Legal Document

494 U.S. 472 110 S.Ct. 1249 108 L.Ed.2d 400 Gerald A. LEWIS, etc., Appellantv.CONTINENTAL BANK CORPORATION, et al. No. 87-1955. Argued Nov. 28, 1989. Decided March 5, 1990. Syllabus Before 1987, the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (BHCA) allowed States to prohibit an out-of-state bank holding company from owning in-state "bank," which was defined include institution that both accepted demand deposits and engaged in commercial lending business. In 1981, appellee, Illinois company, applied Florida establish operate "industrial savings bank" (ISB) State, averring "all deposit relationships" would be insured "to maximum extent by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation" (FDIC). Appellant Lewis, State Comptroller, refused process application on ground two state statutes prohibited companies operating ISBs Florida. Appellee then filed a suit claiming violated Commerce Clause, District Court granted summary judgment its favor, ordering Lewis application. The court subsequently denied without explanation appellee's motion for attorney's fees under 42 U.S.C. § 1988. shortly before Appeals affirmed merits remanded why claim had been denied, amendments BHCA expanded definition "bank" all banks whose are FDIC. petition rehearing Appeals, arguing new legislation mooted controversy because, since proposed ISB have FDIC-insured deposits, refusal authorized federal law hence immune Clause challenge. petition, awarded appellee appeal, calculate amount award determine whether appropriate work done Court. Held: 1. case has rendered moot 1987 amendments. only evidence record stake case's outcome is ISB, eliminated constitutes no intended un bank, "insured FDIC allowed" envisions insurance. There merit argument nevertheless remains justiciable because dispute with "capable repetition, yet evading review." Since Florida's allegedly unconstitutional action longer respect ISBs, there reasonable expectation will suffer same wrong again. Moreover, State's issue charter not sort which, reason inherently short duration opportunity remedy, likely evade review. See Los Angeles v. Lyons, 461 95, 109, 103 1660, 1669, 75 675. Pp. 477-482. 2. Appellee's postargument, ex parte affidavit interest opening, explaining failure file updated for, uninsured evaluated this first instance. Since, however, mootness attributable change governing legal framework, may residual claim, understandably asserted previously, it apply covered consideration such materials as parties submit supplement record. Diffenderfer Central Baptist Church Minnesota, 404 412, 415, 92 574, 576, 30 567. P. 482-483. 3. Because event occurred Appeals' judgment, not, at appeal stage, "prevailing party" entitled recover Rhodes Stewart, 488 1, 3-4, 109 203-204, 102 Whether can deemed Court, 1988 available challenge, must resolved courts below 483. 827 F.2d 1517 (CA 11 1987) 838 457 1988), vacated remanded. SCALIA, J., delivered opinion unanimous Arthur E. Wilmarth, Jr., Washington, D.C., appellant. Andrew L. Gordon, Miami, Fla., respondents. Justice SCALIA 1 This involves company's challenge certain banking alleged violate Const., Art. 8, cl. We conclude Act. 2 * Under 3(d) (BHCA), 70 Stat. 134, amended, 12 1842(d), principal operations one or acquire another unless latter specifically authorize do so. thus effectively permits prevent banks. That license discrimination applies, if subsidiary 2(c) BHCA, 133, 1841(c). Until qualified purposes business lending. As amended Competitive Equality Amendments 101 554, Corporation 1841(c)(1)(A). 3 On June 29, Continental Corporation, place Illinois, Department Banking Finance According application, " '[a]ll relationships' 'to [FDIC].' Juris. Statement 1-2. 4 Comptroller head Finance, statutes, Fla.Stat. 658.29(1) (Supp.1980) 664.03(14) (Supp.1980), thereupon complaint United Northern Florida, I, 3, praying declaratory injunctive relief. plaintiff, unconstitutionally discriminated against nonresidents, ordered Continental's 5 1984, after entered chartering any resident nonresident enterprises. 664.02(1) (Supp.1984). moved amend alter pursuant Rule 59(e) Rules Civil Procedure, nondiscriminatory ban validity challenged moot. motion, reasoning statute, even constitutional, did behavior App. 66a. Meanwhile, 1988, Lewis' enforcement thestat utes deprived constitutional rights violation 1983. explanation. 6 Eleventh Circuit issue, though resting determination different supervening unconstitutional, purpose effect denying access deposits. resolve fees, but denied. Corp. (1987). 7 August issued opinion, again law, time level. part Congress "bank." definition, codified 1841(c)(1)(A), includes section 3(h) Act," turn defines "any . insured" 1813(h). After amendment therefore within coverage BHCA. Such coverage, argued, mean permit discriminatory interstate commerce, Clause. 8 brief saying "not agree necessarily make operation 'banking' activity every instance," could "now guess what result enactment 10, [BHCA] amendments." 457, 458 (CA11 1988). addition, basis award, calculation proper well 9 appealed invoking our jurisdiction 28 1254(2) (1982 ed.), now repealed, 662, 664. noted probable jurisdiction. 