RICHARD MILLS, District Judge.
The Court now considers the following motions in limine: the Plaintiff's motion for judicial notice of the alleged fact that Liechtenstein and the British Virgin Islands are widely regarded as tax havens [d/e 182]; the Plaintiff's motion for judicial notice of certain matters of public record [d/e 183]; Defendant Windsor Organization's motion for judicial notice of various State Department documents [d/e 188]; and the Plaintiff's motion for judicial notice of the Schengen Agreement of 1985 [d/e 195].
Plaintiff United States of America has filed a motion for judicial notice of the fact that Liechtenstein and the British Virgin Islands are widely regarded as tax havens. It notes that Defendant The Windsor Organization, Inc. claims that it is wholly-owned by a British Virgin Islands corporation, TI&M Services, LTD. Moreover, Defendant Irving Cohen and Windsor both allege that Cohen had in-person meetings with Markus Kolzoff, a citizen of Liechtenstein and alleged member of TI&M's Board of Directors. The Plaintiff claims that, because Kolzoff refused to be deposed and refused to produce any documents at the hearing before the Principality of Liechtenstein's Princely Court of Justice, the United States was unable to take any discovery from TI&M or Kolzoff. The Plaintiff thus requests that the Court take judicial notice at trial of the fact that both the Principality of Liechtenstein and the British Virgin Islands are widely regarded as "tax havens."
The Federal Rules of Evidence require that the Court take judicial notice of an adjudicative fact "if a party requests it and the court is supplied with the necessary information."
In support of its motion, the Plaintiff notes that the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development ("OECD") has defined "tax haven" as follows:
The Plaintiff further asserts that the National Bureau of Economic Research ("NBER") has noted that Liechtenstein and the British Virgin Islands are tax havens as defined by the OECD, as well as under the more narrowly-tailored Hines-Rice text.
The Plaintiff contends that even William Reed, the former president of Asset Protection Group, Inc.—the entity Cohen hired to incorporate Windsor in Nevada—recognized Liechtenstein and the British Virgin Islands as tax havens. In his book,
The Plaintiff contends that Defendants put the countries of Liechtenstein and the British Virgin Islands at issue by virtue of the defense they have asserted: that Cohen met with a citizen of Liechtenstein to discuss investing in the property, and that the purported owner of Windsor is TI&M, a British Virgin Islands corporation. The Plaintiff further asserts that, because of Windsor's and Cohen's defense and because the United States was unable to take any discovery about Kolzoff's or TI&M's actual interest in the Springfield property, the issue of Liechtenstein's and British Virgin Islands' status as a tax haven is relevant.
Based on the foregoing, the Plaintiff claims there can be no reasonable dispute that Liechtenstein and the British Virgin Islands are widely-regarded as tax havens. Accordingly, it asks the Court to take judicial notice.
In its response, Windsor asserts that the parties had reached an agreement as to a possible protective order and a potential location of Markus Kolzoff's deposition (Switzerland), when the Plaintiff filed its motion for issuance of Letters Rogatory to the Principality of Liechtenstein, which ended the possibility of obtaining Kolzoff's voluntary deposition. Windsor questions the Plaintiff's assertion that it has been foreclosed from obtaining discovery from TI&M, the sole shareholder of Windsor, when the Plaintiff did not, either through a Letter of Request through this Court or the Liechtenstein Court, pursue the matter further and did not seek an appeal of the Regional Court's ruling that "[t]he refusal to give testimony of witness, Dr. Markus Kolzoff, is legitimate."
Windsor further asserts that Plaintiff's assertion is subject to reasonable dispute and is not known within the territorial jurisdiction of this Court or capable of accurate and ready determination by resort to sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned. Windsor notes that, in support of the Plaintiff's motion, it has cited persuasive authority consisting of William Reed's book,
Windsor further alleges that Plaintiff has not explained NBER's and OECD's connection to their role with the federal government and their role in obtaining the information cited by the Plaintiff. Moreover, Windsor claims that much of the information cited is purported expert opinion which was not disclosed, and hearsay. Additionally, Windsor asserts that Plaintiff has not established foundation for admission of the contents of the documents.
