NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
_____________
No. 12-2034
_____________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
DAVID A. TYLER, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS CO-EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATES
OF DAVID J. TYLER AND PAULA I. TYLER; LOUIS J. RUCH, INDIVIDUALLY
AND AS CO-EXECTOR OF THE ESTATES OF DAVID J. TYLER AND
PAULA I. TYLER,
Appellants
_______________
On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
(D.C. No. 10-cv-1239)
District Judge: Hon. Michael M. Baylson
_______________
Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
May 31, 2013
Before: JORDAN and VANASKIE, Circuit Judges, and
RAKOFF*, Senior District Judge.
(Filed: June 11, 2013)
_______________
_______________
* The Honorable Jed S. Rakoff, United States Senior District Judge for the United
States District Court for the Southern District of New York, sitting by designation.
1
OPINION OF THE COURT
_______________
JORDAN, Circuit Judge.
Appellants David A. Tyler and Louis J. Ruch appeal the summary judgment of the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania holding them liable
for their failure to satisfy a federal tax lien on certain property of an estate for which they
were co-executors. For the reasons that follow, we will affirm.
I. Background
A. Facts
In January 2002, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) notified David J. Tyler
(“Mr. Tyler”), the father of Appellant Tyler, that he owed the IRS $436,849 in income
tax for the years 1992 through 1998. Mr. Tyler failed to pay the assessments. At the
time, Mr. Tyler and his wife, Paula I. Tyler (“Mrs. Tyler”), Appellant Tyler‟s mother,
owned real property in Delaware County, Pennsylvania (the “Property), as tenants by the
entireties. The Property was the only asset of which the IRS was aware that could have
been used to satisfy Mr. Tyler‟s unpaid tax liabilities.
Over a year later, in August 2003, the Tylers executed an indenture transferring
the Property, which at the time was listed on a “realty transfer tax statement of value”
document as having a fair market value of $326,128, to Mrs. Tyler for the “total
consideration” of $1. (App. at 141.) The indenture was recorded in September 2003 as a
“tax exempt transfer from husband and wife to wife.” (App. at 139-40.)
2
In March 2004, the IRS filed a notice of federal tax lien on the Property. Mr.
Tyler passed away in August 2006 without satisfying his tax liabilities. Having
transferred the Property to his wife, Mr. Tyler died with no other distributable assets.
Less than a year later, in June 2007, Mrs. Tyler passed away, leaving a will that named
Appellants as co-executors of her estate and that further named Appellant Tyler as her
sole heir.
The IRS sent letters to Appellants in September 2007, asserting that a federal tax
lien securing Mr. Tyler‟s unpaid tax liabilities had attached to the Property before legal
title had been transferred to Mrs. Tyler, and stating that Appellants, as co-executors of the
estate, were obligated to satisfy the lien out of the assets of the estate. The IRS warned
that it would, if necessary, take legal action to collect on the tax liabilities. Shortly
thereafter, Ruch filed an administrative appeal with the IRS challenging the federal tax
lien, but was unsuccessful in obtaining a release. Despite the lien, Appellants conveyed
the Property to Appellant Tyler for $1 in November 2008. He then sold the Property for
$524,000, netting $313.206.1 He did not pay any of the proceeds to the government, but
instead invested all of it in the stock market, except for $10,000 that he paid to Ruch. He
claims now that the proceeds “pretty much got blown away in the market.” (App. at 158.)
1
That amount was listed on a settlement sheet at the time of the sale of the
Property as the amount of cash proceeds that was paid directly to Appellant Tyler. The
record does not indicate how that amount derived from the Property‟s sale price of
$524,000.
3
B. Procedural History
The government brought suit against Appellants in the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, seeking to set aside what it deemed “fraudulent
conveyances” of the Property and to satisfy its tax lien. (App. at 32-39.) In its complaint,
the government alleged that both transfers of the property, first to Mrs. Tyler and then
later to her son, were fraudulent, and that Appellants had breached their duty to pay the
government its priority share of the proceeds from the ultimate sale of the Property by
Appellant Tyler.
Appellants moved unsuccessfully to dismiss the complaint for lack of subject
matter jurisdiction and for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.
After discovery, they moved for summary judgment, raising three arguments. First, they
said that the District Court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over the government‟s
claims because the state probate court was already exercising jurisdiction over the estate.
