Christopher Sullivan v. Lisa Menard, Commissioner ( 2019 )

NOTICE: This opinion is subject to motions for reargument under V.R.A.P. 40 as well as formal
revision before publication in the Vermont Reports. Readers are requested to notify the Reporter
of Decisions by email at: JUD.Reporter@vermont.gov or by mail at: Vermont Supreme Court, 109
State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05609-0801, of any errors in order that corrections may be made
before this opinion goes to press.
2019 VT 76
No. 2019-144
Christopher Sullivan Supreme Court
On Appeal from
v. Superior Court, Washington Unit,
Civil Division
Lisa Menard, Commissioner September Term, 2019
Mary Miles Teachout, J.
Matthew F. Valerio, Defender General, and Annie Manhardt, Prisoners’ Rights Office,
Montpelier, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
Thomas J. Donovan, Jr., Attorney General, Montpelier, and Andrew Gilbertson and
Jared C. Bianchi, Assistant Attorneys General, Waterbury, for Defendant-Appellee.
PRESENT: Reiber, C.J., Robinson, Eaton and Carroll, JJ., and Wesley, Supr. J. (Ret.),
Specially Assigned
¶ 1. EATON, J. Petitioner appeals from a trial court order granting summary judgment
to the Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) on his Vermont Rule of Civil Procedure 75
petition challenging the DOC’s decision to deny him reintegration furlough. We conclude that
petitioner’s appeal is mooted by the expiration of his minimum sentence and dismiss.
¶ 2. The record reveals the following facts. Petitioner was convicted of one count of
driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor with death resulting, in violation of 23 V.S.A.
§§ 1201(a)(2) and 1210(f)(1), and one count of leaving the scene of a fatal accident, in violation
of 23 V.S.A. § 1128(a) and (c). While serving a resulting incarcerative sentence, he sought Civil
Rule 75 review of the DOC’s decision to deny him reintegration furlough and earned time toward
such furlough, arguing that this denial was predicated on unlawful consideration of his convictions
as indicative of a history of violent behavior.
¶ 3. The DOC may authorize reintegration furlough or an award of earned time toward
reintegration furlough only where these decisions are made in accordance with rules promulgated
by the DOC pursuant to the grant of authority at 28 V.S.A. § 808c(c). Under the statute, these
rules must be “designed to” evaluate several factors, including “history of violent behavior.” 28
V.S.A. § 808c(c)(1). The DOC created rules which specify that a current conviction of any offense
listed at 13 V.S.A. § 5301(7) “will be considered indicative of a history of violence.” Granting
Reintegration Furlough § 6(B), Code of Vt. Rules 13 130 026, https://doc.vermont.gov/about/
policies/rpd/rules/rpd/correctional-services-301-550/371-375-programs-classification-and-case-
planning/policy-372-granting-reintegration-furlough [https://perma.cc/3MWH-CAUM]. Both
operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol with death resulting and leaving the scene of a
fatal accident are thus listed. 13 V.S.A. § 5301(7)(W), (Y). Accordingly, the DOC cited its
consideration of the circumstances of petitioner’s convictions as a basis for its decision to deny
him reintegration furlough. Petitioner claims that § 6(B) of the DOC rule exceeds DOC’s authority
both under 28 V.S.A. § 808c(c) and the Vermont Constitution.
¶ 4. During the pendency of this appeal, the DOC moved to dismiss the case as moot.
It contends that, because petitioner reached his minimum sentence on August 5, 2019, and was
paroled on August 14, 2019, the requested relief can no longer be granted. Petitioner responds
that the DOC has failed to prove that this situation will not reoccur, observing that he could be
reincarcerated and subsequently denied furlough on the basis of the same two convictions, which
will remain on his record. In the alternative, he urges this Court to adopt a public-interest exception
to the mootness doctrine. We conclude that the case is moot, decline to adopt such an exception,
and dismiss.
