Raceway Park, Inc. v. Ohio

356 F.3d 677 | 6th Cir. | 2004

ROGERS, Circuit Judge. The instant action arises from the

Defendants-Appellees. (cid:45) passage of Substitute House Bill 561 (“HB 561”) by the Ohio (cid:78) General Assembly. 1996 Ohio Laws H 561. HB 561 concerned, in relevant part, the terms under which horse

Appeal from the United States District Court racing tracks and satellite facilities could receive simulcast for the Northern District of Ohio at Toledo. races conducted at other facilities. The plaintiffs — certain No. 00-07720—David A. Katz, District Judge. owners of licensed race track facilities located in Cincinnati, Toledo, and Lebanon, Ohio, and the satellite facility

Argued: September 17, 2003 associated with the Toledo track — sued the Ohio State Racing Commission, among others, challenging the

Decided and Filed: January 15, 2004 1 Nos. 02-3466/3487 Raceway Park, Inc., et al. v. 3 4 Raceway Park, Inc., et al. v. Nos. 02-3466/3487 State of Ohio, et al. State of Ohio, et al. constitutionality of certain aspects of HB 561 under the they offered no live racing program, and provided a separate Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment and the Equal scheme for allocating wagering revenues from such days. See Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth generally O HIO R EV . C ODE A NN . § 3769.089 (Anderson Amendment. The district court granted the defendants’ 2002) . The scheme was essentially the same, except that the motion for summary judgment, and dismissed the case. portion of the commission which had been allocated to the Because the statutory scheme does not effectuate a taking for purse fund at the track was diverted instead into a newly Fifth Amendment purposes, and does not otherwise run afoul created Combined Simulcast Purse Fund (“CSPF”). O HIO of the Fourtheenth Amendment, we affirm the judgment of R EV . C ODE A NN . § 3769.089(E) (Anderson 2002). Funds the district court. from the CSPF are distributed periodically to the purse funds

at Ohio race tracks in accordance with a formula based on I. Background each track’s historical share of the total amount wagered on live racing days during the five calendar years immediately

The statutory provisions at issue in this case govern the preceding the distribution. O HIO R EV . C ODE A NN . allocation of proceeds from simulcast horse racing in Ohio. § 3769.089(F) (Anderson 2002). The plaintiffs have each Prior to the enactment of HB 561, wagering at Ohio tracks on paid more money into the CSPF than they have received in televised, simulcast horse races was significantly restricted. [1] distributions, while the racetrack defendants have each Tracks could offer simulcast racing only on days that they received more money in distributions from the CSPF than also offered a live racing program. Ohio law also prescribed they have paid into it. how wagering revenues were allocated. Money wagered at tracks was divided, with a percentage going to the track This case involves the constitutionality not only of the operator as a “commission” and the balance distributed as CSPF, but also the so-called “50% Rule” that applies to payoffs on winning wagers. After taxes and administrative

wagers made at satellite facilities. O HIO R EV . C ODE A NN . fees were subtracted from the commission, 50% of the § 3769.26(F) (Anderson 2002). Satellites must be affiliated balance was allocated to the operator’s purse account (which with a particular race track but conduct no live racing must be used to fund purses at the track) and 50% of the activities themselves. Consequently, a satellite depends balance was retained by the operator as income. See O HIO entirely on simulcasts of races conducted at other locations. R EV . C ODE A NN . § 3769.08 (West 1995). Satellites receive simulcasts from “simulcast hosts,” Ohio

race tracks that transmit live racing conducted at Ohio tracks This scheme for allocating wagering revenues on days on or that act as hosts for races taking place in other states. [2] which a track offered both live and simulcast racing was not changed by the passage of HB 561. See O HIO R EV . C ODE All money wagered at the simulcast host and all money A NN . § 3769.08 (Anderson 2002). HB 561, however,

wagered at satellites is included in a common pari-mutual authorized tracks to offer simulcast racing on days on which pool at the simulcast host and, with limited exceptions not A. The challenged provisions do not constitute

takings of their property under the Takings Clause of the Fifth unconstitutional takings of the Plaintiffs’ property under the Amendment to the United States Constitution, and violated Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States their rights under the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Constitution. Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Faced with cross-motions for summary judgment, the district court

The Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment, made granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment, applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment, denied the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment, and Dolan v. City of Tigard , 512 U.S. 374, 383-84 (1994) ( citing dismissed the plaintiffs’ complaint. The court concluded that, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R.R. Co. v. Chicago , 166 U.S. because the CSPF was created by the same legislation that 226, 239 (1897)), provides that private property shall not be authorized simulcast-only racing, the plaintiffs had no taken for public use without just compensation. Even reasonable expectation to receive the revenues diverted to assuming that the plaintiffs have a property interest in the CSPF and, thus, had no property interest in those funds that funds diverted under the CSPF or the 50% Rule, however, the could be taken in violation of the Takings Clause. The operation of those provisions does not constitute an unlawful district court further found that the plaintiffs’ failure to taking under the Fifth Amendment. demonstrate a protectable property interest in the revenues diverted to the CSPF doomed their claims that the creation of the CSPF arbitrarily deprived them of property in violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Finally, the district court concluded that HB 561 contained no [3] In granting summary judgment, the district court did not discuss the

indiscriminate or arbitrary classification, but was “a studied plaintiffs claims concerning the 50% Rule. Nos. 02-3466/3487 Raceway Park, Inc., et al. v. 7 8 Raceway Park, Inc., et al. v. Nos. 02-3466/3487 State of Ohio, et al. State of Ohio, et al. “Because the Constitution protects rather than creates not identify any specific pre-HB 561 property interest that is property interests, the existence of a property interest is affected by the 50% Rule. determined by reference to ‘existing rules or understandings

It follows that funds diverted by HB 561 to the CSPF, and that stem from an independent source such as state law.’” funds allocated under the 50% Rule, are not the private Phillips v. Wash. Legal Found. , 524 U.S. 156, 164 (1998) property of plaintiffs for Fifth Amendment Takings Clause ( quoting Bd. of Regents v. Roth , 408 U.S. 564, 577 (1972)). purposes. This conclusion is consistent with Phillips and Current law does not grant the plaintiffs any property interest Webb’s Fabulous Pharmacies, Inc. v. Beckwith , 449 U.S. 155 to wagering revenues diverted under the CSPF (aside from (1980), because the conclusion is not, contrary to plaintiffs’ their rights to distributions under the statutory formula) or the assertions, dependent on any theory of “government-created 50% Rule. Accordingly, the inquiry turns to whether the

value.” In Phillips , the Supreme Court concluded that interest plaintiffs had such an interest prior to the passage of HB 561. earned on funds deposited in pooled accounts under an It is apparent that they did not. Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (“IOLTA”) program was It is clear that, prior to the enactment of HB 561, the private property. Phillips , 524 U.S. at 172. Under Texas law, plaintiff race tracks were statutorily entitled to commissions attorneys were required to pool client deposits in an IOLTA earned from wagering on simulcast racing at their tracks on account if the funds could not earn net interest if deposited days when live racing was also conducted at the tracks . The separately. The interest on the pooled account was not race tracks’ entitlement to those commissions was not apportioned among the clients, but diverted to foundations affected by the passage of HB 561 and the establishment of that financed legal services for low-income individuals. The the CSPF. The plaintiffs did not, however, have a statutory Court found that the interest was, in fact, the private property entitlement to commissions earned on days when they offered of the clients, reasoning that the clients owned the principal only simulcast racing because, under pre-HB 561 law, no and, under Texas law, interest is presumed to follow the such racing could be conducted. There could therefore have principal that generates it. Id . at 165-66. The Court found been no property interest in such commissions. It was the that the fact that net interest could not have been earned had passage of HB 561 that created the right to conduct simulcast- the clients’ funds been deposited separately rather than in an only racing in Ohio, and, therefore, any property rights to IOLTA account, was irrelevant to the question of whether the commissions on such racing could not pre-date the passage of interest, once earned, was private property. Id . at 169-70. HB 561. The Court had reached a similar result in Webb’s , concluding

that interest accruing on an interpleader fund was the private Nor did the plaintiffs have a property interest in the property of the fund’ s beneficiaries. Webb’s , 449 U.S. at 164- revenues diverted under the 50% Rule prior to the passage of 65. Florida law required that interpleader funds be deposited HB 561. While the plaintiffs generally assert that “the mere in the registry of the county clerk, and the interest earned on fact that an activity is pursued under an authorization or such funds was retained by the county as income. The Court license obtained by the government does not mean that found that the county’s retention of the interest, under the licensees have no property interest in the fruits of their specific statutory scheme in place, was a taking in violation labors,” and that they have a property interest “in funds of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. In doing so, the generated though the conduct of a licensed business Court relied heavily on a “long established general rule” that activity—the simulcasting of horse racing events,” they do

