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5 Appellate Court
Cases Posted 02-25-10
1. Mental Health Code/Involuntary Commitment: Affirmed in part and
reversed in part: Mootnes doctrine applied in In re Alfred H. H., 233
Ill.2d 345 (2009), would not be applied due to
"collateral-consequences" doctrine and "capable -of-repetition"
doctrine in case involving involuntary admission, despite passage of
90-day commitment period, but order of involuntary commitment reversed
for failure of State to comply strictly with Mental Health Code
requirement relating to psychiatrist's certificate; involuntary
administration of drug order upheld: Schostok, J.
Nos. 2-07-0608 & 2-07-0609 (consol.) In
Gloria C., Alleged to be a Person Subject to Involuntary Admission
Filed 2-17-10 (TJJ)
In this consolidated appeal, the respondent, Gloria C., appeals from
the May 25, 2007, order of the circuit court of Kane County subjecting
her to involuntary admission. She also appeals from the trial court's
order of that same day subjecting her to the involuntary administration
of psychotropic medication. On December 31, 2008, this court entered an
order reversing the order subjecting the respondent to involuntary
admission but affirmed the order subjecting her to the involuntary
administration of psychotropic medication. In re Gloria C., Nos.
2--07--0608 & 2--07-- 0609 cons. (2008) (unpublished order under
Supreme Court Rule 23). On September 30, 2009, the Illinois Supreme
Court directed that we vacate our order and reconsider the matter in
light of its decision in In re Alfred H.H., 233 Ill. 2d 345 (2009), to
determine if a different result was warranted. We therefore vacate our
order and consider the respondent's contentions in light of Alfred H.H.
2. Criminal Law: Reversed and remanded: Trial court failure to
comply with third and fourth prongs of Supreme Court Rule 431(b) in
case
tried after 2007 amendments held to be plain error and require new
trial despite that case was not "closely balanced," and conviction for
improper lane usage reversed in light of lack of proof beyond a
reasonable doubt: Jorgensen, J. (Schostok, J., concurring in part and
dissenting in part)
No. 2-08-0218 & 2-08-0219 (consol.) People
v. Schaefer Filed 2-23-10 (TJJ)
After a joint trial on misdemeanor and felony charges, a jury convicted
defendant, John R. Schaefer, of aggravated driving under the influence
of alcohol (DUI) (625 ILCS 5/11--501(a)(2) (West 2004)), transportation
of open alcohol (625 ILCS 5/11--502(a) (West 2004)), improper lane
usage (625 ILCS 5/11--709(a) (West 2004)), and resisting or obstructing
a police officer (720 ILCS 5/31 (West 2004)). On February 21, 2008, the
trial court sentenced defendant to 36 months' probation, and on March
12, 2008, defendant filed his notices of appeal. Defendant argues on
appeal that: (1) a new trial is warranted because the trial court
failed to question the jury venire in accordance with Supreme Court
Rule 431(b); (2) the case must be remanded for a hearing as to his
fitness at the time of trial; (3) the case must be remanded for a
hearing on his pro se motion alleging ineffective assistance of
counsel; and (4) his conviction of improper lane usage must be reversed
because the State failed to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
We agree with defendant on the first and fourth issues. Therefore, we
need not reach the second and third issues. We reverse and remand for a
new trial on the DUI, transportation of open alcohol, and obstruction
charge.
3. Criminal Law: Affirmed: State presented sufficient evidence for
defendant to be proved guilty of armed habitual criminal beyond a
reasonable doubt, prosecutor question regarding defendant's silence
upon arrest would not require new trial as evidence not closely
balanced, and trial counsel for defendant was not ineffective for
failing to make sure defendant received time credit upon surrender of
bond: Wright, J. (O'Brien, J., concurring in part and dissenting in
part)
No. 3-08-0320 People
v. Nesbit Filed 2-11-10 (TJJ)
A jury found defendant guilty of the offenses of armed habitual
criminal, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, and aggravated unlawful
use of a weapon on February 7, 2008. Following the denial of
defendant’s motion for new trial, the trial court sentenced defendant
to a 23-year term of imprisonment in the Department of Corrections for
the offense of armed habitual criminal. On appeal, defendant challenges
the sufficiency of the State’s evidence regarding this charge.
Additionally, defendant requests a new trial based on improper
questioning by the prosecutor and claims he received ineffective
assistance of counsel. Affirmed.
4. Criminal Law: Affirmed: Sections 5-8-1(a)(5) and
5-5-3(c)(8) do not conflict, and defendant properly sentenced as a
Class X offender for Class 2 offense of burglary in light of his prior
convictions, and MSR term properly set at three years, not two: Pope, J.
No. 4-08-0762 People
v. Lee Filed 2-17-10 (TJJ)
In April 2008, a jury convicted defendant, Charles E. Lee, of burglary
(720 ILCS 5/19-1(a) (West 2006)). In May 2008, the trial court
sentenced defendant as a Class X offender pursuant to section
5-5-3(c)(8) of the Unified Code of Corrections (Unified Code)
(hereinafter 730 ILCS 5/5-5-3(c)(8) (West 2006) for ease of reference)
to 13 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) to be
followed by a 3-year period of mandatory supervised release (MSR).
Defendant appeals, arguing he should have been sentenced strictly
pursuant to section 5-8-1(a)(5) of the Unified Code (730 ILCS
5/5-8-1(a)(5) (West 2006)) because section 5-8-1(a)(5) and section
5-5-3(c)(8) of the Unified Code conflict and due process requires
application of the rule of lenity. Defendant also argues he should have
been sentenced to a two-year term of MSR instead of a three-year term
because he was only convicted of a Class 2 felony. We affirm.
5. Criminal Law: Affirmed: Section 5-6-4(i) of Unified Code of
Corrections permitting Adult Probation department to administer
"intermediate sanctions" for technical violations of probation did not
violate separation of powers doctrine and trial court order dismissing
VOP's filed by State's Attorney upheld: Appleton, J. (Myerscough, J.,
specially concurring)
Nos. 4-08-0561, 4-08-0652, & 4-09-0214 (consol.) People
v. Hammond Filed 2-22-10 (TJJ)
In three cases, People v. Hammond, No. 06-CF-50 (Cir. Ct. Livingston
Co.); People v. Gaither, No. 05-CF-289 (Cir. Ct. Livingston Co.); and
People v. Donahue, No. 07-CF-134 (Cir. Ct. Livingston County), the
State petitioned for the revocation of probation. Defendants, Casey L.
Hammond, Christopher L. Gaither, and Kelly A. Donahue, moved for
dismissal of the petitions on the authority of section 5-6-4(i) of the
Unified Code of Corrections (Code) (730 ILCS 5/5-6-4(i) (West 2008)),
which establishes the alternative of intermediate sanctions as a way of
avoiding a potential revocation of probation for technical, or
nonfelonious, violations of the conditions of probation. The trial
court granted the motions because defendants had accepted and completed
the sanctions their probation officers had proposed. The State appeals
in all three cases, and we have consolidated the appeals because they
present the same question: whether section 5-6-4(i) violates the
doctrine of separation of powers (Ill. Const. 1970, art. II, §1) by
unduly infringing on the executive branch or, more specifically, the
State's Attorneys in their function of prosecuting violations of
probation. We conclude, in our de novo review, that the State has
failed to rebut the strong presumption that section 5-6-4(i) is
constitutional. See Maddux v. Blagojevich, 233 Ill. 2d 508, 528, 911
N.E.2d 979, 991 (2009). Therefore, we affirm the trial court's judgment
in the three cases.
15 Appellate
Court
Cases Posted 02-19-10
1. Post
Conviction Petition:Affirmed: a trial court may, but
is not required to, accept a guilty plea from a defendant that
maintains his innocence. A trial court has discretion to vacate its
acceptance of a defendant's guilty plea if the defendant proclaims his
innocence during the course of the guilty plea hearing. the subsequent
prosecution on the identical offense is not foreclosed by the
double jeopardy clause where the guilty plea hearing terminated
properly. Garcia, J.
No.
1-07-2922 People
v.
Cabrera
Filed 2-16-10 (LJD)
The defendant,
Pedro Cabrera, appeals from Judge Mary Margaret
Brosnahan's summary dismissal of his pro se petition for relief under
the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Act) (725 ILCS 5/122-1 et seq.
(West 2006)). The defendant contends his petition states the gist of a
meritorious claim for ineffective assistance of appellate counsel based
on counsel's failure to raise a double jeopardy claim on direct
appeal. In his petition, the defendant alleged that Judge Leo E. Holt,
the trial judge, subjected him to double jeopardy by sua sponte
vacating his negotiated guilty plea and setting his case for trial on
all charges after accepting the defendant's plea of guilty to one count
of armed robbery and granting the State's motion to nolpros the
remaining charges.
2. Criminal
Law: Affirmed: Delivery of illegal drug means
transfer with or without consideration. Rob't Gordon, J.
No. 1-08-0194
People
v.
Hammonds
Filed 2-11-10 (LJD)
Terrell
Hammonds was convicted by a jury of delivering a controlled
substance (720 ILCS 570/401(d) (West 2006)). On December 10, 2007, the
trial court sentenced defendant to seven years imprisonment and denied
defendant’s posttrial motion. On this direct appeal, defendant
seeks a reversal of his conviction and a new trial, due to five alleged
errors.After considering carefully each of defendant’s alleged errors,
we find that a new trial is not warranted.
3. Criminal Law:
Reversed and Remanded: The rule is clear that the
state-of-mind exception applies only to a contemporaneous statement of
the unavailable declarant and where such a statement by that
unavailable declarant explains the state of mind of the declarant and
not the state of mind of someone other than the declarant. Statements
of the victim about the defendants jealousy were hearsay. Jos.
Gordon, J.
No. 1-08-0645 People
v.
Munoz
Filed 2-11-10 (LJD)
This case
arises from the shooting of the victim, Magdaliz Rosaria,
which occurred on September 8, 1997, at 1707 North Artesian Avenue in
Chicago. Prior to her death, the victim lived at the aforementioned
address with her boyfriend, the defendant, Cesar Munoz. On October 19,
1997, the defendant was charged with the victim’s murder on October 19,
1997. This case was subsequently tried three times. Each time the
central issue at trial was to determine whether the death occurred as a
result of a homicide or as a result of a suicide, as the defendant
maintained. Reversed and Remanded
4. Civil
Procedure:Three Certified Questions Answered: Law of
the case and its two exceptions analyzed; refiling of case was new
action; Collateral estoppel defined and analyzed; 90 day delay in 622
affidavit does not apply to time to serve summons under
103(b)Neville, J.
