Opinion ID: 2148885
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Murphy's Standing to Appeal Joint Tenancies

Text: Young and Downing contend that the appellate court erred in severing the Wellman-Young joint tenancies. Each initially argues that Murphy lacked standing to appeal from the denial of his petition to sever the joint tenancies. The doctrine of standing requires that a party, either in an individual or representative capacity, have a real interest in the action brought and in its outcome. The purpose of the doctrine is to ensure that courts are deciding actual, specific controversies and not abstract questions or moot issues. In re Marriage of Rodriguez, 131 Ill.2d 273, 279-80, 137 Ill.Dec. 78, 545 N.E.2d 731 (1989); see 59 Am.Jur.2d Parties §§ 30, 31 (1987). Standing is not simply a procedural technicality (59 Am.Jur.2d Parties § 30, at 416 (1987)), but rather is an aspect or a component of justiciability. In re Estate of Burgeson, 125 Ill.2d 477, 485, 126 Ill.Dec. 954, 532 N.E.2d 825 (1988); Weihl v. Dixon, 56 Ill.App.3d 251, 253, 13 Ill.Dec. 789, 371 N.E.2d 881 (1977). The essence of the inquiry regarding standing is whether the litigant, either in an individual or representative capacity, is entitled to have the court decide the merits of a dispute or a particular issue. Helmig v. John F. Kennedy Community Consolidated School District No. 129, 241 Ill.App.3d 653, 658, 182 Ill.Dec. 728, 610 N.E.2d 152 (1993). This court has repeatedly held that standing requires some injury in fact to a legally recognized interest. Rodriguez, 131 Ill.2d at 280, 137 Ill.Dec. 78, 545 N.E.2d 731 (and cases cited therein). We agree with Young and Downing that Murphy lacked standing to appeal from the denial of his petition to sever the Wellman-Young joint tenancies. We note that our conclusion is based on established guardianship principles, and that Murphy, as a public guardian, has all the powers and duties of any other guardian appointed under the Probate Act of 1975. Burgeson, 125 Ill.2d at 486, 126 Ill.Dec. 954, 532 N.E.2d 825. The occurrence of two events deprived Murphy of standing. First, the trial court restored Wellman to competency and discharged Murphy. Second, Wellman died. 755 ILCS 5/24-12 (West 1992).