Opinion ID: 498115
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Mootness and the Remaining Three Counts

Text: 50 The defendants argue that if Patriot's appeal from the dismissal of the antitrust count is moot, then the appeal with respect to the remaining three counts is also moot. The defendants reason that Patriot currently is pursuing these three counts in state court, so that whether we direct the district court to remand the three counts is of no consequence. 51 However, the two suits do differ in one respect: this action tolls the statute of limitations 11 months earlier than the action now in state court. This distinction does give Patriot a legally cognizable interest in the outcome of this appeal. Powell v. McCormack, 395 U.S. 486, 496, 89 S.Ct. 1944, 1951, 23 L.Ed.2d 491 (1969). Under the applicable statutes of limitations, the 11-month difference may matter. For example, Patriot's fourth count--tortious interference with contractual relations--is presumably governed by the three-year limit in Mass.Gen.Laws ch. 260, Sec. 2A (1987). 3 Patriot's complaint alleges that the anticompetitive conduct began on December 1, 1983. This suit began in February 1986, and thus covers the entire period of the alleged misconduct. In contrast, under the second state suit, Patriot may not pursue a tort cause of action that arose before January 20, 1984. Furthermore, we are unsure of the statute of limitations which is applicable to Patriot's Mass.Gen.Laws ch. 93F count. This provision was recently enacted, and has yet to be construed by the Massachusetts courts. Thus, due to the fact that this action tolls the statute of limitations earlier than the second suit, Patriot's appeal from the district court's dismissal of the three remaining state claims and its denial of Patriot's motion to remand is not moot.