No. 1-08-1733
Long
v.
Elborno
Filed 1-21-10 (LJD)
The plaintiff,
Kathryn Long, filed a negligence action against the
defendants, Dr. Ahmed Elborno and Rush Oak Park Hospital (Rush). Rush
filed a motion to dismiss the complaint pursuant to Supreme Court
Rule 103(b) (134 Ill. 2d R. 103(b)), and the trial court granted the
motion based on Long’s failure to exercise reasonable diligence in
serving Rush with her summons and complaint. Long appealed the
trial court’s order granting Rush’s motion to dismiss the
complaint and voluntarily dismissed her complaint against Dr. Elborno.
This court affirmed the trial court’s order granting Rush’s motion to
dismiss the complaint. Long v. Elborno, 376 Ill. App. 3d 970
(2007) (Long I). Long refiled her complaint against Dr. Elborno on
December 19, 2005. Dr. Elborno filed a motion to dismiss the complaint
pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 103(b), which the trial court
denied. The trial court certified three questions for this court’s
review: (1) whether Judge Abishi Cunningham’s determination that
plaintiff failed to exercise reasonable diligence in serving Rush
Oak Park Hospital became the law of the case for all subsequent stages
of litigation and for the remaining party, Dr. Elborno; (2) whether by
virtue of the appellate court’s decision in Long I, holding
that plaintiff failed to exercise reasonable diligence in serving Rush
Oak Park Hospital during the first seven months of her case, plaintiff
is collaterally estopped from asserting that she was reasonably
diligent in serving Dr. Elborno when her actions were identical for the
parties during this time period and Dr. Elborno was not served for an
additional four months after service on the hospital; and (3)
whether Supreme Court Rule 103(b) permits plaintiff to be given a
credit for the time it took her to secure a health professional report,
pursuant to section 2-622 of the Code of Civil Procedure (735
ILCS 5/2-622 (West 2004)), when analyzing her reasonable diligence in
serving Dr. Elborno.
5. Workers
Compensation: Affirmed: Issue of standard of review
where the commission overrules the arbitrator findings on the
credibility of witnesses; If Commission does not provides reasons
for contrary credibility determination, its decision may be lacking in
findings which make meaningful judicial review possible; and, in such
cases, the appropriate remedy is to remand the matter back to the
Commission with directions to make the necessary findings. However,
when, as in this case, the Commission gives its reasons for making
credibility findings contrary to those made by the arbitrator,
our inquiry on review is whether the findings are against the manifest
weight of the evidence. Hoffman, J.
No. 1-08-3666WC
R
& D Thiel v. The Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission
Filed 2-09-10 (LJD)
R&D Thiel,
a Division of Carpenter Contractors of America,
(R&D) appeals from an order of the Circuit Court of Cook County
which confirmed a decision of the Illinois Workers' Compensation
Commission (Commission) awarding the claimant, Manuel Robledo, benefits
under the Workers' Compensation Act (Act) (820 ILCS 305/1 et seq. (West
2004)). For the reasons which follow, we affirm the judgment of the
circuit court and remand the matter back to the Commission for further
proceedings.
6. Criminal
Law: Reversed and Remanded: State's petition to
extend period of conditional release was filed before period was over
and trial court retained jurisdiction over the defendant.
Karnezis, J.
No. 1-09-0362
People
v. Maglio
Filed 2-09-10 (LJD)
Defendant John
Maglio was charged with two counts of first-degree
murder. Following a bench trial, defendant was found not guilty
by reason of insanity and was placed in the custody of the Department
of Mental Health on an in-patient basis. Subsequently, defendant
was granted conditional release for a five-year period, which the State
sought to extend by timely filing a petition with the trial court
requesting an evidentiary hearing regarding defendant's mental health.
The trial court denied the State's petition and request for an
evidentiary hearing, finding that it would lack jurisdiction over
defendant after his term of conditional release expired. The
question presented in this appeal is whether the trial court had
jurisdiction over defendant to hold an evidentiary hearing regarding
defendant's mental health after his term of conditional release
expired. Although defendant has not filed a brief on appeal, we will
consider the appeal pursuant to the principles set forth in First
Capitol Mortgage Corp. v.Talandis Construction Corp., 63 Ill. 2d 128,
131-133 (1976). For the following reasons, we reverse the trial court's
order and remand the cause for further proceedings.
7. Class
Actions: Reversed: The general rule is that if the defendant
tenders to the named plaintiff [in a class action suit] the relief
requested before the class is certified, the underlying cause of action
must be dismissed as moot as there is no longer an actual controversy
pending except when the tender unfairly ‘picked off’ the
prospective class action representative without offering him a [full]
opportunity to develop his class action claim. Rob't Gordon, J.
No.
1-09-0952 Barber
v. American Airlines, Inc. Filed 2-11-10
(LJD)
After plaintiff
Andrea Barber filed a class action against defendant American Airlines,
Inc., defendant moved quickly to refund the $40 baggage fee that
plaintiff had paid in connection with her canceled flight and that had
been the subject of her class action suit. Citing the refund, the trial
court found that there was no longer a controversy between the parties,
and dismissed the suit pursuant to section 2-619 of the Code of Civil
Procedure. 735 ILCS 5/2-619 (West 2006). For the reasons discussed
below, we reverse.
8. Mortgage
Foreclosure: Affirmed: For nonresidential real estate, the
Mortgage Foreclosure Act creates a presumption in favor of the
mortgagee’s right to possession of nonresidential property during the
pendency of a mortgage foreclosure proceeding and a mortgagor can
retain possession only if it can show “good cause” for permitting it to
do so. Nonresidential mortgagee, has no obligation to allege
misdeeds or omissions on the part of the mortgagors in order to be
placed in
possession. Quinn, J.
No. 1-09-1481
Centerpoint
Porperties Trust v. Olde Prairie Block Owner, LLC Filed 2-10-10 (LJD)
Defendant, Olde
Prairie Block Owner, LLC (OPBO), appeals from an order of the trial
court denying its motion to stay enforcement of the court’s previous
order appointing a receiver in the mortgage foreclosure proceeding
brought by plaintiff, CenterPoint Properties Trust (CPPT). On appeal,
defendant contends that it has established good cause why it should
remain in possession of the property pursuant to section
15-1701(b)(2) of the Illinois Mortgage Foreclosure Law (the Act) (735
ILCS 5/15-1701(b)(2) (West 2004)) and that the trial court erred in
refusing to hold an evidentiary hearing before appointing a receiver.
For the reasons set forth below, we affirm the trial court.
9.
Judgments/Uniform
Fraudulent Transfer Act/Motions to Dismiss: Affirmed in part,
reversed in part, and remand: Apollo has sufficiently stated
claims under sections 5(a)(1) and 5(a)(2) of the Uniform Fraudulent
Transfer Act in counts I and II, and thus dismissal of these claims was
improper. Apollo has stated sufficient facts alleging a debtor/creditor
relationship and a claim based on the Ohio judgment. Apollo has further
alleged sufficient facts for the remaining elements under both sections
5(a)(1) and 5(a)(2) to state claims for actual and constructive fraud
under the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act. Toomin, J.
In this appeal we
are asked to determine the sufficiency of allegations in an action by a
judgment creditor under the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act (740 ILCS
160/1 et seq. (West 2006)). In 2004, plaintiff, Apollo Real Estate
Investment Fund IV, L.P. (Apollo), was assigned an Ohio judgment
obtained by its assignor against several corporate entities.
Thereafter, Apollo commenced this proceeding to collect money it claims
was wrongfully transferred to them by one of those debtor corporations
in avoidance of payment for work earlier performed by the judgment
creditor. Apollo’s amended complaint alleged two counts under the
Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, one count for breach of fiduciary
duty, and one count for unjust enrichment. The circuit court’s order
dismissing the complaint contained a Rule 304(a) finding allowing this
appeal to proceed. Apollo appeals only the dismissal of the claims
under the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act. For the follow reasons, we
affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.
10.
Criminal Law/Motions to Suppress Evidence: Affirmed: In Hudson, the Supreme Court held that
the federal exclusionary rule does not apply to violations of the
knock-and-announce rule. Therefore, the only issue was whether article
I, section 6, of the Illinois Constitution required suppression. With
limited exceptions, our supreme court has construed article I, section
6, in "lockstep" with the Supreme Court's construction of the fourth
amendment. The "narrow exception carved to the lockstep doctrine
in the fourth amendment context" does not support carving out another
exception under the very different circumstances presented here.The
trial court properly applied Hudson
to defendant's state constitutional argument, we hold that the court
did not err in refusing to suppress the evidence seized in the search
of defendant's home. Therefore, the trial court's judgment must stand.
Burke, J. with McLaren, J. specially concurring.
No.
2-08-0271 People
v. Glorioso
Filed
2-16-10 (RJC)
Defendant, Keith A.
Glorioso, was charged with unlawful possession of a substance
containing cocaine (720 ILCS 570/402(c) (West 2006)). He moved to
suppress evidence seized under a warrant to search his house. After a
hearing, the trial court ruled that the search had violated the "knock
and announce" rule, but that, under Hudson v. Michigan, 547 U.S. 586,
165 L. Ed. 2d 56, 126 S. Ct. 2159 (2006), the exclusionary rule did not
apply. After a stipulated bench trial, defendant was convicted and
sentenced to 24 months' probation. On appeal, he contends that,
although the evidence cannot be excluded under the fourth amendment to
the United States Constitution (U.S. Const., amend. IV), it should be
excluded under article I, section 6, of the Illinois Constitution (Ill.
Const. 1970, art. I, §6). We affirm.
11.
Forcible Entry & Detainer: Affirmed: A trial court retains
authority to enforce its own orders and where an order contemplates
future conduct, it may be inferred that the court retained jurisdiction
to enforce it. The November 7, 2007, agreed order clearly
contemplated future conduct, therefore, the trial court retained
jurisdiction to enforce its order. Hutchinson, J.
No.
