Court Opinion

ID: 3142432
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 17:56:22.516155+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:05:11.104601
License: Public Domain

ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS
                                        Appellate Court

           Poris v. Lake Holiday Property Owners Ass’n, 2012 IL App (3d) 110131

Appellate Court            KENNETH E. PORIS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. LAKE HOLIDAY
Caption                    PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., GEORGE LEIDOLF,
                           JAMES MORAN, STEVEN CONDON, DOROTHY FLEMING,
                           JAMES BYRNE, MICHAEL IVANAUSKAS, CINDY KAMINKY and
                           MATTHEW CLIFFORD, Defendants-Appellees.

District & No.             Third District
                           Docket No. 3-11-0131

Filed                      January 24, 2012

Held                       In an action for declaratory judgment and false imprisonment arising from
(Note: This syllabus       an incident in which plaintiff was stopped for speeding by a security
constitutes no part of     officer employed by defendant property owners’ association, the trial
the opinion of the court   court erred in entering summary judgment for defendant on the claims
but has been prepared      that the officer had no authority to stop and detain drivers and that amber
by the Reporter of         lights could not be used on security vehicles, since those practices were
Decisions for the          unlawful, but summary judgment was properly entered for defendant on
convenience of the         the claims based on the use of recording equipment and radar, because
reader.)
                           those practices did not violate Illinois law, and since plaintiff was
                           restrained for violating defendant’s rule on speeding, not a criminal law,
                           summary judgment for defendant on the false imprisonment claim was
                           reversed and the cause was remanded for entry of summary judgment for
                           plaintiff on the liability portion of that claim and a determination of
                           damages.
Decision Under             Appeal from the Circuit Court of La Salle County, No. 09-CH-73; the
Review                     Hon. Eugene P. Daugherity, Judge, presiding.

Judgment                   Affirmed in part and reversed in part; cause remanded.

Counsel on                 John Brechin, of Addison, and Kenneth E. Poris (argued), of Somonauk,
Appeal                     for appellant.

                           Bruce Lyon (argued) and Shaun Raad, both of LaBarge, Campbell &
                           Lyon, LLC, of Chicago, and Douglas A. Gift, of Herbolsheimer, Lannon,
                           Henson, Duncan & Reagan, of La Salle, for appellees.

Panel                      JUSTICE LYTTON delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
                           Justices Holdridge and O’Brien concurred in the judgment and opinion.

                                             OPINION

¶1         Plaintiff, Kenneth E. Poris, filed a 14-count complaint against defendants, Lake Holiday
        Property Owners Association, Inc. (Association), its board of directors, its chief of security
        and one of its security officers. Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment on all
        counts. Plaintiff filed a cross-motion for summary judgment on several counts. The trial court
        granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment. On appeal, plaintiff argues that the trial
        court erred in granting summary judgment to the Association on his declaratory judgment
        and false imprisonment claims. We affirm in part, reverse in part and remand.

¶2                                         BACKGROUND
¶3          Plaintiff owns property in Lake Holiday Development. He is a member of the
        Association. The Association is a not-for-profit Illinois corporation incorporated in 1965. Its
        articles of incorporation state the purposes for which it was formed:
            “To promote and enhance the civic and social interests of the owners of real estate in
            Lake Holiday Development *** in so far as those interests relate to the maintenance of
            Lake Holiday. To acquire and hold real estate in its corporate name; to construct and
            maintain thereon buildings and structures of all types, roadways, beaches; and, to do all
            other things reasonably necessary thereofor [sic] ***.”

