Court Opinion

ID: 3135509
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 17:38:17.508252+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:54:10.960536
License: Public Domain

Docket No. 104000.

                       IN THE
                  SUPREME COURT
                         OF
                THE STATE OF ILLINOIS

MD ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS, INC., Appellee, v. FRED
            ABRAMS et al., Appellants.

                    Opinion filed April 3, 2008.

   JUSTICE GARMAN delivered the judgment of the court, with
opinion.
   Chief Justice Thomas and Justices Fitzgerald, Kilbride, and
Karmeier concurred in the judgment and opinion.
   Justice Freeman dissented, with opinion, joined by Justice Burke.

                             OPINION

    Plaintiff, MD Electrical Contractors, Inc., filed suit against
defendants Fred and Carol Abrams, under a theory of quantum meruit
to recover for services that it rendered as a subcontractor on
defendants’ home improvement project. Defendants moved to dismiss
the case pursuant to section 2–619 of the Code of Civil Procedure
(Code) (735 ILCS 5/2–619(a)(9) (West 2006)), alleging plaintiff’s
failure to comply with the Home Repair and Remodeling Act (Act)
(815 ILCS 513/1 et seq. (West 2006)) barred plaintiff’s recovery. The
circuit court of Du Page County dismissed the case. Plaintiff appealed
and the appellate court reversed and remanded, holding that the Home
Repair and Remodeling Act does not apply to subcontractors. 369 Ill.
App. 3d 309.
    This court allowed defendants’ petition for leave to appeal
pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 315 (210 Ill. 2d R. 315). Defendants
assert on appeal that: (1) the Home Repair and Remodeling Act
applies to subcontractors and plaintiff is, therefore, precluded from
recovery because it did not comply with the terms of the Act; (2)
regardless of the applicability of the Act to subcontractors, plaintiff
is prohibited from recovery under quantum meruit because there was
no direct relationship between plaintiff and defendants. For the
reasons stated below, we affirm the judgment of the appellate court.

                           BACKGROUND
     On November 2, 2005, plaintiff, an Illinois corporation, filed its
first amended complaint, which is the subject of this case. Plaintiff
alleged that from June 6, 2004, through October 1, 2004, it was a
subcontractor that provided labor, electrical equipment, and materials
(which we collectively refer to as “services”) toward the remodeling
of defendants’ residence in Naperville, Illinois. Plaintiff alleges that
it provided services to defendants on a nongratuitous basis;
defendants accepted, received, and enjoyed the benefits of these
services; and these services had a value of $14,984. Plaintiff has not
been compensated for its services. The complaint did not identify a
theory of liability, but merely pled the facts above as well as the fact
that no contract existed between defendants and plaintiff to govern
the method of payment for plaintiff’s services.
     Defendants filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to section 2–619 of
the Code, alleging that the services performed by plaintiff fell within
the Home Repair and Remodeling Act and that the plaintiff had failed
to comply with the Act. Thus, defendants asserted, plaintiff could not
recover because the court could not imply a contract where the Act
would prohibit one. Defendants relied upon the following provisions
of the Home Repair and Remodeling Act: section 5 (policy), section
10 (definitions of “home repair and remodeling” and “person”),
section 15 (requirements of written contracts and the contents
thereof), section 20 (the consumer rights brochure), and section 30
(unlawful acts). 815 ILCS 513/5, 10, 15, 20, 30 (West 2006).

                                  -2-
    Plaintiff countered that the Act does not apply to subcontractors.
The basis for this assertion was the Act’s focus on communications
with the homeowner. Plaintiff asserted that because subcontractors
generally do not have significant interaction with the homeowner, the
Act could not be meant to apply to them. In support of its argument,
plaintiff attached a copy of an affidavit of Michael J. O’Brien, MD
Electrical’s president. The affidavit averred that plaintiff was hired by
and had a contract with Apex Builders, Inc., a general contractor
(Apex is not a party to this litigation), and that prior to commencing
work on June 6, 2004, plaintiff conducted a walk-through of the job
site. During the walk-through, defendants approved the plans,
authorized the work to begin, and requested additional services that
were not part of the original plan.1 Plaintiff performed these services,
and defendants have retained the full benefit of these services without
having paid for them.
    The circuit court, after considering the above arguments and
ascertaining that plaintiff’s theory of liability was quantum meruit,
granted defendants’ motion to dismiss. In the process of dismissing
the complaint, the trial court asked plaintiff: “[Q]uantum meruit is a
contract that’s implied, and how can the court imply a contract when
the law prohibits one?” At plaintiff’s request, the trial court clarified
that its finding was that “to grant the relief that [plaintiff is] saying
would be under quantum meruit would be in derogation of statute and
a clear legislative pronouncement contrary.” The court concluded by
saying that plaintiff could either amend the complaint or the court
could issue a finding under Supreme Court Rule 304 (210 Ill. 2d R.
304) so that plaintiff could take an interlocutory appeal. Plaintiff
requested the Rule 304 finding and appealed.

   1
    Before this court, neither party has claimed that plaintiff was anything
other than a subcontractor. Accordingly, we do not review and make no
determination of the truth or falsity of this statement. It is worth noting that
to the extent that plaintiff has contracted directly with defendants for
services which were not included under the contract between plaintiff and
the general contractor, plaintiff may have ceased to act as a subcontractor.
However, such a determination is a factual question and beyond the scope
of this opinion.

                                      -3-
    Plaintiff presented two issues to the appellate court: first, plaintiff
argued that the Home Repair and Remodeling Act does not apply to
subcontractors; second, even if the Act does apply to subcontractors,
plaintiff was not precluded from recovering in quantum meruit. The
appellate court agreed with plaintiff’s first contention, finding that the
Act does not apply to subcontractors. As such, the court reversed and
remanded the cause without reaching the issue of whether recovery
is available in quantum meruit even if the Act applies. 369 Ill. App.
3d at 317.
    In their petition for leave to appeal to this court, defendants
raised, as the sole issue, the application of the Act to subcontractors.
However, in their brief to this court, defendants raise a second issue,
namely, whether subcontractors are able to recover in quantum meruit
or any direct action outside the Mechanics Lien Act (770 ILCS
60/0.01 et seq. (West 2006)).
    As to the first issue, plaintiff maintains that the language is
ambiguous. In response to the second issue, plaintiff contends that
this question is forfeited because the issue was not raised in the
defendants’ statement of points relied upon in the petition for leave
to appeal, as required by Supreme Court Rule 315 (210 Ill. 2d R.
315).

