Court Opinion

ID: 9368168
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-02-02 21:03:50.403882+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:16:05.885714
License: Public Domain

NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except
            in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1).

                                        2023 IL App (3d) 220015-U

                                 Order filed February 2, 2023
     _____________________________________________________________________________

                                                   IN THE

                                   APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                                             THIRD DISTRICT

                                                    2023

      1095 SOUTH SCHUYLER PARTNERSHIP,       )     Appeal from the Circuit Court
                                             )     of the 21st Judicial Circuit,
            Plaintiff-Appellee,              )     Kankakee County, Illinois,
                                             )
            v.                               )     Appeal No. 3-22-0015
                                             )     Circuit No. 19-LM 928
                                             )
      GOODBERLET HOME SERVICES, INC.,        )
      and JOHN M. KILROY                     )     Honorable
                                             )     J. Imani Drew,
            Defendants-Appellants.           )     Judge, Presiding.
     _____________________________________________________________________________

            JUSTICE DAVENPORT delivered the judgment of the court.
            Presiding Justice Holdridge and Justice Brennan concur in the judgment.
     _____________________________________________________________________________

                                                 ORDER

¶1          Held: The trial court’s award of damages for certain tuckpointing performed on plaintiff’s
                  commercial building was not against the manifest weight of the evidence. However,
                  $150 of the damages was not supported by the evidence, so we reduce the judgment
                  by that amount. Affirmed as modified.

¶2          After a bench trial, the trial court entered judgment in favor of plaintiff, 1095 South

     Schuyler Partnership, on its breach-of-lease claim against defendants, Goodberlet Home Services,

     Inc., and John M. Kilroy. Plaintiff’s complaint alleged defendants breached the lease, in part, by
     failing to pay rent and late fees, vacating the lease prior to its expiration, and neglecting its duty to

     maintain the property in good condition and repair. The court awarded to plaintiff damages totaling

     $34,806.50, which included, among other items, $15,090 for the cost of tuckpointing the inside

     and outside of the exterior walls of the building. A portion of that amount consisted of $150

     plaintiff expended to repair the southeast corner of the property.

¶3           Defendants’ sole contention on appeal is that the damages award of $15,090 for

     tuckpointing was against the manifest weight of the evidence. Specifically, they argue plaintiff

     failed to prove the wall damage did not preexist their possession of the property or was caused by

     their breach, not normal wear and tear.

¶4           We agree in part with defendants’ contention. The evidence did not support a finding that

     defendants’ breach caused the need to repair the southeast corner of the building. Accordingly, we

     reduce the judgment by $150 and otherwise affirm.

¶5                                             I. BACKGROUND

¶6                                             A. The Partnership

¶7           Plaintiff, a partnership consisting of three sibling partners, Richard Girard, Janet Giroux,

     and Francis Girard, owned property, which was improved by a commercial showroom and

     warehouse, located at 1095 South Schuyler Avenue in Kankakee. For 30 or 35 years, the siblings’

     family business, Girard Electric, operated at the property. On September 17, 2017, the siblings

     sold the business, but plaintiff remained the property’s owner.

¶8                      B. The Lease and Defendants’ Abandonment of the Property

                                                        2
¶9            On September 18, 2017, plaintiff leased the property to Goodberlet for a two-year term

       expiring on September 17, 2019. Kilroy and Melanie Boehm Alejandre1 individually guaranteed

       the lease. The lease required Goodberlet to pay $5500 in monthly rent, imposed a 5% late fee if

       rent was more than five days late, and expressly prohibited Goodberlet from vacating or

       abandoning the property at any time during the lease term. The lease also gave plaintiff the right

       to enter the premises to inspect and make repairs and required Goodberlet to provide plaintiff with

       a key to the premises. Additionally, paragraph 6 of the lease stated as follows:

