Title: Clemons v. Mechanical Devices Co.

State: illinois

Issuer: Illinois Supreme Court

Document:

Docket No. 91306-Agenda 37-September 2001.
DENNIS CLEMONS, Appellant, v. MECHANICAL DEVICES 
 								COMPANY, Appellee.
Opinion filed November 21, 2002.
	JUSTICE FREEMAN delivered the opinion of the court:
	This cause was remanded to the circuit court of McLean
County for a new trial. Plaintiff, Dennis Clemons, filed a motion
to amend his complaint against defendant, Mechanical Devices
Company, to add a count alleging retaliatory discharge for
exercising his rights under the Illinois Wage Payment and
Collection Act (Wage Act) (820 ILCS 115/1 et seq. (West 2000)).
The trial court denied the motion and the appellate court affirmed.
No. 4-00-0639 (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule
23).
	We allowed plaintiff's petition for leave to appeal (177 Ill. 2d
R. 315(a)). We now reverse the courts below and remand the cause
to the trial court with directions to grant plaintiff's motion to
amend.

BACKGROUND
	We previously recited the underlying facts of this case in
Clemons v. Mechanical Devices Co., 184 Ill. 2d 328 (1998)
(Clemons I). Accordingly, we will describe only those facts
pertinent to this appeal.
	Plaintiff brought a retaliatory discharge action against
defendant, alleging that defendant wrongfully discharged him in
retaliation for filing a workers' compensation claim. The action
proceeded to a jury trial, where plaintiff presented evidence that
defendant's method of paying him violated the Wage Act (820
ILCS 115/1 et seq. (West 2000)). Plaintiff's counsel, during his
examination of Linda Fillingham, defendant's vice-president and
general manager, directed her, over defendant's objection, to read
portions of the Wage Act. Plaintiff's counsel questioned her about
the legality of defendant's method of payment in light of the Act.
	At the close of evidence, the trial court allowed plaintiff to
amend his complaint by adding a paragraph which alleged that
defendant wrongfully discharged plaintiff "in retaliation of
Plaintiff's exercise of his statutory rights." In granting plaintiff
leave to amend the complaint, the trial court specifically noted that
"the statutory rights referred to are in fact the workmen's
comp[ensation] statutory rights." In his amended complaint,
plaintiff did not allege a claim based on a violation of the Wage
Act, nor did he allege that defendant discharged him in retaliation
for pursuing rights afforded him under the Wage Act.
	During closing argument, plaintiff's attorney stated:
		"If Mechanical Devices starts discharging their at-will
employees because of the color of their skin, they are
liable. If they start discharging employees for their gender,
they are liable. If they start discharging their employees in
violation of Illinois statute, they are liable. It is as simple
as that. Read the statute."
Plaintiff's attorney did not identify the "statute" to which he
referred. Also, the trial court instructed the jury regarding the
Wage Act.
	The jury found for plaintiff and awarded him damages. The
trial court entered judgment on the verdict.
	The appellate court reversed the judgment and remanded for
a new trial. The appellate court concluded that the Wage Act was
irrelevant to the issues in this case, and that the trial court erred by
allowing testimony regarding that statute. Clemons v. Mechanical
Devices Co., 292 Ill. App. 3d 242, 247-51 (1997). The appellate
court further concluded that the admission of the testimony
regarding the Wage Act, with corresponding jury instruction and
argument, prejudiced defendant so as to deprive defendant of a fair
trial. Clemons I, 292 Ill. App. 3d at 252-53.
	In the course of its opinion, the appellate court observed that
"the only allegation of retaliatory discharge properly before the
jury involved [plaintiff's] filing a workers' compensation claim.
*** Accordingly, [plaintiff] did not have to show that [defendant]
had violated the Wage Act in order to prove a retaliatory discharge
for filing a workers' compensation claim." (Emphasis in original.)
