# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _

No. 1 8- 28 18

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _

Ada m an d Ev e Jo ne sb or o, LLC

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el la nt

v.

Haro ld Perr in

, In His Offi ci al Cap aci ty as Mayor of th e Ci ty of Jo ne sb or o, Ark an sa s

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l

Defe nd an t - Ap pe ll ee

Lesl ie Ru tl ed ge , Att or ne y Gene ral for th e St at e o f Ark an sa s

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l In te rv en or

__

__ __ __ __ __
App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t fo r th e Eas te rn Dis tri ct of Ark an sa s - J on es bo ro

__

__ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: Ju ne 12 , 20 19
Fi le d: Aug us t 1 2, 2 01 9

__ __ __ __ __ __

Befo re GRUENDER, STRAS, an d KOBES, Ci rcu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ __

KOBES, Cir cu it Ju dg e.Ada m an d Eve Jo ne sb or o, LLC (Ad am an d Eve ) ap p e a l s f r o m th e di st ric t

co ur t’s jud gm en t up ho l d i n g th e co ns ti tu ti on al it y of an Ark an sa s zo ni ng la w th at

1

pr ev en ts ad ul t-o rie nt ed bu si ne ss es fro m op en in g wit h i n 1,0 00 feet of sc ho ol s an d

ot he r pl aces freq ue nt ed by ch il dr en

. W e ho ld th at Ada m an d Eve ha s no t en ga ge d in

sp eech an d th eref

or e can no t st at e a cl ai m un de r th e Fi rs t Am en dm en t. W e al so ho ld

th at th e zo ni ng la w is no t un co ns ti tu ti on al ly va gu e an d do e s no t vi ol at e eq ua l

pr ot ect io n. We affi rm

.

I.

Ark an sa s pa ss ed Act 38 7 of 20 07 “ to es ta bl is h req ui rem en ts go ve rn in g th e
lo cat io n of ad ul t-o rie nt ed bu si ne ss es in or de r to pr ot ect th e pu bl ic he al th

, sa fet y , an d

welf are an d to pr ev en t cri m in al act iv it y .” Ark . C od e Ann . § 14 -1 -3 01 (a). The Act

pr oh ib it s t h o s e b u si ne ss es fro m lo cat in g wit hi n 1,0 00 feet of a “ ch il d care faci li ty,

pa rk

, pl ace of wor sh ip

, pl ay gr ou nd

, pu bl ic li br ary, recr ea t i o n a l a rea or faci li ty,

res id en ce, sc ho ol

, or walk in g tra il .” Id

. § 30 3( a). The le gi sl at ur e act ed “ on ev id en ce

of t h e a d v e r se se co nd ary effe ct s of ad ul t-o rie nt ed bu si ne ss es an d on fin di ng s
d i s c us se d in cas es , i nc lu di ng Ci ty of Lo s Ang el es v. Ala med a Boo ks , I

nc

. , 5 35 U

. S

. 42 5 ( 2 0 02 ), Eri e v. PAP’s A.M.

, 52 9 U.S. 27 7 (2 00 0)

, Ci ty of Ren to n v. Pla yt ime

Th ea tr es
, In c. , 47 5 U.S. 41 (1 98 6)

, an d Y ou ng v. Ameri ca n Min i Th ea tr es , 42 7 U.S.

50 (1 97 6) .” Id

. § 3 01 (b ). Thes e h arm fu l s eco nd ary effe ct s i nc lu de pr op ert y cri m e,

il li ci t dr ug us e, pr os ti tu ti on , t he po te nt ia l sp read of d i s e a se , a nd se xu al as sa ul t. Id

. The le gi sl at ur e de ci de d th at th es e bu si ne ss es “ sh ou ld be se pa rat ed fro m

. . . pl aces freq ue nt ed by chi ld ren to m in im iz e th e im pa ct of t he sec on da ry

effe ct s.” Id

.

The Act ap pl ie s to an “ ad ul t bo ok s t or e or vi de o st or e,” whi ch is de fin ed as a

co m m erci al es ta bl is hm en t th at “ of fers fo r sa le or ren t an y of th e fo ll owi ng as on e (1 )

of it s p rin ci pa l b us in es s p ur po se s” :

The Hon or ab le D. P. Mar sh al l, Jr

., Uni te d St at es Dis tri ct Ju dg e fo r th e East ern 1

Dis tri ct of Ark an sa s.(A) A bo ok, m ag az ine

, pe ri od ic al or ot he r pr in te d m at te r, ph ot og rap h, fil m ,

m ot io n pi ct ur e, vi de oc as se tt e, rep ro du ct io n, sl id e, or ot h e r vi su al

rep res en ta ti on th at de pi ct s o r de sc rib es a sp eci fic sex ua l ac ti vi ty; or (B) An in st ru m en t, a de vi ce, or pa rap he rn al ia th a t is de si gn ed fo r us e in

co nn ect io n wi th a sp eci fic sex ua l ac ti vi ty.