                      “MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR: [Goodberlet] shall, at [its] own cost and

              without any expense to [plaintiff], keep and maintain all portions of the property in a clean,

              neat, and orderly condition at all time [sic] and otherwise in good condition and repair

              including, but not limited to, all necessary repairs, replacements, or alterations to the walls,

              ceiling, floors, and interior and exterior walls of the Property, and the heating, cooling,

              electrical, plumbing, water, and other utility systems serving the Property. [Goodberlet]

              shall be responsible for maintenance of any and all parking lots on the property and

              furthermore [Goodberlet] shall be responsible for maintenance of any and all signage

              located on the property. [Plaintiff] shall maintain and make all necessary repairs,

              replacements[,] or alterations to the building exterior and lighting for the Property parking

              lot.”

¶ 10          About a year into the term, Goodberlet vacated the property. It continued to pay rent until

       July 2019—though it paid more than five days late in February, May, June, and July—and paid no

       rent in August and September 2019.

               1
                 Melanie is referred to as “Melanie Boehm Alejandre” in the lease but as “Melanie Boehm” in
       other parts of the record. In any event, she later petitioned for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States
       Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. § 1101 et seq. (2019)) and is not a party to this action.
                                                            3
¶ 11          At the end of the lease, Richard Girard entered the property and found it in disarray. He

       also observed water damage and loose bricks and mortar on the exterior walls of the building. The

       siblings and their personal associates expended more than 500 hours of their own time, and plaintiff

       hired several third parties to restore the property to its prelease condition. Relevant here, the

       partnership paid $15,090 to a masonry company to repair the exterior walls of the building and

       $2168 to a roofing company to repair multiple roof leaks.

¶ 12                                             C. The Complaint

¶ 13          In December 2019, plaintiff sued defendants and claimed damages for unpaid rent and late

       fees, based on the untimely or nonpayments described above, and the costs of restoring the building

       to its prelease condition. As to its claim for the restoration cost, plaintiff alleged in part that

       Goodberlet breached the lease when it abandoned the property before the end of the lease and

       changed the locks without providing plaintiff a key. As a result of Goodberlet’s abandonment,

       plaintiff continued, “an unreported roof leak caused substantial damage not only to the roof, but

       the brickwork, ceiling, and floor of the building on the [p]roperty.”

¶ 14                                               D. Bench Trial

¶ 15          The matter proceeded to a bench trial on June 22, 2021. The report of proceedings contains

       the transcript of only one witness, Richard’s, testimony. 2

¶ 16          Richard testified the building was constructed in 1964 and 1965. A portion of it had parapet

       walls, meaning the exterior walls extended above the roof. In the mid-eighties, he and his siblings

               2
                  The trial court’s docket is not included in the record. But it is available online, and we take
       judicial notice of it. See Asher Farm Limited Partnership v. Wolsfeld, 2022 IL App (2d) 220072, ¶ 31
       (reviewing court may sua sponte take judicial notice of court records). The docket entry for June 22, 2021,
       states that a “witness [was] sworn” and “evidence [was] heard” during plaintiff’s case and that defendant
       presented evidence. It does not specify whether plaintiff presented any other testimony or what evidence
       defendant presented. However, in its response to defendants’ motion to reconsider (defendants’ motion is
       discussed below), plaintiff noted that defendants presented the testimony of Frank Brisco.
                                                           4
       purchased the property and, for about 35 years, operated their family business, Girard Electric, on

       it. On September 17, 2017, Goodberlet purchased Girard Electric, but plaintiff retained ownership

       of the property and leased it to Goodberlet for a two-year term commencing on September 18,

       2017, and terminating on September 17, 2019.

¶ 17          Before plaintiff leased the property to defendants, Richard worked at the property six days

       a week. He routinely examined the property, monitored the need for maintenance, and did so again

       immediately before Goodberlet took possession. Richard never observed any indications that the

       roof was leaking or the walls were damaged or needed tuckpointing. After plaintiff purchased the

       property, it never once had the building tuckpointed, and Richard did not know how often such a

       building should be tuckpointed.

