Court Opinion

ID: 9405605
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-06-28 20:05:06.603483+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:23.143353
License: Public Domain

2023 IL App (1st) 221156-U
                                                                           THIRD DIVISION
                                                                           June 28, 2023
                                         No. 1-22-1156

NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except in the
limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1).
______________________________________________________________________________

                                    IN THE
                        APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
                           FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________

METROPOLITAN CAPITAL BANK & TRUST,                 ) Appeal from the
                                                   ) Circuit Court of
     Plaintiff-Appellant,                          ) Cook County
                                                   )
v.                                                 ) No. 19 L 1133
                                                   )
ALICIA ENGSTROM and HOSAIN RAHMAN,                 ) Honorable
                                                   ) Michael F. Otto,
     Defendants-Appellees.                         ) Judge Presiding.
____________________________________________________________________________

       JUSTICE REYES delivered the judgment of the court.
       Presiding Justice McBride and Justice Burke concurred in the judgment.

                                            ORDER

¶1     Held: Reversing the grant of summary judgment in favor of a borrower and remanding
             for the circuit court to enter summary judgment in favor of the lender, where the
             borrower failed to comply with the terms of the parties’ forbearance agreement;
             affirming the grant of summary judgment in favor of the borrower’s spouse, who
             was a signatory to the forbearance agreement but not a borrower under the loan
             documentation.

¶2     Hosain Rahman (Rahman) borrowed funds from Metropolitan Capital Bank & Trust

(the bank). After he defaulted on the loan, Rahman and his wife Alicia Engstrom (Engstrom)

entered into a forbearance agreement with the bank. Although Rahman and Engstrom (the

obligors) made the payments required by the forbearance agreement, they failed to comply with

certain nonmonetary obligations under the agreement, e.g., the pledge of specified securities.
1-22-1156

The bank filed a complaint in the circuit court of Cook County against the obligors for breach of

the forbearance agreement, seeking the full balance owed under the loan documentation.

The circuit court ultimately granted summary judgment in favor of the obligors, finding that the

bank did not suffer any loss due to the obligors’ default under the forbearance agreement.

¶3     On appeal, the bank argues that: (a) the circuit court improperly imposed a “materiality”

requirement into the forbearance agreement, i.e., requiring a material breach even though the

agreement did not so provide; and (b) even if a materiality requirement applied, the obligors’

breach of the forbearance agreement was material. The obligors contend, in part, that the bank is

not entitled to collect payment for the underlying debt as damages for the breach of the

forbearance agreement. As discussed below, we reverse the grant of summary judgment in favor

of Rahman and remand to the circuit court to enter judgment in favor of the bank and against

Rahman. As to Engstrom, we affirm the grant of summary judgment in her favor.

¶4                                      BACKGROUND

¶5                                The Loan and the Amendments

¶6     The bank and Rahman entered into a loan agreement and related agreements in late 2013,

whereby the bank extended a $1.5 million revolving loan to Rahman. The loan was secured by

specified collateral, including shares of “AliphCom.”

¶7     The bank and Rahman then agreed to and entered into a series of amendments to the loan

agreement. The first amendment, executed in 2014, increased the revolving loan commitment to

$2.75 million. The first amendment acknowledged that an event of default had already occurred,

i.e., failure to pay certain charges related to the collateral. A second amendment in 2015

increased the commitment to $3 million and extended the maturity date of the loan. In the third

and fourth amendments, both executed in 2016, the bank agreed to certain additional financial

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accommodations requested by Rahman, including extensions of the loan maturity date.

¶8     In September 2016, the bank and Rahman entered into a “Forbearance Agreement and

Fifth Amendment to Loan Agreement” (fifth amendment). The fifth amendment stated that

Rahman had requested that the bank (a) forbear from exercising certain rights based on his

existing defaults, (b) extend the loan maturity date, and (c) provide a new line of credit loan in

the amount of $375,000. The bank agreed to these accommodations but required additional

collateral, i.e., real estate owned by the obligors in San Francisco (the San Francisco property).

