This is a case I reported on earlier in my blog. I cannot fathom how this story has not been covered by 60 Minutes or made the front page of any major daily. I’m just as surprised that it has not surfaced in any major daily in California during the budget crisis. Why? Because this could cost the State over half a billion dollars. In fact, a verdict has been delivered against California by a Nevada jury and is awaiting appeal- in the State of Nevada.
The events are covered in detail in any of the following sources:
Forbes, Oyez: US Supreme Court Media
To summarize, the California FTB sued Gilbert Hyatt, an inventor of a microprocessor chip, for tax fraud. The FTB claimed that Mr. Hyatt did not file a return for the income derived from his invention. Mr. Hyatt claimed he was already a Nevada resident at the time he invented the chip; California claimed otherwise. Whether that case has merit is still to be decided and could lead to a recovery of around $50M for the FTB, including penalties and interest, which account for over 80% of the total.
The real issue, however, is the FTB’s misconduct in pursuing Mr. Hyatt in Nevada. According to Bill Leonard, a member of the California State Board of Equalization, as published in his newsletter:
Tax agents rummaged through his trash without warrants, visited business partners and doctors, and shared his Social Security Number and other personal information with the media. This is outrageous behavior and I call on the FTB to rein in their agents. What really galled me is the FTB testified in open court that this level of harassment was only a typical audit. If true, then the stormtroopers are alive and well at the FTB.
Mr. Hyatt sued the FTB for torts and other misconduct. The FTB claimed it was immune from being sued under the doctrine of comity- defined by the Nevada Supreme Court as “an accommodation policy, under which the courts of one state voluntarily give effect to the laws and judicial decisions of another state out of deference and respect, to promote harmonious interstate relations.”
The Nevada Supreme Court sided with Hyatt. The FTB appealed to the United States Supreme Court who ruled 9-0 against the agency, stating in its unanimous opinion:
“The State of Nevada is undoubtedly “competent to legislate” with respect to the subject matter of the alleged intentional torts here, which, it is claimed, have injured one of its citizens within its borders.”
“The Nevada Supreme Court sensitively applied principles of comity with a healthy regard for California’s sovereign status, relying on the contours of Nevada’s own sovereign immunity from suit as a benchmark for its analysis.”
Now the stage was set for Mr. Hyatt’s suit for damages. He won his case in Nevada District Court in August 2008 and was awarded almost $400 million.
The FTB requested a whole new trial. The request was rejected. Judge Walsh of the District Court in Las Vegas said, “FTB essentially relies on previously unsuccessful arguments.”
What’s more, Judge Walsh ruled that the FTB must post a bond equal to 10% of the settlement, or around $39 million, if it wants to appeal.
I asked Assemblyman’s Feuer’s office to follow up on this case in February; it was referred to Judy Chu of the Board of Equalization. I have not heard back.
There are two key questions that the taxpayers of California need answered: were any employees of the FTB disciplined? Will California continue to pour money in this case by appealing in what could be called a hostile environment? Don’t forget- Nevada convicted OJ Simpson on criminal charges; California failed.
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[…] Lest you think this far-fetched, please consider this report sent to me by correspondent J.J.: Will California Gamble in Las Vegas? The Stakes are High in the Gilbert Hyatt Case: […]
Reblogged this on ecarrollstraus and commented:
Heaven help any of us they come after