United States v. Tanoue

165 F.R.D. 96, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19787, 1995 WL 810668
CourtDistrict Court, D. Hawaii
DecidedNovember 30, 1995
DocketMisc. No. 94-00096 HG
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 165 F.R.D. 96 (United States v. Tanoue) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Hawaii primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Tanoue, 165 F.R.D. 96, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19787, 1995 WL 810668 (D. Haw. 1995).

Opinion

ORDER DENYING RESPONDENT’S MOTION FOR RULE 60(B) EVIDENTIARY HEARING

GILLMOR, District Judge.

Respondent Tanoue, through his attorney, moves for an evidentiary hearing on newly discovered evidence pursuant to Fed.R.Civ. Proe. 60(b)(2) and (3).

BACKGROUND

On August, 17, 1994, Petitioner United States of America, on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service (the Government), filed a petition to enforce a summons on Respondent to produce handwriting exemplars in connection with the criminal tax investigation of Mr. David Chang. On February 16, 1995, the Court adopted Magistrate Judge Kurren’s Order Granting Petition to Enforce IRS Summons. Respondent has appealed this decision to the Ninth Circuit. 9th Cir. App. No. 94-15436. Subsequently, Respondent allegedly discovered “new evidence” which he contends “could have impact on the issues of relevance and good faith currently on appeal.” Respondent now moves the Court to hold an evidentiary hearing on such evidence pursuant to Rule 60(b)(2) and (3).

DISCUSSION

Rule 60(b) provides in relevant part:

On motion and upon such terms as are just, the court may relieve a party or a party’s legal representative from a final judgment, order, or proceeding for the following reasons: ... (2) newly discovered evidence which by due diligence could not have been discovered in time to move for a new trial under Rule 59(b); [and] (3) fraud (whether heretofore denominated intrinsic or extrinsic), misrepresentation, or other misconduct of an adverse party____

I. Rule 60(b)(2): Newly Discovered Evidence

Under Rule 60(b)(2), the moving party must show that the evidence (i) is newly discovered; (ii) could not have been discovered through due diligence; and (iii) is of such a material and controlling nature as will probably change the outcome. See Coastal Transfer Co. v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., 833 F.2d 208 (9th Cir.1987).

The Court finds that Respondent has not satisfied this burden. Given that the evidence which Respondent alleges to be “newly discovered” consists of his own unsworn statements, the Court concludes that it could have been obtained prior to the Magistrate Court hearing if he had exercised due diligence. Furthermore, the Court finds that the evidence at issue is not “of such a material and controlling nature as will probably change the outcome;” the Respondent’s [98]*98handwriting exemplars were needed by the Government in the course of its tax investigation of Mr. David Chang, notwithstanding its knowledge of Respondent’s unsworn statements. In light of the above, the Court DENIES movant’s Rule 60(b)(2) motion based upon “newly discovered evidence.”

II. Rule 60(b)(3): Fraud

With respect to Rule 60(b)(3), Respondent must (1) prove by clear and convincing evidence that enforcement of the summons (for Respondent to produce the handwriting exemplars) was obtained through fraud, and (2) establish that the Government’s conduct prevented Respondent from fully and fairly presenting its case to the magistrate court. See Jones v. Aero/ Chem Corp., 921 F.2d 875, 878-79 (9th Cir.1990). Further, the fraud must “not [have been] discoverable by the due diligence before or during the proceeding, and [it must have been] materially related to the submitted issue.” Pacific & Arctic Ry. & Navigation Co. v. United Transp. Union, 952 F.2d 1144, 1148 (9th Cir.1991).

Once again, the Court finds that Respondent has not satisfied this burden. First, Respondent has not proffered “clear and convincing evidence” of fraud, and cannot do so; as discussed above, the Government needed the handwriting exemplars, notwithstanding its knowledge of Respondent’s unsworn statements, and therefore did not falsely represent the necessity of the summons enforcement. Cf. Bulgo v. Munoz, 853 F.2d 710, 716 (9th Cir.1988) (to prove fraud under Rule 60(b)(3), movant must demonstrate that: (1) non-moving party made false representations of material fact; (2) non-moving party intended to induce the person allegedly defrauded to act; (3) the representations were made with knowledge of, or reckless disregard for, their falsity; and (4) the person allegedly defrauded justifiably relied upon those false representations to his detriment). In addition, even assuming, arguendo, that the Government committed a fraud, the Court finds that it could have been discovered by Respondent’s due diligence before or during the proceeding, for the same reasons set forth above with respect to Rule 60(b)(2). In light of the above, the Court DENIES Respondent’s Rule 60(b)(3) motion based upon fraud.

CONCLUSION

For the aforementioned reasons, Respondent’s Rule 60(b) motion for an evidentiary hearing is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

ORDER DENYING RESPONDENT’S MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION OF ORDER DENYING RULE 60(B) EVIDENTIARY HEARING

Respondent Tanoue (“Respondent”), through his attorney, moves for this Court to reconsider its Order Denying Respondent’s Motion for Rule 60(b) Evidentiary Hearing (the “Rule 60(b) Order”), pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.Proc. 59(e).

On February 16, 1995, this Court adopted Magistrate Judge Kurren’s Order granting the Internal Revenue Service’s petition to enforce an IRS Summons against Respondent (the “Summons Order”). On October 31, 1995, while Respondent’s appeal of this Court’s Summons Order was pending before the Ninth Circuit, Respondent moved this Court to hold an evidentiary hearing on alleged “newly discovered evidence” pursuant to Rule 60(b)(2) and (3). On November 30, 1995, this Court denied Respondent’s motion after carefully considering the papers filed in support and in opposition of Respondent’s motion.

On December 8, 1995, Respondent filed this Motion for Reconsideration based upon newly briefed issues pertaining to Rule 60(b)(2). For the reasons set forth below, this Court, having reconsidered the ease at bar in light of such issues, reaffirms its denial of Respondent’s Rule 60(b)(2) motion and thereby DENIES Respondent’s Motion for Reconsideration.

Local Rule 220-11 provides that a motion to reconsider may be brought only upon (1) discovery of new material facts not previous[99]*99ly available; (2) intervening change in law; or (3) manifest error of law or fact. Respondent here proceeds under the third prong, claiming that the Court’s Rule 60(b) Order contained manifest errors of law and fact. For the reasons set forth herein, the Court rejects Respondent’s position.

I. No Manifest Error In Procedure

Respondent contends that the Court misunderstood “the informal nature of the Ninth Circuit’s policy regarding a remand and Mr. Tanoue’s request.” Respondent’s Memorandum in Support of Motion to Reconsider at 3. While Respondent did not direct the Court to a specific body of . misapplied law, the Court has independently reviewed its Rule 60(b) Order in light of the relevant Ninth Circuit law.

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Bluebook (online)
165 F.R.D. 96, 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19787, 1995 WL 810668, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-tanoue-hid-1995.