United States v. Engen

[5] 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 7 AT SEATTLE 8 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CASE NO. C18-712 RSM 9 Plaintiff, ORDER ON PENDING MOTIONS 10 v. 11 CAROL L. ENGEN, et al., 12 Defendants. [13] 14 I. INTRODUCTION 15 This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff United States’ Motion for Summary Judgment 16 Against Carol L. Engen. Dkt. #104. Also before the Court is Defendant King County’s 12(c) 17 Motion to Dismiss Defendant Engen’s Crossclaims. Dkt. #105. Defendant Carol L. Engen (“Ms. 18 Engen”) opposes both motions. Dkts. #114 and #115. Following briefing of those motions, Ms. 19 Engen filed various documents which the Court addresses in turn. Dkts. #113, #118, #119, #120, 20 #121, #122, #123, #124, #127, #128, and #129. Having considered the matters, the Court grants 21 the motion for summary judgment filed by Plaintiff United States of America (the “United 22 States”), grants the motion to dismiss filed by Defendant King County (“King County”), and 23 closes this matter. [24] 1 II. BACKGROUND 2 The Court has previously recounted the basic facts of this action: 3 Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Carol L. Engen (“Ms. Engen” or “Defendant”) filed insufficient tax returns “for the federal income tax years 2004 4 to 2008.” Dkt. #1 at ¶ 14. As a result, “a duly authorized delegate of the Secretary of the Treasure made timely assessments against [Ms. Engen] for unpaid federal 5 income taxes . . ., civil penalties . . ., penalties, interest, and other statutory additions.” Id. at ¶ 15. As of the filing of this action, those assessments amounted 6 to $250,880.66. Id. at ¶¶ 15, 19. Ms. Engen was provided notice of these assessments, but failed to pay. Id. at ¶¶ 17–19. [7] On or around April 19, 2017, Ms. Engen acquired “a parcel of real 8 property commonly described as 16423 NE 15th Street, Bellevue, WA 98008 (“Subject Property”)” after her husband passed away. Id. at ¶¶ 8–13. Ms. Engen 9 executed and subsequently recorded an “Affidavit Re: Will and Transfer on Death Deed.” Id. at ¶ 13. On November 9, 2017, the United States Internal Revenue 10 Service (“IRS”) recorded, against the Subject Property, “a Notice of Federal Tax Lien (“NFTL”) against [Ms. Engen] with respect to unpaid federal income tax 11 liabilities” for the applicable periods. Id. at ¶ 24. 12 On May 15, 2018, Plaintiff initiated this action “to: (i) reduce to judgment the outstanding federal tax assessments against Defendant Carol L. Engen; and 13 (ii) foreclose federal tax liens on” the Subject Property. Id. at ¶ 1. Ms. Engen shortly thereafter filed for bankruptcy, causing this Court to stay the matter 14 pending resolution of Ms. Engen’s bankruptcy proceedings. Dkts. #5 and #6. After Ms. Engen’s bankruptcy action was dismissed, the Court lifted the stay . . . . [15] 16 Dkt. #43 at 1–2 (alterations in original). 17 III. DISCUSSION 18 A. United States’ Motion for Summary Judgment 19 1. Legal Standard 20 Summary judgment is appropriate where “the movant shows that there is no genuine 21 dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” FED. 22 R. CIV. P. 56(a); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247 (1986). Material facts are 23 those which might affect the outcome of the suit under governing law. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 24 248. In ruling on summary judgment, a court does not weigh evidence to determine the truth of 1 the matter, but “only determine[s] whether there is a genuine issue for trial.” Crane v. Conoco, 2 Inc., 41 F.3d 547, 549 (9th Cir. 1994) (citing Federal Deposit Ins. Corp. v. O’Melveny & Meyers, [3] 969 F.2d 744, 747 (9th Cir. 1992)). 4 The non-moving party must present significant and probative evidence to support its 5 claim or defense. Intel Corp. v. Hartford Accident & Indem. Co., 952 F.2d 1551, 1558 (9th Cir. 6 1991). “The mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the [non-moving party’s] 7 position will be insufficient; there must be evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for 8 the [non-moving party].” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 251 . Neither will uncorroborated allegations 9 and self-serving testimony create a genuine issue of material fact. Villiarimo v. Aloha Island Air, 10 Inc., 281 F.3d 1054, 1061 (9th Cir. 2002); T.W. Elec. Serv. v. Pac. Elec. Contractors Ass’n, 809 11 F. 2d 626 , 630 (9th Cir. 1987). Rather, the non-moving party must make a “sufficient showing 12 on [each] essential element of her case with respect to which she has the burden of proof” to 13 survive summary judgment. