Court Opinion

ID: 9587349
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:21:17.31989+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:37:30.157129
License: Public Domain

CARLEY, Justice,
dissenting.
In a very recent opinion, the Supreme Court of the United States left no doubt that Appellants are entitled to a prompt judicial decision and that reviewing courts are required to be sensitive to delay-related First Amendment harm and to administer judicial review procedures accordingly. City of Littleton v. Z. J. Gifts D-4, 541 U. S. 774 (124 SC 2219, 159 LE2d 84) (2004). A majority of this Court now circumvents that binding authority by holding that this appeal is moot. In its opinion, the majority inaccurately states that the duration of Appellants’ business license is one year, when it is less than that. The majority then erroneously relies on the license’s purported 12-times greater length to distinguish a federal district court case which found that successive one-month periods to litigate an issue involved a claim which was capable of evading review. Penthouse Intl. v. McAuliffe, 454 FSupp. 289 (N.D. Ga. 1978).
As the author of the majority opinion previously has made clear, “the term ‘moot’ must be narrowly construed to exclude from mootness those matters in which there is ‘(intrinsically insufficient time to obtain judicial relief’ ” based on existing facts or rights which affect either the immediate parties or an existing class of sufferers. Collins v. Lombard Corp., 270 Ga. 120, 121-122 (1) (508 SE2d 653) (1998). See also Brown v. Spann, 271 Ga. 495, 496 (520 SE2d 909) (1999). Forthis reason “a case which contains an issue that is capable of repetition yet evades review is not moot____” Collins v. Lombard Corp., supra at 122 (1). The Georgia appellate courts began to recognize this test in 1974 and have depended repeatedly on the precedent of the Supreme Court of the United States. In the Interest of I.B., 219 Ga. App. 268, 271 (464 SE2d 865) (1995) (approved in Collins as enunciating a sound analytical approach). That Court articulated two conditions for exclusion from mootness: “ ‘ “(1) the challenged action was in its duration too short to be fully litigated prior to its cessation or expiration, and (2) there was reasonable expectation that the same complaining party” ’ ” or an existing class of sufferers would be subjected to the same action again. In the Interest of I.B., supra at 273. Thus, “[t]he proper approach is to consider the term ‘moot’ practically and realistically, *173given the nature of the challenge and the posture of the challenger.” In the Interest of I.B., supra at 275.
The majority correctly recognizes that the second condition for exclusion from mootness treatment exists here, in that the propriety of the judicially ordered closure of stores selling allegedly obscene materials is likely to arise again in similar litigation involving Appellants or others in the City. Because all such cases must be heard in the same court, the Superior Court of Cobb County, the potential for repetition of any error is high. See Georgia Public Suc. Comm. v. ALLTEL Ga. Communications Corp., 244 Ga. App. 645, 652 (5) (536 SE2d 542) (2000). The majority finds that only the first condition regarding the available period for full litigation is lacking here.
The sufficiency of the time available for full litigation of the issues would be better analyzed if, instead of distinguishing a single federal district court opinion, we again examine United States Supreme Court precedent. Such examination reveals that the issues raised on appeal have not been deemed moot in cases involving periods of one year or less, and of two years in one instance. Board of Education v. Rowley, 458 U. S. 176, 186 (II), fn. 9 (102 SC 3034, 73 LE2d 690) (1982) (nine months); Sosna v. Iowa, 419 U. S. 393, 397 (I) (95 SC 553, 42 LE2d 532) (1975) (one year); Southern Pacific Terminal Co. v. Interstate Commerce Comm., 219 U. S. 498, 514-515 (31 SC 279, 55 LE 310) (1911) (two years); Valentino v. Howlett, 528 F2d 975, 980 (III) (7th Cir. 1976) (reviewing Sosna, Southern Pacific, and additional Supreme Court precedent in the same manner). Other federal and state courts have reached similar conclusions. Deja Vu of Nashville v. Metropolitan Govt. of Nashville and Davidson County, 274 F3d 377, 390-391 (II) (B) (6th Cir. 2001); Nugent v. Town of Camden, 710 A2d 245, 247 (I) (Me. 1998); Sherrill v. Dept. of Transp., 799 P2d 836, 838 (1) (Ariz. 1990). Of course, the time constraints of Georgia courts are the most relevant. The Court of Appeals has recognized that, given those constraints, it often is not feasible to reach the merits of an appeal where the maximum window of time for litigation is six months. Baca v. Baca, 256 Ga. App. 514, 515 (1) (568 SE2d 746) (2002). See also Buchheit v. Stinson, 260 Ga. App. 450, 452 (1) (579 SE2d 853) (2003). Although the majority cites a few cases involving the revocation of a license, none of them addresses whether the issue on appeal was capable of repetition, and yet also was capable of evading review.