Second, they claimed that, even if the lien had attached to the Property, Mr. Tyler‟s
“interest [in the Property] was extinguished” when he died, and Mrs. Tyler owned the
Property free of the lien as a result of it having been held as a tenancy by the entireties.
(App at 96.) Third, they argued that, as fiduciaries of Mrs. Tyler‟s estate, they could not
be held to have a fiduciary responsibility for Mr. Tyler‟s estate, because they were never
“appointed Executors of [his] Estate.” (App. at 93). The government then cross-moved
for summary judgment, arguing that Appellants were personally liable as fiduciaries
4
under the federal insolvency statute, 31 U.S.C. § 3713,2 and that they were also liable
under common law for conversion of property subject to a lien. The government sought
one-half of the proceeds of the ultimate sale of the Property by Appellant Tyler,
proportional to Mr. Tyler‟s share of the Property that was transferred to Mrs. Tyler at the
time of the indenture.
The District Court denied Appellants‟ motion for summary judgment and granted
the government‟s cross-motion. United States v. Tyler, No. 10-1239, 2012 WL 848239,
at *1 (E.D. Pa. Mar. 13, 2012). The Court rejected Appellants‟ jurisdictional argument,
explaining that “neither the Supreme Court nor the Third Circuit has ever determined that
there exists any uncodified probate exception to a federal court‟s jurisdiction over an
enforcement action under the Internal Revenue Code.” Id. at *3. With respect to the
merits of the case, the Court held that the August 2003 indenture severed the tenancy by
the entireties, and that the lien continued to encumber one-half of the Property even after
Mr. Tyler‟s death. Id. at *6-*9. The Court further held that, by disposing of the lien-
encumbered Property without providing the government with a one-half share of the
proceeds, Appellants violated the federal insolvency statute, 31 U.S.C. § 3713(b), for
which they became personally “liable as fiduciaries of the estate.” Id. at *10.
2
Section 3713 provides that “[a] claim of the United States Government shall be
paid first when … the estate of a deceased debtor, in the custody of the executor or
administrator, is not enough to pay all debts of the debtor.” 31 U.S.C. § 3713(a)(1)(B).
The statute also provides that “[a] representative of … an estate … paying any part of a
debt of the … estate before paying a claim of the Government is liable to the extent of the
payment for unpaid claims of the Government.” Id. § 3713(b).
5
The Court subsequently entered judgment against Appellants, holding them jointly
and severally liable in the amount of $156,603 – one-half of the $313,206 net proceeds
from the sale of the Property – together with interest accruing from the date of the sale of
the Property by Appellant Tyler. This appeal followed.
II. Discussion
A. Subject Matter Jurisdiction
Appellants first argue that the District Court lacked subject matter jurisdiction
because, they insist, the so-called “probate exception” precludes a federal court from
disposing of property that is in the custody of a state probate court. “We exercise de
novo review over questions of subject matter jurisdiction.” Great W. Mining & Mineral
Co. v. Fox Rothschild LLP, 615 F.3d 159, 163 (3d Cir. 2010). “[T]he party asserting a
federal court‟s jurisdiction bears the burden of proving that jurisdiction exists.” Nuveen
Mun. Trust ex rel. Nuveen High Yield Mun. Bond Fund v. WithumSmith Brown, P.C., 692
F.3d 283, 293 (3d Cir. 2012). “However, a district court is free to weigh the evidence
and satisfy itself as to the existence of its power to hear the case” because it “has an
independent obligation to determine whether subject matter jurisdiction exists, even if its
jurisdiction is not challenged.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). We are satisfied
that the District Court indeed had jurisdiction.
As an initial matter, federal district courts “have original jurisdiction of all civil
actions, suits or proceedings commenced by the United States, or by any agency or
officer thereof expressly authorized to sue by Act of Congress.” 28 U.S.C. § 1345. In
addition, district courts “shall have original jurisdiction of any civil action arising under
6
any Act of Congress providing for internal revenue … .” Id. § 1340. Courts have,
however, created an exception to federal subject matter jurisdiction in certain probate
matters. That “probate exception” is “narrow” and of “distinctly limited scope.”