                              ANALYSIS
                                    I
    This is a case of first impression and requires this court to
examine the meaning of the Home Repair and Remodeling Act with
respect to subcontractors. As this case is one of statutory
interpretation, the standard of review is de novo. Harshman v.
DePhillips, 218 Ill. 2d 482, 490 (2006).
    It should be noted at the outset that the use of general contractors
and subcontractors is a common business practice in the home repair
and remodeling industry. This relationship usually entails a
homeowner contracting with a general contractor to oversee a specific
project, such as an addition to a home. The general contractor acts as
a project manager and may in turn contract with other individuals or
tradesmen to perform certain duties, for instance the plumbing or
masonry. The general contractor, in its managerial capacity, insures

                                   -4-
that each task is performed in the proper manner and order. The
homeowner pays the general based on the terms of their agreement.
The general contractor in turn pays the subcontractors based on the
agreements that they formed. Thus, the hallmark of a subcontractor
is that he works for the general contractor and not for the homeowner
or business owner. This practice alleviates much of the burden on the
homeowner of coordinating a construction project. It ensures that the
homeowner does not have to know enough about construction to
ensure that the plumber roughs in the plumbing before the drywall
contractor hangs the sheet rock that obscures the wall cavity where
the pipes were to be run. It also allows the homeowner to deal with
only one person or company and not to have to contract with or
supervise every aspect of the project. This common understanding of
the general contractor/subcontractor relationship is critical to the
understanding of the Home Repair and Remodeling Act.
     The process of statutory interpretation is firmly established. The
goal is to ascertain and give effect to the intent of the legislature. The
simplest and surest means of effectuating this goal is to read the
statutory language itself and give the words their plain and ordinary
meaning. Illinois Graphics Co. v. Nickum, 159 Ill. 2d 469, 479
(1994). However, it is not sufficient to read a portion of the statute in
isolation. We must, instead, read the statute in its entirety, keeping in
mind the subject it addresses and the legislature’s apparent objective
in enacting it. Gill v. Miller, 94 Ill. 2d 52, 56 (1983). Where the
language of the statute is clear and unambiguous, we must apply it as
written, without resort to other tools of statutory construction.
Raintree Homes, Inc. v. Village of Long Grove, 209 Ill. 2d 248, 255
(2004). Generally, the language of a statute is considered ambiguous
when it is capable of being understood by reasonably well-informed
persons in two or more different senses. In re B.C., 176 Ill. 2d 536,
543 (1997).
     In the present case, we are asked to decide whether and to what
extent the Home Repair and Remodeling Act applies to
subcontractors. We begin with the language of the Act itself. The Act
requires that “a person engaged in the business of home repair or
remodeling shall furnish to the customer for signature a written
contract.” 815 ILCS 513/15 (West 2006). This contract must meet
certain disclosure requirements including cost and business name

                                   -5-
(815 ILCS 513/15 (West 2006)), and the “person” must give the
homeowner notice of any arbitration clauses or jury waivers. 815
ILCS 513/15.1 (West 2006). Further, the Act requires that “any
person engaging in the business of home repair and remodeling shall
provide to its customers a copy of the ‘Home Repair: Know Your
Consumer Rights’ pamphlet prior to the execution of any home repair
and remodeling contract,” the text of this brochure appears in the
statute itself. 815 ILCS 513/20 (West 2006). The Act specifies that it
is “unlawful for any person engaged in the business of home repairs
and remodeling to remodel or make repairs *** before obtaining a
signed contract or work order [for] over $1,000.” 815 ILCS 513/30
(West 2006).
    The next stage of analysis looks to the definitions provided within
the Act. “Person” is defined in section 10 of the Act as “any
individual, partnership, corporation, business, trust, or other legal
entity.” 815 ILCS 513/10 (West 2006). “Home repair and
remodeling” is defined as “the fixing, replacing, altering, converting,
modernizing, improving, or making of an addition to any real
property primarily designed or used as a residence other than
maintenance, service, or repairs under $500. ‘Home repair and
remodeling’ includes *** electrical wiring ***.” 815 ILCS 513/10
(West 2006).
    For the purposes of the case at bar, plaintiff does not dispute that
it was engaged in home repair and remodeling work at defendants’
place of residence. Further, the parties do not dispute that the work
plaintiff performed, had it been done by a general contractor or in
direct relationship to the homeowner, would fall squarely within the
Home Repair and Remodeling Act. Finally, plaintiff does not claim
that it attempted to comply with the Act. Instead, the question is
whether, by nature of plaintiff’s being a subcontractor, the Act applies
in a way that prohibits plaintiff from recovering from the
homeowners because it did not comply with the Act.
    Defendants argue that the Act is unambiguous in its use of the
term “any person,” which, they contend, clearly includes
subcontractors. Plaintiff contends that the Home Repair and
Remodeling Act was designed to regulate the communications
between contractors and the consumer/homeowner. Thus, because
subcontractors typically do not have significant direct

