Court Opinion

ID: 2828577
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-08-19 18:16:50.343737+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:23:19.178235
License: Public Domain

Slip Op. 15-88

                  UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE

    UNITED STATES,

                             Plaintiff,
                                                      Before: Leo M. Gordon, Judge
             v.
                                                      Consol. Court No. 09-00403
    AMERICAN HOME ASSURANCE CO.,

                             Defendant.

                                            OPINION

[Summary judgment granted in part and denied in part for Plaintiff; summary judgment
granted in part and denied in part for Defendant.]

                                                                   Dated: August 19, 2015

        Beverly A. Farrell, Trial Attorney, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division,
U.S. Department of Justice, of New York, NY, argued for Plaintiff, United States. With her
on the briefs were Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Barbara S. Williams,
Attorney-in-Charge, Amy M. Rubin, Acting Assistant Director, Aimee Lee, Senior Trial Counsel,
Edward F. Kenny, Trial Attorney, and Alexander Vanderweide, Trial Attorney. Of counsel on
the briefs were Paula S. Smith, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Assistant Chief
Counsel, of New York, NY, and Brandon T. Rodgers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
Office of Assistant Chief Counsel, of Indianapolis, IN.

      Herbert C. Shelley, and Mark F. Horning, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, of Washington, DC,
argued for Defendant, American Home Assurance Company.

        Gordon, Judge: This consolidated collection action1 is before the court on cross-

motions for summary judgment. See Def.’s Mot. for Summ. J., Consol. Court No. 09-

1
 This action consists of four separate actions - Court Numbers 09-00403, 10-00125,
10-00175, and 10-00343, consolidated under the lead case, Consol. Court No. 09-00403.
Consol. Court No. 09-00403                                                       Page 2

00403, ECF No. 59 (“Def.’s Br.”); Pl.’s Mot. for Summ. J., Consol. Court No. 09-00403,

ECF No. 61 (“Pl.’s Br.”). Plaintiff United States (“Government”) seeks to recover unpaid

antidumping duties from Defendant American Home Assurance Company (“AHAC”), a

surety, along with statutory and equitable pre-judgment interest, and post-judgment

interest. Payment of duties was secured by numerous single transaction bonds (“STBs”)

and continuous entry bonds (“CBs”) issued by AHAC during the period March 2001 to

February 2002. AHAC’s liability for the principal amounts of antidumping duties owed on

these bonds is not in issue.

      For entries in which antidumping duties do not exceed the face value of the bonds

(Court Nos. 09-00403 and 10-00343), the Government is seeking statutory pre-judgment

interest under 19 U.S.C. § 1505(d) (“post-liquidation interest” or “1505(d) interest”) for

non-payment of the duties. Over and above any antidumping duties and 1505(d) interest

owed, the Government claims statutory pre-judgment interest as an exaction pursuant to

19 U.S.C. § 580 (“580 interest”) for having to commence these four collection actions.

The Government also seeks equitable pre-judgment interest on any amounts in excess

of the face amounts of the relevant bonds to compensate the Government for the loss of

the time value of the funds owed. Finally, the Government maintains that it is entitled to

post-judgment interest under 28 U.S.C. § 1961.
Consol. Court No. 09-00403                                                         Page 3

       The court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1582(2) (suit on a bond) and

1582(3) (suit for collection of unpaid duties)2 (2012). For the reasons set forth below, the

Government’s motion for summary judgment is granted in part and denied in part, and

AHAC’s cross-motion is granted in part and denied in part.

                                      I. Background

       The subject bonds covered entries of preserved mushrooms and fresh water

crawfish tail meat from the People’s Republic of China, with each product subject to an

antidumping duty order. Declaration of Mark Pessolano in Support of Def.’s Mot. for

Summ. J. (“Pessolano Decl.”), Consol. Court No. 09-00403, ECF No. 59-1. These bonds

secured the importation of the subject merchandise during the period May 4, 2001

through August 6, 2002 by three different importers (American Jianglin, Y&Z International

Inc., and JH Brain Trading Inc.). Id. In Court No. 09-00403, AHAC issued both CBs and

STBs for the relevant entries. Id. In the other three actions, AHAC issued only CBs for the

relevant entries.

