Court Opinion

ID: 9555852
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-15 15:00:51.782271+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:35:49.092682
License: Public Domain

USCA11 Case: 20-14846     Document: 72      Date Filed: 08/15/2023   Page: 1 of 2

                                                             [PUBLISH]
                                   In the
               United States Court of Appeals
                        For the Eleventh Circuit

                          ____________________

                                No. 20-14846
                          ____________________

      DEBORAH LAUFER,
                                                      Plaintiﬀ-Appellant,
      versus
      ARPAN LLC,
      d.b.a. Americas Best Value Inn,

                                                    Defendant-Appellee.

                          ____________________

                Appeal from the United States District Court
                    for the Northern District of Florida
                  D.C. Docket No. 1:19-cv-00200-AW-GRJ
                         ____________________
USCA11 Case: 20-14846        Document: 72        Date Filed: 08/15/2023         Page: 2 of 2

      2                          Order of the Court                       20-14846

      Before JORDAN, NEWSOM, and ED CARNES, Circuit Judges.
      BY THE COURT:

             Some fifteen months after we issued our opinion in this case,
      see Laufer v. Arpan LLC, 29 F.4th 1268 (11th Cir. 2022), 1 Appellant
      informed us that our case was moot—and, indeed, that it had been
      moot at the time of our decision. Appellee has since confirmed
      that, yes, it had dissolved its limited liability company seven weeks
      before we decided the case, thereby eliminating any possibility of
      redress.

             We aren’t happy about being left in the dark for so long; we
      expect more from litigants and, in particular, their lawyers. Even
      so, we must agree that the case was moot at the time we issued our
      opinion. Accordingly, Appellant’s motion to dismiss the appeal is
      GRANTED, and the panel’s March 29, 2022 opinion is VACATED.
      See IAL Aircraft Holding, Inc. v. F.A.A., 216 F.3d 1304, 1306–07 (11th
      Cir. 2000) (“[T]his court was without jurisdiction when the original
      decision and mandate issued. Under these circumstances, we are
      compelled to recall the mandate and vacate our earlier decision.”).
      The panel’s March 31, 2023 order staying the issuance of the man-
      date is likewise VACATED, and this appeal is DISMISSED AS
      MOOT.

      1 And conspicuously, within three days of filing a similar motion to dismiss at

      the Supreme Court in a related case. On August 10, 2023, the Supreme Court
      denied that motion and carried the mootness issue with the merits.