                                  -6-
communications with homeowners, the Home Repair and
Remodeling Act cannot apply to them.
     The text of the Act lends support to plaintiff’s position. Section
5 states that the “General Assembly recognizes that improved
communications and accurate representations between persons
engaged in the business of making home repairs or remodeling and
their consumers will increase consumer confidence, reduce the
likelihood of disputes, and promote fair and honest practices in that
business in this State.” 815 ILCS 513/5 (West 2006).
     The text of the consumer rights brochure that must accompany a
contract also militates against a reading that includes subcontractors.
Under the “contracts” section of the brochure, item 10 states,
“Remember, homeowners should know who provides supplies and
labor for any work performed on your home. Suppliers and
subcontractors have a right to file a lien against your property if the
general contractor fails to pay them. To protect your property, request
lien waivers from the general contractor.” 815 ILCS 513/20 (West
2006). The sections of the Act that precede the consumer rights
brochure prescribe that the “person engaged in the business” must
include in its contract with the homeowner its business name and
address. If the “person” uses a post office box, then that “person”
must give the address of their personal residence as well. 815 ILCS
513/15 (West 2006). It is doubtful that the legislature would include
language in the consumers’ rights brochure that warns homeowners
to “know who provides supplies and labor” if the legislature intended
that everyone, subcontractors included, individually comply with the
Act.
     However, defendants argue that the statute is unambiguous and
applies to plaintiff. They note that plaintiff’s complaint states that it
is an Illinois corporation with its principal place of business in
Illinois. Corporations are specifically listed in the definition of
“person.” 815 ILCS 513/10 (West 2006). Thus, they argue plaintiff
falls within the statute’s meaning of “person.” Likewise, the work
performed by plaintiff clearly falls within the meaning of home repair
or remodeling as provided in the statute. Furthermore, plaintiff
alleges that the value of its services was $14,984, well in excess of
the $1,000 minimum contract required by the Act. The Act makes no
mention of, or distinction between, contractor and subcontractor.

                                  -7-
Instead it repeatedly refers to “any person.” Thus, according to
defendants, the plain language means that plaintiff is a “person
engaged in the business of home repair and remodeling” and is,
therefore, bound to comply with the Act. Thus, defendants argue that
the statute unambiguously applies to all subcontractors, including
plaintiff. Plaintiff argues that the statute is ambiguous and is meant
to exclude subcontractors. We are not persuaded by either approach.
     Instead of adopting either the defendants’ or plaintiff’s argument,
this court recognizes that “[s]tatutes should be read as a whole with
all relevant parts considered.” In re Marriage of Kates, 198 Ill. 2d
156, 163 (2001). When the Home Repair and Remodeling Act is
considered in its entirety, it is clear that the statute unambiguously
applies only to those who directly contract with a homeowner.
     The entire focus of the Act is on regulating the direct contact and
contracting between the “person” and the homeowner or consumer.
Section 5 of the Act sets forth the policy statement of the General
Assembly in enacting the Act. It states in relevant part, “[T]he
business of home repair and remodeling is a matter affecting the
public interest. *** [A]ccurate representations between persons
engaged in the business of making home repairs or remodeling and
their consumers will increase consumer confidence ***.” (Emphases
added.) 815 ILCS 513/5 (West 2006). Subcontractors, by virtue of
their working for a general contractor, do not make “representations”
to a homeowner. Thus, consumer confidence cannot be enhanced
through the regulation of subcontractors as their business practice is
not one that engages the consumer/homeowner.
     The conclusion that the Act applies only to those who contract
directly is further supported by section 15 of the Act. Section 15
specifies the contents of the contract that the “person” is to provide
to the homeowner. Section 15 states, “Prior to initiating home repair
or remodeling work *** a person engaged in the business of home
repair and remodeling shall furnish to the customer for signature a
written contract *** that states the total cost ***.” (Emphases added.)
815 ILCS 513/15 (West 2006). Subcontractors do not directly
contract with a homeowner/customer so this section cannot apply to
them. Further, section 15 says that the contract must contain the “total
cost.” “Total cost” is in reference to the total cost of the project, not
the cost of each individual subpart of the project.

                                  -8-
     In addition, section 15.1 prescribes notice be given to a consumer
if the contract presented requires a consumer to submit all disputes to
arbitration, or waive the right to a jury trial. It states:
              “A person engaged in the business *** that prepares or
         presents a written offer for home repair and remodeling to a
         consumer, shall advise the consumer, before the contract or
         agreement is accepted and executed, of the presence of any
         contractual provision that requires the consumer to: (i) submit
         all contract or agreement disputes to binding arbitration ***
         and (ii) waive his or her right to a trial by jury.” 815 ILCS
         513/15.1(a) (West 2006).
     Further, aside from the point that a subcontractor does not prepare
or present a “written offer for home repair and remodeling to a
consumer,” there is the negotiations clause that appears in subsection
(b). Section 15.1(b) notes that if a consumer rejects either or both of
the above clauses, that this shall be treated as a counter offer. 815
ILCS 513/15.1(b) (West 2006). Clearly, this section applies to those
who contract directly with the homeowner. It cannot be read to
include subcontractors. Subcontractors do not negotiate with a
homeowner, they do not present written contracts to a homeowner,
and they are certainly not in a position to accept counter offers. A
subcontractor’s relationship is with the general contractor. The
subcontractor’s presence or absence on a job site is accordingly based
on the contract and relationship formed with the general contractor
and not with the homeowner.
     Finally, section 20 of the Act also supports the exclusion of
subcontractors from the Act. Section 20 states that a person engaged
in the business must “provide to its customers a copy of the ‘Home
Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights’ pamphlet prior to the
execution of any home repair and remodeling contract.” (Emphasis
added.) 815 ILCS 513/20 (West 2006). The customer of a
subcontractor is the general contractor, not the homeowner. It would
make no sense to provide a “consumer rights” brochure to the general
contractor. The general contractor is not a consumer.
     Defendants maintain that a proper reading of the Act merely
requires a subcontractor to comply with the Act if it wants to preserve
the right of direct action against the homeowner. Preserving a right of
action, however, is not the sole focus of the Act. The Act also

