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Prescott v. State Tax Assessor
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MAINE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT					Reporter of Decisions
Decision:1998 ME 250
Docket:Ken-98-147
Argued:	October 5, 1998
Decided:November 25, 1998


Panel:WATHEN, C.J., and CLIFFORD, RUDMAN, DANA, SAUFLEY, and CALKINS, JJ.

A. NEAL PRESCOTT

v.

STATE TAX ASSESSOR{1}

WATHEN, C.J.


	[¶1]  A. Neal Prescott appeals from a summary judgment entered in
the Superior Court (Kennebec County, Alexander, J.) in favor of the State
Tax Assessor ("Assessor") assessing employment withholding taxes.  The
taxes were originally incurred by ACT II, Inc., ("the Company") but were
transferred to Prescott, the chief executive officer of the corporation. 
Prescott argues on appeal that he generated a genuine issue of material fact
whether he is a responsible party pursuant to 36 M.R.S.A. § 177 (Supp.
1997), thus precluding summary judgment.  He also argues that the Assessor
should be barred from this collection effort because he failed to pursue an
opportunity to collect the assessment from the Company.  Finally, Prescott
argues that the court erred in refusing to grant his discovery request. 
Finding no error, we affirm the judgment.
	[¶2]  The relevant facts may be briefly summarized as follows:  ACT II,
Inc., a Maine corporation, was organized in 1991. The Company failed to file
withholding returns or pay State of Maine withholding taxes for the months
of August, September and October, 1993. The Company also underreported
and underpaid its March 1993 and November 1993 State of Maine
withholding taxes.  In December, 1993, the Company filed a petition in
bankruptcy.
	[¶3]  On January 17, 1995, the Assessor issued, pursuant to 36
M.R.S.A. § 177(1), an assessment against Prescott, the Company's chief
executive officer (CEO) during the period in question.  The assessment
transferred to Prescott the taxes, interest, and penalties owed by the
Company with respect to the 1993 withholding taxes.  After Prescott's
request for reconsideration was denied, he filed in Superior Court an appeal
against the State Tax Assessor pursuant to M.R.Civ. P. 80C.  After discovery,
the Assessor filed a motion for summary judgment and Prescott filed a
memorandum in opposition.  Prescott subsequently filed a motion for
summary judgment, and the Assessor filed a response.  After hearing, the
court entered an order denying Prescott's motion for summary judgment
and granting the Assessor's motion for summary judgment.  Prescott now
appeals.

I. Standard of Review

A. Summary Judgment Principles

	[¶4] "We review the entry of summary judgment for errors of law,
viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the party against whom
the judgment was entered."  Rodrigue v. Rodrigue, 1997 ME 99, ¶ 8, 694
A.2d 924, 926 (citation omitted). Summary judgment will be upheld if the
evidence produced demonstrates that there is no genuine issue as to any
material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of
law. Id.  "To survive a defendant's motion for summary judgment, a plaintiff
must produce evidence that, if produced at trial, would be sufficient to resist
a motion for a judgment as a matter of law." Id. (citation omitted).
	[¶5]  An issue is "genuine" if "there is 'sufficient evidence supporting
the claimed factual dispute' to require a choice between 'the parties'
differing versions of the truth at trial.'" Garside v. Osco Drug, Inc., 895 F.2d
46, 48 (1st Cir. 1990). "A fact is material when it has the potential to affect
the outcome of the suit."  Vinick v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 110
F.3d 168, 171 (1st Cir. 1997). When the court rules on a motion for
summary judgment, "'[it] is to consider only the portions of the record
referred to, and the material facts set forth, in the Rule 7(d) statements.'"
Handy Boat Serv., Inc. v. Professional Servs., Inc., 1998 ME 134, ¶ 16, 711
A.2d 1306, 1310 (quoting Gerrity Co. v. Lake Arrowhead Corp., 609 A.2d
293, 295 (Me. 1992)).
	[¶6]  The Assessor argues that Prescott's "statement of the material
facts as to which there exists a genuine issue to be tried" should not be
considered because it was not responsive to the Assessor's statement of
material facts and thus was not in compliance with M.R. Civ. P. 7(d)(2).{2} 
Accordingly, it argues, that the material facts recited in the Assessor's
statement of material facts should be deemed to be admitted.  Prescott
argues that the reason his statement of facts did not respond by paragraph
number to the Assessor's was because the Assessor did not include all the
relevant facts in its statement and the primary purpose of his statement was
to include those facts that Prescott argues were also material to the court's
determination of whether he is a responsible person.  Although Prescott's
statement appropriately included additional facts, his failure to controvert
specific paragraphs in the Assessor's statement of material facts constituted
noncompliance with M.R. Civ. P. 7(d)(2) and thus all of the Assessor's facts
are deemed admitted. We will, however, consider Prescott's statement for
any additional facts that may be material.{3}  

B. Responsible Person Principles

	[¶7]  Prescott argues that he has generated a genuine issue of material
fact whether he is a "responsible party" pursuant to 36 M.R.S.A. § 177 (Supp.
1997).  The statute provides in relevant part as follows:

