filed November 7, 1974.”

12 The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the pay now, litigate later scheme of contesting unilateral revenue determinations similar to the scheme utilized in the instant case. Where an adequate opportunity is afforded for a later judicial determination of the legal rights, summary proceedings to secure prompt performance of pecuniary obligations to the government have been consistently sustained and found not to constitute a denial of due process. Phillips v. Commissioner, 283 U.S. 589, 595 (1931). See also Bob Jones University v. Simon, 416 U.S. 725 (1974) and Alexander v. “Americans United” Inc., 416 U.S. 752 (1974).

13 The bond provision was added by amendment on the floor of the House of Representatives. In supporting this provision, Representative Wilbur Mills, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, stated:

“I have discussed the gentleman’s amendment with some of the members of the [Ways and Means] committee on this side and we see no objection to it. It may be that some changes will have to be made elsewhere in the bill, but the idea of the gentleman’s amendment seems to be sound. I might call the gentleman’s attention to the fact that, although it was not contained in the law during World War II, the filing of a bond with the Department of Justice would stay the execution of the order of the Board. There was an informal arrangement worked out to accomplish the same result so the gentleman’s amendment is somewhat in keeping with that past practice. We have no objection to the amendment on this side.” 97 Cono. Rec. 605 (1951) (remarks of Representative Mills).

14 Ct. Cl. R. 26(c) defines sureties as follows: “Acceptable sureties on bonds shall be those bonding companies holding certificates of authority from the Secretary of the Treasury. (See the latest U.S. Treasury Dept. Clrc. 570).”

15 Ct. Cl. R. 26(d) limits acceptable collateral as follows: “If collateral is to be deposited as security for a bond, In lieu of a surety, United States Government marketable public securities, fully negotiable by the bearer, owned by the plaintiff, in a sum equal at their par value to the amount of the bond to be furnished, will be acceptable when accompanied by the necessary power of attorney.”

16 It should be noted that the Tax Court, our predecessor as redetermining court, required the filing of a 112 percent bond as the minimum bond sufficient to stay the execution of the Board’s order. See Tax Court Rule 65(b) (1958 revision).

17 Our granting of plaintiff's request ■would have the effect of forcing this court to go into the bonding business. We would be compelled in each instance to review plaintiff’s financial condition and ascertain valuation of various assets to determine If a plaintiff’s tendered bond did, in fact, afford the Government with adequate protection against the threat of dissipation of said assets. It seems apparent that such an exercise would, by its very nature, extend considerably beyond the ten day period specified by Congress in 50 U.S.C. App. 5 1218. This court lacks the investigatory facilities necessary for such a prompt evaluation and would be forced to conduct a trial to determine sufficiency. During this entire reviewing period, the Government would be left totally unprotected, having neither a bond nor any judicial means for collecting the amount deemed owed by the Renegotiation Board. Moreover, case-by-case review would encourage the filing of frivolous appeals by plaintiffs seeking only to delay payment of Board orders. Such a result would clearly contradict the Congressional Intention to utilize the pay now, litigate later sequence of § 1218.

18 Such changed circumstances might include revision of a tendered 100 percent bond based on plaintiff’s good faith estimate of Federal income tax credit when the actual figures became known. See note 1, supra. Additionally, other circumstances might necessitate an adjustment of the dollar amount, e.g., recalculation by the Board of the amount deemed excessive. However, it is clear that such revision occurs only after the initial filing of a 100 percent bond.