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¶4         Pursuant to its bylaws, the Association is governed by a board of directors. The board
       established the Lake Holiday Private Security Department, created a manual for the
       department and hired a chief of security, Matthew Clifford, who reports to the board.
¶5         The board is authorized to adopt rules and regulations that the board deems necessary for
       the best interests of the Association and its members. The board promulgated several rules
       pertinent to this case. The board adopted a rule authorizing “private security officers” to
       enforce the Board’s rules and regulations, including the power to “issue citations for
       violations.” Another rule prohibits members from obstructing officers:
               “No person shall knowingly resist or obstruct the performance by one known to the
           person to be a public safety officer of any authorized act within his or her official
           capacity. No person shall fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of
           any public safety officer authorized by the Lake Holiday Property Owners Association.
           A request to examine personal identification, such as a driver’s license, in addition to a
           member’s amenity pass shall be honored. CLASS A VIOLATION.”
¶6         The board also approved a rule to regulate speed on Lake Holiday property:
               “Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit on all Lake Holiday roads shall be 25 miles
           per hour. Speed limits shall be strictly enforced. Violations from 1 to 10 mph over the
           posted speed limit are CLASS C VIOLATIONS. From 11 to 15 mph over the posted
           speed limit are CLASS B violations. From 16 mph or over the posted limit are CLASS
           A VIOLATIONS.”
       A Class A violation carries a $200 penalty for a first offense. A Class B violation is
       punishable by a $100 fine for a first offense. The fine for a Class C violation is $50 for a first
       offense.
¶7         The security department consists of several “private security officers” in addition to
       Clifford. The board purchased vehicles for the security department and equipped the vehicles
       with oscillating and flashing lights, radar units and audio and video recording equipment.
       According to the security department manual, “Traffic violation enforcement is one of many
       routine tasks performed by officers.” All officers are required to wear a badge, uniform and
       “duty belt.” A “duty belt” may “include weapons that the officer is certified to carry on duty.”
¶8          On October 20, 2008, plaintiff was traveling on Farmer’s Road, which is located in the
       Lake Holiday Development and owned by the Association. James Podnar, a security officer
       employed by the Association, measured plaintiff’s speed, using a radar unit, at 34 miles per
       hour. Podnar activated the white and yellow oscillating lights on his security vehicle and
       pulled plaintiff over. The incident was videotaped from Podnar’s security vehicle.
¶9         Immediately after he was pulled over, plaintiff exited his vehicle and engaged in
       conversation with Podnar. Podnar instructed plaintiff to get back in his vehicle and stay there
       for safety reasons. Plaintiff complied. Podnar then approached plaintiff’s vehicle and
       requested an Association membership card and driver’s license from plaintiff. Plaintiff
       provided the items to Podnar. Podnar took plaintiff’s driver’s license back to his vehicle.
       Four-and-a-half minutes later, Podnar exited his vehicle and approached plaintiff’s vehicle.
¶ 10       As soon as Podnar reached plaintiff’s vehicle, he informed plaintiff that he was being
       recorded. Podnar told plaintiff that he was issuing him a citation for speeding. When plaintiff