¶ 18          After Goodberlet took possession, it began operating the electrical business on the

       property. Richard did not know how long Goodberlet operated there, but, about 10 months into the

       lease, in August 2018, Goodberlet placed a sign on the building that stated it had moved to a new

       location. Goodberlet also posted on the property an advertisement for a “moving sale.” At some

       point in 2018, Richard observed Alejandre’s father removing from the building shelves that, under

       the terms of the contract for sale of the business, belonged to plaintiff. The parties stipulated that

       Goodberlet paid rent more than five days late in February, May, June, and July 2019 and paid no

       rent in August and September 2019.

¶ 19          During the lease term, plaintiff never attempted to enter the property. At some point,

       Goodberlet changed the locks and, despite its obligation otherwise, never provided plaintiff with

       a key. After the lease expired, on September 19 or 20, 2019, Giroux called Goodberlet and obtained

       a key for the property, and Richard entered the building and found “an absolute mess.” According

       to Richard, it looked like it had been “ransacked.” He discovered water-soaked furniture and

                                                         5
       ceiling tiles. He found water damage on the ceiling of an office and the walls, including loose

       mortar, bricks, and blocks, which, based on his observations and experience, was “obvious[ly]”

       caused by a roof leak. Richard testified there were multiple leaks at the joint of the roof and the

       parapet walls, mostly on the north side and on parts of the west and east sides of the building. (The

       south side of the building did not have a parapet wall.) Near the leaks on the north and west sides,

       he observed damage to the exterior wall, both inside and outside of the building. According to

       Richard, the water had run down the walls and, in the winter, “it froze and popped the brick and

       the block loose.” Richard agreed masonry work would not “just deteriorate right away because of

       a leak” but did not know how long it would take.

¶ 20          Richard’s wife took several photographs of the property’s condition, which were admitted

       into evidence and we have reviewed. The photographs confirm that Richard accurately described

       the property as “an absolute mess.” The photographs also showed water damage to an office

       ceiling, a bookcase, and the exterior wall, both inside and outside the building. Plaintiff did not

       submit any photographs of the property’s prelease condition.

¶ 21          Plaintiff paid $2168 to a roofing company, which repaired the flashing at the joint of the

       roof of the parapet walls. The roofing company worked mostly on the north side of the building

       but also on the west and east sides.

¶ 22          Plaintiff also paid $15,090 to a masonry company, which tuckpointed the north and west

       walls and repaired the southeast corner of the building. The trial court admitted, ultimately without

       objection 3, an invoice from the masonry company. The invoice indicates the masonry company

               3
                We say “ultimately” because defendants initially objected to the group exhibit containing the
       invoice based on a lack of foundation. After plaintiff laid more foundation, defendants did not object to
       the group exhibit’s admission.
                                                          6
       charged plaintiff $9942 to tuckpoint the north wall, $4998 to tuckpoint the west wall, and $150 to

       “[r]epair [the] southeast corner.”

¶ 23                                        E. The Trial Court’s Judgment

¶ 24          At the conclusion of trial, the court took the matter under advisement. A docket entry for

       June 22, 2021, indicates the court directed the parties “to submit law cases” by July 7, 2021.

       Plaintiff submitted a posttrial brief. The record contains no indication that defendants filed a brief.

¶ 25          On August 17, 2021, the court called the matter for decision. The court entered judgment

       in plaintiff’s favor and awarded $34,086.50 in damages, which consisted of $12,650 in unpaid rent

       and late fees and $21,436.50 for the cost of restoring the property. Relevant here, the court awarded

       plaintiff $15,090 for tuckpointing and $2168 for roof repair. The record does not contain a report

       of the proceedings or an acceptable substitute (see Ill. S. Ct. R. 323 (eff. July 1, 2017)), but the

       court’s written order states the parties’ attorneys were present and the judgment was “based on the

       evidence presented and for the reasons stated in open court.”