Clemons I, 292 Ill. App. 3d at 248.
	This court affirmed the judgment of the appellate court.
Clemons I, 184 Ill. 2d 328 (1998). This court likewise held that the
presentation of evidence regarding defendant's alleged violation
of the Wage Act, with corresponding jury instructions and
argument, constituted prejudicial error. Clemons I, 184 Ill. 2d  at
338.
	In the course of its opinion, this court observed that "evidence
of the alleged violation of the Wage Act was not relevant to
plaintiff's cause of action, which was based on an entirely
different theory-that plaintiff was discharged in retaliation for
filing a workers' compensation claim." Clemons I, 184 Ill. 2d  at
337. The opinion observed that "plaintiff could not attempt to put
forth what was in essence a new and separate cause of action ***."
Clemons I, 184 Ill. 2d  at 337-38.
	On remand, plaintiff filed a motion to amend his complaint to
add a second count, which alleges retaliatory discharge for
exercising his rights under the Wage Act. The trial court denied
plaintiff's motion to amend. The court found that section 2-616(a)
of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2-616(a) (West
2000)) governed the amendment of plaintiff's complaint. The
court found that: the motion to amend was not timely; plaintiff had
prior opportunities to amend; and defendant would sustain
substantial prejudice by allowing the amendment. See Lee v.
Chicago Transit Authority, 152 Ill. 2d 432, 467-68 (1992); Loyola
Academy v. S&S Roof Maintenance, Inc., 146 Ill. 2d 263, 273
(1992). Further, the court found that its order involved "a question
of law as to which there is substantial ground for difference of
opinion and that an immediate appeal from the order may
materially advance the ultimate termination of the litigation." See
155 Ill. 2d R. 308(a). The trial court also expressly found that there
was no just reason for delaying enforcement or appeal of its order.
See 155 Ill. 2d R. 304(a).
	The appellate court affirmed, with one justice dissenting. No.
4-00-0639 (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23).
The dissent observed that in Clemons I, this court criticized the
trial court's admission of evidence relating to the violation of the
Wage Act because plaintiff had not alleged a violation thereof.
The dissent also concluded that plaintiff's amendment was timely,
and that defendant cannot be surprised by the evidence that was
presented at the previous trial. No. 4-00-0639, slip op. at 10
(Cook, J., dissenting) (unpublished order under Supreme Court
Rule 23). Plaintiff appeals to this court. 177 Ill. 2d R. 315.


ANALYSIS
I. Jurisdiction
	Although neither the parties nor the appellate court has raised
the issue of jurisdiction in this case, the dissent has. We have an
independent duty to ensure that appellate jurisdiction is proper.
Unless specifically authorized by the rules of this court, the
appellate court has no jurisdiction to review judgments, orders, or
decrees that are not final. Where the appellate court has considered
the merits of a case when it had no jurisdiction to do so, we must
vacate that court's judgment and dismiss the appeal. Department
of Central Management Services v. American Federation of State,
County & Municipal Employees, 182 Ill. 2d 234, 238 (1998).
	The appellate court had jurisdiction to consider the merits of
this case pursuant to Rule 304(a). Plaintiff moved to amend his
complaint to add a second count, which alleges retaliatory
discharge for exercising his rights under the Wage Act. Thus, the
trial court's order denying plaintiff's motion effectively terminated
one, but fewer than all, of the claims at issue in the case, as is
required under the rule. Further, the trial court expressly included
in the order the requisite finding of Rule 304(a).
	The dissent concludes that the appellate court lacked
jurisdiction in this case. According to the dissent, the order was
not final because it did not absolutely and finally fix the rights of
the parties with respect to plaintiff's motion to amend. Noting that
the trial court did not deny plaintiff's motion "with prejudice," the
dissent reasons that the trial court can reconsider its denial of the
motion at any time prior to final judgment. More basically, the
dissent reasons that an order relating to a claim that has not been
filed cannot constitute a final judgment as to that claim. Slip op.
at 11-12 (Thomas, J., dissenting, joined by Fitzgerald and Garman,
JJ.).
