United States v. Stoll

District Court, W.D. Washington·Decided March 5, 2025·No. 2:22-cv-01130·Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT AT SEATTLE Plaintiff, v. GLEN A. STOLL; STOLL FAMILY TRUST; C22-1130 TSZ DIRECTOR OF THE FAMILY DEFENSE LEAGUE a/k/a FAMILY DEFENSE LEAGUE ORDER a/k/a FAMILY DEFENSE NETWORK a/k/a FAMILY DEFENSE FUND; and SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Defendants. THIS MATTER comes before the Court on a motion for summary judgment and default judgment, docket no. 80, brought by plaintiff United States of America (the “Government”), and a motion to set aside default, docket no. 83, brought by defendant Stoll Family Trust. Having reviewed all papers filed in support of, and in opposition to, the motions, the Court enters the following Order. Background The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has computed defendant Glen A. Stoll’s federal income tax liabilities for the years 2001–2008 to be $1,265,461.89 as of December 13, 2024, including interest, penalties, and statutory accruals. See Hall Decl. at ¶¶ 10–11, 13, & 23 (docket no. 80-1). In this action, the Government seeks to reduce

its federal tax assessments to judgment and to foreclose its tax liens on real property located at 7311 Grove Street in Marysville, Washington1 (the “Subject Property” or “Marysville House”), which the Government asserts is owned by Stoll’s nominee or alter ego. See Compl. at ¶¶ 39, 41–54, & 58–60 (docket no. 1). At this stage of the litigation, the crux of the parties’ dispute is whether Stoll has the requisite ownership of or interest in the Marysville House for the Government’s tax liens to have attached to the property

pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 6321.2 In January 1992, Stoll’s parents, Richard H. Stoll and Mary Stoll, created the Richard H. Stoll and Mary Stoll Family Trust (the “Stoll Family Trust”). See Ex. 106 (docket no. 80-46 at 2). Stoll’s parents were the trustors, original trustees, and beneficiaries of the Stoll Family Trust. Id. (docket no. 80-46 at 2 & 4). In May 2002, the

Stoll Family Trust acquired the Marysville House. Ex. 103 (docket no. 80-43); see also Ex. 105 (docket no. 80-45). To secure a loan in the amount of $185,250, the Stoll Family Trust executed a Deed of Trust concerning the Marysville House, identifying Credit Union of the Pacific (which later became Sound Community Bank) as the lender and

1 The legal description for the Subject Property is as follows: “LOT(S) 7, MUNSON CREEK ESTATES DIVISION III, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 49 OF PLATS, PAGE(S) 180 AND 181, RECORDS OF SNOHOMISH COUNTY, WASHINGTON.” Statutory Warranty Deed, Ex. 103 (docket no. 80-43). 2 The statute establishing tax liens reads as follows: “If any person liable to pay any tax neglects or refuses to pay the same after demand, the amount . . . shall be a lien in favor of the United States upon all property and rights to property, whether real or personal, belonging to such Stewart Title Company of Snohomish County, Inc. as the trustee. See Ex. 104 (docket no. 80-44).

In September 2005, the Stoll Family Trust’s trust agreement was restated to provide as follows: • Upon the death of both Richard and Mary Stoll, their daughter Janet M. Spangler would serve as trustee; their son Lee R. Stoll was named as first successor trustee and Glen Stoll was named as second successor trustee; • Upon the death of both Richard and Mary Stoll, the trustee would distribute in equal shares to their surviving offspring all assets remaining after the payment of certain expenses and taxes, provided that any interest in the Marysville House was to be included in the portion allocated to Glen Stoll; • The Marysville house was to be deemed “worth the amount necessary to discharge any remaining balance on the original purchase price mortgage”; and • If Glen Stoll disclaimed “part or all of the share allocated for him,” then the disclaimed portion was to be distributed to the Director of the Family Defense League, which is also a defendant in this matter. See Restatement of Stoll Family Trust at Arts. II & VII, Ex. 106 (docket no. 80-46 at 4 & 11–12). Richard Stoll died in February 2006, and Mary Stoll died in October 2011, at which time Janet Spangler became the trustee of the Stoll Family Trust. See Spangler Rule 30(b)(6) Dep. at 53:21–22 (docket no. 80-22); see also Compl. at ¶¶ 24–25 (docket no. 1). By letter to Spangler dated September 28, 2012, Glen Stoll disclaimed all of the assets allocated to him under the restated trust agreement. Ex. 179 (docket no. 80-68). In the letter, Stoll indicated his understanding that his “inheritance shall be used to pay off the mortgage on the Marysville house [and] the Marysville house shall then be deeded to the Director of the Family Defense League.” Id. In November 2012, the Stoll Family house, Ex. 108 (docket no. 80-48 at 10); see also Spangler Rule 30(b)(6) Dep. at 108:16– 22 (docket no. 80-22), and a full reconveyance of the related Deed of Trust was recorded

