United States v. Simon

CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Texas
DecidedJanuary 26, 2025
Docket4:22-cv-03120
StatusUnknown

This text of United States v. Simon (United States v. Simon) 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. Simon, (S.D. Tex. 2025).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT January 27, 2025 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS Nathan Ochsner, Clerk HOUSTON DIVISION UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, § § Plaintiff, § § v. § Civil Action No. 4:22-CV-03120 § DONALD SIMON, § § Defendant. § MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

Defendant Donald Simon is an admitted tax fraud. In its complaint against Simon, the United States alleged that Simon “prepares false and fraudulent U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns . . . for customers to obtain tax refunds to which the customers are often not entitled.” (Dkt. No. 1 at 3). While Simon filed an answer, he did not deny this allegation. (Dkt. No. 6 at 1). Instead, Simon responded to this allegation with “Defendant ____.” (See id. at 1). In fact, Simon responded to almost all of the United States’ allegations in this way. (See id. at 1–4). Since Simon did not deny the United States’ allegations, he has therefore admitted them. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(b)(6). The only question remaining is whether these admitted allegations entitle the United States to summary judgment on its claims and to permanent injunctive relief. As explained below, they do. Accordingly, the United States’ Motion for Summary Judgment, (Dkt. No. 18), is GRANTED. I. BACKGROUND1 Donald Simon lives in Houston, Texas, where he helps clients prepare their federal income tax returns. (Dkt. No. 1 at 2–3). For the 2018–2020 tax years, Simon prepared over

1,200 tax returns using his own preparer-identification number and over 500 tax returns using someone else’s. (Id. at 2–4). Of these roughly 1,700 returns, 94.8% claimed refunds. (See id.). Simon achieved these impressive numbers in large part through fraud. (See id. at 4–14) (describing Simon’s fraudulent activities); (see also Dkt. No. 6 at 1–4) (failing to deny

these allegations). Broadly, Simon engaged in three fraudulent practices: 1. Simon falsely claimed energy-efficiency expenses and credits on his clients’ returns, (see Dkt. No. 1 at 4–8); 2. Simon falsely claimed electric-vehicle expenses and credits on his clients’ returns, (see id. at 8–11); and 3. Simon falsely claimed various business expenses and credits on his clients’ returns, including when the client did not own a qualifying business, (see id. at 11–14). The IRS estimates that Simon’s fraudulent conduct cost the United States close to $2 million in tax revenue. (Id. at 15). Simon, who appears pro se, does not deny any of this. In his answer, he denies only two of the United States’ allegations, (Dkt. No. 6 at 1, 4), admits to five, (id. at 1), and states that “no admission or denial is required” for three others because they are “merely a statement of incorporation by reference,” (id. at 3). But mostly, Simon responds to the

1 Except where noted, this section contains only undisputed facts, and all facts and reasonable inferences have been construed in favor of the nonmovant. Renfroe v. Parker, 974 F.3d 594, 599 (5th Cir. 2020). The Court has not weighed evidence or made credibility findings. Id. United States’ allegations with the word “Defendant” followed by four (or sometimes five) underscores and a period (though sometimes not). For example,

Defendant _. 44 Defendant poe oo ON tee ng oe. 45. Defendant _ _ 46. Paragraph 48 of the Complaint is merely a statement of incorporation by reference to previous paragraphs, and no.admission or denial isrequired: = 47. Defendant | 48. Defendant eo megs □ 49. Defendant (id. at 3). Sixty-five of the seventy-eight numbered paragraphs in Simon’s answer respond this way, including those responding to the material fact allegations. (See id. at 1-4). A few months after this answer, Simon filed a handwritten request to continue a pretrial conference. (Dkt. No. 8). After that ... nothing. Simon made no further

appearances. He did, however, answer a phone call from the United States’ counsel as recently as June 18, 2024. (See Dkt. 21 at 3). The United States moved for summary judgment on its claims, requesting injunctive relief. (Dkt. No. 18). Simon did not respond. Il. LEGAL STANDARD Summary judgment is appropriate when there is “no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P.

56(a). A fact is material if it could affect the suit’s outcome under governing law. Renwick v. PNK Lake Charles, LLC, 901 F.3d 605, 611 (5th Cir. 2018) (citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby,

Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2510, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986)). And “[a] dispute about a material fact is ‘genuine’ if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party.” TIG Ins. v. Sedgwick James, 276 F.3d 754, 759 (5th Cir. 2002) (quoting Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. at 2510). The moving party “always bears the initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its motion” and identifying the record evidence that “it believes demonstrate[s] the absence of a

genuine issue of material fact.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2553, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). “If the moving party fails to meet [its] initial burden, the motion [for summary judgment] must be denied, regardless of the nonmovant’s response.” Little v. Liquid Air Corp., 37 F.3d 1069, 1075 (5th Cir. 1994) (en banc) (per curiam).

If the movant meets this burden, the nonmovant must come forward with specific facts showing a genuine issue for trial. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); see also Matsushita Elec. Indus. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 585–87, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 1355–56, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). The nonmovant must “‘go beyond the pleadings and by [the nonmovant’s] own affidavits, or by the depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file,

designate specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.’” Nola Spice Designs, LLC v. Haydel Enters., 783 F.3d 527, 536 (5th Cir. 2015) (quoting Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324, 106 S.Ct. at 2553). “The nonmovant must ‘identify specific evidence in the record and . . . articulate the precise manner in which that evidence supports his or her claim.’” Carr v. Air Line Pilots Ass’n, Int’l, 866 F.3d 597, 601 (5th Cir. 2017) (per curiam) (quoting Ragas v. Tenn. Gas Pipeline Co., 136 F.3d 455, 458 (5th Cir. 1998)), as revised (July 14, 2017).

If evidence is merely colorable or not significantly probative, summary judgment is appropriate. Parrish v. Premier Directional Drilling, L.P., 917 F.3d 369, 378 (5th Cir. 2019) (citing Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249–50, 106 S.Ct. at 2511). In reviewing a motion for summary judgment, the district court views the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmovant. Carr, 866 F.3d at 601. This means that courts must resolve factual controversies in the nonmovant’s favor, “but only

when . . . both parties have submitted evidence of contradictory facts.” Little, 37 F.3d at 1075. III. DISCUSSION “An allegation—other than one relating to the amount of damages—is admitted if a responsive pleading is required and the allegation is not denied.” Fed. R. Civ. P.

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