Court Opinion

ID: 4148378
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-25 00:05:41.550393+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:22.968719
License: Public Domain

2017 IL App (1st) 161102

                                                                            SIXTH DIVISION
                                                              Opinion filed: February 24, 2017

                                 No. 1-16-1102
______________________________________________________________________________

                                           IN THE

                             APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                                      FIRST DISTRICT

 TERRANCE J. ROSENBERGER,                       )    Appeal from the
                                                )    Circuit Court of
        Plaintiff-Appellant and Cross-Appellee, )    Cook County
                                                )
 v.                                             )
                                                )    No. 14 L 2807
 UNITED COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.,             )
 successor by merger to COMMERCIAL              )
 BANCSHARES CORPORATION, a Delaware             )
 corporation,                                   )    Honorable
                                                )    James E. Snyder,
        Defendant-Appellee and Cross-Appellant. )    Judge, Presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________

       PRESIDING JUSTICE HOFFMAN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
       Justices Rochford and Delort concurred in the judgment and opinion.

                                          OPINION

¶1     The plaintiff, Terrance J. Rosenberger, filed the instant action against the defendant,

United Community Bancshares, Inc. (UCB), successor by merger to Commercial Bancshares

Corporation, alleging it breached his employment contract by failing to pay him severance

benefits.   The circuit court granted UCB's motion for summary judgment, finding that the

doctrine of legal impossibility excused its performance since the severance benefits amounted to

a "golden parachute," which is prohibited by section 1828(k) of the Federal Deposit Insurance

Act (FDIA) (12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) (2012)). Rosenberger appeals, arguing that the court erred in

granting summary judgment because he falls within the so-called "white knight" exception to the
No. 1-16-1102

prohibition against golden parachute payments.        UCB cross-appeals, contending in the

alternative that summary judgment was appropriate because Rosenberger's employment was

terminated for cause, thus precluding his entitlement to severance benefits. For the reasons

which follow, we dismiss UCB's cross-appeal, reverse the circuit court's judgment, and remand

for further proceedings.

¶2      The following factual recitation is taken from the pleadings, affidavits, and depositions

of record.

¶3     UCB, successor by merger to Commercial Bancshares Corporation, is a bank holding

company and CenTrust Bank, N.A. (CenTrust) is a wholly owned subsidiary of UCB that

operates a community bank in Northbrook, Illinois.       As a member of the Federal Deposit

Insurance Corporation (FDIC), CenTrust is subject to FDIC regulations.

¶4     Prior to the events at issue here, in 2011, Rosenberger and James McMahon became

interested in investing in a community bank after the bank they previously worked at, Park

National Bank, failed.     Rosenberger and McMahon, along with a third individual, Gerard

Buccino, formed a company, United Financial Holdings Group, Inc. (United Financial), for the

purpose of raising capital and acquiring a majority interest in a troubled community bank in the

Chicago area.

¶5     Rosenberger and McMahon identified CenTrust as a candidate for acquisition.

According to a "Strategic Plan," CenTrust was founded in 2006 and, by 2008, losses quickly

emerged as a result of a "global liquidity crisis" that impacted the United States and local

economies. Due to the declining value of commercial real estate, CenTrust experienced losses,

which required additional capital to be committed to its loan-loss reserves. At some point, the

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No. 1-16-1102

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) entered into an "Operating Agreement" with

CenTrust, subjecting it to heightened regulatory oversight.

¶6     In January 2012, after months of planning and negotiating with UCB and federal

regulators, United Financial entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with UCB, whereby

CenTrust would receive $7 million in new capital and Rosenberger, McMahon, and Buccino

would be hired as CenTrust's new management team. The $7 million in new capital improved

CenTrust's capital reserves above the minimum "Tier 1" regulatory levels.