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). 14 On summary judgment, the Court views the evidence and draws inferences in the light 15 most favorable to the non-moving party. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255 ; Sullivan v. U.S. Dep’t of 16 the Navy, 365 F.3d 827, 832 (9th Cir. 2004). However, where the non-moving party fails to 17 properly support an assertion of fact or fails to properly address the moving party’s assertions of 18 fact, the Court will accept the fact as undisputed. FED. R. CIV. P. 56(e). As such, the Court relies 19 “on the nonmoving party to identify with reasonable particularity the evidence that precludes 20 summary judgment.” Keenan v. Allan, 91 F.3d 1275 , 1278–79 (9th Cir. 1996) (quotation marks 21 and citations omitted). The Court need not “comb through the record to find some reason to deny 22 a motion for summary judgment.” Carmen v. San Francisco Unified Sch. Dist., 237 F.3d 1026 , 23 1029 (9th Cir. 2001); Keenan, 91 F.3d at 1279 (the court will not “scour the record in search of 24 a genuine issue of triable fact”). 1 2. The Record Before the Court 2 The Court finds it appropriate to first clarify the record on which this motion is 3 considered. On June 17, 2021, the Court addressed several pending motions and granted a motion 4 to compel and for sanctions that had been filed by the United States. Dkt. #101. The Court found 5 that Ms. Engen had “failed to timely respond to the United States’ First Set of Interrogatories and 6 First Requests for Production of Documents, after being properly served with the same.” Id. at 7 14. Similarly, the Court found that “Ms. Engen failed to attend [] her deposition after being 8 served with proper notice.” Id. at 15. Due to her refusal to respond to proper discovery requests, 9 even after being ordered to do so, the Court ordered that “Ms. Engen . . . will be prohibited from 10 supporting or opposing designated claims or defenses, or from introducing designated matters in 11 evidence.” Id. Additionally, the Court found and ordered that: 12 (i) It is established that Ms. Engen submitted documents purporting to be a return of tax for each of the civil penalties under 26 U.S.C. § 6702 assessed by the IRS 13 as asserted in the Complaint (or amended complaint if applicable), and that Ms. Engen is the sole owner of the Subject Property; [and] [14] (ii) Ms. Engen is precluded from presenting testimonial evidence at either trial or 15 summary judgment to challenge the claim that the United States is entitled to reduce to judgment the federal tax assessments (federal income taxes and civil 16 penalties under 26 U.S.C. § 6702 ) against Ms. Engen asserted in the Complaint (or amended complaint if applicable), or to challenge the authenticity of various 17 documents that contain her signature, including correspondence, tax returns, and other IRS Forms that were sent to the IRS and are the subject of the civil penalties 18 at issue in this action. [19] Id. 20 In addition to these discovery violations and sanctions, Ms. Engen also failed to respond 21 to the United States’ First Requests for Admissions to Carol L. Engen. See Dkt. #104-2 at 2–28. 22 While Ms. Engen baldly asserts that she “has no record of receiving any Requests for Admissions 23 from Plaintiff,” the United States fully explains, and provides proof, why this is not the case. 24 Dkt. #117 at 2–3. In accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 36 and due to Ms. Engen’s 1 failure to respond, the United States’ requests for admissions are deemed admitted. FED. R. CIV. 2 P. 36 (a)(3). 3 Lastly, Ms. Engen has also failed to submit any evidence in support of her opposition to 4 the United States’ motion for summary judgment and its supporting documents. Ms. Engen’s 5 opposition does not point to any evidence that is already in the record. Rather, Ms. Engen baldly 6 asserts that the United States’ evidence is not accurate without establishing a basis for doing so 7 or supplying any evidence in support of her assertions. Ms. Engen fails to provide any basis for 8 questioning the United States’ evidence. 