Id

. § 30 2( 2)

. A “ sp eci fic se xu al act iv it y ” i s a “ se x act

, act ua l or si m ul at ed ,” or

“ [f]on dl in g or ot he r ero ti c to uc hi ng of a hu m an ge ni ta l, a pu bi c reg io n, a bu tt oc k, an

an us , or a fem al e b reas t.” Id

. § 3 02 (2 4)

.

The Act gr an df

at he rs in st or es th at op en ed be fo re Ju ly 31

, 20 07

, an d do es no t

ap pl y whe n a pr ot ect ed si te , l ik e a s ch oo l o r da y care , su bs eq ue nt ly loc at es wit hi n a
bu si ne ss ’s bu ffer zo ne

. Id

. §§ 30 3( c), 3 07

. Vio la ti on s of th e Act are p un is he d a s a
Cl as s A m is de m ean or

. Id

. § 30 6. Loc al it ie s m ay a l s o p a s s or di na nc es th at are “ at

le as t as res tri ct iv e” as th e Act

. Id

. § 3 04

.

Mo re th an a de cad e aft er th e Act be cam e la w, App e l l a n t wan te d to op en an
Ada m an d Eve fran ch is e in Jo ne sb or o. Acco rd in g to it s web si te

, th e na ti on al ret ai le r

pr om ot es it se lf as th e “ #1 Adu lt Toy Su pe rs to re” and th e “ le ad in g sex to y co m pa ny

i n t h e U S A

. ” It ad ve rti se s a wid e va rie ty of bo nd ag e ge ar, li ng eri e, m ov ie s, a n d

2

pe rs on al lu br ic an ts

. Id

. The pr op os ed Jo ne sb or o fran ch is e, ho wev er, wou ld se ll on ly

li ng eri e, ad ul t to y s, co st um es , no ve lt ie s, ga m es , m as sa ge oil s, an d pe rs on al lu br ic an ts

.

In Decem be r 20 17

, Ada m an d Eve rece iv ed a pr iv il eg e li cen se to do bu si ne ss

in Jo ne sb or o. The pr iv il eg e li cen se ap pl ic at io n i n s t ru ct s po te nt ia l en tre pr en eu rs to

co or di na te wit h ci ty pl an ne rs to en su re th at th ei r pr op os ed lo cat io ns an d us es co m pl y
wit h zo ni ng la ws. A d a m an d Eve di d no t do so , an d on Ja nu ary 25

, 20 18

, th e
bu il di ng in sp ect or refu se d to is su e a cert ifi cat e of oc cu pa nc y th at is req ui red to op en

a bu si ne ss

. The Ci ty Att or ne y ex pl ai ne d th at “ th e lo cat io n ch os en b y t h e s t or e

r e qu ire s th em to ap pl y fo r an d rece iv e a co nd it io na l us e pe rm it

, ba se d up on it s

A D A M & E V E , ht tp s: // www.ada m ev e.co m / (l as t v is it ed Aug . 5, 2 01 9)

. 2

-3

-zo ni ng .” JA 13

. The pe rm it co ul d n ot is su e b ecau se “ it do es no t m eet th e di st an ce

req ui rem en t fr om

ch ur ch es , daycares , and res id en ti al us es .” Id

.

II.

Ada m an d Eve fil ed su it pu rs ua nt to 42 U.S.C. § 19 83 al le gi ng th a t t h e Act

vi ol at ed it s Fi rs t

, F i f

t h

, an d Fo ur te en th Am en dm en t rig ht s an d si m il ar Ark an sa s rig ht s. The co m

pl ai nt as se rte d th at th e Act vi ol at ed th e Fi rs t Am en dm en t be cau se it

“ res tra in s th e pl ai nt iff ’s ret a i l sa le of m erch an di se , ba se d on th e co nt en t of th e

m erch an di se .” JA 5. Ada m an d Eve hi gh li gh te d it wou ld no t ho st on -s it e

en te rta in m en t su ch as “ bo ot hs

, st al ls

, or

. . . ro om s fo r t h e on -p rem is es vi ewin g of

m ov ie s” or “ li ve ad ul t en te rta in m en t o r da nc in g o f an y so rt.” JA 2

.

