United States v. Buck

356 F. Supp. 370, 31 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 793, 1973 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15384
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Texas
DecidedJanuary 16, 1973
DocketMisc. 72-G-3
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 356 F. Supp. 370 (United States v. Buck) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Buck, 356 F. Supp. 370, 31 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 793, 1973 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15384 (S.D. Tex. 1973).

Opinion

*372 MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

NOEL, District Judge.

This is a suit to obtain judicial enforcement of an administrative summons. Petitioners are the United States of America and Gerald T. Culver, a Special Agent with the Intelligence Division of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Respondent is E. 0. Buck in his capacity as Temporary Receiver for W. L. Moody & Co., Bankers (Unincorporated), a sole proprietorship owned and formerly operated by Intervenor, Shearn Moody, Jr. Receiver was appointed in an action brought against Bank and Intervenor by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and docketed as Civil Action No. 71-G-167. The summons required Receiver to appear before Culver and produce certain records of the Bank. Receiver did not comply with the summons and this enforcement proceeding was instituted pursuant to Sections 7402(b) and 7604 of Title 26, the United States Code.

Moody, the taxpayer whose records are being sought, requested and was granted permission to intervene as the real party at interest. Donaldson v. United States, 400 U.S. 517, 91 S.Ct. 534, 27 L.Ed.2d 580 (1971). Counsel for Intervenor actively presented the case against enforcement while Receiver’s counsel, appropriately, has stood by, awaiting the Court’s decision. Oral testimony was received on December 4 and 11. In addition, Intervenor and Petitioners have sumitted briefs.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. On July 10, 1972, pursuant to an SEC order authorizing an investigation, Larry Burks, Esq., an attorney for the SEC, prepared a subpoena duces tecum addressed to W. L. Moody & Co., Bankers (Unincorporated). The subpoena requested access to substantially, all Bank records. Because the Bank is a sole proprietorship owned by Intervenor, its records are the personal property and records of Moody. They have been so considered by all parties. The rights and liabilities of Moody and Bank are coincident. Moody is the Bank and the Bank is Moody. The Bank is only one of Moody’s numerous assets held by the Receiver, pursuant to this Court’s order.

2. On July 10, E. Douglas McLeod, Executive Vice President of Bank, was served with the SEC subpoena at the Bank, Tremont and Church Streets, Galveston, Texas. McLeod was fully advised of his constitutional rights. McLeod offered to provide immediate access to the records. Nonetheless, James E. Sims, Esq., SEC attorney in charge, postponed a request for compliance until an attorney for Moody could be present. Upon later arrangement between Sims and representatives of Moody, July 13 was selected as the date upon which compliance would commence.

3. On July 10, and in the presence of Sims, McLeod attempted to contact several attorneys who had represented Moody in matters concerning the Bank. McLeod finally reached A. R. Schwartz, an attorney. Schwartz conferred with Sims on July 10 and 11, at which time he stated that he was not qualified to properly counsel Moody in the matter and indicated to Sims that the firm of Sams, Anderson, Alper & Spencer, of Miama, Florida, would represent Moody. The firm had previously represented Moody. On July 12, Roger Bridges, Esq., of that firm arrived in Houston, and acting as attorney for Moody, conferred with Sims. James Wohlenhaus, a Moody employee and adviser, had told McLeod that Bridges would represent Moody.

4. Between July 10 and 13, McLeod talked by telephone to Moody and met with Moody at his ranch. Moody knew of the SEC subpoena and of McLeod’s intention to comply with it. Although he expressed anger and aggravation over the investigation, Moody did not direct McLeod to resist the subpoena. Moody did nothing to restrict the scope of or compliance with the SEC investigation. McLeod’s compliance with the SEC subpoena was authorized by Moody.

*373 5. On July 13 Messrs. Sims and Burks, SEC attorneys, and John Arnold, an SEC accountant, appeared at Bank to demand compliance with the subpoena. Messrs. McLeod, Bridges and Trenton Torregrossa, Vice President and Cashier of Bank, were present. The proceedings were recorded (Moody Exhibit 3). Although Bridges, legal counsel for Moody, acknowledged his familiarity with Moody’s constitutional privilege, he did not assert the privilege for Moody and made no objection to Moody’s compliance with the SEC subpoena. Bridges stated that compliance was not to be considered a waiver of any right Moody might have, but did not identify any particular right as being reserved. The Court finds that Moody complied with the SEC subpoena after careful consideration by and upon advice of duly authorized and competent counsel.

6. The SEC order authorizing the investigation (Government Exhibit 2) stated facts which if true would constitute violations of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 77a et seq., and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 78 et seq. The order identified the specific sections of the laws involved, to wit: Sections 5(a), 5(c) and 17(a) of the Securities Act, and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act, together with Rule 10b-5 adopted pursuant thereto. Violations of said sections carry with them criminal sanctions, 15 U.S.C. § 77v and 15 U.S.C. § 78ff. McLeod and Moody’s counsel, Bridges, read and fully understood the implications of the order.

7. At the July 13 proceeding, Sims advised those present that the cited statutes concerned unregistered sales of securities and statutory fraud. Sims also informed McLeod and Bridges that if violations of other federal laws became evident, “the subjects of the investigation could be charged with violations of those other laws.” Thus, the Court finds that Moody through his agents and from their communications to him knew the criminal implications of the SEC investigation; and with such information, acted upon the advice of competent counsel.

8. On August 1 and 2, Moody appeared at Bank and asked Burks several questions concerning the SEC investigation. Burks declined to answer Moody’s questions and told him the SEC was not there to help Moody. He suggested that Moody should confer with his attorney. Upon advice of counsel, Moody signed a short letter (Government Exhibit 3), dated August 3, which recited knowledge of the subpoena and stated, “it is agreeable with me for this investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission to continue until further notice is given by me to the contrary.” No contrary notice was given.

9. The investigation by the SEC in July and August of 1972 was very thorough. Commission representatives reviewed all Bank files and surveyed the contents of every desk. The SEC microfilmed a substantial part of the records located in the Bank. The investigators were provided an office in the bank building. Moody’s employees assisted in locating and providing records for the investigators as requested.

10.

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356 F. Supp. 370, 31 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 793, 1973 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15384, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-buck-txsd-1973.