                                  -9-
regulates liability for failure to comply with its terms. The
enforcement provisions use the same “any person” language as the
rest of the Act. Thus, the Act implicates not just civil recovery, but
civil liability as well.
    Section 35 of the Act authorizes the Attorney General or the
State’s Attorney to “bring an action *** against any person to restrain
and prevent any pattern or practice violation of this Act.” (Emphasis
added.) 815 ILCS 513/35(a) (West 2006). Because section 35
contains no exception to the “any person” language, noncompliance
with the Act not only prevents the ability to recover, but also exposes
the entity to civil liability. Thus, the Act cannot reasonably be
construed, as defendants contend, to apply to a subcontractor only
when the subcontractor wishes to bring a direct action against the
homeowner. The Act must apply to subcontractors in its entirety, or
not at all.
    Our conclusion that the Act does not include subcontractors is
also consistent with related statutes. A subcontractor’s recovery
against a homeowner is usually governed by the Mechanics Lien Act
(770 ILCS 60/0.01 et seq. (West 2006)). In fact, the consumer rights
brochure provided for in the Home Repair and Remodeling Act
implicitly references the application of the Mechanics Lien Act. The
brochure states, “Suppliers and subcontractors have a right to file a
lien against your property if the general contractor fails to pay them.
To protect your property, request lien waivers from the general
contractor.” 815 ILCS 513/20(c) (West 2006).
    The Mechanics Lien Act is designed to provide, among other
things, a remedy for wronged subcontractors. If the Home Repair and
Remodeling Act applies to subcontractors, portions of the Mechanics
Lien Act are rendered superfluous. For instance, section 5 of the
Mechanics Lien Act prescribes a notice that each subcontractor must
provide to a homeowner in order to preserve its lien claim:
         “Each subcontractor who has furnished, or is furnishing,
         labor, services, material, fixtures, apparatus or machinery,
         forms or form work in order to preserve his lien, shall notify
         the occupant either personally or by certified mail, return
         receipt requested, addressed to the occupant or his agent at the
         residence within 60 days from his first furnishing labor,

                                  -10-
         services, material, fixtures, apparatus or machinery, forms or
         form work, of his agreement to do so.
              The notice shall contain the name and address of the
         subcontractor or material man, the date he started to work or
         to deliver materials, the type of work done and to be done or
         the type of labor, services, material, fixtures, apparatus or
         machinery, forms or form work delivered and to be delivered
         ***.” 770 ILCS 60/5(b)(ii) (West 2006).
If the Home Repair and Remodeling Act required each subcontractor,
before work began, to “furnish to the customer for signature a written
contract or work order that states the total cost, including parts and
materials listed with reasonable particularity and any charge for an
estimate” (815 ILCS 513/15 (West 2006)), it would render the notice
provided in section 5(b) of the Mechanics Lien Act unnecessary and
redundant.
     The Mechanics Lien Act also requires a subcontractor to give a
specific warning to a homeowner when it provides the notice of
rendering services. This warning reads:
              “The subcontractor providing this notice has performed
         work for or delivered material to your home improvement
         contractor. These services or materials are being used in the
         improvements to your residence and entitle the subcontractor
         to file a lien against your residence if the services or materials
         are not paid for by your home improvement contractor. A lien
         waiver will be provided to your contractor when the
         subcontractor is paid, and you are urged to request this waiver
         from your contractor when paying for your home
         improvements.” 770 ILCS 60/21 (West 2006).
By comparison, the brochure required under the Home Repair and
Remodeling Act requires the statement, “homeowners should know
who provides supplies and labor for any work performed on your
home. Suppliers and subcontractors have a right to file a lien against
your property if the general contractor fails to pay them. To protect
your property, request lien waivers from the general contractor.” 815
ILCS 513/20(c) (West 2006).
     If each subcontractor is required to contract with the homeowner
directly, there would be no need for these provisions in the Mechanics

                                   -11-
Lien Act. All the information required in both the Mechanics Lien
Act notice and warning would already have been given as required
under sections 15 and 20 of the Home Repair and Remodeling Act.
    Forcing subcontractors to comply with the Act would increase the
burden on the very homeowners the Act is meant to protect. Such a
homeowner would have to read and examine each contract, ensure
that the totals in the subcontracts do not exceed the amount allocated
to that portion of the project under both the contract with the general
contractor and the contract that the general contractor has with the
subcontractor. The homeowner would have to ensure the same project
deadlines are present. The homeowner may even have to ensure that
the deadlines in one contract are sufficiently early to allow other
subcontractors to complete their tasks before the total project
deadline. The simplicity of providing the homeowner with one
written contract enumerating all the costs would be obfuscated under
such a reading. Even under the best of circumstances, all a
requirement of subcontractor compliance would yield is repetition of
the same information already conveyed by the general contractor.
    The statute is focused on regulating the communications and
business practices of those people who directly solicit and contract
with the homeowner.
    The statute’s plain language limits its application to only those
who contract directly with the homeowner. To allow any other
interpretation not only would be contrary to our principles of statutory
interpretation, but would also do severe damage to industry practice
and other statutes. The Home Repair and Remodeling Act is
unambiguous and only applies to those who form direct contracts
with the homeowner.

                                   II
    Defendants’ petition for leave to appeal raised only the issue of
the application of the Home Repair and Remodeling Act to
subcontractors. However, in defendants’ brief to this court, they raise
the question of plaintiff’s ability to recover under quantum meruit
where there was no direct contractual relationship between the
defendants and plaintiff. In reality, this question is far broader than
the application of quantum meruit to the present action. Indeed, the

                                 -12-
argument is that a subcontractor has no direct right of recovery
outside of the Mechanics Lien Act. This question was not properly
presented in the defendants’ petition for leave to appeal (PLA).
Accordingly, plaintiff argues that the issue is forfeited. For the
reasons that follow, we agree.
     Defendants argue that this question is not forfeited because it was
“(i) directly and properly raised before the Appellate Court, (ii)
directly raised in the initial brief filed in this cause, and (iii) [plaintiff]
has had ample opportunity to respond to the argument.” This
statement is incorrect on all three counts.
     The defendants’ contention that the issue was properly raised
before the appellate court is a “red herring.” As this court stated in
Marshall v. Burger King Corp., “[i]t is well settled that where the
appellate court reverses the judgment of the circuit court, and the
appellee in that court brings the case before this court as an appellant,
that party may raise any issues properly presented by the record to
sustain the judgment of the circuit court.” Marshall v. Burger King
Corp., 222 Ill. 2d 422, 430-31 (2006) (noting that the sole issue
before the trial court was whether defendant owed a duty of care to
decedent; thus, when defendant raised the issue of proximate cause
before this court, this court found the issue was not properly
presented by the record and thus ineligible for review). In the present
case, defendants prevailed in the circuit court. They were the appellee
in the appellate court, where plaintiff prevailed, and are the appellants
in the present action. Therefore, the relevant inquiry is not, as
defendants contend, whether the issue was “directly and properly
raised before the appellate court,” but rather whether the issue is
properly raised by the trial court record and can now be utilized to
support the finding of the trial court.
     At the outset, we note that the issue before this court is a different
issue than was addressed by the circuit court. Defendants, in their
motion to dismiss plaintiff’s first amended complaint, argued that the
trial court could not allow plaintiff’s action to go forward because to
do so would be in derogation of a statute which prohibited the
enforcement of this agreement. To support this argument, defendants
cited TLC The Laser Center, Inc. v. Midwest Eye Institute II, Ltd.,
306 Ill. App. 3d 411 (1999), and Leoris v. Dicks, 150 Ill. App. 3d 350
(1986). In TLC, the appellate court held that a fee-splitting

