AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP IN THE

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
IN THE 1
United States Court of Appeals 2
For the Second Circuit 3
________ 4
AUGUST TERM, 2024 5
6
ARGUED: N OVEMBER 25, 2024 7
D ECIDED: APRIL 30, 2025 8
9
No. 24-1726 10
11
AMTAX HOLDINGS 227, LLC, 12
Plaintiff-Appellant, 13
14
v. 15
16
COHNREZNICK LLP, 17
Defendant-Appellee, 18
19
TENANTS’ DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, 20
Intervenor-Defendant. 21
________ 22
23
Appeal from the United States District Court 24
for the Southern District of New York. 25
________ 26
27
28
29
30
31

-- 1 of 19 --

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
2
Before: L IVINGSTON, Chief Judge, C ALABRESI and MERRIAM, Circuit Judges. 1
2
Appeal from an order and judgment of the United States District Court for 3
the Southern District of New York (Buchwald, J.) dismissing the Plaintiff- 4
Appellant’s complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Plaintiff-Appellant, 5
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC (“AMTAX”), sued the Defendant-Appellee, 6
CohnReznick LLP (“CohnReznick”) in federal court for breach of fiduciary duty, 7
professional negligence, unjust enrichment, and fraud. AMTAX argues that the 8
district court erred in ruling that the complaint, pleading state-law claims, failed 9
sufficiently to implicate federal interests so as to “aris[e] under federal law.” 28 10
U.S.C. § 1331; see Gunn v. Minton, 568 U.S. 251, 258 (2013); Grable & Sons Metal 11
Prods., Inc. v. Darue Eng’g & Mfg., 545 U.S. 308, 316 (2005). We hold that the district 12
court correctly held that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction. Therefore, we 13
AFFIRM. 14
_____________________________________ 15
L. REID SKIBELL , Glenn Agre Bergman & Fuentes, LLP, 16
New York, NY, for Plaintiff-Appellant. 17
MELISSA A. PEÑA (Benjamin D. Schwartz, on the brief), 18
Norris McLaughlin, P.A., New York, NY, for Defendant- 19
Appellee. 20
21

-- 2 of 19 --

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
3
David A. Davenport, BC Davenport, LLC, Minneapolis, 1
MN, for Intervenor-Defendant. 2
_____________________________________ 3
4
C ALABRESI , Circuit Judge: 5
This case arises out of a complex dispute involving asserted breaches of state 6
law. These breaches, AMTAX alleges, occurred when CohnReznick calculated a 7
purchase price that excluded exit taxes allegedly contemplated by 26 U.S.C. § 42 8
(“Section 42”) of the Internal Revenue Code. Because the interpretation of the 9
appropriate section of the federal tax code is, ultimately, a matter of federal law, 10
AMTAX claims that federal jurisdiction lies. The district court held that it lacked 11
subject matter jurisdiction. Because we agree that AMTAX’s claims do not fall 12
within the narrow category of state-law claims that present significant federal 13
issues, we affirm. 14
I. BACKGROUND 15
A. The Federal Low-Income Housing Program 16
AMTAX’s claims stem from its participation in a low-income housing 17
enterprise, which sought to take advantage of the federal low-income housing tax 18
credit (“LIHTC”). Congress created the LIHTC program in the Tax Reform Act of 19
1986. See Pub. L. No. 99-514, § 252, 100 Stat. 2085, 2189–208 (1986) (codified at 26 20

-- 3 of 19 --

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
4
U.S.C. § 42). Broadly speaking, through the LIHTC program, the Internal Revenue 1
Service (“IRS”) allocates federal tax credits annually to state housing agencies, 2
which then award the tax credits to developers to offset the costs of constructing 3
affordable housing developments. See 8 Scott D. Schimick, Mertens Law of Fed. 4
Income Tax’n § 32B:10 (2024). In exchange, the developer agrees to reserve for 5
thirty years some of the units as rent-restricted for low-income households. See 26 6
U.S.C. §§ 42(g)(1), (h)(6)(A)–(D).1 7
To obtain upfront financing to complete housing developments, 8
developers—especially not-for-profit developers who do not need the tax 9
credits—often sell their tax credits to an outside investor. The sale is typically 10
structured using a limited partnership agreement between the developer and the 11
investor. Because the housing serves low-income tenants, the property will 12
frequently not generate a profit, making the receipt of tax credits the real benefit 13
for the investor. When, in due course, the tax credits are no longer available, the 14
investor usually exits the partnership. As a result, there is generally a risk that 15
1 To qualify for the tax credits, owners of eligible projects must report their compliance with
LIHTC leasing requirements to the IRS and a state monitoring agency for the duration of the
compliance period. See 26 U.S.C. §§ 42(i)(1), (l)(1)–(2). Once an LIHTC project comes into
service, the owner may claim the tax credits annually over a ten-year period. See id. § 42(f)(1).