Ark an sa s in te rv en ed to de fen d th e Act. The pa rti es co nd uc te d li m it ed

di sc ov ery an d st ip ul at ed to th es e fact s: (1 ) Ada m an d Eve cou ld op en a st or e in th e

co rrec t zo ni ng area , (2 ) Ada m an d Ev e w o ul d no t se ll po rn og rap hi c DVDs, bo ok s,

an d m ag azi ne s, (3 ) ot he r Jo ne sb or o st or es , su ch as W al m art

, se ll reg ul at ed it em s li ke

co nd om s, an d (4 ) a no np art y ret ai le r , S pe nc er’s, op en ed pr io r to 20 07 an d it s

in ve nt or y co nt ai ns le ss th an 10 % o f su ch it em s. Ada m an d Eve al so co nc ed ed th at

m or e th an 30 % of i ts rev en ue de riv ed fro m reg ul at ed it em s.

Afte r a fu ll da y of arg um en t, th e di st ric t co ur t ru le d fro m th e be nc h. The co ur t

co nc lu de d th at in te rm ed ia te sc ru ti ny ap pl ie d to Ada m an d Eve ’s Fi r s t Am en dm en t

cl ai m an d he ld th at

, un de r Ren to n an d Ala med a Bo o k s
, th e Act pa ss ed m

us te r. Sp eci fic al ly, th e co ur t cred it ed th e le gi sl at ur e’s fo cu s on th e se co nd ary effe ct s cau se d
by ad ul t bu si ne ss es

. Thu s, it was “ qu it e reas on ab le an d rat io na l f o r a l e gi sl at or to

co nc lu de th at m or e of th es e ki nd s of [ad ul t-o rie nt ed ] bu si ne ss es co nt rib ut e or crea te

th e p ot en ti al for m or e o f th e b ad sec on da ry effe ct s.” J A 18 1.

Turn in g to th e va gu en es s ch al le ng e, th e c o u rt reject ed Ada m an d Eve ’s

arg um en ts th at th e Act was un co ns ti tu ti on al be cau se it “ do es n’t co nt ai n pe rcen ta ge s, [an d] it do es n’t co nt ai n de fin it io ns of wha t [] a pr in c i p a l bu si ne ss pu rp os e is .”

-4

-JA 13 9. Acco rd in g to Ada m an d Eve

, th e le gi sl at ur e m us t de fin e it “ by flo or sp ace,

gr os s rev en ue , ne t rev en ue , [o r] am ou nt in in ve nt or y

. ” J A 14 1. The di st ric t co ur t,

ho wev er, in te rp ret ed th e te rm ’s pl ai n m ean in g as “ m ai n or ch ie f.” JA 18 1. Alt ho ug h

10 % of gr os s rev en ue fro m reg ul at ed pr od uc ts is no t en ou gh to qu al ify as a pr in ci pa l

bu si ne ss pu rp os e, th e di st ric t co ur t fo un d th at a bu si ne ss wit h “ on e-t hi rd of th e gr os s

rev en ue [] de riv ed fro m [th es e] va rio us pr od uc ts th at qu al ify” is su ffi ci en t. JA 18 4.

The di st ric t co ur t al so reject ed th e cl ai m th at th e Act vi ol at es eq ua l pr ot ect io n
be cau se it ha s n ot be en ap pl ie d to W al m art an d Sp en cer’s, who al so se ll reg ul at ed

it em s. It he ld th at “ [t]he re’s n o o th er b us in es s si m il arl y si tu at ed th at ’s bee n t reat ed

di ffer en tl y or be tt er.” JA 18 2– 83

. Alt ho ug h Sp en cer’s is si m il ar to Ada m an d Eve

, it w a s no t si m il arl y -s it ua te d be cau se th e Act gr an df at he red in no nc on fo rm in g
bu si ne ss es

. The co ur t no te d th at th e la w “ ro ut in el y dr aws li ne s in vo lv in g da te s.”

JA 18 3. As to ot he r st or es , th e co ur t exp la in ed th at th ere was “ no ev id en ce tha t th e

sa le

, of feri ng fo r sa le of th es e ki nd of m at eri al s at W al m art or W al gr een ’s or CVS is

an y th in g o th er t ha n i nc id en ta l.” Id

.

