In re MARRIAGE OF 

THERESA O’HARE, 

Petitioner-Appellee, 

and 

RONALD G. STRADT, 

Respondent-Appellant. 

2017 IL App (4th) 170091 

NO. 4-17-0091 

IN THE APPELLATE COURT 

OF ILLINOIS 

FOURTH DISTRICT 

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FILED
 May 9, 2017
 

Carla Bender
 

4th District Appellate
 

Court, IL
 

Appeal from
 

Circuit Court of
 

Sangamon County
 

No. 09D386 

Honorable
 

Jennifer M. Ascher,
 

Judge Presiding.
 

JUSTICE STEIGMANN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion. 

Justices Holder White and Appleton concurred in the judgment and opinion. 

OPINION 

¶ 1 In March 2010, the trial court dissolved the marriage of petitioner, Theresa 

O’Hare, and respondent, Ronald G. Stradt. In its dissolution order, the court granted Stradt 

parenting time with the parties’ minor child (born August 31, 2006) on every other Tuesday 

evening and every other Wednesday evening through Friday morning. 

¶ 2 In August 2016, Stradt filed a motion to modify parenting time, seeking to forego 

parenting time on Tuesdays in exchange for parenting time on every Wednesday and Thursday, 

which represented a 6% increase in his parenting time. In response, O’Hare filed a motion to 

dismiss pursuant to section 2-615 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Civil Code) (735 ILCS 5/2­

615 (West 2014)). Following a September 2016 hearing, the trial court granted O’Hare’s motion 
and dismissed Stradt’s motion to modify parenting time. Specifically, the court found that 

Stradt’s request was not a “minor modification” as contemplated by section 610.5(e)(2) of the 

Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (Dissolution Act) (750 ILCS 5/610.5(e)(2) 

(West Supp. 2015)), which the legislature had recently modified. 

¶ 3 Stradt appeals, arguing that the trial court erred by granting O’Hare’s motion to 

dismiss. Specifically, Stradt contends that the court (1) failed to “accept as true all well-pleaded 

facts, and all reasonable inferences that may be drawn from those facts,” when considering 

O’Hare’s motion to dismiss, and (2) did not properly apply the rules of statutory construction 

when interpreting what Stradt characterizes as the “ambiguous” term “minor modification.” We 

affirm. 

¶ 4 I. BACKGROUND 

¶ 5 In May 2008, O’Hare and Stradt married, and the parties had a minor child. Their 

marriage was dissolved in March 2010, and pursuant to the dissolution order, Stradt was 

allocated the following parenting time: 

“(1) *** alternat[ing] weekends *** beginning from Friday 

afternoon until Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. *** 

(2) *** [Stradt] shall be entitled to mid-week visitation on the 

Tuesday nights before his weekend visitations from 4:30-5:00 p.m. 

until Wednesday morning *** no later than 9:00 a.m. *** 

(3) during the weeks in which he does not have weekend visitation, 

[Stradt] shall have visitation on Wednesday from 4:30-5:00 p.m. 

until *** no later than 9:00 a.m. on Friday.” 

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Holidays and school breaks were reasonably and equally divided between the parties. The 

arrangement allocated 56% of the parenting time to O’Hare, while Stradt was allocated the 

remaining 44% of the parenting time. 

¶ 6 In December 2015, Stradt filed his first motion to modify parenting 

responsibilities, seeking “sole custody” of the parties’ minor child, subject to O’Hare’s 

reasonable visitation. In January 2016, O’Hare filed a motion to increase Stradt’s child-support 

obligations, citing a substantial increase in his income as the basis for the motion. The trial court 

ordered the parties to mediate these issues and scheduled a March 2016 hearing. The mediation 

was unsuccessful. (O’Hare’s January 2016 filing is not at issue in this appeal.) 

¶ 7 In March and April 2016, the parties filed individual parenting plans. Stradt 

sought, inter alia, sole decision-making responsibilities and parenting time on alternating 

weekends and every Monday and Tuesday evening. O’Hare urged the trial court to find that no 

legal basis was shown for a modification to the original parenting plan and requested that the 

original plan remain in place. O’Hare also filed a motion to dismiss Stradt’s December 2015 

motion to modify parental responsibilities. 

¶ 8 At a May 2016 hearing, the trial court granted Stradt leave to file an amended 

motion to modify parental responsibilities, which Stradt filed immediately thereafter. Stradt’s 

amended motion sought sole decision-making responsibilities and equal parenting time, 

characterizing his request as a “minor modification” pursuant to section 610.5(e)(2) of the 

Dissolution Act. In response, O’Hare filed a motion to dismiss Stradt’s amended motion, arguing 

that (1) the parenting plan had been modified within the preceding two years, and therefore, it 

could not be modified absent a stipulation between the parties; and (2) Stradt’s motion failed to 

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set forth a legal basis for a modification to the parenting plan. O’Hare characterized Stradt’s 

amended motion as follows: 

“[T]he entire Amended Motion to Modify Parental Responsibilities 

does nothing more than confirm previous Orders of this Court that 

[Stradt] continues to argue over minutia to the extent of causing 

disruption in the working relationship of the parties resulting in 

extreme difficulties for [O’Hare] to address and deal with [Stradt] 

on child-related matters.” 

