Court Opinion

ID: 9711251
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 04:27:27.633982+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:03.177243
License: Public Domain

PRESIDING JUSTICE MURRAY, dissenting: (1.) The trial court was entitled to have its decisions granting summary judgment of Callahan’s breach of contract claim on a record untainted by exhibits not introduced by Callahan. The jury’s verdict on Callahan’s counterclaim should not be reversed in my judgment on a record containing exhibits not introduced at the trial. In fairness to the trial court, jury and counsel, the trial court, not this appellate court, should have had the opportunity to amend the record and decide Balfour’s charges of fabrication. (2.) The majority opinion does not adequately explain its conclusion that the jury’s verdict on the fraud charge was against the manifest weight of the evidence. The standard of proof in a case based on charges of fraud is “clear and convincing.” (Ray v. Winter (1977), 67 Ill. 2d 296, 367 N.E.2d 678.) Even if one of the elements referred to in the majority opinion was proved by clear and convincing evidence, in order to sustain an action based on fraud, plaintiff must prove each element by such a standard. (Cole v. Ignatius (1983), 114 Ill. App. 3d 66, 448 N.E.2d 538.) Even with the record amended sua sponte by the majority, plaintiff’s proof falls short of the well-settled standard in a fraud action. If the covenant not to compete was not enforceable or made moot by the jury’s verdict, I believe plaintiff’s contract claims may be barred by the jury’s verdict on the fraud count. Albers v. Community Consolidated No. ZOU School (1987), 155 Ill. App. 3d 1083, 508 N.E.2d 1252 (res judicata effect of jury verdict). (3.) The court’s ultimate remandment for further proceedings consistent with the views expressed in the opinion leaves the trial court and attorneys for both parties twirling in the air. Is the trial court to grant summary judgment on all issues decided by this court in favor of defendant and hold a hearing only on Callahan’s alleged damages? Is the trial court to hold further hearings on the summary judgment? Should a new trial on all issues be held? If not, on what issues? At the very least the majority should have instructed the trial court and the parties as to what further proceeding would be consistent with its opinion.