interest on interpleaded and deposited funds follows the Nos. 02-3466/3487 Raceway Park, Inc., et al. v. 9 10 Raceway Park, Inc., et al. v. Nos. 02-3466/3487 State of Ohio, et al. State of Ohio, et al. principal and should be allocated to the owners of the inquiry into the circumstances of each particular case. See, principal. Id . at 162-63. In the instant case, as in Webb and e.g., Connolly v. Pension Benefit Gty. Corp. , 475 U.S. 211, Phillips , the relevant inquiry is whether state law recognizes 224 (1986). In conducting such an inquiry, three factors have the asserted property right. The conclusion we reach here particular significance: the economic impact of the regulation results from the fact that there is no long-standing right to the on the claimant, the extent to which the regulation interfered revenues earned from gambling on horse racing. with reasonable investment-backed expectations, and the

character of the governmental action. Id. In the instant case, We could appropriately end our Takings Clause analysis each of these factors weighs against finding a taking here, as there is no taking if there is no private property in the prohibited by the Fifth Amendment. first place. We are reluctant to do so, however, because our conclusion is potentially subject to counterarguments 1. The nature of the action. (outlined in the margin [4] ) that have some force, though not

First, the challenged provisions are not by nature takings. enough to persuade us. We therefore assume for the sake of Under HB 561, the government does not physically invade or argument that revenues diverted to the CSPF and revenues permanently appropriate any of the plaintiffs assets for its diverted under the 50% Rule were—sufficiently for Takings own use. Instead, HB 561 represents an attempt by Ohio’s Clause purposes—the private property of plaintiffs. Even if General Assembly to protect and preserve Ohio’s horse racing so, HB 561 clearly does not effectuate an unconstitutional industry. It is true that the statutory scheme created by HB taking.

561 includes provisions that allocate revenues from wagering The Supreme Court has consistently declined to create a set on horse racing according to prescribed formulas, and that formula for identifying a “taking” forbidden by the Fifth those formulas burden some race track operators and benefit Amendment and has instead prescribed an ad hoc , factual others. It is well settled, however, that legislation that

“adjusts the benefits and burdens of economic life to promote the common good . . . does not constitute a taking requiring Government compensation.” Connolly , 475 U.S. at 225 [4] (citations omitted). [5] It might be argued that if the earnings (interest) on principal are the property of the owner of the principal under Phillips and Webb’s Fabulous Pharmacies , then by parity of reasoning the earnings (profits) of an enterprise are the property of the owner of the enterprise. The fact that a controversial way of making money may over the years be [5] alternately banned, heavily licensed, or permitted by the state, does not At oral argument, counsel for the plaintiffs suggested for the first mean that the profits of such private enterprises, when legal, can be taken time that the diversion of revenues effected by the challenged provisions by the state without being subject to Takings Clause protection. And it is should be analyzed as per se takings, as the plaintiffs were comp letely at least questiona ble whether this conclusion should be any different just deprived of such revenues. The m erits of counsel’s sugge stion is because the alleged taking is effectuated by the same statute that legalizes questionable, see Conn olly , 475 U.S. at 222-23 (recognizing that the activity. Thus if peddling in a particular city, previously forbidden, employer was permanently deprived of assets necessary to satisfy were allowed by an ordinance, we might be reluctant to say that the city statutory liability to private party, but rejecting argument that said liab ility could— pursuant to the same ordinance — confiscate the peddler’s profits. always constituted uncomp ensated taking prohibited by Fifth In our view, the fixed allocation of a new gambling pool is much farther Amendm ent), and we d ecline to consider it absent briefing, pa rticularly removed in nature from the interest earnings on principa l involved in considering its potentially far-reaching implications for other areas of Phillips than the hypothetical pe ddler’s earnings from his efforts. government regulation, and indeed upon the government’s power to tax. Nos. 02-3466/3487 Raceway Park, Inc., et al. v. 11 12 Raceway Park, Inc., et al. v. Nos. 02-3466/3487