                                     -13-
arrangement could not be enforced because it ran afoul of the Medical
Practice Act. TLC, 306 Ill. App. 3d at 429. In Leoris, the appellate
court refused to allow attorneys to split fees where public policy
prohibited the practice. In doing so, the appellate court noted that,
“[w]here enforcement of an illegal contract is sought, the courts will
aid neither party but will leave them where they have placed
themselves since the parties are pari delicto and can recover nothing
under the contract.” Leoris, 150 Ill. App. 3d at 354.
     In the present case, the trial court, in granting the motion to
dismiss asked plaintiff’s counsel, “[H]ow can the court imply a
contract where the law prohibits one?” Thus, the question before the
trial court was not the availability of the quantum meruit theory of
recovery itself, but whether the court’s enforcement of an implied
contract would be lawful where the Home Repair and Remodeling
Act (if it applied to subcontractors) would prohibit the contract from
existing in the first place.
     Before this court, the issue presented by defendants is decidedly
different. Defendants present the issue by stating that a “subcontractor
has no claim against a homeowner in quantum meruit under long-
settled Illinois law.” Thus, the issue changes from one that was
intertwined with the application of the Home Repair and Remodeling
Act to a question that is an independent basis for dismissal of the
case. It is also worth noting that the first time the cases of Redd v.
Woodford County Swine Breeders, Inc., 54 Ill. App. 3d 562 (1977),
Vanderlaan v. Berry Construction Co., 119 Ill. App. 2d 142 (1970),
and Suddarth v. Rosen, 81 Ill. App. 2d 136 (1967), appear as cited
authority is in defendants’ brief to this court. Defendants make no
mention of these cases in their motion to dismiss. The appearance of
these cases in defendants’ brief to this court invites the court to adopt
a per se prohibition on a subcontractor recovering against a
homeowner outside of the Mechanics Lien Act, where there was no
privity of contract. This is a different issue altogether than was
presented to the trial court. Thus, the quantum meruit issue presented
to this court is not properly presented by the record in this case and
is therefore forfeited.
     Further, Supreme Court Rule 315(c)(3) requires that petitions for
leave to appeal contain a “statement of the points relied upon for
reversal of the judgment of the Appellate Court.” 210 Ill. 2d R.

                                  -14-
315(c)(3). If a party fails to raise an issue in its petition for leave to
appeal, it may be deemed a forfeiture of that issue. Central Illinois
Light Co. v. Home Insurance Co. 213 Ill. 2d 141, 152 (2004).
    Contrary to defendants’ assertions, the issue was not directly
raised in the PLA. The first time the quantum meruit issue is even
mentioned in the PLA is in footnote 2 on page 12 of the PLA, where
the defendants note that the appellate court declined to address the
“related issue” of whether a subcontractor can recover from a
homeowner with whom there is no direct contractual relationship.
The issue is alluded to a second time in the last paragraph of the
conclusion, where the defendants state that the plaintiff has no right
to proceed directly against the defendants “under any theory except
a properly perfected mechanic’s lien.” These passing references do
not constitute a statement sufficient to meet the requirements of Rule
315.
    Finally, there is no legal support to claim that a court should reach
an issue simply because plaintiff has had an “ample opportunity to
respond.” Beyond the defendants’ implication that plaintiff had
“ample opportunity to respond,” plaintiff’s only response to this
argument was to assert that the issue was forfeited. This case is
illustrative of why the court must have forfeiture rules. By raising the
question at this juncture, this court is effectively deprived of the
benefit of having the issue squarely addressed by the parties.
Therefore, this issue is forfeited for the purpose of the present appeal
before this court.

                          CONCLUSION
    For the reasons stated, the Home Repair and Remodeling Act
does not apply to subcontractors. We affirm the judgment of the
appellate court, which remanded this cause to the trial court for
further consideration.

                                                               Affirmed.

    JUSTICE FREEMAN, dissenting:

                                  -15-
     The court’s decision today rests on the assumption that the Home
Repair and Remodeling Act is an affirmative defense to the cause of
action asserted in this case. The court’s opinion, however, never
addresses if this assumption is correct. The court’s analysis is
therefore incomplete. Additionally, the court’s decision rests upon its
discussion of the relationship of a “subcontractor” to a “general
contractor.” This is problematic for a number of reasons, not the least
of which is the fact that the court’s understanding of that relationship
comes from “facts” not found in the record. In fact, operation of the
Home Repair and Remodeling Act in this case has nothing to do with
notions regarding the relationship between general and subcontractors
at all–the Act does not even use the terms, a fact all but ignored by the
court. Instead, the Act concerns only the nature of work done and
whether the work has been done pursuant to the Act’s requirements
concerning accuracy of communications about that work to the
consumer. Facts about these things are entirely underdeveloped in this
record, a fault of plaintiff’s complaint to be sure, but a fault that the
court condones. In utterly failing to allege any specifics about the
contract in this case and the work undertaken, the complaint hardly
offers a proper foundation for this court’s first opportunity to address
the Home Repair and Remodeling Act.
     The court is not bothered by any of this, or the niceties of proper
procedure for that matter. The result is an opinion of near-advisory
nature and a confusing one at that. Readers of the court’s opinion may
try, as I have, to determine exactly what the court’s ruling is. As far
as I can perceive, it is this: the Home Repair and Remodeling Act
applies only to entities that contract directly with consumers and, to
the extent that plaintiff claims that it was not such an entity, the Act
does not apply to it. This perhaps would be an acceptable ruling, if
there were any basis in the record for it. The record, however is far
too underdeveloped to allow for that conclusion, and I therefore
respectfully dissent.

