Court Opinion

ID: 9600612
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 01:28:48.151968+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:08:28.803329
License: Public Domain

Justice PLEICONES:
We granted certiorari to consider a Court of Appeals’ decision reversing the circuit court’s dismissal as moot of two
*570suits brought by respondent (Sloan).1 Sloan v. Greenville County, Op. No.2002-UP-598 (S.C. Ct.App. filed October 1, 2002). We reverse.

FACTS

Sloan brought this action against petitioners (collectively ‘County’) seeking a declaration that County had violated its procurement ordinance in contracting a 1998 road construction project and a 1999 family court renovation project. The ordinance permits the County to choose between several bidding methods when awarding these contracts, and requires there be a written “determination for the method of source selection utilized.” Sloan challenges the adequacy of the written determinations in these two projects. Both projects were completed before the suits were heard.
The circuit court dismissed the road suit on the ground of mootness, rejecting Sloan’s contention that the “public importance” exception to mootness should be applied. The family court renovation suit was also dismissed as moot and the “public importance” argument was similarly rejected.
The family court case and the 1998 road case were heard together at the trial level and the orders of dismissal were consolidated for appeal. The Court of Appeals reversed the orders dismissing the suits. We granted County’s petition for a writ of certiorari.

ISSUE

Whether the Court of Appeals erred in reversing the circuit court’s dismissal of Sloan’s suits as moot?

ANALYSIS

This Court has recognized a “public importance” exception to mootness holding that “an appellate court may decide questions of imperative and manifest urgency to establish a rule for future conduct in matters of important public interest.” Curtis v. State, 345 S.C. 557, 549 S.E.2d 591 (2001)(internal citations omitted). The determination whether a particular suit raises “questions of imperative and manifest *571urgency” must be decided on an individual basis. In this case, the Court of Appeals focused not on the standard for invoking this exception (“questions of imperative and manifest urgency”), but instead on the label applied to it (“matter of important public interest”). In seeking to define important public interest for purposes of applying this exception, the Court of Appeals relied upon one of its decisions which held that, for purposes of determining taxpayer standing, “the expenditure of public funds pursuant to a competitive bidding statute is of immense public importance.” Sloan v. School Dist. Of Greenville County, 342 S.C. 515, 537 S.E.2d 299 (Ct.App.2000). Relying upon this ruling, the court concluded “the competitive sealed bidding process is a question of public importance, both in the context of standing and in the context of [County’s compliance with the procurement ordinance’s requirement] of the written determination.” Sloan v. Greenville County, supra.
The Court of Appeals applied an incorrect standard, substituting “public importance” for “imperative and manifest urgency.” Further, the court erred in adopting a categorical exception to the mootness doctrine for cases questioning the competitive sealed bidding process. Such an approach is inconsistent with the limited nature of the exception for questions of “imperative and manifest urgency.”
Sloan would have the courts declare whether written source selection determinations made by County in awarding a 1998 road construction project and a 1999 family court renovation project were adequate. Assuming without deciding that County’s compliance with its procurement ordinance is an issue of public importance for purposes of invoking this exception to the mootness doctrine, we must determine whether the questions posed involve matters of “imperative and manifest urgency.”
Since these actions were commenced, the Court of Appeals has issued two opinions addressing the adequacy of the County’s written determinations under the procurement ordinance. See Sloan v. Greenville County, Op. No.2004-UP-277 (S.C. Ct.App. filed April 22, 2004) (written determinations used in 2001-2002 road projects); Sloan v. Greenville County, 356 S.C. 531, 590 S.E.2d 338 (2003) (2000 and 2001 road projects *572and 1999 forensics lab renovation). These two opinions provide County the judicial guidance in drafting the determinations that Sloan is seeking in the present cases. Further, the County ordinance has been amended and now requires an independent monitor to oversee the procurement of design-build services, and requires public notice and an opportunity to be heai’d when the project cost exceeds $5 million. In light of these developments, we hold there is no imperative or manifest urgency in obtaining an advisory opinion on the application of an obsolete procurement ordinance to these completed projects.

CONCLUSION

The Court of Appeals’ opinion, which reversed the circuit court’s dismissal of these suits as moot, is
REVERSED.
WALLER and BURNETT, JJ., concur. MOORE, J., dissenting in a separate opinion in which TOAL, C.J., concurs.

. The cases were combined for purposes of this appeal.