344 F. Supp. 524 | Cust. Ct. | 1972
Lead Opinion
The issue in this application for review is whether the trial judge erred in holding the appraised value at first cost, plus 10 percent, plus packing and other costs, was separable and in holding that the only disputed element, namely the 10 percent, was not part of dutiable export value.
The decision before us for review was rendered by Judge Ford in an appeal for reappraisement of a Convair CY-990 Flight Simulator manufactured and exported by Redifon, Ltd., London, England, and appraised at New York as having a dutiable statutory export value
The record, upon which we consider those errors, consists of the oral testimony of two witnesses and five documentary exhibits. The parties identified with the import transaction are Redifon, Ltd., London, England; Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Electronics Division, East Paterson, New Jersey; and American Airlines, New York, N. Y.
The separability principle, which appellant concedes is a viable principle, but asserts is inapplicable to the appraisement in hand, has been described as a “framework of convenience for the analysis of disputed appraisements.” United States v. Bud Berman Sportswear, Inc., 55 CCPA 28, 31, C.A.D. 929 (1967). Recently, the rule has had most frequent application to appraisements which, as expressed in Haddad & Sons, Inc. v. United States, 54 Cust. Ct. 600, 602, R.D. 10942 (1965), affirmed, Id. v. Id. 56 Cust. Ct. 792, A.R.D. 205 (1966), cited 'by appellant, are “in terms of a first cost or ex-factory price, plus the disputed charges.” Appellant postures that the rule is limited to appraisements at “first cost, ex-factory or per se price,” and argues that the record is void of any evidence that the flight simulator was appraised at a first cost £218,005, ex-factory.
Notwithstanding that the separability rule, as appellee cites, is not necessarily limited to appraisements ex-factory, of. United States v. Fritzsche Bros., Inc., 35 CCPA 60, C.A.D. 371 (1947); United States v. Freedman & Slater, Inc., 39 Cust. Ct. 717, A.R.D. 77 (1957) ; The A. W. Fenton Co., Inc. v. United States, 52 Cust. Ct. 405, R.D. 10660 (1964) ; Cleveland Twist Drill Co. et al. v. United States, 60 Cust. Ct. 893, R.D. 11542 (1968); Shalom Baby Wear, Inc. v. United States, 62 Cust. Ct. 856, R.D. 11641 (1969); Castle & Cooke, Inc., et al. v. United States, 64 Cust. Ct. 628, R.D. 11693 (1970), decided onrehearing, Id. v. Id., 67 Cust. Ct. 536, R.D. 11757 (1971); H. M. Young Associates, Inc. v. United States, 64 Cust. Ct. 642, R.D. 11695 (1970), we find substantial evidence that the appraisement at £218,005, plus 10 percent, plus cost of packing and other necessary costs of £2,000, is of the form and substance intended to reflect that £218,005 represented a first cost, or ex-
Appellant’s remaining errors are summed up in appellant’s argument that the trial judge erred when he found that the 10 percent paid to Curtiss-Wright Corporation, after deducting expenses and duty (which the appraiser added to the value of the flight simulator), represented an expense incurred at the option of American Airlines, subsequent to the time the flight simulator was packed by Kedifon, Ltd. and readied for shipment to the United States. Appellant contends that upon a record “laden with evidence which conclusively establishes that Curtiss-Wright was a co-seller of the * * * [flight simulator], even though it might not have been involved in the manufacture of said * * * [flight simulator]”, the 10 percent is profit and, therefore, part of dutiable export value.
The contract of purchase (exhibit 1), on which appellant relies, is relevant but, in our opinion, it does not necessarily establish all the facts bearing npon the dutiable value of the merchandise manufactured and exported pursuant to the contract. Of. United States v. Enrique Vidal Sanches, 15 Ct. Cust. Appls. 443, T.D. 42642 (1928). All merchandise, on export value basis, must be valued as defined in section 402 (b). The record in this case substantially establishes that the relationship of the parties to the purchase was determined by factual circumstances, as appears from the following quotation from the trial judge’s decision:
Curtiss-Wright became involved in this importation as it had been approached by American [Airlines] to produce this flight*336 simulator. American was referred to Redifon by Curtiss-Wright. American however was reluctant to deal directly with a foreign supplier and requested Curtiss-Wright to act as liaison. An agreement, plaintiff’s exhibit 2, between Curtiss-Wright and Redifon was entered into for the purpose of defining responsibilities. The agreement made Curtiss-Wright responsible to American for the importation of the simulator and the recipient of payments which in turn were paid to Redifon after deducting import duties, a royalty of 7i/2 percent, where applicable, and a markup not exceeding 10 percent of Redifon’s unpacked ex-works price.
