Court Opinion

ID: 4036738
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-23 22:06:37.02867+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:22:41.711646
License: Public Domain

2016 IL App (1st) 143684

                                                                              FIFTH DIVISION
                                                                              September 23, 2016

     No. 1-14-3684

     PERCY TAYLOR,                                )       Appeal from the
                                                  )       Circuit Court of
            Plaintiff-Appellee,                   )       Cook County.
                                                  )
            v.                                    )       No. 13 CH 26319
                                                  )
     THOMAS J. DART, Sheriff of Cook              )
     County, and THE COOK COUNTY                  )       The Honorable
     SHERIFF’S MERIT BOARD,                       )       Neil H. Cohen,
                                                  )       Judge Presiding.
            Defendants-Appellants.                )

            JUSTICE HALL delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.

            Presiding Justice Gordon and Justice Lampkin concurred in the judgment and
     opinion.

                                           OPINION

¶1          The defendants, Thomas J. Dart, Sheriff of Cook County (Sheriff Dart), and the Cook

        County Sheriff’s Merit Board (Merit Board) (collectively, the defendants) filed this

        interlocutory appeal pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 308 (eff. Feb. 26, 2010). The

        circuit court certified the following questions for our review:
     No. 1-14-3684

                     “Is a Cook County Sheriff’s Merit Board member that was appointed on June 2,

              2011 to serve a term which expired on March 19, 2012, a lawfully appointed member

              of the Merit Board when he presided over Percy Taylor’s Merit Board Hearing on

              February 27, 2013? If the Merit Board member was not lawfully appointed to the

              Merit Board, does the decision of October 30, 2013 remain valid or is it rendered

              void?”

¶2                                           BACKGROUND

¶3                                             I. The Statute

¶4         Section 3-7002 of the Counties Code (Code) provides in pertinent part as follows:

              “There is created the Cook County Sheriff’s Merit Board, hereinafter called the

              Board, consisting of 7 members appointed by the Sheriff with the advice and consent

              of the county board, except that on and after the effective date of this amendatory Act

              of 1997, the Sheriff may appoint 2 additional members, with the advice and consent

              of the county board, at his or her discretion. ***

                     Upon the expiration of the terms of office of those first appointed (including the 2

              additional members first appointed under authority of this amendatory Act of 1991

              and under the authority of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly), their

              respective successors shall be appointed to hold office from the third Monday in

              March of the year of their respective appointments for a term of 6 years and until their

              successors are appointed and qualified for a like term. As additional members are

              appointed under authority of this amendatory Act of 1997, their terms shall be set to

              be staggered consistently with the terms of the existing Board members. No more

              than 3 members of the Board shall be affiliated with the same political party, except

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               that as additional members are appointed by the Sheriff under the authority of this

               amendatory Act of 1997 and under the authority of this amendatory Act of the 91st

               General Assembly, the political affiliation of the Board shall be such that no more

               than one-half of the members plus one additional member may be affiliated with the

               same political party. No member shall have held or have been a candidate for an

               elective public office within one year preceding his or her appointment.” 55 ILCS

               5/3-7002 (West 2012).

¶5                                            II. Facts

¶6         On May 5, 2011, Sheriff Dart requested approval from the Cook County Board to appoint

        John R. Rosales to the Merit Board to fill the vacancy of Commissioner Daniel Lynch whose

        term on the Merit Board was to expire on March 19, 2012. The county board approved the

        Rosales appointment on June 1, 2011. After the expiration of Commissioner Lynch’s term on

        March 19, 2012, Sheriff Dart did not reappoint Mr. Rosales to the Merit Board, and he has

        continued to serve as a member of the Merit Board.

¶7         On October 20, 2011, Sheriff Dart filed a complaint against the plaintiff alleging

        misconduct and seeking to terminate his employment as a Cook County sheriff’s police

        officer. On February 27, 2013, Mr. Rosales presided over the hearing held on Sheriff Dart’s

        complaint against the plaintiff. On October 30, 2013, the Merit Board issued its decision

        terminating the plaintiff’s employment. The October 30, 2013, order was signed by Mr.

        Rosales and seven Merit Board members.

¶8         The plaintiff filed a complaint for administrative review of the Merit Board’s decision.