2-09-0034 Block
418, LLC v. Uni-Tel Communications Group, Inc. Filed 2-16-10 (RJC)
In June 2007,
plaintiff, Block 418, LLC, filed a complaint pursuant to the Forcible
Entry and Detainer Act (the Act) (735 ILCS 5/9--101 et seq. (West
2006)) against defendant, Uni-Tel Communications Group, Inc. On
November 7, 2007, the trial court entered an agreed order, which stated
that, inter alia, "[t]his Agreed Order is a final order resolving all
matters arising under this lawsuit, but this Court retains jurisdiction
to enforce the terms of this Agreed Order." Subsequently, when
defendant defaulted on its rent obligation, plaintiff sought to amend
its complaint. Defendant objected, claiming that it had complied with
the November 7, 2007, agreed order, and thus, the trial court had lost
jurisdiction for future claims. The trial court determined that
jurisdiction was proper, and it later found in favor of plaintiff and
awarded damages to plaintiff of $45,328.49, the amount of rent due from
October, November, and the 12 days in December 2008 during which
defendant occupied the premises. Defendant timely appeals, challenging
the trial court's jurisdictional authority, and alternatively, the
award of damages. We affirm.
12.
Criminal Law/Motions to Suppress: Affirmed: The record shows that the
police officer, after issuing the warning and returning the paperwork
to defendant, immediately posed three questions that were short,
succinct, and formulated to produce “yes” or “no” responses. The fourth
and final question from the officer produced defendant’s voluntary
consent for the officer to conduct a search. We conclude the
inquiries by the officer did not unfairly convert this lawful stop into
an unconstitutional seizure of defendant or his vehicle. The
motion to suppress contraband was properly denied because defendant’s
interaction with Officer Blanks, after receiving the written warning,
was voluntary and consensual. Wright, J.
No.
3-05-0420 People
v. Roa
Filed 2-10-10 (RJC)
Defendant Andres Roa
appeals from his conviction for violation of section 401(a)(2)(A) of
the Illinois Controlled Substances Act (720 ILCS 570/401(a)(2)(A) (West
2004)). On appeal, defendant raised the single issue of whether the
trial court improperly denied his motion to suppress evidence seized
during a consensual search of defendant’s vehicle. We affirmed the
decision of the trial court on October 31, 2007. Defendant appealed to
our supreme court which, in light of the postopinion case of People v.
Cosby, 231 Ill. 2d 262 (2008), ordered this court to vacate its earlier
judgment and reconsider its decision to determine if a different result
is now warranted. People v. Roa, 229 Ill. 2d 687 (2008)(order). In
light of Cosby, 231 Ill. 2d at 262, we affirm the trial court’s
decision.
13.
Criminal Law/Discovery/Sanctions: Reversed & Remanded: Defendant’s
claim of vindictive prosecution does not qualify as an affirmative
defense subject to mandatory pretrial discovery pursuant to Supreme
Court Rule 412. Defendant did not raise a colorable basis for a
vindictive prosecution claim. In the absence of a colorable
claim, the motion to compel did not request information material to a
viable defense or pretrial dismissal of the pending charges. Rather,
the request to compel constituted an endeavor to gain access to the
State’s work product. Work product is not subject to disclosure under
Supreme Court Rule 412(j)(i) (188 Ill. 2d R. 412(j)(i)), making the
request itself unreasonable. Wright, J.
No.
3-08-1025 People
v. Peterson
Filed 2-10-10 (RJC)
On May 22, 2008, the
State filed a complaint against defendant Drew Peterson for unlawful
use of a weapon (UUW) (720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(7)(ii) (West 2006)), followed
by a subsequent two-count indictment, filed on July 11, 2008, charging
defendant with two alternate counts of the same weapons charge.
Claiming vindictive and selective prosecution to be an affirmative
defense, defendant filed a motion to compel discovery requesting all
documentation reviewed by the State when deciding to file the UUW
charge. The circuit court granted defendant’s motion for additional
discovery over the State’s objection. The State refused to comply with
the court’s order regarding discovery on the grounds that defendant’s
motion did not sufficiently raise a claim of vindictive or selective
prosecution warranting further discovery. As a sanction for the State’s
refusal to follow the court’s order, the court dismissed the UUW
charges with prejudice. The State filed this interlocutory appeal. We
reverse.
14.
Personal Injury/Auto Accidents: Affirmed: The trial court did not abuse
its discretion in admitting evidence of the plaintiff's prior
accidents and injuries. Crt. has declined to accept a rigid rule
that photographs are always admissible or that expert testimony is
always necessary for those photographs to be admissible. The critical
question in admitting those photographs into evidence is whether the
jury can properly relate the vehicular damage depicted in the photos to
the injury without the aid of an expert. This question is an
evidentiary question left to the discretion of the trial court.
In this case, the jury could assess the relationship between the damage
to the vehicles and the plaintiff's injuries without the aid of an
expert. In Illinois, statements regarding settlement negotiations
or offers to settle are generally not admissible. However, in
this case, the defendant's statements during closing argument cannot be
construed to infer prior settlement offers or negotiations, nor did the
defendant make any statements inferring that the defendant would have
to personally pay any judgment entered for the plaintiff. Instead,
those statements were utilized by the defendant for impeachment
purposes. Welch, J. with Chapman, J. dissenting.
No.
5-08-0185 Ford
v. Grizzle
Filed
2-17-10 (RJC)
The plaintiff,
Richard D. Ford, appeals from an order of the circuit court of Madison
County entering a judgment for the defendant, Terry Grizzle, pursuant
to a jury verdict. On appeal, the plaintiff raises numerous issues,
which we restate as follows: (1) whether the trial court erred in
denying the plaintiff's motion in limine concerning prior accidents and
injuries, (2) whether the trial court erred in denying the plaintiff's
motion in limine concerning the amount of damage to the plaintiff's
vehicle, photographs of the plaintiff's vehicle, and any argument
regarding minimal impact, (3) whether the trial court erred in allowing
statements regarding settlement to be heard by the jury, and (4)
whether the trial court erred in denying the plaintiff's motion
for a new trial, directed verdict, or judgment notwithstanding the
verdict (n.o.v.). For the following reasons, we affirm the judgment
entered by the circuit court.
15.
Venue/Motions to Transfer: Affirmed: The sole issue is whether venue is
proper under the transactional prong of our venue statute.
Determining venue under this prong requires consideration of two
key variables: the nature of the cause of action and the place where
the cause of action sprang into existence. This case does not
presents so blatant an attempt at forum-shopping that we must depart
from the rule that a plaintiff is entitled to choose any forum where
venue is proper. We conclude that the court properly denied the motion
to transfer. Chapman, J.
No.
5-08-0247 Kaiser
v. Doll-Pollard Filed 2-11-10 (RJC)
This appeal involves
a motion to transfer a medical malpractice action from St. Clair County
to Clinton County based on improper venue. Plaintiff Margie Kaiser (the
plaintiff) underwent a hysterectomy at St. Joseph's Hospital in Clinton
County but was transferred to St. Elizabeth's Hospital in St. Clair
County for postoperative care. The defendants, the doctor who performed
the hysterectomy and her employer, appeal an order denying their motion
to transfer. They argue that venue in St. Clair County is not proper
because (1) the plaintiff does not allege that the defendants committed
any negligent acts in St. Clair County and (2) all the elements of the
plaintiff's cause of action arose in Clinton County. We affirm.
3 Supreme
Court
Cases Posted 02-09-10
1.
Traffic Court: Trial Court Reversed and
Remanded: Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test is generally accepted in
scientific community; Proper foundation needed. Garman, J.
No.
102372 People
v.
McKown
Filed
2-19-10
(LJD)
Following a
bench trial in the circuit court of Peoria County,
defendant was convicted of two counts of aggravated driving under the
influence of alcohol (DUI) (625 ILCS 5/11–501(d)(1)(C) (West
2006)), and other offenses. The appellate court affirmed (People
v. McKown, No. 3–04–0433 (2006) (unpublished order under Supreme Court
Rule 23)), and this court granted her petition for leave to appeal.
The single issue raised in her petition was whether she was
entitled to a hearing pursuant to the rule of Frye v. United States,
293 F. 1013 (D.C. Cir. 1923), before evidence of her performance on a
horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test could be admitted. We held
that the trial court and the appellate court erred in taking judicial
notice that the HGN test is generally accepted as an indicator of
alcohol impairment and remanded to the trial court with
instructions to conduct a Frye hearing. People v. McKown, 226 Ill. 2d
245, 248 (2007) (McKown I). We retained jurisdiction and now review the
trial court’s judgment on that issue. The only issue which McKown
preserved for review before the supreme court
was the necessity for a Frye hearing, which was
awarded and has
now taken place.
The circuit court determined that the HGN test is, in fact, generally
accepted in the
scientific community as evidence of alcohol consumption and possible
impairment. In
this decision, the supreme court adopted the trial court’s
findings.
However, for HGN results to be admitted in a particular case, a
proper foundation
must be laid showing that the test was correctly administered by one
qualified to do
so. At the hearing on remand, the defendant’s offer of proof indicated
that the test
was not, in fact, appropriately performed. Although this issue was not
specifically
included in the defendant’s petition for leave to appeal to the supreme
court, the court
found it “inextricably intertwined” and addressed it, holding that no
proper foundation
had been laid and that the officer’s testimony as to HGN test results
was, thus,
improperly admitted. The conviction was reversed and a new trial
ordered at which the officer could
testify as to his observations other than the HGN test. If a proper
foundation could
be laid for the test performed by him, his testimony concerning it
would be admissible
on retrial. There is no double jeopardy bar to a retrial.
2. Criminal
Law:Trial Court: Flash message by police may not
be hearsay; The wide latitude extended to prosecutors during their
closing remarks has been held to include some degree of both
sarcasm and invective to express their points. Karmeier, J
No. 103933
People
v.
Banks
Filed 2-19-10 (LJD)
In 2001,
there was a carjacking at Ford City Mall
in which a woman was
killed. The assailant, later identified as this defendant, drove off in
the victim’s vehicle
with her children inside, but subsequently let them out. The woman,
fatally shot, was
left for dead on the pavement of the parking lot. The defendant was
identified by an
eyewitness in the parking lot and by one of the victim’s children, who
was 11 years old at the time of trial Other witnesses saw the defendant
as he drove off in the
woman’s car. Forensic evidence in the form of trace elements of gunshot
residue also
linked Banks to the crime. A Cook County jury returned a
general verdict of guilty of first degree murder and
aggravated discharge of a firearm. The jury also found capital
eligibility and the
absence of factors sufficient to preclude the death penalty, which was
imposed. In this decision on direct review, the Illinois
Supreme Court affirmed the
conviction and sentence and set a date for execution.
