Professional Documents
Culture Documents
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
2d 1240
64 A.F.T.R.2d 89-5783, 90-1 USTC P 50,147,
14 Fed.R.Serv.3d 1357
I. Procedural Matters
3
dismissal of the complaint under Rule 12(b)(6) was appropriate in this case.
4
At the outset, we note that the NCBA's second amended complaint consists of
some thirty-five single-spaced pages, over twenty-five of which are comprised
of "general allegations" describing events spanning a period of approximately
eight years. These allegations catalogue various policies and activities which
the NCBA characterizes as designed to "demoralize, paralyze, and ultimately
destroy a noncommercial, voluntary, political/educational association of
individuals advocating dissident views as to the tax, monetary and fiscal law
and policies of the government." Many of the allegations purport to detail these
activities by listing the particular federal agents involved in them; however,
there is little identification, if any, of the persons targeted by these activities,
the specific dates of the events, or the particular property seized.
In addition, the narrative indicates that, in a number of instances, the NCBA has
already commenced, if not pursued successfully, actions challenging many of
the above events.1 The complaint does not indicate how the claims raised in
this case are distinguishable from those raised in earlier actions; indeed, it
would appear that the prior resolution of several issues, particularly with
respect to the jeopardy assessments challenged herein, would preclude their
relitigation in this forum. It is likewise nearly impossible to discern how the
fifty-seven general allegations in the complaint can be structured to support the
required elements of each of the six separate claims for relief in this case, and
the NCBA's briefs on appeal do little to resolve this dilemma.
In sum, this complaint does not present a "short and plain" statement of the
claims raised by the NCBA, as required by Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a). Nor do the
NCBA's briefs in this appeal meet the requirement of Fed.R.App.P. 28 to
demonstrate to this court the basis for the alleged error. While we have a duty
to determine in a Rule 12(b)(6) motion whether the complaint states a
conceivable cause of action, we are not required to manufacture a party's
argument on appeal when it has failed in its burden to draw our attention to the
error below. See United States v. Swingler, 758 F.2d 477, 493 (10th Cir.1985);
cf. 9 J. Moore, B. Ward & J. Lucas, Moore's Federal Practice, p 228.02 at 28-10
to -11 (2d ed. 1989). Despite the vague, disorganized, and rambling nature of
the complaint, however, it is possible to conclude that a number of the NCBA's
claims must be dismissed. As to those remaining claims, we remand to the
district court with directions to permit an amended complaint which outlines in
clear, direct and understandable terms the precise factual allegations to support
each essential element of these claims.
We additionally note that the complaint identifies as plaintiffs not only the
NCBA and several named individuals, but also the "members & subscribers of
the National Commodity & Barter Association/National Commodity
Exchange." In detailing the allegations against the defendants, the complaint
does not further specify the names of the individual members of the NCBA
whose rights were allegedly violated, and counsel for the NCBA stated during
oral argument that this was to protect the anonymity and first amendment
freedom of association of these individuals allegedly recognized by this court in
In re First National Bank of Englewood, Colo., 701 F.2d 115 (10th Cir.1983).2
Rule 10(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that "[e]very
pleading shall contain a caption setting forth the name of the court, the title of
the action, the file number, and a designation as in Rule 7(a). In the complaint,
the title of the action shall include the names of all the parties...." The Federal
Rules thus make no provision for suits by persons using fictitious names or for
anonymous plaintiffs. Coe v. United States Dist. Court, 676 F.2d 411, 415
(10th Cir.1982). In certain limited circumstances, however, courts have
permitted a plaintiff to proceed using a fictitious name where there are
significant privacy interests or threats of physical harm implicated by the
disclosure of the plaintiff's name. See, e.g., id. at 415-17 (collecting cases); Doe
v. Stegall, 653 F.2d 180 (5th Cir.1981); Doe v. United Servs. Life Ins. Co., 123
F.R.D. 437 (S.D.N.Y.1988). This procedure has not been permitted when only
the plaintiff's economic or professional concerns are involved, see, e.g., Coe,
676 F.2d at 417; Southern Methodist Univ. Ass'n of Women Law Students v.
Wynne & Jaffe, 599 F.2d 707, 713 (5th Cir.1979); Free Market Compensation
v. Commodity Exchange, Inc., 98 F.R.D. 311 (S.D.N.Y.1983), or when there is
the threat of criminal or civil prosecution, see, e.g., Doe v. Rostker, 89 F.R.D.
158, 161-62 (N.D.Cal.1981).