        On May 7, 2014, the circuit court issued a memorandum and order affirming the Merit

        Board’s decision terminating the plaintiff’s employment. The plaintiff moved for

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       No. 1-14-3684

          reconsideration of the order arguing, inter alia, that the appointment of Mr. Rosales to the

          Merit Board was invalid because he was not appointed to a six-year term as required by

          section 3-7002 of the Code (55 ILCS 5/3-7002 (West 2012)).

¶9           The circuit court granted the plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration, finding that the

          appointment of Commissioner Rosales was invalid because he was appointed to less than a

          six-year term. The court rejected the defendants’ argument that the decision of the Merit

          Board remained valid because seven lawful members voted to terminate the plaintiff’s

          employment. The court found that the Merit Board was not lawfully constituted at the time it

          rendered its decision, and therefore, its decision could not be given effect. The circuit court

          vacated the Merit Board’s October 30, 2013, decision terminating the plaintiff’s employment

          and remanded the case for a new hearing on the charges against the plaintiff before a legally

          constituted Merit Board. The court denied the defendants’ motion for reconsideration

¶ 10         Following the circuit court’s certification of the questions for review, the defendants filed

          their request for leave to appeal, which was granted by this court on December 23, 2014.

¶ 11                                            ANALYSIS

¶ 12                                       I. Standards of Review

¶ 13         Rule 308 requires that the certified questions presented to this court for review be

          questions of law. Therefore, our review is de novo. Zlatev v. Millette, 2015 IL App (1st)

          143173, ¶ 17. This case also requires this court to construe section 3-7002 of the Code, which

          is also a question of law to which the de novo standard of review applies. Majid v. Retirement

          Board of the Policemen’s Annuity & Benefit Fund, 2015 IL App (1st) 132182, ¶ 13.

¶ 14                                           II. Discussion

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       No. 1-14-3684

¶ 15         “The fundamental principle of statutory construction is to ascertain and give effect to the

          intent of the legislature.” Gilchrist v. Human Rights Comm’n, 312 Ill. App. 3d 597, 602

          (2000). The court looks first at the statutory language as it is the best indication of the intent

          of the drafters. Majid, 2015 IL App (1st) 132182, ¶ 16. Unless defined therein, the

          unambiguous words in the statute are to be given their plain and ordinary meanings. Majid,

          2015 IL App (1st) 132182, ¶ 16. The statute must be applied so that no part is rendered

          superfluous. Majid, 2015 IL App (1st) 132182, ¶ 16. “ ‘Courts must also consider the reason

          and necessity for the law, the evils sought to be remedied and the purpose to be achieved.’ ”

          Majid, 2015 IL App (1st) 132182, ¶ 16 (quoting DiFiore v. Retirement Board of the

          Policemen’s Annuity & Benefit Fund, 313 Ill. App. 3d 546, 551 (2000).

¶ 16         As an administrative body, the Merit Board obtains its power to act from the legislation

          creating it, and its power to act is strictly confined to that granted in the enabling statute.

          Gilchrist, 312 Ill. App. 3d at 601. Administrative agencies have no general or common-law

          powers. Daniels v. Industrial Comm’n, 201 Ill. 2d 160, 165 (2002). Where an administrative

          body acts outside of its specific statutory authority, it acts without jurisdiction, and its actions

          are void and a nullity from their inception. Daniels, 201 Ill. 2d at 165. Where an agency’s

          action is void, it may be attacked at any time, in any court, either directly or collaterally.

          Daniels, 201 Ill. 2d at 166.

¶ 17         With these principles in mind, we address the first certified question.

¶ 18                   A. Whether the Appointment of an Individual to the Merit Board for

                                     Less Than a Six-Year Term Is Valid?

¶ 19         From the plain language of the statute, we glean that the purpose of section 3-7002 is to

          select individuals to serve on the Merit Board with the goal of achieving an experienced and

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       No. 1-14-3684

          politically balanced Merit Board. In order to achieve these goals, the statute requires that the

          members’ terms be staggered, insuring that the Merit Board would always contain some

          experienced members and limiting the number of members from any one political party.