Marshall v. Marshall, 547 U.S. 293, 305, 310 (2006). Its purpose is to enforce the
“general principle that, when one court is exercising in rem jurisdiction over a res, a
second court will not assume in rem jurisdiction over the same res.” Id. at 311. It thus
“reserves to state probate courts the probate or annulment of a will and the administration
of a decedent‟s estate,” and it “precludes federal courts from endeavoring to dispose of
property that is in the custody of a state probate court.” Id. at 311-12. Importantly,
however, the exception “does not bar federal courts from adjudicating matters outside
those confines and otherwise within federal jurisdiction.” Id. at 312. Thus, “unless a
federal court is endeavoring to (1) probate or annul a will, (2) administer a decedent‟s
estate, or (3) assume in rem jurisdiction over property that is in the custody of the probate
court, the probate exception does not apply.” Three Keys Ltd. v. SR Util. Holding Co.,
540 F.3d 220, 227 (3d Cir. 2008).
The District Court did none of those things. In fact, its judgment was not against
any res held by the state probate court; it was a judgment in personam against Appellants
for their failure to pay the government its share of the proceeds from the sale of the
Property. The District Court‟s judgment did not remove any property from the probate
court‟s control, and its exercise of jurisdiction therefore did not qualify for the probate
exception. See Waterman v. Canal-Louisiana Bank & Trust Co., 215 U.S. 33, 50 (1909)
(holding that, although federal courts may not interfere with property in the possession of
7
a probate court, they have “jurisdiction for the purpose of ascertaining the rights of the
complainant to recover as against the executor, and the interest of the persons before the
court”).
Thus, the District Court had jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331, and we have
jurisdiction to entertain this appeal under 28 U.S.C. § 1291.
B. Merits3
Beyond their jurisdictional claim, Appellants reassert, with some variation, the
substantive arguments raised in the District Court – that the federal tax lien was
extinguished either at the time of the August 2003 indenture or as a result of Mr. Tyler‟s
death, and that, as executors of Mrs. Tyler‟s estate, they could not be subjected to liability
under the federal insolvency statute, 31 U.S.C. § 3713(b), for their failure to satisfy a lien
that arose as a result of Mr. Tyler‟s tax delinquency. They also argue that the
government did not satisfy its burden of proof as to the amount of the net proceeds from
the ultimate sale of the Property by Appellant Tyler. We address those arguments in turn.
1. Extinguishment of the Federal Tax Lien on the Property
The federal tax lien statute, which is contained in the Internal Revenue Code
(“I.R.C.”), provides that, “[i]f any person liable to pay any tax neglects or refuses to pay
3
We “exercise plenary review over the District Court‟s grant of summary
judgment.” Belmont v. MB Inv. Partners, Inc., 708 F.3d 470, 483 & n.17 (3d Cir. 2013).
“Summary judgment is appropriate where the Court is satisfied „that there is no genuine
issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a
matter of law.‟” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 330 (1986) (quoting Fed. R. Civ.
P. 56(c) (1986) (amended 2007)). A genuine issue of material fact exists only if “the
evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.”
Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986).
8
the same after demand, the amount,” which includes “any interest, additional amount,
addition to tax, or assessable penalty, together with any costs that may accrue in addition
thereto …[,] shall be a lien in favor of the United States upon all property and rights to
property, whether real or personal, belonging to such person.” I.R.C. § 6321. The lien
attaches “at the time the assessment is made,” and remains until the taxpayer‟s liability
“is satisfied or becomes unenforceable by reason of lapse of time.” Id. § 6322.
Appellants concede that the IRS assessed Mr. Tyler in January 2002, and a federal tax
lien therefore attached to the Property at that time.
As a general matter, “[t]he transfer of property subsequent to the attachment of the
lien does not affect the lien, for it is of the very nature and essence of a lien, that no
matter into whose hands the property goes, it passes cum onere.” United States v. Avila,
88 F.3d 229, 233 (3d Cir. 1996) (quoting United States v. Bess, 357 U.S. 51, 57 (1958))
(internal quotation marks omitted). That principle applies to a tenancy by the entireties
as well. See United States v. Craft, 535 U.S. 274, 288 (2002) (holding that a “husband‟s
interest in the entireties property constitute[s] „property‟ or „rights to property‟ for the
purposes of the federal tax lien statute”). When a federal tax lien attaches to a property
held in a tenancy by the entireties, it attaches to the delinquent taxpayer‟s one-half
interest in the property. See Popky v. United States, 419 F.3d 242, 244-45 (3d Cir. 2005)
(“Valuing the interests of tenants by the entireties equally accords with the longstanding
Pennsylvania common law definition of tenancies by the entirety.”). If the property is
sold or transferred, the federal tax lien “will encumber a one-half interest in the hands of
the transferee.” IRS Notice 2003-60, 2003-2 C.B. 643, 2003 WL 22100950 (2003). If
9
duly notified of the lien before assuming control of the property, the transferee assumes
the tax liability, to the extent of the value of the lien, of the transferor. See Randall v. H.