	The dissent focuses on the form of the order and speculates as
to what the trial court might do in the future, rather than focusing
on the actions the trial court actually took. "The definition of a
final order has been discussed by this court many times in all its
phases ***." Mills v. Ehler, 407 Ill. 602, 609 (1950). It is quite
settled that in determining whether an order is final, one should
look to its substance and effect rather than to its form. In re J.N.,
91 Ill. 2d 122, 128 (1982); Altschuler v. Altschuler, 399 Ill. 559,
570 (1948). The question of finality must be considered with
reference to the particular facts and circumstances of each case.
Mills, 407 Ill.  at 609; Roddy v. Armitage-Hamlin Corp., 401 Ill. 605, 610 (1948).
	In this case, it is clear that the order denying plaintiff's motion
to amend was substantively and effectively "final." Although the
trial court did not deny plaintiff's motion "with prejudice," the
court expressly found, under section 2-616(a) of the Code of Civil
Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2-616(a) (West 2000)), that defendant
would be prejudiced if plaintiff's complaint were amended.
Further, the trial court's attempt at Rule 308 certification, in
addition to adding the Rule 304(a) finding, strongly supports the
conclusion that the trial court was firm in its conviction about the
denial of plaintiff's motion to amend and wanted the case to
proceed to a court of review for a final determination on this
matter before the start of trial.
	This case is distinguishable from a case such as Peter G.
Georges, Inc. v. Feldon Building Corp., 61 Ill. App. 3d 631
(1978), where: (1) the trial court's denial of the motion to amend
made it clear that reconsideration was a possibility, and (2) the
trial court refused the appellant's request to add Rule 304(a)
language. Georges, 61 Ill. App. 3d at 634-35. The order in this
case is appealable under Rule 304(a).

II. Standard of Review
	The parties disagree as to the standard of review. Plaintiff
contends that our review of the trial court's order should be de
novo because that order centers on an issue of law. Defendant
contends that our review should be deferential because it was
within the discretion of the trial court to enter such an order. The
appellate court employed a deferential standard of review.
	A trial court has discretion in deciding a motion to amend
pleadings, and a reviewing court will not reverse the trial court's
decision absent abuse of that discretion. Lee, 152 Ill. 2d  at 467;
Loyola Academy, 146 Ill. 2d  at 273-74. However, a trial court must
exercise its discretion within the bounds of the law. Loyola
Academy, 146 Ill. 2d  at 274; People v. Williams, 188 Ill. 2d 365,
369 (1999). After a remand, the trial court is required to exercise
its discretion within the bounds of the remand. Whether it has
done so is a question of law. See Ptaszek v. Konczal, 10 Ill. 2d 326
(1957); compare 2 Nichols Illinois Civil Practice §33:1 et seq.
(rev. 2002) ("Amendments and Supplemental Pleadings") with 6
Nichols Illinois Civil Practice §121.01 et seq. (rev. 1998)
("Procedure After Remand"). A reviewing court determines a legal
question independently of the trial court's judgment. Williams, 188 Ill. 2d  at 369; In re Lawrence M., 172 Ill. 2d 523, 526 (1996).
	So there are two different standards of review applicable to
what are essentially two distinct issues in this case. The first issue
is whether our mandate required the trial court to allow the
amendment. This question of law we address de novo. If this
question of law is answered in the negative, i.e., the trial court had
discretion to allow or deny amendment, the question becomes
whether the trial court erred in denying amendment, a decision
which we review only for abuse of discretion.

