Oliva v. United States

221 F.R.D. 540, 93 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 502, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24220, 2003 WL 23242036
CourtDistrict Court, D. Hawaii
DecidedDecember 9, 2003
DocketNo. CV03-00409 DAE-LEK
StatusPublished

This text of 221 F.R.D. 540 (Oliva v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Hawaii primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Oliva v. United States, 221 F.R.D. 540, 93 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 502, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24220, 2003 WL 23242036 (D. Haw. 2003).

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING RESPONDENT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA’S MOTION TO DISMISS; ORDER GRANTING RESPONDENT FIRST HAWAIIAN BANK’S MOTION TO DISMISS; ORDER DENYING PETITIONER’S MOTION FOR DECLARATORY JUDGMENT; ORDER DENYING PETITIONER’S MOTION FOR JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS

DAVID ALAN EZRA, Chief Judge.

The court heard the motions on November 17, 2003. Arthur Oliva appeared at the hearing pro se; Department of Justice Trial Attorney Keith Blair appeared on behalf of the United States; David L. Monroy, Esq., and William S. Bailey, Esq., appeared on behalf of Respondent First Hawaiian Bank. After reviewing the motions and the supporting and opposing memoranda, the court GRANTS Respondent United States’ Motion To Dismiss and GRANTS Respondent First Hawaiian Bank’s Motion To Dismiss. The court DENIES Petitioner’s Motion for Declaratory Judgment and Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings.

BACKGROUND

A. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) is currently conducting an investigation of Petitioner Arthur Oliva’s (“Oliva”) tax liabilities for the periods of 1997, 1998, and 1999. The Revenue Agent that is assigned to this investigation is Allan Chow (“Chow”). On June 25, 2003, Chow issued an administrative summons to First Hawaiian Bank (“FHB”) regarding the Oliva matter. This summons included the notation: “‘Note: Under IRC § 7609, this summons is exempt from the notice requirements pertaining to third party summonses.’” FHB Motion To Dismiss Petition To Quash Third Party Summons and First Amended Petition To Quash Third Party Summons (“FHB Motion To Dismiss”), at 3 (underlining in original).

On July 8 2003, the IRS issued a second summons to FHB regarding the Oliva matter. This summons contained the same notation as the first summons. Both of the summonses stated that FHB should produce records relating to

“the tax liability or the collection of the tax liability or for the purpose of inquiring into any offense connected with the administration or enforcement of the internal revenue laws .... ”

FHB’s Motion To Dismiss, at 5, quoting First Summons and Second Summons. Oliva filed a Petition To Quash Third-Party Summons on July 28, 2003 (“Petition To Quash”). On August 1, 2003, Petitioner filed a First Amended Petition To Quash Third Party Summons (“First Amended Petition”). In essence, Petitioner claims that Chow was not acting within his authority when he issued the summons. Moreover, Petitioner alleges that FHB had a duty” to ascertain who defendant Chow and his supervisor [we]re and the bounds of them authority.” Petition To Quash, at 6.

B. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On September 12, 2003, Respondent United States filed a Motion To Dismiss (“United States’ Motion To Dismiss”). Petitioner filed a Motion To Strike United States’ Motion To Dismiss on September 25, 2003 (“Oliva’s Opposition to United States’ Motion”). Also on September 25, 2003, Petitioner filed a Motion for Declaratory Judgment. FHB filed a Motion To Dismiss Petition To Quash Third Party Summons and First Amended Petition To Quash Third Party Summons (“FHB Motion To Dismiss”) on October 6, 2003. On October 21, 2003, Petitioner filed a Motion To Strike or in the Alternative Deny Defendant First Hawaiian Bank’s Motion To Dismiss (“Oliva’s Opposition to FHB’s Motion”). The [543]*543United States filed an Opposition to Motion for Declaratory Judgment on October 21, 2003. On October 31, 2003, FHB filed a Memorandum in Opposition to Petitioner’s Motion for Declaratory Judgment (“FHB Opposition to Motion for Declaratory Judgment”). Petitioner filed a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings on October 31, 2003. Also on October 31, 2003, FHB filed a Memorandum in Opposition to Petitioner’s Opposition to FHB’s Motion (“FHB’s Reply”). Petitioner filed a Response to FHB’s Reply on November 14, 2003 (“Oliva’s Response to FHB’s Reply”). On November 14, 2003, Petitioner also filed a Response to United States’ Opposition to Motion for Declaratory Judgment and a Response to FHB’s Memorandum in Opposition to Petitioner’s Motion for Declaratory Judgment.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

Rule 12(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (“FRCP”) allows the consideration at the pre-trial stage of any defense, objection, or request “which is capable of determination without the trial of the general issue.” A motion to dismiss is generally “capable of determination before trial if it involves questions of law rather than fact.” United States v. Shortt Accountancy Corp., 785 F.2d 1448, 1452 (9th Cir.1986). Although the court may make preliminary findings of fact necessary to decide the legal questions presented by the motion, the court may not “invade the province of the ultimate finder of fact.” Id. (internal quotations and citations omitted).

In a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under Fed. R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1), the plaintiffs allegations are not presumed to be truthful, and the plaintiff has the burden of proof that jurisdiction exists. Thornhill Publishing Company, Inc. v. General Telephone & Electronics Corporation, 594 F.2d 730, 733 (9th Cir.1979).

A motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) will be granted where the plaintiff fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). For the purposes of a 12(b)(6) motion, “[rjeview is limited to the contents of the complaint.” Clegg v. Cult Awareness Network, 18 F.3d 752, 754 (9th Cir.1994).

A complaint should not be dismissed “ ‘unless it appears beyond doubt that plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of [his] claim which would entitle [him] to relief.’” Buckey v. County of Los Angeles, 968 F.2d 791, 794 (9th Cir.1992) (quoting Love v. United States, 915 F.2d 1242, 1245 (9th Cir.1989) (further citations omitted)). All allegations of material fact are taken as true and construed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. See id. Conelusory allegations without more are insufficient to defeat a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro v. Lerner, 31 F.3d 924, 928 (9th Cir.1994).

DISCUSSION

A. RESPONDENT UNITED STATES’ MOTION TO DISMISS

In arguing that this court should dismiss Oliva’s Petition To Quash, the United States first argues that Defendants Chow and the IRS are not proper defendants in this matter.

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221 F.R.D. 540, 93 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 502, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24220, 2003 WL 23242036, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/oliva-v-united-states-hid-2003.