Jinxiang Huameng Imp. & Exp. Co. v. United States

Slip Op. 17-58
UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
JINXIANG HUAMENG IMP & EXP CO.,
LTD.,
Plaintiff,
v.
UNITED STATES,
Defendant,
Before: Jennifer Choe-Groves, Judge
and
Court No. 16-00243
HARMONI INTERNATIONAL SPICE,
INC., ZHENGZHOU HARMONI SPICE
CO., LTD., FRESH GARLIC
PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION,
CHRISTOPHER RANCH, L.L.C., THE
GARLIC COMPANY, VALLEY
GARLIC, and VESSEY AND COMPANY,
INC.,
Defendant-Intervenors.
OPINION AND ORDER
[The court denies Defendant’s motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction.]
Dated: May 10, 2017
John J. Kenkel, Gregory S. Menegaz, J. Kevin Horgan, deKieffer & Horgan PLLC, of
Washington, DC, for Plaintiff Jinxiang Huameng Imp & Exp Co., Ltd.
Emma E. Bond, Trial Attorney, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division, U.S. Department
of Justice, of Washington, DC, for Defendant United States. With her were Chad A. Readler,
Acting Assistant Attorney General, Reginald T. Blades, Jr., Assistant Director, and Jeanne E.
Davidson, Director. Of Counsel was Emily Ruger Beline, Attorney, Office of the Chief Counsel
for Trade Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, of Washington DC.
Court No. 16-00243 Page 2
Choe-Groves, Judge: This action was brought pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1581(c) to
challenge the U.S. Department of Commerce’s (“Commerce”) final results in the new shipper
review of Jinxiang Huameng Imp & Exp Co., Ltd. (“Plaintiff”). See Summons, Nov. 8, 2016,
ECF No. 1. Before the court is the United States’ (“Defendant”) Motion to Dismiss for Lack of
Jurisdiction pursuant to USCIT Rule 12(b)(1). See Def. Mot. Dismiss Lack Jurisdiction, Jan. 26,
2017, ECF No. 25 (“motion to dismiss”). Plaintiff opposes Defendant’s motion to dismiss. See
Pl. Opp’n Def. Mot. Dismiss Lack Jurisdiction, Mar. 29, 2017, ECF No. 36 (“Pl. Opp’n”). For
the reasons set forth below, the court denies Defendant’s motion to dismiss.
BACKGROUND
The court presumes familiarity with the facts of this case as set out in the court’s previous
Memorandum and Order granting Plaintiff’s Motion to Amend Complaint, dated May 10, 2017.
See Jinxiang Huameng Imp & Exp Co. v. United States, 41 CIT __, Slip Op. 17-57, at *2–5
(May __, 2017) (“Mem. and Order”); see also Compl., Nov. 8, 2016, ECF No. 6; Pl.’s Mot. Am.
Compl., Mar. 29, 2017, ECF No. 35; First Am. Compl., Mar. 29, 2017, ECF No. 35-1.
Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint now includes the following claims: (1) five counts brought
under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(c) that challenge Commerce’s findings, determinations, and conclusions
in the new shipper review; (2) one count brought under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(i) that challenges
Customs’ decision to liquidate Plaintiff’s merchandise; and (3) one count brought under 28
U.S.C. § 1581(i) that challenges Commerce’s liquidation instructions in the administrative
review that was conducted concurrently with the new shipper review. See Pl.’s Mot. Am.
Compl. 1–2, Mar. 29, 2017, ECF No. 35; First Am. Compl. ¶¶ 25–32, Mar. 29, 2017, ECF No.
35-1. See also Mem. and Order at *6–9.