¶ 26                                  F. Defendants’ Motion to Reconsider

¶ 27          Defendants moved to reconsider, requesting the court set aside the damages for the

       tuckpointing and roof repair. As to the tuckpointing, defendants noted that Richard testified no

       tuckpointing had been performed on the building since the 1980s. Defendant asserted tuckpointing

       must be performed every 15 to 20 years to avoid damage to the masonry. (The record contains no

       evidence to support this assertion.) Defendants emphasized the fact that no tuckpointing had been

       done in more than 30 years. They argued this suggested the damage to the masonry was likely

       caused by normal wear and tear and needed repairs before Goodberlet took possession. Further,

       defendants pointed out that plaintiff “failed to call anyone involved in the repair to the masonry

       work to testify that the damage was due to a leak in the roof rather than normal wear and tear.”

                                                         7
       Defendants also took issue with the lack of testimony about the specific tuckpointing work

       performed, arguing $15,090 was “exorbitant” and “must have been for more extensive masonry

       work than simply for a couple walls damaged by a leak.”

¶ 28          Defendants also noted paragraph 6 of the lease contained seemingly contradictory

       language. It required defendants to “keep and maintain all portions of the property *** in good

       condition and repair including *** all necessary repairs *** to the walls, *** and interior and

       exterior walls of the Property.” (Emphasis added.) But it also required plaintiff to “maintain and

       make all necessary repairs *** to the building exterior.” (Emphasis added.) Thus, defendants

       argued, the lease obligated plaintiff to make all necessary repairs to the building’s exterior, and

       plaintiff failed to present evidence to show what work was performed on the inside or outside of

       the building.

¶ 29          As to the roof repair, defendants raised a similar argument. They noted Richard’s testimony

       that the roof had not been worked on for several decades and asserted “it [was] very likely that the

       roof had deteriorated and was in need of repair” before Goodberlet took possession. Defendants

       also pointed to the absence of evidence showing what specifically was repaired or the condition of

       the roof before defendants took possession. Thus, they argued, plaintiff failed to establish that the

       roof leak occurred after Goodberlet took possession.

¶ 30          On October 19, 2021, the court heard arguments on defendants’ motion and took the matter

       under advisement. No report of the proceedings or acceptable substitute appears in the record.

¶ 31          On November 9, 2021, the court granted in part defendants’ motion, striking the award of

       $2168 for the roof repair. It denied the motion in all other respects. Again, no report of the

       proceedings or acceptable substitute appears in the record.

¶ 32          This appeal followed.

                                                        8
¶ 33                                              II. ANALYSIS

¶ 34           On appeal, defendants challenge only the portion of the trial court’s order that awarded

       $15,090 in damages for tuckpointing. Specifically, defendants contend the award of damages for

       the tuckpointing work was against the manifest weight of the evidence because plaintiff failed to

       prove (1) the damage did not preexist defendants’ possession of the property, and (2) the damage

       was caused by defendants’ breach, not normal wear and tear. Defendants ask that we either reverse

       the damages award outright or remand the matter for the trial court to consider whether the wall

       damage was caused by normal wear and tear.

¶ 35                                          A. Standard of Review

¶ 36           When reviewing a bench trial, we may disturb the trial court’s judgment only if it is against

       the manifest weight of the evidence. Battaglia v. 736 N. Clark Corp., 2015 IL App (1st) 142437,

       ¶ 23. A judgment is against the manifest weight of the evidence when the findings are

       unreasonable, arbitrary, or not based on the evidence. Id. Under this standard, the appellate court

       may not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court “regarding the credibility of the witnesses,

       the weight to be given to evidence, or the inferences to be drawn,” and we will affirm the judgment

       provided the record contains any evidence supporting it. Granville Tower Condominium Ass’n v.

