Source: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/261/216/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 12:25:43+00:00

Document:
Before allowance of a writ of error to review a judgment directing issue of a writ of mandamus to compel the granting of a building permit, the permit was issued, the building erected, and the property transferred to persons not parties to the cause. Held that, irrespective of the motive for granting the permit, the cause was moot, and, for that reason, the judgment below should be reversed, with directions for dismissal of the petition for mandamus, without costs. P. 261 U. S. 217.
50 App.D.C. 279, 270 F. 1019, reversed.
Error to a judgment of the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia reversing a judgment of the Supreme Court of the District, which dismissed a petition for the writ of mandamus, and directing that the writ be issued.
declined to issue upon grounds not necessary to be stated here.
The plaintiffs in error, respondents below, filed an answer to the petition and return to the rule to show cause, and to the answer a demurrer was interposed. On July 6, 1920, the demurrer was overruled, the rule to show cause discharged, and petition dismissed. Upon appeal to the Court of Appeals, this judgment was, on February 7, 1921, reversed, and the cause remanded, with directions to issue the writ as prayed. On March 19, 1921, an application for a rehearing was overruled, and, on June 13th following, this writ of error was allowed.
It thus appears that there is now no actual controversy between the parties -- no issue on the merits which this Court can properly decide. The case has become moot for two reasons: (1) because the permit, the issuance of which constituted the sole relief sought by petitioner, has been issued and the building to which it related has been completed, and (2) because, the first reason aside, petitioner no longer has an interest in the building, and therefore has no basis for maintaining the action.
which no longer exists is a proceeding which this Court uniformly has declined to entertain. See Mills v. Green, 159 U. S. 651; Codlin v. Kohlhausen, 181 U. S. 151; Little v. Bowers, 134 U. S. 547, 134 U. S. 556; Singer Manufacturing Co. v. Wright, 141 U. S. 696, 141 U. S. 699; American Book Co. v. Kansas, 193 U. S. 49; United States v. Hamburg-American Co., 239 U. S. 466, 239 U. S. 475; Berry v. Davis, 242 U. S. 468, 242 U. S. 470; Board of Public Utility Comm'rs v. Compania General de Tabacos de Filipinas, 249 U. S. 425; Commercial Cable Co. v. Burleson, 250 U. S. 360; Heitmuller v. Stokes, 256 U. S. 359.
It is urged that the permit was issued by the inspector of buildings only because he believed it was incumbent upon him to comply with the judgment of the Court of Appeals and avoid even the appearance of disobeying it. The motive of the officer, so far as this question is concerned, is quite immaterial. We are interested only in the indisputable fact that his action, however induced, has left nothing to litigate. American Book Co. v. Kansas, supra. The case being moot, further proceedings upon the merits can neither be had here nor in the court of first instance. To dismiss the writ of error would leave the judgment of the Court of Appeals requiring the issuance of the mandamus in force -- at least apparently so -- notwithstanding the basis therefor has disappeared. Our action must, therefor,e dispose of the case, not merely of the appellate proceeding which brought it here. The practice now established by this Court, under similar conditions and circumstances, is to reverse the judgment below and remand the case with directions to dismiss the bill, complaint, or petition. United States v. Hamburg-American Co., supra; Barry v. Davis, supra; Board of Public Utility Comm'rs v. Compania General de Tabacos de Filipinas, supra; Commercial Cable Co. v. Burleson, supra; Heitmuller v. Stokes, supra.
remand the cause to the Supreme Court, with instructions to dismiss the petition, without costs, because the controversy involved has become moot, and therefore is no longer a subject appropriate for judicial action.

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