No. 19-762

Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association, Inc., et al. v. Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, et al.

Lower Court: Third Circuit
Docketed: 2019-12-13
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: actual-deterrence congressional-authorization congressional-silence constitutional-claim dormant-commerce-clause evansville-vanderburgh-airport interstate-commerce right-to-travel toll-fees user-fees
Key Terms:
DueProcess
Latest Conference: 2020-01-24
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Can courts find that Congress authorized states to impose burdens on interstate commerce that would otherwise violate the dormant Commerce Clause on the basis of authorization implied by congressional silence?

Question Presented (from Petition)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED Petitioners allege that the Pennsylvania Turnpike imposes excessive and burdensome tolls in violation of the dormant Commerce Clause. The Third Circuit found that Congress expressed “unmistakably clear” intent to authorize states to impose unlimited tolls that would otherwise violate the dormant Commerce Clause in 23 U.S.C. § 129(a)(3)—a section that addresses how toll receipts may be spent, but which is silent as to the amount of tolls a state may impose and collect. The Third Circuit’s decision diverged from decisions of the First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, and Ninth Circuits on this issue. 1. Can courts find that Congress authorized states to impose burdens on interstate commerce that would otherwise violate the dormant Commerce Clause on the basis of authorization implied by congressional silence? Petitioners allege that the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s excessive tolls violate their right to travel under Airport Authority District v. Delta Airlines, Inc., 405 U.S. 707 (1972), and argue that the Third Circuit incorrectly applied the “actual deterrence” standard introduced in Attorney General of New York v. Soto-Lopez, 476 U.S. 898 (1986) (plurality opinion). 2. Did the Third Circuit err when it joined the D.C. and Ninth Circuits and split with the Sixth and Eighth Circuits in holding that a ii QUESTIONS PRESENTED—Continued state law’s actual deterrence of travel is a necessary element of a claim under the constitutional right to travel, even when the claim is brought under the test set forth in Evansville challenging excessive user fees?

Docket Entries

2020-01-27
Petition DENIED.
2020-01-08
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/24/2020.
2019-12-20
Waiver of right of respondents Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, William K. Lieberman, Barry T. Drew, Pasquale T. Deon Sr., John N. Wozniak, Mark P. Compton, and Craig R. Shuey to respond filed.
2019-12-20
Waiver of right of respondent Tom Wolf; Leslie S. Richards; Yassmin Gramian to respond filed.
2019-12-11
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due January 13, 2020)

Attorneys

Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association, Inc., et al.
Paul D CullenThe Cullen Law Firm, PLLC, Petitioner
Paul D CullenThe Cullen Law Firm, PLLC, Petitioner
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, William K. Lieberman, Barry T. Drew, Pasquale T. Deon Sr., John N. Wozniak, Mark P. Compton, and Craig R. Shuey
Robert L. ByerDuane Morris LLP, Respondent
Robert L. ByerDuane Morris LLP, Respondent
Tom Wolf; Leslie S. Richards; Yassmin Gramian
Bruce Philip MerensteinSchnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP, Respondent
Bruce Philip MerensteinSchnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP, Respondent