       Escobar, 2022 IL App (1st) 200362, ¶ 27. Stated differently, “[a] reviewing court will not reverse

       a trial court’s decision merely because different conclusions can be drawn [from the evidence]; an

       opposite conclusion must be clearly evident.” Walker v. Ridgeview Construction Co., 316 Ill. App.

       3d 592, 595 (2000). This deferential standard of review is appropriate “because the trial court is in

       a superior position to determine and weigh the credibility of the witnesses, observe witnesses’

       demeanor, and resolve conflicts in their testimony.” Wade v. Steward Title Guaranty Co., 2017 IL

       App (1st) 161765, ¶ 59.

                                                          9
¶ 37             However, we afford no deference to the trial court’s conclusions of law. See Granville,

       2022 IL App (1st) 200362, ¶ 27. Thus, to the extent this appeal requires us to construe the terms

       of the lease, our review is de novo. Id.; Midway Park Saver v. Sarco Putty Co., 2012 IL App (1st)

       110849, ¶ 14 (appellate court reviews de novo the construction, interpretation, or legal effect of a

       lease).

¶ 38                                               B. The Lease

¶ 39                                   1. Obligation to Repair Wall Damage

¶ 40             Initially, we note defendants, in their motion to reconsider, asserted paragraph 6 of the

       lease was contradictory. They noted paragraph 6 obligated Goodberlet to keep and maintain all

       portions of the property in good condition and repair and make all necessary repairs “to the walls,

       ceiling, floors, and interior and exterior walls of the [p]roperty.” (Emphasis added.) At the same

       time, paragraph 6 obligated plaintiff to “maintain and make all necessary repairs *** to the

       building exterior.” (Emphasis added.) Defendants contended this was a “paradox” but offered no

       argument as to how to interpret the provision. Rather, they simply stated plaintiff was responsible

       for the exterior of the property. In their brief to this court, however, defendants abandoned their

       argument that paragraph 6 was contradictory, and at oral argument, we raised this issue with the

       parties. Defendants agreed the provision was contradictory but offered no suggestion as to the

       effect of that contradiction. Instead, defendants have at all times argued in this court under the

       assumption that they were obligated by paragraph 6 to repair the damage to the inside and outside

       of the building’s exterior walls.

¶ 41             Defendants have forfeited any argument regarding the contradiction in paragraph 6 and,

       further, any contention that plaintiff, not defendants, was generally responsible for maintaining the

       exterior walls of the building. Ill. S. Ct. R. 341(h)(7) (eff. Oct. 1, 2020) (“Points not argued are

                                                        10
       forfeited and shall not be raised in the reply brief, in oral argument, or on petition for rehearing.”).

       Accordingly, we will analyze this appeal under the same assumption, i.e., the lease generally

       obligated defendants to repair the inside and outside of the building’s exterior walls.

¶ 42                                         2. Normal Wear and Tear

¶ 43          Defendants’ argument in this court rests primarily on the premise that the lease did not

       require them to repair damage caused by normal wear and tear. Under the common law, a tenant

       has no obligation to repair damage caused by normal wear and tear. Ikari v. Mason Properties,

       314 Ill. App. 3d 222, 228 (2000). However, the parties to a lease may modify the common law, as

       long as the warrant for any change is plainly discoverable in the lease. Quincy Mall, Inc. v.

       Kerasotes Showplace Theatres, LLC, 388 Ill. App. 3d 820, 824 (2009).

¶ 44          Though the lease is not a model of clarity, we agree with defendants that they had no duty

       to repair the damage to the walls if the damage was caused by normal wear and tear. The lease

       modified the common-law rule that a tenant is generally not responsible for repairs, replacements,

       or alterations that are structural or substantial in nature (see id.) and placed on Goodberlet the

       obligation to make all necessary repairs, replacements, or alterations to the exterior walls of the

       property (but not other substantial repairs, like the roof). But, as defendants point out, the lease

       makes no mention of which party is obligated to repair damage caused by normal wear and tear.