State of Ohio, et al. State of Ohio, et al. The plaintiffs contend that the CSPF and the 50% Rule do as to how value generated through economic activity is not benefit the general public, but instead benefit a select apportioned among those performing the activity, because the group of race track operators—namely the racetrack distribution of funds from the CSPF is based on historical defendants. They argue that Ohio’s aims of protecting and shares of racing revenues at Ohio race tracks, and because preserving its horse racing industry could have been both the CSPF and the 50% Rule create disproportionate accomplished by liberalizing the restrictions on simulcast benefits and burdens among race track operators. Finally, the racing, and that therefore the CSPF and the 50% Rule are plaintiffs argue that they had a reasonable investment backed extras that inure only to the benefit of private parties. Even expectation that the introduction of simulcast-only racing assuming that Ohio could have achieved its goals of would enhance revenues and enable them to offer larger

purses at their own tracks. [6] providing economic relief to the horse racing industry in another fashion, however, it does not follow that the

Even assuming, however, that the plaintiffs have accurately balancing of interests codified in HB 561 was beyond Ohio’s characterized the provisions of HB 561, these contentions are power to modify the economic benefits and burdens from beside the point. To say that it is not reasonable to expect that wagering on horse races. Accordingly, we conclude that the the government enact such regulations, that such regulations nature of the action weighs against finding a taking.

are subject to challenge, or that such regulations conflict with 2. Interference with investment backed expectations. normal business expectations does not change the fact that the plaintiffs were well aware of the CSPF and the 50% Rule Second, the challenged provisions of HB 561 do not prior to making any investments related to simulcast-only interfere with legitimate investment backed expectations. The racing, and could not, therefore have reasonably expected a district court observed that the same legislation that greater return. Consequently, this factor also weighs against authorized simulcast-only racing also included the revenue

finding a taking. allocation formulas to which the plaintiffs objected and concluded that the plaintiffs could have no reasonable 3. Economic Impact. expectation of a greater return on their investment than that Finally, consideration of the economic impact of the provided under the CSPF and 50% Rule.

challenged provisions of HB 561 does not support the The plaintiffs offer several arguments as to why this up- conclusion that there has been a taking. The district court front disclosure of the terms of participation did not prevent acknowledged that the CSPF and the 50% Rule had an them from reasonably expecting higher returns. First, they adverse economic impact on the plaintiffs, at least to the argue that the district court’s conclusion is tantamount to finding that participants in heavily-regulated industries have no choice but to accept even the most confiscatory [6] Curio usly, the plaintiffs do not actually allege that revenues have not

regulations. “[I]t is not objectively reasonable,” they contend, increased or that they have been precluded from offering higher purses “to expect that the state will condition participation in the than before the implementation of HB 561. They simp ly allege that purse racing industry upon acceptance of a system which transfers money that could have gone into their purse fund was diverted to the CSPF. At worst, it appears that the plaintiffs’ revenues have increased earnings from one set of race track owners to another.” Next,

after the passage of HB 561, just not as much as the plaintiffs would have the plaintiffs charge that HB 561 disrupts normal expectations liked. Nos. 02-3466/3487 Raceway Park, Inc., et al. v. 13 14 Raceway Park, Inc., et al. v. Nos. 02-3466/3487 State of Ohio, et al. State of Ohio, et al. extent that they were deprived of a portion of simulcast will always be out of proportion to its experience with wagering proceeds. [7] The plaintiffs emphasize that, under the

the plan, and the mere fact that the employer must pay challenged provisions, significant portions of the revenue money to comply with the Act is but a necessary from wagering on simulcast-only racing at their facilities is consequence of the [amendment]'s regulatory scheme. diverted to others. The plaintiffs allege that, under the CSPF Id . at 225-26 (footnote omitted). Similarly in this case, the regulations, they have paid millions more into the CSPF than allocations are not made “in a vacuum,” but depend upon they have received in disbursements, and they note that, under factors that the legislature found reasonably related to the the 50% Rule, one-half of the money wagered at the plaintiff encouragement of live horse racing. As in Connolly , the satellite facility is allocated to other tracks.

payment of the revenues at issue is “a necessary consequence In applying the economic impact factor, the Supreme Court of the . . . regulatory scheme.” has made clear that a complete deprivation of money that an The plaintiffs argue that the economic impact of the CSPF enterprise is obligated to pay does not necessarily require the is particularly onerous, because the formula for determining finding of a taking. In Connolly , the Court found that the distributions creates a cycle in which they will always pay retroactive application of the withdrawal liability provisions more into the fund than they receive out of it. Under the of the Multiemployer Pension Plan Amendments Act of 1980 CSPF distribution formula, the plaintiffs contend, tracks with did not effect an unconstitutional taking under the Fifth higher historical wagering are rewarded by higher Amendment. Connolly , 475 U.S. at 221-28. In considering distributions, which are dedicated to the tracks purse funds. the economic impact of the provisions, the Court reasoned:

