Court Opinion

ID: 9738716
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:01:24.323542+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:08.065334
License: Public Domain

SUPPLEMENTAL OPINION OF DENIAL OF REHEARING MR. JUSTICE ROMITI delivered the opinion of the court:  On petition for rehearing Allstate contends that Thornton v. Paul (1978), 74 Ill. 2d 132, 384 N.E.2d 335, recently decided by our supreme court, requires us to reverse and remand the case to the trial court for determination of coverage. We find that we no longer have jurisdiction to consider this issue as it is moot. Siefferman v. Johnson (1950), 406 Ill. 392, 94 N.E.2d 317; Railway Express Agency, Inc. v. Illinois Commerce Com. (1940), 374 Ill. 151, 28 N.E.2d 116; 2 Ill. L. & Prac. Appeal and Error §22 (1953). The supreme court in Thornton held that because of the conflicting interest of the insurer and the insured, the insurer’s failure to defend the underlying tort proceedings did not estop it from raising, in a garnishment proceeding, the defense of noncoverage as a defense against the plaintiff’s attempt to recover the judgment awarded in the tort action. The court in Thornton did, however, hold that the insurer was liable for the costs of defense. Since our original decision was handed down, the Illinois Supreme Court denied leave to appeal in Wummel v. Harmony Machines, Inc., the underlying action herein involved. Since there neither is nor can be a judgment in favor of Wummel against Reis, any issue whether the insurer is liable for the judgment or is estopped to deny coverage is now moot. There being no judgment existing against Reis, the insurer is only liable under count I for the costs of defense, and Thornton did not alter the insurer’s liability in this regard. Accordingly, the defendant’s petition for rehearing is denied. JOHNSON and LINN, JJ., concur.