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       inquired whether Podnar was a police officer, Podnar responded that he worked for Lake
       Holiday Private Security and was not a police officer. Plaintiff repeatedly told Podnar that
       he had no authority to detain him. Podnar responded, “I am not detaining you.” Podnar issued
       plaintiff a citation for speeding.
¶ 11       In February 2009, plaintiff filed a complaint against the Association, its board members,
       Clifford and Podnar. The complaint sought injunctive and declaratory relief, among other
       things. On February 19, 2009, plaintiff filed a motion for a temporary restraining order
       prohibiting defendants from pursuing his speeding citation.
¶ 12       At a hearing on plaintiff’s motion, plaintiff testified that on October 20, 2008, while
       traveling on Farmer’s Road, he saw white and amber oscillating lights behind him. He pulled
       over, believing that an emergency vehicle was behind him. Podnar, who was wearing a
       uniform and a “large belt” and had a “large club-like flashlight,” got out of his squad car.
       Podnar told plaintiff in “a very authoritative, forceful voice” to get back in his vehicle.
       Plaintiff complied. Plaintiff testified that he did not feel free to leave. He believed he was
       under arrest. Following the hearing, the trial court denied plaintiff’s motion for a temporary
       injunction.
¶ 13       Clifford testified that he has been an officer for the Association for 13 years and the chief
       of security for 9 years. For his entire employment with the Association, it has been the policy
       and practice of the security department to pull over drivers who are violating Association
       rules.
¶ 14       The Association has equipped security vehicles with video and audio recording
       equipment since 2000. It is the procedure of the department to inform drivers that they are
       being recorded. If a driver says he does not want to be recorded, the officer is to shut off the
       recording equipment.
¶ 15       In 2007, the security department began using white and amber flashing and oscillating
       lights on their security vehicles. The La Salle County sheriff’s department instructed Clifford
       to stop using the white lights. The security department now uses only amber flashing and
       oscillating lights on their vehicles.
¶ 16       Neither Clifford nor any employees of the Association’s security department have been
       given police powers by the La Salle County sheriff’s office. Clifford has never been given
       any authority or permission by any police agency or the La Salle County Board to stop
       vehicles, use overhead lights, use radar to measure the speed of vehicles or make audio and
       video recordings on Association property.
¶ 17       On March 19, 2010, plaintiff filed a 14-count third amended complaint against
       defendants. Count I was a declaratory judgment action against the Association, seeking a
       declaration that the practices and procedures of the Association’s security department are
       unlawful. Counts II and III alleged breach of fiduciary duty and willful and wanton conduct
       by the Association. Count IV alleged false imprisonment by the Association. Counts V
       through XII alleged breach of fiduciary duty and willful and wanton conduct by each
       individual board member and Clifford. Count XIII alleged nuisance by the Association, and
       count XIV sought an accounting by the Association.
¶ 18       Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment on all counts of plaintiff’s third

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       amended complaint. Plaintiff filed a cross-motion for summary judgment on counts I, II, IV
       and XIII of his third amended complaint. The trial court granted defendants’ motion for
       summary judgment.

¶ 19                                        ANALYSIS
¶ 20       Summary judgment is proper when the pleadings, affidavits, depositions and admissions
       of record, construed strictly against the moving party, show there is no genuine issue as to
       any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
       Johnson v. Salvation Army, 2011 IL App (1st) 103323,¶ 18. Summary judgment “is a drastic
       means of disposing of litigation and therefore should be allowed only when the right of the
       moving party is clear and free from doubt.” Purtill v. Hess, 111 Ill. 2d 229, 240 (1986). We
       review a trial court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. Johnson, 2011 IL App (1st)
103323, ¶ 18.

¶ 21                                  I. Declaratory Judgment
¶ 22       Plaintiff first argues that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment to the
       Association on his declaratory judgment cause of action because the Association’s security
       department is not authorized by law to (A) stop vehicles and detain their drivers, (B) use
       amber oscillating lights on security vehicles, (C) record individuals whom they stop, or (D)
       use radar equipment to measure the speed of vehicles.

¶ 23                              A. Authority to stop and detain
¶ 24       Plaintiff argues that the security officers employed by the Association have no legal
       authority to stop and detain drivers.
¶ 25       Security guards occupy the same status as private citizens. People v. Perry, 27 Ill. App.
3d 230, 239 (1975). Section 107-3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 authorizes
       ordinary citizens, including security guards, to make an arrest when they have reasonable
       grounds to believe “that an offense other than an ordinance violation is being committed.”
       725 ILCS 5/107-3 (West 2008). The express power to arrest granted in section 107-3
       “necessarily implies the power to undertake less intrusive actions, such as a traffic stop or
       a brief detention to await pursuing police officers, so long as there are reasonable grounds
       to believe the person seized has committed an offense other than an ordinance violation.”
       People v. Shick, 318 Ill. App. 3d 899, 904 (2001).
¶ 26       Thus, a security guard, with the powers of an ordinary citizen, may only stop and detain
       a person if he “has reasonable grounds to believe that an offense other than an ordinance
       violation is being committed.” 725 ILCS 5/107-3 (West 2008); Shick, 318 Ill. App. 3d at 904.
       An “offense” is “a violation of any penal statute of this State.” 720 ILCS 5/2-12 (West 2008);
       725 ILCS 5/102-15 (West 2008). A “penal statute of this State” is a law enacted by the
       General Assembly that prohibits some act and prescribes a punishment. See People v.
       Kleutgen, 359 Ill. App. 3d 275, 279 (2005).
¶ 27       In this case, members of the security department stop and detain drivers for violating the

