Court Opinion

ID: 9860012
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 23:06:54.844501+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:12:57.431060
License: Public Domain

BURKE, P. J., dissenting: In my opinion the judgments should be reversed and the cause remanded with directions to enter judgment for the defendant. The Family Protection Coverage endorsement does not apply. The provisions are clear and unambiguous. The endorsement to the agreement states clearly that its provisions shall not apply whenever an insured takes judgment without the written consent of the insurer. The plaintiffs, after due deliberation, took judgment without securing the written consent of the insurer. Where the provisions of a contract are clear and explicit, as in this instance, it is the duty of the court to enforce them. O’Daniell v. Missouri Ins. Co., 24 Ill.App.2d 10, 164 N.E.2d 78. Since plaintiffs claim no right to their judgments under any other provision of the contract and since the endorsement under which they claim does not apply, the judgments should be reversed. The contract is not contrary to public policy. It makes no attempt to relieve the third party of any responsibility for his acts. Plaintiffs’ argument that the contract is without consideration and without mutuality cannot stand. If these arguments were valid, there would be no contract at all and no basis for any action by plaintiffs. The law does not require consideration and mutuality as to each provision. One provision of a contract is consideration for another. The obligations imposed upon one party by one provision give mutuality to the separate obligation imposed upon the other party by another provision. The law of consideration and the law of mutuality apply to contracts and not to provisions.