¶ 9 On July 8, 2016, the trial court determined that the parenting plan had not been 

modified within the preceding two years, but it found “merit in [O’Hare’s] contention that many 

of the allegations contained in [Stradt’s] Amended Motion to Modify Parental Responsibilities 

[had] been previously litigated or constitute[d] conduct that [did] not affect either parent’s 

relationship to the minor child.” Following the court’s order, Stradt’s attorney, Adam Giganti, 

sought leave to withdraw, citing “irreconcilable differences *** concerning the representation” 

of Stradt. At a July 18, 2016, hearing, the court granted Giganti’s motion to withdraw, and 

Stradt, a licensed attorney, stated his intention to proceed pro se. The court then granted Stradt 

leave to file an amended motion to modify the parties’ parenting plan. 

¶ 10 At an August 2016 hearing, Stradt made an oral motion to withdraw all previous 

motions to modify the parenting plan, which the trial court granted. At that time, Stradt filed the 

motion to modify parenting time that is the subject of this appeal. Specifically, Stradt sought to 

change his parenting time from every other Tuesday evening and every other Wednesday 

evening through Friday morning to every Wednesday evening through Friday morning. The 

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modification would increase Stradt’s parenting time by 6% and would result in Stradt and 

O’Hare sharing parenting time equally, 50% apiece. 

¶ 11 In September 2016, O’Hare filed a motion to dismiss the motion to modify 

parenting time, alleging that (1) Stradt failed to allege a change of circumstances and (2) the 

modification sought was not a minor modification as contemplated by section 610.5(e)(2) of the 

Dissolution Act. Later that month, the trial court granted O’Hare’s motion to dismiss, finding 

that “an additional overnight every 14 days is not a minor modification as contemplated by 750 

ILCS 5/610.5(e).” 

¶ 12 This appeal followed. 

¶ 13 II. ANALYSIS 

¶ 14 A. Standard of Review 

¶ 15 We review de novo a trial court’s dismissal pursuant to section 2-615 of the Civil 

Code. Blumenthal v. Brewer, 2016 IL 118781, ¶ 19, 69 N.E.3d 834. 

“Such motions challenge the legal sufficiency of a pleading based 

on defects apparent on its face. [Citation.] In ruling on a section 2­

615 motion, a court must accept as true all well-pleaded facts and 

all reasonable inferences that may be drawn from those facts. 

[Citation.] It is well understood that the critical inquiry is whether 

the [factual] allegations of the complaint, when construed in the 

light most favorable to the plaintiff, are sufficient to establish a 

cause of action upon which relief may be granted.” Id. 

Stradt’s argument also requires us to interpret section 610.5(e) of the Dissolution Act, which 

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presents a question of law that we likewise review de novo. In re N.C., 2014 IL 116532, ¶ 50, 12 

N.E.3d 23. 

¶ 16 B. Stradt’s Motion To Modify Parenting Time 

¶ 17 In January 2016, the Illinois General Assembly amended section 610.5 of the 

Dissolution Act to allow modification of parenting time absent a substantial change in 

circumstances in limited situations. See Pub. Act 99-90, § 5-15 (eff. Jan. 1, 2016) (adding 750 

ILCS 5/610.5). The amended section provides, in relevant part: 

“The court may modify a parenting plan or allocation judgment 

without a showing of changed circumstances if (i) the modification 

is in the child’s best interests; and *** 

*** 

[(ii)(2)] the modification constitutes a minor modification 

in the parenting plan or allocation judgment[.]” 750 ILCS 

5/610.5(e) (West Supp. 2015). 

¶ 18 Stradt’s motion alleged, in relevant part, 

“5. That increasing [Stradt’s] parenting time by 6% constitutes 

a minor modification of parenting time in that [Stradt] seeks the 

following change to the parenting times as provided in the 

Judgment for Dissolution: 

From: every other Tuesday and every other 

Wednesday/Thursday 

To: every Wednesday/Thursday. 

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6. That said minor modification is in the minor child’s 

best interest, provides greater stability, and maximizes the child’s 

relationship and access to both parents as intended by 750 ILCS 

602.10(g).” 

¶ 19 1. Presumption Regarding a Section 2-615 Motion To Dismiss 

¶ 20 Stradt contends that the trial court failed to “accept as true all well-pleaded facts, 

and all reasonable inferences that may be drawn from those facts,” when considering O’Hare’s 

motion to dismiss. O’Hare responds that Stradt failed to provide a factual basis for his motion 

and, instead, asserted various conclusions. We agree with O’Hare. 