A change order such as exhibit 3 which was the 35th change request is a method enabling the purchaser to modify the simulator to bring it up to date or for other reasons. Curtiss-Wright did not participate in the price negotiations relative to change orders although it was advised of them in order to keep it fully knowledgeable of the changes. No engineers or technical advisers were sent to Redifon by Curtiss-Wright during the construction of the simulator.
Mr. Balbach testified on cross-examination that the difference in price paid by American to 'Curtiss-Wright and the amount submitted to Redifon represented approximately $70,000 paid in import duties and approximately 17 percent for overhead and. general administrative expenses incurred by Curtiss-Wright, approximately $16,000 profit and a 7% percent royalty. The royalty is known as the Dehmel royalty which Curtiss-Wright pays on all simulators sold 'by it even though not manufactured by it. This is based on an agreement with Mr. Dehmel who was the inventor of certain electrical systems used by Curtiss-Wright in the manufacture of its own simulators. [There is no evidence in the record in this case, however, that the Dehmel invention was indispensable to or used in any manner by Redifon in the manufacture of the imported flight simulator.]
‡ $ $ $ $ $ ‡
* * * [Plaintiff’s exhibit 5, an affidavit of Eric William Warren, a director of Redifon since 1957] states that Curtiss-Wright [while denominated as seller in the agreement of June 1, 1961] had no part [whatsoever] in the design and construction of the involved simulator. The function of Curtiss-Wright was to handle details of importation into the United States, delivery to American and billing of American and payment of Redifon as well, as general administrative liaison between American and Redifon. The affiant further stated that American insisted upon having Curtiss-Wright as a party to the contract as one it could hold accountable for contract performance. Such service, it was understood, would entitle Curtiss-Wright to a fee over and above the agreed price, unpacked ex-works from Redifon. [64 Oust. Ct., pages 683-684,685.]
Upon the facts above stated, it is reasonable to infer, United States v. Hub Floral Manufacturing Co., 57 CCPA 134, 139, C.A.D. 993
To sum up, the disputed 10 percent in the case is not such a charge as, “in the ordinary course of trade”, constitutes a part of the export price of the flight simulator in question. The charge was occasioned by the unusual and extraordinary requirements of the purchaser. If American Airlines had been content to buy the flight simulator directly from Redifon, Ltd., it is established that in the ordinary course of trade for export such additional charge would not have been made (end of paraphrase).
The appraisement substantiates the ex-works or ex-factory price. The following cases support and point up that the trial judge correctly held that the 10 percent which Curtiss-Wright retained in remitting to Redifon, Ltd., the amounts paid by American Airlines under the principal agreement, is not part of dutiable export value:
United States v. Case & Co., Inc.,
13 Ct. Cust. Appls. 122, T.D. 40958 (1925) ;
American Express Co. v. United States,
14 Ct. Cust. Appls. 53, T.D. 41553 (1926);
United States v. Enrique Vidal Sanchez,
15 Ct. Cust. Appls. 443, T.H. 42642 (1928);
United States v. Alfred Kohlberg, Inc.,
27 CCPA 223, C.A.D. 88 (1940) ;
United States v. Tapetes Luxor S.A., et al.,
54 CCPA 116, C.A.D. 921 (1967);
Rohner Gehrig & Co., Inc. v. United States.
3 Cust. Ct. 547, R.D. 4629 (1939), affirmed on review, United States v. Bohner Gehrig & Co., Inc., 4 Cust. Ct. 864, R.D. 4923 (1940); Bohner Gehrig & Co., Inc. v. United States, 7 Cust. Ct.*338 551, E.D. 5467 (1941), affirmed on review, United States v. Bohner Gehrig & Co., Inc., 9 Cust. Ct. 591, E.D. 5724 (1942);
William Krocker v. United States, 25 Oust. Ct. 351,E.D. 7847 (1950);
Kobe Import Co. v. United States, 28 Cust. Ct. 586, E.D. 8102 (1952) ;
United States v. International Commerical Co., Inc., et al., 28 Cust. Ct. 629, R.D. 8112 (1952) ;
Brauner & Co.v. United States, 44 Cust Ct. 661, E.D. 9673 (1960);
The Merthyr Company, Inc. v. United States, 47 Cast. Ct. 550, R.D. 10125 (1961) ;
United States v. Henry A. Wess, Inc., 48 Cust. Ct. 700, A.R.D. 142 (1962).
