United States v. Bealey

14 Ct. Int'l Trade 670
CourtUnited States Court of International Trade
DecidedSeptember 17, 1990
DocketCourt No. 86-03-00348
StatusPublished

This text of 14 Ct. Int'l Trade 670 (United States v. Bealey) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of International Trade primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Bealey, 14 Ct. Int'l Trade 670 (cit 1990).

Opinion

DiCarlo, Judge:

The government moves for summary judgment for liquidated damages plus prejudgment and postjudgment interest for breach of an immediate delivery and consumption entry bond. Defendant Terry L. Bealey, the principal, opposes the motion arguing there are material issues of fact. Bealey and the Insurance Company of North America (ICNA), the surety, also oppose the government’s request for an award of prejudgment interest. ICNA cross moves for summary judgment against Bealey for indemnification and attorneys’ fees and expenses.

The Court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1582(2) and 1583 (1988). As there are no genuine issues of material fact and an award of prejudgment and postjudgment interest is appropriate, the government’s motion for summary judgment is granted. ICNA’s cross-motion for summary judgment for indemnification is also granted.

Background

On October 12,1978, Bealey as principal and ICNA as surety executed an immediate delivery and consumption entry bond. The bond is in the amount of $50,000 and covers multiple entries of certain articles at the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach between October 5,1978 and October 4, 1979. Under the bond, Bealey and ICNA jointly and severally agreed that Bealey would deliver to Customs all documents required by law or regulation for the entry of merchandise into the United States. The bond also provides that Bealey and ICNA are jointly and severally liable for liquidated damages if merchandise imported under the bond is not timely exported or redelivered to Customs’ custody following a proper demand.

On November 27, 1978, Bealey signed consumption entry number 79-414618 as importer of record for the Lancia and posted his bond with Customs. As a condition of delivery and release of the Lancia, Bealey executed forms stating that within 90 days and 180 days respectively, he [671]*671would provide Customs written releases from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation showing that the vehicle was exempt from U.S. emissions and safety standards or had been brought into compliance with them. If the releases were not obtained, the bond required either export or redelivery of the vehicle to Customs. Bealey does not deny signing the entry document, but asserts that because he was fraudulently induced to sign it, he was under no duty to obtain EPA and DOT releases or to redeliver the vehicle.

On April 9, 1980 when Bealey did not provide the releases, Customs issued a demand to redeliver the vehicle. Bealey did not redeliver or export the vehicle. On October 9, 1980, Customs demanded Bealey pay liquidated damages of $12,360, equal to the entered value of the vehicle and its estimated duties. Customs sent a copy of the demand to ICNA. Neither Bealey nor ICNA protested this demand and the liquidated damages remain unpaid. The government commenced this action on March 18, 1986.

Bealey concedes he is the principal on the bond, but claims that he did not intend that it be used for importation of the Lancia. He alleges he was fraudulently induced by third parties to act as importer of record and post his bond for entry of the vehicle. Bealey contends he was merely the shipper who delivered the vehicle to the actual importer.

Discussion

I. Government’s Claim on the Bond:

A. Questions of Fact:

Summary judgment is appropriate where there is no genuine issue of material fact. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 585-86 (1986). To survive a motion for summary judgment, the non-moving party must come forward with specific facts showing a genuine issue for trial. Id. at 587.

Bealey contends there are four issues of material fact precluding summary judgment: (1) whether Bealey was the actual importer, (2) whether third parties fraudulently induced Bealey to sign the entry document, (3) whether he intended to use his bond for entry of the Lan-cia, and (4) whether his bond covered importation of the Lancia.

Bealey’s first three arguments all turn on his assertion that he was fraudulently induced by third parties and the customshouse broker to act as importer of record and post his bond. Nevertheless, Bealey signed the consumption entry form which identifies him as the importer of record. The back of the entry form also states:

To the best of my knowledge all statements appearing in the entry and in this invoice and all documents presented herewith in accordance with which this entry is made are true and correct in every respect.

Memorandum in Support of Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment, Ex. C.

[672]*672Bealey cites Horwitz v. Sprague, 440 F. Supp. 1346 (S.D.N.Y. 1977) for the proposition that any contract can be set aside for fraud. In Horwitz, the alleged fraud was perpetrated by a party to the contract. Here, the persons Bealey claims fraudulently induced him to sign the entry document were not parties to the bond nor were they listed on the entry form. Where fraud is committed by someone not party to a contract, a contract is voidable only under certain circumstances:

If a party’s manifestation of assent is induced by either a fraudulent or a material misrepresentation by one who is not a party to the transaction upon which the recipient is justified in relying, the contract is voidable by the recipient, unless the other party to the transaction in good faith and without reason to know of the misrepresentation either gives value or relies materially on the transaction.

Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 164(2) (1979); accord Morgan Guar. Trust Co. v. Republic of Palau, 693 F. Supp. 1479, 1496-97 (S.D.N.Y. 1988); Arlington Park Racetrack, Ltd. v. SRM Computers Inc., 674 F. Supp. 986, 993 (E.D.N.Y. 1987); see also Taxin v. Food Fair Stores, Inc., 287 F.2d 448, 450 (3d Cir.) (citing Restatement of Contracts § 447, in discussion of fraud by third parties), cert. denied, 366 U.S. 930 (1961); Blum v. William Goldman Theatres, Inc., 164 F.2d 192, 196 n.8 (3d Cir. 1947); 12 Williston on Contracts § 1518 (3d ed. 1970).

Bealey does not contend the government, ICNA, or their agents participated in, knew, or should have known of the alleged fraud. The government manifested material reliance by releasing the Lancia on condition of Bealey posting his bond. Thus, even if Bealey had been fraudulently induced by third parties to enter into this transaction and to post his bond, he will not be able to avoid his obligations as importer of record or as principal on the bond. Therefore, the issue of fraud does not present a genuine question of material fact.

Bealey’s remaining assertion is that his bond does not cover importation of the Lancia because his bond number does not appear on the entry document. Bealey does not explain why his claim constitutes a material issue of fact.

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Related

Blum v. William Goldman Theatres, Inc.
164 F.2d 192 (Third Circuit, 1947)
Arlington Park Racetrack Ltd. v. SRM Computers, Inc.
674 F. Supp. 986 (E.D. New York, 1987)
United States v. Lun May Co., Inc.
680 F. Supp. 1573 (Court of International Trade, 1988)
Horwitz v. Sprague
440 F. Supp. 1346 (S.D. New York, 1977)
United States v. Goodman
572 F. Supp. 1284 (Court of International Trade, 1983)
Morgan Guaranty Trust Co. of New York v. Republic of Palau
693 F. Supp. 1479 (S.D. New York, 1988)

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Bluebook (online)
14 Ct. Int'l Trade 670, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-bealey-cit-1990.