¶ 21 In his brief, Stradt alleges that the trial court failed to accept as true his allegation 

that “increasing [his] parenting time by 6% constituted a minor modification of parenting time.” 

However, this allegation is a legal conclusion—not a fact. The court was not required to accept 

this allegation as true and was at perfect liberty to disregard Stradt’s interpretation of the statute. 

¶ 22 Stradt also alleges that the trial court failed to accept as true “reasonable 

inferences,” such as “said minor modification is in the minor child’s best interest, provides 

greater stability, and maximizes the child’s relationship and access to both parents.” The 

determination that the modification was in the child’s best interest is, again, a legal conclusion 

that the court was free to accept or reject. The allegations that the proposed modification would 

provide greater stability and maximize the child’s relationship and access to both parents are 

factual conclusions that are unsupported by specific factual allegations and are, again, 

conclusions the court was free to accept or reject. See Patrick Engineering, Inc. v. City of 

Naperville, 2012 IL 113148, ¶ 31, 976 N.E.2d 318 (courts are not required to accept as true 

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conclusory factual allegations unsupported by specific facts). 

¶ 23 Simply put, Stradt failed to allege any specific facts supporting his motion, but, 

instead, alleged various conclusory statements that the trial court was free to accept or reject. We 

conclude that the trial court did not err by declining to accept as true the conclusory allegations 

set forth in Stradt’s motion. 

¶ 24 2. Interpretation of Section 610.5(e) of the Dissolution Act 

¶ 25 Stradt contends that the trial court did not properly apply the rules of statutory 

construction when interpreting what Stradt characterizes as the “ambiguous” term “minor 

modification.” We disagree. 

¶ 26 As previously stated, section 610.5(e) of the Dissolution Act states that a trial 

court may modify parenting time in cases where (1) the modification is in the best interests of the 

child and (2) the modification is minor. 750 ILCS 5/610.5(e) (West Supp. 2015). “The 

fundamental goal of statutory construction is to ascertain and give effect to the legislature’s 

intent, best indicated by giving the statutory language its plain and ordinary meaning.” N.C., 

2014 IL 116532, ¶ 50, 12 N.E.3d 23. We “enforce clear and unambiguous statutory language as 

it is written, and we will not read into it exceptions, conditions, or limitations not expressed by 

the legislature.” Id. 

¶ 27 Stradt’s argument rests on his assertion that the term “ ‘minor modification’ is a 

term susceptible to differing subjective interpretations.” We disagree. Without having to resort to 

any authorities beyond the plain language of the statute, it is commonly known that the term 

minor is synonymous with “small” or “inconsequential.” Stradt’s request would change the 

parenting plan from one parent serving as the primary custodial parent to both parents having 

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equal parenting time. We decline to interpret such a change as constituting a minor modification 

within the meaning of section 610.5(e) of the Dissolution Act. 

¶ 28 This interpretation is consistent with the language of the statute in its entirety, 

which, though amended to ease the ability to modify parenting plans in certain situations, 

maintains a policy favoring the finality of the order outlining the parenting plan. Excepting 

section 610.5(e), a party seeking a modification must still show a substantial change in 

circumstances to request a modification pursuant to section 610.5(c) of the Dissolution Act (750 

ILCS 5/610.5(c) (West Supp. 2015)). This provision evinces a desire to maintain continuity in 

parenting plans, which is a policy this court has long favored. See In re Marriage of Wycoff, 266 

Ill. App. 3d 408, 409-10, 639 N.E.2d 897, 900 (1994). 

¶ 29 Stradt cites section 102 of the Dissolution Act (750 ILCS 5/102 (West Supp. 

2015)), which sets forth the purposes of the Dissolution Act and states the statutory language 

should be liberally construed to effectuate the stated purposes. Such purposes include promoting 

children’s rights to “strong and healthy relationship[s] with parents” and to “secure the 

maximum involvement and cooperation of parents” (750 ILCS 5/102(7)(A), (D) (West Supp. 

2015)), which are phrases Stradt used in his motion. Stradt argues that his proposed 

modifications effectuate these purposes. However, this argument is misguided. The fact that a 

proposed modification might effectuate a statutory purpose does not automatically mean that the 

proposed modification is minor within the meaning of section 610.5(e). 

¶ 30 In sum, we conclude that (1) the plain language of the statute supports the trial 

court’s interpretation of the term “minor modification,” and (2) the court did not fail to adhere to 

the rules of statutory construction. We commend the trial court for its thoughtful, patient 

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resolution of the arguments raised by Stradt and for the concise reasoning outlined in its written 

order. 

¶ 31 III. CONCLUSION 

¶ 32 For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court’s judgment. 

¶ 33 Affirmed. 

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