Court Opinion

ID: 3147783
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 18:37:11.202289+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:55:19.855000
License: Public Domain

ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS
                                          Appellate Court

                       In re Marriage of Streur, 2011 IL App (1st) 082326

Appellate Court              In re MARRIAGE OF STACY STREUR, Petitioner-Appellant, and
Caption                      JOHN STREUR, JR., Respondent-Appellee.

District & No.               First District, Third Division
                             Docket No. 1–08–2326, 1–09–0692, 1–09–0782, 1–09–0877 cons.

Filed                        May 11, 2011
Rehearing denied             June 10, 2011
Modified                     June 15, 2011
Held                         On appeal from orders entered in postdecree proceedings involving
(Note: This syllabus         child support and attorney fees, the trial court’s order modifying
constitutes no part of the   respondent’s child support obligation retroactive to May 1, 2007, a date
opinion of the court but     set by the trial court on February 27, 2009, after a hearing on the
has been prepared by the     retroactivity issue, was modified by the appellate court to April 1, 2005,
Reporter of Decisions for    the day after petitioner’s unallocated support terminated under the terms
the convenience of the       of the marital settlement agreement, and further, petitioner’s petition to
reader.)                     vacate the judgment based in part on respondent’s alleged false
                             statements about his income and assets was properly dismissed as
                             untimely, and the award of petitioner’s request for attorney fees was
                             upheld over respondent’s contentions that the fees were incurred in
                             postdecree proceedings commenced several years after the judgment
                             and that the fees resulted from petitioner being overly litigious and that
                             she raised issues with no merit.

Decision Under               Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 98–D–16610; the
Review                       Hon. Eileen Mary Brewer, Judge, presiding.
Judgment                    Modified in part and affirmed in part.

Counsel on                  Grund & Leavitt, P.C., of Chicago (David L. Grund, Marvin J. Leavitt,
Appeal                      and David C. Adams, of counsel), for appellant.

                            Berger Schatz, of Chicago (Jason G. Adess and Jennifer L. Cantrell, of
                            counsel), for appellee.

Panel                       PRESIDING JUSTICE QUINN delivered the judgment of the court,
                            with opinion.
                            Justices Murphy and Steele concurred in the judgment and opinion.

                                              OPINION

¶1          The petitioner, Stacey Streur, appeals from an order of the circuit court modifying the
        child support obligation of respondent, John Streur, retroactive to May 1, 2007, and from two
        orders dismissing her petition to vacate judgment under section 2–1401 of the Illinois Code
        of Civil Procedure (Code) (735 ILCS 5/2–1401 (West 2008)), which sought to vacate the
        marital settlement agreement provisions in the judgment of dissolution of marriage.
        Petitioner contends that the child support award should have been made retroactive to June
        2, 2004, the date she initially filed a petition to modify and increase child support, and that
        the trial court erred in dismissing her section 2–1401 petition on res judicata and statute of
        limitations grounds. Respondent asserts that the trial court did not err in dismissing
        petitioner’s section 2–1401 petition or in awarding child support retroactive to May 1, 2007,
        but did err in ordering him to pay petitioner’s $127,000 attorney fee. For the reasons set forth
        below, we modify the trial court’s order modifying respondent’s child support obligation,
        making it retroactive to April 1, 2005, rather than May 1, 2007, and affirm the remaining trial
        court orders.

¶2                                       I. BACKGROUND
¶3          The procedural history in this case is extensive, and only those facts relevant to the issues
        raised in this appeal are addressed here. A judgment dissolving the parties’ marriage was
        entered by the trial court on April 18, 2000. The judgment incorporated a marital settlement
        agreement and a joint parenting agreement, which awarded the parties joint custody of their
        three minor children, with petitioner being the primary residential parent. Two provisions of
        the marital settlement agreement, section 4, addressing child support and section 8,
        addressing unallocated support, are pertinent to this appeal and provide as follows:
                “4. CHILD SUPPORT