Appellants’ business license, issued on March 13, 2003, was, by its terms, to expire on December 31, 2003. Thus, its duration was approximately nine and one-half months, not one full year. All adult establishment licenses issued by the City expire at the end of each year, as they must be renewed by application on a calendar-year basis. Marietta Municipal Code § 8-20-170 (Plaintiffs exhibit 6). *174Thus, the length of each original license is one year or less. Indeed, the duration of virtually all original licenses will be significantly less than one year, as applications are not required to be made at the beginning of the year and the City’s Code allows time for investigation, notification, and appeal. Municipal Code §§ 8-20-110, 8-20-140, 8-20-160. Such legislative time provisions are important considerations. See Board of Education v. Rowley, supra; Citizens for Ethical Govt. v. Gwinnett Place Assoc., 260 Ga. 245 (1) (392 SE2d 8) (1990). More crucial to this case is the fact that the City did not seek injunctive relief until June, leaving less than seven months for the issuance of a ruling on the prayer for an interlocutory injunction and for the pursuit of any appellate review. Furthermore, in the future, neither Appellants nor the owner of any other store will be able to force the City to initiate a proceeding for injunction early enough in the calendar year to ensure full litigation, including an appeal, prior to expiration of the license. As the prevailing party in the trial court, the City may well choose to seek injunctive relief only in the latter part of the calendar year in order to moot, and thus prevent, appellate review. Because of such governmental choices, appeal of the propriety of similar injunctions might never reach this Court, but rather will likely evade review. Caldwell v. Bateman, 252 Ga. 144, 146 (1) (312 SE2d 320) (1984). Were challenges to the injunctive relief mooted by the expiration of the calendar year, the City’s or the trial court’s actions would evade appellate scrutiny. Cloverleaf Kennel Club v. Colorado Racing Comm., 620 P2d 1051, 1054 (I) (Colo. 1980). See also Mules v. Maryland Racing Comm., 353 A2d 664, 670 (Md. App. 1976).
The majority’s reliance on Appellants’ failure to seek expedited review is unwarranted. This Court only infrequently expedites an appeal. Expediting review runs the risk either of entirely failing to fulfil its purpose or of preventing genuinely full appellate litigation, especially where, as here, the prevailing party had some control over the amount of time available for appellate review. Compare Payne v. Chatman, 267 Ga. 873 (485 SE2d 723) (1997) (involving the unique area of election contests). Thus, the issues in this case, as in many otherwise moot cases, “are likely to evade full review, even when review is expedited.” Rasmussen v. Fleming, 741 P2d 674, 680 (Ariz. 1987) (en banc).
Moreover, there is another reason why this appeal is not moot. There may be continued viability in an otherwise moot appeal where a decision could have a direct impact on the rights and duties of, or important consequences for, the parties involved therein. Balmoral Racing Club v. Illinois Racing Bd., 603 NE2d 489, 496-497 (Ill. 1992). Litigation has a continuing character “where the right to a renewal license turns in part upon the validity of an expired license, [cits.] Boggess v. Berry Corp., 233 F2d 389, 391 (9th Cir. 1956). See also *175Rattray v. Scudder, 169 P2d 371, 374 (Cal. 1946) (Traynor, J.). Thus, “[t]he courts have recognized that the question of revocation does not become moot upon expiration of the period for which the license was issued. [Cits.]” Pennsylvania State Athletic Comm. v. Graziano, 12 Pa. D. & C. 2d 127, 153 (Pa. Common Pleas 1957). The Court of Appeals recognized this principle in Leakey v. Ga. Real Estate Comm., 80 Ga. App. 272 (55 SE2d 818) (1949). Compare Exley v. Blackmon, 129 Ga. App. 598, 599 (200 SE2d 334) (1973) (cited by the majority, but distinguishing license revocations which still have future adverse consequences).
Decided June 7, 2004
Reconsideration denied July 12, 2004.
Begner & Begner, Alan I. Begner, Eric L. Jensen, Katie W. Wood, for appellants.
Haynie, Litchfield & Crane, Douglas R. Haynie, Harhert S. Gregory, Jr., Melissa A. Powell Haisten, for appellee.
In any future application, Appellants will have to state whether, in previous operations, they have had any business license for an adult entertainment business or similar type of business revoked or suspended and the reason therefor. Municipal Code § 8-20-120 (E). See also Municipal Code § 8-20-290 (C) (prohibiting application during any period of suspension or revocation). The City may grant the permit only if Appellants have not had such a license denied or revoked for cause involving moral character. Municipal Code § 8-20-140 (F). Renewal of licenses is based on continuing compliance with the requirements of the City’s Code. Municipal Code § 8-20-170. Furthermore, resolution of the merits of this appeal would undoubtedly determine the result of all or part of the issues in Appellants’ related petition seeking writs of mandamus and certiorari with regard to the revocation of their business license. Accordingly, revocation “of the license which caused the controversy between the parties as to [Appellants’] valuable right to do business has not ceased to exist, and there is a subject-matter upon which the superior court and this court could operate.” Leakey v. Ga. Real Estate Comm., supra at 275.
Therefore, “practically and realistically” analyzing this proceeding for injunctive relief and Appellants’ posture therein, I believe that the merits should be reached and, thus, I am compelled to dissent to the judgment dismissing this appeal as moot.