U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2013

Steve Heskett, II v. Athens County, Ohio

Steve Heskett, II v. Athens County, Ohio
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit · Decided December 4, 2013 · Moore, Griffin, Korman
546 F. App'x 567

Steve Heskett, II v. Athens County, Ohio

Opinion

*568 PER CURIAM.

In 2000, plaintiffs purchased a parcel of land in Athens County, Ohio. Prior to plaintiffs’ purchase, one of the buildings on the land had enjoyed tax-exempt status. At some point after plaintiffs’ purchase of the parcel, defendants reassessed the parcel’s value, which ultimately left plaintiffs with a significant tax bill. Plaintiffs filed this action in the district court alleging that, under 42 U.S.C. § 1988, defendants had violated plaintiffs’ rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments, as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act. The district court found that the assessment at issue here was a “tax” and not a “fee” and that there were “plain, speedy, and efficient” state remedies available to plaintiffs. Accordingly, the district court concluded that the Tax Injunction Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1341, deprived the federal courts of jurisdiction, and dismissed plaintiffs’ claims. Plaintiffs appealed.

Having thoroughly reviewed the record, the parties’ briefs, and the applicable law, we find no error in the district court’s analysis. The reasoning supporting the judgment for defendants was clearly and persuasively articulated by the district court, and, accordingly, there is no need for a detailed written opinion by this court. Any opinion by us would be duplicative and would serve no jurisprudential purpose. We therefore affirm the district court’s judgment for the reasons stated in that court’s opinion

AFFIRMED.

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