Court Opinion

ID: 9744559
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 22:06:20.023315+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:49.941394
License: Public Domain

MR. JUSTICE KLUCZYNSKI, dissenting: I dissent from the conclusion reached by the majority and would reverse and remand the cause for a new trial. The appellate court granted plaintiff’s application for a certificate of importance in which her sole contention was that the disclosure to the jury, during voir dire, of her remarriage was improper. As the appellate court noted, this precise issue “has not been discussed in an Illinois case ***.” (5 Ill. App. 3d at 1061.) Our constitution and Supreme Court Rule mandate that upon certification by the appellate court an appeal to this court is a matter of right. Ill. Const. (1970), art. VI, sec. 4(c); 50 Ill.2d R. 316. The majority of this court, however, have found it unnecessary to consider the precise question upon which the certificate of importance was obviously issued. This was accomplished by classifying the matter as relating only to damages. Since the jury determined that the defendant was not liable in the present case, the majority conclude the jury never reached the damage issue. They recognize, however, “that there may be cases in which errors which go to the questions of damages may be so pervasive and prejudicial as to create the likelihood that they may have affected a jury’s decision on the issue of liability.” During closing argument a defense reference was made to deceased’s method of driving on the night of the accident. This statement was made despite the trial court’s ruling that no issue of contributory negligence had been presented. The majority dismiss plaintiff’s contention of error though they observe “that it would have been better if there had been no direct reference to [deceased].” Notwithstanding the trial court’s admonition on this matter, defense counsel persisted by commenting that plaintiff had failed to present any evidence as to deceased’s activities prior to the accident. He further alluded to the fact that deceased, who was separated from plaintiff, “was way out there in Du Page County.” My colleagues have dismissed these comments as not significantly prejudicing plaintiff. Similarly, emphasis was placed upon the fact that the youth who admittedly placed the barricade on the roadway was not sued. The majority disagree that this reference was error or, even if so construed, that it constituted reversible error. After consideration of defense counsel’s closing argument, I am of the opinion that the jury’s attention was directed to matters which were immaterial as to the issue of liability and which were sufficiently prejudicial to deprive plaintiff of a fair trial. This prejudice was further compounded by the disclosure to the jury of plaintiff’s remarriage. Under the circumstances, the importance of the issue which originally brought this case before us should have been considered.