¶7     On February 1, 2012, UCB hired Rosenberger to serve as CenTrust's chief lending

officer. His Employment Agreement provided an initial term of three years with a base salary of

$200,000 per year, subject to annual increases in "an amount not less than the increase to the

Consumer Price Index for the prior twelve months[.]" Rosenberger's compensation package also

included a car allowance, reimbursement of country club and athletic club dues, a 401(k) plan,

and discretionary bonuses. Relevant here, section 4(e) of the Employment Agreement entitled

Rosenberger to severance benefits:

                       "(e) Severance Compensation. If this Agreement is terminated by the

                Company prior to the expiration of the Employment Period for any reason other

                than Cause, *** then the Employee shall be entitled to receive in a single payment

                *** an amount equal to two times his annual base salary then in effect."

Section 16 of the Employment Agreement defined "cause," in pertinent part, as "the failure to

follow the Company's reasonable instructions with respect to the performance of the Employee's

duties." Section 3 of the Employment Agreement, in turn, defined Rosenberger's duties as

follows:

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No. 1-16-1102

                        "3.   Duties.   Employee shall serve as Chief Lending Officer of the

                 Company and will, under the direction of the Board of Directors, faithfully and to

                 the best of his ability perform the duties of President [sic] and Chief Lending

                 Officer of the Company as assigned by the Board of Directors from time to time."

Although a termination without cause entitled Rosenberger to a lump sum severance payment,

section 28(e) of the Employment Agreement provided that: "Any payments made to Executive

pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance

with Section 18[28](k) [of the FDIA] (12 U.S.C. § 1828(k))."

¶8        On July 25, 2012, following a regulatory examination by the OCC, CenTrust consented

to the entry of an order ("Consent Order"), which required it to acquire and maintain increased

amounts of capital, reduce the level of nonperforming loans, and improve its operations. The

Consent Order set forth various duties required of the board of directors and management to

bring CenTrust into compliance with banking regulations. As a result of the Consent Order,

CenTrust was designated an institution in "troubled condition." See 12 C.F.R. § 303.101(c)

(2012).

¶9        On April 13, 2013, Rosenberger received an annual performance evaluation for 2012. In

the evaluation, an executive committee of UCB's board of directors stated that it was not

satisfied with Rosenberger's performance, finding his due diligence on "loan and OREO" to be

"poor" and the lack of loan growth, "not acceptable." It further noted that "booking new, quality

loans" is "critical to the overall value of the organization" and that "Rosenberger occasionally

fails to exhibit proficiency in some of his responsibilities."         The executive committee

acknowledged, however, that Rosenberger "followed" the board of directors' policies and

procedures and the provisions of the July 25, 2012, Consent Order.

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No. 1-16-1102

¶ 10   On August 19, 2013, the executive committee provided Rosenberger with a "mid-year

review." In that review, the executive committee observed that Rosenberger's "pipeline of new

loans is increasing," but that the "new loans actually funded are seriously deficient and must be

increased." Although the executive committee "offered suggestions" to generate new loans—

e.g., opening "an office in Hinsdale solely for loans" and implementing "an active local calling

program"—it did not specifically instruct Rosenberger to follow through on those suggestions.

¶ 11   In a memorandum dated October 15, 2013, the executive committee informed

Rosenberger that he was underperforming and not "meeting [his] duties pursuant to Paragraph 3

of [his] Employment Agreement." According to the memo, the Bank budgeted approximately

$56 million in new loans to be funded through September 30, 2013, but only $35 million had

been funded, running a negative variance of over $20 million. The executive committee stated:

                       "As a result, the [executive committee] is not satisfied with the

                performance of your duties as Chief Loan Officer and wishes to immediately

                implement a performance correction plan regarding your employment. These

                steps are taken in an effort to improve the performance of your duties and in

                accomplishing the Company's overall goals of generating new loans and

                becoming profitable.

                       Below are areas of serious deficiencies in key areas where the [executive

                committee needs to see substantial improvement by year-end and would like a

                weekly progress report from you relating to the following items[.]"