                                                  -2-
     A. From JOHN’s unallocated maintenance and child support payments, as
provided in paragraph 8 below, STACY shall fully provide for [the minor children’s]
support without any further contribution from JOHN, except as otherwise provided
in this Agreement.
     B. JOHN shall pay the following expenses as support for [the minor children]:
         (i) Ordinary and extraordinary medical, dental and optical expenses, as
     provided in paragraph 5 of this Agreement;
         (ii) Major medical, dental and hospitalization insurance, as provided in
     paragraph 5 of this Agreement; and
         (iii) [The minor children’s] entire summer camp expenses for summer 2000
     only.
     C. JOHN’s obligation to pay for [the minor children’s] support shall terminate
as to each child upon the first of the following events:
         (i) Completion of the child’s high school education or attaining the age of 19,
     whichever is first to occur;
         (ii) The child’s otherwise becoming emancipated; or
         (iii) As otherwise ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
     D. Upon termination of STACY’s right to receive unallocated maintenance and
child support the parties shall agree to an appropriate amount of child support. If the
parties are unable to agree, the issue of child support shall be determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction.
     E. JOHN and STACY agree that child support pursuant to the guidelines
contained in 750 ILCS 5/505 is not appropriate in light of the other financial
provisions of this Agreement. JOHN and STACY agree and acknowledge that
provisions of this Agreement are adequate to provide [their minor children] with their
reasonable needs.
                                  ***
8. UNALLOCATED MAINTENANCE AND CHILD SUPPORT
     A. Commencing April 1, 2000 and continuing through March 1, 2005, JOHN
shall pay STACY unallocated maintenance and child support based on his annual
earned income. For purposes of calculating unallocated maintenance and child
support, JOHN’s annual earned income shall be defined as all taxable income
received from the Burridge Group, L.L.C. or any subsequent employer, or as a result
of his ownership profit points in the L.L.C., including salary, bonuses, and net profit
distributions from his Burridge Group L.L.C. profit points, but not including
‘phantom income’ attributable to JOHN for federal and state income tax purposes,
but not actually received by him. By way of example, JOHN’s annual earned income
shall not include business travel and expenses and medical insurance premiums
attributable to him as income. JOHN shall not do anything to diminish or defer his
income so as to reduce support under this paragraph.
     B. The unallocated maintenance and support shall be paid as follows:

                                  -3-
                     i) JOHN shall pay STACY 100% of his first $100,000 of earned income;
                     ii) JOHN shall pay STACY 0% of his earned income between $100,000 and
                 $200,000;
                     iii) JOHN shall pay STACY 30% of his earned income in excess of $200,000.
                     iv) The amount of family support in partial years covered by this Agreement
                 (year 2000 and year 2005) shall be determined using a prorated percentage of
                 JOHN’s annual gross income. JOHN’s annual gross income shall be prorated in
                 partial years covered by the Agreement. Family support in the 9 months covered
                 in the year 2000 shall be based on 75% of JOHN’s annual gross income. Family
                 support for the 3 months covered in 2005 shall be based on JOHN’s annual gross
                 income.
                     JOHN has paid STACY the sum of $16,200 which shall constitute his
                 unallocated maintenance and child support payments for the months of April and
                 May, 2000. Commencing June 1, 2000, JOHN shall pay STACY the unallocated
                 maintenance and child support on the 1st day of each month based upon his
                 earned income in the prior month. During the period JOHN is obligated to pay
                 STACY unallocated maintenance and child support pursuant to this paragraph,
                 JOHN shall provide STACY, on a quarterly basis, his pay stubs, W-2 statements,
                 and K-1 statements from Burridge Group, L.L.C., or any subsequent employer
                 and his annual federal and state income tax returns showing his total income to
                 verify his annual earned income as defined in paragraph 8, above. JOHN shall be
                 permitted to redact those portions of his tax returns which do not relate to the
                 Burridge Group, L.L.C. or any subsequent employer. JOHN shall pay the
                 unallocated maintenance and child support directly to STACY and not through
                 the Child Support Disbursement Unit.
                 C. JOHN’s obligations to pay STACY unallocated family support shall terminate
             upon the first to occur of the following:
                     i) STACY’s death;
                     ii) JOHN’s death;
                     iii) STACY’s cohabitation with another person on a resident continuing
                 conjugal basis;
                     iv) STACY’s remarriage;
                     v) March 1, 2005. (This does not terminate JOHN’s obligation to pay support
                 which was due on or prior to March 1, 2005).”
¶4       Approximately four years after the marital dissolution judgment, on June 2, 2004,
     petitioner commenced postdecree proceedings by filing two petitions: a petition to modify
     and increase unallocated support on the grounds that the children’s expenses had increased
     and a second petition for rule to show cause, alleging that respondent had failed and refused
     to make a full and complete disclosure of his income from all sources and failed to provide
     petitioner with his pay stubs, W-2 statements, and K-1s on a quarterly basis. Petitioner’s
     request for a modification of child support was continued from time to time until July 2006.

