Court Opinion

ID: 4271127
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-30 17:08:26.16864+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:06:29.793944
License: Public Domain

Digitally signed by
                                                                         Reporter of Decisions
                                                                         Reason: I attest to
                         Illinois Official Reports                       the accuracy and
                                                                         integrity of this
                                                                         document
                                 Appellate Court                         Date: 2018.04.16
                                                                         10:13:01 -05'00'

                  Goldwater v. Greenberg, 2017 IL App (1st) 163003

Appellate Court     BEN GOLDWATER, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. GEORGE S.
Caption             GREENBERG and DENISE GREENBERG, Defendants-Appellees.

District & No.      First District, Sixth Division
                    Docket No. 1-16-3003

Filed               December 15, 2017

Decision Under      Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 16-M1-113057;
Review              the Hon. Patricia S. Spratt, Judge, presiding.

Judgment            Affirmed in part and reversed in part.
                    Cause remanded.

Counsel on          Ben Goldwater, of Chicago, appellant pro se.
Appeal
                    Gordon Nelson, of CN Law, P.C., of Chicago, for appellees.

Panel               PRESIDING JUSTICE HOFFMAN delivered the judgment of the
                    court, with opinion.
                    Justices Cunningham and Connors concurred in the judgment and
                    opinion.
                                              OPINION

¶1       The plaintiff, Ben Goldwater, appeals from a judgment of the circuit court dismissing his
     single-count complaint against the defendants, George S. Greenberg (George) and Denise
     Greenberg (Denise), for breach of a contract to pay legal fees for their son, Jason H. Greenberg
     (Jason). For the reasons that follow, we affirm the dismissal of Denise as a party defendant,
     reverse the dismissal of the plaintiff’s action against George, and remand this matter to the
     circuit court for further proceedings.
¶2       The following factual recitation is taken exclusively from the facts alleged in the plaintiff’s
     complaint. The plaintiff, an attorney licensed to practice law in Illinois, entered into a written
     retention agreement with Jason on March 23, 2012, pursuant to which he agreed to represent
     Jason in a domestic relations matter in exchange for Jason’s agreement to pay the plaintiff
     $375 per hour for his services with an initial retainer of $5000. A copy of the retention
     agreement was attached to the complaint as an exhibit. At the time of the execution of the
     retention agreement, Jason advised the plaintiff that all billing should be sent to the defendants.
     Attached to the complaint is a copy of an undated note signed by Jason, stating “Please send all
     bills to George S. Greenberg.” George confirmed the instruction, which “included the
     statement that the Defendants would pay all legal fees and costs in relation to the matrimonial
     action that was to be filed on behalf of Defendants’ son[, Jason].”
¶3       On March 23, 2012, an initial retainer of $5000 was paid to the plaintiff by means of a
     check signed by George. A copy of that check was attached to the complaint. On May 2, 2013,
     the plaintiff sent a billing statement to the defendants, reflecting a balance due of $1097. That
     statement was addressed to Jason. The plaintiff received a $1097 check signed by George
     dated May 3, 2013. Copies of the billing statement and check were attached to the complaint.
     On May 12, 2015, the plaintiff sent an additional billing statement with a balance due of
     $4546.50 to the defendants. That statement was also addressed to Jason. The plaintiff received
     a check in the sum on $4546.50 dated May 20, 2015, signed by George. Copies of the billing
     statement and check were attached to the complaint.
¶4       The plaintiff represented Jason in his domestic relations matter through and including
     December 30, 2015, when the circuit court of Cook County entered a judgment of dissolution
     of marriage in the matter. On January 8, 2016, the plaintiff issued a final bill for his services
     and sent a copy to both the defendants and Jason. Neither Jason nor the defendants paid the
     final bill, and the plaintiff filed the instant action against the defendants seeking damages for
     breach of contract.
¶5       The defendants filed a motion, which they labeled as a “MOTION TO STRIKE AND
     DISMISS COMPLAINT.” According to the motion, it was brought pursuant to section 2-615
     of the Code of Civil Procedure (Code) (735 ILCS 5/2-615 (West 2016)). In the body of the
     motion, the defendants argued that (1) the attorney fees which are the subject of this litigation
     had been discharged in a bankruptcy proceeding filed by Jason, (2) they are not parties to the
     retention agreement upon which the plaintiff’s complaint is based, (3) their alleged promise to
     pay their son’s legal fees is unenforceable under the “Statute of Frauds,” and (4) no action may
     be maintained by the plaintiff based upon the theories of quantum meruit or unjust enrichment
     due to the existence of an express contract for the payment of Jason’s legal fees.
¶6       The plaintiff filed a response to the motion in which he disclaimed the invocation of either
     the theory of quantum meruit or unjust enrichment as a basis for recovery against the