3. Mental
Health Code: Appellate and Trial Court
Affirmed: The court declined to
hold that a patient must be physically released before a new petition
is filed. Kilbride, J.
No.
107498
In
re
Andrew
B. Filed 2-19-10 (LJD)
The
question
presented
in
this
appeal is whether section 3–611 of the Mental Health and Developmental
Disabilities Code (Code) (405 ILCS 5/3–611 (West 2006)) and the
discharge provisions in sections 1–109 and 2–104 of the Code (405 ILCS
5/1–109, 2–104 (West 2006)) mandate full physical release of an
individual previously ordered discharged before the State may file a
subsequent petition for involuntary admission. The circuit court of
Winnebago County ordered that respondent be involuntarily admitted
pursuant to section 3–600 of the Code (405 ILCS 5/3–600 (West 2006)).
The appellate court affirmed, rejecting respondent’s argument
that the petition seeking his involuntary 1Respondent contends an
earlier petition for involuntary admission was dismissed by the trial
court on April 10, 2007, and he was ordered discharged, but the
record does not contain this order. The appellate court affirmed,
rejecting respondent’s argument that the petition seeking his
involuntary admission was untimely filed under section 3–611 of
the Code. 386 Ill. App. 3d 337, 347. For the reasons that follow, we
affirm the judgment of the appellate court.
4.
Pension: Affirmed: Interpretation of law by agency
is reviewed de novo; service of governor was for State of
Illinois,
one pension fund and was forfeited by felony convictions. Thomas, J.
No.
108184
George
H.
Ryan,
Sr.
v.
The Board of Trustees of the General Assembly
Retirement System Filed 2-19-10 (LJD)
The
issue
in
this
case is
whether, as a result of his multiple federal felony convictions, former
Illinois Governor George H. Ryan, Sr., has forfeited all of the pension
benefits he earned from the General Assembly Retirement System. For the
reasons that follow, we hold that he has.
5. Juvenile
Court/Abuse & Neglect: Appellate Court Reversed, Trial Court
Affirmed: Time in prison does not toll the 9 month period in which
reasonable progress must be made toward the return of the child.
Freeman, J.
No.
108575
In
re
J.L.,
Minors
Filed 2-19-10 (LJD)
Following
an
evidentiary
hearing,
the circuit court of Peoria County found
respondent Stephanie L. an unfit parent under section 1(D)(m)(iii) of
the Adoption Act (750 ILCS 50/1(D)(m)(iii) (West 2008)). The
circuit court subsequently terminated respondent’s parental rights to
her three children. A divided appellate court reversed and remanded.
Nos. 3–08–0941, 3–08–0942, 3–08–0943 cons. (unpublished order
under Supreme Court Rule 23). For the reasons set forth below, we
reverse the judgment of the appellate court and affirm the judgment of
the circuit court.
7 Appellate Court
Cases Posted 02-16-10
1. Insurance
Coverage Law: Reversed and remanded: Plaintiff
insurance company seeking contribution from second insurer relating to
settlement of medical malpractice action could not proceed initially
under theory of equitable contribution between primarily liable
co-insurers, and thereafter claim that it was a secondary insurer and
that defendant was a primary insurer; and where insured doctor
expressly requested that one insurer defend the claim against him, and
not the other, trial court erred in granting award as to only half of
non-selected insurer's expenses in defending doctor. Theis, J. (Opinion
of 12-22-09 withdrawn)
Nos. 1-07-2195
& 1-07-2258 (consol.) Chicago
Hospital
Risk
Pooling
Program
v.
Illinois State Medical Inter-Insurance
Exchange
Filed
1-26-10
(TJJ)
Plaintiff and
counterdefendant, Chicago Hospital Risk Pooling Program
(CHRPP), brought an action against defendant and counterplaintiff,
Illinois State Medical Inter-Insurance Exchange (ISMIE), under a theory
of equitable contribution seeking to recover a portion of a settlement
payment it made on behalf of a physician in an underlying medical
malpractice suit. ISMIE filed a counterclaim seeking to recover its
defense costs in defending the physician. Subsequently, CHRPP amended
its complaint seeking reimbursement under both theories of equitable
contribution and equitable subrogation. Ultimately, both parties filed
cross-motions for summary judgment on CHRPP’s claims and ISMIE filed a
motion for summary judgment on its counterclaim. The circuit court made
the following rulings on the parties cross-motions for summary
judgment: (1) judgment in favor of ISMIE and against CHRPP on the
equitable contribution claim; and (2) judgment in favor of CHRPP and
against ISMIE on the equitable subrogation claim, awarding CHRPP
$666,666.67 plus prejudgment interest. In addition, the court granted
ISMIE’s motion for summary judgment on its counterclaim, awarding it
half of its requested attorney fees in the amount of $21,820.94 plus
prejudgment interest, finding that ISMIE and CHRPP were equally
responsible for the physician’s defense costs. For the reasons that
follow, we reverse the judgment of the circuit court granting summary
judgment in favor of CHRPP on its equitable subrogation claim, and
reverse that portion of the judgment of the circuit court granting
summary judgment in favor of ISMIE on its counterclaim for only
one-half of its defense costs.
2. Public
Employee Disability/Health Benefits: Affirmed:
Firefighter injured during "live fire" training exercise not responding
to event that is "reasonably believed to be an emergency," and was
therefore not entitled to health benefits under Public Safety Employee
Benefits Act. McBride, J. (Gordon, R., J., dissenting)
No.
1-09-0046 Gafney
v.
The
Board
of
Trustees
of the Orland Fire Protection District
Filed 12-24-09 (TJJ)
Plaintiff
Michael J. Gaffney filed a two-count complaint against the
defendants, the Board of Trustees of the Orland Fire Protection
District, president Patrick Maher, secretary Patricia Corcoran, and the
Orland Fire Protection District (collectively, the District), seeking a
declaratory judgment to compel the payment of plaintiff’s health
coverage benefits in accordance with section 10 of the Public Safety
Employee Benefits Act (the Act) (820 ILCS 320/10 (West 2006)) and in
the alternative, for review under the Administrative Review Law (735
ILCS 5/3-101 et seq. (West 2006)) of the District’s denial of his
application for health coverage benefits under the Act. The trial court
dismissed the declaratory judgment count in June 2008, and later in
December 2008, the court considered plaintiff’s remaining count under a
common law writ of certiorari and affirmed the District’s denial of
plaintiff’s application. Trial court affirmed.
3. Criminal Law:
Affirmed: When defense counsel did not specify any
evidence as to how co-defendant's testimony would incriminate
defendant, or how claim of reasonable doubt by co-defendant would be
antagonistic to defendant's claim of self-defense, denial of motion to
sever trial not an abuse of discretion. McBride, J.
No.
1-08-0655 People
v.
Mercado
Filed
12-24-09
(TJJ)
Following a
joint jury trial, defendant Angel Mercado was found guilty
of aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon by a
felon while codefendant Robert Cantoral was acquitted of aggravated
discharge of a firearm. Subsequently, the trial court sentenced
defendant to concurrent terms of 20 years in prison for aggravated
discharge of a weapon and 12 years for unlawful use of a weapon by a
felon. Defendant appeals, arguing that the trial court erred in failing
to sever his trial from that of his codefendant because they presented
antagonistic defenses and his attorney was ineffective for failing to
ensure that defendant was tried separately from his codefendant. Trial
court affirmed.
4. Criminal Law:
Affirmed as modified: Trial court correctly
imposed $20 "preliminary hearing" fee under Section 4-2002.1(a) of the
Counties Code, despite fact that defendant was indicted, in
contradistinction to People v.
Brown, 388 Ill.App.3d 104 (1st Dist. 2009); application of
Violent Crimes Assistance Act fine, Children's Advocacy Center charge,
and Medical Costs Fund assessment also discussed. Gordon, R., J.
No.
1-08-1311 People
v.
Jones
Filed 12-24-09 (TJJ)
Defendant
Ronald Jones was convicted of a Class 3 felony theft of more
than $300 and less than $10,000 of property (720 ILCS 5/16-1(a)(1)
(West 2008)), following a bench trial. After hearing factors in
aggravation and mitigation, the trial court sentenced defendant to five
years of incarceration in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Defendant raises five issues on appeal, and requests that this court:
(1) correct the mittimus to appropriately reflect the time defendant
spent in custody prior to sentencing; (2) vacate the $20 preliminary
examination fee (55 ILCS 5/4-2002.1(a) (West 2008)); (3) reduce the
amount of the fine imposed pursuant to the Violent Crime Victims
Assistance Act (725 ILCS 240/10 (West 2008)) from $20 to $4; (4) vacate
the $10 arrestee’s medical costs assessment (730 ILCS 125/17 (West
2006)); and (5) grant $5 of credit against defendant’s fines for each
day spent in custody prior to sentencing (725 ILCS 5/110-14 (West
2008)). We affirm the decision of the circuit court of Cook County with
the following modifications to the mittimus and to the fines, fees, and
costs order: (1) the clerk should amend the mittimus to reflect 212
days of presentencing credit for time served; (2) we affirm the
assessment of the preliminary examination fee (55 ILCS 5/4-2002.1(a)
(West 2008)); (3) the clerk should amend the fines, fees, and costs
order to reflect a $4 Violent Crime Victims Assistance Fund fee (725
ILCS 240/10(b) (West 2008)); (4) we affirm the assessment of the $10
Arrestee’s Medical Costs Fund fine (730 ILCS 125/17 (West 2006)); and
(5) defendant’s $30 Children’s Advocacy Center fine should be offset by
defendant’s presentence credit for time served.
5. Adverse
Possession Law/Supreme Court Rule 137 Sanctions:
Affirmed in part and reversed in part: trial court ruling denying that
plaintiffs were entitled to property by adverse possession reversed,
but award of sanctions in amount of $20,500 under Supreme Court Rule
137 for failure of defendant and his attorneys to reasonably
investigate plaintiffs' counsel's alleged conflict of interest upheld.
Appleton, J.
Nos. 4-09-0388,
4-09-0393 & 4-09-0617 (consol.) McNeil
v.
