IN THE 

## A RIZONA 

## C OURT OF 

## A PPEALS

D IVISION T WO

I N RE $15,379 IN U.S. C URRENCY

No. 2 CA

- CV 2015

- 0166 Filed October 18 , 2016

Appeal from the Superior Court in Pinal County Nos. CV201301603 and CV201301728 (Consolidated) The Honorable Jason R. Holmberg, Judge

AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED IN PART AND REMANDED

COUNSEL

Kenneth S. Countryman, P.C., Tempe By Kenneth S. Countryman Counsel for Appellant Corrina Macias

M. Lando Voyles , Pinal County Attorney By Alex Mahon, Deputy County Attorney, Florence Counsel for Appellee the State of ArizonaIN RE $15,379 U.S. CURRENCY Opinion of the Court

2 OPINION

Chief Judge Eckerstrom authored the opinion of the Court, in which Judge Staring and Judge Fink 1 concurred.

E C K E R S T R O M, Chief Judge:

¶1 In this civil forfeiture proceeding, appellant Corrina Macias challenges the trial court’s refusal to award attorney fees, costs, and prejudgment interest when the proceeding terminated in her favor. She further contends the court erred in not ordering the state either to immediately return the currency seiz ed from her or to issue payment. For the reasons that follow, we reverse the court’s order denying the immediate return of the property or an equivalent payment, the order denying costs , and the order denying sanctions under Rule 11, Ariz. R. Civ. P . We otherwise affirm the judgment.

Factual and Procedural Background

¶2 On May 28, 2013, a Pinal County Sheriff’s deputy seized over $15,000 in cash from a vehicle driven by Macias’s husband
, who was also transporting a sizeable load of marijuana. Due to defects in the resulting forfeiture action , the trial court determined it lacked jurisdiction over the proceeding and ordered the currency returned to Macias, with one qualification. The court specifically ordered that the property be returned “to the extent tha t this $15,379.00 is not being held as evidence in any criminal matter.” The court subsequently denied Macias’s request for attorney fees, costs, and expenses. It further denied her request for immediate release of the property or an equivalent payment, again citing the

1 The Hon. Thomas Fink , a judge of the Santa Cruz County Superior Court, is authorized and assigned to sit as a judge on the Court of Appeals, Division Two, pursuant to Arizona Supreme Court order filed July 13, 2016

.IN RE $15,379 U.S. CURRENCY Opinion of the Court

3 pending criminal matter against her husband and the prosecutor’s assertion that the currency was being held as evidence

. ¶3 Although the trial court’s order initially lacked certification pursuant to Rule 54(c), Ariz. R. Civ. P ., we stayed th e appeal sua sponte and revested jurisdiction in the trial court to obtain such certification. See Ariz. R. Civ. App. P. 3 (b); Madrid v. Avalon Care Ctr.

- Chandler, L.L.C. , 236 Ariz. 221, ¶ 5, 338 P.3d 328, 330

- 31 (App. 2014) . With a formal judgment now i ncluded in the appellate record, w e have jurisdiction pursuant to A.R.S. §§ 12

- 120.21(A)(1) and 12

- 2101(A)(1)

.
Discussion
Return of Currency or Payment

¶4 On appeal, Macias contends the state’s action is “unlawful” and violates due process “because the state has no legitimate basis for the refusal to issue payment” or return the property. Regardless of whether this argument was preserved below, 2 we address its merits because doing so is necessary to avoid an erroneous decision on appeal. See Nold v. Nold
, 23 2 Ariz. 270, ¶ 10, 304 P.3d 1093, 1096 (App. 2013) (noting waiver a discretionary doctrine). “[W]hen interpretation and application of statutes are involved, we are not necessarily ‘limited to the arguments made by the parties if that would cause us to re ach an incorrect result.’” Odom v. Farmers Ins. Co. of Ariz. , 216 Ariz. 530, ¶ 18, 169 P.3d 120, 125 (App. 2007)
, quoting Yarbrough v. Montoya

- Paez , 214 Ariz. 1, n.6, 147 P.3d 755, 762 n.6 (App. 2006)

. ¶5 Our forfeiture statutes generally provide that proper ty not subject to forfeiture must be returned. 3 See A.R.S. §§ 13

- 4310(B),

2 In the trial court, Macias argued her “property [was] being wrongfully withheld by the state, ” and her motion for relief cited Arizona case law based o n due process principles.