In this case, the unnamed plaintiffs have made no request to the district court
for permission to proceed anonymously, nor have they otherwise disclosed their
identities to the court or to the defendants. Absent permission by the district
court to proceed anonymously, and under such other conditions as the court
may impose (such as requiring disclosure of their true identity under seal), the
federal courts lack jurisdiction over the unnamed parties, as a case has not been
commenced with respect to them.3 See Doe v. Stegall, 653 F.2d at 183; Doe v.
United States Dept. of Justice, 93 F.R.D. 483, 484 (D.Colo.1982). We therefore
dismiss the complaint as to the unnamed members of the NCBA, and consider
the remainder of the claims in this appeal solely with respect to NCBA as an
associational entity.4
10
NCBA has raised a number of claims against each of the defendants in their
official capacities as officers or employees of the federal government.
Addressing these claims, the district court correctly noted that they are barred
by the doctrine of sovereign immunity. It is well-settled that the United States
retains its sovereign immunity from suit unless it has expressly waived such
immunity and that the application of this doctrine cannot be avoided simply by
naming agencies of the federal government or their individual officers and
employees. See Atkinson v. O'Neill, 867 F.2d 589, 590 (10th Cir.1989). The
NCBA attempts to avoid this bar by arguing that sovereign immunity has been
waived by virtue of the NCBA's compliance with the jurisdictional
requirements of the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), 28 U.S.C. Secs. 1346(b),
2671-80 (1982). We disagree.
11
12
The NCBA also attempts to avoid the bar of sovereign immunity by arguing
that 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2410(a) (1982) affords it a remedy against the defendants'
actions in this case. This section waives the United States' sovereign immunity
in a civil action to quiet title, foreclose a mortgage or lien, partition, condemn,
or interplead with respect to property upon which the United States has or
claims a lien. Id. Again, a fair reading of the complaint indicates that this is an
action for damages and injunctive relief based on constitutional and RICO
claims relating to the alleged improprieties of federal agents in their assessment
and collection of penalties against the NCBA, despite the NCBA's attempt on
appeal to color it as a quiet title action under Sec. 2410. In addition, because the
NCBA clearly seeks to attack the validity of the underlying penalty
assessments, Laino v. United States, 633 F.2d 626, 633 n. 8 (2d Cir.1980), and
seeks monetary damages, Ringer v. Basile, 645 F.Supp. 1517, 1526
(D.Colo.1986), we cannot construe this as a quiet title action under Sec. 2410.6
Thus, lacking a waiver of sovereign immunity under either the FTCA or Sec.
2410, the NCBA cannot maintain its claims against the defendants in their
official capacities.
III. Bivens Claims
13
Although we have concluded that the claims against the defendants in their
official capacities are barred by the doctrine of sovereign immunity, the claims
against the defendants in their individual capacities are not. See Davis v.
Passman, 442 U.S. 228, 245-48, 99 S.Ct. 2264, 2277-79, 60 L.Ed.2d 846
(1979); Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents, 403 U.S. at 395-97, 91 S.Ct. at
2004-05; Pleasant v. Lovell, 876 F.2d 787 (10th Cir.1989). With respect to
these claims, the district court ruled that they were barred by the doctrine of
qualified immunity, as the defendants were simply carrying out their jobs and
had not violated any clearly established laws in doing so. While we agree with
the district court's reasoning that the defendants were entitled to qualified
immunity as to the plaintiffs' Bivens claims, we do not reach this issue. Rather,
we first address whether the NCBA is entitled to raise a Bivens claim in the
first instance.
14
In Schweiker v. Chilicky, --- U.S. ----, 108 S.Ct. 2460, 101 L.Ed.2d 370 (1988),
the Supreme Court outlined the considerations involved in determining whether
a Bivens claim should be recognized. It noted the admonition, following from
Bivens, that a court-created damages remedy may not be appropriate when
"special factors counsel[ ] hesitation":
15
16
17
18
19
The Court then noted that the social security system in Chilicky, like the
military justice system in Chappell v. Wallace and the civil service system in
Bush v. Lucas, contains elaborate mechanisms for the resolution of claims, and
that Congress had given frequent attention to problems arising under the
system. Chilicky, 108 S.Ct. at 2468-69. It therefore declined to create a Bivens
remedy, notwithstanding that the social security system makes no provision for
the award of monetary damages for the constitutional violations at issue,
concluding that " 'Congress is in a better position to decide whether or not the
public interest would be served by creating [a Bivens remedy].' " Id. at 2469
(quoting Bush, 462 U.S. at 390, 103 S.Ct. at 2417).