Ada m an d Ev e ti m el y

ap pe al ed . W e rev ie w con st it ut io na l ch al le ng es an d

qu es ti on s o f st at ut or y

in te rp ret at io n de no vo

. Pla nn ed Par en th oo d Mi nn es ot a, N.

Dak ot a, S . Dako ta v. Rou nd

s , 68 6 F .3d 88 9, 8 93 (8t h C ir. 2 01 2) (en ba nc ).

III.

The Fi rs t Am en dm en t pr oh ib it s la ws “ ab rid gi ng th e free do m of sp eech .” U.S.

Co ns t. am en d. I. Its pr ot ect io n ex te nd s b e yo n d v e r b al an d writ te n st at em en ts to

ex pr es si ve co nd uc t th at is “ su ffi ci en tl y im bu ed wit h el em en ts of co m m un ic at io n.”

Texa s v. Jo hn so n , 49 1 U.S. 39 7, 40 4 (1 98 9)

. Su ch co nd uc t in cl ud es “ nu de da nc in g,
bu rn in g th e Am eri can fla g, flyin g an up si de -d own Am eri can f l a g w it h a ta pe d- on

pe ace si gn , weari ng a m il it ary un ifo rm , weari ng a bl ack arm ba nd

, co nd uc ti ng a si le nt

si t-i n, refu si ng to sa lu te th e Am eri can fla g, an d flyin g a pl ai n red fla g.” Mas te rp ie ce

Ca kes ho p, Lt d. v. Co lo ra do C i v i l Ri gh ts Co mm’n , 1 38 S. Ct . 1 71 9, 17 41 –4 2 & n.1

-5

-(2 01 8) (Tho m as , J., co nc ur rin g in pa rt an d in th e jud gm en t) (co ll ect in g cas es ). Eve n

sa le s of “ vi de o ga m es qu al ify fo r Fi rs t Am en dm en t pr ot ect io n

. ” Br o w n v. Ent m’t

Mer ch an ts Ass ’n , 56 4 U.S. 7 86 , 79 0 (2 01 1)

.

Yet, no t al l co nd uc t is “ pr ot ect ed sp eech si m pl y be cau se th e pe rs on en ga gi ng

in [it ] in te nd s th ereb y to ex pr es s an id ea.” Mas te rp ie ce Ca kes ho p , 13 8 S. Ct

. at 17 42

. A co ur t “ m

us t firs t det erm in e whe th er [th e pl ai nt iff ’s act io n] co ns ti tu te d ex pr es si ve

co nd uc t.” Jo hn so n , 49 1 U.S. at 40 3. We as k “ whe th er an in te nt to co nv ey a

pa rti cu la riz ed m es sa ge was pr es en t, an d whe th er th e li ke li ho od was gr eat th at th e

m es sa ge wou ld be un de rs to od by th os e who v i e w e d it .” Id

. at 40 4. The pa rty

“ de si rin g to en ga ge in as se rte dl y ex pr es si ve co nd uc t [m us t] de m on st rat e th at th e Fi rs t

Am en dm en t ev en ap pl ie s.” Cl ar k v. Cmty

. fo r Cr ea ti ve No n- Vio le nc e , 46 8 U.S. 28 8,

29 3 n .5 (1 98 4)

.

Ada m an d Eve fai ls to m ak e su ch a sh owi ng

. It cl ai m s th at “ th is is a res tra in t

of sp eech ba se d pu rel y on co nt en t, th ey do n’t li ke wha t [Ad am an d Eve is ] se ll in g.” 3

JA 13 1. Bu t Ada m an d Eve ha s ci t e d no au th or it y th at se ll in g se xu al ly-ori en te d

de vi ces is sp eech

. Mo reo ve r, it e x p r e s s l y a nd rep eat ed ly reject s th at it is an ad ul tor ie nt ed bu si ne ss si m il ar t o t ho se fou nd in Ala med a Boo ks

, Eri e , Ci ty of Ren to n , or

Y ou ng —ea ch of whi ch

, acco rd in g to th e Su pr em e Co ur t, en ga ge d in pr ot ect ed sp eech

.