9 Accordingly, the vast majority—if not all—of the facts supported by the United States’ 10 evidence are not contested. In her briefing, Ms. Engen raises several unsupported objections to 11 the evidence submitted by the United States—some factual, some broadly “legal,” and some a 12 combination of both. See generally Dkt. #114. However, the United States has fully 13 responded—with citations to the specific evidence before the Court and the relevant legal 14 authorities—and has demonstrated that Ms. Engen’s objections are without merit. See Dkt. #117 15 at 2–4. Nevertheless, the Court has considered the record in the light most favorable to Ms. 16 Engen and has drawn all reasonable inferences in her behalf. 17 3. Summary Judgment in Favor of the United States is Appropriate 18 The Court has reviewed the thorough record put together by the United States in this 19 matter. The factual evidence submitted, in addition to the statements and arguments of the United 20 States, clearly establishes that summary judgment in favor of the United States is appropriate. 21 Accordingly, the Court adopts the United States’ motion and reply, including their recounting of 22 the evidentiary record and their legal reasoning, in whole.1 Dkts. #104 and #117. [24] 1 Of course, the United States’ motion 1 In opposition, Ms. Engen has raised only unsupported quibbles with the record and 2 subjective feelings as to why the United States has failed to satisfy legal requirements that Ms. 3 Engen believes should be applicable. The Court has held the United States to its burden but will 4 not meticulously nitpick the evidence and arguments to establish whether Ms. Engen’s overly 5 broad objections2 may be, to some extent, valid. Ms. Engen has been afforded the opportunity 6 to discover evidence supporting her positions, to review the evidence and arguments provided by 7 the United States, and to consult legal authorities to test the validity of her beliefs. Despite these 8 opportunities, Ms. Engen has not brought specific issues before the Court. Rather, Ms. Engen 9 rehashes broad objections that have previously been addressed by the Court and finds new 10 molehills with which to make mountains. On the whole, Ms. Engen’s failure to submit evidence 11 supporting her asserted defenses, to identify discrete issues with the evidence presented by the 12 United States, and to formulate supportable legal arguments makes her opposition all but a 13 nullity.3 Summary judgment in favor of the United States, for the relief it seeks, is appropriate. [15] 2 For example, Ms. Engen equivocates on the United States’ positions: “[The United States’] [16] ‘arguments’ are so full of holes a truck could be driven through them.” Dkt. #114 at 9. Similarly, Ms. Engen questions the accuracy of the evidence introduced. See id. at 11 (“IRS records are [17] notoriously inaccurate.”). But Ms. Engen does not support or quantify her speculation that the United States’ evidence and arguments are unsupported. [18] 3 Even if Ms. Engen’s opposition represented, in substance, a failure to oppose the United States’ [19] motion for summary judgment, the Court would not grant the motion as a matter of course. See Heinemann v. Satterberg, 731 F.3d 914, 916 (9th Cir. 2013) (“[A] motion for summary judgment [20] may not be granted based on a failure to file an opposition to the motion.”); Henry v. Gill Indus., Inc., 983 F.2d 943, 950 (9th Cir. 1993). “Rule 56 requires district courts to assess whether ‘the [21] motion and supporting materials’ entitle the movant to summary judgment.” Heinemann, 731 F.3d at 916 (quoting FED. R. CIV. P. 56(e)(3)). However, “the opposing party’s failure to respond [22] to a fact asserted in the motion permits a court to ‘consider the fact undisputed for purposes of the motion.’” Id. (quoting FED. R. CIV. P. 56(e)(2)). Likewise, an opposing party cannot rely on [23] its unsubstantiated allegations to create genuine disputes as to material facts. Moran v. Selig, 447 F.3d 748, 759 (9th Cir. 2006) (plaintiff cannot rely on unverified complaint “as evidence at [24] the summary judgment stage”). 1 B. The County’s Motion to Dismiss 2 1. Legal Standard 3 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c) provides that “[a]fter the pleadings are closed but 4 within such time as not to delay the trial, any party may move for judgment on the pleadings.” 