No. 18-1468

United Mine Workers of America Combined Benefit Fund, et al. v. Andre M. Toffel, as Chapter 7 Trustee for Walter Energy Inc., et al.

Lower Court: Eleventh Circuit
Docketed: 2019-05-24
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived Experienced Counsel
Tags: 1992-plan-premiums anti-injunction-act bankruptcy-code bankruptcy-code-section-1114 circuit-split coal-act south-carolina-v-regan statutory-interpretation tax-assessment tax-validity
Key Terms:
Arbitration ERISA SocialSecurity Takings LaborRelations JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2019-06-20
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the South Carolina v. Regan exception to the Anti-Injunction Act applies only in this Court and, if not, whether it applies only to litigants challenging the validity of a tax

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED In the decision below, the Eleventh Circuit held that the tax Anti-Injunction Act (26 U.S.C. § 7421(a)) does not withdraw jurisdiction over a debtor’s effort to use Section 1114(g) of the Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. § 1114(g)) to restrain the assessment of “premiums” for the Combined Fund and for the 1992 Plan, two healthcare benefit plans created under the Coal Industry Retiree Health Benefit Act (“Coal Act”) (26 U.S.C. ch. 99). The Eleventh Circuit’s decision warrants further review. Its holding that a court may restrain the assessment of Combined Fund premiums deepens a circuit split over the scope of an exception to the Anti-Injunction Act created and applied by the Court in South Carolina v. Regan, 465 U.S. 367 (1984). And its holding that 1992 Plan premiums are not “any tax” protected by the Anti-Injunction Act opens a 3-1 split. The questions presented are: 1. Whether the South Carolina v. Regan exception to the Anti-Injunction Act applies only in this Court and, if not, whether it applies only to litigants challenging the validity of a tax. 2. Whether 1992 Plan premiums are “any tax” for purposes of federal statutes like the Anti-Injunction Act.

Docket Entries

2019-06-24
Petition DENIED. Justice Alito took no part in the consideration or decision of this petition.
2019-06-04
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/20/2019.
2019-05-29
Waiver of right of respondents Warrior Met Coal, Inc. and Steering Committee of First Lien Holders to respond filed.
2019-05-28
Waiver of right of respondent Andre M. Toffel, as Chapter 7 Trustee to respond filed.
2019-05-24
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due June 24, 2019)
2019-03-21
Application (18A946) granted by Justice Thomas extending the time to file until May 26, 2019.
2019-03-14
Application (18A946) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from March 27, 2019 to May 26, 2019, submitted to Justice Thomas.

Attorneys

Andre M. Toffel, as Chapter 7 Trustee
Scott Burnett SmithBradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP, Respondent
Scott Burnett SmithBradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP, Respondent
United Mine Workers of America Combined Benefit Fund, et al.
Bryan Michael KillianMorgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP, Petitioner
Bryan Michael KillianMorgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP, Petitioner
Warrior Met Coal, Inc. and Steering Committee of First Lien Holders
Forrest Stephen LattaBurr & Forman LLP, Respondent
Forrest Stephen LattaBurr & Forman LLP, Respondent