Tbe findings and conclusions of tbe trial judge are, accordingly, incorporated herein, and tbe decision below is affirmed.
Judgment will so enter.
Section 402(b) of the Tariff Act of 1030, as amended by the Customs Simplification Act of 1956, 91 Treas. Dec. 295, T.D. 54165, defines export value as follows:
(b) Export Value. — Dor the purposes of this section, the export value of imported merchandise shall be the price, at the time of exportation to the United States of the merchandise undergoing appraisement, at which such or similar merchandise is freely sold or, in the absence of sales, offered for sale in the principal markets of the country of exportation, in the usual wholesale quantities and in the ordinary course of trade, for exportation to the United States, plus, when not included in such price, the cost of all containers and coverings of whatever nature and all other expenses incidental to placing the merchandise in condition, packed ready for shipment to the United States.
The trial judge found it unnecessary to consider an alternative claim, asserted by both parties herein, for appraisement on constructed value basis, section 402(d), as amended.
Appellant concedes that If appellee showed, “through the introduction of substantial evidence, that he had the option of not incurring the disputed cost or expense, whether it accrued prior to or after the time the merchandise was packed, ready for shipment to the United States, then he has proved that that disputed sum is not a part of the export value of the merchandise.”
Barr Shipping Company, Ine., a customhouse broker, filed this appeal for reappraisement on behalf of its principal Curtiss-Wright Corporation, importer of record, on Customs Form 4305 which it signed, as follows :
Notify : “Barr Shipping Company, Inc.
Curtiss Wright Corp. [signed] Peter Hachman
Electronics Div. (Consignee or Agent)
35 Market Street 52 Broadway, New York, New York
East Paterson, New Jersey” (Address)
The dissent would sua sponte dismiss the appeal to reappraisement raising issue for the first time as to the authority of the broker to act as agent for importer in appealing to reappraisement, neither side having argued or briefed the question. No case has been cited holding that a showing of authority to act as agent is a condition precedent to filing an appeal to reappraisement. Contrary to the dissent, see L. & JW. Stvm v. United, States, 34 Treas. Dee. 474, T.D. 37658 (1918) :
“Where an agent or attorney in fact employed by an importing firm to do its general customhouse work calls for re-reappraisement in the name of his principals, and there is failure to prove that such agent or attorney exceeded his authority, held that such agent or attorney in calling for such reappraisements acted within the scope of his authority, and motions to dismiss such appeals as being unauthorized must be denied.”
“* * * y¡fe may take judicial notice of the fact that in a majority of the cases which reach this court it is the practice for both protests and appeals to reappraisement to be prosecuted in the names of the customs brokers. * * *” [United States v. O. J. Tower cG Sons, 24 CCPA 456, 459, T.D. 48912 (1937).]
The court of appeals has also recognized that statutes giving the right of appeal are liberally construed. Wilmington Shipping Company v. United States, 52 CCPA 76, 79, C.A.D. 861 (1965), Lewis’ Sutherland Statutory Construction, Section 7It. In fact the court of appeals has indicated that not only could the consignee, as the one liable for payment of duties appeal for reappraisement, but that the consignee could appoint an agent to appeal for reappraisement, if there was action informing the Government of the agency. Wilmington Shipping Company v. United States, supra, at page 80; Hersey of Canada, Ltd. v. United States, 56 CCPAl 64, 66, C.A.D. 955 (11969).
Concurrence Opinion
CON GUERIN G OPINION
I concur with Judge Landis’ opinion but think it desirable to add a few comments with respect to tbe jurisdictional
* * * The tariff act provides that entry may be made “by an agent authorized by Mm [the consignee] in writing under such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe” (section 484) and that an appeal for reappraisement may be filed by the consignee or his agent (section 501). The statute does not provide that a consignee who has made entry itself is precluded from appointing an agent to fie an appeal for reappraisement on its behalf, nor does it provide that the agent must be authorized in writing, and no date is specif ed in the statute by which time the agent must be appointed. It is obvious, of course, that liability for increased duties remains with the consignee regardless of when or if an agent is appointed to file papers. Any notices would properly be sent to the consignee by customs officials, unless and until notified that an agent had been appointed. There seems to be no compelling reason to hold that am, agent may not be appointed at any particular stage of the proceedings provided that rights of third parties are not prejudiced. [Emphasis added.]