                                              -4-
¶5        In the interim, on April 1, 2005, respondent filed a petition to set child support, since
     petitioner’s unallocated support terminated on March 1, 2005. Also, in response to
     petitioner’s second petition for rule to show cause, respondent filed a motion for declaratory
     judgment on September 20, 2005, arguing that under the plain language of the marital
     settlement agreement his “passive income” was excluded from the definition of income with
     regard to calculating petitioner’s unallocated support. Respondent subsequently withdrew
     that motion when petitioner withdrew her second petition for rule to show cause. On
     December 12, 2005, petitioner filed a motion to enforce judgment alleging, in part, that
     respondent had refused to periodically make a full and complete disclosure of his income
     from all sources despite petitioner’s repeated requests and had diminished his income in
     order to decrease his support obligation. On January 6, 2006, respondent filed a motion to
     strike and dismiss petitioner’s motion to enforce judgment, which the trial court granted.
     Petitioner filed an amended motion to enforce judgment, on March 15, 2006, which the trial
     court again dismissed pursuant to a motion filed by respondent. Petitioner was granted leave
     to file a second amended petition to enforce judgment, which she did on June 2, 2006.
¶6        Shortly thereafter, petitioner obtained new counsel, who on June 14, 2006, filed a motion
     for voluntary dismissal in the divorce proceeding. On July 11, 2006, the trial court entered
     an agreed order of dismissal stating that “It is hereby ordered: *** That this cause be and is
     hereby DISMISSED on motion of Petitioner without prejudice.”
¶7        After obtaining a dismissal in the domestic relations division, petitioner filed a petition
     to vacate judgment under section 2–1401 of the Code in the chancery division on November
     9, 2006. Count I of the petition sought to vacate that part of the April 18, 2000 judgment for
     dissolution of marriage containing the parties’ marital settlement agreement. Petitioner
     alleged that prior to the entry of the dissolution of marriage judgment, respondent made false
     statements of material fact regarding his income and assets upon which she relied, and that
     she could not have presented this matter to the court before the entry of judgment. Petitioner
     also alleged that since the judgment was entered respondent has continued to refuse to
     provide her with copies of his pay stubs, W-2 statements, K-1s, or tax returns as required by
     the marital settlement agreement and failed to disclose other financial documentation,
     including information about a 401(k) retirement account with Affiliated Managers Group.
     The remaining counts of the section 2–1401 petition alleged breach of fiduciary duty (count
     II), conversion (count III) and unjust enrichment (count IV), and sought an accounting (count
     V) and the imposition of a constructive trust (count VI).
¶8        On February 14, 2007, the chancery court entered an order consolidating petitioner’s
     section 2–1401 petition with the pending matters in the domestic relations division. On
     February 26, 2008, respondent filed a motion to strike and dismiss the section 2–1401
     petition arguing that petitioner failed to allege sufficient facts to state a claim, that the section
     2–1401 petition was time-barred, and that her claims were barred by the parties’ judgment
     for dissolution of marriage. On June 27, 2008, the trial court dismissed count I of petitioner’s
     section 2–1401 petition with prejudice, stating that it “is time barred because this [2–]1401
     was filed two years after the Second Amended Petition for Rule *** on essentially the same
     grounds as found in the [2–]1401.” The court entered a written order of dismissal on July 24,
     2008. Respondent subsequently filed a motion to strike and dismiss the remaining counts of

                                                 -5-
       petitioner’s section 2–1401 petition pursuant to section 2–619 of the Code (735 ILCS
       5/2–619 (West 2008)) or, in the alternative, to reconsider the court’s July 24, 2008 order,
       arguing that the remaining counts were predicated on the allegations in count I and, therefore,
       should also be dismissed. The trial court agreed and on February 27, 2009, entered an order
       dismissing the remaining counts of petitioner’s section 2–1401 petition, stating that they
       were “based on the same allegations contained in the second petition for rule to show cause.”
¶9          Meanwhile, the parties engaged in negotiations regarding child support but did not reach
       an agreement, and on May 18, 2007, petitioner filed a petition to set child support. On April
       14, 2008, the trial court entered an agreed order setting respondent’s child support obligation
       at $17,000 per month, effective March 2008. The court also determined that respondent owed
       $61,000 in retroactive support and ordered him to pay that amount within 10 days of the date
       of that order. Subsequently, petitioner filed a memorandum in support of an award of
       retroactive child support requesting that the April 14, 2008 order be made retroactive to the
       filing of her June 2, 2004 petition to modify child support or alternatively to April 1, 2005,
       the date her unallocated support ended. On January 9, 2009, during a hearing on the
       retroactivity issue, the trial court stated, in part, that “the July 11, 2006 order dismissed the
       cause and it was not a partial dismissal. *** Also[,] the marital settlement agreement is not
       self-executing. *** [I]t specifically provided that the parties agree on an appropriate amount
       of child support or the issue be determined by court order. I am unable to go back to 2004,
       '05 or 2006 to look at evidence regarding income.” Subsequently, on February 27, 2009, the
       trial court entered a written order awarding petitioner child support retroactive to May 1,
       2007, and attorney fees, with the amount to be decided at a later date. On March 18, 2009,
       after a hearing, the trial court entered an order awarding petitioner $127,000 in attorney fees,
       the full amount of the fees owed.
¶ 10        The following trial court orders were consolidated for appeal: the order making child
       support retroactive to May 1, 2007, the order dismissing count I of petitioner’s section
       2–1401 petition, the order dismissing the remaining counts of petitioner’s section 2–1401
       petition, and the order awarding petitioner attorney fees.