3 We do not address contraband in this opinion, which is an exception to the general rule. See State v. Gambling Equip. , 45 Ariz. 112, 117

- 18, 40 P.2d 746, 748 (1935) (stat ing property without lawful use will not be returned to owner).IN RE $15,379 U.S. CURRENCY Opinion of the Court

4 13

- 4314(E) . However, those statutes also implicitly recognize, as does our case law, that the state may retain seized property as evidence for criminal prosecutions. See A.R.S. § 13

- 4306(G)(2) ; State v. Fifteen Slot Machines , 45 Ariz. 118, 119, 40 P.2d 748, 749 (1935) ; cf. A.R.S. §§ 13

- 3941(C) (stolen or embezzled property), 13

- 4429(A) , (B) (crime victim’s property, generally). The power to seize evidence has long existed under th e common law, Smith v. Jerome , 93 N.Y.S. 202, 202

- 03 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1905) , but that power is limited by the “fundamental principle that our Constitution protects . . . against unreasonable . . . seizures.” Search Warrants C

- 419847 & C

- 419848 v. State , 136 Ariz. 175, 176, 665 P.2d 57, 58 (1983) (emphasis added). Accordingly, even when a lawful arrest and seizure ha ve occurred, the retention of property as evidence for a criminal prosecution must be reasonable under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to t he United States Constitution. Krimstock v. Kelly , 464 F.3d 246, 250

- 51 (2d Cir. 2006)

. ¶6 Whether items are seized for civil forfeiture or criminal prosecution, a deprivation of property occurs whenever the state retains someone’s belongings, and the owner who is affected may be an innocent party not involved in a criminal case. See id. at 254 ; Greehling v. State , 135 Ariz. 498, 500, 662 P.2d 1005, 1007 (1982)

. People therefore may seek the return of their seized property under the Fourteenth Amendment’s D ue Process Clause or article II, § 4 of the Arizona Constitution

. 4 See In re Approximately $50,000
, 196 Ariz. 626, ¶¶ 8, 11, 2 P.3d 1271, 1274, 1275

- 76 (App. 2000)

. ¶7 Although we have found no Arizona authority addressing the particular issue in this case
, numerous federal appellate courts recognize that “[a] prosecutor’s right to retain material evidence necessary for trial does not mean that prosecutors can decide unilaterally that [the proper t y] is material and its retention necessary .” Krimstock , 464 F. 3d at 255 ; accord Black Hills Inst

. of Geological Research v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice , 967 F.2d 1237,

4 In addition to the statutes cited above, a person also might seek the return of seized property through Rule 28.2, Ariz. R. Crim. P ., or A.R.S. § 13

- 3922 , though those provisions are not impl icated here.IN RE $15,379 U.S. CURRENCY Opinion of the Court

5 1240

- 41 (8th Cir. 1992) (while government “may take whatever steps necessary to establish proof of the evidence,” government “may not in all cases insist on holding the [property] itself as evidence to be presented to the jury”); In re Smith , 888 F.2d 167, 168 (D.C. Cir. 1989) ( per curiam) (“bald assertion” that money has evidentiary value is insufficient to justify withholding property). The procedural due process framework set forth in Mathews v. Eldridge , 424 U.S. 319, 335 (1976) , applies to motions to return seized property. See Krimstock
, 464 F.3d at 253

- 54 . This means, at minimum, that a trial court must subject the state’s asserted need for property “to scrutiny for reasonableness,” “weighing the competing interests . . . in light of less drastic means.” Id. at 251 . “ I f the [state]’s sole interest in retaining . . . currency is for its use as evidence, the court should consider whether this purpose would be equally well served by the alternatives to holding the money itself . . . .” United States v. 608 Taylor Ave. , 58 4 F.2d 1297, 1304 (3d Cir. 1978)

. ¶8 Here, the trial court did not reach the question of reasonableness presented by Macias’ s motions

