Justus Graf Von Kerssenbrock-praschma, a Citizen of Germany, Appellant, v. John Saunders, Director of the Missouri Department Ofagriculture; Jeremiah W. Nixon, Attorney Generalof the State of Missouri, Appellees, 121 F.3d 373 (8th Cir. 1997)

Justus Graf Von Kerssenbrock-Praschma appeals both the district court's¹  dismissal of his Just Compensation Clause claim for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and the district court's grant of summary judgment against Praschma on his Equal Protection Clause claim. He sought to enjoin Missouri enforcement of an anti-alien farmland transfer statute relating to the transfer of farmland to his two sons who live in Germany. On appeal, Praschma argues that: (1) the enforcement of sections 442.560 through 442.592 of the Missouri Revised Statutes (the Missouri statute), Mo.Rev.Stat. §§ 442.560-442.592 (1987 & Supp.1989), would violate the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation between the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany (FCN Treaty), 7 U.S.T. 1839 (1956); (2) the enforcement of the Missouri statute would violate equal protection; and (3) the district court has subject matter jurisdiction to hear Praschma's takings claim even though Praschma has not yet attempted to obtain just compensation through state procedures. We affirm.

In a prior appeal, this Court summarized the background of this case as follows:

Praschma is a sixty-six-year-old German citizen. In the spring and summer of 1978, he obtained fee simple absolute title in two tracts of Missouri farmland totalling approximately 1100 acres. Praschma has indicated that he wishes to "devise, deed, transfer or otherwise dispose of" the two tracts of farmland to Georg and Justus, his two sons, who are also aliens. Neither son is a plaintiff in this action. Praschma has executed a will that leaves the farmland to his son Georg, and he has indicated that he wishes to transfer one farm to each of his sons by deed.

Mo.Rev.Stat. § 442.571(1) (1986) prevents acquisition of agricultural land by aliens. The statute applies to any transfer by Praschma to his sons, but does not apply to Praschma's holding of the land because the statute became effective after Praschma acquired his land and contains a grandfather clause exempting lands held by aliens before the effective date of the statute. Mo.Rev.Stat. §§ 442.576(1) (1986), 442.586 (1986 & Supp.1994). Mo.Rev.Stat. § 442.576 provides the means for enforcing the scheme. Upon learning of a violation, the attorney general is instructed to obtain a court order requiring the alien owner to divest himself of the land. If the alien does not comply with the order within two years, the land is sold at public sale.

Praschma brought an action for injunctive relief, arguing that Missouri's statutory scheme is unconstitutional on its face and as applied because it violates (among other things) the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment, the Ex Post Facto Clause, and the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. The district court dismissed the action because it found that Praschma lacked standing, and Praschma timely appealed.

von Kerssenbrock-Praschma v. Saunders, 48 F.3d 323, 324-25 (8th Cir. 1995). This Court reversed the district court's dismissal and remanded, holding that Praschma had suffered injury in fact and, thus, had standing. Id. at 325-26.

Upon remand, the district court granted a motion to dismiss Praschma's due process, just compensation, and state law claims. In dismissing the takings claim, the district court held that it lacked jurisdiction over the claim because Praschma "has made no attempt to avail himself of the many adequate remedies that might be afforded him in the state courts of Missouri...." Order (Feb. 16, 1996) at 11, reprinted in J.A. at 59.

The district court then called for motions for summary judgment on Praschma's remaining equal protection and ex post facto claims. On April 17, 1996, the district court granted summary judgment in favor of the state officials. In granting summary judgment on the equal protection claim, the court held that the Missouri statute was rationally related to a legitimate state interest and that Praschma had failed to provide evidence of invidious discrimination. Praschma appeals.

Praschma first argues that enforcement of the Missouri statute would violate the FCN Treaty. We decline to consider this argument for the first time on appeal.

The general rule is that " [n]ormally, a party may not raise an issue for the first time on appeal as a basis for reversal." Seniority Research Group v. Chrysler Motor Corp., 976 F.2d 1185, 1187 (8th Cir. 1992) (citing cases); see also Singleton v. Wulff, 428 U.S. 106, 120, 96 S. Ct. 2868, 2877, 49 L. Ed. 2d 826 (1976) ("It is the general rule, of course, that a federal appellate court does not consider an issue not passed upon below."); Moad v. Arkansas State Police Dep't, 111 F.3d 585, 587 (8th Cir. 1997) ("We have examined the record carefully and we find no evidence that this issue was ever raised in the district court.... We therefore decline to consider the issue...."); Kosulandich v. Survival Technology, Inc., 997 F.2d 431, 433 (8th Cir. 1993) ("Notwithstanding the dubious validity of these claims, we will not address them head-on for the first time on appeal.").

