Court Opinion

ID: 9714857
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 05:47:13.346666+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:28.800073
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE GOLDENHERSH, dissenting: I respectfully dissent. The majority, in its opinion, fails to consider factors leading to opposite conclusions on those issues that it has framed. The majority opinion also fails to consider the inadequacy of the trial court order as an appropriate summary judgment. The majority accurately states that parol evidence should not be considered in the absence of fraud, duress, mistake, or illegality. Although the majority opinion summarizes the contents of plaintiff’s affidavit filed in response to defendant’s motion for summary judgment, the clear language shows that the majority is incorrect in concluding that the affidavit fails to raise a question of mutual mistake, was conclusory in nature, or stated allegations not based on personal knowledge of the affiant. After reciting the identity of affiant and describing the filing of the prior lawsuit and its settlement, the affidavit states: “5. That at the time I signed the release I did not know I had a hearing loss; I did not know that exposure to noise from my work could cause hearing loss; and I was never informed of the potential danger of hearing loss by any supervisor on the railroad. 6. That I have observed employees of the railroad perform tests concerning noise levels, but I was never informed as to whether there was any danger which might be posed by noise. 7. That the Illinois Central had knowledge of the noise test results at the time I signed the release in question. 8. That the Illinois Central Railroad never provided me with an audiometric test to determine whether I had any hearing loss. 9. That at the time I entered into the release in question neither I [n]or the Illinois Central knew I suffered from an occupational hearing loss. 10. That at the time I entered into the release in question the Illinois Central railroad did have information concerning the noise levels in my work environment which was not disclosed to me.” Reviewing the affidavit recited above, especially paragraph 9, but also paragraphs 7, 8, and 10, it is my conclusion that a sufficient issue of mutual mistake has been raised. This analysis leads to the second infirmity of the majority opinion, that it does not consider the question, raised on appeal by appellant, whether summary judgment was properly granted. As stated in Beals v. Huffman (1986), 146 Ill. App. 3d 30, 36-37, 496 N.E.2d 281, 286: “A motion for summary judgment should be granted only when the pleadings, depositions, and admissions on file, together with any affidavits, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. (Purtill v. Hess (1986), 111 Ill. 2d 229, 489 N.E.2d 867.) The court has a duty to construe the evidence strictly against the moving party and liberally in favor of the nonmoving party. (Taylor v. City of Beardstown (1986), 142 Ill. App. 3d 584, 491 N.E.2d 803.) While use of the summary-judgment procedure is to be encouraged as an aid in the expeditious disposition of a lawsuit, it is a drastic means of disposing of litigation and therefore should be allowed only when the right of the moving party is free from doubt. Purtill v. Hess (1986), 111 Ill. 2d 229, 489 N.E.2d 867; Taylor v. City of Beardstown (1986), 142 Ill. App. 3d 584, 491 N.E.2d 803.” Again referring to the affidavit, clearly a genuine issue of material fact has been raised concerning a mutual mistake. The record on appeal is devoid of any counteraffidavit or other evidentiary submission by defendant to controvert plaintiff’s affidavit. Applying the standards as noted in Beals, there was a genuine issue of material fact raised by the record before the trial court, and therefore, the trial court was in error in granting summary judgment. For the foregoing reasons, I would reverse the judgment of the circuit court of Madison County and remand for further proceedings.