Opinion
Page 544b
133 Cal.App.4th 544b __ Cal.Rptr.3d __ SHAPELL INDUSTRIES, INC., et al., Petitioners, v. THE SUPERIOR COURT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Respondent ALLAN STARK, Real Party in Interest. B181881 California Court of Appeal, Second District, Fourth Division October 18, 2005Los Angeles County Super Ct. No. BC310102
ORDER MODIFYING OPINION AND DENYING REHEARING, NO CHANGE IN JUDGMENT
THE COURT:
It is ordered that the opinion filed herein on September 19, 2005 (132 Cal.App.4th 1101; 34 Cal.Rptr.3d 149), be modified as follows:
On page 6, the first full paragraph [132 Cal.App.4th 1106, advance report, last par.], a footnote is added at the end of the sentence, “Shapell filed a reply to the return on August 3, 2005.” The footnote reads:
Petitioners notified us for the first time by letter dated September 30, 2005, and filed on October 3, 2005, that on July 22, 2005, the respondent trial court vacated its order of February 18, 2005, thus complying with the alternative writ issued by this court on June 10, 2005. Petitioners’ lengthy delay in notifying this court of that significant development was in direct contravention of the portion of the alternative writ ordering that “In the event that respondent complies with alternative (a) of this writ at any time prior to September 15, 2005, petitioner shall immediately so advise this court by letter and file a certified copy of the order constituting such compliance as soon as one can be obtained.” (Italics added.)
We strongly caution petitioners against engaging in such conduct in the future, which would justify an award of sanctions against them were we inclined to impose them.
Ordinarily, we would dismiss a petition as moot if the trial court complies with the terms of the alternative writ. However, when a pending case involves a question of public interest that is likely to recur between the parties or others, “the court may exercise an inherent discretion to resolve that issue even though an event occurring during its pendency would normally render the matter moot.” (In re William M. (1970) 3 Cal.3d 16, 23 [89 Cal.Rptr. 33].) We find the issues in this case warrant our consideration. Further, given the conclusion that we reach, our failure to resolve the issue would result in a miscarriage of justice, since the outcome
Page 544C
would be inconsistent with the conclusion we reach on the specified legal issue before us.
The new footnote will require the renumbering of all subsequent footnotes.
This modification does not constitute a change in the judgment.
The petition for rehearing is denied.
EPSTEIN, P.J. HASTINGS, J. CURRY, J.