. She sought either the immediate return of her currency or an equal payment because “[m]oney is fungible.” Ariz. Dep’t of R evenue v. M. Greenberg Constr.
, 182 Ariz. 397, 401, 897 P.2d 699, 703 (App. 1995)
, abrogated on other grounds by Valencia Energy Co. v. Ariz. Dep’t of Revenue , 191 Ariz. 565, ¶¶ 10 & n.3, 34, 959 P.2d 1256, 1261 & n.3, 1267 (1998)

. She also argued below, and the state did not dispute, that actual cash is typically not presented as evidence in criminal cases. Such evidence usually takes the form of photographs and photocopies, which were in fact obtained by the state here in the related criminal case

. ¶9 The record does not disclose why the prosecutor insisted upon retaining the actual currency. The state failed to file a written response to Macias’s request for the immediate release of the money or repayment, a nd the state articulate d no specific evidentiary need for this property at the subsequent hearing

. Thus
, in taking under advisement Macias’s request for immediate relief
, the trial court observed, “I don’t think that you are making an unreasonable request, I just want to make sure under the law . . . I ’m not messing up anything in the criminal matter.” To the extent the court believed that it was not empowered to order the reliefIN RE $15,379 U.S. CURRENCY Opinion of the Court

6 requested, or did not consider the reasonableness of retaining the currency in light of the available alternatives, this was an error of law represent ing an abuse of the court’s discretion. See State v. Mangum , 214 Ariz. 165, ¶ 6, 150 P.3d 252, 254 (App. 2007)

. Furthermore, given the state’s failure to allege any particular need to retain the currency as evidence, the record is devoid of any ground to support the order denying relief

. See Little v. Little , 193 Ariz. 518, ¶ 5, 975 P.2d 108, 110 (1999) ( “An abuse of discretion exists when the record , viewed in the light most favorable to upholding the trial
court ’ s decision, is ‘ devoid of competent evidence to support’ the decision.” )
, quoting Fought v. Fought
, 94 Ariz. 187, 188, 382 P.2d 667, 668 (1963)

. ¶10 On appeal, the state offers several arguments to support the trial court’s ruling, essentially echoing the court’s observatio n that “there is a division” between the benches of the superior court. The state contends , specifically, that civil forfeiture and criminal prosecution are “parallel” and “entirely separate” proceedings, with a “civil trial court” lacking “jurisdiction” or “authority” to return property held as evidence in a pending criminal case. The state further suggest s that the court could grant Macias no relief beyond declaring her interest in the property. We are not persuaded by these assertions , many of which t he state offers in conclusory fashion

. ¶11 Proceedings to return seized property are often civil in nature, yet that characterization does not limit a trial court’s power to grant relief. See, e .g. , Greehling , 135 Ariz. at 500, 662 P.2d at 1007

. Indeed, when a court is authorized to order the return of property, it is irrelevant that the disposition may affect a related criminal case over which the court does not have jurisdiction. See State ex rel. Milstead v. Melvin , 140 Ariz. 402, 405, 682 P.2d 407, 410 (1984) . But the trial court here did not lack juris diction in any sense.

¶12 T he superior court is a single court of general jurisdiction, In re Approximately $50,000
, 196 Ariz. 626, ¶ 7, 2 P.3d at 1274 , and its administrative divisions have n o effect on its jurisdiction. Marvin Johnson, P.C. v. Myers , 184 Ariz. 98, 102, 907 P.2d 67, 71 (1995) . Even w hen an in rem forfeiture proceeding is improperly initiated, as happened in this case, the superior court hasIN RE $15,379 U.S. CURRENCY Opinion of the Court

7 jurisdiction to order the return of property withi n the state to its

owner. In re Approximately $50,000
, 196 Ariz. 626, ¶ 7, 2 P.3d at 1274

. ¶13 The superior court had original jurisdiction here under article VI , § 14(3) or (11) of the Arizona Constitution
, see State ex rel. Neely v. Brown , 177 Ariz. 6, 9, 8 64 P.2d 1038, 1041 (1993) , and could make necessary orders pursuant to A.R.S. § 12

- 123(B)

. See I n re Approximately $50,000
, 196 Ariz. 626, ¶ 8 , 2 P.3d at 1274

. Under the text of § 13

- 4314(E) , which allows compensation for an “interest” in property, the court was not necessarily restricted to ordering the return of the actual currency seized

. See State v. Clifton Lodge No. 1174, Benev. & Protective Order of Elks of U.S. , 20 Ariz. App. 512, 513, 514 P.2d 265, 266 (App. 1973) (forfeiture statutes “are to b e construed according to the fair import of their terms, with a view to effect their object and to promote justice”); cf. A.R.S. § 12

- 1838 (authorizing “necessary or proper” orders for further relief b ased on declaratory judgment).

