Document: 365 U.S. 715 81 S.Ct. 856 6 L.Ed.2d 45 William H. BURTON, Appellant,v.WILMINGTON PARKING AUTHORITY, et al. No. 164. Argued Feb. 21 and 23, 1961. Decided April 17, Mr. Louis L. Redding, Wilmington, Del., for appellant. Sol. Gen. Archibald Cox, Washington, D.C., the United States, as amicus curiae. Clair John Killoran, appellee, The Wilmington Parking Authority. Thomas Herlihy, Jr., Eagle Coffee Shoppe, Inc. Justice CLARK delivered opinion of Court. 1 In this action declaratory injunctive relief it is admitted that Inc., a restaurant located within an off-street automobile parking building in Delaware, has refused to serve appellant food or drink solely because he Negro. owned operated by Authority, agency State Authority's lessee. Appellant claims such refusal abridges his rights under Equal Protection Clause Fourteenth Amendment States Constitution. Supreme Court Delaware held was acting 'a purely private capacity' (157 A.2d 902) its lease; not Authority not, therefore, state contemplation prohibitions contained Amendment. It also 24 Del.Code s 1501,1 restaurant, inn, 'is required (under law) any all persons entering place business.' Del.1960, 157 894, 902. On appeal here from judgment having been based upon statute construed unconstitutionally, we postponed consideration question jurisdiction 28 U.S.C. § 1257(2), U.S.C.A. hearing on merits. 364 810, 52, 5 40. We agree with respondents should be dismissed accordingly motion dismiss granted. However, since excluding raises important constitutional question, papers whereon taken are treated petition writ certiorari, 2103, 1257(3), 1257(3). merits have concluded exclusion circumstances shown present discriminatory violation 2 created City pursuant 22 Del.Code, §§ 501—515. public body corporate politic, exercising powers thereof.' 504. Its statutory purpose provide adequate facilities convenience thereby relieve 'parking crisis, which threatens welfare community * *.' 501(7), (8) (9). To end granted wide including constructing acquiring lease, purchase condemnation, lands facilities, leasing 'portions garage buildings structures commercial ues lessee, where, necessary feasible financing operation facilities.' 504(a). Act provides rates charges must reasonable determined exclusively 'for purposes providing payment expenses construction, improvement, repair, maintenance, properties, principal interest obligations, fulfill terms provisions agreements made purchasers holders obligations city.' 504(b)(8). no power pledge credit but may issue own revenue bonds tax exempt. Any property used likewise exempt taxation. 3 first project undertaken erection facility Ninth Street downtown Wilmington. tract consisted four parcels, were acquired negotiated purchases owners. Three paid cash, borrowed Equitable Security Trust Company, fourth, purchased Diamond Ice Coal 'partly Revenue Bonds partly cash ($934,000) donated Del.C. c. *. Subsequently, gave $1,822,827.69 sum applied redemption & Co. repayment Company loan.' Before began actual construction facility, advised retained experts anticipated cars proceeds sale would sufficient finance costs facility. Moreover, expected marketable if payable out revenues. secure additional capital needed 'debt-service' requirements, make bond practicable, decided enter long-term leases responsible tenants use some space available projected 'garage building.' invited bid these leases. 4 1957 20 years renewable another 10 years, 'restaurant, dining room, banquet hall, cocktail lounge bar other purpose.' multi-level let Eagle, although 'within exterior walls structure, marked entrance leading portion into proper (whose main entrance) Street.' at page 899. lease covenanted complete expeditiously, completion 'the decorative finishing leased premises utilities therefor, without cost Lessee,' utility connections, toilets, hung acoustical tile plaster ceilings; vinyl asbestos, ceramic concrete floors; connecting stairs wrought iron railings; wood-floored show windows. spent $220,000 suitable and, extent improvements so attached realty become part thereof, same enjoys exemption. further agreed furnish heat Eagle's premises, gas service boiler make, expense, structural repairs, repairs surfaces except store fronts caused lessee's act neglect. right directional signs interfere obscure display signs. Agreeing pay annual rental $28,700, 'occupy accordance applicable laws, statutes, ordinances rules regulations federal, municipal authority.' however, contains requirement services general nondiscriminatory basis, spite fact adopt respecting impair security bondholders. 511. Other portions structure tenants, bookstore, retail jeweler, store. Upon building, appropriate places thereon official indicating character flew mastheads roof both national flags. 7 August 1958 parked car walked around front door Street. Having entered sought service, it. Thereafter filed Chancery. motions summary judgment, pleadings affidavits, Chancellor concluded, contrary contentions respondents, whether 'device' executed good faith, 'serve insulate authority force effect Amendment.' 150 197, 198. He found necessary, pass restaurateurs common law, 1501. reversed, mentioned above, holding 'in conduct business, capacity.' It, denied appellant's claim reaching application held, assertion maintained 'primarily thus subject 1501, does compel operator give seeking such.' Delaware's highest court equal protection well state-law contention concerning applicability 8 jurisdictional depend ultimate support determination validity statute, rather facts racially exercised was, beyond prohibitive scope 9 Civil Rights Cases, 1883, 109 3, 18, 27 L.Ed. 835, 'embedded our law' principle 'that inhibited section (Equal Clause) only fairly said States. That erects shield against merely conduct, however wrongful.' Chief Vinson Shelley v. Kraemer, 1948, 334 1, 13, 68 836, 842, 92 1161. language supra, phrased broad test responsibility Amendment, predicting consequence 'State every kind denies laws.' At p. 11 U.S., And two Terms ago, 75 later, concept interpreted necessarily following 'state participation through arrangement, management, funds property.' Cooper Aaron, 1958, 358 4, 78 1401, 1403, 5. clear, always 'Individual invasion individual subject-matter amendment,' 11, 21, abridging violence unless