       In the consolidated actions, AHAC secured the importation of the subject

merchandise by issuing the underlying STBs and CBs. The bonds obligated the importers

and AHAC to pay, up to the face amounts of the bonds, “any duty, tax or charge and

compliance with law or regulations” resulting from activity covered by those bonds. See

Compl., Exs. C & L, Court No. 09-00403, ECF No. 4; Compl., Ex. A (copy of printout from

2
 28 U.S.C. § 1582(2) is the basis for jurisdiction in all four of the actions, whereas
28 U.S.C. § 1582(3) is an additional basis for jurisdiction in Court No. 10-00175.
Consol. Court No. 09-00403                                                       Page 4

Customs’ Automated Commercial System reflecting Bond No. 100175644 as bond

destroyed at the World Trade Center site on Sept. 11, 2001), Court No. 10-00125, ECF

No. 4; Compl., Ex. A, Court No. 10-00175, ECF No. 4; Compl., Ex. A, Court No. 10-00343,

ECF No. 4.

      U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“Customs” or “CBP”) liquidated the entries

secured by these bonds and assessed antidumping duties on the subject merchandise.

For each of those entries, the respective importer received a bill from Customs and failed

to pay the duties owed. Because of the importers’ defaults, Customs issued demands3 to

AHAC, as the surety, for payment under its bonds. AHAC protested the demands for

payment, which Customs ultimately denied. Since AHAC refused to make payment, the

Government commenced these actions for the collection of unpaid duties and interest.

      AHAC conceded liability for duties on the subject bonds, except for the CB related

to Count III in Court No. 10-00343. The parties agree that the principal amounts owed in

Court Nos. 10-00125 and 10-00175 are $1,400,000 and $800,000 respectively. The

parties disagree as to the principal amounts owed in the other two actions. The

Government claims that $4,989,085.89 is the principal amount owed in Court No. 09-

00403, while AHAC maintains that $4,489,085.89 is owed. The disagreement centers on

Customs’ treatment of a partial payment of $500,000. Customs intends to allocate that

payment in accordance with 19 C.F.R. § 24.3a, which directs that any late payment

3
  Customs appears to have made demands on AHAC for payment (across the four
consolidated actions) beginning in December 2003 and ending in December 2009.
Consol. Court No. 09-00403                                                            Page 5

received first be applied, on an entry by entry basis, to interest charges, i.e., 1505(d)

interest, equitable pre-judgment interest, and 580 interest, and then finally to the

delinquent principal itself. AHAC does not dispute that the $4,989,085.89 was the original

amount owed, but maintains that the partial payment should be fully credited against

principal, not applied to any interest that may be owed.

       With respect to the CB related to Count III in Court No. 10-00343, the parties

reached an understanding that “$50,000 . . . would be the number used in determining

the applicable amount of interest, if any, to be awarded.” Jt. Letter, Court No. 10-00343,

ECF No. 17. Subsequently, AHAC sent Customs a check for $50,000 in payment for the

moneys related to Count III. See Pl.’s Resp. to Court’s Request for Information, Confid.

Att. at 29, ECF No. 113-2. The Government claims that $70,645.34 is the principal amount

owed in Court No. 10-00343, whereas AHAC maintains that $20,645.34 is owed. The

disagreement again centers on the allocation, interest first or principal first, of the $50,000

paid by AHAC with respect to Count III in the 10-00343 action. In both instances Customs

is holding the payments in suspense accounts awaiting resolution of the pre-judgment

interest issues.

                                  II. Standard of Review

       USCIT Rule 56 permits summary judgment when “there is no genuine issue as to

any material fact.” USCIT R. 56(c); see also Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S.
242, 248 (1986). In considering whether material facts are in dispute, the evidence must

be considered in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, drawing all reasonable
Consol. Court No. 09-00403                                                           Page 6

inferences in its favor. See Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 157 (1970);

Anderson, 477 U.S. at 261 n.2. Because the dispositive issues are solely legal and the

material facts are uncontroverted, summary judgment is appropriate. See 10A Charles

Alan Wright, Arthur R. Miller, Mary Kay Kane, Richard L. Marcus & Adam N. Steinman,

Federal Practice & Procedure § 2725 (3d ed. 2015); see also Dal-Tile Corp. v. United

States, 24 CIT 939, 944, 116 F. Supp. 2d 1309, 1314 (2000) (citing Marathon Oil Co. v.

United States, 24 CIT 211, 214, 93 F. Supp. 2d 1277, 1279-80 (2000)).