BASF was affirmed on appeal — 56 CCPA 47, C.A.D. 952, 420 F. 2d 763 (1969) — on other grounds. However, the court referred to the jurisdictional question in footnote 1, as follows (56 CCPA at 50) :
1
Prior to deciding the merits of the case, the trial judge ruled on three questions raised by the appellee affecting the jurisdiction of the court. The judge treated appellee’s contentions that the court was without jurisdiction as motions to dismiss and overruled them. On review, the Appellate Term held that the trial court was correct as to the jurisdictional question. The appellee has not raised those questions in this appeal. We are satisfied that we have jurisdiction to determine the merits of the case. [Emphasis added.]
In short, it is clear that the agency relationship under section 501(a) need not be “retrospective” to the time of entry, nor does that section require that the agent be the same person who entered the merchandise under section 484. This is to say that an agent for the purposes of
Underscoring what has been said are the regulations of the Bureau of Customs, which, of course, are entitled to great weight in the interpretation of the tariff laws. Power Reactor Development Co. v. International Union of Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers, AFL-CIO, et al., 367 U.S. 396 (1961); Securities & Exchange Commission v. Chenery Corporation et al., 332 U.S. 194 (1947) ; National Labor Relations Board v. Hearst Publications, Inc., et al., 322 U.S. 111 (1944); United States et al. v. American Trucking Associations, Inc. et al., 310 U.S. 534 (1940); Deutsch v. U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, 401 F.2d 404 (CA D.C. 1968) : Tobin v. Flour Mills of America, Inc., 185 F.2d 596 (CA8 1950) ; Brooks Transportation Co., Inc., et al. v. United States, 93 F.Supp. 517 (E.D. Va. 1950), aff'd 340 U.S. 925 (1951) ; John Rothschild & Co. et al. v. United States, 16 Ct. Cust. Appls. 442, 448, T.D. 43190 (1929). Against this background, it is to be noted that under section 8.19 of the Customs Regulations (1962) ,
This brings us to the question whether an agency relationship existed between the consignee — Curtiss-Wright—-and the customhouse broker who filed the appeal. As Judge Landis’ opinion makes clear, it is obvious from the official papers — which were received in evidence without objection — that Barr Shipping represented that it was filing the appeal for reappraisement as agent for Curtiss-Wright, the importer of record. Significantly, at no time at any stage in the proceedings in this case has the government challenged or even questioned this stated agency relationship. In short, considering that the existence of an agency relationship is undisputed, I cannot agree that
Nor do I think that Wilmington Shipping Company v. United States, 52 CCPA 76, C.A.D. 861 (1965) — on which the dissent places major reliance — is in point. In Wilmington Shipping, a consignee of certain plywood filed appeals for reappraisement which were con-cededly untimely. However, it contended that though it was the consignee of the merchandise and solely responsible to the government for payment of duties, certain letters to the collector from the English seller of the merchandise — which were dated within 30 days after the notice of appraisement — should be accepted as written appeals for reappraisement and that this English seller was the agent of the consignee in writing the letters in question. The appeals court affirmed the dismissal of the appeals for reappraisement on the basis that the foreign seller was not a “consignee or agent” within the meaning of section 501 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, and thus was not a party permitted by law to file an appeal for reappraisement. The court also noted that the name of the English seller did not appear on any of the entry papers, and that from the context of the documents themselves, it appeared that the seller was acting entirely on its own.
Section 8.19(a) provides in part that “[a] power of attorney may be executed for the transaction of a specified part or for all the customs business of the principal * * *.”
The court also held, that the English seller’s letters were insufficient as notices of appeals for reappraisement.