¶14 Moreover, as the state c onceded at oral argument, the state has no “absolute right to retain an individual’s property,” and it cannot justify a continued deprivation simply by asserting that the relevant statute of limitations has not expired. State v. Salerno , 216 Ariz. 22, ¶¶ 12, 17, 162 P.3d 661, 66 4 (App. 2007) . Rather, the state must articulate a reasonable basis for retaining the property. See id. ¶ 19

. S uch a basis is lacking on the record before us. We therefore reverse the trial court’s order denying the immediate release of the
currency or an equivalent payment. 5
Attorney Fees

¶15 Macias next contends the trial court abused its discretion by not awarding attorney fees under either Rule 11, Ariz. R. Civ. P., or A.R.S. § 13

- 2314(A)

. We review all aspects of a court’s

5 As we discuss in paragraph thirty

- two and footnote seven of this opinion, we do not address the state’s assertions concerning a new forfeiture proceeding allegedly affecting this currency, because no issue related to that proceeding is proper ly before us in this appeal.IN RE $15,379 U.S. CURRENCY Opinion of the Court

8 Rule 11 order for an abuse of discretion. James, Cooke & Hobson, Inc. v. Lake Havasu Plumbing & Fire Prot.
, 177 Ariz. 316, 319, 868 P.2d 329, 332 (App . 1993)

. An abuse

- of

- discretion standard of review also applies to a trial court’s decision to grant or deny fees under § 13

- 2 3 14(A). See Hannosh v. Segal , 235 Ariz. 108, ¶ 22, 328 P.3d 1049, 1056 (App. 2014) ; State ex rel. Goddard v. Gravano , 210 Ariz. 101, ¶ 37, 108 P.3d 251, 260 (App. 2005)

. ¶16 As our supreme court stated in Boone v. Superior Court :

Rule 11 is violated by the filing of a pleading when the party or counsel knew, or should have known by such investigation of fact and law as was reasonable a nd feasible under all the circumstances, that the claim or defense was insubstantial, groundless, frivolous, or otherwise unjustified. It is also violated by the filing of pleadings for an improper purpose such as those intended to harass, coerce, extort, or delay.

145 Ariz. 235, 241

- 42, 700 P.2d 1335, 1341

- 42 (1985)

. The rule, in other wo rds, can result in sanctions if either an objective basis for a claim is lacking or the claim was brought for an improper subjective
purpose. See In re Levine , 174 Ariz . 146, 153, 847 P.2d 1093, 1100 (1993); In re Estate of Friedman , 217 Ariz. 548, ¶ 32 & n.11, 177 P.3d 290, 298

- 99 & 299 n.11 (App. 2008)

. ¶17 Here, the tr ial court found two jurisdictional defects in the forfeiture proceeding. First, the notice of pending forfeiture was not properly served, because the law enforcement officer who issued it did not obtain the prior authorization from the county attorney
req uired by A.R.S. § 13

- 4308(A) . Second, the state’s claim was filed seventy

- two days after the seizure for forfeiture, beyond the sixty

- day limit prescribed by § 13

- 4308(B)

. ¶18 Citing these shortcomings, Macias first suggests the attorney who initiated the for feiture did not have a “subjectiveIN RE $15,379 U.S. CURRENCY Opinion of the Court

9 basis” for believing the action was sustainable. 6 The trial court noted, however, that there was some evidence in the record suggesting the officer had properly contacted the attorney for the state and the resulting noti ce of forfeiture was properly served. Ultimately, b ecause neither the officer nor the attorney could remember the details in this particular case, the court found that evidence deficient. But the record nonetheless s upports a fi nding that the attorney believed he had complied with § 13