                                      III. Discussion

       This consolidated action involves whether pre- and post-judgment interest, if any,

are due in a collection action by the Government for non-payment of antidumping duties

on underlying import transactions that were secured by basic importation and entry

bonds. The court begins with the issue of statutory pre-judgment interest under 19 U.S.C.

§ 1505(d) and 19 U.S.C § 580. The court then examines the appropriateness of an award

of equitable pre-judgment interest in addition to statutory pre-judgment interest. The court

next addresses the effect of AHAC’s prior payments. Lastly, the court considers if an

award of post-judgment interest is warranted.

                                    A. 1505(d) Interest

       An importer is required to pay antidumping duties assessed by the United States

pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1673. A surety who underwrites a customs bond agrees to joint

and several liability with the importer for any duties, fees, and charges (including interest)

owed, capped at the face amount of the bond. 19 C.F.R. § 113.62(a) (2015) (principal
Consol. Court No. 09-00403                                                              Page 7

and surety jointly and severally agree to pay all “duties, taxes, and charges . . . legally

fixed and imposed on any entry” secured by an STB or CB); see also United States v.

Washington Int’l Ins. Co., 25 CIT 1239, 1241-42, 177 F. Supp. 2d 1313, 1316 (2001)

(“Normally, a surety is liable for any duties, fees, and interest owed up to the face amount

of the surety bond and any further liability for increased payment usually arises in a

litigation context.”). A surety’s obligation arises at the time of the importer’s breach, unless

the parties agree otherwise. See United States v. Cocoa Berkau, Inc., 990 F.2d 610, 614

(Fed. Cir. 1993).

        19 U.S.C § 1505 governs the payment of duties and fees on entries of imported

merchandise. Once Customs liquidates or reliquidates an entry, any duties and fees

(including pre-liquidation interest) due and owing are payable 30 days after Customs

issues a bill. 19 U.S.C. § 1505(b). If a bill is not paid in full within the 30-day grace period,

the unpaid balance is considered delinquent and subject to “post-liquidation interest.” Id.

§ 1505(d). Post-liquidation interest accrues in 30-day periods from the date of liquidation

or reliquidation until the balance is paid in full, excluding the 30-day period in which the

bill is paid. Id.

        Here, CBP liquidated the entries secured by AHAC’s bonds and assessed

antidumping duties on the subject merchandise. When the importers failed to pay the

dumping duties owed, CBP made multiple demands on AHAC for payment. On each

occasion, CBP notified AHAC of the Government’s intent to seek post-liquidation interest.

See Pl.’s Compl. Ex. 4, Court No. 09-00403, ECF No. 4 (citing Washington Int’l Ins. Co.,
Consol. Court No. 09-00403                                                       Page 8
25 CIT at 1241-42, 177 F. Supp. 2d at 1316). AHAC filed protests on Customs’ demands

for payment of the duties and any attendant interest, all of which CBP subsequently

denied. AHAC then had the option to challenge those demands, including the charge for

post-liquidation interest, by commencing an action under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(a). AHAC

chose not to commence suit.

      In Court Nos. 09-00403 and 10-00343, the duties owed do not exceed the face

amounts of the relevant bonds. The Government contends that, under these

circumstances, 1505(d) interest continues to accrue and constitutes part of the unpaid

balance for which the individual importer, and in turn AHAC, as surety, are liable. The

Government also argues that CBP’s demands (including payment of post-liquidation

interest) became final and conclusive in accordance with 19 U.S.C. § 1514 when AHAC

failed to contest its denied protests. Thus, the question before the court is whether the

final and conclusive language of § 1514 precludes AHAC from asserting an affirmative

defense in a Government enforcement action to collect post-liquidation interest under

§ 1505(d).

      Section 1514 provides that any Customs decision (enumerated in one of the seven

categories in § 1514) must be protested or it becomes “final and conclusive upon all

persons (including the United States and any officer thereof).” 19 U.S.C. § 1514(a).

Section 1514 further provides that if a protest is filed, and Customs denies the protest,

the protesting party may challenge the denial in the U.S. Court of International Trade,
Consol. Court No. 09-00403                                                           Page 9

under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(a). Id. Failure to commence a 1581(a) action after a protest is

denied also renders Customs’ decision “final and conclusive.” Id.

