Piazza's Seafood World, LLC v. Odom

United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FILED
for the Fifth Circuit May 4, 2006

Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 05-30098

PIAZZA’S SEAFOOD WORLD, LLC,

Plaintiff-Counter Defendant-Appellee,

VERSUS

BOB ODOM,
Individually and as Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of
Agriculture and Forestry,

Defendant-Counter Claimant-Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DeMOSS, and OWEN, Circuit Judges.

DeMOSS, Circuit Judge:

This case requires us to decide the constitutionality of two

Louisiana statutes, one that regulates the labeling of catfish,

LA REV. STAT. ANN. § 3:4617(C) (the “Catfish Statute”), and another

that regulates the use of the word “Cajun” on food products, id.

at § 3:4617(D), (E) (the “Cajun Statute”). Appellee Piazza’s

Seafood World, LLC (“Piazza”) is a Louisiana company that imports

seafood and distributes it under the trade names “Cajun Boy” and
“Cajun Delight.” It sued the Commissioner of the Louisiana

Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr. Bob Odom, to enjoin

the Commissioner from enforcing the Catfish and Cajun Statutes

against the company. The district court granted summary judgment

in Piazza’s favor with respect to the statutes and enjoined the

Commissioner from enforcing either statute against Piazza,

concluding (1) that the Catfish Statute was preempted by 21

U.S.C. § 343(t) and (2) that the Cajun Statute, as applied to

Piazza, violated the First Amendment. The district court also

denied the Commissioner’s motion for new trial regarding the

Catfish Statute, which the court treated as a motion to

reconsider, reiterating that the Catfish Statute was preempted

and finding in the alternative that it violated the dormant

Foreign Commerce Clause. For the reasons stated below, we affirm.

I. BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

This case represents the next chapter in an ongoing saga

regarding the labeling of catfish. In May 2002, Congress passed

legislation limiting the class of fish sold in interstate

commerce to which the label “catfish” could be applied. See Farm

Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-171,

§ 10806(a), 116 Stat. 134, 526-27 (codified at 21 U.S.C. §§ 321d,

343(t)). This legislation was prompted by increased sales of

Vietnamese Pangasius bocourti in the United States as “basa

2
catfish.” See Kerrilee E. Kobbeman, Legislative Note, Hook, Line

and Sinker: How Congress Swallowed the Domestic Catfish

Industry’s Narrow Definition of this Ubiquitous Bottomfeeder, 57

ARK. L. REV. 407, 411-18 (2004); see also 148 CONG. REC. S3989

(daily ed. May 8, 2002) (statement of Sen. Hutchinson) (“With

this provision, we were trying to end the deceptive and

economically destructive practice of mislabeling Vietnamese

basa . . . .”); 147 CONG. REC. H6267-68 (daily ed. Oct. 4, 2001)

(statements of Reps. Barry, Pickering, and Shows) (describing the

purposes behind the legislation). The American catfish industry

was heavily impacted by the sale of these fish under the catfish

name: sales of domestic catfish dropped significantly and

domestic catfish farmers were forced to lower their prices.

Kobbeman, supra, at 411-12; see also 147 CONG. REC. H6267-68

(statements of Reps. Barry, Pickering, and Shows) (detailing the

impact of foreign catfish on the American market). The new

federal catfish labeling law, codified at 21 U.S.C. §§ 321d and

343(t), provided that the term “catfish” could only be considered

“a common or usual name (or part thereof) for fish classified

within the family Ictaluridae”; “only labeling or advertising for

fish classified within that family” could use the term “catfish”;

and a food would be deemed misbranded if it purported to be or

was represented as catfish, unless it was fish classified within

3
the family Ictaluridae. 21 U.S.C. §§ 321d, 343(t). After this

legislation was passed, Vietnamese Pangasius bocourti, members of

the family Pangasiidae, could no longer be labeled catfish; only

fish from the family Ictaluridae, native to America, could bear

the lucrative catfish label.