Ketchens
Filed
1-6-10
(TJJ)
We have
consolidated three appeals, case Nos. 4-09-0388, 4-09-0617, and
4-09-0393. In all three appeals, the plaintiffs are Ross E. McNeil and
Leslie K. McNeil, husband and wife, and the defendant is Milorad P.
Ketchens together with all unknown owners and nonrecord
claimants. In case Nos. 4-09-0388 and 4-09-0617, we agree with
the trial court's judgment on count II because the legal description in
the deed to the McNeils does not include the disputed piece of land.
Nevertheless, we hold that the court erred in finding against the
McNeils on their claim of adverse possession in count III. Therefore,
in case Nos. 4-09-0388 and 4-09-0617, we affirm the trial court's
judgment in part and reverse it in part: we affirm the judgment on
count II and reverse it on counts I and III. The appellants in the
remaining appeal, case No. 4-09-0393, are Ketchens and one of his
attorneys, Richard J. Whitney. They appeal from an award of sanctions
against them and in favor of the McNeils in the amount of $20,500
pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 137 (155 Ill. 2d R. 137). We do
not find the sanctions to be an abuse of discretion. Therefore, we
affirm the trial court's judgment in case No. 4-09-0393.
6. Criminal Law:
Remanded with directions: Pro se defendant's
document
filed
with
Clerk
of the Circuit Court should properly have been docketed as a
motion to withdraw guilty plea, rather than a notice of appeal, and
cause remanded to trial court for compliance with Supreme Court Rule
604(d). McCullough, J.
No.
4-10-0023 People
v.
Trussel
Filed
2-8-10
(TJJ)
This appeal
comes to us on the motion of defendant's counsel, the
office of the State Appellate Defender (OSAD), for summary remand with
directions to strike the notice of appeal, treat the pro se motion
filed by defendant as a pro se postplea motion, and appoint counsel to
represent defendant on the motion. In People v. Ledbetter, 174 Ill.
App. 3d 234, 237-38, 528 N.E.2d 375, 377 (1988), this court stated
"because of the strict waiver requirements of Rule 604(d), fundamental
fairness requires that a defendant be afforded a full opportunity to
explain his allegations and that he have assistance of counsel in
preparing the motion." So it is in the instant case. We agree with
OSAD. Accordingly, we grant OSAD's motion and remand the cause with
directions to strike the notice of appeal, appoint counsel to represent
defendant, and proceed in accordance with Rule 604(d).
7. Civil
Procedure: Reversed and remanded: Trial court ruling that
"company doctor" was an "employee" for purposes of application of
Supreme Court Rule 237 governing production of a party's "employee" at
trial held to be erroneous in light of affidavits and testimony
presented by that party as to doctor's status. Steigmann, J.
No.
4-09-0036 White
v.
Garlock
Sealing
Technologies
Filed
2-8-10
(TJJ)
This case
presents the question of whether Supreme Court Rule 237(b)
(210 Ill. 2d R. 237(b)), dealing with persons whom a party may be
required to produce at trial, includes not only persons who are
"officer[s], director[s], or employee[s,]" but also those persons who
are under a party's control. We hold that it does not.
11 Appellate
Court Cases Posted 02-10-10
1. Criminal Law:
Reversed and remanded for sentencing: Conviction
for possession of controlled substance with intent to deliver reduced
to possession only where chemist combined six packets of purported
substance before testing thus obviating conclusion that each packet
contained controlled substance, and evidence insufficient to sustain
conviction for intent to deliver. McBride, J.
No.
1-08-0720 People
v.
Clinton
Filed
12-11-09
(Modified)
(TJJ)
Following a
January 2008 jury trial, defendant Lawrence Clinton was
found guilty of possession with intent to deliver more than 1 gram but
less than 15 grams of a substance containing heroin. Subsequently, the
trial court sentenced defendant to 10 years in the Illinois Department
of Corrections. Defendant appeals, arguing that: (1) the State failed
to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt because (a) it failed to
prove that he possessed more than one gram of heroin where the forensic
chemist combined multiple packets to determine weight before testing
for the presence of a controlled substance, and (b) the evidence was
insufficient to prove him guilty of possession of a controlled
substance with intent to deliver where defendant was arrested with 13
packets of suspected narcotics and $40 in cash; and (2) the
prosecutor’s closing arguments were improper and deprived him of a fair
trial. Conviction reduced to possession only and remanded for
resentencing.
2. Insurance
Coverage Law: Affirmed: Where two persons injured in
automobile accident recovered $100,000 each from other driver's policy,
their under-insured motorist claim under $300,000 policy with "split
limits" limited their recovery to a total of $100,000, not $200,000 as
they claimed, and trial court grant of declaratory judgment to UIM
carrier affirmed: Steele, J. (Murphy, J., specially concurring)
Nos. 1-08-3319
& 1-08-3628 (consol.) Erie
Insurance
Exchange
v.
Triana
Filed
2-3-10
(TJJ)
This appeal
arises from an order of the circuit court of Cook County
granting plaintiff Erie Insurance Exchange’s (Erie) motion for summary
judgment and denying defendants Michael and Christine Wagner (the
Wagners) and Christine Triana’s (Triana) cross-motion for summary
judgment, finding that there was only $100,000 in total underinsured
motorist (UIM) benefits remaining for all defendants under the Erie
policy. Erie filed this declaratory judgment action against the
defendants, seeking a determination of the remaining policy limits
under the Erie policy when both Christine Wagner (Wagner) and Triana
had previously received settlement payments of $100,000 each from State
Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm) as a result of
the automobile accident. For the following reasons, we affirm.
3. Insurance
Coverage Law: Affirmed in part and reversed in part:
Where defendant insurance companies failed either to represent
plaintiffs in EEOC action or file for a declaratory judgment, they were
estopped from asserting a "late notice" defense and had a duty to
defend, but Section 155 claim for vexatious refusal to settle properly
dismissed by trial court. Murphy, J.
No.
1-08-3400 Children's
Advantage
Network
v.
National
Union
Fire Company of Pittsburgh, PA
Filed 2-3-10 (TJJ)
Plaintiffs,
Uhlich Children’s Advantage Network (UCAN) and Darlene
Sowell, filed a complaint for declaratory judgment seeking a
determination of whether defendants, National Union Fire Insurance Co.
of Pittsburgh and AIG Domestic Claims, had a duty to defend them in
underlying litigation and alleging breach of contract and a violation
of section 155 of the Insurance Code (215 ILCS 5/155 (West 2006)). The
trial court dismissed plaintiffs’ complaint on the basis that they
failed to comply with the notice requirements of the policy. On appeal,
plaintiffs argue that defendants had an obligation to provide coverage
for both of them in the underlying suit. Trial court dismissal affirmed
in part and reversed in part.
4. Negligence
Law: Affirmed: Tort Immunity Act prohibits suit
against Metra for injuries allegedly sustained by plaintiff who was
"jaywalking" and allegedly tripped over bolt on railroad tie, as
plaintiff was not an "intended and permitted" user of premises, and
grant of summary judgment was proper. Coleman, J.
No.
1-08-3668 Pence
v.
Northeast
Illinois
Regional
Commuter
Corporation
Filed 2-3-10 (TJJ)
Plaintiff,
Donald Pence, appeals the circuit court’s order granting
summary judgment in favor of the defendant, Northeast Illinois Regional
Commuter Railroad Corporation (Metra). Plaintiff sought recovery for
injuries caused as a result of tripping on the railroad tracks at a
grade-level crossing near the Midlothian, Illinois, Metra station.
After initially denying Metra’s motion for summary judgment, the
circuit court granted the motion upon reconsideration, finding that
Metra did not owe Pence a duty because he was not a passenger and the
alleged defect was de minimis. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
5. Criminal Law:
Reversed and remanded: Authentication of
"surveillance" video, which purportedly documented defendant's
surreptitious theft of USC, under "silent witness" doctrine not
established in light of lack of evidence regarding preservation of the
recording with no changes, additions or deletions. Jorgensen, J.
No.
2-07-0105 People
v.
Taylor
Filed
2-4-10
(TJJ)
Defendant,
Teryck Taylor, appeals from his conviction of theft of
property worth less than $300 (720 ILCS 5/16--1(a)(1)(A), (b)(1) (West
2004)). He contends that the evidence was insufficient to prove his
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. He further contends that, because the
State failed to lay a proper foundation under the silent-witness
approach to authentication for the admission of a surveillance-type
videotape, the court erred in admitting the tape. We disagree that the
evidence was insufficient. However, we agree that the foundation for
the tape was insufficient. Further, we conclude that, although the
State had other strong evidence of defendant's guilt, the tape was so
central to the State's case that we cannot say that its admission was
harmless error. We therefore vacate defendant's conviction and remand
the matter for a new trial.
6. Negligence
law: Reversed and remanded: Defendants' contract with
state Department of Transportation to design a bridge deck and median
barrier on expressway imposed a duty to do so using "skill and
diligence normally employed by professional engineers," and affidavit
of plaintiff's expert that they did not was sufficient to withstand
defendants' motion for summary judgment in wrongful death action, grant
of which was error. O'Malley, J. (Hutchinson, J., dissenting)
No.
2-07-0667 Thompson
v.
Gordon
Filed
2-3-10
(Supplemental)
(TJJ)
Plaintiff,
Corinne Thompson, both individually and as administrator of
the estates of her husband, Trevor Thompson, and their daughter, Amber
Thompson, appeals the trial court's order granting summary judgment on
her claims against defendants, Jack E. Leisch and Associates, Inc., and
CH2M Hill, Inc., the engineering companies that designed the bridge and
traffic interchange in the area where Trevor and Amber were killed in a
motor vehicle accident.2 For the reasons that follow, we reverse the
judgment of the trial court and remand for further proceedings.
7. Criminal Law:
Reversed and remanded: Trial court dismissal of
defendant's pro se post-conviction
petition
because
of
failure
to
comply with Post-Conviction Hearing Act
time requirements was reversed and remanded to determine whether
defendant's failure to raise claim that two armed robbery convictions
violated "one act-one crime" rule was due to defendant's "culpable
negligence." McLaren, J.
No.
2-08-0242 People
v.