Dissenting Opinion
DISSENTING OPINION
I dissent from the majority opinions. Were we to have properly before us the merits of the instant case, I would sustain the appraised value. The 10 percent addition in dispute merely reflects an amount withheld from the purchase price of the simulator by a co-seller (Curtiss-Wright) charged with the responsibility of collecting the purchase price from the purchaser (American Airlines) and, after deducting certain sums, remitting the balance to the other seller (Eedifon). In the words of the appraising official, this item was the co-seller’s “share of the proceeds.” (E.35)
Under the written agreement between Eedifon and Curtiss-Wright on the one side and American on the other received in evidence as plaintiff’s exhibit 1, Curtiss-Wright is designated as a seller. This posture is reaffirmed in the subsequent unilateral written agreement executed by the sellers designated in the earlier agreement, received in evidence as plaintiff’s exhibit 2, under which unilateral agreement remittances were to be made by one seller (Curtiss-Wright) to the other (Eedifon). We are not privileged to vary the terms of the earlier written contract by parol evidence to show that the parties thereto acted in a manner contrary to the terms of their written agreement, if that be the purpose of appellee’s proofs at the trial; and, therefore, I would agree with the objections on this score noted by counsel for the defendant at the trial (E.32), and again in his brief submitted after trial (defendant’s brief, pages 29-30), and preserved for review on this application.
And apart from the contract itself and the parol evidence rule, the record shows that Curtiss-Wright’s participation in this transaction as a “seller” was indispensable to the acquisition of the subject flight simulator by American Airlines even if Curtiss-Wright had nothing to do with its manufacture. For it was only through Curtiss-Wright that the Dehmel invention on certain of the flight simulator’s electronic systems was obtained — Curtis-Wright apparently having the
However, we do not reach the merits of this case. Appellee has no standing to prosecute the instant reappraisement appeal. The official papers received in evidence disclose that Curtiss-Wright is the importer of record, made the entry, received the notice of increase in duties, the notice of appraisement, and hence, is the consignee. The designation “Consignee or Agent” appearing under the signature line on customs appeal for reappraisement form 4305 to which Judge Landis’ opinion calls attention, when considered from the standpoint of “agency,” is a kind of self-serving declaration of an alleged agent which our appeals court condemned in Wilmington Shipping Company v. United States, 52 CCPA 76, 80, C.A.D. 861 (1965). And no evidence was presented or case made at the trial to establish appellee-broker’s authority to prosecute the instant appeal as “agent” of the consignee within the meaning of 19 U.S.C.A., section 1501(a) (section 501(a), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended). See Wilmington Shipping Company v. United States, supra, page 80. Nor could such a case be made here in view of the fact that the appellee did not enter the merchandise either in the capacity of the consignee’s “agent” in accordance with 19 U.S.C.A., section 1484(a) (section 484(a), Tariff Act of 1930, as amended by the Customs Simplification Act of 1953), or in any other capacity.
Tn the official papers before the court the name of Barr Shipping Company, Inc. appears on the printed entry form which was made and filed in the name of the consignee Curtiss-Wright. And in one other paper included among the official papers, namely, the consignee’s agreement not to contest appraisement because examination of the merchandise is made elsewhere than at the appraiser’s stores, Barr Shipping Company, Inc. executed this document as signatory for the consignee Curtiss-Wright. No other reference to Barr Shipping Company, Inc. appears of record in the official papers. Thus, the documentation of record itself supports only Barr Shipping Company’s role as customs broker, and nothing more — a role significantly different from the statutory role of consignee’s “agent” within the meaning of section 1501(a).
Part of tbe history of the construction of tbe term consignee’’s agent as it is used in section 1501(a) derives from the decision of our appeals court in United States v. C. J. Tower & Sons, 24 CCPA 456, T.D. 48912 (1937). In that case tbe broker made five entries in its own name and a]so prosecuted tbe ensuing reappraisement appeals predicated upon these entries in its own name. But in two of these cases there was nothing in tbe entry papers to identify tbe broker as tbe “consignee” as was tbe case with tbe other three. And tbe question before tbe court in these two cases was whether .the broker bad standing to prosecute tbe reappraisement appeals. In holding that tbe broker had such standing, our appeals court observed (p. 459) :
. . . Tbe statute, section 501, Tariff Act of 1922, expressly provides for the filing of appeals “by tbe consignee, or bis agent,” and nowhere refers to tbe “real party in interest.” As to tbe other two cases, the invoices do not show the consignees, but, as has been stated, tbe entries were made by ap-pellees whose agency for that purpose we must presume was accepted by the collector. . . . [Emphasis added.]
And of the five cases tbe court went on to state (p. 459-460) :
... In tbe instant case appellees in entering the merchandise became liable to the Government, and doubtless would be liable upon their bond for any additional duties found to be due, whatever their ultimate rights for reimbursement, or payment, by those for whom they made the entries might be. It is unreasonable to suppose that the collector would look to or depend primarily upon the foreign shipper of the merchandise for such payment, under the facts here appearing.