                                                  -2-
       defendants. As for the defendants’ argument that Jason’s obligation to pay for the plaintiff’s
       legal services had been discharged in bankruptcy, the plaintiff argued that, since Jason is not a
       defendant and no relief is sought against him, Jason’s bankruptcy is irrelevant to a claim for
       breach of contract against the defendants. In response to the defendants’ argument that the
       claim against them is unenforceable under section 1 of the Frauds Act (statute of frauds) (740
       ILCS 80/1 (West 2012)), the plaintiff asserted that the defendants’ agreement to pay for
       Jason’s legal fees was “an original undertaking and not merely a promise to pay a debt of
       another.” In support of that argument, the plaintiff alleged additional facts, which do not
       appear in the complaint. The response states that, although the written retention agreement was
       signed by Jason, “[w]hen it became apparent that Jason would no[t] pay the initial retainer, a
       new agreement was made with the Defendants for payment of the retainer and subsequent fees
       and costs.” According to the plaintiff, when the defendants agreed to pay Jason’s legal fees, no
       legal services had yet been rendered. The plaintiff also asserted that, following his receipt of
       the initial retainer, he had “numerous telephone conversations” and an office conference with
       the defendants, during which they confirmed that they had assumed the obligation to pay
       Jason’s legal fees.
¶7         On October 24, 2016, the circuit court granted the defendants’ motion to “strike and
       dismiss” the plaintiff’s complaint, finding that “the agreement between the parties is collateral,
       and thus falls within the Statute of Frauds.” The circuit court also found that “the complaint
       contains no reference to Denise Greenberg. As such she is eliminated as a defendant.” This
       appeal followed.
¶8         In urging reversal of the circuit court’s order dismissing the instant action, the plaintiff
       argues both that the defendants’ agreement to pay for Jason’s legal fees was “an original
       undertaking” to which the statute of frauds does not apply and that the statute of frauds has no
       application to the defendants’ agreement to pay Jason’s legal fees, as he fully performed the
       contract. Before addressing the merits of the plaintiff’s arguments, however, we first address
       the procedural context leading to the dismissal of the plaintiff’s action.
¶9         As noted earlier, the defendants filed a motion to strike and dismiss the plaintiff’s
       complaint pursuant to section 2-615 of the Code. A motion to dismiss under section 2-615
       attacks the legal sufficiency of a complaint. Illinois Graphics Co. v. Nickum, 159 Ill. 2d 469,
       484 (1994). The only question before the court is whether the complaint states a cause of action
       upon which relief might be granted. Beahringer v. Page, 204 Ill. 2d 363, 369 (2003). Such a
       motion does not raise affirmative defenses but alleges only defects appearing on the face of the
       complaint. Illinois Graphics Co., 159 Ill. 2d at 484.
¶ 10       In moving to dismiss the plaintiff’s complaint, the defendants never argued that the
       complaint failed to allege facts supporting each element of a claim for breach of contract
       against them. Rather, they raised the statute of frauds as one of the grounds upon which they
       sought dismissal, and it was on that ground that the circuit court dismissed the action in its
       entirety. However, the statute of frauds is an affirmative defense which, if established, renders
       a contract voidable, not void. Cain v. Cross, 293 Ill. App. 3d 255, 258 (1997). Consequently,
       the contract may be enforced unless the defendant raises the statute of frauds as a defense.
       Cain, 293 Ill. App. 3d at 258. As the statute of frauds is an affirmative defense, it does not
       attack the sufficiency of a complaint and is not generally the basis for a dismissal pursuant to a
       section 2-615 motion of the Code. Payne v. Mill Race Inn, 152 Ill. App. 3d 269, 277 (1987).