¶ 11                                       II. ANALYSIS

¶ 12                   A. Retroactive Modification of Child Support Award
¶ 13        On appeal, petitioner first argues that the trial court erred in failing to make its award of
       child support retroactive to June 2, 2004, the date she filed her initial petition for
       modification of child support. A trial court’s decision regarding retroactivity of child support
       is usually reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard. In re Marriage of Eberhardt, 387
       Ill. App. 3d 226, 233 (2008). However, when the issue presented is one of law, and the facts
       and the credibility of witnesses are not an issue, our review is de novo. In re Marriage of
       Abrell, 236 Ill. 2d 249, 255 (2010). Here, although the issue involves the retroactivity of
       child support, the trial court’s decision was predicated on its finding that it had no authority
       to make the modification of child support retroactive prior to May 2007. This is a question
       of law, and therefore, we apply a de novo standard of review.

                                                  -6-
¶ 14       The issue of a retroactive modification of a child support award is addressed in section
       510(a) of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (Act) (750 ILCS 5/510(a)
       (West 2008)), which provides in relevant part as follows:
                “[T]he provisions of any judgment respecting maintenance or support may be
                modified only as to installments accruing subsequent to due notice by the moving
                party of the filing of the motion for modification.” 750 ILCS 5/510(a) (West 2008).
¶ 15       The parties agree that under the statute, “the earliest point to which retroactive
       modification of maintenance or support payments may be ordered is the date on which the
       nonmoving party receives ‘due notice’ from the moving party of the filing of the
       modification petition.” In re Marriage of Hawking, 240 Ill. App. 3d 419, 426 (1992). The
       parties disagree, however, as to the effect that a dismissal of a petition to modify child
       support has on determining the retroactivity date. Petitioner contends that the operative factor
       is the receipt of notice, and that respondent had notice that she was going to seek a
       modification of child support when she filed her motion on June 2, 2004 and no later than
       March 2005, when her unallocated support terminated under the terms of the marital
       settlement agreement. Respondent contends that under the plain language of the statute, there
       must be due notice of the filing of a modification petition, and that because petitioner
       dismissed her initial petition and did not file a petition to set child support until May 2007,
       the trial court correctly looked to the latter petition in setting a retroactivity date.
¶ 16       Petitioner relies on three cases to support her argument that a court may order a
       modification of child support retroactive to the filing date of a petition to modify support,
       even if that petition is subsequently dismissed. First, in In re Marriage of Duerr, 250 Ill.
       App. 3d 232 (1993), the mother was granted custody of the parties’ two children and the
       father was ordered to pay child support. However, the father stopped making child support
       payments in May 1989 after the children moved in with him. After one of the couple’s two
       sons moved back in with his mother in June 1990, she filed a petition for rule to show cause
       alleging that her former husband owed her child support arrearage from May 1989 to July
       1990. The husband filed a petition to modify child support in August 9, 1990, and after that
       petition was dismissed, he filed an amended petition on February 21, 1991. In ruling on that
       motion, the trial court ordered the wife to pay the husband $350 per month for the support
       of one of the sons and reduced the husband’s support payment to $1,000. The court also
       made the order retroactive to August 9, 1990, the date the husband filed his first petition to
       modify child support. On appeal, the wife contended that the order modifying child support
       should have been retroactive to February 1991 when the husband filed his amended petition.
       This court disagreed, holding that “[t]he fact that [the husband’s] petition was originally
       dismissed is not controlling as [the husband] later filed an amended petition with leave of the
       court which related back to his original petition. [Citations.] *** [T]he date of due notice to
       [the wife] with respect to [the husband’s] petition is the date of his original filing. The court
       could properly modify the support award for any installments accruing from the date of due
       notice. [Citations.]” Duerr, 250 Ill. App. 3d at 239.
¶ 17       Petitioner contends that similarly, in this case, the date that respondent received due
       notice that she was seeking a modification in child support was when she filed her initial
       petition on June 2, 2004. Although she was granted permission to dismiss her petition, that