As this Court has stated:

The rationale for the rule is twofold. First, the record on appeal generally would not contain the findings necessary to an evaluation of the validity of an appellant's arguments. Second, there is an inherent injustice in allowing an appellant to raise an issue for the first time on appeal. A litigant should not be surprised on appeal by a final decision there of issues upon which they had no opportunity to introduce evidence. A contrary rule could encourage a party to "sandbag" at the district court level, only then to play his "ace in the hole" before the appellate court.

Stafford v. Ford Motor Co., 790 F.2d 702, 706 (8th Cir. 1986) (citations omitted); see also Singleton, 428 U.S. at 120, 96 S. Ct. at 2877.

In this case, our consideration of the FCN Treaty issue would implicate both of these rationale. First, we are not satisfied that the record on appeal contains all of the findings necessary for a full evaluation of Praschma's argument. See Stafford, 790 F.2d at 706. Specifically, were Praschma to prevail in arguing that the Missouri statute conflicts with the FCN Treaty, unresolved factual issues would remain regarding whether the FCN Treaty even applies to the anticipated transfer of Praschma's Missouri agricultural land to his sons. For example, the state officials argue that the evidence may establish that the transfer is not related to the conduct of Praschma's commercial enterprise and therefore not within the scope of the FCN Treaty's provisions. Although we acknowledge our ability to consider the purely legal question of whether the Missouri statute is in conflict with the FCN Treaty, we decline to make such a pronouncement in a factual vacuum.

Second, we are particularly mindful of the "inherent injustice" in allowing Praschma to raise the FCN Treaty issue for the first time on appeal. See id. The state officials should not be surprised by a decision based on the FCN Treaty when they had no opportunity to introduce evidence on that issue. See id. Our consideration of the FCN Treaty issue would ratify Praschma's decision to " 'sandbag' " before the district court, and to "play his 'ace in the hole' " before this Court. See id.

However, the general rule against consideration of an issue not passed upon below is not absolute. As the Supreme Court has stated:

The matter of what questions may be taken up and resolved for the first time on appeal is one left primarily to the discretion of the courts of appeals, to be exercised on the facts of individual cases. We announce no general rule. Certainly there are circumstances in which a federal appellate court is justified in resolving an issue not passed on below, as where the proper resolution is beyond any doubt or where injustice might otherwise result.

Singleton, 428 U.S. at 121, 96 S. Ct. at 2877 (quotations and citations omitted); see also Seniority Research Group, 976 F.2d at 1187 ("There are exceptions, as where the obvious result of following the rule would be a plain miscarriage of justice or would be inconsistent with substantial justice.").

This is not a case where either "the proper resolution is beyond any doubt" or "where injustice might otherwise result." Singleton, 428 U.S. at 121, 96 S. Ct. at 2877 (quotation omitted). Although we believe treaty interpretation is of great importance, we cannot say that injustice will result if we fail to accept Praschma's invitation to interpret the FCN Treaty in this context. But cf. Fortino v. Quasar Co., 950 F.2d 389, 391 (7th Cir. 1991) (considering for the first time on appeal defendant's position that treaty provides, not a defense, but rather "essential background").

Therefore, because Praschma did not argue to the district court that the enforcement of the Missouri statute would violate the FCN Treaty, we will not consider that issue on appeal.² 

Praschma next argues that the Missouri statute denies him "equal protection of the laws." U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 1. In evaluating whether a statute violates equal protection, the Supreme Court has set forth various standards, including both a strict scrutiny and a rational basis test. See Graham v. Richardson, 403 U.S. 365, 376, 91 S. Ct. 1848, 1854, 29 L. Ed. 2d 534 (1971) (applying strict scrutiny test which requires that the statute be "necessary to promote a compelling governmental interest"); City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Ctr., Inc., 473 U.S. 432, 446, 105 S. Ct. 3249, 3258, 87 L. Ed. 2d 313 (1985) (applying rational basis test which requires that the statute be "rationally related to a legitimate governmental purpose"). Praschma asserts both that: (1) the constitutionality of the Missouri statute must be subjected to the strict scrutiny test and (2) the Missouri statute fails both the strict scrutiny test and the rational basis test. We decline to address Praschma's first assertion and disagree with his second.