Around the same time, Louisiana discovered that American

Ictaluridae were being farmed in China and sold in the United

States as catfish, and it passed legislation limiting further the

class of fish to which the catfish label could be applied. 2002

La. Sess. Law Serv. 1st Ex. Sess. Act 125 (West). Specifically,

Louisiana stated that only Ictaluridae grown in the United States

could be labeled “catfish.” LA. REV. STAT. ANN. § 3:4617(C)

(2003).1 This lawsuit arose out of application of that law, as

well as a Louisiana law limiting the use of the word “Cajun” on

food products, to an American importer and distributor of Chinese

Ictaluridae.

Piazza is a Louisiana Limited Liability Company that has

been selling seafood wholesale in Louisiana for more than fifty

years; thirty years ago, it began marketing some of its products

1
The legislation also defined fish from the family
Anarhichadidae grown in the United States as catfish; however, that
portion of the statute is not at issue in this case because
according to the record, Appellee Piazza only sells Ictaluridae.
4
under the trade names “Cajun Boy” and “Cajun Delight,”2 and today

it sells all of its products under those names. Although Piazza

originally sold mostly Louisiana seafood, ninety-nine percent of

the food products it sells currently are imported from overseas.

Its customers are largely institutional buyers that resell

Piazza’s products to wholesalers and restaurants, but Piazza

sells about one percent of its products to grocery stores that

resell its products directly to the public. One of the products

Piazza sells is Cajun Boy-brand catfish from the family

Ictaluridae that is imported from China.3 The catfish and the

“Cajun Boy” and “Cajun Delight” trade names are what is at issue

in this case.

In March 2004, Commissioner Odom ordered several of Piazza’s

customers not to “sell, offer for sale, apply, move or remove”

any of Piazza’s products because the reference to “catfish” on

Piazza’s Chinese catfish violated Louisiana’s Catfish Statute4;

2
Both trade names are registered with the Louisiana
Secretary of State.
3
The Chinese catfish are descendants of American catfish
imported to China for farming purposes, and the parties agree
that they are biologically identical to American catfish.
4
The Catfish Statute read,
No one shall misrepresent the name, or type of any
fruit, vegetable, grain, meat, or fish, including
catfish, sold, or offered or exposed for sale, to any
actual or prospective consumer. “Catfish” shall mean
only those species within the family
Ictaluridae . . . and grown in the United States of
5
as a result of this action, 30,000 cases of Piazza’s catfish were

seized.5 Piazza brought suit, seeking an injunction against

Commissioner Odom to prevent him from enforcing the Catfish

Statute against the company. Piazza argued that the Catfish

Statute was preempted by 21 U.S.C. § 343(t) and unconstitutional

under the Commerce and Equal Protection Clauses. The district

court eventually granted partial summary judgment in Piazza’s

favor as to the Catfish Statute, finding that the statute was

preempted by 21 U.S.C. § 343(t) because of an actual conflict

between the state and federal laws.6 The court did not address

Piazza’s alternative constitutional claims regarding the Catfish

Statute at that time, although it did mention that it saw

potential Commerce Clause problems with the statute.

While the original suit was pending, the Louisiana

legislature passed House Bill 891, which repealed the

America.
LA. REV. STAT. ANN. § 3:4617(C) (2003).
5
These cases were later released for sale after Piazza
agreed to stamp the word “Chinese” above the word “catfish” on
each case. Each case was already marked “Product of China,” and
the parties do not dispute that Piazza has always marked its
foreign products with their country of origin.
6
Section 343(t) states,
A food shall be deemed to be misbranded--
If it purports to be or is represented as catfish,
unless it is fish classified within the family
Ictaluridae.
21 U.S.C. § 343(t).
6
“grandfather clause” in Louisiana’s Cajun Statute that had