Marino
Filed
2-3-10
(TJJ)
Joseph Marino
appeals the trial court's dismissal of his petition under
the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Act) (725 ILCS 5/122--1 et seq. (West
2006)). The trial court found that the petition was untimely filed and
that, because a discovery rule does not apply to postconviction
actions, the late discovery of a claim that is not based on a change of
law does not permit late filing under section 122--1(c) of the Act (725
ILCS 5/122--1(c) (West 2006)). We disagree that the late discovery of a
preexisting claim absolutely precludes a defendant from filing a
petition after the statutory deadline. Instead, how the claim was
discovered is part of a determination under section 122--1(c) of
whether the defendant was culpably negligent in filing the late
petition. Accordingly, we reverse and remand for further proceedings.
8. Criminal Law:
Reversed and remanded: rial court failure to
comply with "post-amended" Supreme Court Rule 431(b) by not giving
jurors "an opportunity to respond" regarding Zehr questions deemed plain error
"so substantial that it affected the fundamental fairness of the
proceedings'" and required reversal of defendant's conviction for armed
robbery. McCullough, J.
No.
4-08-0034 People
v.
Yusuf
Filed 2-4-10 (TJJ)
In October
2007, a jury convicted defendant, Ahmed A. Yusuf, of armed
robbery (720 ILCS 5/18-2(a)(2) (West 2006)). In December 2007, the
trial court sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment. Defendant
appealed, arguing the court erred in failing to question the jurors
during voir dire in compliance with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 431(b)
(Official Reports Advance Sheet No. 8 (April 11, 2007), R. 431(b), eff.
May 1, 2007) regarding the jurors' understanding of the four basic
constitutional guarantees afforded criminal defendants at trial. In
November 2008, this court affirmed. People v. Yusuf, No. 4-08- 0034
(November 19, 2008) (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23).
The Supreme Court of Illinois denied defendant’s petition for leave to
appeal but issued a supervisory order (People v. Yusuf, 233 Ill.
2d 598, 914 N.E.2d 489 (2009) (nonprecedential supervisory order on
denial of petition for leave to appeal) (No. 107674)) directing this
court to vacate our order and to reconsider in light of People v.
Glasper, 234 Ill. 2d 173, 917 N.E.2d 401 (2009). In accordance with the
supreme court’s directions, we vacated our prior judgment and
reconsider in light of Glasper to determine whether a different result
is warranted. We reverse and remand.
9. Criminal Law:
Affirmed as modified and remanded: $5 drug-court
assessment is a fine as opposed to a fee, and defendant is entitled to
$5 per day credit under Section 110-14 (a) of Code of Criminal
Procedure, and, in apparent case of first impression, $200 DNA-analysis
"assessment" under Section 5-4-3(j) of Unified Code of Corrections is a
fine, not a fee. Turner, J.
No.
4-08-0914 People
v.
Long Filed
2-4-10 (TJJ)
Pursuant to a
plea agreement, defendant pleaded guilty to aggravated
battery. At a November 2008 sentencing hearing, the trial court
sentenced defendant to nine years' imprisonment and dismissed the
unlawful possession- of-a-controlled-substance charge. Defendant filed
a motion to reconsider his sentence, which the court denied. Defendant
appeals, contending the trial court erred by (1) failing to award him
credit under section 110-14(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of
1963 (Procedure Code) (725 ILCS 5/110-14(a) (West 2008)) against his
drug-court assessment and (2) assessing a $20 fine under section 10(c)
of the Violent Crime Victims Assistance Act (Victims Assistance Act)
(725 ILCS 240/10(c) (West 2008)). We affirm as modified and remand with
directions.
10. Negligence
Law: Affirmed: Application of Section 876 of
Restatement (Second) of Torts resulted in conclusion that defendant was
not liable for tortious conduct of second driver leading to decedent's
death, merely because defendant agreed to lead second driver to
intended location, in spite of defendant's alleged speeding, and grant
of summary judgment to defendant was proper. Steigmann, J.
No.
4-09-0246 Norman
v.
Brandt
Filed
2-4-10
(TJJ)
In June 2007,
plaintiffs, David Norman and Richard Norman
(collectively, Norman), sued defendant, Samuel Brandt, alleging that
pursuant to section 876 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts
(Restatement (Second) of Torts §876, at 315 (1977)), Brandt drove his
vehicle "in concert" with the driver of the vehicle from which David
was thrown to cause David's injuries. In October 2008, Brandt filed a
motion for summary judgment. In February 2009, the trial court granted
Brandt's summary-judgment motion, ruling that section 876 of the
Restatement (Second) of Torts did not apply. Norman appeals, arguing
that the trial court erred by granting Brandt's summary-judgment
motion. We disagree and affirm.
11. Criminal Law:
Defendant motion granted and case remanded:
Supreme Court Rule 604(d) dictates that before perfecting defendant's
appeal of guilty plea, counsel for defendant must review actual
transcript of proceedings held at time of plea, regardless of who will
bear cost of transcript, and so certify in writing, even if counsel was
defendant's lawyer at time of plea. Knecht, J.
No.
4-09-0654 People
v.
Cloyd
Filed 2-4-10 (TJJ)
In appeal of
defendant's guilty plea, Appellate Court granted motion of
defendant's appointed appellate counsel and remanded the cause for
further proceedings consistent with Rule 604(d), that is, the
appointment of counsel, the filing of a new motion to withdraw guilty
plea or to reconsider sentence, a new hearing on the motion, and for
strict compliance with Rule 604(d) in the filing of any certificate
under the rule.
13 Appellate
Court
Cases Posted 02-04-10
1.
Administrative Review: Reversed and Remanded: Board
permitted to allow Village to intervene and Village Board Officials did
not have to recuse themselves; However, Village Attorneys interjections
into the hearing, while acting as a Pensions Board member, deprived
plaintiff of due process and fair hearing. Theis, J.
No.
1-08-1212 Williams
v.
The
Board
of
Trustees
of
the
Morton Grove Firefighters' Pension Fund
- Filed
2-2-10 (LJD) 12/19/10 Opinion
Withdrawn
Plaintiff,
Darren Williams, filed an application for a line-of-duty
disability pension with defendant, the Board of Trustees of the
Morton Grove Firefighters’ Pension Fund (Board), pursuant to section
4-110 of the Illinois Pension Code (the Pension Code) (40 ILCS
5/4-110 (West 2006)). Plaintiff subsequently amended his application to
include a claim for a not-in-duty disability pension pursuant to
section 4-111 of the Pension Code. 40 ILCS 5/4-111 (West 2006).
One day before the hearing on plaintiff’s application, the Village of
Morton Grove (Village) filed a petition to intervene in the hearing,
which the Board granted. The hearing was conducted by the
attorney for the Morton Grove Firefighters’ Pension Fund (Fund). The
Board voted to deny plaintiff a line-of-duty pension, but granted him a
not-in-duty disability pension pursuant to section 4-111. 40 ILCS
5/4-111 (West 2006). For the following reasons, we reverse the
decision of the Board and remand with instructions.
2. Criminal
Law: Affirmed in part, reversed in part: Even
though the statute does not specifically call for a mental state,
Section 5/4-3 of the Criminal Code provides for guidelines for mens rea
generally; that section and others(4-9) analyzed; “Where possession has
been shown, an inference of guilty knowledge can be drawn from the
surrounding facts and circumstances. Toomin, J.
No.
1-08-1017 People
v.
Stanley
Filed
12-24-09
(LJD)
In this case,
we consider an apparent matter of first impression in
Illinois, whether the proof of the mens rea for the possession of
defaced weapons necessarily extends to the character of the
weapon. Defendant, Kenneth Stanley, was convicted after a bench
trial of unlawful use of a weapon, defacing identification marks on a
firearm, and aggravated unlawful use of a firearm and sentenced to one
year of probation.As the State concedes the insufficiency of the
evidence to prove the shotgun was modified, our review is limited to
the remaining contentions. For the reasons that follow, we affirm in
part and vacate in part.
3. Post
Conviction Petition: Affirmed: Analysis of successive
post conviction petitions and requirements to seek court permission to
file them and requirements such as cause and prejudice test. Murphy, J.
No.1-07-1245
People
v.
Anderson
Filed
1-13-10
(LJD)
Following a
bench trial, defendant George Anderson was found guilty of
first degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder.
Defendant was subsequently sentenced to a term of life
imprisonment for first-degree murder and consecutive terms of 25 years’
imprisonment for the two attempted first degree murder convictions.
Defendant appeals the trial court’s order denying leave to file
his fourth successive postconviction petition. We agree
with defendant’s argument; however, we hold that a defendant who sets
forth a claim of actual innocence must still file a motion seeking
leave of court to file a successive postconviction petition
pursuant to section 122-1(f) of the Act. For the following reasons, we
affirm the trial court’s dismissal of defendant’s fourth successive
postconviction petition without prejudice to filing a motion in
the circuit court seeking leave to file such a petition pursuant to
section 122-1(f) of the Act.
4.
Contract/Indemnification: Affirmed: No question of
fact existed which precluded indemnification since agreement clear the
activities of student were covered by agreement and principle suit
arose from activities of student in X-Ray room. O'Mara Frossard, J.
No.
1-08-3636 Smith
v.
West
Suburban
Medical
Center
Filed
1-21-10
(LJD)
This is an
action based on ordinary negligence. Plaintiff, Dorothy
Smith, filed a complaint against several defendants, including
defendant/third-party plaintiff-appellee, West Suburban Medical Center
(West Suburban), and defendant/third-party defendant-appellant,
Triton College Foundation, d/b/a Triton Community College (Triton),
alleging that she was injured when she fell off a stool in West
Suburban’s X-ray room. Smith’s complaint contained allegations
against defendant, Kilume Nkulu, a Triton student. West Suburban sought
indemnification from Triton based upon a written agreement between the
two parties that contained a dual indemnification clause, which
provided that Triton would indemnify West Suburban for any losses it
incurred arising out of the activities of Triton students. The circuit
court granted West Suburban’s motion for summary judgment. Triton now
appeals. We affirm.
5.
Administrative Review: Circuit Court affirmed, reversing
Pension Board's decision: An agency’s findings are against the manifest
weight of the evidence where the
opposite conclusion is clearly evident. Subsequent accident that
aggravates the condition that was weakened by a work-related accident
does not break the causal chain. Lampkin, J.
No.
1-09-0458 Devaney
v.