-- 4 of 19 --

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
5
LIHTC developments will transition away from operating as affordable housing. 1
For this reason, Congress gives incentives for the purchase of the development 2
after the tax-credit period ends through a right of first refusal (“ROFR”). The 3
ROFR is granted to an eligible stakeholder, often a not-for-profit affiliate of the 4
original developer. See id. § 42(i)(7)(A). 5
Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code provides a safe harbor that protects 6
investors/limited partners from suffering negative tax consequences when they 7
sell the developments to qualifying not-for-profits.2 Id. §§ 42(i)(7), (h)(5); 8
Homeowner’s Rehab, Inc. v. Related Corp. V SLP, L.P., 479 Mass. 741, 753–55 (2018). 9
Section 42 leaves LIHTC partnerships free to structure the contract establishing the 10
partnership, and any eventual sale of the developments, as they see fit. 11
Homeowner’s Rehab, 479 Mass. at 762; see generally 26 U.S.C. § 42. If a LIHTC 12
partnership seeks to take advantage of Section 42’s optional safe harbor, however, 13
its contract must have established the terms of the ROFR that is given to the 14
2 “Investors will face exit taxes on sale if the tax losses they have been allocated exceed their
invested capital and if they have used those losses along the way to reduce their taxable
income.” Jill Khadduri, Carissa Climaco & Kimberly Burnett, U.S. Dep’t Hous. and Urb. Dev.,
What Happens to Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Properties at Year 15 and Beyond? 32 (2012).

-- 5 of 19 --

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
6
potential buyer. And, to qualify for the safe harbor, the purchase price cannot be 1
less than the minimum purchase price prescribed by Section 42(i)(7)(B).3 2
B. AMTAX’s Low-Income Housing Partnership 3
This case arises from a fairly typical LIHTC arrangement. 4
In 2003, a limited partnership called Tenants’ Development II, LP (the 5
“Partnership”), was formed to redevelop and own 185 affordable housing units 6
located in Boston, Massachusetts (the “Property”). The Partnership was 7
structured as follows: Tenants Development II Corporation (the “General 8
Partner”) served as the general partner of the Partnership and owned 0.009% of 9
the Partnership’s interests. AMTAX, the plaintiff below and appellant here, 10
3 The minimum purchase price allowable to qualify for the Section 42 safe harbor is:
[A]n amount equal to the sum of—
(i) the principal amount of outstanding indebtedness secured
by the building (other than indebtedness incurred within
the 5-year period ending on the date of the sale to the
tenants), and
(ii) all Federal, State, and local taxes attributable to such sale.
Except in the case of Federal income taxes, there shall not be taken
into account under clause (ii) any additional tax attributable to the
application of clause (ii).
26 U.S.C. § 42(i)(7)(B).

-- 6 of 19 --

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
7
became the investor/limited partner. In exchange for a $12 million capital 1
contribution, AMTAX received a 99.99% ownership stake in the Partnership and 2
the right to claim tax credits generated by the Property. 3
Intervenor-Defendant Tenants’ Development Corporation (the 4
“Nonprofit”) is a not-for-profit organization affiliated with the General Partner. 5
And Defendant-Appellee CohnReznick has served as the Partnership’s auditor 6
and tax preparer for approximately twenty years. 7
The Partnership and the Nonprofit entered into a right of first refusal and 8
purchase option agreement (the “Agreement”) that reflects a typical LIHTC 9
transaction. Under the Agreement, the Partnership granted the Nonprofit a right 10
of first refusal to acquire the Property in the event the Partnership proposed selling 11
its interest, as it was likely to do when the tax credits ended. The method by which 12
the ROFR purchase price was to be calculated was set forth in the Agreement.4 13
4 The purchase price was defined as:
the lesser of:
(x) the price stated in the Disposition Notice, or
(y) the sum of the principal amount of outstanding indebtedness secured by the
Property (other than indebtedness incurred within the 5-year period ending on the