previously protected the use of the word “Cajun” in a product

name if that name was a trademark or trade name legally

registered with the state of Louisiana as of May 15, 2003.7

Without the protection of the grandfather clause, all of Piazza’s

inventory violated the Cajun Statute. Piazza accordingly amended

its complaint in the district court, seeking a second injunction

against Commissioner Odom, this one to prevent the Commissioner

7
The Cajun Statute, prior to amendment, read,
D. No person shall advertise, sell, offer or expose for
sale, or distribute food or food products as “Cajun”,
“Louisiana Creole”, or any derivative thereof unless
the food or food product would qualify for the ten
percent preference for products produced, processed, or
manufactured in Louisiana under R.S. 38:2251 and R.S.
39:1595. Food brought into and processed in Louisiana
shall not be considered as food or food products made
in Louisiana, for purposes of this Section, unless the
food has been substantially transformed by processing
in Louisiana.
E. No person shall advertise, sell, offer or expose for
sale, or distribute food or food products that do not
qualify under this Section for labeling as “Cajun”,
“Louisiana Creole”, or any derivative thereof in any
packaging that would lead a reasonable person to
believe that the food or food product qualifies as
“Cajun” or “Louisiana Creole” food or food products, as
defined in this Section.
F. The provisions of Subsections D and E of this
Section shall not infringe upon rights acquired
pursuant to any trademark or trade name legally
registered with the state of Louisiana as of May 15,
2003.
LA. REV. STAT. ANN. § 3:4617(D)-(F) (Supp. 2004). House Bill 891
repealed subsection (F).
7
from enforcing the Cajun Statute against Piazza.8 Piazza argued

that the Cajun Statute was unconstitutional under the First

Amendment and the Commerce, Equal Protection, Due Process, and

Takings Clauses. Around the same time, Commissioner Odom filed a

motion for new trial as to the Catfish Statute. The district

court again found in Piazza’s favor, granting partial summary

judgment in Piazza’s favor as to the Cajun Statute--finding that

the statute, as applied to Piazza, violated the First Amendment--

and denying the Commissioner’s motion for new trial as to the

Catfish Statute--reiterating that the Catfish Statute was

preempted and finding in the alternative that it violated the

dormant Commerce Clause by discriminating against foreign

commerce.9 The court never addressed Piazza’s alternative

constitutional claims regarding the Cajun Statute.

8
Piazza originally amended its complaint to challenge
the constitutionality of the repeal of Louisiana Revised Statutes
§ 3:4617(F), but later amended its complaint again to add a
challenge to the constitutionality of the Cajun Statute itself,
Louisiana Revised Statutes § 3:4617(D), (E).
9
The district court correctly characterized and analyzed
the Commissioner’s Rule 59(a) motion for new trial as a Rule
59(e) motion to reconsider entry of summary judgment. See Patin
v. Allied Signal, Inc., 77 F.3d 782, 785 n.1 (5th Cir. 1996); see
also Harcon Barge Co. v. D & G Boat Rentals, Inc., 784 F.2d 665,
669-70 (5th Cir. 1986) (“‘[A]ny motion that draws into question
the correctness of a judgment is functionally a motion under
Civil Rule 59(e), whatever its label.’” (quoting 9 MOORE’S FEDERAL
PRACTICE ¶ 204.12[1], at 4-67 (1985))). For simplicity’s sake, the
Commissioner’s motion for new trial is referred to as a motion to
reconsider throughout the remainder of this opinion.
8
 The Commissioner timely appealed the district court’s denial

of his motion to reconsider as to the Catfish Statute and its

partial summary judgment as to the Cajun Statute.10 He argues on

appeal (1) that the district court erred in holding that the

Catfish Statute is preempted by 21 U.S.C. § 343(t); (2) that the

district court erred in reaching its alternate conclusion that

the Catfish Statute violates the dormant Commerce Clause; and (3)

that the district court erred in holding that the Cajun Statute,

as applied to Piazza, violates the First Amendment.