Nakashima & Co., Ltd., 542 F.2d 270, 275 (5th Cir. 1976) (“[A federal tax] lien applies
to „property owned by the delinquent at any time during the life of the lien,‟ and it cannot
be displaced by subsequently acquired rights of third parties.” (quoting Glass City Bank
v. United States, 326 U.S. 265, 268 (1945)); see also In re Defense Servs., Inc., 104 B.R.
481, 485 (Bankr. S.D. Fla. 1989) (noting that transferee “expressly assumed [transferor‟s]
tax liability” because “assignment was made after the tax lien was perfected” and is
therefore “subject to the tax lien”).
There are two exceptions to that general rule that are relevant here. First, when a
delinquent-taxpayer spouse dies, a federal tax lien on property held in a tenancy by the
entireties by a husband and wife is extinguished, and “the surviving non-liable spouse
takes the property unencumbered by the federal tax lien.” IRS Notice 2003-60, 2003-2
C.B. 643, 2003 WL 22100950 (2003). Importantly, “[t]he rule that the federal tax lien
does not survive the death of the taxpayer does not apply if the entireties estate
previously has been terminated.” Id. “For example, if the property has been conveyed to
a third party, the federal tax lien will be deemed to encumber a one-half interest in the
hands of the transferee and will not be affected by the subsequent death of either spouse.”
Id. The second exception is that a “lien imposed by [I.R.C. §] 6321 shall not be valid as
against any purchaser … until notice thereof … has been filed … .” I.R.C. § 6323(a).
The statute defines a “purchaser” as “a person who, for adequate and full consideration in
money or money‟s worth, acquires an interest (other than a lien or security interest) in
10
property which is valid under local law against subsequent purchasers without actual
notice.” Id. § 6323(h)(6).
The District Court held that neither exception applies in this case. First, the Court
held that “the indenture … leave[s] no question that the [Tylers] intended to sever the
entireties estate” because it “explicitly transferred” the Property “from „David J. Tyler
and Paula I. Tyler, h/w,‟ as Grantors, to „Paula I. Tyler,‟ as the lone Grantee,” it specifies
that it was “a „tax exempt transfer from husband and wife to wife,‟” and both Tylers
signed it. Tyler, 2012 WL 848239, at *7. The District Court viewed that clear intention
to sever the tenancy by the entireties as controlling because, as we have held, “intention
is the cardinal and controlling element and if it is the intention of the parties to create an
estate other than by entireties, such intention will be given effect.” High v. Balun, 943
F.2d 323, 325 (3d Cir. 1991) (internal quotation marks omitted); cf. Stop 35, Inc. v.
Haines, 543 A.2d 1133, 1135 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1988) (“[A] tenancy by the entireties may
be severed by implied agreement of the parties.”).
Appellants complain that the District Court reached its holding in the face of
“conflicting material facts.” (Appellants‟ Opening Br. at 23.) Those facts, as they
describe them, are that “[t]he deed [of] execution was done for [the] convenience of the
family business due to [Mr.] Tyler‟s health issues” (he had had a debilitating stroke), and
that the Tylers “intended that the property still be held in the entireties.” (Id. at 24.)
They accordingly argue that the District Court “invaded the provi[nce] of the jury to
decide whether the facts proved” an intention to sever the tenancy by the entireties. (Id.)
11
But the only evidence Appellants offered in the District Court to support their
claim that the August 2003 indenture was not intended to sever the tenancy by the
entireties was the testimony of Appellant Tyler that he was not aware that the property
was put in his mother‟s name alone and that, after being shown the indenture, he believed
that the transfer was for the sake of convenience. Tyler, 2012 WL 848239, at *7. As the
District Court noted, “[n]ot only did [Appellant] Tyler lack knowledge of the conveyance
until he was shown the indenture, his testimony is irrelevant in the absence of any
contention that the conveyance was fraudulent, accidental or done by mistake.” Id.