-- 7 of 19 --

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
8
While the provision did not reference Section 42, it mirrored the statutory 1
language of Section 42’s safe harbor provision. 2
In January 2020, the Partnership engaged CohnReznick to calculate the price 3
at which the Nonprofit could exercise its right of first refusal in accordance with 4
the Agreement. On February 10, 2020, the Partnership informed the Nonprofit of 5
its intention to sell the Property, triggering the Nonprofit’s right of first refusal. 6
Attached to the notice was a calculation performed by CohnReznick of the right of 7
first refusal price: $17,108,380. The next day, the Nonprofit notified the 8
Partnership that it planned to purchase the Property for the amount stated in the 9
notice. AMTAX objected to the sale, and specifically to the first refusal price, 10
because it allegedly did not include AMTAX’s projected taxes upon the sale.5 11
date of any sale to the [Nonprofit]) and all federal, state and local taxes attributable
to such sale.
J. App’x at 94.
5 Closely related cases have been brought in federal court, in the United States Court of Appeals
for the First Circuit, and in state court in Massachusetts. Relevant here, AMTAX sued the
Nonprofit and the General Partner in the United States District Court for the District of
Massachusetts, asserting federal question jurisdiction. AMTAX brought various state-law claims,
including claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duties, and fraud. It also sought a
declaratory judgment that the Agreement did not comply with Section 42 and that the Agreement
was therefore void. See AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. Tenants’ Dev. Corp., No. 20CV10911 (LTS)
(D. Mass. May 12, 2020), ECF No. 1.

-- 8 of 19 --

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
9
C. Procedural Background 1
In February 2023, AMTAX filed a civil complaint in the Southern District 2
of New York against CohnReznick alleging four state-law claims for breach of 3
fiduciary duty, professional negligence, unjust enrichment, and fraud. AMTAX 4
asserts that CohnReznick entered a “secret agreement” with the General Partner to 5
calculate a purchase price that, by excluding exit taxes, failed to comply with 6
The Nonprofit and the General Partner also filed an action against AMTAX in the same district
court, asserting diversity jurisdiction and seeking a declaratory judgment that the right of first
refusal had been validly triggered. Tenants’ Dev. Corp. v. AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC, No.
20CV10902 (LTS) (D. Mass. May 12, 2020), ECF No. 1. AMTAX disclosed in a motion to dismiss
that one member of its owner, Alden Torch, was a Massachusetts citizen, as were the Nonprofit
and the General Partner, thereby destroying diversity jurisdiction. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a).
The district court dismissed both actions for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Tenants’ Dev. Corp.
v. AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC, No. 20CV10902 (LTS), 2020 WL 7646934, at *3–4 (D. Mass. Dec. 23,
2020). The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed. AMTAX Holdings 227,
LLC v. Tenants’ Dev. II Corp., 15 F.4th 551, 559 (1st Cir. 2021).
The Nonprofit and the General Partner subsequently sued AMTAX in Massachusetts state court,
seeking a similar declaration. Tenants’ Dev. Corp. v. AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC, No. 20-1260-BLS1
(Mass. Super. Ct. 2020). The Massachusetts Superior Court in effect ruled in favor of AMTAX,
holding, in relevant part, that the Partnership had inappropriately calculated the purchase price.
Tenants’ Development Corp. v. AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC, No. 20-1260-BLS1, 2023 WL 4421400, at
*12 (Mass. Super. Ct. June 30, 2023). The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts affirmed,
relying solely on the language of the Agreement. Tenants’ Dev. Corp. v. AMTAX Holdings 227,
LLC, 495 Mass. 207, 208 (2025).
Given the parties involved and the claims here asserted, no argument is made that these holdings
bind us.

