Court Opinion

ID: 9735623
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 18:25:59.701889+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:43:12.467104
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE McCULLOUGH, specially concurring: I agree the order of the circuit court should be affirmed. However, I suggest the action was untimely and summary judgment for defendants was proper because it was untimely and because plaintiffs have not provided any basis to be entitled to possession of the files. As to the statute of limitations, the law firm was specifically hired for the purpose of representing a client during the transaction or litigation and that purpose ended when the transaction was completed and the estate was closed. There may be some circumstances in which that record must be maintained to enforce the judgment in the future or as evidence of the nature of the transaction in the event of breach of contract or something else. The attorney is not specifically paid to maintain the file. If the attorney is not the agent of the client for maintaining the file after the case is closed, then the wrongful detention of the property occurs immediately upon the attorney not offering to give the file to the client at the close of the case. At that point, the statute of limitations begins to run, and if the client, or a successor in title, does not make a demand for the file within the limitation period, the claim should be extinguished. The successor in title ought not to be able to breathe new life into the limitation period simply by making a demand. It may be argued that the client had no knowledge of a right to possession of the file. However, an individual has a duty to investigate the wrongful nature of an injury. In Betts v. Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust, 225 Ill. App. 3d 882, 896-97, 588 N.E.2d 1193, 1202-03 (1992), Wesley Smith was diagnosed as having lung disease, which was possibly linked to asbestos, but he delayed going to Milwaukee to get a biopsy to establish a definitive diagnosis. This court held that such a lack of diligence in investigation could not be utilized as a basis for tolling the statute of limitations through application of the discovery rule. The cases cited by the majority justify a finding that the statute of limitations does not apply. I suggest these same cases justify the opposite conclusion as well. After termination of an attorney-client relationship, an attorney may not acquire an interest adverse to the client where that would involve a breach of confidence or the use by the attorney, to the client’s disadvantage, of information or knowledge obtained by reason of the attorney-client relationship. 7A C.J.S. Attorney & Client § 239 (1980). So we could ask why the attorney wants to keep the file in this case. The fact the attorney-client relationship has been terminated does not prevent a transaction between the attorney and former client from being regarded as presumptively fraudulent where the confidence or influence arising out of the relationships still continues. 7A C.J.S. Attorney & Client § 246 (1980). That would seem to be the situation at the close of the case with regard to who gets the file. Plaintiffs have not alleged fraud or fraudulent concealment of a cause of action. The file does not belong to the estate. It is the attorney’s file. There may be something in the file that is owned by the plaintiffs but it is not alleged or in the record. The discovery rule, applied on a case-by-case basis set forth in Hermitage, should not be applied here. In addition, I believe Frederickson is distinguished in that the decedent was an active participant in the contract, i.e., to hold a deposit. Hermitage refers to hardship to the plaintiff. If it is hardship to the plaintiffs, it could be a nightmare to defendants. This case involves one or two files, but its impact affects every file in a law firm. To allow a descendant of a client to demand a long-closed file would require the law firm, or its successor, to maintain files indefinitely. No wrongful act would occur triggering the statute of limitations until the rejection of the demand for possession. It can be argued that the attorney-client relationship, by its very nature, makes the attorney the agent of the client for maintenance of a closed file in the absence of some express language to the contrary. I also do not believe it is necessary to decide this case on the basis of attorney-client privilege. Plaintiffs allege they are entitled to the files apparently because they are heirs of J. Brown Hitt and Gladys Hitt. The complaint does not allege and the record does not show they "are lawfully entitled to the possession” of "[a]ll files related to the Estate of J. Brown Hitt” and "to the Estate of Gladys Hitt.” That they are heirs of the named decedents does not show any entitlement to the files. Nor do they allege or show any injury by being denied possession of the files. Being an heir to a decedent leaving a last will and testament is not sufficient to be entitled to possession of the file. Summary judgment for defendants was correct.