                                                 -7-
       dismissal was without prejudice, petitioner asserts and therefore, as in Duerr, she was clearly
       permitted to refile and the effective date of that refiling should be the date of her original
       petition because at that point respondent was on notice that she was seeking a modification
       of child support.
¶ 18        Petitioner also asserts that Shoff v. Shoff, 179 Ill. App. 3d 178 (1989), supports a finding
       that the date of notice should be determinative in making a retroactive child support award.
       In Shoff, the mother had been granted custody of the parties’ minor child but subsequently
       agreed to an informal change of custody. After the child had lived with the father for almost
       two years, he filed a petition for temporary and permanent custody of the child. After the trial
       court granted temporary custody to the father, the mother filed a petition for rule to show
       cause alleging, inter alia, nonpayment of child support. The trial court found that the father’s
       obligation to pay child support terminated on the date when the temporary custody order was
       entered. This court agreed, holding that “common sense dictates that, once legal and physical
       custody is placed in one parent, that custodial parent has no obligation to pay child support
       to the noncustodial parent.” Shoff, 179 Ill. App. 3d at 186. The court acknowledged that
       section 510(a) provides that a judgment respecting child support may be modified only as to
       installments accruing subsequent to due notice of the moving party of the filing of the
       modification, but stated that “we think that in this case, appellant was put on due notice by
       the filing of the petition for temporary custody that she might lose custody of the child, and
       thereby also the right to collect child support payments. Although this does not follow the
       exact language of section 510(a), we think it fulfills the purpose of that section.” Shoff, 179
       Ill. App. 3d at 186.
¶ 19        Petitioner contends that as in Duerr, the Shoff court found that under the statute, the
       operative date in making a retroactive award of child support is the date that the opposing
       party is put on notice that a modification is being sought and not necessarily the date that the
       petition is filed. Therefore, petitioner asserts, because respondent knew that she was seeking
       a modification of child support in June 2004, when she filed her petition to modify and
       increase the unallocated support, the court should have made the order retroactive to that
       date.
¶ 20        Alternatively, petitioner argues that the latest date the court should have made the award
       retroactive to is April 1, 2005, the day after her unallocated support terminated under the
       terms of the marital settlement agreement. Petitioner cites In re Marriage of Erickson, 136
       Ill. App. 3d 907 (1985), to support this argument. In Erickson, the parties’ divorce judgment
       ordered the husband to pay unallocated support for the wife and child. A year later, the wife
       remarried, triggering a statutory terminating event to the continuing payment of unallocated
       support and maintenance. The husband reduced his monthly payments and three months later
       filed a petition for redetermination of unallocated maintenance and child support. The trial
       court determined that the husband was absolved from making maintenance payments and
       modified his child support obligation and made both orders effective as of the date of the
       wife’s remarriage. This court affirmed that order finding that “[b]ased on the particular facts
       of this case,” the trial court did not err in making modification of the award of unallocated
       maintenance and child support retroactive to the date of former’s wife remarriage rather than
       the date husband filed a petition to terminate maintenance, which occurred three months

                                                 -8-
       later. Erickson, 136 Ill. App. 3d at 915-16.
¶ 21       Petitioner contends that like the statutory terminating event in Erickson, there was a
       terminating event in this case, which was the arrival of March 31, 2005, the date when,
       according to the marital settlement agreement, respondent’s obligation to pay unallocated
       maintenance and child support terminated. Petitioner asserts that respondent, therefore,
       clearly had notice that his child support obligation would be modified after March 31, 2005,
       as evidenced by his decision to file a petition to modify child support on April 1, 2005.
       Petitioner acknowledges that respondent was granted permission to withdraw that petition
       with leave to refile and that he never did file an amended petition. However, she asserts that
       if this court finds that her May 2007 petition is controlling with regard to determining
       retroactivity, respondent, a party who owes retroactive child support would, in effect, be
       permitted to choose not to refile a petition in order to ensure that he or she will not be
       required to pay child support retroactive to that date. Therefore, petitioner asserts that
       because there was due notice of a modification no later than April 1, 2005, that is the latest
       date the trial court should have used in making the child support award retroactive.
¶ 22       Respondent contends that this court should not rely on Duerr, Shoff, or Erickson in
       addressing the retroactivity issue, because those cases are not only factually different from
       the instant case, but raised equitable concerns not present in this case, which required the trial
       courts to fashion a unique remedy. Respondent asserts that in this case petitioner chose to
       dismiss all of her pending actions in the domestic relations division in June 2006, including
       her petition to modify and increase unallocated child support, so that she could pursue a
       claim in the chancery division, where she thought she could find a judge more sympathetic
       to her cause. Respondent contends that once petitioner made that choice, she should not be
       permitted to subsequently fall back on that original petition in setting a retroactive date for
       child support.
¶ 23       Respondent also contends that under the language of the statute, a support award can be
       modified as to installments that accrue after a motion for modification is filed and due notice
       is given. Because petitioner dismissed her June 2, 2004 petition, it would be an error under
       the language of the statute to look to that date in awarding retroactive support, respondent
       argues. As for his own April 1, 2005 petition to set child support, respondent asserts that
       when he was granted permission to withdraw that petition in February 13, 2007, he was
       permitted but not required to file an amended petition. Therefore, respondent contends that
       because the actual date when both notice was given and the motion was filed was May 18,
       2007, when petitioner filed her motion to set child support, the trial court did not err in
       making child support retroactive to that date.
¶ 24       The holding in Shoff suggests that in making a retroactive modification in child support
       under the statute, the operative factor is due notice to the opposing party that a modification
       is being sought. The Duerr holding further supports petitioner’s argument that the date that
       the opposing party is notified that a modification in child support is being sought should be
       used in making a retroactive award, even if the petition setting that process in motion is
       subsequently dismissed and then refiled. However, in this case, unlike in Duerr, petitioner
       voluntarily dismissed her petition in the domestic relations division in order to file a section
       2–1401 petition in the chancery division seeking to partially vacate the judgment of

