Keasbey & Mattison Co. v. Rothensies

KALODNER, District Judge.

The plaintiff, a Pennsylvania corporation having its principal place of business at Ambler, Pennsylvania, within this District, brought suit against the defendant, the Collector of Internal Revenue, for recovery of $7,058.21.

The complaint sets forth that the action arises under the Internal Revenue laws of the United States; that the complainant paid to the Province of Quebec, Canada, under the provisions of the Quebec Mining Act, taxes in the amount of $10,072.26 for the complainant’s fiscal and taxable year ending March 31, 1937; that in the income tax return which the complainant filed with the defendant for the same year, the taxes paid to the Province of Quebec were claimed as a credit for foreign income taxes against income taxes due the United States of America; that on March 25, 1940 complainant was notified that the credit sought was disallowed and a deficiency assessment was made; that subsequently on May 9, 1940, the complainant paid to .the defendant the amount of the deficiency assessment and interest in the sum of $7,058.21; that shortly thereafter the complainant filed a claim for refund with the defendant; that the claim for refund was disallowed July 30, 1940, resulting in the present suit.

The defendant’s motion to dismiss is premised on the complaint that: “The complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted by virtue of the failure to plead the pertinent provisions of the Quebec Mining Act, which forms the basis of the claim stated herein.”

The defendant cites numerous authorities (prior to the effective date of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 28 U.S.C.A. following section 723c) to the effect that the courts of one country cannot take cognizance of the law of another without “plea and proof.” See Dainese v. Hale, 91 U.S. 13, 23 L.Ed. 190, 193.

I am of the opinion that it is necessary to plead the pertinent provisions of the Quebec Mining Act, Inasmuch as the complainant bases his claim for recovery against the defendant on the contention that the payment of taxes to the Province of Quebec, Canada, under the provisions of that Act, constitutes a payment of foreign income taxes for which credit may be claimed against income taxes due to the United States of America, and had the defendant moved for a more definite statement under Rule 12(e) such a motion would have been granted.

However, the complaint in this matter clearly indicates the type of litigation that is involved and the basis of the claim for relief, and it is well settled that a motion to dismiss a complaint for insufficiency is applicable, as a general rule, only where it is clear and apparent to the court that the plaintiff would not be entitled to relief under any state of facts which could be proved in support of the specific claim. Tahir Erk v. Glenn L. Martin Co., 4 Cir., 116 F.2d 865.

Since the primary purpose of the new rules is to expedite suits to early trial, it seems desirable in this case, in view of the expression above, to direct the complainant to amend his complaint within ten days by setting forth the pertinent provisions of the Quebec Mining Act.

Accordingly, the motion to dismiss is denied and leave is granted to the complainan* to amend within ten days.