Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

RICO Claim against IRS Employees Barred by 26 U.S.C. § 7433, Which Provides Exclusive Damages Remedy for Misconduct in Connection with Tax Collecting Activities

Kenner v. Kelly, 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 12629 (9th Cir. June 18, 2013):

Brian and Kathleen Kenner appeal pro se from the district court's judgment dismissing their action alleging that defendants violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO") in connection with the collection of their federal income tax liabilities. Barbara Dunn and Lacey Dunn & Do, PC ("Dunn defendants") cross appeal from the order denying their motion for sanctions under Fed. R. Civ. P. 11. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a dismissal for failure to state a claim. Odom v. Microsoft Corp., 486 F.3d 541, 545 (9th Cir. 2007) (en banc). We review for an abuse of discretion the district court's Rule 11 determination. Retail Flooring Dealers of Am., Inc. v. Beaulieu of Am., LLC, 339 F.3d 1146, 1150 (9th Cir. 2003). We affirm.

In No. 11-56062, the district court properly dismissed the Kenners' RICO claims against the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") defendants for failure to state a claim because the Kenners' allegations against the IRS defendants constitute violations of the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC") in connection with tax collection activities, and the sole remedy for such claims is under 26 U.S.C. § 7433. See 26 U.S.C. § 7433 (providing that a civil action against the United States under § 7433 "shall be the exclusive remedy for recovering damages" resulting from IRS employees' negligent, reckless, or intentional disregard of any IRC provision or treasury regulation in connection with any collection of federal tax). Accordingly, the district court properly dismissed the conspiracy claim against the Dunn defendants as well. See Howard v. Am. Online Inc., 208 F.3d 741, 751 (9th Cir. 2000) (RICO conspiracy claim fails to state a claim where underlying substantive RICO claim fails).

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