The Performance Correction Plan, as set forth in the October 15, 2013, memorandum, goes on to

list, in 17 bullet points, the "Key Areas/ Reasonable Instructions" that Rosenberger was to

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No. 1-16-1102

address in his weekly progress report.         Following the list of bullet points, the executive

committee stated as follows:

                       "Terry, the [executive committee] is eager to have you remedy these

                matters promptly and no later than the end of this quarter, December 31, 2013,

                and would welcome a meeting to further discuss this Performance Correction

                Plan. Please feel free to contact Jim McMahon or Harry Stinespring to schedule a

                meeting upon your receipt and review of this letter."

¶ 12   On October 21, 2013, Rosenberger accepted the executive committee's invitation and met

with McMahon and Stinespring to discuss the Performance Correction Plan. According to

Rosenberger's affidavit, he told McMahon and Stinespring that he believed the performance

correction plan was unreasonable since his performance was being evaluated against a budget

that was drafted in February 2013 without his input, was not approved by the OCC, and was

superseded by an August 2013 budget. He also believed that the executive committee's request

for weekly progress reports was unreasonable since monthly reporting is the industry standard.

Nevertheless, he informed McMahon and Stinespring that he intended to respond, in writing, to

the executive committee's Performance Correction Plan.

¶ 13   In a letter addressed to the executive committee, dated October 30, 2013, Rosenberger

criticized its decision to judge his performance based upon "an unreasonable budget" that was

rejected by the OCC "as imprudent and placing the Bank at risk of failure." He disputed the

executive committee's assertion that he had not fulfilled his duties under the Employment

Agreement and noted that, aside from his alleged underperformance with respect to the loans, the

Performance Correction Plan failed to identify how he did not to perform his duties.

Rosenberger concluded the letter by stating:

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No. 1-16-1102

                       "I will work with whomever the [executive committee] designates to

                develop an efficient format for the weekly reports requested in the 'Performance

                Correction Plan[.]' * * *.

                       ***

                       The Performance Correction Plan is an arbitrary document based on an

                incorrect assumption to the Bank's budget and is an ill-designed attempt to 'make

                a record' to support some future action. For the reasons above, the Performance

                Correction Plan is rejected, although I will work with the [executive committee]

                on weekly reporting and prioritizations." (Emphasis added.)

¶ 14   Six days later, on November 5, 2013, UCB's board of directors terminated Rosenberger's

employment.     A letter that Rosenberger received stated that UCB "hereby terminates the

[Employment] Agreement for cause effective immediately." The letter did not state any reasons

for the termination of his employment.

¶ 15   In March 2014, Rosenberger filed a single-count complaint in the circuit court of Cook

County against UCB, alleging breach of contract.          He asserted that UCB breached his

Employment Agreement by failing to increase his salary on February 1, 2013, by 1.6%, the

amount the Consumer Price Index increased over the prior twelve months; failing to reimburse

him for his country club dues; and refusing to pay him $406,400 in severance benefits.

¶ 16   In its answer to the complaint, UCB denied the allegations that it failed to increase

Rosenberger's salary or reimburse him for his country club dues. It admitted, however, that it

had not tendered payment of severance benefits. As affirmative defenses, UCB alleged, inter

alia, that its performance was excused under the doctrine of legal impossibility because

Rosenberger's severance would be a "golden parachute payment," which is barred by section

                                               -7-
No. 1-16-1102

1828(k) of the FDIA (12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) (2012)). UCB also asserted that Rosenberger is not

entitled to severance benefits under the terms of the Employment Agreement as he was

discharged for cause.

