Opinion ID: 2032597
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Ambiguity and Direct Action

Text: As noted earlier, Farmers filed a motion to dismiss State Farm's complaint, arguing that the step-down provisions contained in its policies are clear and unambiguous and that the reimbursement sought by State Farm is an impermissible direct action. The trial court denied Farmers' motion to dismiss. On appeal, State Farm moved to strike the ambiguity and direct action issues from Farmers' brief. The appellate court denied State Farm's motion to strike, holding that the ambiguity and direct action issues were properly before that court and it decided these issues. State Farm argues that the trial court's Rule 304(a) (210 Ill.2d R. 304(a)) finding in its order granting State Farm's motion for partial summary judgment was limited to the public policy issue and therefore the appellate court lacked jurisdiction to rule on the ambiguity and direct action issues. Farmers argues that this court should not disregard these issues, which were briefed and argued on summary judgment. It is well established that the jurisdiction of appellate courts is limited to reviewing appeals from final judgments, subject to statutory or supreme court rule exceptions ( In re Marriage of Verdung, 126 Ill.2d 542, 553, 129 Ill.Dec. 53, 535 N.E.2d 818 (1989)), none of which are present in this case. It is also well settled in this state that a trial court's denial of a motion to dismiss is an interlocutory order that is not final and appealable. Chicago Housing Authority v. Abrams, 409 Ill. 226, 229, 99 N.E.2d 129 (1951). Because the appellate court lacked jurisdiction to review the ambiguity and direct action issues, those portions of the appellate court's decision are vacated.