20
The same considerations which led the Supreme Court in Chilicky to conclude
that the recognition of a Bivens claim would be inappropriate are applicable
here with respect to the NCBA's allegations of violations of the fifth
amendment due process clause and of various provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code.7 Although there may be no established mechanism for the
recovery of damages against federal authorities for unconstitutional conduct,
the unavailability of complete relief does not mandate the creation of a Bivens
remedy when other "meaningful safeguards or remedies for the rights of
persons situated as [were the plaintiffs]" are available. Chilicky, 108 S.Ct. at
2468. In this case, the NCBA has recourse to challenge the legality of the
penalty assessments under several provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
Section 6703 of the Code sets forth the procedures by which a taxpayer may
obtain review of the assessment of a penalty under Sec. 6700 relating to the
promotion of an abusive tax shelter. If such penalties are collected by virtue of
a jeopardy assessment, as authorized under Sec. 6671 and Sec. 6862 of the
Code, then the assessment procedures may be challenged pursuant to Sec. 7429
of the Code. This plainly illustrates that the NCBA has "all sorts of rights
against an overzealous officialdom, including, most fundamentally, the right to
sue the government for a refund if forced to overpay taxes, and it would make
the collection of taxes chaotic if a taxpayer could bypass the remedies provided
by Congress simply by bringing a damage action against [the defendants]."
Cameron v. Internal Revenue Serv., 773 F.2d 126, 129 (7th Cir.1985); see also
Baddour, Inc. v. United States, 802 F.2d 801, 808 (5th Cir.1986); Felak v.
United States, 677 F.Supp. 606, 607-08 (D.Minn.1988). We therefore conclude
that it would be inappropriate to recognize a Bivens remedy with respect to the
NCBA's claims that the defendants violated the fifth amendment and various
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
21
The NCBA also raises first and fourth amendment Bivens claims. In Pleasant v.
Lovell, without directly considering the issue, this court permitted individuals
to proceed in first and fourth amendment Bivens claims against agents of the
Internal Revenue Service for certain activities also described in the complaint
at issue in this case. See 876 F.2d at 793-806. Implicit in our holding in
Pleasant is the recognition that, while the comprehensive scheme of the
Internal Revenue Code should not be indiscriminately disrupted by the creation
of new remedies, certain values, such as those protected by the first and fourth
amendments, may be superior to the need to protect the integrity of the internal
revenue system. We therefore recognize that the NCBA may bring a Bivens
action for violations of the first and fourth amendments. However, due to the
obtuse language of much of the complaint, we are unable to discern the precise
factual basis for each of these claims. We therefore remand to the district court
with directions that the court permit the NCBA to file an amended complaint
which clearly outlines the basis for each of these claims, consistent with our
discussion in Section I above.
22
In addition, since we have dismissed the complaint as to all parties except the
NCBA, it is imperative that the amended complaint clearly indicate the
property held by the NCBA as an entity which has been subject to the allegedly
illegal searches and seizures. The NCBA can sue only with respect to its own
property or rights allegedly infringed by identifiable defendants. If the district
court determines that the NCBA has set forth sufficient facts to state a claim
under the first and fourth amendments, it should then reconsider whether the
defendants are entitled to the defense of qualified immunity.
IV. Remaining Claims
23
In addition to its Bivens claims against the individual defendants, the NCBA
has alleged RICO violations and has requested declaratory and injunctive relief.
We are unable to discern the basis of the NCBA's RICO claim from the
complaint, the NCBA has made no attempt to further define this claim in this
appeal, and it has not provided any authority that such a claim will lie against a
group of federal officials on account of their misconduct. Thus, we affirm its
dismissal. See Glenn v. First Nat'l Bank in Grand Junction, 868 F.2d 368, 371
(10th Cir.1989) (court need not do appellant's work by "connect[ing] assertions
with elements of all sections of the RICO law.").
24
As to the NCBA's argument that it is entitled to injunctive relief, the AntiInjunction Act, with limited exceptions, precludes any "suit for the purpose of
restraining the assessment or collection of any tax ... by any person, whether or
not such person is the person against whom such tax was assessed." 26 U.S.C.
Sec. 7421(a). The NCBA seeks to avoid this restriction on the court's
jurisdiction by asserting that a judicially created exception to this statute
applies. This exception allows a taxpayer to obtain an injunction if "(1) the
government cannot prevail under any set of circumstances, and (2) irreparable
injury would otherwise occur." National Commodity & Barter Ass'n v. United
States, 625 F.Supp. 920, 921 (D.Colo.1986) (citing Enochs v. Williams
Packing and Navigation Co., 370 U.S. 1, 6-8, 82 S.Ct. 1125, 1128-30, 8
L.Ed.2d 292 reh'g denied, 370 U.S. 965, 82 S.Ct. 1579, 8 L.Ed.2d 833 (1962)).