¶ 17    In August 2015, UCB moved for "partial summary judgment" on Rosenberger's claim

for severance benefits. 1 In its motion, UCB did not dispute that Rosenberger's Employment

Agreement was a valid and enforceable contract or that Rosenberger had not been paid the

severance benefits provided for in section 4(e) of that agreement. Rather, UCB asserted that

Rosenberger seeks to recover a golden parachute payment that is prohibited by federal banking

regulations.   According to UCB, under applicable federal regulations, banks in "troubled

condition" are barred from making golden parachute payments without the consent of the

appropriate federal banking agency and the written concurrence of the FDIC. Since there is no

evidence that either the OCC or FDIC consented to the payment of Rosenberger's severance

benefits, UCB contends it is impossible for it to perform without violating federal banking

regulations.   Alternatively, UCB argued that summary judgment in its favor is appropriate

because there is no genuine issue of material fact that Rosenberger was discharged for cause and,

as a consequence, he is not entitled to severance benefits under the terms of the Employment

Agreement.     UCB supported its motion with the deposition testimony of McMahon and

Rosenberger, the Employment Agreement, Consent Order, the performance evaluations, and

written correspondence between Rosenberger and the executive committee.

       1
           Actually, UCB's motion was a motion for a summary determination of major issues
pursuant to section 2-1005(d) of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2-1005(d) (West
2014)). It is not a motion for partial summary judgment, which permits a party to seek the entry
of summary judgment on one or more, but less than all, of the counts of a multi-count complaint.
735 ILCS 5/2-1005(a)-(c) (West 2014)); Chicago Transit Authority v. Clear Channel Outdoor,
Inc., 366 Ill. App. 3d 315, 323 (2006).

                                              -8-
No. 1-16-1102

¶ 18    In opposing the motion, Rosenberger conceded that the golden parachute provisions of

the FDIA apply to his severance benefits. He argued, however, that a question of fact was

created based upon evidence that he was hired as a "white knight" to rescue CenTrust from

economic failure and, therefore, falls within an exception to rules prohibiting golden parachute

payments. He further asserted that UCB should have applied to the appropriate federal agency

for an exception to the golden parachute regulation and that its failure to do so was a breach of

the implied duty of good faith and fair dealing. Finally, Rosenberger disputed UCB's contention

that he was discharged for "cause" as defined in section 16 of the Employment Agreement.

Rosenberger relied upon the same evidentiary material as UCB, and in addition, attached his own

affidavit.

¶ 19    On December 22, 2015, Rosenberger voluntarily dismissed his claims for unpaid salary

and country club dues, leaving only his claim for severance pay.

¶ 20    On March 28, 2016, the circuit court granted UCB's motion for "partial" summary

judgment, finding that any severance payment would constitute a prohibited golden parachute

thereby rendering UCB's performance legally impossible. The court observed that, while there is

some evidence in the record suggesting that Rosenberger qualified as a "white knight," there is

no evidence that federal regulators consented to the payment and, absent consent, UCB is

prohibited from paying Rosenberger his severance benefits.         Because the court previously

granted Rosenberger's motion to voluntarily dismiss his claims for unpaid compensation and

country club dues, the summary judgment entered on the issue of legal impossibility was the

equivalent of a summary judgment entered on the entire remaining complaint. As to UCB's

contention that Rosenberger is not entitled to severance pay based upon his termination for

                                              -9-
No. 1-16-1102

"cause," the court determined that summary judgment in UCB's favor on that ground was not

appropriate. This appeal followed.

¶ 21   As a preliminary matter, we note that UCB's cross-appeal asks this court to affirm the

circuit court's summary judgment ruling on alternative grounds. However, as our supreme court

has explained, "[a] party cannot complain of error which does not prejudicially affect it, and one

who has obtained by judgment all that has been asked for in the trial court cannot appeal from

the judgment." Material Service Corp. v. Department of Revenue, 98 Ill. 2d 382, 386 (1983).

Thus, where the circuit court grants summary judgment in favor of a party, that party cannot file

a cross-appeal to seek relief from the summary judgment order. Dowe v. Birmingham Steel

Corp., 2011 IL App (1st) 091997, ¶ 25. For that reason, we must dismiss UCB's cross-appeal.

We note, however, we consider the arguments it raises in its cross-appeal since "an appellee may

argue in support of the judgment on any basis which appears in the record." Hayes v. Board of

Fire & Police Commissioners, 230 Ill. App. 3d 707, 710 (1992).