Court No. 16-00243 Page 3
DISCUSSION
The U.S. Court of International Trade, like all federal courts, is one of limited jurisdiction
and is “presumed to be ‘without jurisdiction’ unless ‘the contrary appears affirmatively from the
record.’” DaimlerChrysler Corp. v. United States, 442 F.3d 1313, 1318 (Fed. Cir. 2006)
(quoting King Iron Bridge & Mfg. Co. v. Otoe Cty., 120 U.S. 225, 226 (1887)). The party
invoking jurisdiction must “allege sufficient facts to establish the court’s jurisdiction,” id. at
1318 (citing McNutt v. Gen. Motors Acceptance Corp. of Ind., 298 U.S. 178, 189 (1936)), and
therefore “bears the burden of establishing it.” Norsk Hydro Can., Inc. v. United States, 472
F.3d 1347, 1355 (Fed. Cir. 2006). The Court is empowered to hear civil cases brought against
the United States pursuant to the specific grants of jurisdiction enumerated under 28 U.S.C.
§ 1581, including actions challenging a final determination made by Commerce in a new shipper
review. See 28 U.S.C. § 1581(c); 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(a)(2)(B)(iii). As an Article III court, the
Court only has jurisdiction where there is a live case or controversy. See Liner v. Jafco, Inc.,
375 U.S. 301, 306 (1964). The Court lacks jurisdiction when a party has no “cognizable interest
in the outcome” because the claim is moot and there is no case or controversy present. See
Powell v. McCormack, 395 U.S. 486, 496 (1969); see also Rice Servs. Ltd. v. United States, 405
F.3d 1017 (Fed. Cir. 2005).
Defendant argues that Plaintiff’s claims are moot because the single entry that was the
subject of the new shipper review was liquidated on March 11, 2016. See Def. Mot. Dismiss
Lack Jurisdiction 5–8. Defendant cites Zenith Radio Corp. v. United States, 710 F.2d 806, 810
(Fed. Cir. 1983) for the proposition that the liquidation of Plaintiff’s single entry moots the
action and the court cannot exercise jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(c). See id. Plaintiff
counters that liquidation of its single entry does not moot this case because if Plaintiff can
Court No. 16-00243 Page 4
successfully challenge the liquidation as unlawful, the court could set aside the liquidation and
reinstate the suspension of liquidation. See Pl. Opp’n 5–10.
The court must draw all reasonable inferences in Plaintiff’s (the non-movant’s) favor
when deciding Defendant’s motion to dismiss. See Henke v. United States, 60 F.3d 795, 797
(Fed. Cir. 1995). Plaintiff claims that (1) Customs’ liquidation of the sole entry was in
contravention of Commerce’s instructions in the new shipper review, and (2) Commerce’s
liquidation instructions in the administrative review were unlawful. If Plaintiff prevails on either
of these claims, the court may void the liquidation of the entry, reinstate the suspension of
liquidation, and order liquidation in accordance with the ensuing final court decision. See
Shinyei Corp. of Am. v. United States, 355 F.3d 1297, 1311–12 (Fed. Cir. 2004) (determining
that the court may order any form of appropriate relief to correct liquidation due to wrongful
agency action). Given the potential relief available pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1581(i), the court
must deny Defendant’s motion to dismiss.
CONCLUSION
Therefore, upon consideration of the Parties’ pleadings, all other papers and proceedings
herein, and upon due deliberation, it is hereby
ORDERED that Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction is denied; and it
is further
ORDERED that, consistent with the schedule set in the court’s Order, ECF No. 34
issued on March 3, 2017, the action shall proceed as follows:
(1) Plaintiff’s motion for judgment on the agency record and brief in support shall be
filed on or before June 9, 2017;
Court No. 16-00243 Page 5
(2) Defendant’s and Defendant-Intervenors’ response briefs shall be filed on or before
August 8, 2017;
(3) Plaintiff’s reply brief shall be filed on or before September 5, 2017;
(4) Plaintiff shall file the joint appendix on or before September 19, 2017; and
(5) Any requests for oral argument shall be filed on or before September 26, 2017.
/s/ Jennifer Choe-Groves
Jennifer Choe-Groves, Judge
Dated: May 10, 2017
New York, New York