¶ 20          Section 3-7002 provides that members and their respective successors “shall be appointed

          to hold office *** for a term of 6 years and until their successors are appointed and qualified

          for a like term.” 55 ILCS 5/3-7002 (West 2012). The term “shall” in a statute indicates a

          mandatory obligation, unless the context indicates otherwise. Newkirk v. Bigard, 109 Ill. 2d

          28, 33 (1985). “ ‘[S]hall’ will not be given a permissive meaning where it is used with

          reference to any right or benefit to anyone, and the right and benefit depends upon giving a

          mandatory meaning to the word.” Newkirk, 109 Ill. 2d at 33.

¶ 21          Under the plain language of the statute, an individual appointed to serve as a member of

          the Merit Board has the right to be appointed to a full six-year term. This would be in

          keeping with the statutory goals of experience and political balance, which would be

          compromised if the sheriff could appoint a member for less than the six-year term provided

          in the statute.

¶ 22          The supreme court’s analysis in Vuagniaux v. Department of Professional Regulation,

          208 Ill. 2d 173 (2003), is instructive. In that case, the department brought a complaint against

          the plaintiff before the Medical Disciplinary Board (Board). The department adopted the

          discipline recommended by the Board. On administrative review, the circuit court set aside

          the Board’s decision and dismissed the department’s complaint against the plaintiff finding,

          inter alia, that the appointment of one Board member was not authorized by law. Vuagniaux,

          208 Ill. 2d at 184.

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       No. 1-14-3684

¶ 23          In affirming the decision of the circuit court, the supreme court noted that section 7(A) of

          the Medical Practice Act of 1987 (Practice Act) (225 ILCS 60/7(A) (West 1998)), required

          all Board members be appointed by and their vacancies filled “by the Governor by and with

          the advice and consent of the Senate.” Vuagniaux, 208 Ill. 2d at 185. While the Governor was

          authorized to act without the Senate when the Board recommended the removal of a member

          for misconduct or to make a vacancy appointment, the court determined that “participation

          by the Governor is always required.” Vuagniaux, 208 Ill. 2d at 186. Neither the Practices Act

          nor the Illinois Constitution of 1970 permitted the appointment or involuntary removal of

          Board members without gubernatorial action. Vuagniaux, 208 Ill. 2d at 186.

¶ 24          We also find Daniels instructive. In Daniels, the plaintiff’s case was assigned to a three-

          member panel of the Industrial Commission (Commission), but before the case could be

          heard, one of the panel members was elevated to Commission chairman. Another member of

          the panel resigned following a medical leave of absence. The new Commission chairman

          appointed individuals to fill his own vacancy and that of the resigning member. Daniels, 201

          Ill. 2d at 163.

¶ 25          On review, the supreme court found that the vacancies were not filled in accordance with

          section 13 of the Workers’ Compensation Act (Act) (820 ILCS 305/13 (West 1992)).

          Daniels, 201 Ill. 2d at 163. Section 13 provided that the Governor was vested with the

          responsibility of filling Commission vacancies by and with the consent of the Senate. While

          the Governor was empowered to make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the

          Senate, he then must nominate some person to fill the position. Daniels, 201 Ill. 2d at 163.

¶ 26          The court in Daniels further determined that the statutory procedure for filling vacancies

          was consistent with the purposes of the Act. The court noted that the law was “carefully

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       No. 1-14-3684

          designed to insure that the Industrial Commission represents a balance of interests.” Daniels,

          201 Ill. 2d at 164. Under the Act, the Governor was required to make his appointments to the

          Commission in such a way that the interests of employers, workers and impartial citizens

          were equally represented. No more than four members could be of the same political party.

¶ 27         The supreme court noted that arbitrators appointed to be “acting commissioners” were

          not subject to the partisanship restrictions and were deemed to be representative of citizens

          not identifying with employers or employees. The court recognized the risk to the goals of

          the Act, explaining as follows:

                 “Accordingly, if arbitrators could be designated as acting commissioners even after

                 the commissioners whose workload they were handling left office, there would be no

                 mechanism to insure that the balance of interests contemplated by the Act would be

                 preserved. Through contrived designations and inaction by the Governor, the

                 departure from office of sitting commissioners could be exploited to pack the

                 Commission with members of the Governor’s political party or representatives of

                 whatever economic class the Governor favored. Such a result would be directly

                 contrary to the Act’s objectives.” Daniels, 201 Ill. 2d at 164-65.