¶ 22   As this matter comes to us on appeal from the entry of summary judgment, our review is

de novo, applying the same legal standards as did the circuit court. Standard Mutual Insurance

Co. v. Lay, 2013 IL 114617, ¶ 15. Summary judgment is appropriate where the pleadings,

depositions, admissions, and affidavits on file establish the absence of a genuine issue of material

fact, and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. 735 ILCS 5/2-1005(c)

(West 2014); Sollami v. Eaton, 201 Ill. 2d 1, 6 (2002). The purpose of a motion for summary

judgment is to determine the existence or absence of a genuine issue as to any material fact; it

cannot be used to resolve a disputed fact. Illinois State Bar Association Mutual Insurance Co. v.

Law Office of Tuzzolini & Terpinas, 2015 IL 117096, ¶ 14. When ruling on a motion for

summary judgment, the court must strictly construe all evidentiary material against the movant

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No. 1-16-1102

while liberally construing all of the evidentiary material in favor of the opponent. Williams v.

Manchester, 228 Ill. 2d 404, 417 (2008). If the evidentiary material before the court could lead

to more than one reasonable conclusion or inference, the court must adopt the conclusion or

inference which is most favorable to the opponent of the motion. Brandt v. Time Insurance Co.,

302 Ill. App. 3d 159, 164 (1998). Summary judgment is a drastic remedy which results in the

disposition of a case without a trial and, as such, should not be granted unless the right of the

movant is free from doubt. Bruns v. City of Centralia, 2014 IL 116998, ¶ 12.

¶ 23   As his sole assignment of error, Rosenberger argues that the circuit court erred in

granting summary judgment in UCB's favor because a genuine issue of material fact exists on the

question of whether UCB's performance under section 4(e) of the Employment Agreement was

excused under the doctrine of legal impossibility.

¶ 24    "The doctrine of legal impossibility, or impossible performance, excuses performance of

a contract only when performance is rendered objectively impossible either because the subject

matter is destroyed or by operation of law." (Emphasis added.) Innovative Modular Solutions v.

Hazel Crest School District, 2012 IL 112052, ¶ 37. The doctrine has been narrowly applied

based upon judicial recognition that the purpose of contract law is to allocate the risks that might

affect performance and that performance should be excused only in extreme circumstances. YPI

180 N. LaSalle Owner, LLC v. 180 N. LaSalle II, LLC, 403 Ill. App. 3d 1, 6 (2010). One

particular example of impossibility excusing performance is an intervening governmental

regulation or order. Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 264 (1981). Significantly, however,

the doctrine does not apply to excuse performance as long as it lies within the power of the

promisor to remove the obstacle to performance. Downs v. Rosenthal Collins Group, LLC, 2011

IL App (1st) 090970, ¶ 39.       The party advancing the doctrine has the burden of proving

                                               - 11 -
No. 1-16-1102

impossibility. Michigan Avenue National Bank v. State Farm Insurance Companies, 83 Ill. App.
3d 507, 514 (1980).

¶ 25   In this case, UCB's impossibility defense is based upon section 1828(k) of the FDIA.

Under the FDIA and its implementing regulations, the FDIC "may prohibit or limit, by

regulation or order, any golden parachute payment." 12 U.S.C. 1828(k) (2012); see also 12

C.F.R. § 359.0 et seq. (2012). As is relevant here, a golden parachute is:

                "any payment (or any agreement to make any payment) in the nature of

                compensation by any insured depository institution *** for the benefit of any

                institution-affiliated party pursuant to an obligation of such institution *** that—

                       (i) is contingent on the termination of such party's affiliation with the

                institution ***; and—

                       (ii) is received on or after the date on which—

                                                         ***

                                        (III) the institution's appropriate Federal banking agency

                               determines that the insured depository institution is in a troubled

                               condition (as defined in the regulation prescribed pursuant to

                               section 1831i(f) of this title)[.]" 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k)(4)(A) (2012).