	1.  Generally.  . . .  all taxes collected by a person pursuant
to chapter 827 [withholding of tax] constitute a special fund in
trust for the State Tax Assessor.  The liability for the taxes or
fees and the interest or penalty on taxes or fees is enforceable by
assessment and collection, in the manner prescribed in this
Part, against the person and against any officer, director,
member, agent or employee of that person who, in that capacity,
is responsible for the control or management of the funds or
finances of that person or is responsible for the payment of that
person's taxes.{4}

36 M.R.S.A. § 177(1) (Supp. 1997) (footnotes omitted).  Although the issue
of whether an individual is a responsible person is a question of fact, "certain
facts will almost invariably prove dispositive of a finding of responsibility" as
a matter of law.  Barnett v. Internal Revenue Serv, 988 F.2d 1449, 1454 (5th
Cir. 1993).

II. Analysis

A. Principles for determining who is a responsible party

	[¶8]  We have not previously interpreted the language of section 177
to determine who is a "responsible person."  We are guided, however, by
federal court decisions involving a similar provision in the Internal Revenue
Code{5} and we adopt the following principles used by the federal courts in
determining who is a "responsible person." 
	[¶9]  First, once it is determined that there is a proper assessment, it
is the assessed person's burden to show he is not a "responsible person." 
Vinick v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 110 F.3d 168, 171 (1st Cir.
1997) (citations omitted).
	[¶10]  Second, we give the term "responsible" a broad interpretation.
Id. at 172. The determination of responsibility "'is a matter of status, duty,
and authority,' aimed at the ultimate determination of 'whether the person
had the power to determine whether the taxes should be remitted or paid
or had the final word as to what bills should or should not be paid and
when.'" Id. 
	[¶11]  Third, responsibility is imposed on "all with the responsibility
and authority to avoid the default." Id.; see also Brounstein v. United States,
979 F.2d 952, 955 (3d Cir. 1992) ("[e]ach responsible person is jointly and
severally liable for the total amount of withholding not paid"); Muck v.
United States, 3 F.3d 1378, 1381 (10th Cir. 1993) (liability is not confined
to the person with greatest control).  	
	[¶12]  Fourth, responsibility is based "on the function of the employee
in the business, and not the level of the office held."  Vinick, 110 F.3d at
172 (citation omitted) (emphasis added); see also O'Connor v. United States,
956 F.2d 48, 51 (4th Cir. 1992) (liability is derived from substance and not
form). The statute "'is not meant to ensnare those who have merely
technical authority or titular designation,' but instead encompasses those
close enough to the business to prevent the default." Vinick, 110 F.3d at 172
(citation omitted). "The individual assessed either must have exercised his
authority over financial affairs or general management, or must have had a
duty to do so."  Id.
	[¶13]  Fifth, in the absence of "uncontroverted evidence establishing
an individual's 'precise responsibility' to pay withholding taxes, or of specific
acts of management or financial decision-making that would manifest the
level of control necessary for responsibility, various indicia may establish
responsibility under section 6672(a)."  Id. (citing Barnett v. Internal Revenue
Serv., 988 F.2d 1449, 1455 (5th Cir. 1993)). Those indicia include, but are
not limited to, "the holding of corporate office, the authority to disburse
corporate funds, stock ownership, and the ability to hire and fire
employees," id., as well as check signing authority and managing the day-to-
day operations of the business.  See  Barnett v. Internal Revenue Serv., 988
F.2d 1449, 1455 (5th Cir. 1993).  Also, co-signatory authority does not
necessarily relieve a person of responsibility.  See, e.g., Thomas v. United
States, 41 F.3d 1109, 1114 (7th Cir. 1994) (co-signer may have the ability to
prevent the company from paying other creditors by refusing to sign the
checks to creditors).
	[¶14]  Other relevant principles derived from federal decisions are as
follows:  One, a responsible person must have significant control over the
corporation's finances, but need not have exclusive control.  See Brounstein
v. United States, 979 F.2d 952, 954 (3d Cir. 1992).  Two, a superior's
instructions to an otherwise responsible person to not pay the taxes will not
take the person out of the category of responsible party.  See Greenberg v.
United States, 46 F.3d 239, 243-44 (3d Cir. 1994); see also Brounstein v.
United States, 979 F.2d 952, 955 (3d Cir. 1992). Three, delegating the
responsibility for financial matters does not relieve the person of liability. 
See Thomsen v. United States, 887 F.2d 12, 16 (1st Cir. 1989). Four, the
existence of authority in the general management and fiscal decisionmaking
of the company, regardless of whether the authority is actually exercised, is
determinative.  See  Muck v. United States, 3 F.3d 1378,1381 (10th Cir.
1993).
	[¶15]  Prescott's argument rests primarily on the principle that
liability is derived not from form or title but from substance or function. He
cites numerous cases based on this principle and argues that his situation is
analogous. 

