Martin Nickerson, Jr.,appellant v. Wa State Dept Of Revenue

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedNovember 8, 2016
Docket48702-1
StatusUnpublished

This text of Martin Nickerson, Jr.,appellant v. Wa State Dept Of Revenue (Martin Nickerson, Jr.,appellant v. Wa State Dept Of Revenue) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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Martin Nickerson, Jr.,appellant v. Wa State Dept Of Revenue, (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).

Opinion

Filed Washington State Court of Appeals Division Two

November 8, 2016

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II MARTIN O. NICKERSON, JR., No. 48702-1-II

Appellant,

v. UNPUBLISHED OPINION

WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE, Washington State Governor (in his official capacity), WASHINGTON ATTORNEY GENERAL BOB FERGURSON, (in his official capacity), CAROL NELSON, Director of Washington State Department of Revenue, (in her official capacity), and JOHN AND JANE DOES 1-10,

Respondents.

MAXA, A.C.J. – Martin Nickerson appeals the trial court’s denial of his motion for

summary judgment and grant of summary judgment in favor of the Department of Revenue

(DOR).1 Nickerson sued to enjoin DOR from collecting retail sales taxes and business and

operating (B&O) taxes after DOR assessed taxes against him and a business entity he owned

based on his operation of a medical marijuana collective garden.

Nickerson claims that imposition of the retail sales and B&O taxes violates two

provisions of the United States Constitution – the Supremacy Clause and the Fifth Amendment.

1 In addition to DOR, Nickerson named as defendants Governor Jay Inslee, Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Director of DOR Carol Nelson, and unidentified employees of DOR. We refer to all defendants collectively as “DOR.” No. 48702-1-II

Specifically, Nickerson argues that the trial court erred in denying his injunction because (1)

DOR’s attempt to collect taxes on retail sales of medical marijuana is preempted by the federal

Controlled Substances Act (CSA), 21 U.S.C. §§ 801-971; and (2) requiring that he file tax

returns and pay taxes on medical marijuana sales would violate his right against self-

incrimination by providing the State with evidence it could use against him in his pending

criminal prosecution for possession and delivery of marijuana.

We hold that (1) the CSA does not preempt DOR’s collection of retail and B&O taxes for

medical marijuana sales because such tax collection does not create a positive conflict with the

purpose of the CSA as required for preemption under 21 U.S.C. § 903, and (2) filing tax returns

and paying retail sales and B&O taxes does not violate Nickerson’s Fifth Amendment right

against self-incrimination because those actions do not require Nickerson to divulge any

incriminating information.

Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s denial of Nickerson’s summary judgment motion

and its grant of summary judgment in favor of DOR.

FACTS

In 2011, the legislature passed Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill (ESSSB) 5073 to

address medical marijuana. Among other things, the bill allowed wholesale and retail sales of

medical marijuana by licensed producers and dispensers. The governor signed ESSSB 5073 into

law only after vetoing many sections, including the sections allowing the retail sale of medical

marijuana. But the final law still allowed “noncommercial production, possession,

transportation, delivery, or administration of cannabis for medical use” and the operation of

“collective gardens,” described as “qualifying patients sharing responsibility for acquiring and

2 No. 48702-1-II

supplying the resources required to produce and process cannabis for medical use.” Former

RCW 69.51A.025, .085(2) (2011). The law became known as the Washington State Medical

Use of Cannabis Act (MUCA).

On March 8, 2011, Nickerson filed a master business application as a sole proprietor

(doing business as “Northern Cross”) and listed his business as selling “skin products, hemp

products, soaps.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 93, 95. On February 23, 2012, Nickerson filed a

second master business application for a corporation called “Northern Cross Collective Gardens”

and listed “collective garden” as its principal product or service. CP at 97, 99. Nickerson also

indicated that Northern Cross Collective Gardens was a retail business with an estimated gross

annual income over $100,001. Nickerson checked the box for tax registration on both

applications. However, neither he nor his business ever filed tax returns or paid taxes.

In May 2011 – after the governor signed ESSSB 5073 into law but before the law took

effect – DOR released a notice that medical marijuana sales would be subject to retail sales taxes

and B&O taxes.

On April 2, 2012, the State charged Nickerson with multiple felony counts for delivery of

marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, and maintaining a place for controlled

substances.

On November 13, 2013, DOR assessed taxes against Nickerson and Northern Cross for

the years 2011-2013 and against Northern Cross Collective Gardens for the years 2011-2012, but

indicated that the amounts would be amended when Nickerson filed tax returns showing actual

sales totals. Nickerson did not pay the taxes or respond to DOR, and on December 30 DOR

issued tax warrants for unpaid taxes in the amount of $7,152.66 for Nickerson and $55,016.95

3 No. 48702-1-II

for Northern Cross Collective Gardens. DOR then filed the warrants in superior court and

obtained judgments against Nickerson and Northern Cross Collective Gardens.

DOR pursued collection of the unpaid taxes and garnished $824.23 from Nickerson’s

bank account. DOR also revoked the business registrations for Nickerson and Northern Cross

Collective Gardens.

On January 8, 2014, Nickerson filed a tax appeal petition with DOR. DOR dismissed the

petition as untimely because it was not filed within 30 days of the assessment.

On October 24, Nickerson filed suit against DOR, seeking declaratory relief and an

injunction against enforcement of the tax assessments. Nickerson then filed a summary

judgment motion, seeking declaratory relief and a permanent injunction. DOR filed a motion to

dismiss, which the trial court later converted to a summary judgment motion. The trial court

denied Nickerson’s summary judgment motion and granted DOR’s summary judgment motion.

Nickerson appeals the trial court’s summary judgment orders.

ANALYSIS

A. LEGAL PRINCIPLES

1. Standard of Review

We review a trial court's order granting summary judgment de novo. Keck v. Collins,

184 Wn.2d 358, 370, 357 P.3d 1080 (2015). We review the evidence and all reasonable

inferences from the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Id. Summary

judgment is appropriate where there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is

entitled to judgment as a matter of law. CR 56(c); Keck, 184 Wn.2d at 370.

4 No. 48702-1-II

2. Tax Review and Injunctive Relief

Nickerson claims that DOR should not have imposed taxes on his collective garden

activities. But RCW 82.32.150 provides that a party generally cannot contest the imposition of

taxes until all taxes, penalties, and interest have been paid. Because Nickerson has not paid the

assessed taxes, he cannot challenge the imposition of retail sales and B&O taxes under

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