                                                   -3-
¶ 11        Section 2-619 of the Code (735 ILCS 5/2-619 (West 2016)) provides that a defendant may
       seek the involuntary dismissal of an action based upon certain defects or defenses. If the
       grounds for the motion do not appear on the face of the complaint, the motion must be
       supported by affidavit (735 ILCS 5/2-619(a) (West 2016)). Unlike a section 2-615 motion, a
       section 2-619 motion admits the legal sufficiency of the plaintiff’s complaint and asserts a
       defense which defeats the claim. Wallace v. Smyth, 203 Ill. 2d 441, 447 (2002). One of the
       enumerated grounds for a dismissal pursuant to section 2-619 is that the claim asserted is
       unenforceable under the provisions of the statute of frauds. 735 ILCS 5/2-619(a)(7) (West
       2016).
¶ 12        In practice, however, there is some degree of overlap between motions to dismiss brought
       under section 2-615 and those brought under section 2-619. Illinois Graphics Co., 159 Ill. 2d at
       485. When, as in this case, a defendant’s motion to dismiss asserting an affirmative defense is
       based solely upon the facts alleged in the plaintiff’s complaint, and not on facts outside of the
       complaint, the motion falls within the area of confluence between section 2-615 and section
       2-619. Illinois Graphics Co., 159 Ill. 2d at 486. As such, an affirmative defense based
       exclusively upon the facts alleged in a plaintiff’s complaint may be raised in either a motion
       brought pursuant to section 2-615 of the Code or a section 2-619 motion. Illinois Graphics Co.,
       159 Ill. 2d at 486-87.
¶ 13        Regardless of whether the circuit court’s finding that the statute of frauds rendered the
       plaintiff’s claim unenforceable is reviewed pursuant to the standards applicable to dismissals
       under section 2-615 or to dismissals pursuant to section 2-619, our analysis in this case is the
       same. For purposes of review, we accept as true all well-pled facts in the complaint and draw
       all reasonable inferences from those facts which are favorable to the plaintiff. Kahn v.
       Deutsche Bank AG, 2012 IL 112219, ¶ 47 (standards applicable to section 2-615 motions);
       Callaghan v. Village of Clarendon Hills, 401 Ill. App. 3d 287, 290 (2010) (standards
       applicable to section 2-619 motions). Under either section, our review is de novo. Wallace, 203
       Ill. 2d at 447.
¶ 14        Section 1 of the Frauds Act provides, in relevant part, that no action may be brought against
       a defendant upon a promise to answer for the debt of another unless the promise or agreement
       upon which the action is brought, or some memorandum or note thereof, shall be in writing,
       signed by the party to be charged, or by some person authorized by the defendant. 740 ILCS
       80/1 (West 2012). However, the doctrine of complete performance provides that, where one
       party completely performs a contract, the contract is enforceable and the statute of frauds may
       not be used as a defense to enforcement. Greenberger, Krauss & Tenenbaum v. Catalfo, 293
       Ill. App. 3d 88, 96 (1997).
¶ 15        The plaintiff’s complaint alleges that he was engaged to represent Jason in a domestic
       relations matter and that he did so through and including December 30, 2015, when the circuit
       court of Cook County entered a judgment of dissolution of marriage. The allegation must be
       taken as true for purposes of our analysis, and it can be reasonably inferred from those
       allegations that the plaintiff fully performed his agreement to represent Jason. Consequently,
       even if we assume for the sake of analysis that the circuit court was correct in its finding that
       the alleged agreement to pay Jason’s legal fees was a collateral agreement to answer for the
       debt of another, the plaintiff’s full performance precludes the use of the statute of frauds as a
       defense to enforcement. Based upon the allegations contained within the plaintiff’s complaint

                                                   -4-
       supporting the inference that he fully performed his agreement to represent Jason, we find that
       the circuit court erred in dismissing the action on statute of frauds grounds.
¶ 16        As to the circuit court’s finding that the alleged agreement to pay Jason’s legal fees was a
       collateral agreement and not an original one, we comment only that resolution of the question
       depends upon when the agreement was made and the intent of the parties at that time. Both are
       questions of fact to be resolved by the trier of fact. See Greenberger, Krauss & Tenenbaum,
       293 Ill. App. 3d at 95.
¶ 17        Although we have determined that the circuit court erred in dismissing the plaintiff’s
       complaint on statute of frauds grounds, our analysis continues. The circuit court’s order also
       provides that “the complaint contains no reference to Denise Greenberg[, and] [a]s such[,] she
       is eliminated as a defendant.” We conclude from that language that the circuit court dismissed
       Denise as a party defendant because the complaint failed to state a cause of action against her.
¶ 18        Although the plaintiff alleged that George stated that the defendants would pay all legal
       fees and costs in relation to the matrimonial action that was to be filed on behalf of Jason, there
       are no allegations in the complaint that Denise made any such agreement.
¶ 19        The only facts to be considered in determining whether a cause of action has been
       adequately stated against a defendant are those set forth in the complaint under attack. Illinois
       Graphics Co., 159 Ill. 2d at 485. As the plaintiff’s complaint failed to allege that Denise ever
       agreed to pay Jason’s legal fees, no cause of action was stated against her, and she was
       properly dismissed as a party defendant. We are not unmindful that, in his response to the
       defendants’ motion to dismiss, the plaintiff asserted that, following his receipt of the initial
       retainer, he had “numerous telephone conversations” and an office conference with the
       defendants during which they confirmed that they had assumed the obligation to pay Jason’s
       legal fees. However, a plaintiff may not oppose a motion to dismiss brought pursuant to section
       2-615 of the Code by relying upon any facts which do not appear in the complaint. Inland Real
       Estate Corp. v. Christoph, 107 Ill. App. 3d 183, 185 (1981).
¶ 20        Based upon the foregoing analysis, we affirm the dismissal of Denise as a party defendant,
       reverse the dismissal of the plaintiff’s action against George, and remand this matter to the
       circuit court for further proceedings.

¶ 21      Affirmed in part and reversed in part.
¶ 22      Cause remanded.

                                                    -5-