III. The Merits
	In reversing the trial court in Clemons I, the appellate court
concluded: "For the reasons stated, we reverse and remand for a
new trial consistent with the views expressed herein." (Emphases
added.) Clemons I, 292 Ill. App. 3d at 254. In affirming the
appellate court, this court concluded its opinion by stating: "For
the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the appellate court, which
reversed the judgment of the circuit court of McLean County, is
affirmed." (Emphasis added.) Clemons I, 184 Ill. 2d  at 339. This
court incorporated its opinion in Clemons I in the mandate to the
appellate court. The appellate court subsequently issued its
mandate, which directed as follows: "It is the decision of this court
that the order on appeal from the [trial] court be REVERSED and
the cause be REMANDED to the [trial court], for such other
proceedings as required by the opinion of this court, a copy of
which is attached hereto." (Emphasis added.)
	The controlling principles are quite established. After a
judgment is reversed and the cause is remanded, the trial court can
hold only such further proceedings as conform to the judgment of
the appellate tribunal. Nye v. Nye, 411 Ill. 408, 413 (1952);
Roggenbuck v. Breuhaus, 330 Ill. 294, 297 (1928); see Jones v.
Board of Fire & Police Commissioners, 204 Ill. App. 3d 1004,
1010 (1990); Zokoych v. Spalding, 84 Ill. App. 3d 661, 666
(1980).
	Before this court, defendant acknowledges this principle.
However, defendant observes that neither this court nor the
appellate court specifically directed the trial court to allow plaintiff
to amend the complaint. At oral argument, defendant contended
that "the opinion was silent as to the pleadings." Defendant argues
that, due to the "general remand" of this court and of the appellate
court in Clemons I, the trial court retained the discretion to allow
or deny plaintiff leave to amend the complaint.
	As the dissent notes, the reviewing courts in Clemons I did
not explicitly demand that the trial court allow plaintiff to amend
the complaint. Slip op. at 13 (Thomas, J., dissenting, joined by
Fitzgerald and Garman, JJ.). However, it is not required that a
reviewing court state specific directions in an order reversing a
judgment and remanding a cause. In such a case, it is then the duty
of the court to which the cause is remanded to examine the
reviewing court's opinion and to proceed in conformity with the
views expressed in it. Nye, 411 Ill. at 413-14; Roggenbuck, 330 Ill. 
at 298; see Pinelli v. Alpine Development Corp., 70 Ill. App. 3d
980, 1007 (1979). "[T]hen, of course, the content of the opinion is
significant." PSL Realty Co. v. Granite Investment Co., 86 Ill. 2d 291, 308 (1981).
	In this regard, the trial court will in some cases be required to
allow the amendment of pleadings even when the reviewing court
has not explicitly so ordered:
		"When a judgment is reversed and the cause remanded
with directions to proceed in conformity to the opinion
then filed, and it appears from the opinion that the
grounds of reversal are of a character to be obviated by
subsequent amendment of the pleadings or the
introduction of additional evidence, it is the duty of the
trial court to permit the cause to be re-docketed and then
to permit amendments to be made and evidence to be
introduced on the hearing just as if the cause was then
being heard for the first time." (Emphasis added.)
Roggenbuck, 330 Ill.  at 298.
See also Kinney v. Lindgren, 373 Ill. 415, 420 (1940).
	Roggenbuck "contains a thorough and still valid discussion of
proceedings that may take place after remand." J. Eaton, W.
Quinlan & R. Stern, Filing of Mandate in Circuit Court &
Proceedings thereafter in Illinois State Court (Ill. Supreme Court
Rule 369) in Illinois Civil Appellate Practice: State & Federal
§27-9 (Ill. Inst. for Cont. Legal Educ. 1997); see 6 Nichols Illinois
Civil Practice §121.25, at 204 (rev. 1998). The dissent overlooks
this well-settled principle.
	Before this court, defendant correctly contends that the
grounds for reversal in Clemons I were the incorrect admission of
evidence and corresponding jury instruction regarding the Wage
Act. However, the admission of evidence regarding the Wage Act,
with corresponding jury instruction and argument, only constituted
prejudicial error because plaintiff did not allege a violation of the
Wage Act. See Clemons I, 184 Ill. 2d  at 335; Clemons I, 292 Ill.
