N. Country Escape, LLC v. United States

286 F. Supp. 3d 1025
CourtDistrict Court, D. Maine
DecidedJanuary 8, 2018
DocketCase No. 15–cv–4169 (HB)
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 286 F. Supp. 3d 1025 (N. Country Escape, LLC v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
N. Country Escape, LLC v. United States, 286 F. Supp. 3d 1025 (D. Me. 2018).

Opinion

HILDY BOWBEER, United States Magistrate Judge

North Country Escape, LLC ("North Country") brought this quiet title action against the United States of America pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2410. (Compl. ¶¶ 1, 2 [Doc. No. 1].) The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") issued a Notice of Federal Tax Lien to North Country as the nominee of Gary W. Haider and Jacquelyn J. Haider (collectively "the Haiders"). (Compl. Ex. A [Doc. No. 1-1].) North Country disputes that it is a nominee of the Haiders and seeks the removal of the lien. (Id. ¶¶ 6, 7, Prayer for Relief.) The United States contends the Notice of Federal Tax Lien is lawful under one of two theories: either the property was fraudulently conveyed to North Country, or North Country was acting as the taxpayers' alter ego. (Am. Answer ¶ 7 [Doc. No. 48]; Def. Proposed Conclusions of Law [Doc. No. 53].)

By the consent of the parties, the case was tried to the Court on May 3, 2017. After a transcript was prepared and filed [Doc. No. 52], the parties filed proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law [Doc. Nos. 53, 54]. The matter was taken under advisement at that time. Based on the testimony and exhibits offered at trial, and the oral and written submissions of counsel, the Court makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 52(a)(1).

I. FINDINGS OF FACT

A. The Subject Property

1. The Haiders purchased a condominium unit located at 2845 29th Avenue, Unit 904, Township of Cedar Lake, Wisconsin 54817 ("Subject Property") on December 16, 2005, for $550,000. (Tr. 111:25-112:4 [Doc. No. 52]; Def. Ex. 5.)

2. The Subject Property is legally described as:
Unit 904, Building 900, of Fairways at Tagalong Motel, a Condominium, together with said unit's undivided appurtenant interest in the common elements and the exclusive use of the limited common elements appurtenant to said unit, all in Fairways at Tagalong Motel, a *1029Condominium declared and existing under and by virtue of the Condominium Ownership Act of the State of Wisconsin, and recorded by Declaration as such condominium in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Barron County, Wisconsin, on April 25, 2003, in Records 1040-336, as Document No. 673771, as first amended in Records 1051-390, as Document No. 676232; as second amended in Document No. 698964, said condominium being located in the Township of Cedar Lake, Barron County, Wisconsin, on the real estate described in said Declaration and amendment and incorporated herein by this reference thereto.

(Def. Ex. 6).

3. The Subject Property is one of four 900-series condominium units at the Fairways at Tagalong ("Tagalong"). (Tr. 89:1-9.) The 900-series units are the largest condominium units at Tagalong and are similar in size. (Tr. 89:17-23, 90:4-6.)

4. Tagalong is adjacent to a golf course and Red Cedar Lake. (Tr. 76:25-77:5, 90:9-13.)

5. The Haiders began to permanently reside at the Subject Property in 2015, after the mortgage on their principal residence was foreclosed. (Tr. 118:25-119:1.)

B. The Tax Assessments and Notice of Federal Tax Lien to the Haiders

6. The Haiders failed to timely file federal income tax returns for tax years 2005 through 2010. (Tr. 106:25-107:3.)

7. On July 27, 2009, and August 30, 2010, the IRS assessed income tax, interest, and penalties against the Haiders for tax years 2005, 2006, and 2007. (Def. Ex. 1.)

8. On June 29, 2011, the IRS filed a Notice of Federal Tax Lien against the Haiders for their unpaid federal income tax liabilities for tax years 2005, 2006, and 2007. (Def. Ex. 1.) The Notice advised the Haiders of the lien and their right to a hearing under IRC 6320. (Def. Ex. 1.)

9. As of June 29, 2011, the unpaid balance of the assessments for tax years 2005, 2006, and 2007 was $144,129.27. (Def. Ex. 1.)

10. The IRS gave notice of the Notice of Federal Tax Lien to the Haiders on June 30, 2011. (Def. Ex. 1; Tr. 108:4-7.)

11. On September 15, 2015, the IRS issued a Notice of Federal Tax Lien to the Haiders that included the previous assessments for tax years 2005, 2006, and 2007, and added new assessments for tax years 2008, 2009, and 2010, which increased the total balance of unpaid assessments to $249,067.94. (Def. Ex. 3.)

12. The Haiders were not able to pay their federal income tax liabilities. (Tr. 113:20-114:7.) Gary Haider testified that in 2011 he and his wife were "going broke." (Tr. 106:5-7.)

C. North Country and Thomas Lockner

13. North Country is a Minnesota limited liability company, whose only member is Thomas Lockner. (Tr. 154:6-11.)

14. Lockner graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1994 and is admitted to practice law in the State of Minnesota. (Tr. 170:17-25.)

15. Lockner works primarily in the area of transactional business law, but a small portion of his practice is dedicated to preparing tax returns and handling tax matters for his clients, including representing clients before the IRS. (Tr. 140:5-1.)

16. In 2008, Lockner began buying and selling distressed properties. (Tr. 172:20-24.) In 2008-2010, he spent about twenty to twenty-five percent of his time buying and selling distressed properties, and his *1030business has escalated since then. (Tr. 173:20-25, 174:1-4.)

17. Lockner met Gary Haider in early 2011 through a mutual acquaintance who knew about Lockner's side business and about Gary Haider's distressed financial situation. (Tr. 174:12-24.)

18. In the fall of 2012, Lockner prepared and filed Gary Haider's federal income tax return for tax year 2011. (Tr. 191:24-192:2.) Lockner subsequently prepared Gary Haider's 2012 and 2013 returns. (Tr. 192:3-4.)

19. Gary Haider told Lockner in 2011 that the Haiders had financial problems and an outstanding tax debt. (Tr. 106:8-15, 141:4-17.)

20. Lockner established North Country in July 2011, for the purpose of acquiring the Subject Property. (Tr. 154:6-14; Pl. Ex. 4.)

21. Before the transfer, Lockner did not have the Subject Property appraised or inspected, nor did he conduct a title search. (Tr. 143:14-19, 144:12-13, 145:3-5.)

D. The Sale of the Subject Property to North Country

22. On July 15, 2011, North Country entered into a written contract with the Haiders to purchase the Subject Property for $250,000. (Def. Ex. 4.)

23. The purchase price was later reduced to $225,000. (Def. Ex. 9; Tr. 120:16-19.)

24. North Country and the Haiders executed a warranty deed transferring the Subject Property to North Country. (Def. Ex. 6.) The warranty deed was recorded with the Barron County Recorder on July 26, 2011. (Def. Ex. 6.)

25.

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286 F. Supp. 3d 1025, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/n-country-escape-llc-v-united-states-med-2018.