Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca8-05-02802/USCOURTS-ca8-05-02802-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Public School Retirement System of Missouri
Not Party
John J. Sanderson
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

___________

No. 05-2802

___________

Public School Retirement System of *

Missouri, *

*

Interpleader Plaintiff, *

*

v. *

*

United States of America; John J. *

Sanderson, *

*

Interested Parties. *

________ *

* Appeal from the United States

John J. Sanderson, * District Court for the

* Western District of Missouri.

Appellant, *

* [UNPUBLISHED]

v. *

*

United States of America, *

*

Appellee. *

___________

Submitted: August 8, 2006

Filed: August 16, 2006

___________

Before SMITH, MAGILL, and BENTON, Circuit Judges.

___________

PER CURIAM.

Appellate Case: 05-2802 Page: 1 Date Filed: 08/16/2006 Entry ID: 2078794
1

The Honorable Nanette K. Laughrey, United States District Judge for the

Western District of Missouri.

-2-

John J. Sanderson appeals from the district court’s1

 dismissal of his

counterclaims against the United States in this interpleader action filed by the Public

School Retirement System of Missouri. The government has filed a motion for

sanctions to partially cover its expenses in defending this suit.

After de novo review, see LeMay v. U.S. Postal Svc., 450 F.3d 797, 799 (8th

Cir. 2006), we conclude the dismissal was proper for the reasons explained by the

district court. Accordingly, we affirm. See 8th Cir. R. 47B.

Regarding the request for sanctions, we may award “just damages” and single

or double costs if we determine that an appeal is frivolous. See 28 U.S.C. § 1912;

Fed. R. App. P. 38. In this case, we find that Sanderson has filed a frivolous appeal

raising tax-protester arguments of the kind that he unsuccessfully raised below. In

these circumstances, we conclude that sanctions are appropriate. See United States

v. Gerads, 999 F.2d 1255, 1256-57 (8th Cir. 1993) (per curiam) (when appellant

brought frivolous appeal based on tax-protester argument, court granted government’s

motion for sanctions).

Accordingly, we award the government $3,000 in damages.

______________________________

Appellate Case: 05-2802 Page: 2 Date Filed: 08/16/2006 Entry ID: 2078794