United States v. Sells Engineering, Inc.

463 U.S. 418 (1983)

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United States v. Sells Engineering, Inc.

United States Supreme Court
463 U.S. 418 (1983)

Facts

Sells Engineering (defendant) and two of its corporate officers were indicted by a grand jury on tax fraud charges instituted by the Department of Justice (plaintiff). The Department of Justice moved the federal court to grant its Civil Division access to grand jury materials in order to pursue a civil suit against the corporation and its officers. The district court granted the motion. The corporation appealed. The court of appeals held that the Department needed to demonstrate a particularized need for the grand jury materials in accordance with Rule 6(e)(3)(C)(i) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. The Department petitioned the Supreme Court for review.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Brennan, J.)

Dissent (Burger, J.)

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