More money available in a track’s purse fund means that the as to the severity of the economic impact of the track can attract better horses, which increases wagering, [amendment], there is no doubt that the Act completely which in turn increases the track’s share of the CSPF deprives an employer of whatever amount of money it is distributions. Indeed, the plaintiffs project that they will obligated to pay to fulfill its statutory liability. The always pay more into the fund than they receive in assessment of withdrawal liability is not made in a distributions. vacuum, however, but directly depends on the It appears, however, that the cycle complained is not a relationship between the employer and the plan to which necessary consequence of the CSPF formula, but is instead it had made contributions. Moreover, there are a rooted in the plaintiffs’ business decisions. Tracks contribute significant number of provisions in the Act that moderate to the CSPF only on days that they offer simulcast racing and mitigate the economic impact of an individual without also offering live racing. Plaintiff Raceway Park and employer's liability. There is nothing to show that the

Defendant Scioto Downs conducted live racing on roughly withdrawal liability actually imposed on an employer the same number of days, but Raceway Park conducted simulcast-only racing on 237 days, while Scioto Downs conducted such racing on only 9 days. Consequently, [7] Raceway Park contributed significantly more to the CSPF. As noted above, the p laintiffs do not actually claim that their

revenues decreased after the passage of HB 561, but instead claim that Raceway Park could have chosen to minimize its their revenues would have increased more absent the challenged

contributions to the fund by limiting the number of simulcast- provisions. Nos. 02-3466/3487 Raceway Park, Inc., et al. v. 15 16 Raceway Park, Inc., et al. v. Nos. 02-3466/3487

State of Ohio, et al. State of Ohio, et al. only race days it conducted. It made a business decision not In rejecting the plaintiffs’ equal protection claim, the to do so. Accordingly, we conclude that the economic burden district court concluded that HB 561 made no indiscriminate factor weighs against finding a taking in this case. [8]

classifications, but instead represented a “studied and well- considered statutory scheme established to address legitimate

B. The challenged provisions do not violate the Equal government objectives.” The plaintiffs argue that the CSPF Protection Clause or the Due Process Clause of the regulations are arbitrary and irrational because the provisions Fourteenth Amendment . bear no rational relationship to Ohio’s asserted purpose and

that they arbitrarily shift business revenues from one private The challenged provisions also do not violate the Equal business to another. The plaintiffs’ argument boils down to Protection Clause. Social and economic legislation, such as a disagreement with Ohio’s determination on how best to HB 561, that does not employ suspect classifications or protect and preserve horse racing in Ohio. They claim that intrude on fundamental rights must be upheld against equal Ohio’s goal could have been satisfied by liberalizing protection attacks so long as the legislative means are restrictions on simulcast racing and, therefore, that both the rationally related to a legitimate government purpose. Hodel CSPF and the 50% Rule are unnecessary extras that confer v. Indiana , 452 U.S. 314, 331 (1981). Such legislation carries benefits on the defendants at their expense. Even assuming a presumption of rationality that can only be overcome by a that Ohio’s goals could have been achieved without the clear showing of arbitrariness and irrationality. Id . at 331-32. challenged provisions, they are not so unrelated to Ohio’s Indeed, “social and economic legislation is valid unless ‘the purpose as to be irrational. Ohio could reasonably determine varying treatment of different groups or persons is so that the benefits and burdens accompanying simulcast-only unrelated to the achievement of any combination of legitimate racing are different from those created by live horse racing, purposes that [a court] can only conclude that the legislature’s and determine that revenues for the two should be allocated actions were irrational.’” Id. at 332 (alteration in original) differently. [9] ( quoting Vance v. Bradley , 440 U.S. 93, 97 (1979)). In this case the plaintiffs have not met the heavy burden of showing Similarly, the challenged provisions do not violate the Due that the classifications employed by the Ohio General Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. “It is by now Assembly were irrational. well established that legislative Acts adjusting the burdens

and benefits of economic life come to the Court with a presumption of constitutionality, and that the burden is on one complaining of a due process violation to establish that the [8] The Supreme Court followed its Conno lly econ omic burd en ana lysis legislature has acted in an arbitrary and irrational way.”