Windsor has raised a number of issues pertaining to the admissibility of the documents on which the Plaintiff relies. The status of Liechtenstein and the British Virgin Islands as alleged tax havens appears to be relevant. However, "[j]udicial notice merits the traditional caution it is given, and courts should strictly adhere to the criteria by the Federal Rules of Evidence before taking judicial notice of pertinent facts."
The language of the rule makes it clear that courts must use caution in taking judicial notice of adjudicative facts. "In order for a court fact to be judicially noticed, indisputability is a prerequisite."
Because it is unable to determine that the issue is beyond "reasonable dispute," the Court declines at this time to take judicial notice of the alleged fact that Liechtenstein and the British Virgin Islands are widely regarded as tax havens. The parties may litigate the issue through the introduction of any admissible evidence at trial.
Therefore, the Court will Deny the Plaintiff's motion in limine. The motion may be renewed at an appropriate time.
Plaintiff United States has filed a motion for judicial notice of matters of public record relating to William Reed and the Asset Protection Group, Inc. This includes two civil cases against Reed and Asset Protection Group.
In support of the motion as to William Reed and the Asset Protection Group (APG), the Plaintiff states that Irving Cohen hired Reed's company, APG, to incorporate Defendant The Windsor Organization, Inc. in Nevada. Reed served as the nominee President of Windsor, which meant that APG served as the registered agent. The Nevada Secretary of State would see Reed's name as officer and director. The Plaintiff notes that Reed testified that he sold "privacy" as one of the benefits of a Nevada corporation, and that clients who wanted "total privacy" would ask Reed to serve as the nominee. Based on the foregoing, the Plaintiff asserts that the services provided by Reed and APG are relevant to the question of whether Cohen created Windsor to hold the Springfield Property as his nominee.
The Plaintiff further claims that, starting in 2006, Reed and APG came under scrutiny for its involvement with Reed's business partner, Richard Neiswonger. In April of 2007, the Eastern District of Missouri found Reed and APG in contempt for violating a 1997 permanent injunction against Neiswonger.
Although Windsor does not dispute these matters, Windsor asserts that these cases and their holdings are irrelevant under Rules 402, 403 and 404 of the Federal Rules of Evidence. Thus, it alleges these are not proper subjects of judicial notice. Windsor contends the fact that Neiswonger, Reed and APG were found to have violated an injunction entered in 1997 (five years before the incorporation of Windsor) in a case brought by the Federal Trade Commission is completely irrelevant to whether Windsor is holding property in Springfield as the nominee or alter ego of Irving Cohen. Moreover, Reed's alleged misleading marketing of business opportunities sold by APG in no way helps establish what Cohen's motive, opportunity or intent was when he used APG to incorporate Windsor.
Windsor further asserts that the allegations made by the Plaintiff in a prior suit against Reed, such as that "Reed has established thousands of Nevada Corporations for customers to use as nominees to hide their income and assets," are subject to reasonable dispute, which Reed did dispute and would dispute if named as a party in this case. Windsor states that those allegations were not admitted by Reed and were never proven by the Plaintiff in that case.
The Plaintiff further notes that Reed, along with Neiswonger and Windsor's CPA, Wendell Waite, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Nevada for crimes arising from their participation in APG.
Windsor contends that factual assertions made in other cases are not proper subjects of judicial notice because they are subject to reasonable dispute. It further asserts that some of these matters are irrelevant and admissible and are the subject of Windsor's motions in limine. Windsor alleges that Plaintiff cannot circumvent the Rules of Evidence by having this Court take judicial notice of evidence which is not admissible.
The Plaintiff further alleges that David Morley and several other plaintiffs filed suit against Cohen and over one dozen co-defendants for their promotion of a tax shelter scheme in the 1970s that failed to yield the tax advantages promised.