App. 3d at 247-48. Had plaintiff alleged a Wage Act violation, the
admission of evidence regarding the Wage Act, with
corresponding jury instruction and argument, would not have been
erroneous. Thus, these "grounds of reversal are of a character to be
obviated by subsequent amendment of the pleadings."
Roggenbuck, 330 Ill.  at 298. Accordingly, it was the duty of the
trial court to allow plaintiff to amend his complaint to add a count
under the Wage Act. See Kinney, 373 Ill.  at 420; Roggenbuck, 330 Ill.  at 298. Of course, outside of the issues addressed by the
reviewing courts in Clemons I, the trial court retains the discretion
to allow or deny further subsequent amendments to the pleadings.
See Kinney, 373 Ill.  at 420; 735 ILCS 5/2-616(a) (West 2000).
	We note defendant's warning that a party opposing a pleading
amendment following a remand from a reviewing court would
never be able to prevail. According to defendant, such a pleading
amendment would lead to unfair results, such as a defendant's
open-ended exposure to liability.
	However, plaintiff counters, and we agree, that section
2-616(b) of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2-616(b)
(West 2000)) protects a defendant under these circumstances.
Pursuant to section 2-616(b), a new cause of action alleged in an
amended complaint, filed after the applicable limitations period
has expired, will relate back to the filing of the original complaint
only if: (1) the original pleading was timely filed; and (2) the
original and amended pleadings indicate that the cause of action
asserted in the amended pleading grew out of the same transaction
or occurrence set up in the original pleading. 735 ILCS 5/2-616(b)
(West 2000)); see Bryson v. News America Publications, Inc., 174 Ill. 2d 77, 106-09 (1996).
	Because the trial court's order did not conform to the mandate
on remand, it is reversed.
	We lastly note that our result in this appeal would be the same
even if we viewed the case through the discretionary standard
embodied in section 2-616(a) of the Code of Civil Procedure (735
ILCS 5/2-616(a) (West 2000)). Generally the decision whether to
grant leave to amend a pleading rests within the sound discretion
of the trial court. Absent abuse of that discretion, its decision will
not be disturbed on review. The factors to be considered in
determining whether or not to permit an amendment to the
pleadings are whether: (1) the proposed amendment would cure a
defect in the pleadings; (2) the proposed amendment would
prejudice or surprise other parties; (3) the proposed amendment is
timely; and (4) there were previous opportunities to amend the
pleading. Lee, 152 Ill. 2d at 467-68; Loyola Academy, 146 Ill. 2d 
at 273-74.
	We agree with the appellate court that the first factor is not
relevant to our analysis. Plaintiff did not move to amend his
complaint to cure a defective pleading. However, we disagree with
the appellate court as to the remaining three factors.
	We do not find any prejudice or surprise. At the first trial,
defendant proffered a reason for its discharge of plaintiff-namely,
that plaintiff demanded his paycheck by a certain date. Thus,
defendant was not taken by surprise by the facts that formed the
basis of plaintiff's new claim. There can be no serious claim of
prejudice when the only surprise is that defendant did not realize
the legal significance of the facts it was asserting as its defense.
	The remaining factors are timeliness of the proposed
amendment and whether there were previous opportunities to
amend the pleading. Initially, we note that this was only plaintiff's
second request to amend his original complaint. More
fundamentally, however, this cause was on remand from the
reviewing courts in Clemons I. The appellate court concluded that
"when a trial court is faced with a plaintiff's motion to amend his
complaint upon remand, the court may appropriately consider
proceedings that took place prior to remand." However, the
controlling principle is settled:
		" 'When a decree is reversed and the cause is remanded
without specific directions, the judgment of the court
below is entirely abrogated, and the cause stands there as
if no trial had occurred. *** [The trial court] may permit
amendments to the pleadings or the introduction of further
evidence, so long as such steps are not inconsistent with
the principles announced by the court of review ***.' "
Crane Paper Stock Co. v. Chicago & Northwestern Ry.
