Court Opinion

ID: 3143275
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 17:58:40.824432+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:54:56.478098
License: Public Domain

No. 2--05--0381                             filed:
11/2/06
__________________________________________________________________

                                           IN THE

                            APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                           SECOND DISTRICT
_____________________________________________________________________

In re MARRIAGE OF                  ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
DINO A. CAPITANI,                  ) of Kane County.
                                   )
     Petitioner-Appellee and       )
     Cross-Appellant,              )
                                   )
and                                ) No. 03--D--944
                                   )
JO ELLYN L. CAPITANI,              )
                                   ) Honorable
     Respondent-Appellant and      ) Stephen Sullivan,
     Cross-Appellee.               ) Judge, Presiding.
_____________________________________________________________________

       JUSTICE McLAREN delivered the opinion of the court:

       This appeal comes before the court on respondent Jo Ellyn Capitani's notice of

appeal filed on April 20, 2005, in which she claims the trial court erred and abused its

discretion in the entry of its March 22, 2005, judgment order. Respondent asserts that this

matter was brought as an appeal from a final judgment, pursuant to Supreme Court Rules

301 and 303(a) (155 Ill. 2d Rs. 301, 303(a)) and article VI, section 6, of the Illinois

Constitution (Ill. Const. 1970, art. VI, '6 ), which would vest this court with jurisdiction to

determine the issues presented for our review.

       Petitioner filed a motion to dismiss the appeal, to which respondent filed an

objection. We determine that this court does not have jurisdiction and grant petitioner's

motion to dismiss the appeal.
No. 2--05--0381

       The trial court entered an order on March 7, 2005, that addressed many of the

issues in dispute in the dissolution action. In paragraph 2 of its letter of opinion, dated

March 7, 2005, the trial court noted that joint custody of the parties' two minor children

should be awarded to the parties, with respondent as the primary residential custodian.

The trial court outlined general parameters for a contemplated joint parenting order, but did

not make specific provisions. Petitioner's attorney was directed to prepare the judgment

and respondent's attorney to prepare "any other necessary documents."

       A judgment for dissolution of marriage was entered on March 22, 2005. The

judgment incorporated the trial court's letter of opinion by reference and recited that joint

custody was awarded. However, the judgment did not contain any specifics regarding the

provisions of joint custody. The judgment stated that the court "reserves jurisdiction over

this cause for the purposes of entering a joint parenting order incorporating a joint parenting

agreement to be prepared and submitted to this court by the parties."

       We determine that the reservation of jurisdiction for the purpose of entering a joint

parenting order clearly shows that not all of the issues in dispute were fully addressed and

settled by the March 22, 2005, judgment order. Thus, the March 22, 2005, order was not

final and appealable. As petitioner noted in his motion to dismiss the appeal, the joint

parenting order, which did in fact contain specific provisions regarding custody, was not

entered in the trial court until July 1, 2005. We consider the trial court's reservation of

jurisdiction significant because we do not consider the entry of a joint parenting order to be

"incidental" to the final judgment.

       The statutorily required provisions for a joint custody order underscore the

importance of a joint parenting order (whether based upon agreement or hearing on the

                                             -2-
No. 2--05--0381

merits) that is specific and clear in order that it be a final disposition, capable of being

interpreted and enforced.

       "Such [joint parenting] [a]greement shall specify each parent's powers, rights and

       responsibilities for the personal care of the child and for major decisions such as

       education, health care, and religious training. The [a]greement shall further specify

       a procedure by which proposed changes, disputes and alleged breaches may be

       mediated or otherwise resolved and shall provide for a periodic review of its terms

       by the parents. ***

              (c) The court may enter an order of joint custody if it determines that joint

custody

       would be in the best interests of the child, taking into account the following:

                                            ***

              (3) all other factors which may be relevant to the best interest of the child."

       (Emphases added.) 750 ILCS 5/602.1(b), (c) (West 2004).

The order specifying the nature and extent of visitation for the nonresidential parent here

was not realized until July 1, 2005, and therefore was not final and appealable prior to July

1, 2005. We further believe that the joint parenting order is of utmost importance because

it embodies the agreement between the parties as to the most important aspect of the

marriage and subsequent dissolution, the custody and care of their minor children. It is

problematic to conclude that a joint parenting order that is incapable of being enforced is

"incidental" to the final judgment.    A " 'mandate of the court must be clear before

disobedience can subject a person to punishment.' " Doe v. Lutz, 253 Ill. App. 3d 59, 65

(1993), quoting People v. Wilcox, 5 Ill. 2d 222, 228 (1955). "To support a finding of

                                            -3-
No. 2--05--0381

contempt, the order must be 'so specific and clear as to be susceptible of only one

interpretation.'    [Citation.]   'It [the order] must not only be capable of reasonable

interpretation, but that interpretation must be to the exclusion of other reasonable

interpretations; it must be unambiguous.' [Citation.]" In re Marriage of Steinberg, 302 Ill.

