Stark v. Flemming

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

283 F.2d 410 (1960)

Relevant factsFree

Stark (plaintiff) placed her farm and house into a newly formed corporation, drawing a $400 monthly salary specifically to qualify for social security old-age benefits, and the Secretary (defendant) deemed the corporation a sham and denied benefits, a decision the district court affirmed.

IssueFree

Whether a corporation formed solely to obtain federal social security benefits, while adhering to state incorporation law and not prohibited by federal law, is valid.

Holding & reasoning

The court resolved the question by applying the controlling rule to the facts and explaining precisely why the outcome followed. Its reasoning ties the doctrine to the record so you can reproduce the analysis on an exam.

Procedural history, concurrence & dissent

This section traces the case from the trial court through appeal and lays out how each opinion lands. Separate writings sharpen the majority's limits and flag the arguments most likely to resurface in class.

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