Co., 63 Ill. 2d 61, 68-69 (1976), quoting Kinney, 373 Ill. 
at 420.
Plaintiff should not be denied the opportunity to amend his
complaint because the invalidity of his case-based on his failure
to plead a violation of the Wage Act-was determined first in the
reviewing courts rather than at the trial level. See City of Aurora
v. Young Men's Christian Ass'n, 9 Ill. 2d 286, 295 (1956); In re
Estate of Pirie, 141 Ill. App. 3d 750, 771 (1986).
	In addition to the above factors, we note that the proposed
amendment was clearly material to the case. See Loyola Academy,
146 Ill. 2d  at 276. Consideration of these factors shows that the
trial court clearly abused its discretion when it denied plaintiff's
motion to amend his complaint.

CONCLUSION
	For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the appellate court
and the order of the circuit court of McLean County are reversed,
and the cause remanded to the trial court with directions to allow
plaintiff to amend his complaint.
Appellate court reversed;
circuit court reversed;
cause remanded.
	Unlike the majority, I do not believe that the order appealed
from in this case is final and appealable. See slip op. at 4. I
therefore respectfully dissent.
	The law is well established that, unless specifically authorized
by the rules of this court, the appellate court has no jurisdiction to
review judgments, orders, or decrees that are not final. Department
of Central Management, 182 Ill. 2d  at 238. An order or judgment
is final if, on the issues presented in the pleadings, it "ascertains
and fixes absolutely and finally the rights of the parties."
Department of Central Management, 182 Ill. 2d  at 238. Where the
appellate court considers the merits of a nonfinal order over which
it lacked jurisdiction, we must vacate that court's judgment and
dismiss the appeal. Department of Central Management, 182 Ill. 2d  at 238.
	The order appealed from in this case is neither final nor
appealable. Again, that order simply denies Clemons' motion to
amend his complaint to include an additional count of retaliatory
discharge under the Wage Act. Clearly, that order did not
terminate the litigation between the parties, as that litigation
remains pending in the trial court. Moreover, that order neither
ascertains nor fixes absolutely and finally the rights of the parties
with respect to Clemons' request for leave to amend. Indeed,
Clemons' motion was denied without prejudice, and section 2-616
specifically provides that, on just and reasonable terms, an
amendment "adding new causes of action" may be allowed "at
anytime before final judgment" (735 ILCS 5/2-616(a) (West
2000)). Thus, Clemons may renew his motion-and the trial court
may reconsider its ruling-anytime before final judgment. Of
course, whether Clemons in fact renews his motion or the trial
court in fact reconsiders its ruling is irrelevant to a determination
of finality; the mere fact that both options are available renders
the order denying Clemons' motion for leave to amend nonfinal.
	The trial court's inclusion of a Rule 304(a) finding in no way
alters this result. Rule 304(a) provides:
			"If multiple parties or multiple claims for relief are
involved in an action, an appeal may be taken from a final
judgment as to one or more but fewer than all of the
parties or claims only if the trial court has made an
express written finding that there is no just reason for
delaying either enforcement or appeal or both." (Emphasis
added.) 155 Ill. 2d R. 304(a).
Thus, by its own terms, Rule 304(a) applies only to final
judgments. As demonstrated above, however, the trial court's
order denying Clemons' motion for leave to amend is not final.
Rule 304(a) therefore has no application in this case, and the trial
court's Rule 304(a) finding "was to no purpose and did not render
[that order] appealable." See Kellerman v. Crowe, 119 Ill. 2d 111,
115 (1987). More importantly, the trial court's order is not subject
to a Rule 304(a) finding because it does not relate to a claim for
relief involved in Clemons' action. Clemons was denied leave to
file his Wage Act claim. How can an order relating to a claim that
has never been filed constitute a final judgment as to that claim?