-- 9 of 19 --

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
10
Section 42 of the federal tax code as required by the contract among them. 1
CohnReznick moved to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and for 2
failure to state a claim. The Nonprofit also filed a motion to intervene and to 3
dismiss. The district court granted CohnReznick’s motion and dismissed the suit. 4
See AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP, 736 F.Supp.3d 169, 185 5
(S.D.N.Y. 2024). 6
In reaching this result, the court applied the so-called Grable-Gunn test to 7
determine whether the state-law claims fell within federal question jurisdiction. 8
See Gunn v. Minton, 568 U.S. 251, 258 (2013) (“[F]ederal jurisdiction over a state law 9
claim will lie if a federal issue is: (1) necessarily raised, (2) actually disputed, (3) 10
substantial, and (4) capable of resolution in federal court without disrupting the 11
federal-state balance approved by Congress.” (citing Grable & Sons Metal Prods., 12
Inc. v. Darue Eng’g & Mfg., 545 U.S. 308, 313–314 (2005))). The district court held 13
that federal jurisdiction was inappropriate because AMTAX’s claims did not 14
necessarily raise a substantial federal-law controversy, and because allowing 15
federal jurisdiction over AMTAX’s claims would disrupt the federal-state balance. 16
See AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC, 736 F.Supp.3d at 182–86. This timely appeal 17
followed. 18

-- 10 of 19 --

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
11
II. DISCUSSION 1
A case is properly dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction when the 2
district court lacks the statutory or constitutional power to adjudicate it. See 3
Makarova v. United States, 201 F.3d 110, 113 (2d Cir. 2000). “A plaintiff asserting 4
subject matter jurisdiction has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the 5
evidence that it exists.” Id. We review a district court’s determination that it lacks 6
subject matter jurisdiction de novo. See id. 7
Title 28 U.S.C. § 1331 vests “original jurisdiction” in federal district courts 8
over “all civil actions arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United 9
States.” Typically, a case arises under federal law within the meaning of § 1331 10
when a plaintiff pleads a cause of action created by federal law. Gunn, 568 U.S. at 11
257. AMTAX’s complaint, however, does not assert any claims created by federal 12
law. Rather, AMTAX seeks to adjudicate claims for breach of fiduciary duty, 13
professional negligence, fraud, and unjust enrichment created by New York law. 14
When a plaintiff pleads only state-law causes of action, federal jurisdiction 15
may still exist in a “special and small category” of cases, Empire Healthchoice 16
Assurance, Inc. v. McVeigh, 547 U.S. 677, 699 (2006), namely, those that “implicate 17
significant federal issues,” Grable, 545 U.S. at 312. The category is rooted in the 18

-- 11 of 19 --

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
12
“commonsense notion that a federal court ought to be able to hear claims 1
recognized under state law that nonetheless turn on substantial questions of 2
federal law, and thus justify resort to the experience, solicitude, and hope of 3
uniformity that a federal forum offers on federal issues.” Id. 4
“Still, the Supreme Court has been sparing in recognizing state law claims 5
fitting this criterion,” NASDAQ OMX Grp., Inc. v. UBS Sec., LLC, 770 F.3d 1010, 6
1019 (2d Cir. 2014), and it is well-settled that “the mere presence of a federal issue 7
in a state cause of action does not automatically confer federal-question 8
jurisdiction,” Merrell Dow Pharms. Inc. v. Thompson, 478 U.S. 804, 813 (1986). The 9
federal issue must be (1) “necessarily raised,” (2) “actually disputed,” 10
(3) “substantial,” and (4) “capable of resolution in federal court without disrupting 11
the federal-state balance approved by Congress.” Gunn, 568 U.S. at 258. 12
Jurisdiction is only proper “[w]here all four of these requirements are met.” Id. 13
(emphasis added).6 14
6 Some prior decisions of this Court have used language suggesting that the Grable-Gunn test
involves “factors” to be “weigh[ed],” rather than required elements to be met. Link Motion Inc.
v. DLA Piper LLP, 103 F.4th 905, 917 (2d Cir. 2024); see also, e.g., NASDAQ OMX Grp., Inc., 770
F.3d at 1030; New York ex rel. Jacobson v. Wells Fargo Nat’l Bank N.A., 824 F.3d 308, 315–
16; Tantaros v. Fox News Network, LLC, 12 F.4th 135, 140–45 (2d Cir. 2021). The Supreme Court