II. The Catfish Statute

Generally, this Court reviews the denial of a motion to

reconsider for abuse of discretion. Fletcher v. Apfel, 210 F.3d

510, 512 (5th Cir. 2000). However, if a party appeals from the

denial of a Rule 59(e) motion that is solely a motion to

reconsider a judgment on its merits, de novo review is

appropriate. Id. Considering Commissioner Odom’s arguments on

appeal, it is apparent that he “intended to appeal the merits of

the underlying [summary] judgment,” id.; accordingly, we review

his claims regarding the Catfish Statute de novo.11

10
The notice of appeal effectively stayed the proceedings
in the district court, where a cross-claim under the Lanham Act,
which is not discussed here, is pending.
11
Neither party properly addresses the standard of review
this Court should apply with respect to the motion to reconsider.
The Commissioner frames his standard of review discussion as
though he were directly appealing the motion for summary
9
 The district court held that the Catfish Statute violated

the dormant Commerce Clause because it was “a protectionist

measure that discriminate[d] against foreign commerce in favor of

local interests.” We agree.

The Commerce Clause states that “Congress shall have

Power . . . To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among

the several States, and with the Indian Tribes.” U.S. CONST. art.

I, § 8, cl. 3. Although the Commerce Clause speaks only of

Congress’s power, it has long been understood that there is a

dormant or negative aspect of the Commerce Clause that limits the

power of the states to regulate commerce. See Camps

Newfound/Owatonna, Inc. v. Town of Harrison, 520 U.S. 564, 571-72

(1997); Or. Waste Sys., Inc. v. Dep’t of Envtl. Quality, 511 U.S.

93, 98-99 (1994); Dennis v. Higgins, 498 U.S. 439, 447 (1991);

New Energy Co. of Ind. v. Limbach, 486 U.S. 269, 273-74 (1988);

see also Nat’l Solid Waste Mgmt. Ass’n v. Pine Belt Reg’l Solid

Waste, 389 F.3d 491, 497 (5th Cir. 2004) (acknowledging the

Supreme Court’s dormant Commerce Clause jurisprudence). This

negative aspect of the Commerce Clause applies both to the

Foreign Commerce Clause (“Commerce with foreign Nations”), see,

e.g., Wardair Canada, Inc. v. Fla. Dep’t of Revenue, 477 U.S. 1,

judgment, which he is not. And Piazza does not discuss the
appropriate standard of review at all. However, we, not the
parties, determine the appropriate standard of review.
10
7-8 (1986), and to the Interstate Commerce Clause

(“Commerce . . . among the several States”), see, e.g., Camps

Newfound/Owatonna, Inc., 520 U.S. at 571-72, although the scope

of Congress’s power to regulate foreign commerce, and accordingly

the limit on the power of the states in that area, is greater,

see, e.g., Kraft Gen. Foods, Inc. v. Iowa Dep’t of Revenue and

Fin., 505 U.S. 71, 79 (1992) (noting that “the constitutional

prohibition against state taxation of foreign commerce is broader

than the protection afforded to interstate commerce, in part

because matters of concern to the entire Nation are implicated”

(citation omitted)); Wardair Canada, Inc., 477 U.S. at 8 (“In the

unique context of foreign commerce, we have alluded to the

special need for federal uniformity: ‘In international relations

and with respect to foreign intercourse and trade the people of

the United States act through a single government with unified

and adequate national power.’” (internal quotation marks and

citation omitted)); Japan Line v. Los Angeles, 441 U.S. 434, 446

(1979) (stating that “a more extensive constitutional inquiry is

required” in Foreign Commerce Clause cases because a state

regulation may “impair federal uniformity in an area where

federal uniformity is essential”).

State regulations violate the dormant Commerce Clause by

discriminating against or unduly burdening foreign or interstate

11
commerce. See, e.g., Or. Waste Sys., Inc., 511 U.S. at 98

(Interstate Commerce Clause); Kraft Gen. Foods, Inc., 505 U.S. at

81 (Foreign Commerce Clause). Regulations that facially

discriminate are virtually per se invalid, Camps

Newfound/Owatonna, Inc., 520 U.S. at 575 (explaining that

discriminatory regulations are strictly scrutinized); Nat’l Solid

Waste Mgmt. Ass’n, 389 F.3d at 497 (same); see also Kraft Gen.