App. 3d 845, 853 (1998).

          Without such clarity, a joint parenting order is not only unenforceable, it is

unreviewable in any meaningful sense. Were a party to appeal such a nondescript order,

as in this case, the reviewing court would be hard-pressed to consider the merits of the

appeal. We believe that the dissent does not understand the difficult complications such

lack of clarity causes for purposes of review and enforcement of custody and visitation

rights.

          A petition for dissolution of marriage advances a single claim, that is, a request for

an order dissolving the parties' marriage. In re Marriage of Leopando, 96 Ill. 2d 114, 119

(1983). The other issues in a dissolution case, including custody and support, "do not

represent separate, unrelated claims; rather, they are separate issues relating to the same

claim." (Emphasis in original.) Leopando, 96 Ill. 2d at 119. All issues, including visitation,

must be resolved before a judgment becomes a final and appealable order. In re Marriage

of Watling, 183 Ill. App. 3d 18, 21-22 (1989). Stated differently, a judgment that does not

reserve any issues for later determination is final and appealable. In re Marriage of

Sassano, 337 Ill. App. 3d 186, 192 (2003).

          Because not all issues in controversy were adjudicated by the March 22, 2005,

judgment order, the order was not final and appealable and we lack jurisdiction to consider

this appeal. Supreme Court Rule 303(a)(1) states that a notice of appeal must be filed

                                               -4-
No. 2--05--0381

within 30 days of the entry of the final judgment appealed from (or within 30 days after entry

of an order disposing of a timely posttrial motion directed against the judgment) (155 Ill. 2d

R. 303(a)(1)). Jurisdiction is conferred upon this court only through the timely filing of a

notice of appeal, following a final judgment order. In re Application of County Treasurer,

214 Ill. 2d 253, 261 (2005). We must grant petitioner's motion to dismiss the appeal.

       Petitioner filed a cross-appeal. However, he stated in his brief that he has chosen

not to presently argue the issues raised in the cross-appeal. Thus, we determine that he

has abandoned his cross-appeal. Furthermore, because we do not have jurisdiction over

the original appeal, we do not have jurisdiction over the cross-appeal. Supreme Court Rule

303(a)(3) allows a cross-appeal only if the notice of the cross-appeal is filed within 10 days

of a timely filed original notice of appeal or within 30 days of the final and appealable

judgment. Neither factual scenario exists here.

       In conclusion, because we do not have jurisdiction over the original appeal or the

cross-appeal, we grant petitioner's motion to dismiss the original appeal, and we dismiss

the cross-appeal sua sponte.

       Appeal dismissed.

       HUTCHINSON, J., concurs.

       JUSTICE GILLERAN JOHNSON, dissenting:

       The trial court's March 22, 2005, order, from which the respondent filed a timely

notice of appeal, was a final order. An order is final for purposes of review where matters

left for future determination are merely incidental to the ultimate rights that have been

adjudicated by the judgment or decree. In re D.D., 212 Ill. 2d 410, 418 (2004); Deckard v.

Joiner, 44 Ill. 2d 412, 416 (1970).

                                             -5-
No. 2--05--0381

       In its March 22, 2005, judgment for dissolution of marriage, the trial court awarded

joint legal custody to the parties, designated the respondent as the primary residential

custodian, and reserved jurisdiction "for the purposes of entering a Joint Parenting Order

incorporating a Joint Parenting Agreement to be prepared and submitted to this Court by

the parties." Additionally, the trial court incorporated the findings it had made in a March 7,

2005, opinion letter into the March 22 dissolution judgment. In the second paragraph of

those findings, the trial court stated that "[t]he parenting time of the [petitioner] shall be

liberal and in accord with the usual and customary schedule. *** The parties shall provide a

framework in the judgment for such parenting time keeping in mind the spirit of this

decision."

       By incorporating this finding, the judgment for dissolution of marriage not only

awarded joint legal custody to the parties, with the respondent designated as the primary

residential custodian, but also awarded the petitioner the "usual and customary" visitation.