-- 12 of 19 --

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
13
At issue in this case is whether AMTAX’s claims fit within the “special and 1
small category” of cases that implicate federal question jurisdiction. AMTAX 2
maintains that its claims related to CohnReznick’s alleged failure to calculate 3
properly the Property’s purchase price “necessarily depend[] on resolution of a 4
substantial question of federal law.” Empire Healthchoice Assurance, 547 U.S. at 690 5
(citation omitted). That is so, it argues, because the correct purchase price 6
“requires an interpretation of Section 42(i)(7) and how the statutory minimum 7
price thereunder should be calculated.” Appellant’s Br. at 26. 8
We disagree. Applying Grable-Gunn here, we conclude that AMTAX’s state- 9
law claims do not arise under federal law. Even assuming arguendo that AMTAX’s 10
claims necessarily raise disputed questions of federal tax law (i.e., the first and 11
second Grable-Gunn requirements),7 (A) these claims are by their nature unlikely 12
to have the sort of significance for the federal system that is required to establish 13
has made clear that jurisdiction is proper under Grable-Gunn only where “all four of these
requirements are met.” Gunn, 568 U.S. at 258 (emphasis added).
7 We note that the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts declined to look to Section 42 as
relevant to determine if exit taxes should have been included in CohnReznick’s calculation of the
purchase price. See supra n.5. Instead, the court based its holding on a pure question of contract
interpretation. See Tenants’ Dev. Corp., 495 Mass. at 221 (“[O]ur task is to interpret the
unambiguous contract language as the parties negotiated it[.]”).

-- 13 of 19 --

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
14
federal jurisdiction and (B) exercising federal jurisdiction in the instant case would 1
disturb the accepted balance of state and federal responsibilities. 2
A. 3
AMTAX’s argument fails first on Grable-Gunn’s third requirement, that the 4
alleged federal issue in this case be substantial. Substantiality requires that the 5
embedded federal issue be important “to the federal system as a whole,” not just 6
the private litigants involved. Gunn, 568 U.S. at 260–64. Relevant here, an issue 7
has such importance (1) when a state-law claim would yield an interpretation of 8
federal law that would be “controlling in numerous other cases,” Empire 9
Healthchoice Assurance, 547 U.S. at 700; see, e.g., NASDAQ OMX Grp., Inc., 770 F.3d 10
at 1024 (finding NASDAQ’s failure to operate a fair and orderly market for the 11
Facebook IPO sufficiently significant to the development of a uniform body of 12
federal securities regulation), or (2) when it challenges the “action of any federal 13
department, agency, or service,” Empire Healthchoice Assurance, 547 U.S. at 700; see 14
e.g., Grable, 545 U.S. at 314–15 (holding there was federal jurisdiction in part 15
because the dispute centered on the action of a federal agency, the IRS, and 16
compliance with a federal statute). 17

-- 14 of 19 --

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
15
By contrast, an issue that is “fact-bound and situation-specific” is not 1
sufficiently substantial to permit federal question jurisdiction. Empire Healthchoice 2
Assurance, 547 U.S. at 701; see also, e.g., Congregation Machna Shalva Zichron Zvi 3
Dovid v. U.S. Dep’t of Agric., 557 F. App’x 87, 90 (2d Cir. 2014) (summary order) 4
(declining to exercise federal question jurisdiction over a state-law claim because 5
“the determination at issue here is a fact-specific application of the regulations to 6
[the plaintiff] that does not implicate the validity of the regulations themselves”). 7
The law draws this distinction to ensure that there is “a serious federal 8
interest in claiming the advantages thought to be inherent in a federal 9
forum,” Grable, 545 U.S. at 313, rather than simply a result that affects the 10
particular parties. Upon “careful, case-specific consideration, most federal law 11
questions raised in connection with state law claims will not be deemed 12
substantial.” NASDAQ OMX Grp., Inc, 770 F.3d at 1029. 13
That is the case here. True, the Agreement’s purchase-price provision uses 14
language that mirrors Section 42. But even if AMTAX can successfully argue that 15
determining whether the provision has been complied with requires an 16
interpretation of Section 42, we cannot say that AMTAX’s state-law claims have 17
broader importance “to the federal system as a whole.” Gunn, 568 U.S. at 264. 18