                                                  -9-
       dissolution of marriage. We agree with respondent that it would be inequitable to allow
       petitioner to dismiss her petition in order to pursue different relief in a different proceeding
       but then rely on that petition in setting a retroactive date for child support.
¶ 25       We do not agree, however, as respondent suggests and as the trial court found, that May
       2007, when petitioner filed her petition to modify child support, is the appropriate
       retroactivity date for respondent’s child support obligation. Here, as in Erickson, there was,
       under the terms of the parties’ martial settlement agreement, an event that terminated
       respondent’s obligation to provide unallocated support at the rate provided for in that
       agreement, namely the arrival of March 31, 2005. Respondent knew that his support
       obligation would be modified after that date, either by agreement of the parties or by court
       order. In anticipation of that modification, respondent filed a motion to set child support on
       April 1, 2005. Although respondent subsequently withdrew that motion, he clearly had notice
       that his support obligation would be modified after that date. As a result, we find, as this
       court did in Erickson, that the date of the terminating event is the appropriate date for
       ordering retroactive child support. Therefore, we modify the trial court’s order and find that
       respondent’s child support obligation is retroactive to April 1, 2005, the date that
       respondent’s obligation to pay unallocated support terminated, rather than May 1, 2007.

¶ 26                           B. Dismissal of Section 2–1401 Petition
¶ 27       Petitioner next asserts that the trial court erred in granting respondent’s motion to dismiss
       her section 2–1401 petition pursuant to section 2–619 of the Code. This court’s standard of
       review of a trial court’s grant of a motion to dismiss pursuant to section 2–619 is de novo.
       Parks v. Kownacki, 193 Ill. 2d 164, 175 (2000). When ruling on a section 2–619 motion to
       dismiss, a court must interpret all pleadings and supporting documents in the light most
       favorable to the nonmoving party. In re Chicago Flood Litigation, 176 Ill. 2d 179, 189
       (1997). The motion should be granted only if the plaintiff can prove no set of facts that
       would support a cause of action. Chicago Teachers Union, Local 1 v. Board of Education
       of the City of Chicago, 189 Ill. 2d 200, 206 (2000). However, “[a] dismissal order may be
       affirmed ‘if it is justified in the law for any reason or ground appearing in the record
       regardless of whether the particular reasons given by the trial court, or its specific findings,
       are correct or sound.’ ” BDO Seidman, LLP v. Harris, 379 Ill. App. 3d 918, 923 (2008)
       (quoting Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America v. Phillips Petroleum Co., 163 Ill. App. 3d
       136, 142 (1987)).
¶ 28       In this case, the trial court dismissed count I of petitioner’s section 2–1401 petition, on
       June 27, 2008, and subsequently dismissed the remaining counts on February 27, 2009.
       Petitioner first contends the trial court erroneously relied on the principle of res judicata in
       dismissing count I of the petition. The doctrine of res judicata provides that a final judgment
       on the merits rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction bars any subsequent actions
       between the same parties or their privies on the same cause of action. Rein v. David A. Noyes
       & Co., 172 Ill. 2d 325, 334 (1996). The doctrine extends not only to what was actually
       decided in the original action but also to matters which could have been decided in that suit.
       Rein, 172 Ill. 2d at 334. For the doctrine to apply, three requirements must be met: (1) there

