Opinion ID: 167932
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: M ootness

Text: “W e address the issue of mootness as a threshold question because in the absence of a live case or controversy, we have no subject-matter jurisdiction over an appeal.” In re BCD Corp., 119 F.3d 852, 856 (10th Cir. 1997). “A case is moot when it is impossible for the court to grant any effectual relief whatever to a prevailing party.” In re Overland Park Fin. Corp., 236 F.3d 1246, 1254 (10th 3 Prior to December 1, 2002, Rule 41(g) was Rule 41(e), with minor stylistic differences. See Clymore v. United States, 415 F.3d 1113, 1114 n.1 (10th Cir. 2005). -3- Cir. 2001) (internal quotation omitted). W hile the government expresses a willingness to return the property, it has not actually done so. See F.E.R. v. Valdez, 58 F.3d 1530, 1534 (10th Cir. 1995) (Case moot where government actually “returned the files and [could not] simply decide to confiscate them again without a warrant issued by a detached and neutral magistrate.”). Nor does the government’s proffer of potentially available future legal avenues serve to moot the present appeal, as it has not instituted any binding proceedings aimed at returning the property. See Longstreth v. M aynard, 961 F.2d 895, 900-01 (10th Cir. 1992) (“[V]oluntary cessation of a challenged practice does not deprive a federal court of its power to determine the legality of the practice,” unless it can “be said with assurance that there is no reasonable expectation that the wrong would be repeated.”) (internal quotations omitted). Thus, Defendant’s motion under Rule 41(g) is not moot simply because the government states that it is “prepared to initiate” the return of the property, especially where it equivocates its position by characterizing the return as “not unreasonable at this tim e.” (Appellee’s Br. at 6 (emphasis added).) The government’s statements, so qualified, have no binding effect on the government and do not guarantee the return of Nelson’s property. Consequently, this appeal is not moot.