Foods, Inc., 505 U.S. at 81 (“Absent a compelling

justification, . . . a State may not advance its legitimate goals

by means that facially discriminate against foreign commerce.”),

whereas regulations that merely burden commerce are valid “unless

‘the burden imposed on such commerce is clearly excessive in

relation to the putative local benefits.’” Or. Waste Sys., Inc.,

511 U.S. at 99 (quoting Pike v. Bruce Church, Inc., 397 U.S. 137,

142 (1970)).

In the context of the Interstate Commerce Clause, if a state

regulation is found to be nondiscriminatory, the court examines

“the nature of the local interest and whether alternative means

could achieve that interest with less impact on interstate

commerce.” Nat’l Solid Waste Mgmt. Ass’n, 389 F.3d at 501. “‘If a

legitimate local purpose is found, then the question becomes one

of degree. And the extent of the burden that will be tolerated

will of course depend on the nature of the local interest

12
involved, and on whether it could be promoted as well with a

lesser impact on interstate activities.’” Id. (quoting Pike, 397

U.S. at 142). However, in the context of the Foreign Commerce

Clause, other considerations come into play: nondiscriminatory

state regulations affecting foreign commerce are invalid “if they

(1) create a substantial risk of conflicts with foreign

governments; or (2) undermine the ability of the federal

government to ‘speak with one voice’ in regulating commercial

affairs with foreign states.” New Orleans S.S. Ass’n v.

Plaquemines Port, Harbor & Terminal Dist., 874 F.2d 1018, 1022

(5th Cir. 1989) (quoting Japan Line, 441 U.S. at 446).

Commissioner Odom focuses his arguments on appeal on the

Interstate Commerce Clause. He argues that the Catfish Statute

does not discriminate against interstate commerce because it does

not meet any of the factors listed in Exxon Corp. v. Governor of

Maryland, 437 U.S. 117 (1978), namely, the Catfish Statute “does

not prohibit or limit the flow of goods into the state, creates

no barriers whatsoever against the importation of goods, does not

place added costs on out-of-state goods, and does not distinguish

between in-state and out-of-state companies in the wholesale or

retail market.” The Commissioner misses the point. The problem

with the Catfish Statute is not that it discriminates against

interstate commerce, but that it discriminates against foreign

13
commerce. And this discrimination appears on the face of the

statute: the Catfish Statute treats domestic catfish differently

from foreign catfish to the benefit of the former and the

detriment of the latter. See Or. Waste Sys., Inc., 511 U.S. at 99

(defining discrimination in the Commerce Clause context).

Therefore, the Commissioner’s citation to Exxon Corp. is

inapposite. Exxon Corp. involved a statute that did not facially

discriminate, see Exxon Corp., 437 U.S. at 125 (“Plainly, the

Maryland statute does not discriminate against interstate goods,

nor does it favor local producers and refiners.”); accordingly,

the Court was using the factors cited by Commissioner Odom to

determine whether the statute in question unduly burdened — or

had a discriminatory effect on — commerce, see id. at 125-26.

Those factors are irrelevant in a case involving facial

discrimination.12

12
The Commissioner cites other cases in his reply brief in
support of his argument that the Catfish Statute does not
discriminate against commerce. We are not persuaded by any. First,
the Commissioner is wrong that the differential treatment of
products, rather than entities, cannot qualify as discrimination.
See Bacchus Imps., Ltd. v. Dias, 468 U.S. 263, 269 n.8 (1984)
(“[D]iscrimination between in-state and out-of-state goods is as
offensive to the Commerce Clause as discrimination between in-state
and out-of-state taxpayers.”). Second, an absolute barrier to
commerce is not required for discrimination to exist. See, e.g.,
Or. Waste Sys., Inc., 511 U.S. at 96-100 & (finding patent
discrimination where the statute in question simply applied a
differential charge to out-of-state entities, and stating “the
degree of a differential burden or charge on interstate commerce
‘measures only the extent of the discrimination’ and ‘is of no
relevance to the determination whether a State has discriminated
14
 Commissioner Odom also challenges the district court’s