                                                 -10-
       was a final judgment on the merits rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction; (2) there
       was an identity of cause of action; and (3) there was an identity of parties or their privies.
       Hudson v. City of Chicago, 228 Ill. 2d 462, 467 (2008).
¶ 29       Here, petitioner contends, there was no identity of causes of action because her second
       petition for rule to show cause presented a fundamentally different claim than her section
       2–1401 petition and that there was no final judgment on the merits of her second petition for
       rule to show cause because that petition was withdrawn, and therefore, there was no
       adjudication on the claims raised in her section 2–1401 petition. We agree with petitioner
       that res judicata is not a proper grounds for dismissal; however, because we find that the trial
       court’s dismissal of the section 2–1401 petition was not based on the application of the
       doctrine of res judicata, but rather, on the two-year statute of limitations, we affirm the trial
       court.
¶ 30       Section 2–1401 of the Code provides a statutory mechanism by which a final order or
       judgment may be vacated or modified more than 30 days after its entry. 735 ILCS 5/2–1401
       (West 2008). A petition brought under this provision is not a continuation of the original
       proceeding, but a commencement of a new cause of action with the purpose of bringing to
       the attention of the circuit court facts not of record which, if known by the court at the time
       judgment was entered, would have prevented its rendition. To be entitled to relief under
       section 2–1401, the petitioner must affirmatively set forth specific factual allegations
       supporting each of the following elements: (1) the existence of a meritorious claim or
       defense; (2) due diligence in presenting that claim or defense in the original action; and (3)
       due diligence in presenting the section 2–1401 petition. Gonzalez v. Profile Sanding
       Equipment, Inc., 333 Ill. App. 3d 680, 686 (2002). When a trial court enters a judgment on
       the pleadings or a dismissal in a section 2–1401 proceedings, our review is de novo. People
       v. Vincent, 226 Ill. 2d 1, 18 (2007).
¶ 31       A section 2–1401 petition must be filed within two years of entry of the relevant final
       judgment, but time during which the ground for relief is fraudulently concealed is excluded
       from the two-year period. 735 ILCS 5/2–1401(c) (West 2008). In order to show fraudulent
       misrepresentation, plaintiff must show (1) a false statement of a material fact; (2) the party
       making the statement knew or believed it to be untrue; (3) the recipient of the statement had
       a right to rely on it and did so; (4) the statement was made for the purpose of inducing the
       recipient to act; and (5) injury from the recipient’s reliance on the statement. In re Marriage
       of Ealy, 269 Ill. App. 3d 971, 973 (1995).
¶ 32       Although petitioner contends that the trial court’s dismissal of her section 2–1401
       petition was erroneously based on the doctrine of res judicata, the record indicates otherwise.
       During the hearing on respondent’s motion to dismiss petitioner’s section 2–1401 petition,
       the trial court stated that it was “time barred because [it] was filed two years after the Second
       Amended Petition for Rule [to Show Cause] *** and on essentially the same allegations.”
       This indicates that the dismissal was based on a statute of limitations violation. Petitioner
       contends, however, that even if the statute of limitations, rather than res judicata, was the
       basis for the trial court’s dismissal of her petition, the trial court erred because the statute of
       limitations was tolled by respondent’s fraudulent conduct. Namely, petitioner asserts that

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       respondent made false statements of material fact and wilfully failed to disclose material
       facts upon which she relied in executing the marital settlement agreement. For instance, she
       alleged that respondent failed to disclose a 401(k) retirement account with the Affiliated
       Managers Group and represented prior to judgment that he was and would continue to fully
       disclose his income and assets but has failed to do so and has engaged in a course of action
       to fraudulently conceal his assets. Petitioner contends that she timely filed her section 2–1401
       petition by filing it within two years of learning about respondent’s fraud. We disagree.
¶ 33       Petitioner filed her second petition for rule to show cause on June 2, 2004, alleging that
       respondent failed to make a full and complete disclosure of his income from all sources in
       an effort to evade his full obligation of unallocated family support. Therefore, it is clear that
       she was aware of a possible claim on that date, but still waited until November 2006, more
       than two years later, to file her section 2–1401 claim. The trial court found that because the
       allegations in both pleadings were the same, the petitioner had knowledge of a possible claim
       more than two years earlier and, therefore, was time barred. Even if the statute of limitations
       was tolled as a result of respondent’s fraud, it is clear from the June 2, 2004 motion that
       petitioner had knowledge of a possible basis for vacating the judgment but waited more than
       two years to file that petition. Therefore, we find that because petitioner failed to timely file
       her section 2–1401 petition, the trial court did not err in dismissing it.

¶ 34                                   C. Attorney Fee Award
¶ 35        Respondent appeals from the trial court’s order awarding petitioner $127,000 in attorney
       fees. Respondent contends that under principles of equity, he should not be required to pay
       all of petitioner’s attorney fees, because they were incurred in a postdecree proceeding that
       was commenced several years after the judgment for dissolution of marriage was entered and
       resulted from petitioner being overly litigious and raising issues that had no merit under the
       terms of the parties’ marital settlement agreement.
¶ 36        Generally, it is the responsibility of the party who incurred attorney fees to pay those fees.
       In re Marriage of Nesbitt, 377 Ill. App. 3d 649, 656 (2007). However, section 508(a) of the
       Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (Act) allows for an award of attorney fees
       where one party lacks the financial resources and the other party has the ability to pay. 750
       ILCS 5/508(a) (West 2008). When determining an award of attorney fees, the allocation of
       assets and liabilities, maintenance and the relative earning abilities of the parties should be
       considered. In re Marriage of Suriano, 324 Ill. App. 3d 839, 852 (2001). The party seeking
       an award of attorney fees must establish an inability to pay and the other spouse’s ability to
       do so. In re Marriage of Schneider, 214 Ill. 2d 152, 174 (2005). Financial inability exists
       where requiring payment of fees would strip that party of his means of support or undermine
       his financial stability. Schneider, 214 Ill. 2d at 174. There is no prohibition against awarding
       attorney fees to an unsuccessful litigant, although good faith of litigants is to be considered.
       In re Marriage of Pylawka, 277 Ill. App. 3d 728, 735 (1996). The allowance of attorney fees
       and the amount awarded are matters within the sound discretion of the circuit court and will
       not be reversed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion. Schneider, 214 Ill. 2d at 173.

