United States v. Glanson Co.

43 Cust. Ct. 601
CourtUnited States Customs Court
DecidedJuly 8, 1959
DocketA.R.D. 110; Entry No. 792815
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 43 Cust. Ct. 601 (United States v. Glanson Co.) 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
United States v. Glanson Co., 43 Cust. Ct. 601 (cusc 1959).

Opinion

FORD, Judge:

This is an application for review of the decision and judgment of the trial court, Glanson Co. v. United States, 41 Cust. Ct. 510, Reap. Dec. 9208, filed under the provisions of title 28, U.S.C., section 2636(a). The merchandise involved consists of two styles of cribbage boards, which are designated as size No. 28 and size No. 29. The merchandise was invoiced, entered, claimed by the importer, and appraised as indicated in the following tabulation:

Appraised foreign value per doz. Invoiced and entered per doz. Importer claimed value per doz.
No. 28 $4.95 (Can.) $5.55 (Can.) $7.40 (Can.)
No. 29 8.25 (Can.) 11.10 (Can.) 14.40 (Can.)

The trial court held the merchandise to be dutiable on the basis of cost of production, as set forth in section 402(f) of the Tariff Act of 1930, and held the correct dutiable value of the involved merchandise was as indicated in column two, supra.

When this case was originally tried, both parties contended that the proper basis of appraisement was foreign value, as set forth in section 402(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended by the Customs Administrative Act of 1938. The trial court, in Glanson Co. v. United States, 29 Cust. Ct. 508, Reap. Dec. 8182, dismissed the appeal for reappraisement on the ground that no statutory foreign value existed, as there was no price at which such merchandise was freely offered for sale to “all” purchasers. An application for review was duly filed by the importer and this court, in the case of Glanson Co. v. United States, 31 Cust. Ct. 473, A.R.D. 33, reversed and remanded this matter to the trial court, directing the single judge sitting in reappraisement to determine the value of the imported merchandise.

The court also indicated in its decision our agreement with the trial court that such merchandise was not freely offered at the manufacturer’s level, since sales were made at various prices depending upon the class of purchaser. This case was then resubmitted before the trial court, after receiving additional evidence with respect to the cost of production. The submission was then set aside by the trial court for the purpose of receiving evidence with respect to the proof of profits required under the statutory basis of cost of production. Same v. Same, 38 Cust. Ct. 638, Reap. Dec. 8793. On receiving this addi[603]*603tional information, the case was resubmitted, and the trial court rendered a decision affirming the appraised value, since the evidence established only approximate costs. Same v. Same, 40 Cust. Ct. 644, Reap. Dec. 9047. The importer then filed a motion for rehearing, which was granted by the court in Same v. Same, 40 Cust. Ct. 694, Reap. Dec. 9073, and a decision and judgment were rendered by the trial court holding the merchandise to be dutiable on the basis of cost of production and finding the values to be those set forth in column two, supra.

Counsel for the Government objected to the introduction of any new evidence or the further rehearings granted subsequent to the decision of this court in A.R.D. 33, supra. It was Government’s position, during all the proceedings had subsequent to our decision in said A.R.D. 33, that this cause was remanded for the sole purpose of having the trial court determine the value of the involved merchandise, as prescribed in 28 U.S.C., section 2631. It is urged that, in the absence of any specific direction, the trial court is bound to make its determination of value on the record, as made and that the introduction of further evidence constitutes error.

Since this point is raised, and before consideration is given to the merits of the case, it is deemed necessary to consider whether the introduction of further evidence and the granting of various rehearings constitute error in this particular matter. There appears to be little doubt that it is within the inherent power of this court, in the absence of a statute to the contrary, to reopen a case for the purpose of introducing additional evidence or for any other purpose consonant with justice and a correct decision. United States v. International Graphite & Electrode Corp., 25 C.C.P.A. (Customs) 74, T.D. 49066. This power, of course, is to be utilized within the discretion of the court and is not reviewable unless such action constitutes an abuse of discretion. An analysis of our decision in A.R.D. 33, supra, is indicative of the fact that no specific direction was made instructing the trial court to make its findings of value on the record as made. On the contrary, the implication is clear that additional evidence would be required for the determination which was directed, since the record before us at the time this matter was originally argued was barren of evidence with respect to sales by wholesalers. In our opinion, A.R.D. 33, supra, we stated as follows:

The proven fact is that the wholesale trade constituted one of the categories of purchasers to whom the manufacturer sold its wares. Whether that class of trade offered to sell cribbage boards at prices which would, consistent with the provisions of the foreign value statute, enable the selection of a freely offered price to all purchasers for home consumption, is not of record. Until such sales are ruled out, the categorical denial of the existence of a foreign value may not be asserted. * * *

[604]*604Had the court directed the trial court to find the value of the involved cribbage boards on the record as made, so that the remand was merely for mechanical compliance with the statute controlling, we would agree with appellant. We find no reversible error in the admission of additional evidence under the facts involved herein.

The factual situation of this case does not appear to be in dispute. The position of appellant is that the merchandise is dutiable as appraised on the basis of foreign value of such merchandise at the resale price of the wholesaler. All agree that since the cribbage boards are patented articles, there are no similar articles either for home consumption or export to the United States and that there is no export value, since the appellee has the exclusive import rights in the United States.

The first question thus presented is whether there is a foreign value for such merchandise within the purview of paragraph 402(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, supra.

The record herein with respect to the question of foreign value of such merchandise, as that term is prescribed under section 402(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, supra, clearly establishes that, on or about the date of exportation, the manufacturer of the involved cribbage boards freely offered the merchandise for sale for home consumption in the principal markets of the country from which exported, in the usual wholesale quantities and in the ordinary course of trade, at three different price levels which were determined solely by the category of the purchaser and not the quantity purchased. The prices of the manufacturer to the various categories of purchaser’s are as follows:

No. CCo jobbers and wholesalers To chain and department stores To retailers, other than chain and department stores
28 $5.55 per dozen $6.66 per dozen $7.40 per dozen
29 11.10 per dozen 13.30 per dozen 14.40 per dozen

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43 Cust. Ct. 601, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-glanson-co-cusc-1959.