The Plaintiff contends that this background is relevant to the allegations in this case. Because it has alleged that Cohen hid his property interest in the Springfield Property to avoid detection and collection by the IRS, the Plaintiff claims the fact that Cohen had other outstanding judgments against him is relevant as evidence of additional motive for Cohen to hide assets. It further asserts that Cohen's promotion of other tax shelters—in addition to the shelter that gave rise to the I.R.C. § 6700 penalties in this case—is relevant to Cohen's sophistication and familiarity with complex corporate transactions and structures.
Windsor alleges that, for the reasons provided in its second motion in limine,
To the extent that Windsor argues that the Court cannot take judicial notice of allegations in another lawsuit simply because they were disputed, the Court disagrees. In
Some of the information which is the subject of the Plaintiff's judicial notice request appears to potentially be relevant. The Plaintiff asks the Court to take judicial notice of the following alleged facts:
The Plaintiff also requests that the Court take judicial notice of the following alleged facts pertaining to
The fact that some of this information appears to be relevant does not necessarily mean it is admissible. In determining whether to take judicial notice of a fact under Rule 201, the Court will have to consider any other applicable Federal Rules of Evidence in determining admissibility.
The Court will defer ruling on the motion for judicial notice of public records.
Windsor has filed a motion requesting that the Court take judicial notice of the United States Department of State ("Department") documents evidencing that Switzerland and Liechtenstein extend visa-free entry and exit to United States citizens staying in Switzerland and Liechtenstein for up to 90 days. The Department advises United States citizens to "make sure you obtain a stamp in your passport from the police office in Buchs" if you wish to stay in Liechtenstein for a longer period of time.
In support of the motion, Windsor alleges that the information is capable of accurate and ready determination by resort to the Department's website providing information to United States citizens regarding travel abroad.
The Plaintiff claims that the issue of whether Irving Cohen actually traveled to Liechtenstein in late 2001 or early 2002 is relevant to whether TI&M invested in the Property, and to Cohen's credibility generally. The Plaintiff notes that Cohen produced a copy of his passport during discovery. It has several stamps that show Cohen entered Spain, England, and Switzerland. However, Cohen's passport does not show any entry stamps anywhere in Europe in late 2001 or early 2002.
Although the Plaintiff does not object to the Court's taking judicial notice of a printout from a Department of State website that discusses entry and exit requirements for U.S. citizens traveling to Switzerland, the Plaintiff contends that Windsor is citing the document to mislead the Court to accept Windsor's conclusion that Cohen's passport should not contain a stamp from his late 2001 or early 2002 visit to Liechtenstein. The Plaintiff claims that the Court should reject Windsor's "specious conclusion."
The Court will take judicial notice of the requested documents. At this time, the Court is not drawing any conclusions based on the documents.
The Plaintiff has filed a motion for judicial notice of the Schengen Agreement of 1985 and the 1990 Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement as they have been adopted and implemented by the European Commission.
The Schengen Agreement was a treaty signed on June 14, 1985, between Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany.
The Plaintiff states that the Schengen Agreement and the implementing Convention were incorporated into the main body of European Union law (the "acquis communautaire") as part of the October 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam.
Twenty-five European countries are now included in the Schengen Area.
The Schengen Agreement "allows for free travel within a multi-country zone of Europe."
The Plaintiff claims that the European Commission maintains a strict policy of stamping the travel documents of all third-country nationals (travelers from outside the Schengen Area countries):
Article 10:
1. The travel documents of third-country nationals shall be systematically stamped on entry and exit. In particular an entry or exit stamp shall be affixed to:
The Plaintiff contends that the strict policy of stamping the passports of foreign travelers has been in place since at least May 20, 1999, which is when the European Commission formally adopted the Common Manual.
Based on the foregoing, the Plaintiff asks the Court to take judicial notice of the Schengen Agreement of 1985, and the 1990 Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement, as they have been adopted and implemented by the European Commission. Specifically, the Government asks the Court to take notice of the European Commission's strict regulations regarding the systematic stamping of travel documents of foreign nationals, which have been in place since at least May 20, 1999.
Windsor claims that Switzerland did not implement the Schengen Agreement until December 12, 2008, and Liechtenstein has not yet acceded to the Schengen Agreement.
