Time Distributors, Inc. v. United States

58 Cust. Ct. 649, 1967 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 2471
CourtUnited States Customs Court
DecidedApril 4, 1967
DocketR.D. 11288; Entry No. 8403, etc.
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 58 Cust. Ct. 649 (Time Distributors, Inc. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Customs Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Time Distributors, Inc. v. United States, 58 Cust. Ct. 649, 1967 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 2471 (cusc 1967).

Opinion

Rao, Chief Judge:

The merchandise involved in these appeals for •reappraisement, consolidated for trial, consists of ladies’ and gentlemen’s wristwatch cases imported from Switzerland in November and December 1960. The merchandise was exported by Bermi Watch S.A. of Morbio Inferiore, Switzerland, to the purchaser, the plaintiff herein. The ladies’ wristwatch cases were invoiced and entered at 1.65 Swiss francs per case, less 5 percent discount, and the gentlemen’s at 2.50 Swiss francs per case, less 5 percent discount. The former were appraised at 2.25 Swiss francs per case, less 5 percent discount, and the latter at 5 Swiss francs per case, less 5 percent discount.

Plaintiff claims that the export value, as that value is defined in section 402(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended by the Customs Simplification Act of 1956, is the correct basis for determining the value of the merchandise and that such values are the invoiced and entered values. Defendant claims that constructed value, as that value is defined in section 402(d) of said tariff act, as amended, is the correct basis of valuation and that such values are the appraised values. The parties are in agreement that said merchandise is not identified on the [650]*650Final List published by the Secretary of the Treasury in 93 Treas. Dec. 14, T.D. 54521.

At the trial, Daniel Shoostine, president and treasurer of the plaintiff corporation, testified that he had visited Switzerland at least once a year since 1959 for the purpose of buying wristwatches. In January or February 1960, he visited the Bermi Watch Co., located in the southern part of Switzerland, and the Triad Watch Co. and a firm known as Sperina, both located near a town called Bienne in another section of Switzerland. During those visits, he asked for prices and, if they were satisfactory, placed orders. He said that the three firms sold wristwatch cases which were the same with respect to size, quality, and material as those involved herein. The ladies’ wristwatch case was a standard case, being a small round anodized aluminum case, which was not waterproof. The men’s wristwatch case was octagon in shape and was water resistant. The movement was a standard 866 movement, which was the same no matter who made it. The witness stated that he had purchased from the three companies since 1959, but he was uncertain as to whether he had purchased from anyone except Bermi in 1960. He said that the prices asked by these firms for cases such as involved here were the same. He had purchased in quantities of 1,000,3,000, and 5,000 and said those were usual wholesale quantities. He testified that the towns he mentioned were principal markets for the sale of these watches; that he did not know of too many factories in the southern part of Switzerland except Bermi, and that the larger markets were in the vicinity of Bienne. Actually, the factories were not places of manufacture but places where parts were assembled. He had been brought to these factories on his first visit by an “agent.” Over the course of years, he had met other American purchasers, in these factories. While at Bermi’s making these purchases, he had met a man from Spartan Watch Co., which is now out of business. At Sperina, he had met a Mr. Cooperman from New York who told him he was purchasing at the same prices and that they “were all right, they are in line.”

Mr. Shoostine also testified that there were 40 or 50 other factories in Switzerland that produce similar watchcases and that they were selling to purchasers in the United States. On cross-examination he said he was unfamiliar with the prices at which those factories were selling similar watchcases, but on redirect he stated that he had had offers from them at about the same price. He was unable to state whether he bought at prices established on pricelists. Fie said the factories would sell to anyone who had good credit and an export symbol. He did not know what share of the market Bermi, Triad, and Sperina had.

Pursuant to stipulation, there was received in evidence subsequent to trial an affidavit of Pietro Bernasconi, president of Bermi Watch [651]*651S.A. It states that Bermi had sold watchcases to the plaintiff during November and December of 1960 and that the prices were as follows:

Ladies’ watch cases (aluminum)
Swiss francs 1.65 each
Men’s watch cases (chromed)
Swiss francs 2.50 each
A discount of 5% was allowed on each of the above prices.

The affidavit also states:

We further certify that such prices were our standard and usual prices in the usual wholesale quantities and in the ordinary course of trade at our factory in Switzerland during this period, our factory being a principal market in Switzerland for the sale of such watch cases for exportation to the United States. These prices were also offered to all persons who wished to purchase the same from us for exportation to the United States during the periods in question. Also during the period of exportation referred to herein, we sold watch cases of the same types to other customers in the United States, and sold the same at the same prices as shown herein.

Under well-established law, the value found by the appraiser is presumptively correct and the burden rests upon the challenging party to prove that the action of the appraiser was erroneous and that some other dutiable value is proper. Brooks Paper Company v. United States, 40 CCPA 38, 31, C.A.D. 495; H. S. Dorf & Co., Inc., a/c Joseph H. Meyer Bros. v. United States, 41 CCPA 183, 189, C.A.D. 548. To meet this burden plaintiff must establish every material element of value in strict compliance with the applicable statutory provision: Kobe Import Co. v. United States, 42 CCPA 194, 198, C.A.D. 593. In the instant case, plaintiff is required to prove all the elements of export value, as defined in section 402(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, which reads:

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

Related

Intercontinental Air Freight, Inc. v. United States
65 Cust. Ct. 758 (U.S. Customs Court, 1970)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
58 Cust. Ct. 649, 1967 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 2471, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/time-distributors-inc-v-united-states-cusc-1967.