Summary
In One 1978 Lincoln Mark V., the alleged equitable vehicle owner sought a rehearing after the court ordered the vehicle forfeited. During the appeal from the denial of his request for rehearing, the Commonwealth sold the vehicle.
Summary of this case from In re 2055 Watkins St.Opinion
Argued June 2, 1980
June 26, 1980.
Motor vehicles — Mootness — Forfeiture — The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, Act 1972, April 14, P.L. 233.
1. The courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania do not decide moot questions, even when the mootness develops while the case is on appeal. [355]
2. Where a motor vehicle obtained by forfeiture under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, Act 1972, April 14, P.L. 233, has already been sold and when no person before the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania has any interest remaining in the vehicle, the case is moot. [355]
3. Where the terms of an order on appeal have been fully executed, there remains no power to grant the relief sought on appeal. [355-6]
Argued June 2, 1980, before Judges WILKINSON, JR., MacPHAIL and WILLIAMS, JR., sitting as a panel of three.
Appeals, No. 31 T.D. 1979 and 30 T.D. 1979, from the Order of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County in case of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. One 1978 Lincoln Mark V, Misc Motion No. 1978-05-0001.
Petition in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County seeking rehearing on motor vehicle forfeiture. Rehearing granted, then stricken. Petitioner appealed to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. Case transferred to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Held: Appeals dismissed.
Frederick W. McBrien, III, Kane, Pugh, Anderson, Subers McBrien, with him Richard Winters, for appellants.
Carl Vaccaro, Deputy Attorney General, with him John, O. J. Shellenberger, Deputy Attorney General, Eastern Regional Director, and Edward G. Biester, Jr., Attorney General, for appellee.
On April 22, 1978 Pennsylvania State Police Officers seized the subject vehicle, a 1978 Lincoln Mark V, having observed its utilization in the transportation of drugs in violation of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act (Act), Act of April 14, 1972, P.L. 233, as amended, 35 P. S. § 780-101 et seq. On May 4, 1978 a Petition for Forfeiture was filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County and a copy of the same was personally served on Michael Spinelli, the registered owner of the vehicle.
On May 10, 1978 a notice of the filing of the forfeiture petition was published in the Philadelphia Inquirer, which notice advised all interested parties to file claims to the vehicle within 10 days. No claims were filed.
On November 13, 1978 a hearing on the Forfeiture Petition was held. The court entered an order forfeiting the vehicle to the, Commonwealth the day of the hearing.
On December 5, 1978, Frank Cherry (Cherry), contending that he is the equitable owner of the vehicle forfeited, obtained an ex parte rehearing order. On April 16, 1979 that order was stricken. Cherry appealed from the April 16, 1979 order but failed to obtain any supersedeas or stay.
The order involved in the instant appeal is not for the payment of money and does not fall within any automatic supersedeas. See Pa. R.A.P. 1731.
On July 19, 1979 the Commonwealth sold the subject vehicle pursuant to Section 28 of the Act, 35 P. S. § 780-128. Thus, the rem which is the subject of the instant action is no longer before us and the appeal is moot. The law clearly establishes that the Courts of the Commonwealth will not decide moot questions, Wortex Mills, Inc. v. Textile Workers Union of America, 369 Pa. 359, 85 A.2d 851 (1952), even when the mootness develops while the case is on appeal. In Re Gross, 476 Pa. 203, 382 A.2d 116 (1978).
While an actual controversy existed when this action began, the subject matter, the rem, of the case is gone. The property having been sold and no person before us having any interest remaining therein, the issue is entirely moot. See Herman v. Pepper, 317 Pa. 349, 176 A. 201 (1935). Further, the terms of the order that is here on appeal have been fully executed and there remains no power to grant the relief sought. O'Donnell v. Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, 158 Pa. Super. 535, 45 A.2d 369 (1946). Because an order in favor of appellants would have no effect we must find this case moot. Baker Nursing Home, Inc. Appeal, 28 Pa. Commw. 603, 369 A.2d 1336 (1977).
The issues on appeal having been rendered moot, the appeal must be dismissed. Accordingly, we enter the following
Before the vehicle was sold, Judge Gafni of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia, after oral argument and briefs filed wrote an able 14 page opinion carefully considering and disposing of the merits of the appellants' claims.
ORDER
AND NOW, June 26, 1980, we dismiss the appeals docketed to No. 30 T.D. 1979 and 31 T.D. 1979 from the order of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, dated April 16, 1979, docketed to Misc. No. 1978-05-0001, the same having been rendered moot.