B.  Application of principles to Prescott's situation

	[¶16]  The Assessor's statement of material facts established the
formalities of the corporate structure and Prescott's position.  Specifically,
the documentation established Prescott's official title and status as CEO; the
duties identified in the written employment contract, as hired "for the
purpose of operating and managing the Company's apparel manufacturing
business and facility . . . with such powers and duties as described in the job
description attached hereto or as may be fixed by the Board of Directors"
and to "perform such work as is customarily performed by a CEO subject to
the direction of the Board of Directors"; Prescott's status on the board of
directors as evidenced by the written minutes of the meeting identifying
Prescott as a member, present and voting; Prescott's check signing
authority and his signature on various payroll withholding checks; Prescott's
signature on memos and letters indicating that he instructed the
bookkeeper to pay some of the taxes and that he requested the chair of the
board to take over as Chief Financial Officer (CFO); and that he voted for the
bankruptcy. These facts alone are sufficient to establish that Prescott had
the requisite significant control over the finances to constitute a responsible
person.  Prescott agrees that these facts are undisputed, but he argues that
they amount of formalities, and that the issue is not whether he had a
boilerplate job description labeling him as CEO, but rather whether that
label imparted real and actual authority over financial decisions of  the
Company.  
	[¶17]  Prescott's statement of facts, however, does not relieve him of
liability as a responsible person.  Viewing the statement in the light most
favorable to him, it supports the following:  that he made clear in the hiring
process that he was not to be involved in the financial side of the company,
that he was a project specialist, that the duties that the board of directors 
asked him to perform were limited to the operations side of the company
and not overall management of the company; that, during his tenure, the
CFO and acting CFO were in fact responsible for the financial side of the
company, particularly, which creditors were to be paid and which were not,
and that he had no authority in this area; that it was the chair of the board,
who first became aware of the withholding tax delinquency and after that
point, although Prescott signed papers as CEO, he did so only at the
direction of the chair of the board. 
	[¶18]  Unlike the facts in the cases he relies on, Prescott was not an
outside director, consultant, passive investor, or family member with a title,
who received nominal or no pay or had little actual corporate authority. See,
e.g. Campbell v. Nixon, 207 F. Supp. 826 (E.D. Mich. 1962); Godfrey v.
United States, 748 F.2d 1568 (Fed. Cir. 1984); Geiger v. United States, 583
F. Supp. 1166 (D. Ariz. 1984); In re Brahm, 52 B.R. 606 (Bankr. M.D. Fla.
1985); Ghandour v. United States, 36 Fed. Cl. 53 (1996).  Rather, Prescott
was hired by the company at a salary of $80,000 per year with an
employment contract in which he accepted the responsibility for managing
the company, including the responsibility for complying with all state laws. 
Applying a broad interpretation of responsibility, it is immaterial whether
Prescott was taking directions from the chair of the board, see Brounstein v.
United States, 979 F.2d 952, 955 (3d Cir. 1992), or whether he was
delegating his financial duties to others and relying upon them for their
expertise, see Thomsen v. United States, 887 F.2d 12, 16 (1st Cir. 1989).  It
is significant that, although Prescott stated that he believed he could not
authorize the company's bookkeeper to pay the taxes without the CFO's
direction, he did in fact instruct her to pay some, but not all, of the taxes,
and she paid them, without knowing or questioning whether the CFO had
directed the payment.  Although Prescott may not have been the only
responsible person, we find as a matter of law that he was one of the
responsible persons.  See Vinick v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 110
F.3d 168, 172 (1st Cir. 1997).
	[¶19]  Prescott also argues that the Assessor should be barred from
collecting from him, because of a failure to pursue the opportunity to collect
from the bankruptcy estate of the Company.  The statute, however, permits
collection against the corporation and any responsible person. It states in
relevant part that: "The liability . . . is enforceable by assessment and
collection, . . . against the person and any officer, director, member, agent
or employee of that person."  36 M.R.S.A. § 177(1) (Supp. 1997) (emphasis
added).  Further, 36 M.R.S.A. § 188 (1990) provides in relevant part that: 
"Each remedy provided in this Title [36] is not exclusive and is in addition
to all other remedies prescribed in this Title for the enforcement and
collection of any tax imposed by this Title."  36 M.R.S.A. § 188 (1990). 
Thus, the statute allows separate collection attempts against the corporation
and any responsible person or persons.  For this reason, the court did not
err in refusing to bar the Assessor's right to pursue Prescott.  For the same
reason, the court did not err in refusing full disclosure of the documents
requested by Prescott from the Assessor relating to other parties that the
Assessor was pursuing as responsible parties.  Whether the Assessor is
pursuing any other persons is irrelevant to a determination of Prescott's
liability as a responsible person.  
	The entry is:
					Judgment affirmed.
Attorney for plaintiff:

Robert W. Bower, Esq., (orally)
Paul F. Driscoll, Esq.
Norman, Hanson & DeTroy
P O Box 4600
Portland, ME 04112-4600

Attorneys for defendant:

Andrew Ketterer, Attorney General
Thomas A. Knowlton, Asst. Atty. Gen., (orally)
6 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0006