No. 25-300

William A. Goddard, et al. v. United States

Lower Court: Ninth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-09-16
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: administrative-procedure bad-faith evidentiary-hearing irs-summons law-firm-records tax-law
Latest Conference: 2025-11-07
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. Whether a law firm can be denied the opportunity
to challenge an IRS summons for law firm trust account
records based solely on an IRS declaration which states
only in general terms that the summons would aid IRS in
the collection of taxes owed by a law firm employee.

2. Whether an allegation of bad faith actions by an
IRS employee that were approved by an IRS manager
is sufficient to show bad faith by the agency thereby
requiring an evidentiary hearing.

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether a law firm can be denied the opportunity to challenge an IRS summons for law firm trust account records based solely on an IRS declaration, and whether an allegation of bad faith actions by an IRS employee approved by a manager is sufficient to show agency bad faith requiring an evidentiary hearing

Docket Entries

2025-11-10
Petition DENIED.
2025-10-08
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/7/2025.
2025-10-06
Waiver of United States of right to respond submitted.
2025-10-06
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2025-09-09
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 16, 2025)

Attorneys

United States
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
William A. Goddard
Bradley A. PattersonLGI LLP, Petitioner