Opinion ID: 2239100
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: brockman's motion to amend

Text: The trial court set April 15, 1987, as the deadline for amending the pleadings to include new parties and new legal theories. On July 15, 1987, a full three months after the deadline, Brockman moved to amend his complaint. The motion was denied. The appellate court found that Brockman's attempt to amend his complaint was untimely and held, therefore, that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying his motion to amend. Generally, a defendant may be allowed to amend his pleadings to introduce any party or to add new causes of action at any time prior to entry of a final judgment. (Ill.Rev. Stat.1987, ch. 110, par. 2-616(a).) Whether to permit an amendment is left to the broad discretion of the trial court. ( Saldana v. Wirtz Cartage Co. (1978), 74 Ill.2d 379, 390, 24 Ill.Dec. 523, 385 N.E.2d 664.) However, judicial discretion must be exercised within the bounds of the law ( People ex rel. Chesapeake & Ohio Ry. Co. v. Donovan (1964), 30 Ill.2d 178, 180, 195 N.E.2d 634), and any question regarding the proper exercise thereof is always subject to our review ( Whitney v. Madden (1948), 400 Ill. 185, 190, 79 N.E.2d 593). Further, where the exercise of discretion has been frustrated by the application of an erroneous rule of law, review is required to permit the exercise in a manner `consistent with the law.' See Donovan, 30 Ill.2d at 181, 195 N.E.2d 634, quoting People ex rel. Barnes v. Chytraus (1907), 228 Ill. 194, 200, 81 N.E. 844. Here, the record reveals that while the trial judge set a deadline for the filing of new legal theories and parties, and while Brockman did not attempt to amend his pleadings until a time well beyond that deadline, that was not the express basis of the court's denial. Rather, the basis for the trial court's denial was that this [was] not a proper subject matter for [t]hird[p]arty actions. We find that the trial court was laboring under a misapprehension of the law. Whether a third-party action is cognizable in this instance presents a question of law of first impression in Illinois. For reasons stated more fully in this opinion, we hold, contrary to the trial court, that third-party action is permissible in this case. Our holding today effectively defeats the court's attempt to properly exercise its discretion in ruling on Brockman's motion to amend. Thus, it is necessary that the trial court, on remand, reconsider the motion and, consistent with the applicable law, properly exercise its discretion in ruling.