Accordingly, the dissolution judgment was a final adjudication of all the parties' rights and

was thus a final order. The joint parenting agreement merely set forth the "usual and

customary" visitation schedule. Specifically, the joint parenting agreement incorporated

into the July 1, 2005, joint parenting order indicates that the parties shall share

responsibility for and jointly make decisions affecting the best interests of the children on

issues involving health, education, religion, and welfare. Additionally, the agreement grants

the petitioner visitation on alternating weekends, Wednesday evenings, alternating

holidays, and four weeks during the children's summer vacation from school. Accordingly,

the joint parenting agreement merely recited the standard visitation schedule. See In re

                                             -6-
No. 2--05--0381

Marriage of Collingbourne, 204 Ill. 2d 498, 501 (2003) (joint parenting agreement provided

visitation to noncustodial parent every other weekend and alternate holidays); In re

Parentage of Tavares, 363 Ill. App. 3d 964, 966 (2006) (joint custody agreement provided

noncustodial parent with visitation on every other weekend, on every other holiday, and for

four weeks during the summer); DeBilio v. Rodgers, 337 Ill. App. 3d 614, 615 (2002) (joint

custody order granted noncustodial parent visitation every other weekend, every Tuesday

evening, and various holidays); In re Marriage of Ludwinski, 312 Ill. App. 3d 495, 497

(2000) (joint custody order granted noncustodial parent visitation on alternate weekends,

one day midweek, eight weeks during the summer, and various holidays); In re Marriage of

Kartholl, 143 Ill. App. 3d 228, 230 (1986) (joint custody order granted noncustodial parent

visitation on alternating weekends, holidays, and four weeks during the summer); Kraft v.

Kraft, 108 Ill. App. 3d 590, 591 (1982) (joint custody agreement specified that noncustodial

parent would receive visitation every other weekend, every Tuesday afternoon, four

weekends during the child's summer vacation, and alternate holidays). Under these facts,

the judgment for dissolution of marriage was a final order.

       Such a determination is not contrary to our supreme court's policy, set forth in

Leopando, that discourages piecemeal appeals in marital dissolution proceedings. In the

present case, the trial court's reservation of the right to enter the joint parenting agreement

was merely incidental to the ultimate rights adjudicated by the dissolution judgment. See In

re D.D., 212 Ill. 2d at 418. In the judgment for dissolution, the trial court ordered that the

parties be awarded joint custody of their children and that the parenting time of the

petitioner be liberal and in accord with the usual and customary schedule. Additionally, the

trial court made determinations as to the distribution of marital assets, child support, and

                                             -7-
No. 2--05--0381

maintenance. Based on the trial court's order, it is clear that custody, visitation, and all

other remaining issues had been resolved. Moreover, the fact that the entry of the joint

parenting order was merely incidental to the rights adjudicated by the dissolution judgment

is supported by the fact that the petitioner admitted at trial that custody was not at issue in

this case.

       The majority reasons that the March 22, 2005, dissolution order cannot be

considered final and appealable because it is allegedly unclear and insufficient to support a

contempt finding. The majority's conclusion is flawed. There is no case law to support the

majority's proposition that an order is not final unless it is sufficient to support a contempt

finding. Furthermore, contempt is not an issue in this case. In addition, the March 22

dissolution order was enforceable. The case law set forth above is quite clear as to what a

usual and customary visitation schedule entails. Moreover, in ordering that the parenting

time of the petitioner be "liberal and in accord with the usual and customary schedule," the

trial court specifically instructed the parties that their joint parenting agreement was to

"provide a framework *** for such parenting time keeping in mind the spirit of this decision."

As such, the trial court was quite clear as to the scope of the visitation schedule that was

to be set forth in the joint parenting agreement. Accordingly, the trial court's determination

as to the rights of the parties concerning custody and visitation was clear for purposes of

review and enforcement.

       As such, the March 22, 2005, order was final because jurisdiction was not retained

for the determination of a matter of substantial controversy. Unlike in Leopando, matters

were not reserved for future consideration or adjudication by the trial court. The trial court

adjudicated all issues in the dissolution judgment. The trial court specifically granted usual

                                             -8-
No. 2--05--0381

and customary visitation to the petitioner. The joint parenting agreement merely put into

legalistic form what the trial court had already awarded in general terms. Additionally, it is

important to note that the respondent raises meritorious arguments on appeal. The record

reveals that the trial court erred in its distribution of the marital assets and in its

determination of child support. In determining that we are without jurisdiction to hear this

appeal, the majority denies the respondent substantial justice. Accordingly, I dissent from

the majority's erroneous and inequitable decision that this court lacks jurisdiction to

consider the merits of the respondent's appeal.

                                             -9-