Townsend v. United States, et al et al
Filing
13
MEMORANDUM AND OPINION entered: GRANTING 8 MOTION to Dismiss 1 Complaint, For Failure To State A Claim Upon Which Relief May Be Granted. Order of Dismissal to follow. (Signed by Chief Judge Lee H Rosenthal) Parties notified.(leddins, 4)
United States District Court
Southern District of Texas
ENTERED
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
HOUSTON DIVISION
BOBIE KENNETH TOWNSEND,
Plaintiff,
v.
UNITED STATES, et al.,
Defendants.
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
June 21, 2017
David J. Bradley, Clerk
CIVIL ACTION NO. H-17-957
MEMORANDUM AND OPINION
The plaintiff, Bobie Kenneth Townsend, proceeding pro se, filed this suit against the United
States to protest two tax levies which served to collect his federal income-tax delinquencies for tax
years 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 and his penalties for tax years 2003 and 2004. (Docket Entry
No. 1). Townsend filed an application for a temporary restraining order, which the court denied.
(Docket Entry No. 3). The United States now moves to dismiss, Townsend responded, the United
States replied, and Townsend surreplied. (Docket Entry Nos. 8, 9, 10, 12). After careful review of
the complaint, the briefs, and the applicable law, the court grants the motion to dismiss and enters
an order of dismissal separately. The reasons for these rulings are explained below.
I.
The Applicable Legal Standards
A.
Dismissal for Lack of Subject-Matter Jurisdiction
The United States moves to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim. The
arguments are better addressed as a Rule 12(b)(1) motion for a lack of subject-matter jurisdiction,
because the United States argues that it did not waive sovereign immunity and that this court
therefore lacks subject-matter jurisdiction over the sovereign immunity claims. (See Docket Entry
No. 8).
Under Rule 12(b)(1), which governs challenges to a court’s subject-matter jurisdiction, “[a]
case is properly dismissed, for lack of subject matter jurisdiction when the court lacks the statutory
or constitutional power to adjudicate the case.” Home Builders Ass’n of Miss., Inc. v. City of
Masidon, 143 F.3d 1006, 1010 (5th Cir. 1998). “Courts may dismiss for lack of subject matter
jurisdiction on any one of three bases: (1) the complaint alone; (2) the complaint supplemented by
undisputed facts in the record; or (3) the complaint supplemented by undisputed facts plus the
court’s resolution of disputed facts.” Clark v. Tarrant County, 798 F.2d 736, 741 (5th Cir. 1986)
(citing Williamson v. Tucker, 645 F.2d 404, 413 (5th Cir. 1981)).
The plaintiff bears the burden of demonstrating that subject-matter jurisdiction exists. See
Paterson v. Weinberger, 644 F.2d 521, 523 (5th Cir. 1981). When examining a factual challenge
to subject-matter jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1), which does not implicate the merits of plaintiff’s
cause of action, the district court has substantial authority “to weigh the evidence and satisfy itself
as to the existence of its power to hear the case.” Garcia v. Copenhaver, Bell & Assocs., 104 F.3d
1256, 1261 (11th Cir. 1997); see also Clark, 798 F.2d at 741. When a party challenges the
allegations supporting subject-matter jurisdiction, the court has wide discretion to allow affidavits
or other documents and to hold a limited evidentiary hearing to resolve disputed jurisdictional facts.
The court may consider matters outside the pleadings, to resolve factual challenges to subject-matter
jurisdiction, without converting the motion to dismiss to one for summary judgment. See Garcia,
104 F.3d at 1261.
B.
Sovereign Immunity and Subject-Matter Jurisdiction
“The United States must consent to be sued, and that consent is a prerequisite to federal
2
jurisdiction.” Delta Commercial Fisheries Ass’n v. Gulf of Mexico Fishery Mgmt. Council, 364 F.3d
269, 273 (5th Cir. 2004). Moreover, “[w]aivers of the Government’s sovereign immunity, to be
effective, must be unequivocally expressed,” and “consent to be sued must be construed strictly in
favor of the sovereign.” United States v. Nordic Village, Inc., 503 U.S. 30, 33–34 (1992). The
plaintiff bears the burden of demonstrating that immunity has been waived. Neutze v. United States,
2017 WL 1788745, at *3 (W.D. Tex. Mar. 30, 2017) (citing McNutt v. Gen. Motors Acceptance
Corp., 298 U.S. 178, 188–89 (1936)).
II.
Analysis
Townsend alleged that the two federal tax levies violated his due process rights. To the
extent he has standing to pursue his claim, the Tax Court has exclusive jurisdiction over the due
process challenges he raises. 26 U.S.C. § 6330(d)(1); Smith v. United States, 2008 WL 5069783,
at *1 (5th Cir. Dec. 2, 2008) (citing Barry v. United States, 215 F. App’x 933, 935 (11th Cir. 2007)
(“The United States cannot be sued without its consent, and the only consent in a case like this is
to be sued in the Tax Court.”)).
Townsend also asserted a wrongful levy cause of action. Although 26 U.S.C. § 7426(a)(1)
provides a limited waiver of sovereign immunity for this type of claim, it may only be brought by
a person other than the taxpayer. 26 U.S.C. § 7426(a)(1); McCarty v. United States, 929 F.2d 1085,
1088 (5th Cir. 1991). Although Townsend asserts as a part of his “tax protest” arguments that he
is a nontaxpayer, the levies he attached to his complaint name him as the taxpayer. (Docket Entry
No. 1, Tabs 7–8). The United States has not waived sovereign immunity for this claim.
Townsend argues that the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. § 702, provides this court
with subject-matter jurisdiction to hear his claims. Townsend cannot bring a suit against the United
3
States under that statute if another statute prohibits his claim. Taylor v. United States, 292 F. App’x
383, 388 (5th Cir. 2008). The Anti-Injunction Act, 26 U.S.C. § 7421, specifically prohibits the
injunctive relief Townsend seeks. The Anti-Injunction Act provides that “no suit for the purpose
of restraining the assessment or collection of any tax shall be maintained in any court.” Id. (quoting
26 U.S.C. § 7421(a)). And to the extent Townsend seeks declaratory relief, the Declaratory
Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201, bars claims relating to a dispute over federal taxes. Id. (citing Bob
Jones Univ. v. Simon, 416 U.S. 725, 732 n. 7 (1974)). Because other statutes prohibit Townsend’s
claims, he cannot use the Administrative Procedure Act’s waiver of sovereign immunity as the basis
for relief.
III.
Conclusion
The motion to dismiss for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction is granted. (Docket Entry
No. 8). An order of dismissal is entered separately.
SIGNED on June 21, 2017, at Houston, Texas.
______________________________________
Lee H. Rosenthal
Chief United States District Judge
4
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?