¶9                                 The Forbearance Agreement

¶ 10   On July 1, 2018, the bank and the obligors (Rahman and Engstrom) entered into the

forbearance agreement at issue in this appeal. In the forbearance agreement, the parties agreed

that there were existing defaults under the loan documentation including: failure to make interest

payments; failure to provide required financial statements, brokerage statements, and tax returns;

failure to comply with net worth and liquidity requirements; defaulting on specified indebtedness

to another lender; failing to deliver rental income from the San Francisco property; failing to

timely replace the AliphCom stock with other collateral when the stock diminished in value (as

required by the fifth amendment); and failing to repay the bank in full on the revolving loan

maturity date. The forbearance agreement noted that the bank had commenced a non-judicial

foreclosure as to the San Francisco property.

¶ 11   In the forbearance agreement, the parties agreed that the loan documentation constituted

valid and binding obligations of the obligors, enforceable against the obligors in accordance with

their terms. The agreement provided that the total outstanding liabilities owed by Rahman under

the loan documentation were: (1) $3,429,760.97 in principal; (2) $223,411.50 in unpaid interest;

(3) $144,811.51 in default interest calculated since the revolving loan maturity date; (4) $800 in

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other bank fees and expenses; (5) legal fees related to the enforcement of the bank’s rights under

the loan documentation, estimated at $94,286.99; and (6) unbilled legal fees.

¶ 12    The forbearance agreement provided that if the obligors “fully and timely” satisfied and

performed “each of the conditions, covenants, terms and provisions” set forth in the forbearance

agreement – and no other breaches or defaults occurred under the forbearance agreement or the

loan documentation – the bank agreed to forbear from exercising its rights and remedies arising

from the existing defaults. Among other things, the obligors agreed to make two payments:

(a) all proceeds from the sale of the San Francisco property, on or before July 16, 2018, and

(b) $300,000 on or before July 1, 2019 (the 2019 payment). The obligors also agreed to pay the

bank 80% of any net cash proceeds received from each cash bonus received by Rahman in the

forbearance period (i.e., until July 1, 2019) from his work for “Jawbone Health Hub, Inc.”

(Jawbone) or any other organization, together with evidence of the total bonus amount received

by Rahman.

¶ 13    The forbearance agreement further stated that “in consideration of the diminution of

value of the AliphCom Stock Collateral and pursuant to Section 7.3[1] of the Loan Agreement,”

if the 2019 payment was not made on or before January 1, 2019, then Rahman was required to

pledge his stock in Jawbone in an amount equal to the 2019 payment (the Jawbone pledge) on

January 1, 2019. The forbearance agreement provided that the Jawbone pledge would serve as

additional collateral for the 2019 payment and that Rahman was required to deliver a valuation

of the Jawbone stock. The forbearance agreement further provided that if the 2019 payment was

not made – and if the Jawbone pledge was not made – as of January 1, 2019, then Rahman was

        1
          As provided in the fifth amendment, section 7.3 required, in part, that Rahman pledge additional
shares of AliphCom to the extent of any diminution in value of the AliphCom shares already pledged as
collateral under the loan documentation.
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required to pledge his equity interests in “Social+Capital Partnership II, L.P.” in an amount equal

to the 2019 payment (the Social Capital pledge) as additional collateral for such payment. He

was similarly required to deliver a valuation of the Social Capital equity.

¶ 14   The forbearance agreement provided that the occurrence of any “breach, default, or

noncompliance” with the terms of the agreement would automatically terminate the bank’s

agreement to temporarily forbear, and the bank would be entitled to (a) demand that the liability

under the loan documentation would be immediately due and payable and (b) immediately

exercise all rights and remedies afforded under the loan documentation without any further

notice to the obligors.

¶ 15   The record indicates that the San Francisco property was sold, and the sale proceeds were

distributed to the bank as contemplated by the forbearance agreement. As discussed below,

however, the obligors failed to effectuate the Jawbone pledge or the Social Capital pledge after

not making the 2019 payment by January 1, 2019.