Upon the record as recited, we think the right of appellees to take the appeals in all the cases sufficiently appears. . . . [Emphasis added.]
The pertinent language of section 501 of the 1922 Act being construed by our appeals court in C.J. Tower read:
. . . The decision of the appraiser shall be final and conclusive upon all parties unless a written appeal for a reappraisement is*345 filed ... by the consignee, or his agent, with the collector within ten days after the date of personal delivery, or if mailed the date of mailing of written notice of appraisement to the consignee, his agent, or his attorney. No such appeal filed by the consignee, or his agent, shall be deemed valid, unless he has complied with all the provisions of this Act relating to the entry and appraisement of such merchandise. . . . [Emphasis added.]
Thus, our appeals court in G. J. Tower was clearly of the opinion that the agency contemplated by section 501 was an agency arising from a pre-entry appointment of which the collector was mindful, and, further, that the court considered the common characteristic existing between consignee and consignee’s agent to consist of their mutual liability to the Government for payment of duties accruing on “entered” merchandise.
The term “agent” as used in section 1501(a) is not used in that statute in any casual or ordinary sense of the word. The term “agent” appears four times in section 1501(a) in a context which is retrospective to the entry transaction itself [a feature which distinguishes reappraisement proceedings under section 1501(a) from protest proceedings under section 1514 dealt with in Rico Products Co. et al. v. United States, 46 Cust. Ct. 73, C.D. 2236, 191 F. Supp. 954 (1961), cited in one of the majority opinions herein]. The first sentence of section 1501(a) requires that the collector be aware of the identity of the consignee’s agent prior to giving notice of appraisement. It is also clear from that sentence that the agent can compel the collector to give him notice of appraisement in appropriate cases if he requests such notice prior to appraisement of the merchandise. Thus, both of these circumstances involving usage of the term “agent” in section 1501(a) preclude any notion of “agency” under a post-entry appointment. And usage of the term “agent” in the second sentence of section 1501 (a) is merely corollary to its usage in the first sentence of that statute. Moreover, it should be here noted that the exclusion of a post-entry “agency” from the purview of section 1501(a) was even more strongly emphasized in the language of that statute as it was enacted and in effect prior to the 1953 Customs Simplification Act wherein section 1501(a) contained a clause which read:
No such appeal filed by the consignee or his agent shall be deemed valid, unless he has complied with all the provisions of this chapter relating to the entry and appraisement of such merchandise.
See in this connection the case of Florea & Co., Inc. v. United States, 11 Cust. Ct. 377, R.D. 5907 (1943) ; app. for rev. dismissed in 26 Cust. Ct. 665, R.D. 7994 (1951), involving the dismissal of a reap-
Thus, the present text of section 1501(a) as well as its history clearly affirms that the term “agent” as used in section 1501(a) means the person who makes entry of imported merchandise on behalf of the consignee in accordance with the requirements of section 1484(a), and further, that the judicial remedy of an appeal for reappraisement provided for in that statute exists solely as an accommodation to such person. See Levi Sondheimer & Co. v. United States, 32 Treas. Dec. 316, 323, T.D. 37077 (1917). Therefore, granted that statutes giving a right of appeal are at times liberally construed by the courts, such a doctrine would, nevertheless, be misapplied in a case such as this at bar where its application is contrary to the clear Congressional intent.
Nor can I be dissuaded from dissenting in this case [notwithstanding admonitions by the majority] by the fact that the parties, particularly the Government, have not seen fit to raise the jurisdictional issue which the instant facts present and to which my views are directed. In my opinion there is no requirement that, in matters pertaining to jurisdiction, a court’s pronouncements on the subject must await a signal from the parties. A court’s concern as to its jurisdiction over issues tendered it by parties for solution is omnipresent, and the existence of such concern as to its jurisdiction in a case can never be made to depend upon the parties’ diligence or lack of it in pressing the point. As our appeals court pointed out in United States v. Klytia Corporation, 29 CCPA 109, 113, C.A.D. 178 (1941), it is the court’s duty to raise jurisdictional questions sua sponte and act upon them even if such questions are not referred to by the court below or by counsel for the parties. And neither of the majority views herein suggests that the question of appellee’s authority to prosecute the involved reappraisement appeals as “agent” of the consignee is not of jurisdictional stature. The position of the majority would expand the judicial remedy of an appeal for reappraisement beyond its intended scope.
