GARNET HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER CATSKILLS v. Mental Hygiene Legal Service, on Behalf of J.G., Respondent. (2023)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

Appeal from an order of the Supreme Court (Kevin R. Bryant, J.), entered February 28, 2022 in Sullivan County, which denied a motion by defendant Center for Discovery, Inc. to dismiss the complaint.

Defendant Center for Discovery, Inc. (hereinafter CFD) is certified by defendant Office for People with Developmental Disabilities to operate a residential facility and provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities in Sullivan County.  J.G., who has been a resident at CFD since July 2006, was admitted to plaintiff Garnet Health Medical Center–Catskills (hereinafter Garnet) in November 2021 to address several acute medical conditions.  Garnet treated J.G. and sought to discharge him to CFD as of December 22, 2021.  CFD refused to accept J.G. back to its facility, claiming it was unable to provide the level of services required by J.G.

In January 2022, Garnet commenced this action seeking a court order directing CFD to accept J.G. CFD moved to dismiss the action alleging that Garnet lacked standing.  In response, plaintiff D.G., individually and as father and legal guardian of J.G., joined Garnet in filing an amended complaint seeking a declaratory judgment specifically finding that CFD's actions constituted a constructive discharge, and that, as such, pursuant to 14 NYCRR 633.12, CFD was required to afford J.G. an opportunity to object to the discharge and to remain a resident of the facility pending the administrative process attendant to said objection.  Mental Hygiene Legal Service, on behalf of J.G., joined issue in February 2022.  Following a hearing, Supreme Court determined that J.G. no longer required hospitalization, that CFD's refusal to accept J.G. constituted a discharge and that pending further administrative proceedings in accordance with 14 NYCRR 633.12, CFD must immediately accept J.G. and provide necessary services to him.  CFD appeals.

As the record demonstrates that J.G. is back residing at CFD and, as of this date, has been so residing for over a year, we agree with plaintiffs that the appeal is moot.  “It is well settled that a court's jurisdiction extends only to live controversies and, thus, an appeal will be considered moot unless the rights of the parties will be directly affected by the determination of the appeal and the interest of the parties is an immediate consequence of the [order]” (Owner Operator Ind. Drivers Assn., Inc. v. Karas, 188 A.D.3d 1313, 1316, 133 N.Y.S.3d 681 [3d Dept. 2020] [internal quotation marks and citations omitted];  see Matter of Correction Officers Benevolent Assn., Inc. v. Poole, 188 A.D.3d 1525, 1527, 137 N.Y.S.3d 167 [3d Dept. 2020]).  The immediate relief sought by Garnet, the discharge of J.G. to CFD, was addressed and accomplished.  Moreover, the acute medical conditions necessitating J.G.'s hospitalization and subsequent discharge, which prompted this action, have been resolved.  A judicial determination as to whether CFD's refusal to accept J.G. constituted a constructive discharge and whether CFD was capable of providing necessary services for J.G. at that time would have no practical effect now.  Furthermore, this Court could not undo any alleged harm sustained by Supreme Court's determination as Garnet now could not be required to hospitalize J.G. without any acute medical condition.  “Where, as here, a change in circumstances resolves the matter and no controversy remains, the appeal should be dismissed as moot” (Matter of Anonymous v. New York City Health & Hosps. Corp., 70 N.Y.2d 972, 974, 525 N.Y.S.2d 796, 520 N.E.2d 515 [1988];  see Matter of Lunar Pursuit, LLC v. Frame, 149 A.D.3d 1398, 1399, 53 N.Y.S.3d 390 [3d Dept. 2017];  Matter of Ballard v. New York Safety Track LLC, 126 A.D.3d 1073, 1075, 5 N.Y.S.3d 542 [3d Dept. 2015]).

CFD contends that the appeal should be decided on the merits under the exception to the mootness doctrine.  “An exception to the mootness doctrine exists, thus permitting judicial review, where the issues are substantial or novel, likely to recur either between the parties or between other members of the public, and involve a phenomenon typically evading review” (Matter of Police Benevolent Assn. of N.Y., Inc. v. State of New York, 161 A.D.3d 1430, 1431, 77 N.Y.S.3d 724 [3d Dept. 2018] [internal quotation marks and citations omitted];  see Matter of Correction Officers Benevolent Assn., Inc. v. Poole, 188 A.D.3d at 1529, 137 N.Y.S.3d 167).  The issues involved in this case are not “novel” and do not “typically evade review” as evinced by this Court's recent decision in (Matter of Developmental Disabilities Inst., Inc. v. New York State Off. for People with Dev. Disabilities, 214 A.D.3d 1101, 184 N.Y.S.3d 477 [3d Dept. 2023]), wherein we addressed and determined like issues.  As the significant issues in this matter have been addressed and are settled questions, we are prohibited from giving an advisory opinion or ruling on hypothetical inquiries untethered to any live dispute (see Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, Inc. v. Pataki, 100 N.Y.2d 801, 810, 766 N.Y.S.2d 654, 798 N.E.2d 1047 [2003], cert denied 540 U.S. 1017, 124 S.Ct. 570, 157 L.Ed.2d 430 [2003];  Matter of Micklas v. Town of Halfmoon Planning Bd., 170 A.D.3d 1483, 1487–1488, 97 N.Y.S.3d 339 [3d Dept. 2019]).  Thus, the exception to the mootness doctrine is not applicable and the appeal must be dismissed (see Matter of Correction Officers Benevolent Assn., Inc. v. Poole, 188 A.D.3d at 1529, 137 N.Y.S.3d 167;  Owner Operator Ind. Drivers Assn., Inc. v. Karas, 188 A.D.3d at 1316, 133 N.Y.S.3d 681;  Matter of Lamb v. New York State Dept. of Motor Vehs., 187 A.D.3d 1269, 1270, 132 N.Y.S.3d 169 [3d Dept. 2020];  Matter of Lunar Pursuit, LLC v. Frame, 149 A.D.3d at 1399–1400, 53 N.Y.S.3d 390).

ORDERED that the appeal is dismissed, as moot, without costs.

Reynolds Fitzgerald, J.

Garry, P.J., Egan Jr., Pritzker and McShan, JJ., concur.