Because Appellants have not cited any evidence to indicate that the August 2003
indenture was fraudulent, accidental, or mistaken, their bald assertion that there was no
intention to sever the tenancy by the entireties is insufficient to establish a genuine
dispute of material fact.4 See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 n.3 (1986)
(“When a motion for summary judgment is made and supported as provided in this rule,
an adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of his pleading, but his
response, by affidavits or as otherwise provided in this rule, must set forth specific facts
showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” (quoting the then-operative iteration of
Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e) (internal quotation marks omitted)).
4
The government initially sought in its complaint to set aside as fraudulent the
conveyances of the Property to Mrs. Tyler in August 2003 and to Appellant Tyler in
November 2008. See Tyler, 2012 WL 848239, at *2. In its cross-motion for summary
judgment, however, the government did not press a claim of fraudulent conveyance, and
on appeal no party argues that the conveyances should be set aside for fraud.
12
Appellants argued to the District Court that, even if the August 2003 indenture
severed the tenancy by the entireties, Mrs. Tyler was a “purchaser” of the Property, and
the federal tax lien could not attach, because the IRS had not yet filed notice of the lien at
the time she purchased the Property. See I.R.C. § 6323(a) (providing that a “lien imposed
by section 6321 shall not be valid as against any purchaser … until notice thereof … has
been filed”). Even though Mrs. Tyler paid only $1 for the property, Appellants insisted
that she qualified as a “purchaser” because she “became solely responsible for the
mortgage, state and local taxes, and required renovations of the property,” all of which
constituted “adequate consideration.” Tyler, 2012 WL 848239, at *8.
The District Court rejected Appellants‟ claim that Mrs. Tyler was a “purchaser”
for purposes of I.R.C. § 6323. She had not paid “adequate and full consideration in
money or money‟s worth” for her interest in the property. I.R.C. § 6323(h)(6). Nor had
she assumed any significant obligations related to the property. As the Court saw it,
Appellants simply “d[id] not point to anything in the record establishing the existence or
extent of any obligations purportedly undertaken by Mrs. Tyler in exchange for the
property.” Id. On appeal, they again fail to note any record evidence establishing that
Mrs. Tyler, in addition to paying $1, took on any obligations as consideration for the
Property, let alone whether those purported obligations bore a reasonable relationship to
the true value of the Property. Given that the fair market value of the Property was
$326,128.50, the $1 consideration did not have a reasonable relationship to its true value,
and the District Court correctly held that Mrs. Tyler was not a “purchaser” as that term is
defined in § 6323.
13
We will therefore affirm the District Court‟s conclusion that the federal tax lien
attached to the Property at the time Mr. Tyler was assessed in January 2002 and remained
with the Property when it became part of Mrs. Tyler‟s estate.
2. Appellants’ Liability as Fiduciaries of Mrs. Tyler’s Estate
The federal insolvency statute, 31 U.S.C. § 3713, “provides that when a person is
insolvent or an estate has insufficient assets to pay all of its debts, priority must be given
to debts due the United States.” United States v. Coppola, 85 F.3d 1015, 1019 (2d Cir.
1996). In relevant part, it says that “[a] claim of the United States Government shall be
paid first when … the estate of a deceased debtor, in the custody of the executor or
administrator, is not enough to pay all debts of the debtor.” 31 U.S.C. § 3713(a)(1)(B).
It imposes liability on “representative[s] of … an estate” for “paying any part of a debt of
the … estate before paying a claim of the Government.” Id. § 3713(b). That liability
shall be “to the extent of the payment for unpaid claims of the Government.” Id. The
purpose of imposing personal liability on estate representatives “is to make those into
whose hands control and possession of the debtor‟s assets are placed, responsible for
seeing that the Government‟s priority is paid.” King v. United States, 379 U.S. 329, 337
(1964). Of course, “[i]n order for liability to attach, the executor must have knowledge of
the debt owed by the estate to the United States or notice of facts that would lead a
reasonably prudent person to inquire as to the existence of the debt owed before making
the challenged distribution or payment.” Coppola, 85 F.3d at 1020.