       It is well established that all decisions by CBP relating to an entry merge into the

liquidation, which, in turn, becomes final and conclusive unless challenged in accordance

with § 1514. See Volkswagen of America, Inc. v. United States, 532 F.3d 1365, 1370

(Fed. Cir. 2008) (citations omitted). The finality of those decisions applies to both importer

duty recovery suits and to Government enforcement actions. See United States v. Cherry

Hill Textiles, Inc., 112 F.3d 1550 (Fed. Cir. 1997). This action, however, does not raise

issues related to the liquidation of the subject entries. Rather, it involves CBP’s post-

liquidation decision to charge 1505(d) interest on unpaid antidumping duties pursuant to

a demand for payment on a bond.

       AHAC maintains that the bond language does not commit it to pay post-liquidation

interest. See Def.’s Resp. Br. In Opp. to Pl.’s Mot. for Summ. J. 7, ECF No. 69. In this

regard, AHAC maintains that “a surety’s concession of liability for the principal amount

owed [(the duties)] does not waive any defenses to the government’s claim for interest

which is made on statutory, not contractual grounds.” Id. 7-8. As to § 1514, AHAC

contends that the final and conclusive language does not preclude it from asserting

defenses as a shield in a collection action for 1505(d) interest. AHAC argues that CBP’s

decision to seek 1505(d) interest was made post-liquidation, and therefore is not

protestable under § 1514. The court disagrees.
Consol. Court No. 09-00403                                                        Page 10

       Among the protestable decisions set forth in § 1514 are CBP decisions that involve

“charges or exactions of whatever character within the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the

Treasury.” 19 U.S.C. § 1514(a). It is generally viewed that interest on duties comes within

the description of a charge or exaction. See Castelazo & Assocs. v. United States, 126
F.3d 1460, 1462 (Fed. Cir. 1997); Syva Co. v. United States, 12 CIT 199, 202-03, 681
F. Supp. 885, 888 (1988) (interest on delinquent payment of liquidated regular Customs’

duties protestable as charge or exaction); American Hi-Fi Int’l, Inc. v. United States,

19 CIT 1340, 1341-45 (1995) (19 U.S.C. § 1677g pre-liquidation interest on

underpayments of antidumping duties constitutes charge or exaction protestable under

§ 1514). The statute does not contain an exception for “charges or exactions” arising after

liquidation, nor “charges or exactions” arising on particular kinds of duties. The

distinctions drawn by AHAC do not appear in § 1514’s broad “charges or exactions of

whatever character” language. See 19 U.S.C. § 1514(a).

       Furthermore, the basic importation and entry bonds at issue statutorily and

contractually secure the payment of “duties” and any attendant interest. They do not

distinguish between interest on a delinquent payment of regular customs duties and

interest on a delinquent payment of other duties, such as antidumping duties. They also

do not distinguish between pre-liquidation and post-liquidation interest. See Compl.,

Exs. C & L, Court No. 09-00403, ECF No. 4; Compl., Ex. A (copy of printout from Customs’

Automated Commercial System reflecting Bond No. 100175644 as bond destroyed at the

World Trade Center site on Sept. 11, 2001), Court No. 10-00125, ECF No. 4; Compl.,
Consol. Court No. 09-00403                                                         Page 11

Ex. A, Court No. 10-00175, ECF No. 4; Compl., Ex. A, Court No. 10-00343, ECF No. 4.

The consequence for non-payment of those “other duties” is the same here as it would

be for the non-payment of regular customs duties – the obligation to pay post-liquidation

interest. Because there is no distinction in the statute or the bond agreements, as AHAC

contends, 1505(d) interest constitutes a “charge or exaction” protestable under § 1514.

       AHAC also contends that a Customs’ decision must be substantive in nature for it

to be protestable. Since 1505(d) interest is determined by using “‘an automatic interest

calculation model,’” Def.’s Reply in Supp. of Def.’s Mot. for Summ. J. 13 & Att. D, ECF

No. 74, AHAC argues that CBP did not engage in any substantive decision-making.

Consequently, a demand for 1505(d) interest is not a protestable event, and falls outside

the scope of § 1514’s final and conclusive language.4 Once again, the court disagrees.