The
Board
of
Trustees
of
the
Calumet City Police Pension Fund
Filed 1-25-10 (LJD)
Plaintiff Gary
Devaney filed a complaint for administrative review
against the defendant Board of Trustees of the Calumet City Police
Pension Fund (Board) and its individual members, who had
determined that plaintiff was entitled to a nonduty, rather than
a line-of-duty, disability pension based on findings that his
disability did not result from or was not aggravated by a dutyrelated
incident. The circuit court reversed defendants’ decision and
granted plaintiff his requested relief. Defendants appealed, arguing
that their decision was not against the manifest weight of the evidence
and the circuit court improperly reweighed the evidence. For the
reasons that follow, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court.
6. Civil
Procedure/Common Carrier/Attorneys Fees: Affirmed:
Judgment n.o.v is proper when, viewing the evidence in a light most
favorable to the nonmoving party, it so overwhelmingly favors the
movant that there was a total failure or lack of evidence to prove a
necessary element. A rebuttable presumption of negligence is
raised against a common carrier when a plaintiff shows that she was
a passenger, an accident happened with an apparatus wholly under
the control of the carrier, and that an injury was inflicted.
Once that presumption is raised, the carrier must explain why the
accident resulted from a cause for which it should not be held
responsible. The purpose of granting sanctions is not to punish a
party, but to effectuate the goals of discovery. Penalties
ranging from a reasonable attorney fee to monetary penalties may be
imposed even if the omissions are inadvertent. Defendant's expert
refused to produce his income tax records and then, in middle of
deposition, resigned as expert. Murphy, J.
No.
1-08-3605 & 1-08-3606 New
v.
Pace
Suburban
Bus
Service
Filed
1-27-10
(LJD)
These
consolidated appeals arise from proceedings under plaintiff
Geraldine New’s February 18, 2005, single-count personal injury
complaint against defendant Pace Suburban Bus Service. Plaintiff
sought damages for injuries allegedly sustained to her back while
she was a passenger on defendant’s bus on March 4, 2004. Plaintiff
claimed the bus stopped suddenly forcing her to fall into a pole and to
the ground. She alleged that this caused serious injury to her
back requiring extensive treatment. Plaintiff alleged that the sudden
stop was due to the negligence and omissions of defendant’s bus driver.
Following a trial, the jury entered a verdict in favor of
defendant on August 1, 2008. Plaintiff appeals the trial court’s
denial of her motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (n.o.v.)
and a new trial as well as presenting three issues with respect
to the jury instructions given at trial. Defendant appeals the trial
court’s grant of plaintiff’s petition for attorney fees and
costs, amounting to approximately $17,000, related to the
deposition of defendant’s first disclosed medical expert, who
“resigned” from the case only after plaintiff expended time and funds
on his deposition. For the following reasons, we affirm the rulings of
the trial court.
7. Criminal
Law: Affirmed: Criminal conviction will not be
set aside unless the evidence is so improbable or unsatisfactory that
it creates a reasonable doubt of the defendant's guilt.
Identification by a single witness is sufficient to support a
conviction if the defendant is viewed under circumstances permitting a
positive identification. Ineffective assistance of counsel discussed.
Quinn, J.
No.
1-07-2231 People
v.
Gabriel
Filed
1-27-10
(LJD)
Following a
bench trial, defendant was found guilty of aggravated
battery with a firearm based on an accountability theory and sentenced
to seven years in prison. For the following reasons, we affirm.
8. Criminal
Law: Reversed and Remanded: Issue preserved by
appeal if raised in pre-trial motion in limine and post trial motion;
plain error doctrine analyzed; gang affiliation evidence when crime not
gang related improper. Gallagher, J.
No.
1-07-2406 People
v.
Maldanado Filed 1-27-10 (LJD)
Defendant Mike
Angel Maldonado was charged with first degree murder in
the shooting death of Ricardo Hernandez. Defendant’s first trial ended
in a hung jury. Defendant was then tried by another jury and
convicted. The jury also found that defendant personally discharged a
firearm that proximately caused the death of Hernandez. Defendant was
sentenced to 60 years in prison, 35 years for the murder charge
and a mandatory 25 years added on for killing the victim with a
firearm. Defendant raises three issues on appeal. First, defendant
argues that he was denied a fair trial by the admission of irrelevant
and inflammatory other-crimes evidence. Next, defendant contends
that he was deprived of a fair trial because the State was permitted to
bolster the credibility of its only nonrecanting eyewitness with
evidence of previous consistent statements. Finally, defendant
argues that he was deprived of a fair trial because the repetitive
introduction of prior statements made by a witness who recanted at
trial, through multiple witnesses, violated the common law
prohibition against prior consistent statements. For the reasons that
follow, we reverse and remand for a new trial.
9.
Criminal,J.l Law: Affirmed: Waiver of error by taking
different position at trial than at appeal; Use of hearsay testimony
evidence of victim per 115-10 analyzed. McBride, J.
No.
1-08-0777 People
v.
Major-Flisk Filed 1-29-10 (LJD)
Following a
jury trial, defendant, Michael Major-Flisk, was found
guilty of one count of aggravated criminal sexual assault against the
five-year-old victim M.O. The trial court sentenced defendant to a term
of ix years’ imprisonment. On appeal, defendant contends that the
trial court erred by allowing testimony of out-of-court statements made
by the victim pursuant to the hearsay exception for sexual abuse
victims under the age of 13 (725 ILCS 5/115-10 (West 2006)). For the
reasons that follow, we affirm.
10. Freedom
of Information Act: Affirmed: Fee of 10 cents per
assessment reasonable; County Code does not apply since the records are
not free online. McDade, J.
No. 3-09-0175
Sage
Information
Services
v.
Henderson
Filed
1-29-10 (LJD)
Plaintiffs
filed a complaint for injunctive relief in the circuit court
of Grundy County pursuant to section 11 of the Illinois Freedom of
Information Act (Act) (5 ILCS 140/11(a) (West 2006)). Defendant filed
a motion to dismiss pursuant to section 2-619(a)(9) of the
Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2-619(a)(9) (West 2006)) on the
grounds plaintiffs’ complaint is barred by section 9-20 of the Property
Tax Code (Code) (35 ILCS 200/9-20 (West 2006)). The circuit court
of Grundy County ruled that section 9-20 of the Code controls, found
that plaintiffs’ complaint is therefore barred by a controlling
statute "avoiding the legal effect of or defeating the claim"
(735 ILCS 5/2-619(a)(9) (West 2006)), and granted defendant’s motion to
dismiss. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
11. Traffic
Court:Reversed and Remanded: There is no statutory or
constitutional basis for the circuit court's lack-of-probable-cause
dismissal of the misdemeanor traffic citation against
Davis. Holdridge,
J.
No. 3-09-0132
People
v.
Davis
Filed
1-29-10 (LJD)
Brooke Davis
was cited for driving while driver's license is suspended (625 ILCS
5/6--303 (West 2008)). The citation was dismissed during her first
court appearance, and the State filed this appeal from the dismissal
order.
12.
Negligence/Products Liability: Affirmed: Elements of negligent design
cause of action analyzed and discussed; In addition to defect in
product at time product left manufacturer, plaintiff must prove
standard of care and deviation from standard; crucial question in a
negligent-design case is whether the manufacturer exercised reasonable
care in the design of the product. To show that the manufacturer
acted unreasonably based on the foreseeability of harm, the plaintiff
must show the manufacturer knew or should have known of the risk posed
by the product design at the time of manufacture. a manufacturer has a
continuing duty to warn of a hazard of which it had a duty to warn at
the time the product was manufactured, including using reasonable
care to inform foreseeable users of product developments designed to
eliminate the hazard. Stewart, J.
No. 5-05-0723
Jablonski
v.
Ford
Motor
Company
Filed
2-1-10
(LJD)
The plaintiffs,
Dora Mae Jablonski (Dora) and John L. Jablonski, Jr., as the special
administrator and personal representative of the estate of Dora's
deceased husband, John L. Jablonski, Sr. (John), brought this
action against Ford Motor Company (Ford), alleging strict product
liability and negligence in the design of their 1993 Lincoln Town Car
automobile as a result of a collision in which John was killed
and Dora was seriously injured. Specifically, the plaintiffs
alleged that the fuel tank system in the Lincoln Town Car was
defective, unreasonably dangerous, and negligently designed by Ford.
The plaintiffs also filed a negligence claim against Natalie S. Ingram,
the driver of the vehicle that collided with the Jablonskis' vehicle,
but that claim was settled before the trial. Plaintiff Dora Jablonski
moved prior to the trial for eave to file a
willful-and-wanton-conduct count and to seek punitive damages, and
after a hearing, her motion was granted by the trial court. The
plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their strict product liability
claims at the close of all the evidence, and the case against Ford was
submitted to the jury on the negligent-design claims and on the
willful-and-wanton-conduct claims seeking punitive damages. The
jury returned a verdict against Ford, assessing the plaintiffs'
total damages in excess of $43 million, including $15 million in
punitive damages, on which the circuit court of Madison County entered
a judgment. The circuit court denied Ford's motion for a judgment
notwithstanding the verdict or for a new trial. Ford timely appeals
from the judgment. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.
13. Post
Conviction: Affirmed: Post Conviction act requirements discussed and
analyzed; elements of ineffective counsel analyzed. No prejudice
caused by witnesses military uniforms. Chapman, J.
No.
5-08-0273 People
v.
Lane
Filed 2-1-10 (LJD)
The defendant,
Emmett Lane, Jr., was convicted of murder and attempted murder
following a shooting in the parking lot of a nightclub. Both victims
were United States Army staff sergeants on leave from Fort
Campbell, Kentucky, at the time of the shooting. Three State witnesses,
including the surviving victim, testified at the defendant's trial
wearing their military uniforms. The defendant filed a petition for
relief under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (725 ILCS 5/122-1 et
seq. (West 2006)), arguing that (1) the trial court erred in denying
his motion in limine to prohibit the State's witnesses from testifying
in uniform and (2) he received ineffective assistance of
appellate counsel because counsel failed to raise this issue on direct
appeal. He appeals an order denying his petition after a hearing. We
affirm.
3 Supreme
Court
Cases Posted 02-04-10
1. Medical
Negligence: Constitutional Law: Affirmed in Part and Remanded:
Caps on Pain and Suffering in Medical Negligence Cases are
unconstitutional on their face based on separation of powers grounds.
Fitzgerald, CJ. Karmeier and Garman concurred in part and dissented in
part.
No. 105741
& 105745 Cons., Lebron,
a
Minor
v.