An "institution-affiliated party" (IAP) includes "[a]ny director, officer, employee, or controlling

stockholder *** of *** an insured depository institution or depository institution holding

company[.]" 12 C.F.R. § 359.1(h)(1) (2012). By regulation, no insured depository institution or

depository institution holding company may make or agree to make a golden parachute payment,

except as provided by the express regulatory process. 12 C.F.R. § 359.2 (2012).

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No. 1-16-1102

¶ 26   Although Rosenberger concedes that the severance benefits provided for in his

Employment Agreement constitute a golden parachute, he argues that UCB cannot rely upon the

impossibility defense because he qualifies under the "white knight" exception to the prohibition

against golden parachute payments. More specifically, he asserts that UCB cannot rely on the

impossibility defense because it had the ability to seek government approval for the severance

payment, but had failed to do so.

¶ 27   As Rosenberger correctly observes, section 1828(k) does not prohibit all golden

parachute payments.      Rather, section 1828(k)(2) grants authority to the FDIC to develop

regulations for determining which termination payments should, and should not, be made. The

FDIC regulations set forth limited exceptions for a depository institution or depository institution

holding company, such as USB, to make what would otherwise be a prohibited golden parachute

payment. Specifically, a golden parachute payment may be made if and to the extent that:

                       "(1) The appropriate federal banking agency, with the written concurrence

                of the [FDIC], determines that such a payment or agreement is permissible; or

                       (2) Such an agreement is made in order to hire a person to become an IAP

                either at a time when the insured depository institution or depository institution

                holding company satisfies or in an effort to prevent it from imminently satisfying

                any of the criteria set forth in § 359.1(f)(1)(ii), and the institution's appropriate

                federal banking agency and the Corporation consent in writing to the amount and

                terms of the golden parachute payment. * * *; or

                       (3) Such a payment is made pursuant to an agreement which provides for a

                reasonable severance payment, not to exceed twelve months salary, to an IAP in

                the event of a change in control of the insured depository institution; provided,

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No. 1-16-1102

                however, that an insured depository institution or depository institution holding

                company shall obtain the consent of the appropriate federal banking agency prior

                to making such a payment ***." 12 C.F.R. § 359.4(a)(1)-(3) (2012).

¶ 28   Qualifying for any of these exceptions requires a two-step process. First, the applicant or

Rosenberger must certify to the appropriate federal banking agency that:

                "it does not possess and is not aware of any information, evidence, documents or

                other materials which would indicate that there is a reasonable basis to believe, at

                the time such payment is proposed to be made, that:

                       (i) The IAP has committed any fraudulent act or omission, breach of trust

                or fiduciary duty, or insider abuse with regard to the depository institution or

                depository institution holding company that has had or is likely to have a material

                adverse effect on the institution or holding company;

                       (ii) The IAP is substantially responsible for *** the troubled condition, as

                defined by applicable regulations of the appropriate federal banking agency, of

                the insured depository institution, depository institution holding company or any

                insured depository institution subsidiary of such holding company;

                       (iii) The IAP has materially violated any applicable federal or state

                banking law or regulation that has had or is likely to have a material effect on the

                insured depository institution or depository institution holding company[.]" 12

                C.F.R. § 359.4(a)(4)(i)-(iii) (2012).

¶ 29   Second, and notwithstanding the fact that the requisite certifications as outlined in 12

C.F.R. § 359.4(a)(4) have been made, the FDIC "may consider" the following in exempting

certain payments from the golden parachute restrictions:

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No. 1-16-1102

                       "(1) [w]hether, and to what degree, the IAP was in a position of

                managerial or fiduciary responsibility;

                       (2) [t]he length of time the IAP was affiliated with the insured depository

                institution or depository institution holding company, and the degree to which the

                proposed payment represents a reasonable payment for services rendered over the

                period of employment; and

                       (3) [a]ny other factors or circumstances which would indicate that the

                proposed payment would be contrary to the intent of section 18(k) of the [FDIA]

                or this part." 12 C.F.R. § 359.4(b)(1)-(3) (2012).