¶ 16                    The Complaint, Answer, and Affirmative Defenses

¶ 17   In February 2019, the bank filed a verified complaint for breach of the forbearance

agreement against the obligors in the circuit court of Cook County. The bank alleged that the

obligors breached the forbearance agreement by failing to: (a) execute and deliver the Jawbone

pledge, or alternatively the Social Capital pledge, on January 1, 2019; (b) provide a valuation and

other required documentation relating to the Social Capital equity; and (c) confirm that Rahman

had not received cash bonuses from Jawbone or any other organization (80% of which would be

payable to the bank).

¶ 18   Based on the foregoing breaches of the forbearance agreement, the bank sought the entire

amount of the remaining indebtedness from Rahman, which was $766,737.58, as of January 15,

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2019, plus interest and attorney fees and costs. As to Engstrom, the bank sought $300,000 – the

amount of the 2019 payment – plus interest and attorney fees and costs.

¶ 19   The obligors filed an answer and affirmative defenses in May 2019. In their first

affirmative defense, the obligors alleged that the bank waived any claim of default under the

forbearance agreement by previously waiving strict compliance with the loan documentation.

In their second affirmative defense, the obligors alleged they had not breached the forbearance

agreement, as the 2019 payment of $300,000 was not due until July 1, 2019.

¶ 20                     The Initial Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment

¶ 21   On June 11, 2019, the bank filed a motion for summary judgment on its complaint and

the obligors’ affirmative defenses pursuant to section 2-1005 of the Code of Civil Procedure

(Code) (735 ILCS 5/2-1005 (West 2018)). The bank contended that the obligors defaulted under

the forbearance agreement by, among other things, failing to effectuate the Jawbone pledge or

the Social Capital pledge on January 1, 2019. The bank further argued, in part, that the obligors

expressly “waived any claim of waiver” in the forbearance agreement. In an affidavit appended

to the summary judgment motion, a bank executive detailed the amounts owed under the loan

documentation. Another attachment to the motion was a default letter sent by the bank to the

obligors dated January 15, 2019, enumerating the breaches of the forbearance agreement.

¶ 22   On July 23, 2019, the obligors filed a combined response to the bank’s motion for

summary judgment and a cross-motion for summary judgment. The obligors maintained that

they timely made a payment of $300,000 on July 1, 2019, and therefore were in “full

compliance” with the terms of the forbearance agreement. According to the obligors, the

Jawbone pledge or the Social Capital pledge was intended to serve as collateral for the $300,000

payment, and thus “the intended purpose of the collateral is now moot given there is no longer

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any debt to satisfy.” The obligors contended that the bank suffered no damages based on their

alleged breach of the nonmonetary terms of the forbearance agreement. In an affidavit appended

to the motion, Rahman averred that he did not receive any applicable bonus payments from

Jawbone or any other organization. Rahman further averred that the bank “never required strict

compliance with any of the non-monetary provisions” in any of the parties’ agreements prior to

the filing of the instant litigation.

¶ 23    In its reply in support of its motion for summary judgment, the bank argued that the

payment on July 1, 2019, did not negate or cure the breaches of the forbearance agreement which

had occurred on January 1, 2019. The bank further observed that Rahman did not dispute that he

failed to comply with multiple covenants in the forbearance agreement and that Engstrom had

not submitted any affidavit. According to the bank, the forbearance agreement terminated when

the obligors breached, and the bank was entitled to pursue and collect the entire indebtedness

owed under the loan documentation. Attached to the reply was a stipulation wherein the parties

had expressly agreed that the payment of the $300,000 amount on July 1, 2019, would reduce the

total amount owed to the bank but would not “in any way affect, impair, waive, or release any of

the claims or defenses by any of the parties in the lawsuit.”

¶ 24    In an order entered on September 19, 2019, the circuit court2 denied the cross-motions for

summary judgment. The circuit court found that there was no genuine issue of material fact that

the obligors had defaulted under a specified section of the forbearance agreement but that “a

genuine issue of fact remains as to [the bank’s] damages.”