¶ 45          Courts presume that parties enter into contracts with knowledge of the existing law as it

       relates to their agreement. LOMTO Federal Credit Union v. 6500 Western LLC, 2018 IL App (1st)

       173106, ¶ 21. Thus, in the absence of contrary language, the laws existing at the time and place of

       the contract’s execution become implied terms of the contract. S & D Service, Inc. v. 915-925 W.

       Schubert Condominium Ass’n, 132 Ill. App. 3d 1019, 1023 (1985)).

                                                         11
¶ 46          Here, the lease contained no language excluding the common-law rule that a tenant is not

       obligated to make repairs made necessary by normal wear and tear. See Ikari, 314 Ill. App. 3d at

       228. We must presume the parties executed the lease with knowledge of this well-settled law, and

       it therefore became an implied term of the contract. S & D Service, 132 Ill. App. 3d at 1023. We

       acknowledge paragraph 6 of the lease placed on Goodberlet the obligation to make “all necessary

       repairs *** to the *** exterior walls.” (Emphasis added.) But because paragraph 6 of the lease

       makes no mention of causation, this language was not a plainly discoverable modification of the

       common-law rule. See Quincy Mall, 388 Ill. App. 3d at 824 (a modification is plainly discoverable

       when the provision warranting the change is clear and unambiguous). With this in mind, we turn

       to whether the damages award was against the manifest weight of the evidence.

¶ 47            C. The Damages Award Was Not Against the Manifest Weight of the Evidence

¶ 48          As noted, defendants argue they cannot be held liable for the damage to the walls because

       plaintiff failed to prove the damage was caused by their breach, as opposed to normal wear and

       tear, and, therefore, the damages award was against the manifest weight of the evidence. They ask

       for two distinct remedies—an outright reversal of the tuckpointing damages or a remand for the

       trial court to consider whether the wall damage was caused by normal wear and tear.

¶ 49          We first briefly address and reject defendants’ request that we remand the matter to the

       trial court so it can consider whether the damage was caused by normal wear and tear. Defendants’

       request suggests the trial court, when it imposed damages, did not consider normal wear and tear.

¶ 50          The problem with defendants’ request is that the record provides no basis on which we can

       conclude the trial court did not consider the issue of normal wear and tear. The court’s August 17,

       2021, docket entry states that judgment was entered in favor of plaintiff “based on the evidence

       presented and for the reasons stated in open court.” The record, however, does not contain a

                                                       12
       verbatim transcript of those proceedings or an acceptable substitute under Illinois Supreme Court

       Rule 323 (eff. July 1, 2017). Because the record is incomplete, we must resolve any doubts in favor

       of plaintiff, and we presume the court considered whether the damage was, in fact, caused by

       normal wear and tear and concluded it was not. See Foutch v. O’Bryant, 99 Ill. 2d 389, 391-92

       (1984).

¶ 51             We conclude the trial court’s damages award for the repairs to the north and west walls

       was not against the manifest weight of the evidence. Under plaintiff’s theory of its case, had

       Goodberlet not vacated the property before the lease expired, Goodberlet would have discovered

       the roof leak and could have notified plaintiff to make repairs before the leak caused damage to

       the walls. Richard testified that plaintiff purchased the property in the mid-eighties and operated

       its family electrical business there until September 2017, when it sold the business and leased the

       property to Goodberlet. Richard worked at the property six days a week for several years and

       routinely inspected the property for necessary repairs, and he did so again just before Goodberlet

       took possession. At no time before Goodberlet took possession did Richard observe any indication

       that the roof was failing or that the exterior walls needed repairs. Goodberlet took possession and,

       for about 10 months, operated the electrical business. In August 2018, however, Goodberlet placed

       signs on the property indicating that it had moved or was moving the operation. Also in 2018,

       Richard observed Alejandre’s father removing shelving from the building.

