Court Opinion

ID: 9738818
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:03:34.391176+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:08.655072
License: Public Domain

MOEAN, J., dissents: In the case of Graham v. General U. S. Grant Post No. 2665, 97 Ill App2d 139, 239 NE2d 856 (1968), the majority opinion gave the Illinois Dram Shop Act (Ill Rev Stats 1965, c 43, § 94 et seq.) extraterritorial life by applying its provisions beyond our state border to an accident occurring in the State of Wisconsin. After doing so, it then became necessary to depart from the lex loci delicti commissi rule followed by our Supreme Court, and the majority did so. In the instant case, although the question of extraterritorial jurisdiction of the Wrongful Death Act (Ill Rev Stats 1961, c 70, §§ 1 & 2) was not raised, still the question of whether the Act is applicable is present. In effect the trial court extended the Act into Iowa where the incident took place. It should be noted that this holding took place before this Court decided the Graham case, supra. Eegardless, the application of the rule of lex loci delicti is the main question presented herein. While I concur with the opinion as it relates to the procedural holdings, I must dissent from the majority’s view as it pertains to the question of the substantive law involved. Where the issue is one of procedure, the law of the forum will apply; however, if the issue is one of substantive rights of the parties, then the lex loci delicti or law of the place of the wrong generally governs, except where to do so would be contrary to the public policy of the forum. Marchlik v. Coronet Ins. Co., 40 Ill2d 327, 329-330, 239 NE2d 799 (1968); Millsap v. Central Wisconsin Motor Transp. Co., 41 Ill App2d 1, 8, 239 NE2d 285 (1963). Further, if the foreign law sought to be enforced is different than the law of the forum, this in and of itself does not make it unenforceable as against public policy, Marchlik case, supra, page 333. The defendant has not shown the Iowa law, upon which the plaintiff seeks recovery, to be against the public policy of Illinois; therefore, the Iowa law should be enforced. For the reasons stated above, I would reverse and remand.