Opinion ID: 1927718
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Place of Judicial Review

Text: We consider now the county or counties where the utility could properly ask judicial review. This matter is controlled by § 17A.19(2), The Code, which limits such actions to (1) Polk County, (2) the county of petitioner's residence, or (3) the place where petitioner has its principal place of business. This section is expanded by the provisions of § 490A.13 (now § 476.13) as follows: Judicial review of actions of the commission may be sought in accordance with the terms of the Iowa Administrative Procedure Act. Notwithstanding the terms of said Act, petition for judicial review may be filed in the district court of any county wherein the order of the commission or some part thereof is to take effect. As the action was not brought in Polk County, we must decide if the other provisions of the statute permit it to be maintained where it was broughtBlack Hawk County. This involves, first, a determination of corporate status as to residency. A corporation has no residency in the sense that a natural person does. It is an artificial being, operating through its officers, directors, and agents. The prevailing view is that a corporation's residency is where its principal place of business is located. For authority to this effect see Cannon v. Century Construction Co., 252 Iowa 88, 89, 106 N.W.2d 65, 66 (1960), 18 C.J.S. Corporations § 176b, p. 583 (1939), 18 Am.Jur.2d Corporations § 160, p. 694 (1965). We hold the utility has no residency apart from its principal place of business. Under § 17A.19(2), therefore, the utility could ask for review in only one of two countiesPolk or Woodbury. However, the utility seeks also to rely on § 490A.13, heretofore set out, which permits the district court in any county where the order appealed from will take effect, either wholly or partially, to entertain an application for judicial review. We hold the trial court was correct in finding that no part of this order took effect in Black Hawk County. The order dealt solely with the rates to be charged to Terra for its purchase of natural gas to operate a fertilizer plant in Sioux City. In seeking to come within § 490A.13, the utility appears to argue that any order affecting rates has peripheral effect on the utility's total operations. Obviously this is not what § 490A.13 envisions when it authorizes bringing the action in any county where the order takes effect. The trial court correctly found the order did not take effect in Black Hawk County. III. In summary we hold the district court exercises appellate jurisdiction in reviewing administrative decisions of the Iowa State Commerce Commission; that § 17A.19(2), The Code, fixes standards which must be met before the court obtains jurisdiction to hear applications for judicial review; and that under this record the trial court correctly ruled it was without jurisdiction to hear the appeal from the commission's order. AFFIRMED.