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¶ 5. “The mootness doctrine derives its force from the Vermont Constitution, which,
like its federal counterpart, limits the authority of the courts to the determination of actual, live
controversies between adverse litigants.” Houston v. Town of Waitsfield, 2007 VT 135, ¶ 5, 183
Vt. 543, 944 A.2d 260 (mem.) (quotation omitted). “Even if a case originally presented an actual
controversy in the trial court, the case must remain live throughout the appellate process for us to
examine the issues.” Id. (observing that “a change in facts or circumstances can render a case
moot if this Court can no longer grant effective relief” (quotation omitted)). Accordingly, “[w]hen
mootness is raised, we must inquire ‘whether decision of a once living dispute continues to be
justified by a sufficient prospect that the decision will have an impact on the parties.’ ” Holton v.
Dep’t of Emp’t & Training, 2005 VT 42, ¶ 14, 178 Vt. 147, 878 A.2d 1051 (quoting All Cycle,
Inc. v. Chittenden Solid Waste Dist., 164 Vt. 428, 432, 670 A.2d 800, 803 (1995)).
¶ 6. Petitioner does not appear to dispute that, as of August 5, 2019, he is no longer
eligible for reintegration furlough under his current sentence.1 See 28 V.S.A. § 808c(a)(1)
(providing that reentry furlough may be granted “up to 180 days prior to completion of the
minimum sentence”); id. § 808c(b) (indicating that earned time is “to be applied prior to the
expiration of the offender’s minimum term.”). Instead, he claims that the DOC bears the burden
of demonstrating that this injury will not reoccur, arguing that he retains a legally cognizable
interest in the outcome of this case because, should he be reincarcerated, the DOC could again use
1
Indeed, petitioner acknowledges that he “is no longer eligible for reintegration furlough
under his current sentence[.]” However, it is not entirely clear whether he uses “sentence” to
denote his period of incarceration or the entire sentence he received upon conviction, to include
his term of supervision. Because an offender is eligible for reintegration furlough only prior to the
expiration of his minimum sentence, see 28 V.S.A. § 808c(a)(1), (b), and reincarceration owing to
a violation of probation or parole would represent revocation of probation or parole rather than
imposition of a new sentence with a new minimum, see 28 V.S.A. §§ 303(a), 552(b)(2), we assume
petitioner’s argument addresses the eventuality that he may reoffend and be reincarcerated based
on a new conviction.
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his convictions for driving under the influence with death resulting and leaving the scene of a fatal
accident as a basis for denial of reintegration furlough.
¶ 7. Petitioner’s reliance on Friends of the Earth, Inc. v. Laidlaw Environmental
Services (TOC), Inc. to support this burden allocation is misplaced. 528 U.S. 167 (2000). Laidlaw
held that “a defendant claiming that its voluntary compliance moots a case bears the formidable
burden of showing that it is absolutely clear the allegedly wrongful behavior could not reasonably
be expected to recur.” 528 U.S. 167, 189 (quoting United States v. Concentrated Phosphate Export
Ass’n., 393 U.S. 199, 203 (1968)). Here, the DOC indicates no intent to disavow or amend its
allegedly unlawful rule; rather, petitioner cannot be granted reintegration furlough with respect to
his current sentence because—independent of any DOC action—his minimum has expired. This
is not a voluntary-compliance case.
¶ 8. Petitioner’s argument simply does not rise to the level of a case or controversy. The
suggestion that petitioner may once again commit a criminal offense that DOC regulations do not
classify as indicative of a history of violent behavior, but for which reintegration furlough is
permitted, see 28 V.S.A. § 808c(d), be apprehended, charged with that crime, convicted, sentenced
to an incarcerative term qualifying for reintegration furlough, see id. § 808c(a), and otherwise
satisfy the various factors considered in making a reintegration furlough decision, see id. §
808c(c)(1), thus subjecting him to denial on the basis of his prior convictions, is highly speculative
in nature. In other words, it fails to present “a sufficient prospect that the decision will have an
impact on the parties.” All Cycle, Inc., 164 Vt. at 432, 670 A.2d at 803 (quoting 13A C. Wright
et al., Federal Practice & Procedure § 3533, at 212 (1984)). Therefore, in conceding that “the order
[]he appeals no longer has any effect on [his] commitment status[,]” petitioner necessarily
concedes that “the case is moot unless it fits within an exception to the mootness doctrine.” In re
P.S., 167 Vt. 63, 67, 702 A.2d 98, 100 (1997).