The NCBA has previously attempted to obtain injunctive relief under this
exception with respect to the same penalties at issue in this case, and such relief
was denied. See id. at 921-24. It is therefore precluded from relitigating this
question in this forum.
25
Finally, the NCBA requests this court to declare unconstitutional the Internal
Revenue Code provision authorizing the assessment of the above penalties for
the promotion of an abusive tax shelter, 26 U.S.C. Sec. 6700. Apart from our
inability to discern any basis for this argument from the complaint or the
NCBA's briefs, we note that other courts have upheld the constitutionality of
similar penalty statutes based on the appeal procedures provided by Sec. 6703,
a conclusion we would be inclined to reach with respect to Sec. 6700 had the
NCBA adequately presented this issue on appeal. See, e.g., Nelson v. United
States, 796 F.2d 164, 167 (6th Cir.1986); Jolly v. United States, 764 F.2d 642,
645-47 (9th Cir.1985).
26
The judgment of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado is
AFFIRMED in part, REVERSED in part, and REMANDED for proceedings
consistent with this opinion.
In this circuit alone, see, for example, Pleasant v. Lovell, 876 F.2d 787 (10th
Cir.1989); Grandbouche v. Clancy, 825 F.2d 1463 (10th Cir.1987); Voss v.
Bergsgaard, 774 F.2d 402 (10th Cir.1985); In re First Nat'l Bank, Englewood,
Colo., 701 F.2d 115 (10th Cir.1983); Heinold Hog Market, Inc. v. McCoy, 700
F.2d 611 (10th Cir.1983); National Commodity & Barter Ass'n v. United
States, 625 F.Supp. 920 (D.Colo.1986)
Although the defendants did not raise this issue in their brief, it is jurisdictional
and the court may consider it sua sponte. Tuck v. United Servs. Auto. Ass'n,
859 F.2d 842, 844 (10th Cir.1988), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 109 S.Ct. 1534,
103 L.Ed.2d 839 (1989)
The NCBA argues, however, that the Sec. 2680(c) exception is inapplicable in
this case because it has alleged that the tax assessments in question were not
made according to statutory procedures requiring notice and demand. We
disagree. A similar argument was raised in Murray v. United States, 686 F.2d
1320 (8th Cir.1982), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1147, 103 S.Ct. 788, 74 L.Ed.2d
994 (1983), in which the court rejected the plaintiff's contention that a waiver
of sovereign immunity must be implied when it is alleged that the IRS has
failed to comply with its own procedures. We concur with the court's reasoning
that "a waiver of immunity 'cannot be implied but must be unequivocally
expressed,' " id. at 1325 (citation omitted), especially when it appears that
existing tax appeal procedures are adequate to address its concerns with respect
to the collection of the penalties in this case
6
While it is true that Sec. 2410 provides jurisdiction for challenges to federal tax
liens when procedural irregularities are alleged, the NCBA's allegations to this
effect are without merit. The NCBA alleges that the defendants violated IRS
procedures by filing liens and executing a levy by collection before giving the
NCBA the required notice and demand under 26 U.S.C. Secs. 6321, 6331(a).
However, Sec. 6331(d)(3) permits the IRS to proceed immediately with the
collection of a jeopardy assessment without the required notice and demand. A
taxpayer seeking administrative review of the jeopardy assessment may then
proceed under Sec. 7429 if he feels that the assessment was in error
In a conclusory way, the NCBA also attempts to set forth an equal protection
claim under the fifth amendment. Assuming this to be essentially a selective
prosecution claim, we are unable to locate even the barest reference to the
essential facts necessary to support such a claim. See C.E. Carlson v. SEC, 859
F.2d 1429, 1437 (10th Cir.1988) (plaintiff must show that others similarly
situated and committing same acts have not been prosecuted); Taylor v. United
States, 798 F.2d 271, 274 (7th Cir.1986) (same), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 1056,
107 S.Ct. 933, 93 L.Ed.2d 983 (1987); United States v. Amon, 669 F.2d 1351,
1356 n. 1 (10th Cir.1981) (same), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 825, 103 S.Ct. 57, 74
L.Ed.2d 61 (1980); United States v. Moss, 604 F.2d 569, 572-73 (8th Cir.1979)
(same), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 1071, 100 S.Ct. 1014, 62 L.Ed.2d 752 (1982). It
is therefore dismissed