¶ 52             Richard also testified that, at the end of the lease, he entered the property and discovered

       water-soaked furniture and ceiling tiles, as well as water damage to the ceilings and walls. Based

       on his experience, the water damage caused by a leaking roof. He also observed loose mortar,

       bricks, and blocks on the exterior walls near where he observed the water damage. The trial court

                                                         13
       admitted into evidence photographs, which showed what appears to be water damage to the ceiling

       in the office and to the inside and outside of the exterior wall.

¶ 53          Richard further testified that plaintiff paid a roofing company to repair multiple leaks at

       the joint between the parapet wall on the north, west, and east sides of the building. It also paid a

       masonry company to tuckpoint the north and west walls and repair the southeast corner of the

       building, and the trial court admitted into evidence an invoice showing the company charged

       plaintiff a total of $15,090, which consisted of $9942 to tuckpoint the north wall, $4998 to

       tuckpoint the west wall, and $150 to “repair” the southeast corner.

¶ 54          Based on this evidence, the trial court could reasonably infer that (1) Goodberlet vacated

       the property approximately one year before the end of the lease; (2) water began infiltrating

       multiple unreported roof leaks during the lease term; (3) the water caused damage to the north and

       west exteriors wall of the building; (4) the tuckpointing was necessary to repair the wall damage;

       and (5) had Goodberlet not vacated early, it would have discovered the leaks and could have

       reported those leaks to plaintiff before the water caused any further damage. Accordingly, we

       conclude the trial court’s award of damages for the tuckpointing to the north and west walls was

       not against the manifest weight of the evidence.

¶ 55          That said, we find the record contains no evidence from which the trial court could infer

       that defendants’ breach caused the damage to the southeast corner of the building. At trial,

       Richard’s testimony established the roof leaks were primarily on the north side of the building, but

       also on the west and east sides, and that there was water damage on the walls near the leaks.

       However, Richard provided no testimony that the roof was also leaking on the south side of the

       property, such that a leak would have caused damage to that portion of the wall. Accordingly, we

       reduce the trial court’s judgment by $150.

                                                         14
¶ 56           Defendants nevertheless argue that the record supported a conclusion that their early

       departure from the premises did not cause the wall damage. They emphasize Richard’s testimony

       regarding the age of the property, the lack of tuckpointing on the property since plaintiff’s

       purchase, and his lack of knowledge concerning how often tuckpointing should be performed on

       such buildings. Based on this evidence, defendants contend, the trial court should have found the

       wall damage either preexisted their possession of the property or was caused by normal wear and

       tear.

¶ 57           The record contains no evidence from which the trial court could conclude the damage

       preexisted defendants’ possession of the property. Richard’s unrebutted testimony compelled the

       opposite conclusion. He testified that, before Goodberlet took possession, he never observed any

       indication that the roof was leaking or the walls were damaged.

¶ 58           We do not necessarily disagree that the age of the building and the lack of any prior

       tuckpointing work could weigh in favor of a finding that the wall damage was caused by normal

       wear and tear. However, as noted above, the evidence also supported a finding that it was not.

¶ 59           Defendants also point out the lack of expert testimony as to what caused the damage to the

       walls, suggesting plaintiff was obligated to present expert testimony to establish causation.

       Defendants offer no citation of authority for that suggestion, and it is therefore forfeited. Gakuba

       v. Kurtz, 2015 IL App (2d) 140252, ¶ 19.

¶ 60           Essentially, defendants ask this court to reweigh the evidence and draw a different

       inference than that drawn by the trial court. Our standard of review precludes us from doing so.

       Granville, 2022 IL App (1st) 200362, ¶ 27. Here, the record contains evidence supporting the trial

       court’s award of damages insofar as they relate to the north and west walls of the property, and,

       therefore, we affirm as modified the trial court’s judgment. Id.

                                                       15
¶ 61                                        III. CONCLUSION

¶ 62         For the reasons stated, we affirm as modified the judgment of the circuit court of Kankakee

       County.

¶ 63         Affirmed as modified.

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