262 F.2d 200

Felix CORPSTEIN and Joseph Corpstein, Individually, and Corpstein Brothers, a partnership, consisting of Felix Corpstein and Joseph Corpstein, Appellants, v. UNITED STATES of America, Appellee. Felix CORPSTEIN, Joseph Corpstein, and Corpstein Brothers, a partnership, consisting of Felix Corpstein and Joseph Corpstein, Appellants, v. UNITED STATES of America, Appellee.

Nos. 5923, 5924.

United States Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit.

Dec. 2, 1958.

James S. Lester, Oskaloosa, Kan., for appellants.

Neil Brooks, Atty., Dept. of Justice, Washington, D. C. (J. Stephen Doyle, Jr., Atty., Dept. of Justice, Washington, D. C., Wilbur G. Leonard, U. S. Atty., Topeka, Kan., E. Edward Johnson, Asst. U. S. Atty., Topeka, Kan., Giles H. Penstone, Atty. in Charge, Dept. of Agriculture, Kansas City, Mo., and Donald A. Campbell, Atty., Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D. C., on the brief), for appellee.

Before BRATTON, Chief Judge, and PICKETT and BREITENSTEIN, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM.

The United States brought these actions to recover penalties alleged to be due as a result of wheat grown by defendants during the years 1955 and 1956 in excess of their farm marketing quotas as defined by the provisions of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended. 7 U.S.C.A. § 1281 et seq. The cases involve the same facts and identical issues of law, and have been consolidated for disposition. These appeals are from summary judgments in favor of the United States.

The defendants contend that the Act is unconstitutional. The power of Congress to regulate agriculture in the manner it did is no longer open to debate. The constitutionality of the Act was upheld in Wickard v. Filburn, 317 U.S. 111, 63 S.Ct. 82, 87 L.Ed. 122, wherein the various objections made by the defendants here were considered at length. The court discussed without criticism the provision for a referendum of farmers conducted by the Secretary of Agriculture to determine whether they favor the quota *201established by him.1 See also Secretary of Agriculture v. Central Roig Refining Co., 338 U.S. 604, 70 S.Ct. 403, 94 L.Ed. 381; Mulford v. Smith, 307 U.S. 38, 59 S.Ct. 648, 83 L.Ed. 1092; United States v. Kissinger, 3 Cir., 250 F.2d 940, cer-tiorari denied 356 U.S. 958, 78 S.Ct. 995, 2 L.Ed.2d 1066; Shafer v. United States, 4 Cir., 229 F.2d 124, certiorari denied 351 U.S. 931, 76 S.Ct. 788, 100 L.Ed. 1460.

The defendants also claim that their allotments were grossly erroneous, arbitrary, discriminatory, capricious and confiscatory, and that these objections raised issues of fact requiring a trial. The record discloses that the defendants in each instance, were notified of the administrative determination of their farm wheat acreage allotment, excess acreage of wheat, the normal yield of wheat per acre, and the farm marketing excess of wheat. They did not apply to a local committee for a review of these determinations. Under the provisions of the Act, courts are limited to a review of the action of a local review committee whose findings of fact, if supported by evidence, are conclusive, and the jurisdiction of the courts is limited to the consideration of questions of law. 7 U.S.C.A. § 1366. The defendants having failed to exhaust their administrative remedies, the District Court was without jurisdiction to review the action taken with respect to their farm marketing excess of wheat. Donaldson v. United States, 6 Cir., 258 F.2d 591; Miller v. United States, 6 Cir., 242 F.2d 392, certiorari denied 355 U.S. 833, 78 S.Ct. 48, 2 L.Ed.2d 44; United States v. Stangland, 7 Cir., 242 F.2d 843; Lee v. Roseberry, 6 Cir., 200 F.2d 155; Smith Land Co. v. Christensen, 10 Cir., 148 F.2d 184; United States v. Lillard, D.C.W.D.Mo., 143 F.Supp. 113-

Aifirmed.

Corpstein v. United States
262 F.2d 200

Case Details

Name
Corpstein v. United States
Decision Date
Dec 2, 1958
Citations

262 F.2d 200

Jurisdiction
United States

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