Court Opinion

ID: 9725229
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 11:35:58.187731+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:12.732322
License: Public Domain

DEMPSEY, J., specially concurring: An important question in the previous appeal, bearing on the issue of mootness, was whether the controversy between the parties over the method of electing directors was permanently ended. A corollary question was whether the defendants had modified the method in good faith or whether it was done in an attempt to weaken the plaintiffs’ suit. The defendants asserted that they made the change without knowing that the suit had been started two days before. Although they defended the validity of the bylaw under which the directors had been elected, they argued that the case was moot because the bylaw had been amended. I assumed that the amended bylaw would stand and that the controversy was ended. I stated that I did not “believe that we should render a judgment just to discourage a possible reversion to the former method of electing directors.” I am now disturbed by the persistence of the defendants in insisting that the former bylaw was proper. This court was unanimous in holding that it was invalid, but the issue has been raised again and is reargued with unrelenting determination. The tenacity of the defendants on this subject casts doubt on their former good faith and their future intention; there seems to be more than just a possibility that the defendants may revert to the former method of electing directors if a time to do so becomes propitious. I also said in the dissent that in my opinion the case was not of such public interest as to justify an exception to the criteria applicable to cases which are otherwise moot. I am still inclined to this view. However, because of the doubt created by the defendants themselves, I must conclude that the substantive issue between the parties is not interred. This consideration outweighs my reservation as to the lack of public interest. I, therefore, concur in the opinion of my colleagues.