¶ 28         The supreme court vacated the decision of the Commission and remanded for a new

          hearing before a legally constituted panel. Daniels, 201 Ill. 2d at 167; see Gilchrist, 312 Ill.

          App. 3d 597 (Human Rights Commission’s decision based on the administrative judge’s

          recommended order and decision was vacated and the case remanded for a new hearing,

          where the Commission had no statutory authority to accept the recommended order and

          decision of the administrative law judge since the judge had not presided over the public

          hearing as required by the Illinois Human Rights Act).

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       No. 1-14-3684

¶ 29         Like section 13 of the Act, section 3-7002 of the Code is designed to ensure that the goals

          of experienced membership and political balance are met. Like section 13, there is no

          provision for assuring that those goals are met where the appointment is for less than the six-

          year term required by the statute. In this case, once an appointment to a shorter term is made,

          the statute requires that the successor be appointed “for a like term.” In the long run, such

          shorter terms put at risk the makeup of the Merit Board as contemplated by section 3-7005.

¶ 30         The defendants argue that unlike the statutes in Vuagniaux and Daniels, nothing in

          section 3-7002 prohibits the sheriff from filling vacancies on the Merit Board. The

          defendants also argue that since the State had not preempted the manner in which vacancies

          on the Merit Board were filled, the Rosales appointment was a proper exercise of the Cook

          County’s home rule powers. However, the question of statutory authority to fill vacancies on

          the Merit Board was not certified to this court. Zlatev, 2015 IL App (1st) 143173, ¶ 17

          (review is limited to the question certified to the court).

¶ 31         The defendants contend, next, that the statute implicitly gives the sheriff the power to

          appoint members to less than six-year terms. “The agency’s authority must either arise from

          the express language of the statute or ‘devolve by fair implication and intendment from the

          express provisions of the [statute] as an incident to achieving the objectives for which the

          [agency] was created.’ ” Vuagniaux v. Department of Professional Regulation, 208 Ill. 2d

          173, 188 (2003) (quoting Schalz v. McHenry County Sheriff’s Department Merit Comm’n,

          113 Ill. 2d 198, 202-03 (1986)). The defendants point out that at least four members are

          necessary for the Merit Board to perform its duties. See 55 ILCS 5/3-7005 (West 2012) (“the

          number of members that must be present to constitute a quorum shall be the number of

          members that constitute at least 40% of the Board”). The defendants argue that the authority

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       No. 1-14-3684

          to fill vacancies must be implied in the statute in order for the Merit Board to continue to

          conduct its business.

¶ 32         In Vuagniaux, the supreme court rejected a similar argument. The court concluded that

          “the removal of a Board member from participation in a specific disciplinary action does not

          empower the remaining Board members to sidestep the statutory nomination and

          confirmation process and invite another doctor to join them as a substitute.” Vuagniaux, 208

          Ill. 2d at 188-89. The Practices Act required only four of the seven voting members to

          constitute a quorum and provided that a vacancy did not impair the right of the quorum to

          conduct business. Vuagniaux, 208 Ill. 2d at 188. The court concluded that the power to

          appoint temporary members to the Board could not be implied from the statute as incident to

          achieving the Board’s statutory purposes. Vuagniaux, 208 Ill. 2d at 189.

¶ 33         In the present case, under section 3-7005 of the Code (55 ILCS 5/3-7005 (West 2012)),

          four Merit Board members are required to constitute a quorum to transact the business of the

          Board. Since there was no need to fill an unexpired term in order for the business of the

          Merit Board to continue, the authority of the sheriff to appoint an individual to an unexpired

          term cannot be implied as necessary to the Merit Board to perform its duties.

¶ 34         Phoenix Bond & Indemnity Co. v. Pappas, 309 Ill. App. 3d 779 (1999), relied on by the

          defendants, is distinguishable. In that case, the reviewing court held that the legislative grant

          to the county collector to hold auctions necessarily implied the authority to make rules to

          deal with the conduct of the auction. Phoenix Bond & Indemnity Co., 309 Ill. App. 3d at 784.