- 4308(A)

. The record likewise supports a finding that the state ’s attorney believed he had complied with § 13

- 4308(B) insofar as the state asserted in its responsive filing , albeit mistakenly, that the proceeding was time ly initiated

. We therefore have no basis to disturb the trial court’s implicit determination under Rule 11 that the state’s attorney acted with appropriate intentions

. Furth ermore, given that § 13

- 2314(A) states that a trial court “ may . . . award[] cost s and reasonable attorney fees” to a person who prevails in an adverse forfeiture action, we cannot conclude the trial court erred in denying a discretionary fee award under this provision

. (Emphasis added.)

¶19 We agree with Macias , however, that the state lacked an objective basis for initiating the untimely forfeiture proceeding

. “An attorney violates Rule 11 by filing a document that he or she knows or should know asserts a position that ‘is insubstantial, frivolous, groundless or otherwise unj ustified.’” Cal X

- Tra v. W.V.S.V. Holdings, L.L.C. , 229 Ariz. 377, ¶ 113, 276 P.3d 11, 44 (App. 2012)
, quoting James, Cooke & Hobson, Inc.
, 177 Ariz. at 319, 868 P.2d at 332

. Compliance with this rule is measured by an objective standard of reasonablenes s. Id. ; Standage v. Jaburg & Wilk, P.C. , 177 Ariz. 221, 230, 866 P.2d 889 , 898 (App. 1993) . The relevant inquiry is whether, under the circumstances presented, a reasonably prudent attorney would have instituted the proceeding. S mith v. Lucia
, 173 Ariz. 290, 297, 842 P.2d 1303, 1310 (App. 1992). When an attorney signs a pleading in violation of the rule, some form of sanction is required. See Wells Fargo Credit Corp. v. Smith , 166 Ariz. 489, 497, 803 P.2d 900, 908 (App. 1990) (Rule 11 sanctions “mandatory”) ; see also Cal X

- Tra
,

6 A different attorney was substituted as counsel for the state on appeal

.IN RE $15,379 U.S. CURRENCY Opinion of the Court

10 229 Ariz. 377, ¶ 112, 276 P.3d at 44 ; Villa De Jardines Ass’n v. Flagstar Bank, FSB , 227 Ariz. 91, ¶ 13, 253 P.3d 288, 293 ( App. 2011)

. ¶20 Section 13

- 4308(B) , as noted, requires the state to commence a civil forfeiture proceeding within sixty da ys of seizing property by a notice of pending forfeiture. We have held that the plain language of this statute “does not allow the court to excuse the state’s failure to timely initiate forfeiture proceedings for ‘oversight.’” In re $3,636.24 , 198 Ariz. 504, ¶ 15, 11 P.3d 1043 , 1045 (App. 2000).

¶21 Her e, the state offered no reason for filing its complaint nearly two weeks after this deadline. The state only mistakenly asserted in its response to Macias’s motion

— a response that was, itself, untimely filed

— that the proceeding had been timely initiated

. The proceeding had no chance of success in light of In re $3,636.24
, and counsel offered no argument to limit or modify that precedent. Furthermore, Macias filed a claim in the trial court seeking the return of her property during the period of time in w hich the state still could initiate a timely forfeiture proceeding. On the particular fac ts before us, we therefore conclude that counsel for the state failed to conduct an adequate inquiry into the factual and legal basis for the forfeiture action and fe ll below objective standards of professional competence

. See Standage , 177 Ariz. at 230, 866 P.2d at 898

. ¶22 Accordingly, even when we put aside counsel’ s alleged improper delegation of duties under § 13

- 4308(A), we find that the state engaged in sanctionable conduct by untimely initiating the present forfeiture proceeding. The trial court did not explain the grounds for its Rule 11 ruling on the record

. If the court determined no violation of the rule occurred, this would represent an error of law and an abuse of the court’s discretion. See James, Cooke & Hobson, Inc.
, 177 Ariz. at 319 n.4, 868 P.2d at 332 n.4

. On remand, we therefore direct the court to impose an appropriate sanction for the state’s violation of Rule 11 , including possible attorney fees