       This is not a circumstance where CBP took “no active role whatsoever.” U.S. Shoe

Corp. v. United States, 114 F.3d 1564, 1569 (Fed. Cir. 1997). Here, CBP made a

substantive determination that involved “the application of pertinent law and precedent to

a set of facts” as opposed to taking a passive role where “no analysis” was performed,

“no directives or decisions” were issued, or “no liability” was imposed. Id. CBP had to

determine that the importers on the underlying entries failed to pay the duties owed. CBP

then needed to (1) identify the applicable bonds, (2) determine whether the duties owed

exceeded the face amount of the bonds, (3) determine if 1505(d) interest was applicable,

4
 The implicit assumption in AHAC’s argument is that 1505(d) interest is a charge or
exaction, and that but for the automatic nature of the calculation of 1505(d) interest would
be protestable under § 1514.
Consol. Court No. 09-00403                                                           Page 12

and (4) then make a demand on the surety for non-payment of the duties by the importers,

plus any applicable interest, including 1505(d) interest. AHAC is correct that there is an

automatic aspect to 1505(d) interest. However, that automaticity occurred only after

Customs had undertaken an analysis and made the substantive decisions that supported

its demands for payment. Cf. Dart Export Corp. v. United States, 43 CCPA 64, 69-70

(1956) (describing substantive decision-making relating to the assessment of duties and

charges in the context of CBP’s prior organizational structure).

       Since AHAC failed to contest its denied protests, CBP’s charge of 1505(d) interest

is final and conclusive pursuant to § 1514. As a result, AHAC is precluded from asserting

any defenses to its liability for 1505(d) interest. Accordingly, AHAC shall pay the

Government interest pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1505(d) on certain entries in Court No. 09-

00403 and all entries in Court No.10-00343 up to the face amount of the bonds covering

those entries.

                              B. 580 Pre-Judgment Interest

       The Government requests an award of statutory pre-judgment interest under

19 U.S.C. § 580. Section 580 provides that, in suits brought by the Government on a bond

for the recovery of duties, “interest shall be allowed, at a rate of 6 per centum a year, from

the time when said bond[] became due.” 19 U.S.C. § 580. AHAC disputes the

Government’s entitlement to 580 interest arguing, among other things, that the statute

applies to only regular duties and not antidumping duties.
Consol. Court No. 09-00403                                                       Page 13

      The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently resolved the issue of

whether the Government may recover 580 interest on dumping duties in a companion

case involving the same litigants, but different bonds. See United States v. Am. Home

Assurance Co., 789 F.3d 1313, 1324-28 (2015) (“Am. Home Assurance I”). There the

Federal Circuit held, “as a matter of law, that 19 U.S.C. § 580 provides for interest on

bonds securing both traditional customs duties and antidumping duties.” Id. at 1324.

      There are no issues involving § 580 that distinguish this action from American

Home Assurance I. Given that binding precedent, AHAC is liable for statutory pre-

judgment interest on the unpaid antidumping duties secured by the subject bonds. In

accordance with § 580, that interest will run at a rate of 6% per annum from the date the

subject bonds became due, which is the date of the Government’s first formal demand

for payment. See 19 C.F.R § 113.62(a)(ii) (2014).

                         C. Equitable Pre-Judgment Interest

      The Government also seeks an award of equitable pre-judgment interest on the

unpaid duties. Generally, pre-judgment interest “compensate[s] for the loss of use of

money due as damages from the time the claim accrues until judgment is entered, thereby

achieving full compensation for the injury those damages are intended to redress.” West

Virginia v. United States, 479 U.S. 305, 310 n.2 (1987); see United States v. Goodman,

6 CIT 132, 140, 572 F. Supp. 1284, 1289 (1983) (Pre-judgment interest “is awarded to

make the wronged party whole.”). An award of pre-judgment interest is not limited by the
Consol. Court No. 09-00403                                                         Page 14

face amount of the subject bond. See United States v. U.S. Fid. & Guar. Co., 236 U.S.
512, 530-31 (1915).

       Here, there is a statute, 19 U.S.C § 580, providing for pre-judgment interest in a

Government enforcement action on a bond. Am. Home Assurance I, 789 F.3d at 1324-

28. That would appear to resolve the matter because equity operates in the absence of a

statute governing an award of pre-judgment interest, thereby resulting in the denial of the

Government’s request for equitable relief. However, the Federal Circuit has suggested

that an award under § 580 may “alter[] the landscape” in this type of action. Id. at 1330.