Windsor further alleges that travelers to Liechtenstein who arrive by air must fly into Zurich, Switzerland, as Liechtenstein does not have any airports.
Windsor contends that, because many Member States of the Schengen Agreement were failing to systematically stamp passports of third-country nationals, the Council of the European Union passed Council Regulation (EC) No 2133/2004 on December 13, 2004.
Windsor contends that Rule 201 of the Federal Rules of Evidence only governs judicial notice of adjudicative facts and the law of foreign nation is not a proper subject of judicial notice. "Judicial notice of matters of foreign law is treated in Rule 44.1 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure."
Fed. R. Civ. P. 44.1. The Advisory Committee Note provides in part:
Fed. R. Civ. P. 44.1, Note 1966 Adoption.
Windsor claims that the Court should not make a determination of foreign law as the Plaintiff presents it because the Plaintiff has inadequately researched Liechtenstein and Switzerland's accession to the Schengen Agreement. Specifically, it alleges that Plaintiff "presented the Agreement in such a partisan manner that Plaintiff failed to state that neither Liechtenstein nor Switzerland were signatories to the Schengen Agreement on the years in question, namely in 2001 or 2002, or 2004 when Cohen testified he traveled to Liechtenstein, via Switzerland, to meet Kolzoff." Windsor notes that Cohen's passport does contain 2009 Swiss entry and exit stamps, after Switzerland's accession to the Schengen Agreement. Windsor claims this corroborates Cohen's testimony regarding his visits to Liechtenstein to meet with Kolzoff after the Plaintiff filed its lien.
Windsor further alleges that, even if the Schengen Agreement is a fact of which the Court can take judicial notice, a fact must first be admissible. Windsor contends that the Schengen Agreement of 1985 is irrelevant to the issues because, at the relevant times, in 2001, 2002 and 2004, Liechtenstein and Switzerland were not members to the agreement. Thus, it asserts that evidence of the Schengen Agreement does not make any matter before the Court more or less probable, including the factual issue of whether Cohen traveled to Liechtenstein to meet Kolzoff. Windsor claims the Plaintiff cannot dispute that Cohen's passport contains a stamp evidencing his visit to Switzerland in 2009 which corroborates Cohen's testimony that he met with Kolzoff at such time. It alleges that evidence of Switzerland's application of the Schengen Agreement after 2008 is needless presentation of cumulative evidence.
At this time, the Court will Deny the Plaintiff's motion for judicial notice of the Schengen Agreement of 1985. Of course, the Plaintiff may renew its request at any time during the trial.
Windsor has raised certain issues pertaining to the relevance of the evidence which is the subject of the Plaintiff's motion. Therefore, the Court is unable at this time to take judicial notice of the Schengen Agreement of 1985.
For the foregoing reasons, the Plaintiff's motion for judicial notice of the alleged fact that Liechtenstein and the British Virgin Islands are widely regarded as tax havens will be denied.
The Court will defer ruling on the Plaintiff's motion for judicial notice of public records pertaining to notice of the two civil cases against William Reed and Asset Protection Group; the recent criminal indictment against Reed and William Waite; the lawsuit against Cohen, Marvin Rosenbaum, and Herman Schwartzman; as well as the jury verdict against Cohen in that case.
The Court will allow Windsor's motion for judicial notice of United States Department of State documents. However, the Court draws no conclusions from those documents at this time.
The Plaintiff's motion for judicial notice of the Schengen Agreement of 1985 will be Denied.
The parties may renew any motions for judicial notice after a proper evidentiary showing is made. The Court must take judicial notice in such circumstances if a party requests it.
The Court hereby DEFERS ruling on the Plaintiff's Motion for judicial records [d/e 183], until such time as the Court determines whether the records are admissible.
The Motion of Defendant Windsor Organization for judicial notice of certain United States Department of State documents [d/e 188] is ALLOWED, to the extent provided in this Order.
The Motion for judicial notice of the Schengen Agreement of 1985 [d/e 195] is DENIED.