But even if BASF affirms the majority view in this case on the law, it most certainly disaffirms the majority view here on the facts. In BA.SF the appellate term explicitly called attention to the fact that the trial court had received evidence establishing the post-entry agency. The appellate term noted (59 Cust. Ct. at p. 836):
At the trial, Robert Chavkin, testified that he was the assistant vice president of Biddle Sawyer Corp. He stated:
Q. Did you authorize BASF Colors & Chemicals, Inc. to file the appeals to reappraisement which are before the Court this afternoon? — A. I did.
MR. Blauvelt : Your witness.
Mr. Srector : No questions.
In the decision below, Judge Wilson held tbat the appeals for reappraisement were sufficient to confer jurisdiction upon the court. He noted that the testimony that Biddle Sawyer authorized BASF Colors & Chemicals, Inc., to file appeals was uncontroverted. ...
And, among other things, the appellate term concluded (p. 839) :
In the instant case, it is clear that Biddle Sawyer is the consignee within the meaning of the Tariff Act of 1930 (sections 483-485; 501 . . .).
No evidence of the post-entry agency was presented in this case. The majority would simply exempt the “agent” from establishing his authority — a posture for which BASF clearly offers no support, and in which respect it accords with Wilmington Shipping Company.
The concurring opinion indicates a view that “the present situation is virtually on all fours with that which obtained in Rico Products Co. et al. v. United States ... ”, supra. Such a view overlooks the differences in philosophies in protest and reappraisement statutes and cases decided under those statutes prior to 1965.
An appeal to reappraisement can only be made by those connected with the entry transaction — the collector or district director, as the case may be, or the consignee or his agent, and “. . . the [statutory] language used respecting reappraisements of merchandise limits the importers’ right of appeal to those cases only in which they have complied with the requirements of the law with respect to entry and appraisement of merchandise.” Levi Sondheimer & Co. v. United States, supra, at page 323.
Though the door to the Customs Court in a protest action is closed to a collector, it is otherwise open to a broader group of people who need not be connected to the entry transaction — “the importer, consignee, or agent of the person paying such charge or exactions, or filing such claim for drawback, or seeking such entry or delivery.”
What the judge was saying in the Rico Products Co. case is that an administrative agency (the Customs Bureau) cannot make a regulation (section 17.2), providing that “... no protest signed by an agent or attorney shall be granted or denied by the collector unless there has been filed or is filed with the protest in the collector’s office a power of attorney . . . authorizing such agent or attorney to make, sign, and file the protest.” — a procedure “to govern the action of the collector in his treatment of protests filed with him insofar as the statute empowers him to consider the same. . . .”; refuse to make a determination under the regulation and transmit the protest to the Customs Court “with a request to the Assistant Attorney General to move the United States Customs Court to dismiss the purported pro
To quote further from the judge in the Rico Products Co. case, at page 79, section 17.2 of the Customs Regulations amounts to “nothing more than a prescription of the kind of proof of agency which shall be required by collectors for the purposes of their actions upon protests, and instructions to guide collectors should such proof bo lacking. They do not appear to be mandatory in the sense of imposing a requirement not made by the statute with respect to the filing of protests, and, indeed, if that were their purport, it is highly questionable whether they would be lawful.”
Also, the judge in his remarks was addressing himself to a distinction between an attorney in fact and an attorney at law and followed established precedents which provide that when an attorney of a court of record appears in a case, he is recognized as having authority to appear in the absence of any challenge to his authority. The person being discussed was an attorney at law. In support of his decision the judge quoted from Yee Chong Lung & Co. et al. v. United States, 11 Ct. Cus't. Appls. 382, T.D. 39191, as follows:
“But aside from this, it has long been and now is the law of the United States that the appearance of an attorney in court for a party is evidence of his authority, or, as stated in Hill v. Mendenhal (88 U.S. 453) :
“When an attorney of a court of record appears in an action for one of the parties, his authority, in the absence of any proof to the contrary, will be presumed. A record which shows such an appearance will bind the parties until it is proven that the attorney acted without authority.”
For these reasons, the judgment of the trial court should be reversed and the reappraisement appeal herein dismissed, on jurisdictional grounds, since appellee failed to establish in the trial court that appel-lee was the consignee’s “agent” within the meaning of section 1501(a).