Gottlieb
Memorial
Hospital
Filed
02-04-09
(LJD)
In 2005, a statutory provision, part of Public Act 94–677, took
effect in Illinois that places limits on awards for noneconomic
damages, such as pain and suffering, in medical malpractice cases. The
total limit is $1 million for hospitals and their personnel and
$500,000 for doctors. Shortly after the effective date of
this enactment, a baby who
was born by Caesarean section was found to have numerous permanent
injuries. Suit was filed against Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose
Park, the doctor, and an assisting nurse. This litigation is the lead
case in a number of lawsuits which
raise the same issue and which the circuit court of Cook County
consolidated. As part of their complaint, the plaintiffs
sought a
declaratory judgment that the damage limitation was invalid on
constitutional grounds and later moved for partial judgment on the
pleadings on this question. The circuit court granted the relief
requested by the plaintiffs, and, because of inseverability wording in
the enactment in which the provision is contained, declared the entire
enactment invalid. This direct appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court
followed. In this decision, the supreme court reversed as
unnecessary
the circuit court’s judgment holding the statute unconstitutional as
applied, but affirmed the finding that, under the Illinois
Constitution, the statute is facially invalid on separation of powers
grounds. The supreme court said that the damage limitation violates the
constitutional principle of separation of powers by interfering with
the authority of the judicial branch to reduce verdicts. What the
statute allows for amounts to a “legislative remittitur.” The supreme
court agreed with the circuit court that, because the challenged
provision is not severable, the entire statute is invalid. However, the
legislature is free to reenact the other provisions. The
cause was remanded to the circuit court for further proceedings.
2. Post
Conviction Petitions: Appellate Court and Trial Court Reversed and
Cause Remanded: Petition created a question of fact whether defendant's
counsel was ineffective for failing to request hearing for fitness to
stand trial Kilbride, J., Garman, joined by Karmeier and Thomas
JJ, dissented
No. 106243
& 106273 Cons. People
v.
Brown Filed
02-04-09
(LJD)
Police
responding to a 2002 report of a Chicago disturbance
found Raymond Brown outside his apartment, holding a butcher knife.
Told to drop it, he did not do so but, instead, advanced, waiving the
knife and making threats. He was shot by police in the leg and lower
back before being arrested. A conviction was entered in a Cook County
bench trial for attempted first degree murder of a peace officer, and a
25-year sentence was imposed. The appellate court affirmed. Brown
then filed a pro se postconviction petition,
claiming that his trial attorney was ineffective in failing to request
a hearing on his fitness for trial. The circuit court summarily
dismissed the petition as frivolous and patently without merit, and the
appellate court affirmed. In this decision, the Illinois Supreme
Court held that Brown’s
petition should not have been dismissed but could advance to the second
stage of postconviction proceedings because he had stated the gist of a
constitutional claim in alleging that he had told his trial attorney
that he had been taking medication for bipolar disorder and depression
and that he had previously attempted suicide. Brown also alleged that
he had been under medication at the time of his trial and that his
attorney lied in claiming to be unaware of this. Attached to the
petition were affidavits from defendant’s mother and aunt indicating
that counsel had been informed about defendant’s bipolar medications
and suicide attempts. At the original sentencing hearing, Brown had
stated that he was attempting “suicide by police” because he had seen a
news report about a man killed by police for threatening them with a
machete. The supreme court found that the total record, which
should be
liberally construed, creates a factual dispute as to whether there was
a bona fide doubt of petitioner’s fitness for trial and that
the claim of ineffectiveness in failing to seek a fitness hearing is
arguably supported. The cause was remanded for second-stage
postconviction
proceedings, at which Brown may have counsel appointed, an amended
petition may be submitted, and a determination made as to whether an
evidentiary hearing should be held.
3. Domestic
Relations: Appellate Court Affirmed which Affirmed Trial Court in part
and Reversed Trial Court in part: The issue of whether accumulated
vacation and sick days are marital or nonmarital property is an issue
of first impression in this court. Thomas, J., Garman, J., dissented,
joined by Kilbride and Burke, JJ.
No.107755 In
re
Marriage
of
Abrell
Filed
02-04-09
(LJD)
At issue in this case is whether unused vacation days and sick days are
marital property subject to distribution in an action for dissolution
of marriage. The circuit court of Sangamon County held that those days
were marital property. The appellate court affirmed in part and
reversed in part. 386 Ill. App. 3d 718. We now affirm the appellate
court’s decision.
6 Appellate
Court
Cases Posted 02-01-10
1.
Administrative Hearings/Indemnity: Affirmed: 2 Year Statute of
Limitations for Contributions only applies to actions for personal
injury and property damage; Actions of indemnity under unwritten
agreement are covered by 5 year statute; nonaction of governmental
officials will not support a laches defense. Patti, J.
No.1-08-0404 Madigan
v.
Yballe
Filed
12-14-09
(LJD)
Defendant and third-party plaintiff, Sonia Yballe, appeals an order of
the trial court dismissing the third-party complaint that she filed
against third-party defendant Pediatric Center of Chicago, Ltd. (PCC),
as well as an order granting summary judgment in favor of plaintiff,
Lisa Madigan, Attorney General of Illinois. For the reasons that
follow, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
2. Criminal Law:
Affirmed: Rule 431 requiring the Trial Court admonish the jury during
voir dire certain law analyzed; Bowman, J.
No. 2-08-0208 People
v.
Calabrese
Filed
1-26-10
(LJD)
Opinion filed 1/15/10 withdrawn
Defendant, Michael
J. Calabrese, was convicted of first-degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9--1(a)(3) (West 2004)) on January 18,
2008, after a jury trial. He was sentenced to 45 years' imprisonment plus an additional 25 years
pursuant to the mandatory add-on for using a firearm (730 ILCS 5/5--8--1(a)(1)(d)(iii) (West
2004)). On appeal, defendant argues that: (1) the trial court failed to comply with Supreme Court Rule 431(b)
(Official Reports Advance Sheet No. 8 (April 11, 2007), R. 431(b), eff. May 1, 2007); (2) there
was insufficient evidence to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt; (3) the trial court
erred in knowingly allowing the jury to hear witness Patrick Calabrese invoke his fifth amendment
privilege; and (4) his 70-year sentence was excessive given his mitigating factors. We affirm.
3. Premises
Liability: Reversed and Remanded: A driveway is not a sidewalk under
the "Snow & Ice Removal Act". The term "sidewalk"
encompasses all 'foot pavements' leading to and from the residence,
whether public or private. Zenoff, J.
No.
2-09-0271
Gallagher
v.
Union
Square
Condominium
Homeowner's
Association Filed 1-27-10 (LJD)
On February 17,
2009, the circuit court of Lake County dismissed the complaint filed by
plaintiff, Kevin F. Gallagher, against defendants, Union Square
Condominium Homeowner's Association (Union), Vanguard Community
Management, Inc. (Vanguard), and Landscapes Concept Management, Inc.
(Landscapes), on Landscapes' motion under section 2--619(a)(9) of the
Code of Civil Procedure (Code) (735 ILCS 5/2--619(a)(9) (West 2008)).
Plaintiff appeals, arguing that the trial court erred in determining
that the Snow and Ice Removal Act (Act) (745 ILCS 75/1 et seq. (West
2008)) barred plaintiff's claims against defendants. For the reasons
that follow, we reverse and remand the matter to the trial court for
further proceedings.
4. Workers
Compensation: Affirmed in part and reversed in part; cause remanded:
Issuance of Summons by the Clerk's Office Rules discussed;
Question of Fact exists as to whether the petitioner was engaged in
carriage( a covered activity) or agriculture(a non covered
activity) Holdridge, J.
No.
3-08-0989WC
Hagemann
v.
Illinois
Workers'
Compensation
Commission
Filed
1-22-10
(LJD)
Dennis Hagemann
filed an application for adjustment of claim against William Sherman
III, doing business as Sherman Grain Farms, seeking workers'
compensation benefits for injuries he sustained on May 12, 2003, while
driving a semi-tractor trailer to haul grain. Sherman moved to dismiss
the application, arguing that his business fell under the agricultural
enterprise exemption of the Workers' Compensation Act (Act) (820 ILCS
305/3(19) (West 2008)). The arbitrator granted the motion to dismiss,
and Hagemann appealed to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission
(Commission), which affirmed the arbitrator's dismissal.After further
proceedings below, the circuit court confirmed the Commission's
decision that Sherman's business fell under the agricultural enterprise
exemption, warranting dismissal of Hagemann's claim for workers'
compensation benefits. Hagemann then filed the instant appeal
challenging the Commission's decision, and Sherman cross-appealed the
denial of his motion to dismiss the circuit court appeal. Affirmed in
part and reversed in part; cause remanded
5. Criminal
Law: reversed and Remanded: Padlock in a sock is a form of bludgeon or
blackjack since it has a heavy metal head and flexible handle.
Pope, J.
No. 4-08-0797 People
v.
Perry Filed 1-27-10
(LJD)
The court held no reasonable jury could find the padlock in a sock was
a "bludgeon" as charged in the information and prohibited by statute
(720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(1) (West 2006)). The court permitted the State to
amend the aggravated-battery charge to delete the word "bludgeon"
following "a deadly weapon." The jury heard the evidence and convicted
defendant of aggravated battery.The State appeals, arguing the trial
court erred in dismissing the unlawful-use-of-weapons count
because the padlock in a sock is a "bludgeon" within the meaning of the
statute. In addition, the State argues if the padlock in a sock
is not a bludgeon, rather than dismissal, the State should have been
allowed to amend the information. No challenge is made to defendant's
aggravated-battery conviction. We reverse the trial court’s judgment
dismissing the unlawful-use-of-weapons count and remand the case with
directions.
6. Domestic
relations/Attorneys Fees: Affirmed: The General Assembly clearly
intended section 508(a) of the Dissolution Act to apply to spouses and
not intervenors; therefore, attorneys fees can not be awarded to
intervenors absent abuse of process or under Rule 137. Pope, J.
No. 4-09-0306 In
re:
the
Marriage
of
Pal
v.
Gudgel Filed 1-27-10
(LJD)
In March 2009, the trial court issued its judgment for dissolution of
marriage, incorporating its denial of intervenor Michael Gudgel's
request for attorney fees and costs. Gudgel appeals, arguing the court
erred in denying his request for attorney fees and costs under section
508 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act
(Dissolution Act) (750 ILCS 5/508 (West 2008)). We affirm.