. See Taliaferro v. Taliaferro , 188 Ariz. 333, 341, 935 P.2d 911, 919 (App. 1996) ( recognizing trial court ’s disc retion in fashioning sanction with appropriate “relationship to the expenses directly caused by the sanctionable conduct” )

.IN RE $15,379 U.S. CURRENCY Opinion of the Court

11 ¶23 Macias also sought an award of attorney fees under a mandamus theory pursuant to A.R.S. § 12

- 2030

. This statute provides that a cou rt must award “fees and other expenses” to a private party who “prevails by an adjudication on the merits in a civil action brought by the party against the state . . . to compel a state officer . . . to perform an act imposed by law as a duty on the offic er.” § 12

- 2030(A)

. ¶24 The present forfeiture proceeding was a civil action initiated by the state; it was not an action “ brought by [a] party against the state.” Id

. A lthough Macias had earlier filed a “ judicial claim ” see king the release of the currency
, this document was filed within the sixty

- day period of time in which the sta te could initiate a forfeiture proceeding, when no legal duty existed to release the property f rom its seizure for forfeiture under § 13

- 4308(B)

. See In re Approximately $50,000
, 196 Ariz. 626, ¶¶ 6

- 7, 10, 2 P.3d at 1274

, 1275 (holding person with interest in property cannot compel forfeiture proceeding).

¶25 An actio n seeks mandamus relief only “ if it seeks to compel a public official to perform a non

- discretionary duty imposed by law .” Stagecoach Trails MHC, L.L.C. v. City of Benson , 231 Ariz. 366, ¶ 19 , 295 P.3d 943, 947 (2013) . Absent a statut ory duty to release the currency here from its seizure for forfeiture, a nd given the discretion that prosecutors generally have to retain evidence in criminal cases, the present actio n did not seek relief in the nature of mandamus. T he fact that Macias prevailed in the forfeiture proceeding and has now secured the release of her property or an equivalent payment does not transform the proceeding into a mandamus action

. See id. ¶ 21

. Thus, the trial court did not err in refusin g to grant the fees requested under the mandamus statute

.
Costs

¶26 Macias also contends, as she did bel ow, that she is entitled to recover her costs under A.R.S. § 12

- 341 as “[t]he successful party to a civil action.” We agree. An award of costs was mandatory and not subject to the trial court’s discretion. See Roddy v. County of Maricopa , 184 Ariz. 625, 627, 911 P.2d 631, 633 (App. 1996)

. Although the state filed no object ion to the statement of costsIN RE $15,379 U.S. CURRENCY Opinion of the Court

12 below, it now asserts that the expenses Macias sought to recover cannot be awarded as taxable costs under A.R.S. §§ 12

- 332 and 12

- 341 . We find the state’s contention waived and decline to address it in the first instance

. See Airfreight Exp ress Ltd. v. Everg r een Air Ctr., Inc. , 215 Ariz. 103, ¶ 17, 158 P.3d 232 , 238 (App. 2007)

. Prejudgment Interest

¶27 Macias further argues she is entitled to an award of prejudgment interest pursuant to A.R.S. § 12

- 823

. Rule 13(a)(7)(A), Ariz. R. Civ. App. P ., requires an appellant to provide supporting record citations in the argument section of her opening brief. Because Macias’s opening brief failed to provide the necessary record citations demonstrating that she raised this issue below, we find the argument waived on appeal

. See Spillios v. Green , 137 Ariz. 443, 447, 671 P.2d 421, 425 (App. 1983)

. Appellate Sanctions

¶28 Given the state’s conduc t in this appeal, we ordered briefing on whether it is appropriate for this court to impose appellate sanctions. Having received those briefs, we now find that sanctions in the form o f appellate attorney fees are warranted pursuant to A.R.S. § 12

- 349 (A)(3 ) and Rule 25 , Ar iz. R. Civ. App. P.

