459 F. App'x 669

James ROBERTSON, Petitioner—Appellant, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent—Appellee.

No. 09-72052.

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

Submitted Nov. 21, 2011.*

Filed Nov. 28, 2011.

James Robertson, Dos Palos, CA, pro se.

Nathan J. Hoehman, Esquire, John A. Dicicco, Esquire, Deputy Attorney General, Kenneth Greene, Esquire, Supervisory, Richard T. Morrison, Esquire, John A. Nolet, Clarissa C. Potter, Esquire, Gilbert Steven Rothenberg, Esquire, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, DOJ-U.S. Department of Justice, Donald L. Korb, Esquire, Acting Chief Counsel, Robert R. DiTrolio, Esquire, Washington, DC, for Respondent-Appellee.

Before: TASHIMA, BERZON, and TALLMAN, Circuit Judges.

MEMORANDUM**

James Robertson appeals pro se from the Tax Court’s decision dismissing for failure to prosecute his petition challenging the Commissioner of Internal Revenue’s determination to sustain an action to collect taxes that Robertson failed to pay in 2002. We have jurisdiction under 26 U.S.C. § 7482(a)(1). We review for an abuse of discretion, Noli v. Comm’r, 860 F.2d 1521, 1527 (9th Cir.1988), and we affirm.

The Tax Court did not abuse its discretion in dismissing Robertson’s petition for failure to prosecute based on his willful and unexcused failure to appear for trial, especially because the court had already reinstated the action after a previous dismissal and warned Robertson about the possibility of dismissal if he failed to appear or to comply with other rules. See Al-Torki v. Kaempen, 78 F.3d 1381, 1384-85 (9th Cir.1996) (dismissal was not an abuse of discretion because willful failure to appear, prejudice to defendant, and interference with court’s docket outweighed *670policy favoring resolving litigation on the merits and imposition of less drastic sanctions); see also Tax Ct. R. 149(a) (case may be dismissed for failure to prosecute if party is absent from trial without excuse); Tax Ct. R. 128(a) (dismissal appropriate if party fails to proceed as required by court).

Robertson’s remaining contentions are unpersuasive.

We do not address Robertson’s arguments regarding the Tax Court’s interlocutory orders because failure to prosecute forfeits the right to appeal such issues. See Al-Torki, 78 F.3d at 1386.

AFFIRMED.

Robertson v. Commissioner
459 F. App'x 669

Case Details

Name
Robertson v. Commissioner
Decision Date
Nov 28, 2011
Citations

459 F. App'x 669

Jurisdiction
United States

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