        Judge Brigid Mary McGrath entered this order; subsequent orders in this matter were entered by
        2

Judge Michael F. Otto.
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¶ 25                  The Bank’s Second Motion for Summary Judgment

¶ 26   On October 30, 2020, the bank filed a motion for summary judgment on count I of its

complaint (against Rahman) and as to the obligors’ affirmative defenses. The bank argued, in

part, that the forbearance agreement “could not be more clear on damages,” i.e., the agreement

automatically terminated in the event of a default thereunder, and all remaining amounts owed

under the loan documentation became immediately due and payable. Characterizing the

obligors’ $300,000 payment as a “vain attempt to ‘cure’ their breach,” the bank observed that the

parties had explicitly agreed that the bank was accepting the funds as a partial payment of the

remaining indebtedness. The bank also appended a “courtesy letter” which was sent to the

obligors on December 12, 2018, wherein the bank reminded them of the then-upcoming

January 1, 2019, deadline relating to the stock pledges and other matters.

¶ 27   The bank maintained that the forbearance agreement did not require any breach to be

“material,” and even if there was such a materiality requirement, the requirement was satisfied in

this case. The bank also noted that Rahman had indicated in discovery responses that he never

owned any stock in Jawbone or Social Capital. According to the bank, Rahman’s promise to

pledge the stock was “an empty one at best, and a fraudulent inducement at worst.”

¶ 28   The obligors filed a motion to strike the bank’s second summary judgment motion. They

contended that the motion merely restated the bank’s contentions from its earlier summary

judgment motion, which had been rejected previously by the circuit court. In an order entered on

November 16, 2020, the circuit court denied the summary judgment motion “on the grounds that

the issues raised in the Motion were previously argued and decided by the Court’s order of

September 19, 2019[,] denying the parties’ cross motions for summary judgment.”

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¶ 29                                     Discovery Motions

¶ 30   The obligors then filed a motion to limit additional discovery, which the circuit court

granted. In an order entered on October 20, 2021, the circuit court limited the remaining

discovery to “the issue of the damages, if any, sustained by [the bank] for the period of January

1, 2019 to July 1, 2019 as a result of Defendant, Rahman’s, non-payment default for failure to

pledge the required collateral as required under the Forbearance Agreement or the breach of the

Forbearance Agreement by Defendant, Engstrom.”

¶ 31   The bank subsequently filed a motion to compel pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule

219 (eff. July 1, 2002). The bank alleged that during the depositions of two of the bank’s

executives in January 2022, the obligors asked a wide array of questions regarding (a) the loan

documentation, (b) the negotiation of the forbearance agreement and its terms,

(c) communications between bank representatives and the obligors, and (d) the witnesses’

understanding of various provisions of the forbearance agreement, including the pledge of stock

as collateral. Conversely, in early February 2022, when the bank commenced the deposition of

Engstrom, her counsel objected and instructed her not to answer most of the questions regarding

the foregoing topics. As counsel stated he would object to any similar questions asked of

Rahman during his deposition scheduled for later that day, the bank decided to adjourn the

depositions and submit the motion to compel.

¶ 32   The circuit court denied the motion and ordered that the obligors be “re-depose[d].”

The circuit court directed that each deposition would not exceed one hour and would be limited

to the scope set forth in the order entered on October 20, 2021.

¶ 33                   Obligors’ Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment

¶ 34   The obligors filed a renewed motion for summary judgment, arguing that their breach of

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the nonmonetary terms – e.g., by failing to effectuate the stock pledges – did not result in any

damages to the bank, as such pledges were intended to secure the 2019 payment, which was

timely made. The obligors maintained that the bank was unable to demonstrate that it suffered

any damages during the forbearance period due to Rahman’s failure to make the stock pledges.

