Mobil Oil Corp. v. United States Department of Energy

739 F. Supp. 1449, 110 Oil & Gas Rep. 24, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7494
District Court, D. Kansas·Decided June 12, 1990·No. M.D.L. No. 378; Civ. A. No. 78-1070·Published·Cited by 10 cases

Opinion

[1450]*1450MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

THEIS, District Judge.

This matter is before the court on the following motions: the motion of the State of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Tax Commission to dismiss Mobil Oil Corporation’s complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction (Doc. 1538); Mobil Oil Corporation’s motion for summary judgment against the State of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Tax Commission (Doc. 1599); and the motion of the State of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Tax Commission to dismiss Kerr-McGee Corporation’s cross claim (Doc. 1557).

A very brief summary of the background of this dispute is in order. After Mobil Oil Corporation (Mobil) filed this action in 1978, it obtained an injunction from this court allowing it to charge the higher stripper well price for crude oil produced on certain properties which would not otherwise have qualified for the stripper well exemption from price controls. Pursuant to the injunction, Mobil was required to remit to the escrow account established by the court the price differential between the stripper well price and the controlled price for the crude oil. Mobil and/or the first purchasers of Mobil-produced stripper well crude oil remitted severance taxes to the State of Oklahoma on the stripper price increment. Consequently, only the net after-tax amount was deposited into escrow.

At least a portion of the severance taxes which Mobil paid to the State of Oklahoma [1451]*1451on the stripper price increment were paid conditionally. Oklahoma segregated those funds into a separate account. At some point in time, those funds were released into Oklahoma’s general fund. When Mobil attempted to obtain a tax refund for the severance taxes paid on the stripper price increment, no funds were available in the segregated account. Oklahoma denied the request for refund as untimely.

The United States asserted a counterclaim on behalf of the Department of Energy against the remaining plaintiffs, including Mobil. The United States seeks an order that each plaintiff deposit into the court’s escrow account the full amount due for any overcharges from the subject stripper properties, together with prejudgment interest. The United States additionally seeks an order for each plaintiff which has received a Remedial Order that includes such stripper well violations to deposit in escrow the amounts necessary to complete restitution with respect to any other violations set forth in the remedial order. Doc. 1447. Mobil filed an answer to the counterclaim and a third party complaint against the State of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Tax Commission, Sun Company, Inc., Koch Industries, Inc., and Kerr-McGee Corporation. Doc. 1493.

In a previous opinion and order (722 F.Supp. 649) the court granted the Department of Energy’s (DOE) motion for summary judgment against Mobil. The court ordered Mobil to deposit the sum of $10,-214,510, plus interest accruing after March 31, 1989 through the date of payment, into the escrow account established by this court as restitution for stripper well oil overcharges. Part of this sum represents that portion of the stripper price increment which was paid to the State of Oklahoma as severance taxes instead of being paid into the escrow. The court has recently denied Mobil’s motion for reconsideration. 739 F.Supp. 1446.

Mobil’s motion for summary judgment against the State of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Tax Commission (collectively referred to as Oklahoma) seeks a declaration that Oklahoma’s continued retention of severance taxes violates the court’s injunction and the Final Settlement Agreement approved by the court, constitutes unjust enrichment, and violated the federal price control laws. Mobil also seeks an order requiring Oklahoma to pay funds into the escrow account.

Oklahoma seeks dismissal of Mobil’s claim for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under the Tax Injunction Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1341, the Eleventh Amendment, principles of comity, and failure to exhaust state administrative remedies. Oklahoma seeks dismissal of Kerr-McGee Corporation’s cross claim for lack of subject matter jurisdiction for primarily the same reasons. Because the court concludes that it lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the motions to dismiss shall be granted. Mobil’s motion for summary judgment shall be denied.

1. Mobil-Oklahoma Claim

The Tax Injunction Act provides:

The district courts shall not enjoin, suspend or restrain the assessment, levy or collection of any tax under State law where a plain, speedy and efficient remedy may be had in the courts of such State.

28 U.S.C. § 1341. This statute was intended to limit drastically federal court jurisdiction to interfere with the collection of taxes. Rosewell v. LaSalle National Bank, 450 U.S. 503, 522, 101 S.Ct. 1221, 1234, 67 L.Ed.2d 464 (1981). The proper focus for the court is not on the specific form of relief requested but on its practical effect. Fair Assessment in Real Estate Association, Inc. v. McNary, 454 U.S. 100, 111, 102 S.Ct. 177, 184, 70 L.Ed.2d 271 (1981). The Tax Injunction Act applies to claims seeking declaratory judgments, injunctive relief, and refunds of taxes paid. Brooks v. Nance, 801 F.2d 1237, 1239 (10th Cir.1986); Cities Service Gas Co. v. Oklahoma Tax Commission, 656 F.2d 584, 586 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 1124, 102 S.Ct. 972, 71 L.Ed.2d 111 (1981).

Mobil’s third party complaint against Oklahoma alleges that it made a severance tax refund claim on June 17, 1985. The Oklahoma Tax Commission requested additional documentation but noted that Mobil’s [1452]*1452request was probably timely. In March 1986, the Oklahoma Tax Commission advised Mobil that its tax refund request was premature. In March 1987, the Oklahoma Tax Commission denied Mobil’s June 1985 claim for a refund on the grounds that it was untimely. Doc. 1493.

Count I of the third party complaint against Oklahoma alleges that Oklahoma’s refusal to refund the severance taxes violates the Final Settlement Agreement. Count II alleges that the refusal to refund the severance taxes constitutes unjust enrichment. Count III alleges that the refusal to refund severance taxes violates Oklahoma law. Mobil prays for judgment in the amount of $1,572,244.89 plus interest and for a declaration that Oklahoma has violated the Final Settlement Agreement by its refusal to refund taxes; that Oklahoma has been unjustly enriched by the amount of the unrefunded taxes; and that Oklahoma violated state law by refusing to refund the taxes. Doc. 1493.

Mobil asserts that this action does not fall within the scope of the Tax Injunction Act. A review of Mobil’s third party complaint against Oklahoma reveals that it does fall within the scope of the Act. The relief requested by Mobil, if granted, would have the practical effect of a judgment ordering Oklahoma to refund the severance taxes in question to Mobil.

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Mobil Oil Corp. v. United States Department of Energy, 739 F. Supp. 1449, 110 Oil & Gas Rep. 24, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7494 (D. Kan. 1990).

739 F. Supp. 1449 (Mobil Oil Corp. v. United States Department of Energy) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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