¶ 30   Under the regulations, either UCB or Rosenberger could have applied to the FDIC and

the OCC for a determination that the severance pay provided in section 4(e) of the Rosenberger's

Employment Agreement is permissible. 2 However, there is nothing in the record suggesting that

either UCB or Rosenberger ever requested the FDIC and the OCC to approve disbursement of

the severance payments.

¶ 31   In urging reversal of the circuit court's grant of summary judgment, Rosenberger asserts

that the severance payment could be approved by the FDIC because he qualifies under the "white

knight" exception in 12 C.F.R. § 359.4(a)(2) (2012). Accordingly, Rosenberger maintains that

an impossibility defense is not available to UCB, as it could have secured regulatory approval to

       2
          The Employment Agreement did not obligate either Rosenberger or UCB to obtain the
FDIC's approval. That is, neither party expressly agreed that they would obtain the necessary
government approval. Consequently, we cannot say that either party was solely responsible for
satisfying the condition precedent and assumed the risk of failing to do so. This is not to say,
however, that the parties had no obligation to seek the FDIC's approval. Although the
Employment Agreement did not require UCB to obtain the FDIC's approval, we believe that
UCB was still bound by the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing to seek the required
authorization. See Martinez v. Rocky Mountain Bank, 540 Fed. Appx. 846, 851 (8th Cir. 2013).

                                               - 15 -
No. 1-16-1102

pay the severance payment under the Employment Agreement. He cites Hill v. Commerce

Bancorp, Inc., No. 09-3685 RBK/JS, 2012 WL 694639 (D.N.J Mar. 1, 2012), in support of his

argument.

¶ 32   In Hill, a former executive sued for breach of his employment contract after his former

employer, Commerce Bancorp, refused to pay his severance allowance. The bank moved for

summary judgment arguing that it could not pay the executive's severance package because such

payment would constitute a golden parachute prohibited under the FDIA. It also argued that the

severance package did not fall under any of the enumerated exceptions to the golden parachute

regulations. Id. *2. In denying the bank's motion for summary judgment, the district court

began its analysis by noting that both parties were "equally eligible to apply for the exception to

the golden parachute restrictions, as long as they are able to certify to the [points in 12 C.F.R.

§ 359.4(a)(4)]," but that neither party submitted an application. Id. *8. Although the court was

"perplexed" by the executive's refusal to even consider filing the application himself, the court

nevertheless found a genuine issue of material fact as to whether it was objectively impossible

for the bank to perform under the contract by seeking agency approval for the golden parachute

payment.    Id. *10.    The court reasoned that the bank failed to present any evidence

demonstrating that it could not make the requisite certification under section 359.4(a)(4).

Specifically, the bank presented no evidence demonstrating that it had a reasonable basis to

believe that the executive engaged in a disqualifying act that " 'has had or is likely to have a

material adverse effect' on [the bank]." Id. *9 (quoting 12 C.F.R. § 359.4(a)(4) (2012)). Thus,

because "there remain[ed] a genuine question of material fact as to whether or not [the bank is]

able to make the *** certification[s] [necessary to apply for an exception], [the bank] cannot be

afforded summary judgment on their contractual impossibility defense." Id.

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No. 1-16-1102

¶ 33   Similarly, here, UCB presented no evidence demonstrating that it applied for an

exception to make the severance payment. Nor has UCB pointed to any evidence showing that it

could not make the necessary certification under section 359.4(a)(4). Indeed, McMahon testified

in his deposition that he is not aware of any fraudulent acts or omissions committed by

Rosenberger, and he denied that Rosenberger committed any breach of fiduciary duty, insider

abuse, or violated any federal or state banking law or regulations.            He also stated that

Rosenberger was not responsible for UCB's troubled condition. Thus, McMahon's testimony,

coupled with the fact that there is no evidence in the record that Rosenberger engaged in a

disqualifying act that "has had or is likely to have a material adverse effect" on UCB (see 12

