Free Joint Status Report - District Court of Federal Claims - federal

Case 1:04-cv-00683-MBH

Document 16

Filed 05/09/2006

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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS No. 04-683 T (Judge Marion B. Horn) (Consolidated with Nos. 05-695 T, 05-696 T, 05-1074 T, 05-1315 T, & 05-1384 T)

JOHN E. KETTLE and ANNE R. KETTLE, Plaintiffs v. THE UNITED STATES, Defendant.

JOINT NOTICE

Pursuant to the Court's Order dated February 2, 2006, the parties, through their attorneys, provide the following progress report on John F. and Pamela F. Hinck v. United States, Fed. Cl. No. 03-865 T. On May 4, 2006, the Federal Circuit affirmed this Court's dismissal of the complaint in John F. and Pamela F. Hinck v. United States, Fed. Cl. No. 03-865 T. See Hinck v. United States, - - F.3d - - , 2006 WL 1170274 (Fed. Cir. May 4, 2006). The Federal Circuit held that 26 U.S.C. § 6404(h) grants exclusive subject matter jurisdiction to the Tax Court to review the IRS's denials of interest abatement, and therefore the Court of Federal Claims lacks subject matter jurisdiction to do the same. See id. A copy of the opinion is attached to this joint notice. Under the Federal Circuit's decision, the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the interest abatement claims in Kettle, Fed. Cl. No. 04-683 T and Weidemann, Fed. Cl. No. 051384 T. Plaintiffs' counsel, however, intends to seek rehearing in the Federal Circuit and/or

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Case 1:04-cv-00683-MBH

Document 16

Filed 05/09/2006

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petition for Supreme Court review of the Hinck decision. Accordingly, the parties propose the Court wait until final appellate action, before dismissing the interest abatement claims in Kettle and Weidemann. Plaintiffs' attorney has authorized defendant's attorney to sign this motion on her behalf. Respectfully submitted, 05/09/2006 Date s/Teresa J. Womack by s/Bart D. Jeffress TERESA JEAN WOMACK Redding & Associates, P.C. P.O. Box 924328 Houston, Texas 77292-4328 (713) 965-9244 (713) 621-5227 (fax) Attorney for Plaintiffs s/Bart D. Jeffress BART D. JEFFRESS Attorney of Record U.S. Department of Justice Tax Division Court of Federal Claims Section Post Office Box 26 Ben Franklin Post Office Washington, D.C. 20044 (202) 307-6496 (202) 514-9440 (fax) EILEEN J. O'CONNOR Assistant Attorney General DAVID GUSTAFSON Acting Chief, Court of Federal Claims Section STEVEN I. FRAHM Assistant Chief, Court of Federal Claims Section 05/09/2006 Date s/Steven I. Frahm Of Counsel Attorneys for Defendant

05/09/2006 Date