          Procedural Background & Controlling Principles
    The first indication that the court’s opinion is off-track appears
early on in its “Background” section. In a footnote, the court explains
that because neither party has “claimed that plaintiff was anything
other than a subcontractor,” it need not address the fact that the record

                                  -16-
reflects that plaintiff may have “ceased to act as a subcontractor.” Slip
op. at 3 n.1. The court asserts that this discrepancy has no bearing on
its analysis because such a dispute is a “factual question and beyond
the scope of this opinion.” Slip op. at 3 n.1.
     I am not entirely sure what the court means by “beyond the scope
of this opinion.” This case is before us on the dismissal of plaintiff’s
complaint pursuant to section 2–619 of the Code of Civil Procedure
(735 ILCS 5/2–619 (West 2004)). Generally, the existence of such a
disputed question of fact is enough, in and of itself, to preclude
dismissal under section 2–619, as was explained in Kedzie & 103rd
Currency Exchange, Inc. v. Hodge, 156 Ill. 2d 112, 115 (1993). Based
on statements made in the parties’ affidavits, I disagree that “neither
party has claimed that plaintiff was anything other than a
subcontractor.” The parties are in dispute about plaintiff’s status. In
my opinion, the existence of a disputed factual question is not
“beyond the scope” of an opinion that supposedly addresses whether
the circuit court correctly dismissed the cause of action under section
2–619.
     It could be said that all of the problems in today’s opinion stem
from the court’s inability to properly frame the central issue before it.
As I have noted, the question raised in this appeal is whether the
circuit court properly dismissed plaintiff’s complaint. The court,
however, sees the issue differently, stating that, in this appeal, it is
asked “to decide whether and to what extent the *** Act applies to
subcontractors.” Slip op. at 5. The court’s failure to accurately
recognize the issue leads it to assert that the standard of review in this
case is de novo because the case is “one of statutory interpretation.”
Slip op. at 4. This, of course, is wrong. Although the circuit court’s
decision to dismiss raised an ancillary question concerning the
interpretation of a statute (a legal question to which rulings made by
the circuit court are given no deference on appeal), the standard of
review in all appeals, including this one, is governed by the circuit
court’s ultimate disposition, nothing else. In this case, that disposition
was the dismissal of plaintiff’s complaint pursuant to section 2–619.
An appeal from such a ruling is the “same in nature” as an appeal
following the grant of summary judgment and is “likewise a matter
given to de novo review.” Kedzie, 156 Ill. 2d at 116. The reviewing
court must consider whether the existence of a genuine issue of

                                  -17-
material fact should have precluded the dismissal or, absent such an
issue of fact, whether dismissal is proper as a matter of law. Kedzie,
156 Ill. 2d at 116-17. See also 4 R. Michael, Illinois Practice §41.9
(1989).
     Defendant’s motion to dismiss was presumably brought pursuant
to subsection (a)(9) of section 2–619. I say “presumably” because the
motion does not specify the subsection under which it was brought,
a fact that does not appear to bother the court much.2 Subsection
(a)(9) is appropriate where the basis asserted for dismissal relies on
“affirmative matter avoiding the legal effect of or defeating the
claim.” 735 ILCS 5/2–619(a)(9) (West 2004). The important point is
that a section 2–619(a)(9) motion “admits the legal sufficiency of the
plaintiff’s cause of action much in the same way that a section 2–615
motion to dismiss admits a complaint’s well-pleaded facts.” Kedzie,
156 Ill. 2d at 115. However, such motions do not admit conclusions
of law or conclusions of fact unsupported by allegations of specific
facts upon which such conclusions rest. Meyer v. Murray, 70 Ill. App.
3d 106 (1979).
     What, then, did plaintiff allege in its complaint? The complaint
alleged in conclusory fashion that, over the course of a five-month
period in 2004, plaintiff “furnished sub-contractor services, which
consisted of providing electrical materials, equipment, labor and
services” at defendants’ residence. The complaint, all of a page and
a half, alleged that “no contract existed between plaintiff and
defendants to govern the method by which plaintiff would be
compensated for its services.” Plaintiff sought the reasonable value
of its services. The complaint otherwise failed to specifically allege
what “subcontractor services” were actually performed or even the
scope of its subcontract in relation to the rest of the general contract.
     All of the other facts in this case come by way of affidavits
submitted for consideration upon the motion to dismiss. The

  2
     I find it ironic that the court gives the parties a pass on the shoddy
pretrial practice that took place in the circuit court, but then seizes, in
its typical arbitrary fashion (see, e.g., People v. McCarty, 223 Ill. 2d
109 (2006) (reaching argument despite defendant’s failure to comply
with Rule 315)), on defendants’ failure to follow Rule 315.

                                   -18-
affidavits defendants attached to their motion stated that they did not
enter into any written contract with plaintiff and did not receive any
pamphlet required by the Home Repair and Remodeling Act. The
affidavit of Michael J. O’Brien, which was attached to plaintiff’s
response, stated that plaintiff contracted with Apex Builders, Inc., the
general contractor, “for electrical material and services to be installed
and/or performed” at defendant’s residence. O’Brien’s affidavit stated
that Apex had a “contractual relationship” with defendants. The
affidavit stated further that, “during an initial walk-through,”
defendants “approved the preliminary plans and authorized said work
to begin.” Plaintiff “performed services including but not limited to
installation of conduit, brackets, electrical boxes, recessed lighting
and bathroom fans.”
    That affidavit also stated, however, that other work, outside of
Apex’s contract, was performed by plaintiff. O’Brien’s affidavit
stated that “during the same initial walk-through, [defendants]
requested that [plaintiff] provide additional material and services not
included in the original plan including but not limited to under-
cabinet lighting; television and data wiring; and full electrical
services to an additional family room and an additional bathroom.”
(Emphasis added.)
    Importantly, O’Brien’s affidavit says nothing about the central
concern for this case: whether the recovery sought by plaintiff
represented costs for work “not included in the original plan” as
opposed to costs for work that plaintiff performed under Apex’s
contract with the defendants.
    Finally, defendants supported their reply with affidavits which
stated that neither Apex nor plaintiff provided them “with a written
agreement or change order for additional work claimed by plaintiff,
namely under-cabinet lighting, television and data wiring, and full
electrical services to an additional family room and an additional
bathroom.” Defendants also stated that they were never “provided
with an updated estimate of the cost for any such ‘additional work.’ ”
    What are the consequences of these alleged facts? A section
2–619 motion is designed to test, like a motion for summary
judgment, if a material or genuine disputed question of fact is raised.
If so, the circuit court may decide the motion