¶ 35   In an order entered on June 30, 2022, the circuit court granted the renewed motion for

summary judgment. Noting its prior ruling that the breach was de minimis unless the bank

“could show some harm from the breach of the non-monetary failure to pledge collateral,” the

circuit court found that neither the depositions of the bank’s executives nor the other discovery

responses from the bank articulated any such damages. The circuit court further observed that

the bank did not file a response to the renewed motion.

¶ 36   The bank timely filed the instant appeal. The notice of appeal specifically referenced

multiple orders in this matter, including the June 30, 2022, order granting summary judgment in

favor of the obligors and the September 19, 2019, order denying the bank’s motion for summary

judgment.

¶ 37                                        ANALYSIS

¶ 38   The bank contends on appeal that its damages consist of the outstanding liabilities under

the loan documentation. According to the bank, the circuit court mistakenly viewed the

forbearance agreement as “untethered” from the loan documentation, such that the liabilities no

longer existed. The obligors primarily assert that the bank is not entitled to collect payment for

the underlying indebtedness as damages for the breach of the forbearance agreement. Prior to

analyzing these arguments, we must address certain preliminary issues raised by the obligors.

¶ 39                                     Preliminary Issues

¶ 40   According to the obligors, the bank waived the right to challenge the grant of summary

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judgment in favor of the obligors by failing to file a response to their motion. Simply put, we

reject this contention. The bank repeatedly argued in the circuit court that the obligors’

violations of the forbearance agreement caused the full outstanding debt under the loan

documentation to become due and owing. Based on the court’s prior rulings rejecting this

position and substantially narrowing the damages issue, it is understandable that the bank did not

respond to the obligors’ second summary judgment motion. E.g., Champaign-Urbana Public

Health District v. Illinois Human Rights Comm’n, 2022 IL App (4th) 200357, ¶ 166 (noting that

“[b]ecause the issues raised at summary judgment are purely legal and are fully considered by

the trial court, nothing about the damages proceedings affects the court’s prior analysis on

liability”). See also Cleveland Wrecking Co. v. Central National Bank of Chicago, 216 Ill. App.

3d 279, 285 (1991) (providing that a party’s claim that the opposing party “waived its objection

to the denial of its motion to strike by failing to renew such objection following the amended

complaint is not supported by the case law”). Furthermore, parties are not required to appeal an

interlocutory order within 30 days of that order but may instead choose to appeal upon a final

judgment in the case, as the bank did herein. See Glover v. Fitch, 2015 IL App (1st) 130827, ¶ 2.

To the extent that the bank is challenging the order entered on September 19, 2019, denying its

motion for summary judgment, the law is settled that an appeal from a final judgment permits the

review of all preceding nonfinal orders that produced the judgment. Id. ¶ 22.

¶ 41   The obligors also contend that the bank improperly raised new arguments on appeal

which were never raised in the circuit court. As the obligors accurately observe, a reviewing

court will not consider arguments that were not presented to the circuit court. See Reynolds v.

Village of Creve Coeur, 2022 IL App (3d) 210260, ¶ 22; Seifert v. Sneckenberg Thompson &

Brody, LLP, 2022 IL App (1st) 200966, ¶ 43. We reject, however, the obligors’

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characterizations of the challenged arguments. For example, the obligors assert that the bank

argues for the first time on appeal that the trial court erred by treating the forbearance agreement

as a “novation,” i.e., a “type of substituted contract in which a new obligation or a new party is

substituted for an existing one.” Crest Hill Land Development, LLC v. Conrad, 2019 IL App

(3d) 180213, ¶ 35. The bank did not know, however, that the circuit court would effectively

view the forbearance agreement as a new debt until the court issued its ruling. In any event, the

bank has consistently maintained that the forbearance agreement did not eliminate the

indebtedness under the loan documentation.

¶ 42                              Summary Judgment Standards

¶ 43   The bank asserts that the circuit court erred in denying its original motion for summary

judgment and by ultimately granting summary judgment in favor of the obligors. Summary

judgment is proper “if the pleadings, depositions, and admissions on file, together with the

affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving

party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” 735 ILCS 5/2-1005(c) (West 2020). The

purpose of summary judgment is not to try an issue of fact but to determine whether one exists.