decision by arguing that Congress somehow condoned Louisiana’s

legislation. We recognize that Congress may permit a state to

enact legislation that would otherwise violate the Commerce

Clause, but its intent to do so must be “expressly stated.” New

Orleans S.S. Ass’n, 874 F.2d at 1022 (citing S.-Cent. Timber

Dev., Inc. v. Wunnicke, 467 U.S. 82, 91-92 (1984)). “The fact

that the state policy [involved] appears to be consistent with

federal policy--or even that state policy furthers the goals we

might believe that Congress had in mind--is an insufficient

indicium of congressional intent. S.-Cent. Timber Dev., Inc., 467

U.S. at 92. There is no express statement in either of the

statutes cited by the Commissioner, § 343(t) or the Lanham Act,

regarding the power of the states to enact catfish labeling

legislation that discriminates against foreign commerce. See 21

U.S.C. § 343(t); Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051 et seq. The

Commissioner relies on his interpretation of the purposes of

against interstate commerce’” (quoting Wyoming v. Oklahoma, 502
U.S. 437, 455 (1992)). Finally, a statute that facially
discriminates does not have to otherwise burden commerce in order
to be strictly scrutinized--the cases the Commissioner cites
requiring a burden in addition to discrimination did not involve
facial discrimination. See id. The overarching problem with
Commissioner Odom’s arguments is that he fails to recognize that
the Catfish Statute’s differential treatment of domestic catfish
and foreign catfish to the benefit of the former and the detriment
of the latter is, without more, facial discrimination subject to
strict scrutiny.
15
§ 343(t) and the Lanham Act--to prevent the labeling of foreign

fish as catfish and to prevent “initial interest confusion,”

respectively--to support his position that “federal law allows

the actions employed by Louisiana,” but even if we agreed with

his interpretation of those statutes, his reliance on their

purposes, rather than their express language, indicates that

Congress has made no express statement regarding state catfish

labeling laws that discriminate against commerce. A state statute

that violates the Commerce Clause cannot be saved by a showing

that it is consistent with the purposes behind federal law. S.-

Cent. Timber Dev., Inc., 467 U.S. at 92.

Because we find that the Catfish Statute discriminates on

its face against foreign commerce, we presume that it is invalid.

See Kraft Gen. Foods, Inc., 505 U.S. at 81. To overcome this

presumption, the Commissioner must demonstrate that the Catfish

Statute serves a legitimate local purpose that cannot be

adequately served by reasonable nondiscriminatory alternatives.

New Energy Co. of Ind., 486 U.S. at 278; see also Kraft Gen.

Foods, Inc., 505 U.S. at 81. This the Commissioner has not done:

Because he thinks the Catfish Statute does not discriminate, he

only comes forward with evidence that the statute’s burden is

minimal in relation to its local benefits. This evidence, even if

accepted as true, is not enough to satisfy the Commissioner’s

16
heightened burden under strict scrutiny review. See Camps

Newfound/Owatonna, Inc., 520 U.S. at 582 (stating that because

the appellant “made no effort to defend the statute under the per

se rule,” the Court would not address whether strict scrutiny was

satisfied). Absent a compelling justification, which the

Commissioner has not offered, the Catfish Statute is invalid.

Because we find that the Catfish Statute violates the dormant

Foreign Commerce Clause, we do not address whether it is

preempted.13

III. The Cajun Statute

This Court reviews grants of summary judgment de novo,

applying the same standard as the district court. Wheeler v. BL

Dev. Corp., 415 F.3d 399, 401 (5th Cir. 2005). Summary judgment

is appropriate if no genuine issue of material fact exists and

the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. FED.