                                  -19-
         “upon the affidavits and evidence offered by the parties, or
         may deny the motion without prejudice to the right to raise
         the subject matter of the motion by answer and shall so deny
         it if the action is one in which a party is entitled to a trial by
         jury and a jury demand has been filed by the opposite party in
         apt time.” 735 ILCS 5/2–619(c) (West 2004).
See also Castro v. Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R.R. Co., 83 Ill. 2d
358 (1980). Therefore, section 2–619, unlike a motion for summary
judgment, allows the trial judge the discretion to litigate disputed
questions of fact if a jury demand has not been made. In exercising
this discretion, the judge may hear and determine the merits of the
dispute based on the pleadings, affidavits, counteraffidavits, and other
evidence presented, but may not weigh conflicting affidavits. In re
Estate of Silverman, 257 Ill. App. 3d 162 (1993). When presented
with conflicting affidavits, the judge must hold “an evidentiary
hearing” at which “the unresolved issue or issues of fact must be
determined on the basis of a preponderance of the evidence.” 4 R.
Michael, Illinois Practice §41.8, at 336 (1989), citing Chapman v.
Huttenlocher, 125 Ill. App. 2d 39 (1970); Calloway v. Kinkelaar, 168
Ill. 2d 312, 331-32 (1995) (Freeman, J., specially concurring) (noting
the shifting burdens in section 2–619 practice).

                        Application of the Law
    Whether the circuit court correctly dismissed plaintiff’s complaint
turns upon whether the Act has any application to this case in light of
the facts actually alleged, and not on generalizations about the
relationship between subcontractors and contractors. As an initial
matter, I note that both this court and the appellate court have
accepted the underlying premise of defendants’ section 2–619
motion–that the Act serves as an affirmative defense to plaintiff’s
cause of action. As a result, neither court has engaged in any analysis
on the question of whether the legislature intended, by virtue of the
Act’s passage, to abolish the common law remedy of quantum meruit
or even to provide individual consumers like defendants with a
private right of action to enforce violations of the Act. Certainly, the
plain language of the Act is silent as to both of these related issues.
The Act’s stated purpose is to “increase consumer confidence, reduce
the likelihood of disputes, and promote fair *** practices” between

                                   -20-
consumers and those “engaged in the business of making home
repairs or remodeling” by way of “improved communications” and
“accurate representations.” 815 ILCS 513/5 (West 2004); see also
Smith v. Bogard, 377 Ill. App. 3d 842 (2007). To that end, the Act
requires that prior to initiating home repairs or remodeling work for
over $1,000, a written contract must be presented to the customer.
815 ILCS 513/15 (West 2004). A written pamphlet that explains
consumers’ rights must also be presented to the customer by the home
repairer or remodeler. 815 ILCS 513/20 (West 2004). As I noted at
the outset of this separate opinion, the Act does not speak in terms of
subcontractors and contractors. Rather, the Act makes it unlawful for
those who engage in home repair and remodeling to “remodel or
make repairs or charge for remodeling or repair work before obtaining
a signed contract or work order over $1,000.” 815 ILCS 513/30 (West
2004).3 The Act does not contain language that explicitly provides
that violations of the Act may be enforced by consumers in a private
cause of action. Rather, section 35 states that the Attorney General or
the State’s Attorney “may bring an action in the name of the people
of this State against any person to restrain and prevent any pattern or
practice violation of this Act.” 815 ILCS 513/35 (West 2004). In
enforcing the Act, both the Attorney General or the State’s Attorney
         “may accept an assurance of voluntary compliance from
         anyone engaged in any conduct, act, or practice deemed in
         violation of this Act. Failure to perform the terms of any such
         assurance constitutes prima facie evidence of a violation of
         this Act.” 815 ILCS 513/35 (West 2004).
Section 35(b) also states that “[a]ll remedies, penalties, and authority
granted” to the Attorney General or the State’s Attorney “by the
Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act [815 ILCS
505/1 et seq.] shall be available to him or her for enforcement of this
Act ***.” 815 ILCS 5/35 (West 2004). Moreover, “any violation of
this Act shall constitute a violation of the Consumer Fraud and

  3
   I note that section 30 makes only the failure to obtain the signed
written contract required in section 15 “unlawful.” 815 ILCS 5/30
(West 2004). Section 30 does not contain a similar provision with
respect to the consumer rights brochure required in section 20.

                                 -21-
Deceptive Business Practices Act.” 815 ILCS 513/35 (West 2004).
Given the plain language of the statute, I believe analysis on the
question of whether the Act is, in fact, an affirmative defense as
defendants assert is warranted. This is particularly so in this case
which marks this court’s first opportunity to interpret this recently
enacted legislation.
    Rather than provide that analysis, the court chooses to confine the
focus of this case to the issue of whether the terms of the Act apply
to subcontractors such as plaintiff. In this regard, the court again
accepts, without question, the assertions of the litigant–this time
plaintiff’s assertion that it is a subcontractor. The court’s analysis
proceeds then on the assumption that plaintiff is a subcontractor even
though an examination of the record shows that plaintiff’s
subcontractor status is far from clear. The pleadings and affidavits
show that the dispute between the parties lies in whether the work
identified in plaintiff’s complaint was part of the project that was the
subject of defendants’ original remodeling contract with Apex. In
other words, was the work performed by plaintiff for defendants
specified in a written contract signed by them in accordance with
section 30 of the Act? If the services identified in plaintiff’s
complaint were performed pursuant to a written general contract that
was signed by the homeowner, section 30 of the Act has no
application to this case because the work was performed pursuant to
the requisite written contract. However, if the services identified in
the complaint were not part of the written general contract signed by
the homeowner, as both plaintiff’s and defendants’ affidavits suggest,
then it would appear that plaintiff has run afoul of the Act in that it
“remodel[ed] or ma[d]e repairs or charge[d] for remodeling or repair
work before obtaining a signed contract or work order over $1,000.”
815 ILCS 513/30 (West 2004).
    None of these concerns, however, can be answered from the
record in front of us. What the case needs for proper disposition is
development of evidence, as the complaint failed to allege the
relevant facts and the affidavits merely hinted at them. The relevant
questions are: What was the scope of the work defined in the contract
between defendants and Apex? What portion of that work did
plaintiff agree with Apex to perform? What was the extent of the
additional work ordered by defendants and agreed to by plaintiff?