Monson v. City of Danville, 2018 IL 122486, ¶ 12. Although summary judgment has been

characterized as a “drastic measure,” it is an appropriate tool to employ in the expeditious

disposition of a lawsuit when the rights of the movant are clear and free from doubt. Aalbers v.

LaSalle Hotel Properties, 2022 IL App (1st) 210494, ¶ 15. Unsupported conclusions,

speculation, or opinions are insufficient to raise a genuine issue of material fact. Valfer v.

Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, 2016 IL 119220, ¶ 20.

¶ 44   We review a circuit court’s summary judgment ruling de novo. Monson, 2018 IL

122486, ¶ 12. See also Gallagher v. Lenart, 226 Ill. 2d 208, 219 (2007) (providing that the

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construction of a contract presents a question of law requiring de novo review).

¶ 45                               The Forbearance Agreement

¶ 46   The crux of this litigation is that the parties fundamentally disagree in their

interpretations of the forbearance agreement. The bank contends that the intent of the agreement

was for the bank to forbear from exercising its rights under the loan documentation – including

its right to recover the entire amount due – only as long as the obligors complied with its terms.

The obligors have argued that the bank is attempting to use their breach of the nonmonetary

provisions for an improper purpose, i.e., to obtain a “monetary windfall” of substantially more

than the amount to which it was allegedly entitled under the forbearance agreement.

¶ 47   The basic rules governing contract interpretation are well settled. Thompson v. Gordon,

241 Ill. 2d 428, 441 (2011). The primary objective in construing a contract is to give effect to

the parties’ intent. Gallagher, 226 Ill. 2d at 232. “A court must initially look to the language of

the contract alone, as the language, given its plain and ordinary meaning, is the best indication of

the parties’ intent.” Id. at 233. “Moreover, because words derive their meaning from the context

in which they are used, a contract must be construed as a whole, viewing each part in light of the

others.” Id. See also Thompson, 241 Ill. 2d at 441 (noting that the intent of the parties is not

determined by viewing a provision or clause in isolation, or in examining detached portions of

the contract). When the language of a contract is clear and unambiguous, it must be given its

plain, ordinary, and popular meaning. Ritacca Laser Center v. Brydges, 2018 IL App (2d)

160989, ¶ 15. If, however, the contractual language is susceptible to more than one meaning, it

is ambiguous, and a court may consider extrinsic evidence to determine the intent of the parties.

Thompson, 241 Ill. 2d at 441.

¶ 48   Based on our review of the forbearance agreement, the intent of the parties was clear.

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The parties expressly agreed that the obligors “are and continue to be in default” under the loan

documentation. The forbearance agreement provided that the obligors “desire [the bank] to

forbear from exercising certain of its rights and remedies” arising from the existing defaults and

that the bank was “willing to provide such forbearance, but solely on the terms and subject to the

conditions contained in this Agreement.” The agreement further provided that the bank would

forbear from exercising its rights and remedies arising from the existing defaults provided that

the obligors “fully and timely comply with, satisfy and perform each of the conditions,

covenants, terms and provisions set forth in this Agreement.” In the event of a “breach, default

or noncompliance” with the terms of the forbearance agreement by the obligors, the bank’s

agreement to “temporarily forbear shall terminate automatically, without the requirement of any

demand, presentment, protest, notice, or further act or action” by the bank. The obligors agreed

and acknowledged that the effect of such termination would permit the bank to demand that the

liabilities under the loan agreement become due and payable immediately and to exercise any

rights and remedies available under the loan documentation.

¶ 49   As reflected in the foregoing excerpts, the plain language of the forbearance agreement

required strict adherence to its terms; failure to strictly comply would result in the immediate

termination of the bank’s forbearance. If the parties had wished to impose a materiality

requirement with respect to any breach or default of the forbearance agreement, they could have

so provided – but they did not. Ritacca Laser Center, 2018 IL App (2d) 160989, ¶ 21; Berryman

Transfer & Storage Co. v. New Prime, Inc., 345 Ill. App. 3d 859, 863 (2004). See also Joyce v.