Ada m an d Eve ha s jett is o n e d an y cl ai m to ex pr es si ve co nd uc t. The pa rti es

st ip ul at ed th at “ Ada m a n d Eve ag rees no t to se ll po rn og rap hi c DVDs, bo ok s, an d

m ag azi ne s.” JA 16 3. Co un se l r e p e a t e d l y st res se d th at th e “ st or e in Jo ne sb or o ha s

no t, d oe s n ot , and wil l no t s el l DVDs, v id eo s, b oo ks , li te rat ur e, pe rio di cal s, p os te rs

of an y ki nd .” JA 12 8; se e al so JA 17 6 (“ th is is n’t an ad ul t bo ok st or e wit h res pe ct to

At or al arg um en t, Ada m an d Eve cl ai m ed th at th e sp eech in te res t in Si mon & 3

Sc hu st er , Inc . v. Membe rs of

New Y or k St at e Cr ime Vict ims Bd. , 50 2 U.S. 1 05 , 11 6 (1 99 1)

, is at is su e he re. In th at cas e, ho wev er, a New Yor k st at ut e st op pe d cri m in al s fro m pr of it in g of f th ei r m is de ed s in “ a m ov ie

, bo ok

, m ag azi ne art ic le

, ta pe reco rd in g, ph on og rap h reco rd

, rad io or te le vi si on pr es en ta ti on , [o r] li ve en te rta in m en t of an y ki nd .” Id

. at 1 09 (qu ot in g N.Y. Exe c. Law § 6 32 -1 ). No s uc h s pe ech ex is ts he re.

-6

-ha vi ng vi ewin g ro om s or se ll in g DVDs or se ll in g po rn og rap hi c m at eri al ”). And

be fo re us , Ada m an d Eve hi gh li gh ts th at t h e r e are “ no vi de os , th ere are no m ov ie

bo ot hs

, no m ov i e sc reen s, an d no li ve en te rta in m en t at th e App el la nt ’s st or e.”
App el la nt ’s Rep ly Br. 2.

Afte r di sa vo win g an y ex pr es si ve co nd uc t, we ho ld th at Ada m an d Eve can no t

st at e a cl ai m un de r th e Fi rs t A men d men t

. Bec au se th ere is no sp eech to pr ot ect

, 4

Ada m an d Eve ’s cl ai m th at th e di st ric t co ur t ap pl ie d th e wro ng st an da rd of rev ie w to

it s free spe ech cl ai m m is se s t he m ark . Alth ou gh th e d is tri ct co ur t n ev er co ns id ered

whe th er Ada m an d Eve en ga ge d in ex pr es si ve co nd uc t, we m ay affi rm a jud gm en t on

an y gr ou nd su pp or te d by th e reco rd

. Led er ge rb er v. St an gl er , 12 2 F.3 d 11 42

, 11 45
(8 th Cir . 19 97 ). W e d o s o h ere.

IV.

Ada m an d Eve ne xt as ks us to fin d th at th e Act is im pe rm is si bl y va gu e be cau se

“ [p ]rinc ip al bu si ne ss pu rp os e is un de fin ed .” App el la nt ’s Br. 7.

A st at ut e is un co ns ti tu ti on al ly va gu e if it “ fai ls to pr ov id e a pe rs on of or di na ry

in te ll ig en ce fai r no ti ce of wha t is pr oh ib it ed , o r is s o st an da rd le ss th at it au th or iz es

or en co ur ag e s s e r i ou sl y di sc riminat or y en fo rcem en t.” F.C.C. v. Fox Tel evi si on

St at io ns
, In c. , 56 7 U.S. 23 9, 25 3 (2 01 2)

. Leg is la tu res are no t req ui red to de fin e ev ery

te rm in a st at ut e. Phe lp s- Rop er v. Ko st er , 71 3 F.3 d 94 2, 95 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 13 ). In th e
ab se nc e of a de fin it io n, wor ds are gi ve n th ei r o r d i n a r y m ean in g. Ta ni gu ch i v. Ka n

Pac

. Sa ip an
, Lt d.

, 56 6 U.S. 56 0, 56 6 (2 01 2) ; Sc hu mac he r v. Ca rg il l Mea t So ls

. Co rp

. , 51 5 F.3 d 86 7, 87 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 ). The Su pr e me Co ur t ha s cau ti on ed th at “ pe rfec t

Co un se l al so arg ue d th at “ if th ere’s no ex pr es si ve sp eech

, th en th e st at ut e 4

do es no t ap pl y” t o A d a m an d Eve

. Thi s Sect io n 19 83 su it on ly as ks if th e Act
vi ol at es Ada m an d Eve ’s co ns ti tu ti on al rig ht s— no t whe th er it s bu si ne ss is an “ ad ul t bo ok st or e” un de r Ark an sa s la w. Our co nc lu si on th at Ada m an d Eve do es no t as se rt a Fi rs t Am en dm en t ri gh t h as no be ari ng on th e Act ’s st at ut or y de fin it io ns

.