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¶ 9. However, petitioner does not assert that this case falls within any of the exceptions
to the mootness doctrine recognized in our case law. See, e.g., Paige v. State, 2017 VT 54, ¶ 10,
205 Vt. 287, 171 A.3d 1011 (describing such exceptions). Instead, he invites this Court to adopt
a public-interest exception to the mootness doctrine. In jurisdictions where this exception is
recognized, courts require only that the issues presented “be substantial, pressing, and likely to
recur to qualify for the exception.” In re S.N., 2007 VT 47, ¶ 9, 181 Vt. 641, 928 A.2d 510 (mem.)
(collecting cases). Petitioner observes that, given the time frame in which reintegration furlough
decisions are made and the exhaustion requirements applicable to incarcerated plaintiffs, it is
unlikely that a claim like his could be fully litigated before the incarcerated offender reaches his
or her minimum sentence.2
¶ 10. This is not the first time this Court has had cause to consider such a request. Thus,
it is well established that our “historic reluctance” to adopt a public-interest exception to the
mootness doctrine is grounded in an understanding that “issuing an advisory opinion, even based
on public-interest considerations” would exceed the constitutional mandate that this Court
determine only “actual controversies.” Id. ¶¶ 6, 9 (quotation omitted); see also In re
Constitutionality of House Bill 88, 115 Vt. 524, 64 A.2d 169 (1949) (holding that power to render
advisory opinions “is in no wise incidental to the constitutional function of the judiciary of this
State and no act of the Legislature can confer it”). Further, we have recognized that such an
exception “would almost certainly swallow the rule.” In re S.N., 2007 VT 47, ¶ 9 (“We can hardly
2
We do not accept the premise that if we do not adopt a public-interest exception to the
mootness doctrine, a challenge to the DOC rules implementing 28 V.S.A. § 808c(c) cannot be fully
litigated by an incarcerated offender with standing before the offender reaches the minimum
release date. See, e.g., 3 V.S.A. § 807 (authorizing declaratory judgment action “if it is alleged
that the rule, or its threatened application, interferes with or impairs, or threatens to interfere with
or impair, the legal rights or privileges of the plaintiff”); Sosna v. Iowa, 419 U.S. 393, 401-02
(1975) (holding in class action that mootness as to individual class representative does not moot
litigation if controversy may still exist between defendant and member of the class represented by
named plaintiff).
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imagine a state action that is not of substantial public significance and would not, therefore, qualify
for this exception.”). For these reasons, even in cases involving a compelling public interest, this
Court has declined to recognize the exception. See State v. Gotavaskas, 2015 VT 133, ¶¶ 18, 26,
200 Vt. 597, 134 A.3d 536 (refusing to adopt the public-interest exception in order to hear case
regarding sealed competency report despite recognition that, “[f]or the judicial system to function
properly, it is essential that the basis for court rulings not be cloaked, because this prevents the
public from knowing how and why decisions have been reached”).
¶ 11. Therefore, although reintegration furlough decisions implicate an important public
interest, as before, “we once again reject a catchall public-interest exception to the mootness
doctrine.” In re S.N., 2007 VT 47, ¶ 9. Because the dispute between the parties has been mooted
by expiration of petitioner’s minimum sentence, we do not address his substantive arguments.
Dismissed.
FOR THE COURT:
Associate Justice
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