The Court stated that the Court of International Trade, as the trial court, should have “the

opportunity to consider the effect of an award of § 580 interest and whether dual sources

of interest are proper,” with “full compensation [for the injured party, the Government,]

being the court’s overriding concern.” Id. (quoting United States v. Am. Home Assurance

Co., 38 CIT ___, ___, 964 F. Supp. 2d 1342, 1356 (2014) (“Am. Home Assurance II”))

(internal quotation marks omitted).

       In determining whether to award equitable pre-judgment interest, the court is to

exercise its discretion, United States v. Imperial Food Imps., 834 F.2d 1013, 1016 (Fed.

Cir. 1987), guided “by traditional judge-made principles.” City of Milwaukee v. Cement

Div., Nat’l Gypsum Co., 515 U.S. 189, 194 (1995). When bonds secure the Government

in the payment of antidumping duties, considerations that affect an award of equitable

pre-judgment interest include: “[1] the degree of personal wrongdoing on the part of the

defendant, [2] the availability of alternative investment opportunities to the plaintiff,
Consol. Court No. 09-00403                                                            Page 15

[3] whether the plaintiff delayed in bringing or prosecuting the action, and [4] other

fundamental considerations of fairness.” United States v. Great Am. Ins. Co. of N.Y.,

738 F.3d 1320, 1326 (Fed. Cir. 2013) (quoting Osterneck v. Ernst & Whitney, 489 U.S.
169, 175-76 (1989)) (internal quotation marks omitted). Since the court has awarded the

Government statutory pre-judgment interest under 19 U.S.C. § 580, it must also “consider

the effect” of that award and “whether dual sources of interest are proper.” Am. Home

Assurance I, 789 F.3d at 1338 (quoting Am. Home Assurance II, 38 CIT at ___ 964

F. Supp. 2d at 1356 (internal quotation marks omitted) (citations omitted)).

       AHAC contends that equitable considerations do not favor an award of pre-

judgment interest in this action. In particular, AHAC maintains that it did not engage in

dilatory conduct by “unjustly withhold[ing] payment [of the dumping duties] after being

notified of the default of the [bond] principal[s].” Def.’s Resp. Br. in Opp. to Pl.’s Mot. for

Summ. J. 9 (quoting U.S. Fid. & Guar. Co., 236 U.S. at 530-31 (emphasis in original),

ECF No. 69. It also argues that the Government engaged in unnecessary delay by waiting

until a few days prior to the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations to commence

this action, and that its factual and legal positions in defending this action were

reasonable. Lastly, AHAC argues that any award of equitable pre-judgment interest is

precluded by the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000, 19 U.S.C. § 1675c

(2000) (“CDSOA”).5 Specifically, AHAC contends that the subject antidumping duties

5
  Pub. L. No. 106-387, § 1001-03, 114 Stat. 1549, 1549A-72-75, 19 U.S.C. § 1675c
(2000), repealed by Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-171, § 7601(a), 120
Stat. 4, 154 (Feb. 8, 2006; effective Oct. 1, 2007).
Consol. Court No. 09-00403                                                           Page 16

once collected are deposited into special non-interest bearing accounts for the benefit of

affected domestic producers and not into the general Treasury of the United States.

Consequently, the Government did not lose the use of any money and is not entitled to

additional compensation in the form of equitable pre-judgment interest.

       The Government did not unreasonably delay bringing or prosecuting this action.

The Government filed its complaints in the four consolidated actions from September

2009 through November 2010. These filings ranged approximately from 6 to 27 months

after the Government’s final demands for payment and from 3 to 14 months prior to

running of the applicable six-year statute of limitations under 28 U.S.C. § 2415. Although

the Government may appear lax in commencing these actions from Defendant’s

perspective, each of them was nonetheless commenced within the applicable statute of

limitations. See United States v. Millenium Lumber Distribution Co., 36 CIT ___, ___, 899
F. Supp. 2d 1340, 1344 n.6 (2012) (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 2415(a) (“A complaint to recover

liquidated damages must be filed ‘within six years after the right of action accrues or within

one year after final decisions have been rendered in applicable administrative

proceedings required by contract or by law, whichever is later.’”). Even though the

Government’s timing may not have been optimal, the court cannot say that the

Government unreasonably delayed the bringing of this action. Additionally, the docket of

the consolidated lead action, Court No. 09-00403, reveals a long and involved litigation

with many filings and numerous requests for extensions of time, but does not reflect that
Consol. Court No. 09-00403                                                       Page 17

the Government was the source of any unreasonable delay. Lastly, AHAC has never paid

the outstanding duties, with one exception, despite Customs’ numerous requests.