In granting the state official's motion for summary judgment, the district court held that " [t]he goals and concerns articulated by the legislation's proponents provide a rational basis for this statute." Order (Apr. 17, 1996) at 6, reprinted in J.A. at 479. Before reaching this conclusion, the district court first determined that the rational basis test was the proper test to apply in analyzing the constitutionality of the Missouri statute. In making this determination, the district court noted that Praschma did "not dispute [the state official]'s contention that the rational basis test should be applied in this instance." Id. at 3, reprinted in J.A. at 476 (citing Pl.'s Opp'n at 5).

It is on appeal to this Court that Praschma for the first time argues that the Missouri statute is subject to the strict scrutiny analysis. Compare Appellant's Br. at 28 ("Because the Missouri statute creates a classification based on alienage, its constitutionality must be reviewed under strict scrutiny." (quotations, alteration, and footnote omitted)), and id. at 29 ("Strict scrutiny also is mandated in this case because the Missouri statute interferes with a fundamental right."), with Compl. at 5, reprinted in J.A. at 27 ("The Statutes have taken a fundamental right to transfer the farms without any rational basis." (emphasis added)), and Pl.'s Mot. for Summ. J. at 1, reprinted in J.A. at 74 ("Plaintiff [Praschma] has been treated unequally without any rational basis." (emphasis added)), and Pl.'s Opp'n at 3 ("The record in support of Mr. [Praschma's] Summary Judgment shows there can be absolutely no rational basis to treat Mr. [Praschma] so shabbily (and unconstitutionally)." (emphasis added)).

Because the district court did not pass upon this issue, we will not consider it on appeal. See Singleton, 428 U.S. at 120, 96 S. Ct. at 2877; Dorothy J. v. Little Rock Sch. Dist., 7 F.3d 729, 734 (8th Cir. 1993) ("While complaints are to be liberally construed, an attempt to amend one's pleadings in an appellate brief comes too late." (quotation omitted)); cf. United States v. Frame, 885 F.2d 1119, 1138 n. 14 (3d Cir. 1989) (" [The defendant] never argued that strict scrutiny was appropriate under the equal protection analysis either in his answer and counterclaim, his motions before the district court, his briefs to this court, or during oral argument. Thus, neither the government nor the district court had the opportunity to consider either whether strict scrutiny would be applicable to [defendant]'s claim, or whether the Act would pass constitutional muster under this more exacting standard of review. Accordingly, we decline to address this issue in this appeal.").

Furthermore, we believe that the Missouri statute is rationally related to a legitimate governmental purpose. The state officials argue that the statute serves Missouri's interests by: (1) protecting the state's food supply; (2) preserving the family farm system; (3) slowing the rising cost of agricultural land; and (4) mirroring restrictions on American's ability to acquire European and Japanese land. Because there is a rational relationship between the disparate treatment of nonresident aliens and these legitimate governmental purposes, the Missouri statute does not violate Praschma's right to equal protection.³  Cf. MSM Farms, Inc. v. Spire, 927 F.2d 330, 332-34 (8th Cir. 1991) (holding that state constitutional provision prohibiting nonfamily farm corporations from owning and operating Nebraska farm and ranch land does not violate equal protection because retaining and promoting family farm operations in Nebraska were legitimate state interests and voters reasonably could have believed that enacting the initiative would promote family farm operations); Lehndorff Geneva, Inc. v. Warren, 74 Wis.2d 369, 246 N.W.2d 815, 825 (1976) (holding that a Wisconsin statute making it unlawful for a nonresident alien to acquire or own more than 640 acres of land in Wisconsin does not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution because " [l]imiting the benefits of land ownership to those who share in the responsibilities and interests of residency is not an unreasonable exercise of legislative choice").

Praschma also argues that the district court erred in dismissing his takings claim for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.⁴  We disagree.

The general rule is that a plaintiff must seek compensation through state procedures before filing a federal takings claim against a state.⁵  See Williamson County Reg'l Planning Comm'n v. Hamilton Bank, 473 U.S. 172, 195, 105 S. Ct. 3108, 3121, 87 L. Ed. 2d 126 (1985) (" [I]f a State provides an adequate procedure for seeking just compensation, the property owner cannot claim a violation of the Just Compensation Clause until it has used the procedure and been denied just compensation.").⁶  The rationale underlying the Williamson requirement is that "a property owner has not suffered a violation of the Just Compensation Clause until the owner has unsuccessfully attempted to obtain just compensation through the procedures provided by the State...." Id. Under this standard, the Missouri statute has not violated Praschma's right to just compensation because Praschma has not sought compensation from the state.

