Court Opinion

ID: 9740855
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:42:53.219122+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:20.709225
License: Public Domain

BURKE, J., dissents: The defendants did not file a counterclaim. At the time of the voluntary dismissal no trial or hearing had begun. The language of the order of August 31, 1956, entered over the objection of plaintiff, shows that there had not been a hearing and that the issues would be determined at a subsequent time. The court was right in dismissing the complaint and should not have reinstated the cause. Central Ice Cream Co. v. Goldenrod Ice Cream Co., 18 Ill.App.2d 7. Turning to a consideration of the substantive issue we note that the defendants sought to excavate and did excavate. They had no right to compel plaintiff to shore up its property. I agree with the plaintiff that under the authority of Korogodsky v. Chimberoff, 256 Ill. App. 255, the defendants owed plaintiff a duty not to negligently injure its realty when they excavated on their property, and that defendants could not make plaintiff a. debtor by themselves doing the work. Defendants cannot escape the role of volunteer by seeking shelter under the order of August 31, 1956, for that order was for their benefit. Furthermore, the effect of the 1957 statute was to render moot the issues pending before the court at that time. That enactment made it unnecessary to enter a declaratory judgment. The judgment should be reversed and the cause remanded with directions to restore the order dismissing the complaint.