Court Opinion

ID: 3024362
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:31:10.533417+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:47:40.838460
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                           FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                   ___________

                                   No. 99-2010
                                   ___________

                                        * Appeal from the United States
In re: Grand Jury Proceedings.          * District Court for the Western
                                        * District of Missouri.
                                        *
                                        *      [UNPUBLISHED]
                                   ___________

                             Submitted: March 17, 2000

                                  Filed: March 22, 2000
                                   ___________

Before HANSEN and FAGG, Circuit Judges, and NANGLE,* District Judge.
                            ___________

PER CURIAM.

       During a grand jury investigation of Joe Dan Dwyer's alleged involvement in an
insurance fraud scheme, law enforcement officers discovered evidence that Dwyer paid
the college tuition for the child of a Missouri Department of Insurance employee. The
grand jury issued a subpoena duces tecum to the college for records related to those
tuition payments, and Dwyer moved to intervene and to quash the subpoena. The
district court denied both motions, and the college then complied with the subpoena.

       We must first address the Government's contention that the college's compliance
with the subpoena moots Dwyer's appeal. A case can become moot while pending on

      *
        The Honorable John F. Nangle, United States District Judge for the Eastern
District of Missouri, sitting by designation.
appeal if an event occurs "that makes it impossible for the court to grant 'any effectual
relief whatever' to a prevailing party." Church of Scientology v. United States, 506
U.S. 9, 12 (1992) (quoted case omitted). Mere compliance with a grand jury subpoena
does not moot an appeal, however, when as in this case a court can provide a partial
remedy such as "the return or destruction of those documents." In re Grand Jury
Subpoenas Duces Tecum, 78 F.3d 1307, 1311 (8th Cir. 1996); accord Church of
Scientology, 506 U.S. at 12-13; Grand Jury Proceedings v. United States, 156 F.3d
1038, 1040 (10th Cir. 1998). Because Dwyer "raised a claim of privilege respecting
the documents at issue," we also reject the Government's contention that Dwyer lacks
standing to challenge the subpoena. In re Grand Jury Subpoena, 148 F.3d 487, 490
(5th Cir. 1998), cert. denied, 119 S. Ct. 1336 (1999); accord In re Grand Jury
Proceedings, 655 F.2d 882, 884 (8th Cir. 1981).

       On appeal, Dwyer contends the district court should have granted his motions
to intervene and quash the subpoena because the college's production of the requested
documents violates his Fifth Amendment and First Amendment rights. We disagree.
Dwyer's Fifth Amendment rights are not violated because the college's compliance does
"not 'compel' [Dwyer] to do anything – and certainly [does] not compel him to be a
'witness' against himself." Fisher v. United States, 425 U.S. 391, 396, 397 (1976).
Likewise, even assuming Dwyer could show that compliance with the subpoena
infringes on his First Amendment rights, we would still enforce the subpoena because
the Government has shown "a compelling interest in and a sufficient nexus between the
information sought and the subject matter of its investigation." In re Grand Jury
Subpoenas Duces Tecum, 78 F.3d at 1312. Dwyer's remaining contention that
production of the documents violates various state law privileges also fails because
none of the alleged privileges applies to Dwyer's relationship with the college. See
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. v. Drew, 978 S.W.2d 386, 394 (Mo. App. 1998) (elements
of state law fiduciary relationship and duty of confidentiality).

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       Having concluded the college's compliance with the grand jury subpoena does
not implicate any of Dwyer's claimed rights or privileges, we affirm the district court's
denial of Dwyer's motions to intervene and to quash.

      A true copy.

             Attest:

                     CLERK, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CIRCUIT.

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