-7

-cl ari ty an d pr eci se gu id an ce ha ve ne ve r be en req ui red ev en of reg ul at io ns th at res tri ct

ex pr es si ve act iv it y .” Hol de r v. Huma ni ta ri an La w Project

, 56 1 U.S. 1, 18 –1 9 (2 01 0)

. Fu rth er, a “ pl ai nt iff who en ga ge s in so m e co nd uc t th at is cl earl y pr os cri be d c a n no t

co m pl ai n of th e va gu en es s of th e la w as ap pl ie d to th e co nd uc t of ot he rs .” Id

. at 20

. Bo th co ns id erat io ns ap pl y he re.

The Act ap pl ie s to a st or e th a t s el ls or ren ts cert ai n se xu al ly-rela te d it em s as

“ on e (1 ) of it s pr in ci

pa l bu si ne ss pu rp os es .” Ark

. Co de Ann .§ 14 -1 -3 02 (em ph as is

ad de d)

. W e fin d th at th e or di na ry m ean in g of pr in ci pa l bu si ne ss pu rp os e is no t

va gu e. Ada m an d Eve co nc ed es as m uc h, ag reei ng th at “ pr in ci pa l m ean s ch ie f or

m ai n.” Nor ar e we th e fir st co ur t to co nc lu de th at ter m is “ su ffi ci en tl y

sp eci fic an d

pr eci se to pr ov id e pe op le of or di na ry in te ll ig en ce a reas on ab le op po rtu ni ty to

un de rs ta nd wha t co nd uc t is pr oh ib it ed .” MJJG Rest

., LLC v. Hor ry Ct y. , S.C

. , 11 F.

Su pp . 3d 54 1, 5 58 (D.S.C. 20 14 ).

Ada m an d Eve cl ai m s th at th e te rm la ck s sp eci fic it y be cau se it do es no t de cl are
ho w an e n t it y ’s “ pr in ci pa l bu si ne ss pu rp os e” is qu an ti fie d, e.g

. , flo or sp ace, gr os s

rev en ue , ne t rev en ue , or am ou nt in in ve nt or y

. W e do no t req ui re su ch pr eci si on

. Hol de r , 5 6 1 U .S. at 18 –1 9. Laws wit h “ fle xi bi li ty an d reas on ab le br ead th ” are

pe rm it te d be cau se “ it is cl ear what th e or di na nc e as a who le pr oh ib it s.” Gra yn ed v.

C i t y o f Ro c kf or d

, 40 8 U.S. 10 4, 11 0 (1 97 2) ; id

. at 11 2 (ap pr ov in g la w whe re “ t h e

pr oh ib it ed qu an tu m of di st ur ba nc e is no t sp eci fie d” ). Thi s is es pe ci al ly tru e he re, as

th e Act pe rm it s l oc al it ie s t o a dd res s t he se co nc ern s i n t he ir o rd in an ces

.

Ada m an d Eve al so arg ue s th at

, to be a pr in ci p a l b us in es s pu rp os e, th e

pr oh ib it ed act iv it y m

us t be “ wha t th ey se ll an d no th in g el se , m ai nl y ” or , at m in im um ,

m or e th an ha lf of th e it em s it se ll s. JA 16 7. The Act’s te xt reject s th at m ean in g: th e

pr eced in g cl au se , “ on e (1 ) of it s,” co n t e mp l a te s m or e th an on e pr in ci pa l bu si ne ss

pu rp os e. In a si m il ar co nt ex t, th e S i x t h Ci rcu it reco gn iz ed th e po ss ib il it y of

“ es ta bl is hm en ts wit h se ve ral ‘prin ci pa l us es ’ of eq ua l im po rta nc e.” Ent m’t Pr od

s.,

In c. v. Sh el by Ct

y., Ten n. , 58 8 F.3 d 37 2, 38 2 (6 th Ci r. 20 09 ). W e se e no reas on th at

-8

-th ere can no t be m or e th an on e pr in ci pa l bu si ne ss pu rp os e an d ag ree wit h th e di st ric t

co ur t t ha t an act iv it y

ge ne rat in g 3 0% o f a s to re’s g ro ss rev en ue is su ch a pu rp os e.

