Court Opinion

ID: 9541893
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:29:23.639897+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:05:08.887929
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE POPE, specially concurring: I agree with the majority that summary judgment was precluded in this case because a question of fact existed about the cause of the accident. I write separately to clarify a few matters. First, I disagree with the majority’s characterization of the trial court’s handling of the matter as “inappropriate.” 399 Ill. App. 3d at 251. As the majority points out, the lawyers did not frame the issue concerning the Act in a way that invited the court to rule on the matter. Second, the majority finds evidence of Romann’s statements to Eldridge about falling asleep were “potentially” dispositive. 399 Ill. App. 3d at 251. Apparently, such evidence was “actually” dispositive as to the motion for summary judgment, because we have ruled this evidence created a question of fact which precluded a grant of summary judgment. Third, while defendants seemed quite confident in the trial court the Act would bar admission of Romann’s statement to Eldridge, I would note the Act is a bar to testimony of an adverse party or person directly interested in the action. 735 ILCS 5/8 — 201 (West 2008). Since Eldridge is not an adverse party, nor does he appear to have an interest in the case, his testimony, in my opinion, would not come within the purview of the Act. Since it does not come within the purview of the Act, it appears to be admissible and thus available to create the question of fact we have relied on in reversing the grant of summary judgment.