RAYMOND P. MOORE, District Judge.
THIS MATTER is before the Court on Plaintiff M. Julia Hook's Verified Emergency Motion for a Stay of all Collection Actions and/or Court Proceedings by the United States Pending Appeal ("Motion") (ECF No. 118) requesting this Court to stay all collection actions against not only Plaintiff Hook but also Plaintiff Smith and "their real and personal property" pending an appeal of this case. Upon consideration of the Motion, the Court file, the applicable rules and case law, and being otherwise fully advised, the Motion is DENIED.
Plaintiffs, attorneys appearing pro se, filed this action against Defendant United States of America "for the recovery of internal-revenue taxes erroneously or illegally assessed or collected, and penalties collected without authority, and sums that are excessive or were collected in a wrongful manner under internal-revenue laws." (ECF No. 68.) By Order dated March 28, 2014, Chief Judge Marcia S. Krieger,
Where emergency relief is requested seeking a ruling on a motion for a stay with 48 hours after filing, the motion must be marked "EMERGENCY" and accompanied by a certificate stating: (1) the reason the motion was not filed earlier; (2) the date the underlying order was entered; (3) the time and date the order becomes effective; and (4) the telephone numbers and email addresses for all counsel of record and where available, unrepresented parties. 10
Similarly, the Motion fails to meet the standards required for granting a stay. As an initial matter, it is unclear how a stay of the Order would afford Plaintiffs the relief requested. Instead, it appears Plaintiff Hook is seeking injunctive relief. To the extent Plaintiff Hook is doing so, she has not shown this Court has jurisdiction to grant such relief. See 10
Specifically, to obtain a stay pending appeal under Fed. R. App. P. 8, Plaintiff Hook must show: (1) the likelihood of success on appeal; (2) the threat of irreparable harm if the stay or injunction is not granted; (3) the absence of harm to opposing parties if the stay or injunction is granted; and (4) any risk of harm to the public interest. Federal Trade Comm'n v. Mainstream Marketing Servs., Inc., 345 F.3d 850, 852 (10
As to a stay requested in favor of Plaintiff Smith, Plaintiff Hook appears pro se and does not represent Plaintiff Smith. Moreover, Plaintiff Smith has not appealed this Court's Order dismissing his complaint or denying the other pending motions as moot. As such, he cannot show a likelihood of success on appeal or otherwise meet any of the other requirements. Accordingly, any stay request related to Plaintiff Smith cannot be sustained.
As to Plaintiff Hook, although she addresses the stay factors, she also has not shown that a stay is warranted. First, Plaintiff Hook has not shown a likelihood of success on the merits. Plaintiff Hook's Motion essentially repeats the same arguments, e.g., that Defendant's tax judgments/liens are allegedly "invalid," which were previously raised and which this Court has already considered and rejected. The Court therefore finds it is unlikely Plaintiff Hook will prevail on her appeal. This factor weighs against a stay.
Next, Plaintiff Hook argues she will suffer irreparable harm in the form of "abject poverty" as a result of Defendant's "illegal liens and/or levies." Plaintiff Hook is an attorney, contends her only "current" source of income is her monthly social security benefits, and argues she is over 65 years old and is no longer able to practice law. She has not, however, represented that she cannot earn income other than through the practice of law. Here, the harm alleged is simply economic — a loss of one source of current income — which "usually does not, in and of itself, constitute irreparable harm." Heideman v. South Salt Lake City, 348 F.3d 1182, 1189 (10
The other "harm" factors for consideration are the absence of harm to opposing parties and the risk of harm to the public interest.