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       Association’s rules, not Illinois statutes. Association rules are enacted by its board, not the
       General Assembly. The security officers are without legal authority to stop and detain drivers
       for violating Association rules. See 725 ILCS 5/107-3 (West 2008).
¶ 28       The security officers employed by the Association are attempting to assert police powers.
       They have neither the right nor the power to do so. They have only those powers that
       ordinary citizens have. See Perry, 27 Ill. App. 3d at 239. The practice of stopping and
       detaining drivers for Association rule violations is unlawful.

¶ 29                                    B. Use of amber lights
¶ 30        Plaintiff argues that the Association security department’s use of amber oscillating and
       flashing lights on its vehicles is unlawful, pursuant to Illinois law. Defendants contend that
       the Association falls within a class authorized to use amber lights on its vehicles.
¶ 31        Section 12-215(b) of the Illinois Vehicle Code prohibits the of use of “amber oscillating,
       rotating or flashing lights” except on specified vehicles, including “[v]ehicles used by a
       security company, alarm responder, or control agency.” 625 ILCS 5/12-215(b)(13) (West
       2008).
¶ 32        The fundamental rule of statutory interpretation is to ascertain and effectuate the
       legislature’s intent. Beelman Trucking v. Illinois Workers’ Compensation Comm’n, 233 Ill.
2d 364, 370 (2009). The best indication of legislative intent is the statutory language, given
       its plain and ordinary meaning. Id. When a statute leaves terms undefined, we may consult
       a dictionary to determine their plain and ordinary meaning. Christmas v. Dr. Donald W.
       Hugar, Ltd., 409 Ill. App. 3d 91, 95-96 (2011).
¶ 33        The parties agree that the Association is not an “alarm responder” or “control agency.”
       However, the Association contends that it is a “security company.” Neither the Vehicle Code
       nor any other Illinois statute defines “security company.” Thus, we must look to the plain and
       ordinary meaning of that phrase.
¶ 34        “Security” is defined as “the quality or state of being secure: as *** freedom from
       danger.” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary 2053 (1976). “Company” is defined
       as “an association of persons for carrying on a commercial or industrial enterprise or
       business.” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary 461 (1976). Thus, a “security
       company” is “an association of persons engaged in the business of keeping people secure and
       free from danger.”
¶ 35        The Association is not a commercial enterprise in the business of “keeping people secure
       and free from danger.” Rather, it is a property owners’ association created “[t]o promote and
       enhance the civic and social interest of the owners of real estate in Lake Holiday
       Development *** in so far as those interests relate to the maintenance of Lake Holiday.”
       Thus, the Association is not a “security company.”
¶ 36        Since the Association is not an entity authorized by the Vehicle Code to use amber lights
       on its vehicles, the Association’s use of those lights is unlawful.