Our de ci si on co m

po rts wit h si m il ar cas es in vo lv in g ad ul t-u se zo ni ng la ws. Fo r

ex am pl e, th e Fo ur th Ci rcu it reject ed a va gu en es s ch al le ng e to th e wor ds “ su bs ta nt ia l

or si gn ifi can t” be cau se “ it is cl ear th at fo rty pe rcen t of ret ai l sp ace, am ou nt s t o a
‘sub st an ti al or si gn ifi can t pr op or ti on .’ ” Mom N Pop s, In c. v. Ci ty of Ch ar lo tt e, N. C.

, No. 97 -2 35 9, 19 98 W L 53 79 28

, at *6 (4 th Ci r. 19 98 ) (p er cu ria m ). And in res po ns e

to a Fi rs t Am en dm en t ch al le ng e, ou r co ur t co ns id ered a “ on e-n ig ht ad ul t pe rfo rm an ce

us in g m or e th an 10 % of [a st or e’s] flo or sp ace” a pr in ci pa l us e. BZAPS, In c. v. Ci ty of Man ka to

, 26 8 F.3 d 6 0 3

, 60 5 (8 th Ci r. 20 01 ). As su ch

, it is no t su rp ris in g th at

Ada m an d Ev e’s bu si ne ss fal ls wit hi n t he Act.

It is un di sp ut ed th at a su bs ta nt ia l po rti on of Ada m an d Eve ’s bu si ne ss in vo lv es

se ll in g it em s t he st at ut e rea ch es . A vag ue ne ss ch al le ng e, ho wev er, d oe s n ot pe rm it

a pl ai nt iff to “ sp ecu la t[e ] ab ou t po ss ib le va gu e ne ss in hypo th et ic al si tu at io ns no t

be fo re th e Co ur t.” H

i l l v. Co lo ra do

, 53 0 U.S. 70 3, 73 3 (2 00 0)

. A pl ai nt iff who se

co nd uc t “ is cl earl y pr os c r i b ed can no t rai se a su cces sf ul va gu en es s cl ai m un de r th e

Due Pro ces s Cl au se of th e Fi fth Am en dm en t fo r la ck of no t i c e

. ” H o l d er , 5 61 U.S.

at 20 . On th es e fac ts , Adam an d Ev e’s va gu en es s ch al le ng e fal ls ap art

.

V.

Fi na ll y , Ada m an d Eve’s equ al pro te ct io n c la im fai ls as it ha s no t sh own th at

th e Act tre at s it di ffer en tl y th an si m il a r l y s i t ua te d en ti ti es or la ck s a rat io na l ba si s.

The Equ al Pro te c t io n Cl au se ge ne ral ly “ req ui res th e go ve rn m en t to tre at

si m il arl y si tu at ed pe op le al ik e.” In re Kemp

, 89 4 F

. 3d 90 0, 90 9 (8 th Ci r. 20 18 ).

“ [L]egi sl at io n is pr es um ed to be va li d an d wil l be su st ai ne d if th e cl as si fic at io n dr awn
b y t h e st at ut e is rat io na ll y rel at ed to a le gi ti m at e st at e in te res t.” Ci ty of Cl eb u r n e
, T e x

. v. Cl eb ur ne Li vi ng Ct r. , 4 73 U.S. 4 32 , 4 40 (1 98 5)

. The Co ns ti tu ti on do es no t

req ui re ev ery c l a s si fic at io n to be dr awn wit h “ pr eci se m at he m at ic al ni cet y .” U. S.

-9

-Dep ’t of Agr ic

. v. Mor en o , 41 3 U.S. 5 2 8

, 53 8 (1 97 3)

. The Su pr em e Co ur t ha s

ob se rv ed th at la ws fai li ng th is in qu iry sh are “ a co m m on th read ,” in th at “ th e la ws at

is su e la ck an y pu r p o s e ot he r th an a ‘bare

. . . d es ire to ha rm a po li ti cal ly u np op ul ar

gr ou p.’” Tr ump v. Hawa ii , 13 8 S . Ct. 2 39 2, 2 42 0 (2 01 8)

.

“ [T]he fir st st ep in an eq ua l pr ot ect io n cas e is de te rm in in g whe th er th e pl ai nt iff

ha s de m on st rat ed th at sh e was tre at ed di ffer en tl y t h a n ot he rs who were si m il arl y
si tu at ed to he r.” Kemp

, 89 4 F.3 d at 90 9. Abs en t th is th res ho ld sh owi ng , Ada m an d

Eve “ do es no t h av e a v ia bl e eq ua l pr ot ect io n cl ai m .” Id

. It is well -es ta bl is he d th at

“ [d ]iss im il ar tre at m en t of di ss im il arl y s i t u at ed pe rs on s do es no t vi ol at e eq ua l

pr ot ect io n.” Kl in ge r v. Dep ’t o f Co rr

. , 31 F.3d 72 7, 7 31 (8t h C ir. 1 99 4)

.

