ACF Industries, Inc. v. Department of Revenue of Oregon

961 F.2d 813
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedApril 8, 1992
DocketNo. 90-35402
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 961 F.2d 813 (ACF Industries, Inc. v. Department of Revenue of Oregon) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
ACF Industries, Inc. v. Department of Revenue of Oregon, 961 F.2d 813 (9th Cir. 1992).

Opinion

TROTT, Circuit Judge:

Appellants (collectively, the “Car-lines”) challenge the district court’s judgment in favor of the Department of Revenue of the State of Oregon (the “DOR”). The Carlines sought declaratory and injunctive relief against the DOR’s assessment and collection of the Carlines’ personal property tax for 1988, alleging discriminatory taxation in violation of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act, 49 U.S.C. § 11503 (the “Act”).1 The dis[816]*816trict court ruled the Carlines had not sustained their burden of showing impermissible discrimination, and denied relief. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we reverse.

I

Federal Statutory Framework

Section 306(1) prohibits states from taxing transportation property in a discriminatory fashion. It provides, in relevant part:

(1) ... [A]ny action described in this subsection is ... unreasonable and unjust discrimination against and an undue burden on, interstate commerce. It is unlawful for a State, a political subdivision of a State, or a governmental entity or person acting on behalf of such State or subdivision to commit any of the following prohibited acts:
(a) The assessment (but only to the extent of any portion based on excessive values as hereinafter described) for purposes of a property tax levied by any taxing district, of transportation property at a value which bears a higher ratio to the true market value of such transportation property than the ratio which the assessed value of all other commercial and industrial property in the same assessment jurisdiction bears to the true market value of all such other commercial and industrial property.
(b) The levy or collection of any tax on an assessment which is unlawful under subdivision (a).
(c) The levy or collection of any ad valorem property tax on transportation property at a tax rate higher than the tax rate generally applicable to commercial and industrial property in the same assessment jurisdiction.
(d)The imposition of any other tax which results in discriminatory treatment of a common carrier by railroad subject to this part.

Pub.L. No. 94-210, § 306(1) (emphasis added).

The parties have stipulated that the Car-lines’ property is “transportation property” within the meaning of the Act. “Commercial and industrial property” is defined as:

all property, real or personal, other than transportation property and land used primarily for agricultural purposes or primarily for the purpose of growing timber, which is devoted to a commercial or industrial use and which is subject to a property tax levy

Pub.L. No. 94-210, § 306(3)(c).

Section 306(2) provides that “the district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction, without regard to amount in controversy or citizenship of the parties, to grant such mandatory or prohibitive relief, interim equitable relief, and declaratory judgments as may be necessary to prevent, restrain, or terminate any acts in violation of this section_” Pub.L. No. 94-210, § 306(2).

II

Oregon’s Ad Valorem Tax Scheme

All real and personal property in Oregon except that expressly exempted is subject to ad valorem taxation, and must be assessed and taxed “in equal and ratable proportion.” Or.Rev.Stat. §§ 307.030 (1989). All personal property must be valued at 100 percent of its fair market value. Or.Rev.Stat. § 308.260 (1989). Certain classes of business personalty are exempt from ad valorem taxation, including agricultural machinery and equipment, business inventories, livestock, poultry, bees, [817]*817fur-bearing animals, and agricultural products in the possession of farmers. Or.Rev. Stat. §§ 307.400, 307.325 (1989). Motor vehicles are exempt from personal property taxation but are subject to fixed motor vehicle registration fees in lieu of property taxes. Or.Rev.Stat. § 803.585 (1989). Standing timber, which many regard as a cornerstone of the State’s economy, is also expressly exempt from ad valorem taxation. Or.Rev.Stat. §§ 321.272, 321.420 (1989). Standing timber is considered real property, and is taxed under a separate scheme when it is harvested. Or.Rev.Stat. §§ 307.010(1), 321.005 et seq. (1989).

The State of Oregon taxes railroad cars as “tangible personal property.” Or.Rev. Stat. § 307.030 (1989). The Carlines claim Oregon’s taxation of railroad property is discriminatory, in violation of section 306(l)(d), because “a large majority of non-railroad business personal property is not taxed” while railroad property is taxed in full. The district court held that, although the Carlines had standing to bring an action under section 306(l)(d), Oregon’s exemption scheme constituted neither de jure nor de facto discrimination against the Car-lines.

On appeal, the Carlines challenge the district court’s ultimate conclusion, as well as the methodology it employed in examining the discrimination issue. Although the DOR agrees with the district court’s ultimate conclusion that there was no discrimination in violation of section 306(l)(d), it argues that the type of discrimination the Carlines allege should not have been analyzed under section 306(l)(d), but rather under 306(l)(a) or (c). We agree with the Carlines that the discrimination claim was properly analyzed under section 306(l)(d) and that the Carlines made the necessary showing of discrimination.

Ill

Standard of Review

This matter was submitted to the district court on the pleadings, a stipulation of facts, and briefs. On appeal, we must determine whether the district court correctly applied the law to the stipulated facts. “Because the parties submitted this case on stipulated facts, the court’s review is limited to a de novo examination of questions of law.” Elwood v. Aid Ins. Co., 880 F.2d 204, 206 (9th Cir.1989). Further, “[sjince the district court’s application of the statutory scheme to the stipulated facts required consideration of the values underlying that scheme, the proper standard of review on appeal is de novo.” Sunshine Mining Co. v. United States, 827 F.2d 1404, 1406 (9th Cir.1987); see also Schwartz Rojas v. Commissioner, 901 F.2d 810, 812 (9th Cir.1990) (“We review de novo the applicability of [the Internal Revenue Code] to the stipulated facts.”).

“Though we would normally review the district court’s findings of fact for clear error, the parties’ stipulation to the facts obviates such review.” Planned Parenthood of S. Nevada v. Clark County School Dist.,

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961 F.2d 813, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/acf-industries-inc-v-department-of-revenue-of-oregon-ca9-1992.