                                 -22-
Was there a written contract signed by the homeowner with respect
to this additional work? Without answers to these factual questions,
it is impossible to discern the Act’s applicability in this case.
     Given the existence of these factual questions, the circuit court’s
dismissal of plaintiff’s complaint was, at best, premature and, at
worst, incorrect. The record before us does not indicate that plaintiff
filed a jury demand at the commencement of the proceedings as
required by section 2–1105 of the Code of Civil Procedure. See 735
ILCS 5/2–1105 (West 2004) (requiring that a plaintiff “desirous” of
a jury “file a demand” with the clerk “at the time the action is
commenced”). There being no jury demand having been made by the
opponent of the motion, I would therefore vacate the circuit court’s
order of dismissal and remand the cause with instructions that the
circuit court litigate these disputed questions in an evidentiary
hearing.4 If the work performed by plaintiff for defendants was,
indeed, covered by the written general contract signed by the
homeowner, then the Act has no application to this case because a
written contract was in existence, as the Act requires, and the motion
should be denied. If the additional work was not subject to a written
contract, then the Act is implicated.5

      4
     The court’s opinion provides little guidance to either the parties
or the trial judge with respect to the remand. Based on the conclusory
allegations in the complaint and the few additional facts offered in the
affidavits, the record here is simply too thin for the court to say with
certainty that the circuit court’s dismissal was wrong. That is why I
would remand for further proceedings on the section 2–619 motion.
The court’s opinion reverses the dismissal order but what happens
next? In light of the inattention to procedural detail shown by the
parties thus far, I find the court’s failure to provide specific directions
to be particularly problematic.
  5
    I express no opinion as to (i) whether the Act provides consumers
with a private right of action to enforce violations of the Act in this
manner and (ii) whether, in enacting the Act, the legislature intended
to abolish the common law remedy of quantum meruit. I submit that
these are the important questions under the Act. See K.A.L.M.
Construction, Inc. v. Stiefbold, No. 2–07–1131 (December 4, 2007)

                                   -23-
     Rather than construe the actual terms of the Act and apply them
to the facts–such as they are–the court’s analysis is dependent on its
discussion about contractors and subcontractors. Worse yet, the court
relies on its own notions regarding these terms. Indeed, after setting
forth the standard of review–which the court gets right, but for the
wrong reason–it prefaces its analysis by noting that “the use of
general contractors and subcontractors is a common business practice
in the home repair and remodeling industry.” Slip op. at 4. Further
musings on industry practice ensue. Slip op. at 4-5. From where does
this information come? Were it even relevant, none of this is alleged
in the complaint or supplied by other, appropriate evidence related to
the motion. The discussion is not appropriate by way of judicial
notice notwithstanding that the term “subcontractor” is given to
various meanings. See 770 ILCS 60/21 (West 2004) (defining
subcontractor under the Mechanic’s Lien Act as “every mechanic,
worker *** who shall furnish any materials *** or perform services
or labor for the contractor”); Baker & Conrad, Inc. v. Chicago
Heights Construction Co., 364 Ill. 386, 394-96 (1936) (defining
“subcontractor” under Worker’s Compensation Act as those
“contracting directly with the original contractor” as well as those
“who have contracted with one whose contract is subordinate to a
previous agreement, regardless of whether it is the original or general
contract” and noting that “subcontractor” has a less restrictive
meaning under the Worker’s Compensation Act than under the
Mechanic’s Lien Act). Given that the Act does not even speak in
terms of contractors and subcontractors, it is both unnecessary and
unwise for the court to engage in this discussion.
     Unfortunately, the court’s discussion leads to an analysis based on
little more than conjecture. Specifically, the court states that
“[s]ubcontractors do not directly contract with a
homeowner/customer” so the Act cannot apply to them. Slip op. at 8.
However, even the paltry facts before us suggest that such a

(unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23), pet. for leave to
appeal denied, No. 105847 (March 26, 2008). I might also point out
that the circuit court here, in trying to help the parties to properly
frame the issue, repeatedly raised the issue of quantum meruit.

                                 -24-
generalization is not always true. Here, plaintiff, Apex’s
subcontractor, may have directly contracted with the
homeowner/customer about additional work that was not a part of the
original contract. The court further states that “[s]ubcontractors, by
virtue of their working for a general contractor, do not make
‘representations’ to a homeowner” Slip op. at 8. Again, this
generalization is not always true, as the record before us suggests.
Plaintiff may have made “representations” to the homeowner even
though it was “working for a general contractor.” Because the court’s
discussion is not founded in either fact or law, the result is an
interpretation of the Act that is oftentimes difficult to understand and
even more difficult to apply. By directly contracting with the
homeowner and making direct representations to the homeowner,
plaintiff, described throughout the court’s opinion as a
“subcontractor,” would seem to fall within the class of home repairers
and remodelers that the legislature sought to regulate in the Act.
     The court’s treatment of this case is unfortunate because the Act
is a relatively new piece of legislation that has been the subject of few
published decisions. In fact, in addition to the appellate court’s
opinion in this case, only two other decisions have addressed
questions of the Act’s interpretation. See Smith v. Bogard, 377 Ill.
App. 3d 842 (2007); Central Illinois Electrical Services, L.L.C. v.
Slepian, 358 Ill. App. 3d 545 (2005). A thorough, fact-based opinion
from this court would have been helpful to those who work in the
home repair and remodeling industry as well as to the consumers the
Act intended to protect.

    JUSTICE BURKE joins in this dissent.

                                  -25-