United States v. Chrein
Full Opinion (html_with_citations)
SUMMARY ORDER
Defendant-counterclaimant-appellant Charles L. Chrein (âdefendantâ or âChreinâ) appeals an order entered by the District Court on May 4, 2005, as amended by a stipulation and order entered on August 14, 2006, granting the motion of the Government to reduce to judgment Chreinâs outstanding tax liability for eleven years (1981, 1982, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2002) and for summary judgment on or dismissal of defendantâs counterclaims. Defendant contested the timeliness of the Governmentâs actions for the liabilities in tax years 1981, 1982, 1989, and 1991, and filed eleven counterclaims against the Government relating to the prosecution of the action by the Internal Revenue Service (âIRSâ), the production of documents, and the failure to collect the taxes from his then-wife, Carol Horn Chrein (âHornâ), when she served as receiver and trustee of the marital assets. On appeal he challenges the judgment of the District Court
We are without jurisdiction to review Chreinâs appeal of the District Courtâs dismissal of Counterclaims 1-3. When these counterclaims were first before the District Court, it did not have jurisdiction to consider them because Chrein had not fully paid the tax liability and he was precluded from bringing the claims before the Court. See 28 U.S.C. § 1346(a)(1). Until such time as the District Court has considered the merits of Chreinâs claims under 28 U.S.C. § 1346(a)(1), we have no jurisdiction to consider them. Chreinâs payment âduring the pendency of [this appeal] ... cannot cure an original jurisdictional deficiency in the complaint.â Rocovich v. United States, 933 F.2d 991, 993 n. 4 (Fed. Cir.1991).
As to Chreinâs remaining claims on appeal, regarding Counterclaims 4 and 5, we review de novo the District Courtâs grant of summary judgment on the Governmentâs claim to reduce Chreinâs tax liabilities to judgment. See, e.g., Field v. United States, 381 F.3d 109, 110-111 (2d Cir.2004). Chrein argues that the District Court erred in holding that the statute of limitations was tolled during the period of Hornâs receivership plus sue months pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 6503(b). We conclude that Chrein has not demonstrated that he possessed any substantial assets not under the control of the New York Supreme Court that could have satisfied his liabilities, and therefore the collection limitations period was properly tolled during Hornâs receivership. Chreinâs reliance on United States v. McPhilamy, 16 B.R. 160, 162 (W.D.Va.1981) is unavailing because that case involved a bankruptcy proceeding in which the bankruptcy estate had no assets.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, the judgment of the District Court is AFFIRMED.
. To the extent certain IRS regulations relied on by Chrein apply to both bankruptcy and receivership proceedings, see 26 C.F.R. §§ 301.6331 â 1(a)(3) and 301.6871(a)-2, he is still not entitled to relief. Even if we were to engage in a formal analysis to determine whether Chreinâs assets were in the control of the court where the receivership proceeding was pending, or a functional analysis to determine whether the United States was hindered in its collection efforts while the receivership proceeding was pending, see McPhilamy, 16 B.R. at 161, we would conclude that the time period up until March 25, 1995, when the divorce proceeding was settled, was properly tolled. The record evidence makes plain that, as receiver, Horn had control over substantially all of Chreinâs assets pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 6503(b), and that it would have been difficult for the Government to collect Chrein's taxes from Horn. We similarly conclude that tolling was appropriate for the period from March 25, 1995 until April 5, 1995, the date Horn resigned her receivership. Although § 301-6331-1 (a)(3) instructs that the IRS may levy taxpayers' assets in receivership if "the proceeding has progressed to such a point that the levy would not interfere with the work of the court,â a levy placed on Chreinâs assets before Hornâs April 5th resignation would certainly have interfered with the courtâs orderly termination of receivership proceedings.