¶29 Section 12

- 349(A)(3) allows a court to assess attorney fees in a civil appeal if the state unreason ably delays the proceeding. Here, the state unreasonably delayed the appeal by initially failing
to file a timely answering brief, failing to file any motion in response
to this c ourt’s order dated February 5 , 2016 deeming the appeal submitted for our review, and failing to allege good cause for reopening the case until March 31, 2016, ten days after the appe al had been reinstated in this court following the entry of a formal judgment

. Absent a timely answering brief, this court was prepared to treat the state as having confessed error to the debatable issues raised. See Mahar v. Acuna , 230 Ariz. 530, ¶ 21, 287 P.3d 824, 830 (App. 2012)

. The state’s motion to reopen the case and allow further briefing on appeal , although summarily granted by the clerk of this
court , did not establish good cause for the state’s delay , especially when viewed in light of later developments

. See Ariz. R. Civ.IN RE $15,379 U.S. CURRENCY Opinion of the Court

13 App. P. 6(b)(2) (acknowledging appellate court’s power to independently review procedural motions granted by clerk)

. ¶30 Th e state’s motion to reopen alleged two specific grounds for its failure to act in a timely fashion: (1 ) the trial court proceedings had been stayed below in response to Macias’s May 5, 2014 motion “and a final appealable judgment was precluded thereby” and (2) the order from which the appeal was taken lacked the necessary certification under Rule 54(c), Ar iz. R. Civ. P . The first ground was entirely without merit because the parties addressed the trial court’s stay order at the first of three hearings held in this proceeding

. Macias clarified in December 2014 that the stay s he had requested d id not apply to her motion to return the currency , and neither the par ties nor the court interpreted the stay as precluding further hearings or orders. Moreover, if the state actually believed that the trial court’s stay order prevented the entry of a final
, appealabl e judgment, the state should have filed a motion in this
court pursuant to Rule 6, Ariz. R. Civ. App. P., to dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction . Yet the state never made such a motion nor advanced such an argument

. ¶31 T he state’s second ground for r eopening the case was similarly without merit because a lack of certification does not re sult in a lack of appellate jur i sdict ion, see Madrid
, 236 Ariz. 221, ¶ 5, 338 P.3d at 330

- 31 , and the proper response to such a defect , again, would have been to seek a n appropriate order from this court by motion pursuant to Rule 6. In sum, the state’s proffered reasons f or its delay neither explain ed n or excused it s failure to respond to this appeal until ten days after t he appeal had come at issue for our decision

. ¶32 Macias’s time

- sensitive demand for the immediate
ret urn of her currency or an equivalent payment was a central issue in this appeal . The state ’s answering brief opposed this request for immediate relief, however, and on June 13, 2016, the state requested oral argument in this court

. At oral argument held in July 2016
, the
state then conceded for the first time t hat the trial court had erred by denying the request and not actually releasing the currency. The
state further asserted for the first time that the issue w as now moot due to a new, separate forfeiture proceeding that cou nsel for theIN RE $15,379 U.S. CURRENCY Opinion of the Court

14 state had filed at the end of June 2016
, when its request for oral argument in this case was still pending

. 7

¶33 Given that the state has, in effect, exploited its unreasonable delay in this appeal in an apparent effort to deny Macias the relief to which she was admittedly entitled, we find sanctions appropriate under § 12

- 349(A) (3)

. We also find sanction s of attorney fees appropriate under Rule 25 in order to encou rage future compliance with our rules of appellate procedure and to discourage the dilatory conduct the state displayed in this case

. Disposition

¶34 For the foregoing reasons, w e grant Macias’s appellate costs, see § 12

- 341
, as well as her appellate attorney fees , subject to her compliance with Rule 21 , Ariz. R. Civ. App. P

. W e reverse the trial court’s order s denying Macias her costs and her request for Rule 11 sanctions. We also reverse the trial court’s orders denying Mac ias’ s request for the immediate release of the currency or equivalent payment and instruct the trial court to order such relief forthwith. W e remand the case for further proceedings on these
matters consistent with this opinion . Otherwise, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

7 We note that it is improper to assert a mootness claim at oral argument based on materials not included in the record on appeal. In re Henry’s Estate , 6 Ariz. App. 183, 188, 430 P.2d 937, 9 42 (1967)

. If a mootness claim depends on such materials, a party should file an appropriate motion with supporting documentation in accordance with Rule 6(a)(3). Because the state never presented a proper mootness claim in this court, we do not address that issue.