          In the present case, other than a quorum requirement, which was not challenged, nothing else

          was required for conducting the business of the Merit Board. Therefore, there was no need to

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       No. 1-14-3684

          imply statutory authority for the appointment of individuals for less than the six-year term in

          order for the business of the Merit Board to proceed.

¶ 35         We reject the defendants’ argument that we should defer to the Merit Board’s

          determination that section 3-7002 permits interim appointments and that interim members

          have the power to act until they are replaced. While deference to an agency’s interpretation

          of its own rules is normally given, the court is not bound by an agency’s interpretation that

          conflicts with the statute, is unreasonable or is erroneous. Crittenden v. Cook County

          Comm’n on Human Rights, 2013 IL 114876, ¶ 19.

¶ 36         We answer the first certified question in the negative; section 3-7002 of the Code does

          not authorize the Sheriff of Cook County either explicitly or by implication to appoint an

          individual to the Merit Board for less than a six-year term. We now address the second

          certified question.

¶ 37                   B. If the Merit Board Member Was Not Lawfully Appointed to the Merit Board,

                       Does the Decision of October 30, 2013, Remain Valid or Is It Rendered Void?

¶ 38         “A decision rendered by an administrative agency which lacks jurisdiction over the

          parties or the subject matter, or which lacks the inherent power to make or enter the decision

          involved, is void and may be attacked at any time or in any court, either directly or

          collaterally.” Board of Education of the City of Chicago v. Board of Trustees of the Public

          Schools Teachers’ Pension & Retirement Fund, 395 Ill. App. 3d 735, 739 (2009). In contrast,

          “[a] voidable judgment is a judgment entered erroneously by a court having jurisdiction.”

          Babcock v. Wallace, 2012 IL App (1st) 111090, ¶ 14 (quoting Juszczyk v. Flores, 334 Ill.

          App. 3d 122, 126 (2002).

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       No. 1-14-3684

¶ 39         The defendants rely on Peabody Coal Co. v. Industrial Comm’n, 349 Ill. App. 3d 1023

          (2004). In that case, Paul Rink was appointed by the Governor to fill an unexpired term of

          Commissioner Robert Madigan who resigned. Commissioner Madigan’s term ran until

          January 17, 2005, but Mr. Rink’s appointment expired on December 31, 2002. The Governor

          also appointed Diane Ford to Mr. Rink’s position, commencing on January 17, 2003. The

          Senate approved both appointments. The employee’s case was heard by a three-member

          panel, including Mr. Rink. The decision was issued by two commissioners from the original

          Commission panel, and Ms. Ford, who had replaced Mr. Rink. Peabody Coal, Inc., 349 Ill.

          App. 3d at 1026-27.

¶ 40         On appeal, the Industrial Division of the Appellate Court sua sponte raised the validity of

          the commission’s decision. The court determined that there was no authority under section 13

          of the Act permitting the Governor to limit the term of a commissioner. Once the Senate

          approved Mr. Rink’s appointment, there was no longer any vacancy to which Ms. Ford could

          be appointed. Therefore, Ms. Ford was never validly appointed a member of the

          Commission. Peabody Coal, Inc., 349 Ill. App. 3d at 1028.

¶ 41         Nonetheless, the court in Peabody Coal, Inc., found the Commission’s decision voidable

          rather than void, declining to follow Daniels. The court noted that Daniels was a plurality

          opinion. See Calles v. Scripto-Tokai Corp., 224 Ill. 2d 247, 269 (2007) (recognizing that

          plurality opinions are not binding precedent); Roark v. Macoupin Creek Drainage District,

          316 Ill. App. 3d 835, 845 (2000) (“ ‘[P]lurality decisions of a state supreme court, in which

          no majority agrees to the reasoning, are not binding under the doctrine of stare decisis.’ ”

          (quoting 5 Am. Jur. 2d Appellate Review § 602, at 298 (1995))). Of the four concurring

          justices in Daniels, only two held that the Commission’s decision was void because of the

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          illegality of the appointments of the two participating commissioners. Peabody Coal, Inc.,

          349 Ill. App. 3d at 1028 (citing Daniels, 201 Ill. 2d at 165-67). The two specially concurring

          justices as well as the three dissenting justices would find that the Commission’s decision

          was not void. Peabody Coal Co., 349 Ill. App. 3d at 1028-29. 1

¶ 42          Having determined that the Commission’s decision was voidable rather than void, the

          court in Peabody Coal, Inc., considered whether the de facto officer doctrine applied.