in a later case, also upholding the withdrawal liability provisions of the Usery v. Turner Elkhorn Mining Co., 428 U.S. 1, 15 (1976). same amendments to ERIS A against a Takings Clause challenge, where The plaintiffs argue that the challenged provisions are application of the statute resulted in loss of 46% of the affec ted party’s net worth. Con crete Pipe and Prod s. of Cal., Inc. v. Co nstr. Labo rers Pension Trust for S. C al, 508 U.S. 602, 645 (1993). The Court relied upon earlier cases holding squarely that diminution in the value of [9] property is insufficient to demon strate a tak ing. Id. , citing Village of For example, live horse races in Ohio support related ind ustries in Euclid v. Am bler R ealty C o., 272 U.S. 365 , 384 (1926) (app roxim ately ways that simulcasts do not. Ohio could reasonably conclude that 75% diminution in value), and Hadacheck v. Sebastian, 239 U.S. 394, simulca st-only racing produced few er benefits than live racin g, and 405 (19 15) (92.5% diminution). regulate to make such racing less profitable than live racing. Nos. 02-3466/3487 Raceway Park, Inc., et al. v. 17

State of Ohio, et al. irrational and arbitrary because they are unrelated to Ohio’s goal, that the CSPF is impermissibly retroactive, and that the regulations impermissibly seize private property for private use.

Although the plaintiffs would have preferred a different scheme than that embodied by HB 561, the measures enacted by the Ohio Assembly, as noted above, are related to Ohio’s goal of protecting and promoting live horse racing in Ohio. The CSPF provisions, moreover, are not retroactive. While the distribution formula for the CSPF is based on historical calculations of racing revenue, a statute “is not made retroactive merely because it draws upon antecedent facts for its operation.” Landgraf v. USI Film Prods , 511 U.S. 244, 270 n. 24 (1994) ( quoting Cox v. Hart , 260 U.S. 427, 435 (1922)). Indeed, the plaintiffs can easily avoid any liability to the CSPF by refraining from taking advantage of the provisions permitting them to offer simulcast-only racing. Finally, the challenged provisions do not take private property for private use, as the plaintiffs have failed to establish a “taking” at all. Accordingly, we find that the plaintiffs have failed to establish that the challenged provisions violate their right to due process under the Fourteenth Amendment.

III. Conclusion For the reasons stated herein, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

NOTES

[1]

[2] W agering on horse racing is comprehensively and strictly regulated Mo re than one Ohio track can operate as a simulcast host for the by the state of Ohio, and such wagering is prohibited unless authorized by same out-of-state race . In such cases, the allocation of money wagered, a permit issued by the Ohio State Racing Comm ission. as described below , is divided equally among the ho sting tracks. Nos. 02-3466/3487 Raceway Park, Inc., et al. v. 5 6 Raceway Park, Inc., et al. v. Nos. 02-3466/3487 State of Ohio, et al. State of Ohio, et al. relevant here, the payment on winning tickets is the same and well-considered statutory scheme” established to protect and promote live horse racing in Ohio.

[3] The plaintiffs filed whether the wager was placed at the simulcast host or at a satellite. O HIO R EV . C ODE A NN . § 3769.26(E) (Anderson the instant appeal. 2002). Under the 50% Rule, 50% of the money wagered at a II. Analysis satellite location is “allocated” to the simulcast host, O HIO R EV . C ODE A NN . § 3769.26(F) (Anderson 2002), which Summary judgment is appropriate when the moving party effectively means that that portion is treated as if it were demonstrates that there are no genuine issues of material fact wagered at the simulcast host for the purposes of determining and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter taxes to be paid and commissions to be retained by the host. of law. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, The remaining 50% is allocated to the satellite for the purpose Inc. , 477 U.S. 242, 256 (1986). In considering a motion for of determining taxes to be paid and the commission to be summary judgment, the district court views the evidence in retained by the satellite. The 50-50 allocation is the same the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Adickes v. whether the simulcast host is transmitting live racing S.H. Kress & Co. , 398 U.S. 144, 158-59 (1970) (citation conducted at its track or hosting racing conducted at out-of- omitted). We review a district court’s grant of summary state tracks. judgment de novo. Pinney Dock & Transp. Co. v. Penn Cent. Corp. , 838 F.2d 1445, 1472 (6th Cir. 1988). The plaintiffs filed a complaint in the district court, alleging that the CSPF and the 50% Rule constituted unconstitutional