Quite clearly, it cannot.(1)
	Moreover, although the trial court's order denying Clemons'
motion for leave to amend invokes Supreme Court Rule 308 (155
Ill. 2d R. 308(a)), we know both that Clemons did not pursue this
appeal under that rule and that the appellate court did not hear this
appeal under that rule. Rule 308 provides:
			"When the trial court, in making an interlocutory order
not otherwise appealable, finds that the order involves a
question of law as to which there is substantial ground for
difference of opinion and that an immediate appeal from
the order may materially advance the ultimate termination
of the litigation, the court shall so state in writing,
identifying the question of law involved. ***
			*** The appeal will be sought by filing an application
for leave to appeal *** within 14 days after the entry of
the order in the trial court or the making of the prescribed
statement by the trial court, whichever is later." 155 Ill. 2d
Rs. 308(a), (b).
Here, Clemons did not file "an application for leave to appeal ***
within 14 days after the entry of the order in the trial court."
Rather, he filed a notice of appeal 27 days after the entry of that
order. This alone precludes a finding of appellate jurisdiction
under Rule 308. See Archer Daniels Midland Co. v. Barth, 103 Ill. 2d 536, 539 (1984) (the timely filing of a notice of appeal is
jurisdictional). However, even if Clemons had filed a timely
application under Rule 308(a), the appellate court still would have
lacked jurisdiction, as the trial court's order failed even to identify
the "question of law" it purported to certify. 155 Ill. 2d R. 308(a).
	Finally, I wish to note that this is not a case of the trial court
misconstruing our mandate, a circumstance that conceivably could
justify the exercise of this court's supervisory authority
irrespective of the jurisdictional defect. Nowhere in Clemons I did
this court order or even suggest that Clemons be allowed to amend
his complaint to add an additional count under the Wage Act.
Rather, after noting that Clemons specifically disavowed any
intention of pursuing a remedy under the Wage Act (Clemons I,
184 Ill. 2d at 335), this court held simply that the trial court erred
in admitting evidence of and instructing the jury on defendant's
alleged violation of the Wage Act and that such error was
prejudicial to defendant (Clemons I, 184 Ill. 2d at 338). In reaching
this result, the court noted that:
		"The burden remains on the plaintiff to establish the
elements of his cause of action, which here involved the
discrete claim that the defendant wrongfully discharged
plaintiff in retaliation for seeking recovery under the
Workers' Compensation Act. *** Other remedies may
exist for the other violation, but the burden still rests on
plaintiff to prove the elements of the action he has
pleaded. (Emphases added.) Clemons I, 184 Ill. 2d  at 336-37.
Nothing in this language, or for that matter in all of Clemons I,
could possibly be construed as a mandate to the trial court to allow
Clemons' proffered amendment. Consequently, the propriety of
the trial court's interlocutory order denying Clemons' motion for
leave to amend must be reviewed as all such orders are
reviewed-at the conclusion of the litigation and only for a
manifest abuse of discretion. See Loyola Academy v. S&S Roof
Maintenance, Inc. 146 Ill. 2d 263, 273-74 (1992).
	In sum, the appellate court in this case considered the merits
of a nonfinal order over which it lacked jurisdiction. I therefore
would vacate that court's judgment and dismiss this appeal.

	JUSTICES FITZGERALD and GARMAN join in this dissent.
	 
	 
1.      1Of course, this is not to say that the order denying Clemons' motion
for leave to amend is not appealable. On the contrary, like any other
nonfinal interlocutory order, it is appealable at the termination of the
litigation in the trial court. See People ex rel. Scott v. Silverstein, 87 Ill. 2d 167, 171 (1981) (interlocutory orders in a pending case are not
directly appealable but instead are reviewable on appeal from the final
order).