490 1097, 2446, 104 1001 (1989). II 10 Article III Constitution, adjudicate actual, ongoing cases controversies. Deakins Monaghan, 484 193, 199, 523, 528, 98 529 (1988); Preiser Newkirk, 422 395, 401, 95 2330, 2334, 45 272 (1975). To invoke court, litigant suffered, threatened with, actual injury traceable defendant redressed favorable judicial decision, Allen Wright, 468 737, 750-751, 3315, 3324, 82 556 (1984); Valley Forge Christian College Americans Separation & Inc., 454 464, 471-473, 752, 757-59, 700 (1982). denies power decide questions cannot affect litigants them," North Carolina Rice, 244, 246, 402, 404, 413 (1971), confines them resolving 'real substantial controvers[ies] admitting specific relief through decree conclusive character, distinguished advising upon hypothetical facts.' Ibid. (quoting Aetna Life Co. Haworth, 300 227, 241, 57 461, 81 L.Ed. 617 (1937)). case-or-controversy requirement subsists stages proceedings, trial appellate. sustain present case, enough very much alive when filed, review obtained Appeals. Deakins, supra, U.S., S.Ct., 528; Steffel Thompson, 415 452, 459, n. 94 1209, 1216, 39 505 (1974). continue 'personal outcome' lawsuit, 101, 1665, 675 (1983) Baker Carr, 369 186, 204, 691, 703, 663 (1962)). us, ISB. pertained institution, specifying Thus, represented clear matter how issues constitutionally concedes that, definition; exclude owned companies; exclusion (by virtue congressional authorization) does argued quoted language meant insurance available, none available. think not. "Insured quite possible," allowed, any." It insurance, instead fixed dollar (the permissible level varied over years, see, e.g., 147) specifies allowable time. intent bank. Nor said difference between inconsequential, so expressed intention open displays other. Particularly prospective depositors reading news widespread failures, seen essential viability. 13 contends still sought original also declaration were injunction their future. amendment, argues, render requested nugatory insofar applies so, question world large, Even order pursue claims, other words, "specific live grievance" Golden Zwickler, 394 103, 110, 89 956, 960, 22 113 (1969), just 'abstract disagreemen[t]' constitutionality Thomas Union Carbide Agricultural Products Co., 473 568, 580, 105 3325, 3332, 87 409 (1985) Abbott Laboratories, Inc. Gardner, 387 136, 148, 1507, 1515, 18 681 (1967)). we discussed, nothing establishes that. informs us free seek rather than Perhaps But country seeking other, mere indication particularized, concrete affected judgment. statutes' neither nor amounts request advice "what facts," 'contingent future events occur anticipated, indeed all.' Thomas, 580-581, 3332-33, quoting 13A C. Miller, Cooper, Practice Procedure 3532 (1984). 14 argument, filing officer subsidiaries, opening circumstances disposed accept dispositive, providing petitioner rebuttal. At denial litigation progress almost seven years. An vacating grounds deprive (assuming, arguendo, claim), party "prevails" winning seeks, see 202, Hewitt Helms, 482 755, 107 2672, 96 654 is, course, insufficient create where exists underlying Diamond Charles, 476 54, 70-71, 106 1697, 1707-08, 90 48 (1986). Where face appears terminated, caution needed sure pressed forward, unnecessary pronouncements obtained, solely obtain reimbursement sunk costs. Reasonable includes, think, accepting adduce controverting facts show "abstract, feigned, hypothetical." Sibron New York, 392 40, 57, 88 1889, 1900, 20 917 (1968). event, whenever possible (and decision court) evaluation factual contentions bearing should made decline supplementation 15 Finally, urges banks, contention twice wrong. permitted suits go forward despite abatement "exceptional situations," following simultaneously present: '(1) [is] too fully litigated prior cessation expiration, (2) complaining subjected again.' Murphy Hunt, 455 478, 482, 1181, 1183, 71 353 (1982) (per curiam ) Weinstein Bradford, 423 147, 149, 347, 349, 46 350 (1975)). Neither these requirements satisfied here. "reasonable expectation" again—unless, intends appear Cf. California Coastal Comm'n Granite Rock 480 572, 578, 1419, 1423, 577 (1987); Press-Enterprise Superior California, Riverside County, 478 6, 2735, 2739, forever "evad[e] See, Burlington R. Maintenance Way Employes, 481 429, 436, 4, 1841, 1846, 381 (1987) (injunction secondary picketing railroad labor dispute); Nebraska Press Assn. Stuart, 427 539, 546-547, 2791, 2796-97, 49 683 (1976) (protective press criminal trial). If ample denial. 16 Our ordinary practice disposing become vacate directions dismiss. 531; Munsingwear, 340 36, 39-40, 104, 106-07, 36 (1950). However, instances framework plaintiff some remand further proceedings may, necessary, pleadings develop more fully. Church, 567 (1972). essentially situation need set forth apparent anyone until passed. already submitted Had granted, properly criticized supplementing point. fact, negligently sleeping take extraordinary step appellate merely pending. 17 Accordingly, consider (or consider) material record, grant issued, 203. being losing difficulty, Palmer Chicago, 806 1316, 1321 (CA7 1986), addressed below. related vacated, cause consistent opinion. 19 ordered.

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