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¶ 37                                C. Use of recording equipment
¶ 38       Plaintiff argues that the security department’s practice of recording drivers with audio
       and video recording equipment is a violation of the eavesdropping statute.
¶ 39       According to section 14-2 of the Criminal Code of 1961, a person commits
       eavesdropping when he “[k]nowingly and intentionally uses an eavesdropping device for the
       purpose of hearing or recording all or any part of any conversation *** unless he does so ***
       with the consent of all of the parties to such conversation or electronic communication.” 720
       ILCS 5/14-2(a)(1) (West 2008).
¶ 40       Consent under the eavesdropping statute may be either expressed or implied. People v.
       Ceja, 204 Ill. 2d 332, 349 (2003); see also Hurst v. Board of Fire & Police Comm’n, 2011
IL App (4th) 100964, ¶ 19 (“an individual can ‘impliedly consent’ to the monitoring of his
       communications for purposes of the eavesdropping statute”). Consent exists where a person’s
       behavior manifests acquiescence or a comparable voluntary diminution of his or her
       otherwise protected rights. Ceja, 204 Ill. 2d at 349.
¶ 41       Implied consent may be deduced from the prevailing circumstances in a given situation.
       Ceja, 204 Ill. 2d at 350. The circumstances relevant to an implication of consent will
       ordinarily include language or acts that tend to prove that a party knows of, or assents to,
       encroachments on the routine expectation that conversations are private. Id. When an
       individual is told that his conversation is being recorded and, nevertheless, knowingly
       engages in conversation, there is no eavesdropping violation. See id.
¶ 42       Here, Clifford testified that individuals stopped by security officers are immediately
       informed that their conversations are being recorded. If a driver objects, the recording is
       stopped. If a driver does not object, he has impliedly consented to having his conversation
       recorded. See Ceja, 204 Ill. 2d at 350. The security department’s use of recording equipment
       is not a violation of the eavesdropping statute.

¶ 43                                        D. Use of radar
¶ 44       Plaintiff contends that the security department is prohibited from using radar units to
       determine the speed of vehicles on Association property, pursuant to supreme court
       precedent and the Illinois Vehicle Code.
¶ 45       In People v. Lahr, 147 Ill. 2d 379 (1992), the supreme court ruled that a police officer
       outside of his jurisdiction did not make a lawful citizen’s arrest because he used tools of his
       office, including a radar gun, to determine that the defendant committed an offense. The
       court rejected the State’s contention that use of the radar gun was not an assertion of police
       authority because ordinary citizens may use them, stating:
           “Although it is hypothetically possible for a private citizen to obtain a radar gun and
           conduct his own surveillance of a road, we believe the possibility of this happening is
           remote. We believe it is generally true that the use of radar guns for monitoring speed of
           traffic is limited to police officers.” Lahr, 147 Ill. 2d at 383.
¶ 46       Nothing in Lahr prohibits anyone other than police officers from using radar equipment.
       In fact, the court in Lahr acknowledged that it was possible for people other than police

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       officers to obtain and use radar guns. Thus, the supreme court’s decision in Lahr does not
       support plaintiff’s position that the Association was prohibited from using radar equipment
       on its property.
¶ 47       Plaintiff also contends that section 11-612 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-
       612 (West 2008)) prohibits the Association’s use of radar equipment. That section provides:
           “Except as authorized in the Automated Traffic Control Systems in Highway
           Construction or Maintenance Zones Act, no photographic, video or other imaging system
           may be used in this State to record vehicle speeds for purposes of enforcing any law or
           ordinance regarding a maximum or minimum speed limit unless a law enforcement
           officer is present at the scene and witnesses the event.” 625 ILCS 5/11-612 (West 2008).
       Section 11-612 prohibits the video, photographic or other recording of vehicle speeds to
       enforce laws or ordinances with a narrow exception for highway construction or maintenance
       zones; it does not prevent the Association or any other entity from using radar equipment to
       detect speed. Thus, the Association’s use of radar equipment to detect the speed of vehicles
       on its property is not unlawful.

