Pierre v. United States

800 F. Supp. 446, 70 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5476, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10882, 1992 WL 196606
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Mississippi
DecidedJuly 2, 1992
DocketCiv. A. J91-0241(W)
StatusPublished

This text of 800 F. Supp. 446 (Pierre v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Mississippi primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Pierre v. United States, 800 F. Supp. 446, 70 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5476, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10882, 1992 WL 196606 (S.D. Miss. 1992).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

WINGATE, District Judge.

This action was filed by the taxpayer, Joseph M. Pierre, M.D., [hereinafter Pierre] against the respondent, United States of America, pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 7609(h) 1 of the Internal Revenue Code, to quash an Internal Revenue summons for certain tax documents of the taxpayer’s in the possession of A1 Roberts/Custom Accounting Systems, Inc., of Mississippi, 2 which is a “third-party recordkeeper” as defined in section 7609(a)(3) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C.). Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the respondent, United States of America, moved to dismiss the petition to quash on the grounds that the petition fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Additionally, the respondent moved the court for an order enforcing the summons pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 7609(b)(2)(A), 5 Internal Revenue Code. Petitioner opposed the motion. Pursuant to the respondent’s motion, the parties submitted memoranda, exhibits, affidavits and other documents in support of their claims before this court.

Upon reviewing the papers of the parties, the court concluded that a hearing on the factual issues was required since the papers of the parties presented factual disagreements which needed resolution at a full hearing on the merits. So, on or about February 18, 1992, this court held a full hearing on the merits of this matter wherein the parties argued their respective positions and presented evidence. See United States v. Southeast First National Bank of Miami Springs, 655 F.2d 661, 665-66 (5th Cir.1981) (district court may order evidentiary hearing for taxpayer challenging summons). After having reviewed the briefs of the parties, heard oral arguments of counsel, and having received evidence in this cause, the court is persuaded to find for the respondent United States. Pursuant to Rule 52(a) 6 of the Federal Rules of *449 Civil Procedure, the court now announces its findings of fact and conclusions of law.

BACKGROUND FACTS

As indicated by Special Agent Nicholas M. Montgomery of the Internal Revenue Service [hereinafter IRS] in his testimony at the hearing and by his filed declaration which is attached to the respondent’s motion to dismiss as exhibit A, he is investigating the federal income tax liability, if any, of Joseph M. Pierre, M.D., for the years 1987 and 1988 and seeking to determine whether Joseph M. Pierre has violated any of the Internal Revenue laws for the years under investigation. As part of his investigation, on April 26, 1991, Special Agent Montgomery issued an Internal Revenue Service summons (Form 2039) to A1 Roberts/Custom Accounting Systems, Inc., of Mississippi. The summons requested A1 Roberts/Custom Accounting Systems, Inc., of Mississippi to appear before Special Agent Montgomery on May 28, 1991, at 11:00 a.m., to give testimony and to produce certain books, records, correspondence, workpapers and other data pertaining to the tax liability of Joseph M. Pierre, M.D., for the years 1987 and 1988. The summons specifically directed the accountant and the accounting firm to present documents in their possession for the periods of January 1, 1985, through April 30, 1990, pertaining to the following individuals and entities: Joseph M. Pierre, M.D.; Suzie M. David, a/k/a Suzie Pierre; Marie D. Pierre/Marie Dalberg LaFontant Pierre; and Pierre and Pierre, P.A./Pierre Chiropractic Clinic, P.A. On April 26, 1991, a copy of the summons was served on A1 Roberts/Custom Accounting Systems, Inc., of Mississippi, and, on that same date, notice of service of the summons was given to the taxpayer.

On May 15,1991, Joseph M. Pierre, M.D., filed the above-styled action seeking to quash the summons issued to Al Roberts/Custom Accounting Systems, Inc., of Mississippi. Subsequently, on May 28, 1991, A1 Roberts/Custom Accounting Systems, Inc., of Mississippi failed to appear before Special Agent Montgomery to give testimony and produce .certain books, records, correspondence, workpapers and other data as requested by the summons.

OVERVIEW OF LAW

Sections 7602 through 7609 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 govern the procedures applicable to issuance, compliance, enforcement, and challenges pertaining to an Internal Revenue Service summons. Section 7602, entitled “Examination of Books and Witnesses,” grants general and expansive powers to the Secretary of the Treasury to examine records and to summon persons and documents for testimony. Specifically, section 7602 authorizes the Secretary of Treasury to issue a summons for:

... [T]he purpose of ascertaining the correctness of any return ..., determining the liability of any person for any internal revenue tax ..., or collecting any such liability ... to summon ... any person having possession, custody or care of books of account containing entries relating to the business of the person liable for tax ..., to produce such books, papers, records, or other data, and to give such testimony, under oath, as may be relevant or material to such inquiry. ...

26 U.S.C. § 7602(a)(lH2).

This section grants the Internal Revenue Service powers analogous to that of a grand jury which can investigate “merely on suspicion that the law is being violated or even just because it wants assurance that it is not.” United States v. Powell, 379 U.S. 48, 57, 85 S.Ct. 248, 255, 13 L.Ed.2d 112 (1964). The power granted by this enactment has been characterized as inquisitional, rather than accusatorial. La Mura v. United States, 765 F.2d 974, 979 (11th Cir.1985); United States v. Wyatt, 637 F.2d 293, 299 (5th Cir.1981). Further, section 7602 incorporates section 7609. United States v. Euge, 444 U.S. 707, 709-12, 100 S.Ct. 874, 877-78, 63 L.Ed.2d 141 (1980).

*450 Section 7609, entitled “Special Procedures for Third-Party Summonses,” applies only to a special category of summonses. Godwin v. United States, 564 F.Supp. 1209, 1211 (D.Del.1983).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Boyd v. United States
116 U.S. 616 (Supreme Court, 1886)
United States v. Powell
379 U.S. 48 (Supreme Court, 1964)
Couch v. United States
409 U.S. 322 (Supreme Court, 1973)
Fisher v. United States
425 U.S. 391 (Supreme Court, 1976)
United States v. LaSalle National Bank
437 U.S. 298 (Supreme Court, 1978)
United States v. Euge
444 U.S. 707 (Supreme Court, 1980)
United States v. Doe
465 U.S. 605 (Supreme Court, 1984)
Braswell v. United States
487 U.S. 99 (Supreme Court, 1988)
United States v. Stuart
489 U.S. 353 (Supreme Court, 1989)
Konstantinos Moutevelis v. United States
727 F.2d 313 (Third Circuit, 1984)
Wayne R. La Mura v. United States
765 F.2d 974 (Eleventh Circuit, 1985)
United States v. Saunders
621 F. Supp. 745 (N.D. Georgia, 1985)
Godwin v. United States
564 F. Supp. 1209 (D. Delaware, 1983)
Holifield v. United States
677 F. Supp. 996 (E.D. Wisconsin, 1987)
Moutevelis v. United States
561 F. Supp. 1211 (M.D. Pennsylvania, 1983)
Mitchell v. Internal Revenue Service
633 F. Supp. 1043 (S.D. Mississippi, 1986)
Rapidforma Del Caribe, Inc. v. United States
636 F. Supp. 465 (D. Puerto Rico, 1986)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
800 F. Supp. 446, 70 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5476, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10882, 1992 WL 196606, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pierre-v-united-states-mssd-1992.