In recognition of the insolvency statute‟s “broad purpose of securing adequate
revenue for the United States Treasury, courts have interpreted it liberally.” Id. With
14
respect to “the type of payments or „distributions‟ from the estate for which an executor
may be held liable,” “a fiduciary, e.g., an executor, may be held liable under the federal
insolvency statute for a distribution of funds from the estate that is not, strictly speaking,
the payment of a debt.” Id. (alteration and internal quotation marks omitted). He may,
for example, be held liable for “stripp[ing]” an otherwise solvent estate “of all of its
assets and render[ing] it insolvent” by “provid[ing] for the distribution of all of the estate
assets” to the heirs of the estate. Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). Courts also
interpret the term “representative” broadly. “[O]ne need not be a personal representative
to come within the coverage of” § 3713(b); the “decisive” factor “is the element of
control over the assets.” King, 379 U.S. at 337. The phrase “claim of the Government”
has likewise been construed broadly in light of the statute‟s purpose. “There is no
question,” for example, “that taxes owed to the United States fall within the scope of a
„claim of the Government‟ under the statute‟s broad terms.” Coppola, 85 F.3d at 1020.
The phrase thus encompasses a statutory tax lien against property in the hands of an
estate‟s executor.
The government established the necessary elements of 31 U.S.C. § 3713(a) and (b)
to hold Appellants liable as fiduciaries of Mrs. Tyler‟s estate. Appellants, as co-
executors of Mrs. Tyler‟s estate, were placed on notice by the IRS of a federal tax lien
that encumbered one-half of the Property. Ruch even challenged the lien without success
in an administrative appeal with the IRS. The lien established a “claim of the
Government” to one-half of the proceeds of any sale of the Property. And by conveying
the Property to Appellant Tyler for a nominal amount, Appellants paid him (by
15
distributing the Property to him) before paying the government its proportional interest in
the property. We accordingly see no error in the District Court‟s conclusion that
Appellants are liable under § 3713.
Appellants insist, however, that, as co-executors of the estate of Mrs. Tyler, they
cannot be held liable under the federal insolvency statute for selling the Property without
providing one-half of the proceeds to the government to satisfy a lien brought about by
Mr. Tyler‟s tax delinquency. In other words, they argue that “[t]he Government cannot
maintain any claims against [them] regarding the estate of [Mr.] Tyler [because] they are
not the Executors” of his estate. (Appellants‟ Opening Br. at 17.) Their argument is
based on the assertion that “the Government has no claims against the estate of [Mrs.]
Tyler” (Appellants‟ Opening Br. at 18), a premise that is, as already discussed,
fundamentally flawed. See supra Part II.B.1. We accordingly reject the argument.5
3. Government’s Burden of Proof on Net Proceeds of Final Sale
The District Court entered judgment against Appellants “jointly and severally,
pursuant to 32 U.S.C. § 3713(b), in the amount of $156,603” – one-half of the $316,206
5
Appellants raise one other argument for why they cannot be liable under the
federal insolvency statute. Under Pennsylvania law, “[w]hen any property is of no value
to the estate, the court may authorize the personal representative to renounce his right to
administer it.” 20 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 3312. Appellants insist that, under that statute,
they “have the right to renounce administration of real estate when it is not needed for the
administration of the Estate,” without satisfying federal liens on the property.
(Appellants‟ Opening Br. at 19.) Appellants do not satisfy the statute, and we
accordingly reject their argument. First, contrary to their implicit assertion, the Property
was of value to the estate, to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars. See infra Part
II.B.3. In addition, Appellants did not seek, nor did they receive, authorization from the
probate court to renounce their right to administer the Property. Tyler, 2012 WL 848239,
at *1.
16
Appellant Tyler netted from the sale of the Property. (App. at 1.) Appellants argue that
that amount grossly overstates Appellant Tyler‟s net proceeds. They contend that the
government “presented no competent evidence to show that the [Property] was worth
$313,206.98.” (Appellants Opening Br. at 28.) That sum, according to Appellants, is not
an accurate valuation, because it fails to “take into account the mortgages and state and
county tax liens already on the property as well as the condition of the property, which
required renovations before it could be sold.” (Id. at 28.)
Appellants, however, do not provide any evidence suggesting an alternative value
of the Property. And Appellant Tyler explicitly stated that he received cash proceeds of
$313,206. On this record, the government satisfactorily established the amount of net
proceeds realized by Appellant Tyler when he sold the Property.
III. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the District Court‟s order granting the
government‟s motion for summary judgment and its order granting judgment in the
amount of $156,603 to the government.
17
United States v. David Tyler
Court: Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Date filed: 2013-06-11
Citations: 528 F. App'x 193
Copy CitationsCombined Opinion