5 FED. R. CIV. P. 12(c). The same legal standard applies to a motion for judgment on the pleadings 6 as to a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. Cafasso v. Gen. Dynamics C4 Sys., Inc., [7] 637 F.3d 1047 , 1055 n.4 (9th Cir. 2011). Thus, the Court must accept as true all material facts 8 alleged in the pleadings and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party. See 9 Fleming v. Pickard, 581 F.3d 922, 925 (9th Cir. 2009). “Judgment on the pleadings is proper 10 when the moving party clearly establishes on the face of the pleadings that no material issue of 11 fact remains to be resolved and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Hal Roach 12 Studios v. Richard Feiner & Co., 896 F.2d 1542, 1550 (9th Cir. 1990). Judgement may be based 13 on the complaint’s lack of “a cognizable legal theory” or its lack of “sufficient facts alleged under 14 a cognizable legal theory.” Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dept., 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir.1990) 15 (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 255 U.S. 41 , 45–46 (1957)). 16 2. Dismissal of Ms. Engen’s Crossclaims Against the County is Appropriate 17 The Subject Property is located within King County, Washington. As a primary taxing 18 authority, King County benefits from a statutory real property tax lien which attaches to the 19 Subject Property every January. Dkt. #105 at 2. Because of King County’s uncertain interest in 20 the property, the United States made King County a defendant to this action. 21 Upon answering the United States’ complaint, Ms. Engen also alleged crossclaims against 22 King County and counterclaims against the United States. Dkt. #59. The Court previously 23 dismissed Ms. Engen’s counterclaims against the United States. See Dkt. #74. King County now [24] 1 seeks judgment on the pleadings and a dismissal of Ms. Engen’s crossclaims for a failure to state 2 a valid legal claim. Dkt. #105. 3 King County identifies “the essence” of Ms. Engen’s crossclaim as her assertion “that 4 King County does not have a valid tax lien against the Subject Property because ‘KING 5 COUNTY’s ‘real estate’ tax scheme is foundationally unconstitutional as KING COUNTY lacks 6 jurisdiction over Counterclaim (sic) Plaintiff’s land and possesses no lawful right of action to 7 foreclose.” Dkt. #105 at 3 (quoting Dkt. #59 at p. 18, ln. 5–9) (notation in King County’s motion). 8 Rather than identifying her asserted claims and the basis for them, Ms. Engen argues that 9 King County lacks evidence to overcome her claims, whatever they may be. Dkt. #115 at 3. But 10 this wholly ignores the standard under which a motion for judgment on the pleadings is 11 considered. The truth of Ms. Engen’s allegations is assumed. But Ms. Engen still must 12 demonstrate that those allegations entitle her to relief under a cognizable legal theory. 13 Ms. Engen appears to argue that her legal claims spring from King County’s failure to 14 respond to Ms. Engen’s prior request for an explanation and justification of its taxing authority. 15 Id. at 3–4. But Ms. Engen provides no citations to legal authority establishing that she has a right 16 to an explanation or that she can maintain a private cause of action in the absence of a sufficient 17 explanation.4 Ms. Engen’s complaints appear political and without a legal basis upon which she [20] 4 Ms. Engen includes limited citations to legal authority. See generally Dkt. #115. First, Ms. Engen references subsections of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12, namely those referenced [21] and identified in King County’s motion. Id. at 1. Second, Ms. Engen points to “Art. 1, Sec. 10, cl. 1 of the national Constitution.” Id. at 3. That clause provides that “[n]o State shall enter into [22] any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any [23] Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.” Ms. Engen does not otherwise explain how these legal authorities apply to [24] her asserted claims. 1 can seek relief. Accordingly, the Court finds that granting judgment on the pleadings in favor of 2 King County and dismissing the crossclaims is appropriate. 3 C. Ms. Engen’s Various Filings 4 1. Motion to Stay 5 Most notably, Ms. Engen filed a motion for an order staying the case. Dkt. #122. Ms. 6 Engen’s motion specifically indicated that she had appealed this Court’s June 17, 2021, Order 7 (Dkt. #101) to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and argued that this Court should stay the 8 matter pending a resolution of her appeal. Id. at 1–2. The United States opposed Ms. Engen’s 9 request. Dkt. #126. 