Court Opinion

ID: 9731965
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 16:03:10.721104+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:22.220274
License: Public Domain

PRESIDING JUSTICE McCULLOUGH, dissenting: I agree with the majority that the trial court erred in finding plaintiffs good faith and erred in finding plaintiff established possession. With reluctance I dissent and would find the appeal untimely. The trial court on March 13, 2001, issued the four-page memorandum opinion and, as stated by the majority, the opinion stated: “Based on the foregoing recitation, judgment is entered for the Plaintiff and quiet title is granted Joseph S. Dotson in the described property. This Judgment entered at Charleston, Illinois, this 13th day of March, 2001.” The record also shows the motion for sanctions filed March 14, 2001, defendant’s memorandum in opposition to the motion, and plaintiffs response to defendant’s memorandum. On April 19, 2001, the trial court, after hearing, denied the motion showing “By Agreement of Counsel, the [this] docket will stand as dispositive.” The record shows no reference by either party at the April 19 hearing to suggest there was no judgment entered on March 13, 2001. A notice of appeal was filed on March 22, 2001, asking that this court reverse the judgment entered on March 13, 2001. On July 3, 2001, defendants filed a motion for voluntary dismissal, which was granted by the trial court on July 5, 2001. Defendants took no further action until September 5, 2001, when they filed the motion for entry of written judgment. The judgment entered on March 13, 2001, did not violate Supreme Court Rule 272 (137 Ill. 2d R. 272), nor does the local circuit court rule require a different result. As noted above, the notice of appeal recognized that the March 13, 2001, memorandum was a judgment. In addition, the local rule required that the proposed judgment be submitted “within 30 days, unless otherwise directed by the court.” 5th Judicial Cir. Ct. R. XI(A) (eff. November 3, 1997). It is clear from a review of the transcript of the October 11, 2001, hearing, the statements of the trial court, and the actions of the parties that the March 13, 2001, memorandum opinion was a judgment “directed by the court.” The appeal should be dismissed as untimely.