significant manifestations involved Because virtue laws could lie breadth application, assurance reserved whose imprecision enjoyed variety individual-state relationships designed embrace. For reason, fashion apply precise formula recognition 'impossible task' 'This never attempted.' Kotch Board River Port Pilot Com'rs, 330 552, 556, 67 910, 912, 91 1093. Only sifting weighing can nonobvious involvement attributed true significance. trial court's disposal issues resulted incomplete record, presents detail us determine degree petitioner. connection seems placed controlling emphasis conclusion, accuracy there doubt, 15% total 'advanced' funds; entire allocated three-fifths two-fifths space; 30.5% income, balance earned leasing; had original intent being happenstance resulting bidding; expended considerable moneys furnishings; restaurant's direct area; furnishing $28,700 annually form rent defray operating expense otherwise unprofitable enterprise.' 901. While factual considerations indeed validly accountable aspects enterprise embarked, cannot say they lead inescapably conclusion present. Their persuasiveness diminished when evaluated context factors acknowledged. land publicly owned. As entity, dedicated 'public uses' performance 'essential governmental functions.' 501, 514. acquisition, maintenance defrayed entirely donations loans rentals payable. Assuming distinction significant, cf. Derrington Plummer, Cir., 240 F.2d 922, 925, commercially areas surplus property, constituted physically financially integral indeed, indispensable State's plan operate self-sustaining unit. Upkeep responsibilities funds. doubted peculiar relationship confers each incidental mutual benefits. Guests afforded convenient park their automobiles, even directly area. Similarly, diners demand facilities. Should effected leasehold realty, possibility increased taxes passed fee tax-exempt government agency. Neither ignored, especially view affirmative allegation Negroes injure profits discrimination contribute to, elements in, financial success 12 Addition activities, benefits mutually conferred, together obvious devoted indicates design condemn. irony amounting grave injustice one single erected purpose, rights, while portion, serving public, Negro second-class citizen, offensive race, unentitled time fully access nearby restaurants wholly privately buildings. pointed out, affirmatively discharge imposed participation. But effectively abdicate either ignoring them failing whatever motive be. consolation done faith. Certainly conclusions drawn similar cases various Courts Appeals do distinction.2 By inaction, State, itself party elected power, prestige behind discrimination. far insinuated position interdependence recognized joint participant challenged activity, which, account, considered 'purely private' fall 13 readily formulae fashioned, record means declared universal truths basis agreement tested. Owing very 'largeness' government, multitude might appear Amendment's embrace, that, remembered, framework Therefore respondents' prophecy nigh precept peculiarly dependent invocation fails take account 'Differences (which) beget differences law,' Whitney Tax Comm., 309 530, 542, 60 635, 640, 84 909. Specifically defining limits inquiry, what hold today manner case here, proscriptions complied lessee certainly though binding covenants written itself. 14 reversed cause remanded proceedings consistent opinion. 15 Reversed remanded. 16 STEWART, concurring. 17 I reach route much more than traveled upholding deny relied permits proprietor refuse 'persons reception entertainment him major customers *.'* There suggestion person. legislative enactment authorizing classification color. Such law me clearly violative think, properly taken, authoritatively constitutionally invalid. 18 FRANKFURTER, dissenting. 19 According my brother sanctions restaurateur denying person If correct reading decision Court, inevitably follows. treatment color indubitably denial HARLAN find invalidity decisive read STEWART reads ambiguous deems clarification how did construe statute. clarity finds views expressed regarding forced opposite his, namely, sanction refusing colored. takes meaning divides brothers STEWART. Clearly STEWART'S decided. did, undoubtedly easy result circuitous route. Since pronouncement lends three views, none patently irrational, why HARLAN'S solving conflict most solution? Were duly said, problem. need resolving problems state-federal relations Court's deals. If, hand, mean invalidating confronted now entertains decision, unembarrassed disregard simpler issue. This involve delay adjudication. spent, deciding serious questions earlier due regard process adjudication requires. Accordingly, join proposed disposition intimating prematurely constitutes action. 23 HARLAN, whom WHITTAKER joins, opinion, undiscriminatingly throwing bits pieces then undermining equally vague disclaimer, leave completely sea just satisfies action.' unnecessary, inquire matter stage, apparent before passing far-reaching may, lurking sent back decision. among things, said: 25 'It (Eagle) acts keeper such, barber shop, business sell product one. restated 1501 respect keepers. Am.Jur., Rights, 22; 52 Theatres, 9; Williams Howard Johnson's Restaurant, 268 845. We, accordingly, Amendment.'* 26 means, Brother suggests, 'as color,' agree, more, quite unnecessary broader dealt meant free those pleased, then, action' presented full-blown form. think sound principles dictate ascertain exact remand see Musser Utah, 333 95, 397, 562; Harrison N.A.A.C.P., 360 167, 79 1025, 1152, pending clarification. See Herb Pitcairn, 324 117, 65 459, 89 789. unwise significance necessity apparent. that: 'No tavern, hotel, refreshment travelers, guests, shall obliged, customers, business. section, 'customer' includes who occasion refreshment.' Aaron Cooper, 261 97; Greensboro Simkins, 246 425, affirming D.C.M.D.N.C., 149 F.Supp. 922; Coke Atlanta, D.C.N.D.Ga., 184 579; Jones Marva D.C.D.Md., 180 49; Tate Department Conservation, D.C.E.D.Va., 133 53, affirmed 231 615; Nash Air Terminal Services, 85 545; Lawrence Hancock, D.C.S.D.W.Va., 76 1004, Muir Louisville Park Theatrical Ass'n, 347 971, 74 783, 98 1112, vacating remanding 202 275. text set note 1. follows:

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