United States of America v. Stanley

Filing 75

ORDER re 63 Jury Demand filed by Markus Brent Stanley. Signed by Honorable David C. Bramlette, III on 6/18/2013 (PL)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
WESTERN DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
V.

PLAINTIFF(S)
CIVIL ACTION NO. 5:11cv117-DCB-RHW

MARKUS BRENT STANLEY

DEFENDANT(S)
ORDER

Before the Court is the Defendant’s Demand for Jury Trial
[docket no. 63], which the United States opposes. Having carefully
considered the parties’ arguments and applicable law, the Court
finds that Stanley’s demand for a jury trial should be denied.
First, Stanley does not have a constitutional right to a jury
trial on the dischargeability of Stanley’s debt for the years 19982004,1 and therefore his demand for a jury on this issue will be
denied. Matter of Merrill, 594 F.2d 1064, 1068 (5th Cir. 1979); see
also In re Swope, 466 F.2d 936, 938 (7th Cir. 1972) (“[T]here is no
constitutional or statutory right to jury trial on the issue of
dischargeability”)

(internal

citations

omitted).

Second,

even

though Stanley does have a right to a jury trial on the liability
and amount for the tax years 1998-2004, Matter of Merrill, 594 F.2d
at 1068, that right can be waived. See McCune v. U.S. Dept. of
Justice, 2013 WL 2244341, at *1-*2 (S.D. Miss. May 21, 2013)
(quoting Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 38 and 39). Here, Stanley

1

The Court’s Order was unclear as to whether the year 2005 is
still in dispute. It is not. Stanley’s liabilities for 2005 were
not discharged pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 507(a)(8)(i) and 11 U.S.C.
§ 523(a)(1)(A).

waived that right by not demanding it within fourteen days after
the final pleading. See id. The Court’s April 25, 2013 Order
narrowed the remaining issue to whether Stanley’s taxes for the
years 1998-2004 were discharged in bankruptcy, but to the extent
that Stanley disputes the liability and amount claimed by the
United States, the Court can decide these issues as a part of its
findings of fact.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT Defendant’s Demand for Jury Trial
[docket no. 63] is DENIED.
So ORDERED, this the 18th day of June, 2013.

/s/ David Bramlette
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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