          Peabody Coal, Inc., 349 Ill. App. 3d at 1029. Under the de facto officer doctrine, an

          individual who is performing the duties of an office under color of title is considered to be an

          officer de facto, and the acts of the individual as an officer are valid so far as the public and

          interested third parties are concerned. Peabody Coal, Inc., 349 Ill. App. 3d at 1029 (citing

          Vuagniaux, 208 Ill. 2d at 186-87); compare Daniels, 201 Ill. 2d at 176-77 (McMorrow, J.,

          specially concurring, joined by Freeman, J.) (de facto officer doctrine did not apply where

          the worker raised the validity of the Commission’s decision on direct review, but it should

          apply to preserve the validity of the decisions rendered by the Commission); see also

          Vuagniaux, 208 Ill. 2d at 186-87 (de facto officer doctrine did not apply where the plaintiff

          raised the validity of the member’s appointment in the disciplinary proceeding).

¶ 43          The court in Peabody Coal, Inc., concluded that the de facto officer doctrine applied to

          prevent the invalidation of Ms. Ford’s acts. Peabody Coal, Inc., 349 Ill. App. 3d at 1029. The

          court noted that the plaintiff never challenged the validity of the Commission’s decision

          based on the participation of an illegally appointed panel member. The issue was raised sua

          sponte by the reviewing court. Since the decision of the Commission was not void, the court

              1
               Justice Kilbride concurred in Chief Justice Harrison’s opinion holding that the Commission’s
          decision was void. Justice McMorrow, joined by Justice Freeman, specially concurred. Justice
          Fitzgerald dissented, and Justice Thomas, joined by Justice Fitzgerald and Justice Garman, dissented.

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       No. 1-14-3684

          held that “any attack on [the decision’s] validity by reason of [Ms.] Ford’s participation has

          been waived by reason of [the plaintiff’s] failure to raise the issue.” Peabody Coal Co., 349

          Ill. App. 3d at 1029. However, even if the Merit Board’s decision was voidable, the de facto

          officer doctrine would not apply in this case because the plaintiff raised the illegality of Mr.

          Rosales’s appointment to the Merit Board on direct review, not in a collateral proceeding.

          See Vuagniaux, 208 Ill. 2d at 187.

¶ 44         The defendants also rely on Max Shepard, Inc. v. Industrial Comm’n, 348 Ill. App. 3d

          893 (2004). However, in that case, the reviewing court found that Mr. Rink’s temporary

          appointment was made in accordance with the statute, and the court stated that it need not

          address the Commission’s authority to make appointments for less than the unexpired term of

          a commissioner, the issue in the case before us. Max Shepard, Inc., 348 Ill. App. 3d at 899-

          900.

¶ 45         In the present case, section 3-7002 of the Code did not authorize Sheriff Dart to appoint

          Mr. Rosales to less than a six-year term. His participation in the hearing and the decision of

          the Merit Board in this case requires that the Merit Board’s decision be vacated and

          remanded for a hearing before a legally constituted Merit Board as the circuit court ordered.

          See Vuagniaux, 208 Ill. 2d at 189 (causes remanded to administrative agencies when original

          agency decisions were found to have been made by or with the participation of public

          officers, whose appointments were not authorized by statute, citing Daniels and Gilchrist).

¶ 46         The defendants argue that any defect with the Rosales appointment was cured when on

          December 17, 2014, the Cook County Board ratified Mr. Rosales appointment from March

          19, 2012, to the third Monday in March 2018. However, the defendants fail to cite any

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          authority for that argument. Accordingly, the argument is forfeited. Ill. S. Ct. R. 341(h)(7)

          (eff. Feb. 6, 2013).

¶ 47         We conclude that the October 30, 2013, decision of the Merit Board was void because the

          Merit Board was illegally constituted at the time of the decision to terminate the plaintiff’s

          employment. In answer to the second certified question, the October 30, 2013, decision of the

          Merit Board is not valid because it is void.

¶ 48                                           CONCLUSION

¶ 49         Certified questions answered; cause remanded.

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