2005 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 164">*164 Respondent's motion to dismiss for failure properly to prosecute granted.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
WELLS, Judge: This matter is before the Court on respondent's motion to dismiss for lack of prosecution pursuant to
Background
Petitioner did not file a 1999 Federal income tax return. Consequently, on March 12, 2004, respondent mailed a notice of deficiency for 1999 to petitioner's last known address. In the notice of deficiency, respondent determined a deficiency in petitioner's 1999 Federal income tax of $ 46,434, a
2005 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 164">*165 Petitioner timely petitioned this Court for a redetermination of the deficiency. At the time of filing the petition, petitioner resided in North Chatham, Massachusetts. The petition made the following contentions:
I would like to have a redetermination because the forms I was
sent have me as single with no dependents, I am married with 2
children. In 1999 I sent all my deductions & tax information to
my accountant. I am willing to pay my share, but the amount
listed is more than I make in a year. Enclosed is a payment
towards my 1999 taxes, so I can begin to pay something.
The Court's notice setting case for trial and standing pretrial order were served on October 1, 2004, and this case was calendared for trial on March 7, 2005. In pertinent part, the notice states:
The calendar for that Session will be called at 10:00 A.M. on
that date and both parties are expected to be present at that
time and be prepared to try the case. YOUR FAILURE TO APPEAR MAY
RESULT IN DISMISSAL OF THE CASE AND ENTRY OF DECISION AGAINST
YOU.
Your attention is called to the Court's requirement that, 2005 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 164">*166 if the
case cannot be settled on a mutually satisfactory basis, the
parties, before trial, must agree in writing to all facts and
all documents about which there should be no disagreement.
Therefore, the parties should contact each other promptly and
cooperate fully so that the necessary steps can be taken to
comply with this requirement. YOUR FAILURE TO COOPERATE MAY ALSO
RESULT IN DISMISSAL OF THE CASE AND ENTRY OF DECISION AGAINST
YOU.
The standing pretrial order states further:
The parties shall begin discussions as soon as practicable for
purposes of settlement and/or preparation of a stipulation of
facts.
* * * * * * *
The Court may impose appropriate sanctions, including dismissal,
for any unexcused failure to comply with this Order.
* * * * * * *
ORDERED that all parties shall be prepared for trial at any time
during the term of the trial session unless a specific date has
been previously set by the court.
The instant case was2005 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 164">*167 referred for possible settlement to Appeals Officer Timothy M. Harrigan. Petitioner neither attended a scheduled settlement conference nor contacted the Appeals Office to reschedule.
In a letter dated December 20, 2004, respondent requested information from petitioner and advised petitioner that, if he failed to respond or appear at trial, respondent would file a motion to dismiss, which could result in the Court's holding petitioner liable for the full amount of the deficiency plus applicable additions to tax and interest. Receiving no response to the letter of December 20, 2004, respondent subsequently called petitioner at the number petitioner provided and left a voice message requesting that petitioner contact respondent. Petitioner did not respond.
On January 26, 2005, respondent mailed petitioner a Branerton letter, see
When the instant case was called for trial, there was no appearance by or on behalf of petitioner. Counsel for respondent appeared and presented oral arguments in support of the instant motion to dismiss.
Discussion
The Court may dismiss a case at any time and enter a decision against the taxpayer for failure properly to prosecute, failure to comply with the Rules of the Court or any order of the Court, or any cause the Court deems sufficient.
We conclude that petitioner has failed to comply with this Court's Rules and orders and has failed properly to prosecute the instant case. Petitioner failed to appear at trial. Petitioner did not participate in the stipulation process. Petitioner has not submitted any evidence in support of his petition. Neither this Court nor respondent has had any contact with petitioner since the petition was filed. Consequently, we will grant respondent's motion to2005 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 164">*169 dismiss for failure to prosecute.
The petition in the instant case did not contain any specific allegations regarding any of the three additions to tax or facts to support any such allegations. Therefore, these issues are all deemed conceded by petitioner, and respondent has no burden of production under
Accordingly, respondent's motion to dismiss for failure properly to prosecute will be granted.
To reflect the foregoing,
Decision will be entered under
1. The amount of any addition to tax under