C.F.R. § 359.4(a)(4) (2012)), creates a genuine issue of material fact as to whether UCB could

have sought, and received, agency approval for the severance payment to Rosenberger. See Hill

No. 09-3685 RBK/JS, 2012 WL 694639, *9; cf. Rohr v. Reliance Bank, 826 F.3d 1046, 1053

(8th Cir. 2016) (summary judgment appropriate where employee failed to submit any evidence to

rebut the bank's evidence showing that it could not make the certification).

¶ 34   We conclude, therefore, that the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment in

UCB's favor on grounds that its performance under the Employment Agreement was rendered

objectively impossible by operation of law.

¶ 35   Having found that UCB is not entitled to summary judgment on grounds of contractual

impossibility, we next address UCB's contention that, pursuant to the terms of the Employment

Agreement, Rosenberger is not entitled to severance benefits since he was terminated for cause.

¶ 36   We begin by noting that the parties do not argue that the Employment Agreement is

ambiguous. "Where the terms of an agreement are unambiguous, the parties' intent must be

determined solely from the language of the agreement itself, and it is presumed that the parties

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No. 1-16-1102

inserted each provision deliberately and for a purpose." Jameson Realty Group v. Kostiner, 351
Ill. App. 3d 416, 426 (2004). The terms of an agreement, if unambiguous, should generally be

enforced as they appear, and those terms will control the rights of the parties. Batson v. The Oak

Tree, Ltd., 2013 IL App (1st) 123071, ¶ 35.

¶ 37   In this case, the Employment agreement permitted UCB to terminate Rosenberger's

employment for cause. Section 16 of the Employment Agreement defined "cause," in pertinent

part, as "the failure to follow the Company's reasonable instructions with respect to the

performance of the Employee's duties."

¶ 38   Generally, "[t]he burden is on the employer to prove that the employee was guilty of

conduct justifying termination."    Foster v. Springfield Clinic, 88 Ill. App. 3d 459 (1980).

Moreover, whether an employee engaged in misconduct or disobeyed reasonable orders, is a

question for the trier of fact to resolve. Mitchell v. Jewel Food Stores, 142 Ill. 2d 152, 165

(1990); Lukasik v. Riddell, Inc., 116 Ill. App. 3d 339, 346 (1983).

¶ 39   Here, UCB asserts that it terminated Rosenberger for cause based upon his failure to

follow reasonable instructions. Specifically, it claims that the undisputed evidence shows that

Rosenberger "disagreed with and rejected" the Performance Correction Plan and failed to follow

the executive committee's reasonable instructions to provide it with weekly progress reports.

¶ 40   Based upon our review of the record, we find that genuine issues of fact exist as to

whether Rosenberger failed to follow the executive committee's instructions, as set forth in the

Performance Correction Plan dated October 15, 2013, to provide it with weekly progress reports.

The record contains evidence demonstrating that Rosenberger met with McMahon and

Stinespring on October 21, 2013, to discuss the Performance Correction Plan and, in a letter to

the executive committee, dated October 30, 2013, he stated that he "will work with whomever

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No. 1-16-1102

the [executive committee] designates to develop an efficient format for the weekly reports ***."

Although Rosenberger expressed willingness to follow the executive committee's instructions,

his employment was terminated six days later on November 5, 2013. Based on this evidence,

reasonable minds could differ as to whether Rosenberger failed to follow the executive

committee's instructions relating to weekly progress reports. We conclude, therefore, that a

genuine issue of material fact exists as to whether Rosenberger's conduct constituted cause for

UCB to terminate his employment.

¶ 41   For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the circuit court erred in granting summary

judgment in UCB's favor. We, therefore, reverse the circuit court's judgment and remand for

further proceedings. UCB's cross-appeal is dismissed.

¶ 42   Reversed and remanded; cross-appeal dismissed.

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