United States v. King Mountain Tobacco Co.

131 F. Supp. 3d 1088, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 128753, 2015 WL 5476520
District Court, E.D. Washington·Decided September 17, 2015·No. No. 1:14-CV-3162-RMP·Published·Cited by 5 cases

Opinion

ORDER DENYING KING MOUNTAIN’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

ROSANNA MALOUF PETERSON, Chief Judge.

BEFORE THE COURT is King Mountain Tobacco Company, Inc.’s Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 41. The Court heard telephonic oral argument on the motion on September 16, 2015. Trial Attorney Kenneth Sealls appeared on behalf of the United States, and Randolph Barnhouse appeared on behalf of King Mountain. The Court has reviewed the motions, considered the parties’ arguments, and is fully informed.

BACKGROUND

The Court incorporates by reference its Order regarding various motions, ECF No. 46, in which the Court recounts the procedural and factual background of this cases.

DISCUSSION

A. Takings Clause

King Mountain moves for summary judgment in its favor on the basis that the FETRA assessments constitute an unconstitutional taking under the Fifth Amendment and therefore are invalid. ECF No. 41. First, King Mountain argues that the FETRA assessments are per se takings, citing Home, et al. v. USDA, — U.S. -, 135 S.Ct. 2419, 192 L.Ed.2d 388 (2015), in support of its argument. Second, King Mountain argues in the alternative that the FETRA assessments are regulatory takings- under Eastern Enterprises v. Apfel, 524 U.S. 498, 118 S.Ct. 2131, 141 L.Ed.2d 451 (1998) (plurality opinion).

i. Relevant Law

The final clause of the Fifth Amendment provides: “nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” Const, amend. V. The Takings provision “does not prohibit the taking of private property, but instead places [conditions] on the exercise of that power:” (1) the taking must be for a “public use,” and (2) “just compensation” must be paid to the owner. Brown v. Legal Foundation of Wa., 538 U.S. 216, 231, 123 S.Ct. 1406,-155 L.Ed.2d 376 (2003); First English Evangelical Lutheran Church of Glendale v. Los Angeles Cnty., Ca., 482 U.S. 304, 315-16, 107 S.Ct. 2378, 96 L.Ed.2d 250 (1987). The Supreme Court has emphasized the role of the takings doctrine as “barring -Government from forcing some people alone to bear public burdens which, in all fairness and justice, should be borne by the public as a whole.” Lingle v. Chevron U.S.A. Inc., 544 U.S. [1091]*1091528, 537, 125 S.Ct. 2074, 161 L.Ed.2d 876 (2005).

Thus, the Court conducts a two-step inquiry when analyzing a takings claim. First, the Court determines whether a “taking” has occurred: “that is, whether the complained-of government action constitutes a ‘taking,’ thus triggering the requirements of the Fifth Amendment,” Home v. USDA, 750 F.3d 1128, 1136 (9th Cir.2014) reversed on other grounds by Home v. USDA, — U.S.-, 135 S.Ct. 2419,192 L.Ed,2d 388 (2015). Second, the Court asks whether the government provided “just compensation” to the property owner. Id. The party challenging government action bears the burden of proving that the action constitutes an unconstitutional taking. Eastern Enterprises v. Apfel, 524 U.S. 498, 522, 118 S.Ct. 2131, 141 L.Ed,2d 451 (1998).

The Supreme Court has recognized broadly two types -of takings. Historically, the Court has recognized the “classic taking” or “paradigmatic taking” in which the government directly appropriates or physically invades private property. Lingle, 544 U.S. at 537, 125 S.Ct. 2074;, Eastern Enterprises, 524 U.S. at 522, 118 , S.Ct. 2131. Such physical invasion constitutes a per se taking and creates a “clear rule” establishing “a categorical duty to compensate the former owner, regardless of whether the interest that is taken constitutes an entire parcel or merely a part thereof.” Tahoe-Sierra Preservation Council, Inc. v. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, 535 U.S. 302, 322, 122 S.Ct. 1465, 152 L.Edi2d 517 (2002).

The Supreme Court has applied this “clear rule” when the government took possession of a leasehold and physically occupied the property for its own use, United States v. General Motors Corp., 323 U.S. 373, 65 S.Ct. 357, 89 L.Ed. 311 (1945); when the government appropriated part of a rooftop to provide for the installation of television cables, Loretto v. Teleprompter Manhattan CATV Corp., 458 U.S. 419, 102 S.Ct. 3164, 73 L.Ed.2d 868 (1982); and when the government used private airspace to fly an airplane into a government airport, United States v. Causby, 328 U.S. 256, 66 S.Ct. 1062, 90 L.Ed. 1206 (1946). See Tahoe Sierra, 535 U.S. at 322, 122 S.Ct. 1465 (referencing these éxamples). Although some of these per se takings may have been implemented through regulation, see Loretto, 458 U.S. at 423, 102 S.Ct. 3164, their defining feature is a physical possession or invasion of private property, and the Court applied the clear rule to' each.

In later Supreme Court jurisprudence, the Court recognized the concept of regulatory takings, in which government regulation proves to be “so onerous that its effect is tantamount to a direct appropriation or ouster.... ” Lingle, 544 U.S. at 537, 125 S.Ct. 2074. Whether government action constitutes a regulatory taking is “a question of degree” .that “cannot be disposed of by general propositions.” Penn. Coal Co. v. Mahon, 260 U.S. 393, 416, 43 S.Ct. 158, 67 L.Ed. 322 (1922).' Accordingly, determining whether challenged government action amounts to a regulatory taking involves an “essentially ad hoc, factual inquirfy].” Penn Central Transp. Co. v. City of New York, 438 U.S. 104, 124, 98 S.Ct. 2646, 57 L.Ed.2d 631 (1978).

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United States v. King Mountain Tobacco Co., 131 F. Supp. 3d 1088, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 128753, 2015 WL 5476520 (E.D. Wash. 2015).

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