W e ag ree wit h th e di st ric t co ur t th at Ada m an d Eve di d no t m ak e th is sh owi ng

. A st ip ul at io n th at “ Sp en cer’s se ll s le s s t h a n 1 0 pe rcen t of it em s pr oh ib it ed by th e

st at ut e” is it s on ly reco rd ev id en ce. JA 16 1. Bu t Spen cer’s is no t si m il arl y si tu at ed

be cau se Ada m an d Eve di d no t op en be fo re 20 07

. Si m il arl y , a st ip ul at io n th at “ ot he r

st or es in th e ci ty of Jo ne sb or o [] se ll co nd om s, lu br ic an ts

, an d on e br an d of pe rs on al

m as sa ge r” is in su ffi ci en t. JA 16 2. Ada m an d Eve ’s co m pa ris on s to W a l g reen ’s,

W al m art

, an d CVS ci te no fact s sh owi ng th at th es e en ti ti es are si m il arl y si tu at ed

. As

a res ul t, th ere is no ev id en ce th at reg ul at ed it em s are st ap le s of su ch ge ne ral st or es as

th ey are t o a fran ch is e o f Am eri ca’s l ead in g s ex to y co m pa ny.

Eve n ha d Ada m an d Eve m et th is th res ho ld

, it ha s n o t sh own th at th e so le

pu rp os e of th is ti m e, pl ace, an d m an ne r res tri ct io n is to ha rm a po li ti cal ly un po pu la r

gr ou p. Co ur ts ha ve lo ng reco gn iz ed th at ad ul t-u se zo ni ng la ws se rv e a su bs ta nt ia l

go ve rn m en t in te res t. Ci ty of Ren to n , 47 5 U.S. at 50 ; Hol mbe rg v. Ci ty of Rams ey , 12

F.3 d 14 0, 14 3 (8 th Ci r. 19 93 ). The pl ai nt iff m us t sh ow th at th e co nn ect io n be twee n

th e cl as si fic at io n an d th e as se rte d in te res t is arb it rary or irr at io na l. Ci ty of Cl eb ur ne , 47 3 U.S. at 44 6. The Su pr em e Co ur t ha s fo un d it irr at io na l to req ui re a pe rm it fo r a

m en ta ll y ha nd ic ap pe d gr ou p ho m e whe n th e go ve rn m en t ’s ju st ifi cat io ns ap pl ie d

eq ua ll y to frat ern al ho us es , nu rs in g ho m es , an d do rm it or ie s th at di d no t ne ed a pe rm it

.

-1 0-Id

. at 44 9– 45 0. It ha s al so st ru ck do wn a Fo od St am p pr og ram req ui rem en t th at ha d

no pr act ic al effe ct an d e q u a l l y ta rg et ed frau ds te rs an d “ th os e pe rs on s who are []

de sp erat el y in ne ed of ai d.” U. S. Dep ’t of Agr ic

. v

. M o re no , 41 3 U.S. 52 8, 53 8
(1 97 3) . No si m il ar an im

us can be sh own he re.

The Act, as a who le

, fo cu se s on th e ha rm fu l se co nd ary effe ct s as so ci at ed wit h

ad ul t-o rie nt ed bu si ne ss es

. A r k

. C o d e Ann

. § 14 -1 -3 01 (2 ). It se ek s to co nt ai n

e x t e r n a l it ie s th at are ti ed to th es e ki nd s of en ti ti es

. Se e Ala med a Boo ks

, In c. , 5 3 5

U.S. at 44 2; se e al

so Har t Boo k St or es
, In c. v. Edmi st en , 61 2 F.2 d 82 1, 83 0 (4 th Ci r.

19 79 ). The Act do es no t ba n Ada m an d Eve fro m op erat in g in Jo ne sb or o. And th is

is an eas ie r cas e th an Hol mbe rg , whe re we up he ld a c i ty or di na nc e th at req ui red

ex is ti ng st or es to cl os e an d rel oc at e. 12 F.3 d a t 1 4 4

. A s a res ul t, th e Act do es no t

ev in ce a de si re to ha rm ad ul t-o rie nt e d b u s i n e ss es , an d we fin d no eq ua l pr ot ect io n
vi ol at io n.

VI.

The jud gm en t o f th e d is tri ct co ur t i s af fir m ed

.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

-1 1-