Source: http://ca.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20080522_0000817.SCA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2016-10-28 02:49:07
Document Index: 179541566

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 7426', '§ 2410', '§ 7426', '§ 7426', '§ 7246', '§ 7246', '§ 7246', '§ 2410', '§ 7246', '§ 7246']

| Leeds LP v. United States
Leeds LP v. United States
LEEDS LP, PLAINTIFF,v.UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DEFENDANT.FOURTH INVESTMENT LP, PLAINTIFF,v.UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DEFENDANT.
Plaintiffs Leeds LP and Fourth Investment LP, in the above two related cases, have filed complaints challenging tax liens placed on their property by Defendant United States. Plaintiffs allege a first cause of action for recovery of wrongful levy pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 7426 and a second cause of action to quiet title pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2410. Defendant brings the instant motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' first cause of action arguing that Plaintiffs cannot challenge a federal tax lien through a wrongful levy action under 26 U.S.C. § 7426.*fn1
For the reasons set forth below, the Court agrees.
26 U.S.C. § 7426(a)(1) provides for a waiver of sovereign immunity in the following situation:
If a levy has been made on property or property has been sold pursuant to a levy, any person (other than the person against whom is assessed the tax out of which such levy arose) who claims an interest in or lien on such property and that such property was wrongfully levied upon may bring a civil action against the United States in a district court of the United States.
The Supreme Court has made clear that a challenge under 26 U.S.C. § 7246(a)(1)*fn2 can only be brought if the government has placed a levy on the property. United States v. Williams, 514 U.S. 527, 536 (1995) ("If the Government has not levied on the property -- as it has not levied on the Williams' home -- the owner cannot challenge such a levy under 26 U.S.C. § 7246.") The Supreme Court has also made clear that a lien and a levy are distinct and separate concepts with separate remedies when they are wrongfully imposed. Id.; EC Term of Years Trust v. United States, 127 S.Ct. 1763, 1765 (2007). Whereas a wrongful levy is challenged under 26 U.S.C. § 7246, a wrongful lien can be resolved through a quiet title action under 28 U.S.C. § 2410(a)(1). Williams, 514 U.S. at 536.
Here, Plaintiffs allege that the United States "illegally arbitrarily and unlawfully issued and recorded a lien against Plaintiff's property." (Leeds FAC ¶11; Fourth Investment FAC ¶11) Although each complaint contains general language asserting that the "property liened, levied, and seized" belongs to Plaintiffs (FAC ¶¶ 10, 20, 22), it appears from the remainder of the complaints that Plaintiffs only allege a lien placed on the property rather than a levy and seizure. As set forth by the Ninth Circuit and the Supreme Court, a lien is a security interest in property that has not been enforced whereas a levy is the seizure and sale of a property to collect taxes. EC Terms of Years at 1763; United States v. Barbier, 896 F.2d 377, 379 (9th Cir. 1990). Because statutory waivers of sovereign immunity must be strictly construed, the Court cannot accept Plaintiffs' argument that they should be allowed to challenge a lien pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 7246 because a lien is the first step towards a levy and seizure. Safeway Portland Employees' Fed. Credit Union v. FDIC, 506 F.2d 1213, 1216 (9th Cir. 1974). The Court also notes that Plaintiffs are not without a remedy because they may resolve the allegedly wrongful lien through their quiet title cause of action.*fn3
Because the waiver of sovereign immunity under § 7246 does not reach the facts as alleged in Plaintiffs' complaints, the Court dismisses the first cause of action in both related cases for lack of jurisdiction without prejudice. Plaintiffs may at any time during the pendency of this proceeding amend their complaint to allege that a levy has occurred.