-- 15 of 19 --

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
16
At their core, AMTAX’s claims rest on the interpretation of the Agreement’s 1
purchase-price provision, not on federal tax law. Section 42 simply provides a safe 2
harbor to prevent the IRS from denying tax credits to the partnership at issue. 3
Indeed, contracting parties are given the flexibility to structure agreements in 4
these complex relationships as they wish. See AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC, 15 F.4th 5
at 558. The parties here took advantage of that flexibility—they negotiated and 6
drafted a unique purchase-price provision, under which CohnReznick was 7
responsible for calculating the purchase price. Whether CohnReznick properly 8
calculated the purchase price pursuant to that provision, therefore, depends on 9
principles of contract interpretation and may be determined by reference to the 10
contracting parties’ intent as manifested in the terms of their agreement. 11
To be sure, in answering this question, a state court might look to federal 12
tax law. Indeed, the fact that the Agreement’s purchase-price provision was 13
drafted to mirror the statutory language of Section 42 may evince the parties’ 14
intent to comply with the statute. But even if a state court considers Section 42 15
useful in interpreting the purchase-price provision, its interpretation nevertheless 16
remains specific to the language of the contract before it. 17

-- 16 of 19 --

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
17
As a result, allowing state courts to resolve the meaning of this contract 1
provision in no way undermines “the development of a uniform body of [tax] 2
law.” Bonito Boats, Inc. v. Thunder Craft Boats, Inc., 489 U.S. 141, 162 (1989). State 3
courts are expected to “hew closely” to the pertinent federal precedents in 4
interpreting relevant federal tax law. Gunn, 568 U.S. at 262. Hence, federal courts 5
looking subsequently at the meaning of Section 42 might well consider the reading 6
given to the Section by a state court addressing this case. But in resolving any such 7
tax questions in the future, the federal courts are not in any way bound by state 8
court rulings. Cf. Tafflin v. Levitt, 493 U.S. 455, 465 (1990). 9
Additionally, AMTAX’s claims are unlikely to have significance for the 10
federal system because this dispute does not implicate any action of the federal 11
government. In particular, the IRS is not a party to or otherwise involved in this 12
action. See Empire Healthchoice Assurance, 547 U.S. at 700 (holding that federal 13
jurisdiction was lacking because, among other reasons, plaintiffs did not challenge 14
the action of any federal agency). 15
In short, because the dispute here turns on the Agreement and does not 16
implicate activity by the IRS, AMTAX’s claims do not suggest broad significance 17
to the federal government or other parties and, thus, lack substantiality. 18

-- 17 of 19 --

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
18
B. 1
The fourth Grable-Gunn requirement—that the exercise of federal question 2
jurisdiction over a state-law claim not disturb any congressionally-approved 3
balance of state and federal judicial responsibilities—would also be violated if 4
federal jurisdiction were found in this case. In conducting this analysis, courts 5
principally focus on “the nature of the claim, the traditional forum for such a claim, 6
and the volume of cases that would be affected.” New York ex rel. Jacobson, 824 F.3d 7
at 316. 8
Federal jurisdiction in the instant case would disturb the accepted balance 9
of state and federal responsibilities. In Gunn, the Supreme Court held that federal 10
question jurisdiction was not triggered for legal malpractice claims relating to 11
patent litigation because the resolution of a “hypothetical patent issue” 12
insufficiently implicated a federal interest, given the state courts’ role as the 13
traditional forum for legal malpractice cases. 568 U.S. at 264. Similarly, while 14
“[t]he meaning of [a] federal tax provision is an important issue of federal law that 15
sensibly belongs in a federal court,” Grable, 545 U.S. at 315, states have “a special 16
responsibility for maintaining standards among members of the licensed 17
professions,” Gunn, 568 U.S. at 263 (citation omitted). Defendant-Appellee in this 18

-- 18 of 19 --

24-1726
AMTAX Holdings 227, LLC v. CohnReznick LLP
19
case is an accounting firm. Garden-variety state-law malpractice or negligence 1
claims against accountants often implicate the interpretation of federal tax law. 2
That does not mean they necessarily trigger federal jurisdiction. 3
Exercising federal jurisdiction in every case that involves interpreting a 4
federal tax provision analogous to that sought in the instant case would invite 5
countless accountant-malpractice claims in federal court—claims that traditionally 6
fall within the “purview of state regulation of professional conduct.” Nat’l Inst. of 7
Fam. & Life Advocs. v. Becerra, 585 U.S. 755, 769 (2018) (quoting NAACP v. Button, 8
371 U.S. 415, 438 (1963)). Hence, the exercise of federal jurisdiction in this case 9
would disrupt the federal-state judicial balance. 10
CONCLUSION 11
In sum, this case cannot be squeezed into the slim category Grable-Gunn 12
carves out. Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. 13

-- 19 of 19 --