Source: http://www.wisconsinappeals.net/on-point-by-the-wisconsin-state-public-defender/evidence-was-sufficient-to-establish-substantial-probability-that-ch-51-respondent-would-harm-himself/
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 17:00:33+00:00

Document:
There’s another point of interest here for lawyers handling ch. 51 appeals: The court refuses the County’s request to dismiss the appeal as moot, because even though Andy’s six-month commitment has expired and hadn’t been extended, the expired commitment order has “actual consequences” for Andy, such as the effect on his ability to possess a firearm or obtain professional licenses.” (¶9 n.3). The court might also have mentioned the potential for recoupment of expenses of the commitment under § 46.10(2), which would be inapplicable if the evidence was insufficient to justify the commitment, Etheyln I.C. v. Waukesha County, 221 Wis. 2d 109, 120-21, 584 N.W.2d 211 (Ct. App. 1998), Jankowski v. Milwaukee County, 104 Wis. 2d 431, 436, 312 N.W.2d 45 (1981).
The court of appeals hasn’t been consistent on the question of mootness in this situation. Besides Andy’s case, the court rejected a mootness claim in Milwaukee County v. Cheri V., 2012AP1737, at ¶1 n.1 (Wis. Ct. App. Dec. 18, 2012) (unpublished). But it accepted a mootness argument just a few months ago in Milwaukee County v. Rebecca G., 2014AP539 (Wis. Ct. App. Sept. 3, 2014) (unpublished; petition for review denied, Dec. 18, 2014), even though Rebecca argued her appeal wasn’t moot because of the “practical ramifications” of the expired commitment for her—ramifications that are, of course, the same as the “actual consequences” faced by Andy. The court also dismissed on mootness grounds in Winnebago County v. Andrew O., 2004AP1241 (Wis. Ct. App. March 2, 2005) (unpublished and not citable for persuasive value under Rule 809.23(3)(b) because it predates July 1, 2009). At some point this question will have to be resolved in a published court of appeals decision or by the supreme court, but in the meantime this case and Cheri V. provide some persuasive authority for responding to a mootness argument.

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