Fidelity Real Estate Growth Fund II, L.P., 2013 IL App (1st) 121697, ¶ 35 (noting that the

forbearance agreement permitted the lender to seek remedies upon any further event of default,

regardless of whether it was deemed “material”); Easterday Dairy, LLC v. Fall Line Capital,

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LLC, No. 2:22-CV-01000-HL, 2022 WL 17104572 (D. Or. Nov. 22, 2022) (rejecting the debtors’

argument that only a material breach could justify termination).

¶ 50   The obligors maintain that the bank was not damaged by their failure to pledge stock as

required by the forbearance agreement. We disagree. Although the obligors contend that the

stock pledges were intended to serve as collateral solely for the $300,000 obligation, the

forbearance agreement was clearly intended, in part, to strengthen the bank’s credit position

generally. Among other things, the obligation to pledge the stock was “in consideration of the

diminution of value” of the AliphCom collateral. See Gallagher, 226 Ill. 2d at 233 (noting that

the language of the contract is the best indication of the parties’ intent). Even assuming

arguendo that the stock pledges were intended to exclusively secure the $300,000 amount –

which was ultimately paid – the obligors’ failure to effectuate such pledges in accordance with

the parties’ agreement directly led to the initiation of litigation and the resultant expense.

¶ 51   More significantly, the obligors’ position effectively ignores express language in the

forbearance agreement, i.e., the parties’ acknowledgment that there were multiple existing

defaults under the loan documentation. When the forbearance agreement was executed, the bank

had already incurred damages due to the obligors’ conduct, and the obligors expressly agreed

that they owed the amounts set forth in the agreement. At the obligors’ request, the bank agreed

to forbear from exercising its rights – and agreed to accept a reduced payment – only if the

obligors fully complied with the negotiated terms, which the obligors failed to do. If we adopted

the obligors’ reasoning, the bank effectively placed itself in a worse position by entering into the

forbearance agreement than if it had simply pursued the entire indebtedness without extending

any leniency to the obligors. “When construing a commercial contract, common sense is as

much a part of contract interpretation as is the dictionary or the arsenal of canons.” (Internal

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citations omitted.) Joyce, 2013 IL App (1st) 121697, ¶ 23 (applying Massachusetts law).

¶ 52   For the reasons discussed above, we find that the bank was damaged by the obligors’

failure to fully and timely comply with the forbearance agreement, which was inextricably linked

to the loan documentation and the indebtedness thereunder. We thus conclude that the circuit

court erred in initially denying the bank’s motion for summary judgment as to Rahman and in

subsequently granting summary judgment in favor of Rahman. We remand this matter to the

circuit court to enter judgment in favor of the bank and against Rahman in the amount of the

outstanding liabilities under the loan documentation – including interest, attorney fees and any

other applicable charges – minus the proceeds from the sale of the San Francisco property and

the $300,000 payment.

¶ 53   As to Engstrom, however, we affirm the grant of summary judgment in her favor.

Although she was a signatory to the forbearance agreement, she was not a borrower under the

loan documentation. In its complaint, the bank solely sought the $300,000 amount (plus attorney

fees and interest) from Engstrom, which amount was ultimately paid; the bank did not seek the

full outstanding indebtedness under the loan documentation from Engstrom. Moreover, in its

second motion for summary judgment, the bank pursued count I of the complaint, which was

directed against Rahman, and not count II, which was directed against Engstrom. Based on the

foregoing, we affirm the grant of summary judgment in favor of Engstrom.

¶ 54                                    CONCLUSION

¶ 55   We reverse the grant of summary judgment in favor of Rahman and remand to the circuit

court to enter judgment in favor of the bank and against Rahman, as described herein. We affirm

the grant of summary judgment in favor of Engstrom.

¶ 56   Reversed in part; affirmed in part; remanded with instructions.

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