10 Concurrently, Ms. Engen filed a similar request in her appellate case. See United States 11 v. Engen, No. 21-35540, Dkt. #5 (9th Cir. Aug. 17, 2021). In response, the United States filed a 12 motion to dismiss Ms. Engen’s appeal because she sought to appeal a nonfinal order outside the 13 scope of appealable collateral orders. See United States v. Engen, No. 21-35540, Dkt. #8 (9th 14 Cir. Aug. 18, 2021). On September 17, 2021, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted the 15 United States’ motion to dismiss the appeal and denied Ms. Engen’s pending motion to stay as 16 moot. See United States v. Engen, No. 21-35540, Dkt. #10 (9th Cir. Sep. 17, 2021). 17 Ms. Engen’s request for a stay was based primarily on a potential conflict between the 18 trial date in this matter and the briefing schedule before the Ninth Circuit. For the reasons stated 19 in the United States’ brief, Ms. Engen’s request for a stay in this matter was not warranted. Dkt. 20 #126. Any possible conflict between this Court and the Ninth Circuit has been resolved. 21 Likewise, the Court’s decision to grant the motions for summary judgment and for judgment on 22 the pleadings resolves this matter. Accordingly, the Court denies Ms. Engen’s motion for a stay 23 as moot. [24] 1 2. Ms. Engen’s Various Other Filings 2 Over the last several months, Ms. Engen has filed a variety of documents with the Court. 3 Most of the filings are styled as “Notice[s] of Permanent Errors on the Record” and take 4 exception with prior orders of the Court. Dkts. #118, #119, #120, #121, #123, and #124. These 5 notices do not seek relief from this Court and the Court presumes that Ms. Engen considers them 6 relevant to her prior appeal to the Ninth Circuit. Because the filings were not noted as motions 7 or relied upon in support of Ms. Engen’s briefing in this matter, the Court disregards them. To 8 the extent they seek relief from this Court, the requests are denied as moot. 9 Additionally, Ms. Engen filed “Defendant Carol L Engen’s Priority Claim,” “Defendant 10 Carol L Engen’s Withdrawal of Document – Docket No. 113, July 15, 2021,” and a “Notice of 11 Super Priority Lien – 26 U.S.C. § 6323 (b).” Dkts. #113, #128, and #129. The two claim 12 documents attach UCC Financing Statements. Ms. Engen does not seek any relief from the Court 13 and the Court disregards the notice filings. To the extent they seek relief from this Court, the 14 requests are denied as moot. 15 IV. CONCLUSION 16 Accordingly, and having considered the motions, filings, briefing, supporting evidence 17 and legal authority, and the remainder of the record, the Court finds and ORDERS that: 18 1. Plaintiff United States’ Motion for Summary Judgment Against Carol L. Engen (Dkt. 19 #104) is GRANTED. 20 a. Ms. Engen is indebted to the United States for unpaid: federal income tax 21 liabilities for the tax years 2005 and 2007; and Section 6702 penalty liabilities for 22 tax years 2004-2008, in the amount of $288,360.08 as of June 18, 2021, less any 23 subsequent payment or credits, plus interest and other statutory additions, as 24 provided by law; 1 b. The United States has valid and subsisting federal tax liens against all of Ms. 2 Engen’s property and rights to property, including but not limited to, her interest 3 in the Subject Property as the sole owner of the Subject Property; 4 c. The United States may foreclose its federal tax liens upon the Subject Property; 5 and 6 d. The United States is entitled to its costs and such other relief as is just and proper. 7 2. Defendant King County’s 12(c) Motion to Dismiss Defendant Engen’s Crossclaims (Dkt. 8 #105) is GRANTED. All of Ms. Engen’s crossclaims against King County are 9 DISMISSED with prejudice. 10 3. Defendant Carol L. Engen’s Motion for Order Staying Case (Dkt. #122) is DENIED as 11 moot. 12 4. To the extent Ms. Engen’s various filings (Dkts. #113, #118, #119, #120, #121, #122, 13 #123, #124, #127, #128, and #129) seek relief from the Court, they are DENIED as moot. 14 5. This matter is now CLOSED. 15 DATED this 24th day of September, 2021. [17] A [18] RICARDO S. MARTINEZ 19 CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE