Court Opinion

ID: 9738200
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 19:44:54.63186+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:04.352110
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE RATHJE, dissenting: I respectfully dissent. It is unfortunate that the majority has chosen not to address the implications of our supreme court’s decision in Zimmerman in the context of the present case. Instead, the majority limits its discussion of Zimmerman to distinguishing it on the basis that the plaintiff there failed to make a compelling case for the creation of a cause of action for retaliatory demotion and that the plaintiffs in this case deserve an opportunity to present their case. Just as in the present case, in Zimmerman the plaintiffs lawsuit was dismissed for failure to state a cause of action. Zimmerman, 164 Ill. 2d at 31. The supreme court felt no need to allow Ms. Zimmerman the opportunity to develop her case as the majority is permitting the plaintiffs to do in the present case. Moreover, I am of the opinion that in Zimmerman our supreme court was sending a clear message that the creation of a new right under a statute, such as the one in the case before us, is a matter best left to the legislature. Zimmerman, 164 Ill. 2d 29. Based upon Zimmerman, I would conclude that this court should not imply a private cause of action for retaliatory conduct under the Nursing Home Care Act where the legislature has not provided such a cause of action, and, therefore, I dissent.