Generally, in civil cases when a judgment has been voluntarily paid or its benefits accepted, appeal is waived. 254 Ill. App. 285 Ill. App. In the instant case, the Kroners claim Mirar accepted their payment of the judgment and, therefore, Mirar waived its appeal. However, as evidenced by the circuit court's order directing Mirar to furnish the Kroners a release and satisfaction of the judgment, the satisfaction was compelled and, therefore, does not deprive Mirar of its right to appeal.
Attorney fees are recoverable when specifically authorized by statute or contract.
Midwest Concrete Products Co. v. 94 Ill. App. 50 Ill. App. Where a law has been amended, the law as it exists at the time of the appeal should be applied unless doing so would interfere with a vested right. However, the primary rule of statutory construction is to give effect to the legislative intent behind it, and in so doing, the language of the statute must be given its plain and ordinary meaning.