       While those factors may favor an award of equitable interest, the Government’s

entitlement to statutory pre-judgment interest under 19 U.S.C. § 580 outweighs those

considerations. Customs’ demands for payment apparently began in December 2003 and

ended in December 2009. Equitable pre-judgment interest, if applicable, would run at the

rate provided in 28 U.S.C. § 2644 and in accordance with 26 U.S.C. § 6621. See United

States v. Golden Gate Petroleum Co., 30 CIT 174, 182-83 (2006) (citing Goodman, 6 CIT

at 140, 572 F. Supp. at 1290). With December 2003 as a starting point and ending with

the date of issuance of the judgment in this action, the range of applicable Federal short

term funds rates under 26 U.S.C. § 6621 is 0.16% to 5.16%, with an average rate of

1.70%, and a median rate of 0.74%.

       The 6% rate under § 580 far exceeds the applicable rates at which the Government

would receive equitable interest. Section 580 interest more than fairly compensates the

Government for the time value of the unpaid duties. To award equitable pre-judgment

interest in these circumstances would overcompensate the Government. The court

therefore declines to award equitable pre-judgment interest to the Government in addition

to § 580 interest.6

6
  Because equitable pre-judgment interest is not warranted here, the court does not reach
the issue of the effect of the CDSOA on the award of that interest.
Consol. Court No. 09-00403                                                         Page 18

                      D. Effect of AHAC’s Partial Duty Payments

       AHAC maintains that Customs should apply AHAC’s payments of $500,000 in

Court No. 09-00403 and $50,000 in Court No. 10-00343 first towards the principal

amounts owed, and then interest. AHAC anticipates an appeal of the judgment in this

action as there was in the companion case, so AHAC is seeking to minimize the impact

of any interest that may continue to accrue during that period. See Reply in Supp. of

Def.’s Mot. for Permission to Make Deposit and for Entry of Final J. 1-4 (Apr. 11, 2014),

ECF No. 90.

       Unfortunately for AHAC, Customs by regulation must apply AHAC’s payments to

interest before principal. Specifically, “[i]n the case of any late payment, the payment

received will first be applied to the interest charge on the delinquent principal amount and

then to the payment of the delinquent principal amount.” 19 C.F.R. § 24.3a(c)(4). AHAC

identifies no legal basis for the court to issue a judgment contrary to the express terms of

this regulation. Accordingly, in awarding statutory interest to the Government the court

will not direct Customs to allocate AHAC’s payments differently than that provided for in

19 C.F.R. § 24.3a(c)(4).

                               E. Post-Judgment Interest

       Lastly, the Government seeks an award of post-judgment interest. 28 U.S.C.

§ 1961(a) provides that post-judgment “[i]nterest shall be allowed on any money judgment

in a civil case recovered in a district court.” Section 1961 does not directly apply to

judgments rendered by this Court. See 28 U.S.C. § 1961(c)(4). However, the award of
Consol. Court No. 09-00403                                                         Page 19

post-judgment interest by the Court of International Trade is predicated on 28 U.S.C.

§ 1585, which states that the Court “posses[es] all the powers in law and equity of, or as

conferred by statute upon, a district court of the United States.” United States v. Great

Am. Ins. Co. of New York, 738 F.3d 1320, 1326 (Fed. Cir. 2013) (extending power to

award post-judgment interest under 28 U.S.C. § 1961 to Court of International Trade

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1585).

       Post-judgment interest is not discretionary, but rather is available as a matter of

right to prevailing parties. United States v. Servitex, Inc., 3 CIT 67, 68 n.5, 535 F. Supp.
695, 696 n.5 (1982); see also Great Am. Ins. Co., 738 F.3d at 1326. Under § 1961(a)

post-judgment interest is calculated from the date of entry of the judgment. This is a civil

case – a suit on a bond for the collection of unpaid duties – that has resulted in a money

judgment against AHAC. Accordingly, the Government is entitled to post-judgment

interest at the rate provided for in § 1961.

                                    IV.    Conclusion

       Based on the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment is

granted in part and denied in part, and Defendant’s motion for summary judgment is

granted in part and denied in part. Judgment will enter accordingly.

                                                              /s/ Leo M. Gordon
                                                            Judge Leo M. Gordon

Dated: August 19, 2015
       New York, New York