Court Opinion

ID: 9590655
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:57:22.812176+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:38:58.516930
License: Public Domain

LAVENDER, J.,
with whom ALMA WILSON, J., joins, dissenting.
¶ 1 When the parties’ certiorari submissions are reviewed, including briefs submitted after our grant of certiorari, it becomes clear that all issues presented in this appeal have become moot by virtue of a post-appeal settlement agreement reached by the parties. The submissions reveal the terms of the settlement include: the agreement of appellant, the Department of Human Services (DHS) to reinstate and maintain appellee in a classified position, to renounce any right to continue or recommence disciplinary proceedings against her, to pay her certain monetary amounts for final resolution of any issues concerning back pay, costs and attorney fees, and that none of the settlement’s terms (including maintaining appellee in a classified position) would be affected by the outcome of this appeal. Although DHS appears to concede the parties’ settlement does moot any issue presented in its appeal because no effective relief can now be fashioned concerning this controversy no matter what the outcome of the appeal, it argues a decision should be rendered by this Court in any event on the basis of two exceptions to the mootness doctrine — the public interest exception and the likelihood of recurrence, yet evading review, exception. The majority believes this case fits within the confines of the public interest exception. In that I believe the settlement of the parties has plainly rendered the appeal moot and neither exception warrants our consideration of the matter, I would dismiss the appeal as moot.
¶ 2 It is this Court’s general rule that, where, pending appeal, all questions involved in a ease have been settled so that an appellate decision will merely determine a question of law without effectuating any relief to either of the parties, we will not pass upon such questions and the appeal will be dismissed as moot. Coalton Coal Co. v. Herron, *179100 Okla. 291, 229 P. 245 (1924). The general rule is based on the doctrine this Court will not decide abstract or hypothetical cases, disconnected from the granting of actual relief. Payne v. Jones, 193 Okla. 609, 146 P.2d 113, 118 (1944)(Gibson, V.C.J., dissenting), quoting Chicago, R.I. & P. Ry. Co. v. State, 43 Okla. 368, 143 P. 37. Further, it has been held the question of whether a moot appeal should be dismissed or decided on its merits by virtue of some exception to the mootness doctrine, rests within the discretion of the appellate court. Payne v. Jones, supra, 146 P.2d at 116 (1944). Here, our discretion should be exercised to dismiss the appeal.
¶ 3 In the first instance, it is quite plain the situation here is not one that is likely to recur yet evade review. Such exception has normally been recognized to apply in matters where two elements combine: 1) the challenged action is in its duration too short to be fully litigated prior to its cessation or expiration, and 2) there is a reasonable expectation the same complaining party will be subjected to the same action again. Weinstein v. Bradford, 423 U.S. 147, 96 S.Ct. 347, 46 L.Ed.2d 350 (1975); In re Mental Health of D.B. W., 1980 OK 125, 616 P.2d 1149, 1151. Neither prong of this test is evident in this case. One, there is nothing in the circumstances of this litigation, involving as it does appellee’s termination from State-governmental employment, that involves a matter of short duration so as to invoke the first prong. Two, it is obvious the parties’ settlement whereby DHS apparently agreed to maintain appellee in a classified position, regardless of the outcome of this appeal, has made it highly unlikely she will ever again be subject to a termination or disciplinary action failing to comply with any merit rules covering classified employees. The likelihood of recurrence, yet evading review, exception, therefore, simply has no applicability in this case.
¶4 As to the public interest exception, although the issue decided by the majority opinion is one involving a public law issue— whether the director of DHS’s power to make appointments to unclassified service may be removed or limited by legislative enactments — I find this case particularly inappropriate as a vehicle to decide the public law question. First, even where a public law issue is involved, to warrant invocation of an exception to a mootness dismissal, there should be some indication there is a need for quick or immediate resolution of the question. See Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, Inc., v. State ex rel. Corporation Commission, 1991 OK 28, 808 P.2d 680, 683. I can discern no such need in this case. Second, although DHS apparently takes the legal position the director’s power cannot be so removed or limited, we have been provided with no definitive factual basis to conclude DHS is in violation of 56 O.S. Supp.1994, § 26.17 — -the statutory provision placing most DHS employees within the classified service, while excepting certain employees for appointment to unclassified positions — or that DHS, notwithstanding its legal position here, has any current plans to disobey the dictates of § 26.17. In this posture our discretion should be exercised to dismiss the appeal as moot, rather than — as the majority opinion has done — to promulgate a purely advisory opinion.
¶ 5 Accordingly, although I do not necessarily disagree with the majority opinion’s answer to the legal question sought resolution by DHS, I must respectfully dissent because I believe this appeal should be dismissed as moot.