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¶ 37       Section 508(a) of the Act addresses the types of proceedings in which an award of
       attorney fees may be made, stating, in relevant part, that:
              “Awards may be made in connection with the following:
                  (1) The maintenance or defense of any proceeding under this Act.
                  (2) The enforcement or modification of any order or judgment under this Act.
                  (3) The defense of an appeal of any order or judgment under this Act, including
              the defense of appeals of post-judgment orders.
                 (3.1) The prosecution of any claim on appeal (if the prosecuting party has
              substantially prevailed).
                 (4) The maintenance or defense of a petition brought under Section 2–1401 of the
              Code of Civil Procedure seeking relief from a final order of judgment under this Act.
                 (5) The costs and legal services of an attorney rendered in preparation of the
              commencement of the proceeding brought under this Act.
                 (6) Ancillary litigation incident to, or reasonably connected with, a proceeding
              under this Act.” 750 ILCS 5/508(a) (West 2008).
¶ 38       The proceedings involved in this appeal, a section 2–1401 petition and a petition to
       modify child support award are clearly the types of proceedings for which an award of
       attorney fees may be granted under the Act. Further, we note that section 508 of the Act,
       addressing the awarding of interim attorney fees and costs in prejudgment dissolution
       proceedings, was amended effective January 1, 2010. In doing so, the legislature did not
       adopt the view expressed by respondent that attorney fees should not be awarded in a
       postdecree petition or that a court should take into consideration the fact that a petition is
       postdecree in deciding whether and to what extent attorney fees should be awarded.
       Therefore, we reject respondent’s argument that the trial court erred in awarding attorney fees
       to petitioner because the proceedings were postdecree and occurred several years after the
       judgment for dissolution of marriage was entered, as such an award is contemplated by the
       Act.
¶ 39        As to respondent’s argument that the trial court’s attorney fee award fails to take
       petitioner’s litigiousness into consideration, it should be noted that during the hearing the
       trial judge pointed out that respondent had filed a motion for sanctions under Illinois
       Supreme Court Rule 137 (eff. Feb. 1, 1994) arguing that petitioner and her counsel failed to
       conduct reasonable investigation before pursuing postdecree relief and that she had found
       no grounds for sanctions. Further, although petitioner did not succeed on her section 2–1401
       petition, there is no evidence that she acted in bad faith in bringing the petition.
¶ 40       As to the parties’ respective abilities to pay the attorney fees, the record shows a wide
       disparity in their financial resources. According to the parties’ disclosure statements,
       respondent had a gross income of $1,800,000 in 2006 while petitioner earned no income and
       had living expenses of $17,000 per month, equal to the amount she was awarded in child
       support. There is also a disparity in the ability of the parties to generate income. Although,
       as respondent notes, petitioner is a licensed attorney, she was a stay-at-home mother during

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       the marriage and since the dissolution judgment was entered. There is no evidence that
       respondent’s economic stability will be undermined as a result of the award of attorney fees
       to petitioner. Therefore, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in awarding
       petitioner attorney fees.
¶ 41       Finally, petitioner argues in a petition for rehearing that counts II through VI of her
       section 2–1401 petition cannot be dismissed on statute of limitations grounds because they
       are postdecree, equitable and common law claims seeking to enforce a child support order,
       and pursuant to section 12–108 of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure, “[c]hild support
       judgments, including those arising by operation of law, may be enforced at any time.” 735
       ILCS 5/12–108 (West 2008). This contention was not raised in petitioner’s brief, and
       therefore, pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 341(h)(7), it is forfeited. See Ill. S. Ct. R.
       341(h)(7) (eff. Sept. 1, 2006) (“[p]oints not argued are waived and shall not be raised in the
       reply brief, in oral argument, or on petition for rehearing”).

¶ 42                                    III. CONCLUSION
¶ 43      For the foregoing reasons, we modify the trial court’s order to make the modified child
       support retroactive to April 1, 2005, and we affirm the remaining trial court orders.
¶ 44      Modified in part and affirmed in part.

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