Praschma counters that this requirement only applies to federal suits seeking damages, not to suits, such as his, seeking only injunctive relief. Praschma finds support for this proposition by drawing an inference from Hodel v. Irving, 481 U.S. 704, 107 S. Ct. 2076, 95 L. Ed. 2d 668 (1987), aff'g sub nom. Irving v. Clark, 758 F.2d 1260 (8th Cir. 1985). In Irving, the plaintiffs argued that a federal statute seized property without just compensation and sought both injunctive and declaratory relief. Irving, 758 F.2d at 1262. The district court found the statute constitutional. Id. at 1261. This Court reversed, holding that "the statute is in violation of the fifth amendment." Id. at 1269. In Hodel, the Supreme Court upheld this Court's reversal of the district court. Hodel, 481 U.S. at 718, 107 S. Ct. at 2084. The Supreme Court held that the statute effected a taking without just compensation. Id. at 712-18, 107 S. Ct. at 2081-84. However, neither this Court's nor the Supreme Court's opinions addressed whether jurisdiction was lacking because the plaintiffs failed to avail themselves of the process for compensation provided by the Tucker Act. Because neither court sua sponte found jurisdiction lacking, Praschma asserts that the courts tacitly acknowledged that the Williamson requirement did not apply because the plaintiffs were not seeking money damages. We disagree.

First, as neither court directly addressed the question, we do not believe the negative inference Praschma draws for the Hodel opinions establishes the proposition that the Williamson requirement only applies to federal suits seeking damages. Second, we note that the plaintiffs in Hodel were challenging a federal, rather than a state statute.

Praschma also relies on Dodd v. Hood River County, 59 F.3d 852 (9th Cir. 1995). However, Dodd merely stands for the proposition that a federal takings claim against a state can be brought in the district court and need not first be presented in state court. Id. at 860-61. Dodd says nothing about whether state law remedies must first be pursued prior to asserting a federal claim for equitable relief in federal court. Thus, Dodd is distinguishable in that Praschma does not lack jurisdiction because he has failed to pursue a federal takings claim in state court, but rather because he has failed to pursue the State of Missouri's procedures for compensation.

Finally, Praschma cites Hornell Brewing Co., Inc. v. Brady, 819 F. Supp. 1227, 1244 (E.D.N.Y. 1993), in which the district court found that, where the plaintiff was seeking a declaratory judgment rather than damages, the court had jurisdiction to decide the takings claim, even though the plaintiff had not sought relief pursuant to the Tucker Act.

We do not find Praschma's use of authority persuasive, and therefore we hold that the Williamson requirement applies equally to takings claims for damages and equitable relief brought against the states.

In reaching this conclusion, we find particularly persuasive a similar holding of the Eleventh Circuit:

[T]he only federal constitutional ground supporting the district court's injunction is [plaintiff]'s Fifth Amendment takings claim. That claim, however, is not ripe. See Williamson County Regional Planning Comm'n v. Hamilton Bank, 473 U.S. 172, 186, 105 S. Ct. 3108, 3116, 87 L. Ed. 2d 126 (1985). A Takings Clause claim does not become ripe unless the state provides no remedy to compensate the landowner for the taking. A property owner cannot claim a violation of the Clause unless the state provides the landowner no procedure (such as an action for inverse condemnation) for obtaining just compensation. Williamson, 473 U.S. at 195, 105 S. Ct. at 3121.

Bickerstaff Clay Prods. Co., Inc. v. Harris County, 89 F.3d 1481, 1490-91 (11th Cir. 1996) (emphasis added).

We also find support for our conclusion from the D.C. Circuit's opinion in Transohio Sav. Bank v. Director, Office of Thrift Supervision, 967 F.2d 598 (D.C. Cir. 1992). In Transohio, the court addressed the question of whether the Williamson requirement blocked district court jurisdiction over a takings claim for injunctive relief against the Federal Government. In dicta, the Transohio court concluded that there was a limit upon the district court's jurisdiction and that "the district court should accept jurisdiction over takings claims for injunctive relief in the few cases where a Claims Court remedy is so inadequate that the plaintiff would not be justly compensated." Id. at 613 (quotations omitted). In the context of a claim for injunctive relief against a state, we hold that the district court's jurisdiction is similarly limited. We expressly leave undecided the question, not argued in this appeal, of whether the district court would have jurisdiction over a takings claim for injunctive relief where the state remedy is "so inadequate that the plaintiff would not be justly compensated." See id. (quotations omitted).

Thus, the district court properly found that it did not have jurisdiction over Praschma's takings claim.

Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is affirmed.