R. CIV. P. 56(C). The Court views the evidence in a light most

favorable to the non-movant. Wheeler, 415 F.3d at 401. The non-

movant must go beyond the pleadings and come forward with

specific facts indicating a genuine issue for trial to avoid

summary judgment. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324

(1986). A genuine issue of material fact exists when the evidence

is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the

13
We also do not address any of Piazza’s alternative
constitutional claims regarding the Catfish Statute.
17
non-movant. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248

(1986). Summary judgment is appropriate, however, if the non-

movant “fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the

existence of an element essential to that party’s case.” Celotex,

477 U.S. at 322-23.

The Commissioner argues on appeal that Piazza’s First

Amendment rights were not violated by the Cajun Statute because

Piazza’s use of the word “Cajun” in its trade names is misleading

and deceptive. He argues alternatively that even if the use of

the word “Cajun” is not misleading or deceptive, Louisiana has

substantial governmental interests in regulating use of that word

that are directly advanced by the Cajun Statute, and the statute

is narrowly tailored to achieve those goals. Piazza counters that

the Cajun Statute, as applied to Piazza,14 violates all four

prongs of the relevant Central Hudson test and thus constitutes

an impermissible restriction on Piazza’s First Amendment right to

use the “Cajun Boy” and “Cajun Delight” trade names.

Central Hudson Gas v. Public Service Commission, 447 U.S.

557 (1980), supplies the test for determining whether the

government has permissibly regulated commercial speech:

In commercial speech cases . . . a four-part analysis
has developed. At the outset, we must determine whether
the expression is protected by the First Amendment. For

14
Piazza clarified at oral argument that on appeal it is
only challenging the statute as applied.
18
 commercial speech to come within that provision, it at
least must concern lawful activity and not be
misleading. Next, we ask whether the asserted
governmental interest is substantial. If both inquiries
yield positive answers, we must determine whether the
regulation directly advances the governmental interest
asserted, and whether it is not more extensive than is
necessary to serve that interest.

Cent. Hudson, 447 U.S. at 566. The district court answered

Central Hudson’s first two inquiries in the affirmative, finding

(1) that Piazza’s use of the “Cajun Boy” and “Cajun Delight”

trade names was only potentially misleading, not actually or

inherently misleading, because Piazza largely sells its products

to wholesalers and it labels its products with their country of

origin and (2) that Louisiana’s interest in protecting

Louisianans from misleading and deceptive uses of trade names was

substantial. The district court then turned to whether the Cajun

Statute directly advanced Louisiana’s asserted interest in

protecting Louisianans and whether the statute was more extensive

than necessary to serve that interest. It answered this inquiry

in the affirmative, finding that the state’s interest in

protecting Louisianans from deception was not enhanced by

application of the state statute to Piazza because there was no

deception present to be prevented. The court also found that the

state statute was more extensive than necessary when applied to

Piazza because it contained no exception for sellers like Piazza

who disclose truthful information (country of origin) on their
19
food labels that eliminates the deceptive nature of the labeling.

The court emphasized that the Cajun Statute was not facially

invalid, only invalid as applied to Piazza.

Having carefully reviewed the record, the briefs, and the

oral argument of the parties, we affirm the district court’s

decision as to the Cajun Statute essentially for the reasons

stated by the district court.15

IV. Conclusion

Accordingly, we AFFIRM the district court’s decision to deny

Commissioner Odom’s motion for new trial as to the Catfish

Statute and its decision to grant Piazza’s motion for partial

summary judgment as to the Cajun Statute.

15
We do not address Piazza’s alternative constitutional
claims regarding the Cajun Statute.
20
 HIGGINBOTHAM, Circuit Judge, concurring:

I concur for the reasons stated by the panel opinion

and the thoughtful opinions of the district court. I agree that

the Louisiana Statute discriminates against foreign commerce. As

was the district court, however, I am persuaded that the

preferable approach is to draw upon preemption doctrine. The

commerce power hardly lies dormant here. Congress has set down a

detailed regulatory scheme addressing the subject of misleading

descriptions of the family relationships of catfish and how this

kinship is to be described in their sale. The arguments in this

case supporting a finding of discrimination against foreign

commerce and the justifications for its heightened review rest

upon the dominance of federal power in matters of relations with

foreign countries not on maintenance of a national economy by the

quelling of sibling efforts to gain commercial advantage over

sister states.

21