in December 2012, Ex. 107 (docket no. 80-47). No evidence has been presented that a statutory warranty, quit claim, or other form of deed or a real estate excise tax affidavit was ever recorded in connection with the alleged transaction between the Stoll Family Trust and the Director of the Family Defense League.3 In August 2022, the Government commenced this action against Stoll, the Stoll Family Trust, the Director of the Family Defense League (a.k.a. Family Defense League,

a.k.a. Family Defense Network, a.k.a. Family Defense Fund), and Snohomish County. See Compl. (docket no. 1). In October 2022, the Government entered into, and the Court later approved, a stipulation to treat Snohomish County’s property tax liens as senior to the Government’s federal tax liens. See Stipulation (docket no. 9); see also Order (docket no. 11). By Order entered April 25, 2023, the Clerk of the Court entered default against

the Stoll Family Trust and the Director of the Family Defense League, neither of which had timely pleaded or otherwise defended in this action. See Order (docket no. 35). The Government now seeks default judgment against both the Director of the Family Defense League and the Stoll Family Trust, as well as summary judgment against Stoll.

3 During her deposition, Spangler testified that she “went to the County and did what was necessary to transfer the Subject Property into the Director of the Family Defense League.” Spangler Rule 30(b)(6) Dep. at 160:8–11 (docket no. 80-22). Spangler could not, however, describe any steps that she might have taken to convey the Marysville House to the Director of The Stoll Family Trust asks that the entry of default against it be vacated. See Def.’s Mot. (docket no. 83). Stoll has requested that the Government’s motion for

summary judgment be continued for two months. See Email (Jan. 13, 2025), Ex. to Minute Order (docket no. 88-1). Stoll also indicates that he “joins” the Stoll Family Trust’s attorney in asking for a two-month extension, see id., but the Stoll Family Trust has not sought any extra time to respond to the Government’s motion for summary judgment. Rather, the Stoll Family Trust has filed a brief setting forth the reasons why it believes the Government’s motion should be denied. See Resp. (docket no. 84). In

addition, Stoll has attempted to present arguments on behalf of the Director of the Family Defense League. Stoll, however, is not an attorney, and he is not authorized to represent the Director of the Family Defense League before this Court. Stoll’s “joinder” in a non- existent motion and his contentions about the default status of the Director of the Family Defense League are without merit.

Discussion A. Default Judgment Against Director of the Family Defense League The Director of the Family Defense League is a corporation sole4 of which Stoll is the governor. See Compl. at ¶ 9 (docket no. 1). No attorney has appeared on its behalf,

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

United States v. Stoll, (W.D. Wash. 2025).

United States v. Stoll (United States v. Stoll) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Aquilino v. United States
363 U.S. 509 (Supreme Court, 1960)
Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.
477 U.S. 242 (Supreme Court, 1986)
Drye v. United States
528 U.S. 49 (Supreme Court, 2000)
United States v. Hope Springs Corporation
482 F. App'x 241 (Ninth Circuit, 2012)
Proctor v. Forsythe
480 P.2d 511 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1971)
911 Management, LLC v. United States
657 F. Supp. 2d 1186 (D. Oregon, 2009)
Baker v. Leonard
843 P.2d 1050 (Washington Supreme Court, 1993)
Mehelich v. Mehelich
500 P.2d 779 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1972)