¶ 48                                        E. Conclusion
¶ 49       As set forth above, the Association’s security department’s practices of stopping and
       detaining drivers for violating Association rules and using amber flashing and oscillating
       lights on its security vehicles are unlawful. Thus, the trial court erred in granting summary
       judgment to the Association on those issues. We affirm the court’s grant of summary
       judgment to the Association on plaintiff’s claims that the Association’s use of recording
       equipment and radar violate Illinois law. However, we reverse and remand for the trial court
       to grant summary judgment to plaintiff on his claims that the Association’s practices of
       stopping and detaining drivers for rule violations and of using amber lights on their security
       vehicles are unlawful.

¶ 50                                     II. False Imprisonment
¶ 51       A person commits false imprisonment when he or she unreasonably restrains another’s
       liberty against his or her will. Carey v. K-Way, Inc., 312 Ill. App. 3d 666, 669 (2000). In
       order to establish false imprisonment, a plaintiff must prove that “(1) the plaintiff was
       restrained or arrested by the defendant; and (2) the defendant acted without reasonable
       grounds to believe that the plaintiff committed an offense.” Id.
¶ 52       False imprisonment only requires that the plaintiff’s liberty be restrained, not necessarily
       that the plaintiff actually be placed under arrest. Carey, 312 Ill. App. 3d at 669. This element
       is met if a person is compelled to go where he or she does not wish to go or to remain where
       he or she does not wish to remain. Id. at 669-70. The standard for arrest is whether a
       reasonable person in the plaintiff’s place, innocent of any crime, would think that he or she
       was free to leave. Carey, 312 Ill. App. 3d at 670.
¶ 53       Here, Podnar activated his overhead lights, causing plaintiff to pull over and stop. Podnar
       exited his vehicle, wearing a uniform, badge and duty belt containing weapons. He told

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       plaintiff to wait in his car and took possession of plaintiff’s driver’s license. Plaintiff
       remained in his car for several minutes until Podnar returned his driver’s license, issued him
       a citation and told him he was free to leave.
¶ 54       Under these facts, plaintiff was restrained by Podnar. See People v. Lewallen, 247 Ill.
       App. 3d 350, 354 (1993) (taking driver’s license and issuing ticket are evidence of arrest);
       People v. Sinclair, 281 Ill. App. 3d 131, 135 (1996) (requesting a driver’s license and telling
       a person to stay in the car constitutes a seizure). When he is ordered by an individual wearing
       a uniform, badge and duty belt to wait in his vehicle without his driver’s license while the
       officer prepares a citation, a reasonable person would conclude that he was compelled to stay
       in his car. See People ex rel. Ryan v. Village of Hanover Park, 311 Ill. App. 3d 515, 531
       (1999). Since plaintiff’s liberty was restrained, the first element of false imprisonment was
       met.
¶ 55       The second element of false imprisonment is that “the defendant acted without
       reasonable grounds to believe that the plaintiff committed an offense.” Carey, 312 Ill. App.
3d at 669. The question is, did Podnar have probable cause to believe that plaintiff
       committed an “offense”? See Carey, 312 Ill. App. 3d at 669. An “offense” includes both
       felonies and misdemeanors. See People v. Hill, 28 Ill. App. 3d 719, 720 (1975).
¶ 56       Here, the evidence establishes that Podnar pulled over and detained plaintiff because he
       was driving in excess of the speed limit set forth in the Association’s rules. The
       Association’s rules are not felonies or misdemeanors. Thus, a violation of a rule or regulation
       is not an “offense.” See Hill, 28 Ill. App. 3d at 720.
¶ 57       Because Podnar restrained plaintiff for violating an Association rule, not a criminal law,
       plaintiff established the elements necessary for his false imprisonment claim. The trial court
       erred in granting summary judgment to the Association on that count. We reverse and
       remand to the trial court to enter summary judgment in favor of plaintiff on the liability
       portion of his false imprisonment cause of action and to determine plaintiff’s damages.

¶ 58                                     CONCLUSION
¶ 59      The order of the circuit court of La Salle County is affirmed in part and reversed in part,
       and the cause is remanded.

¶ 60      Affirmed in part and reversed in part; cause remanded.

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