Court Opinion

ID: 9397128
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-05-24 16:04:43.389496+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:21.708135
License: Public Domain

2023 IL App (1st) 221018

                                                                            FIRST DISTRICT
                                                                            THIRD DIVISION
                                                                                May 24, 2023

No. 1-22-1018

KILEY SAUNDERS and SARAH SCANLON,                            ) Appeal from the
                                                             ) Circuit Court of
                                  Plaintiffs-Appellants,     ) Cook County
                                                             )
 v.                                                          )
                                                             )
ORBITZ WORLDWIDE, LLC and RAMSES MEIJER,                     ) No. 2020 L 05809
Individually,                                                )
                                                             )
                                       Defendants,           )
                                                             )
(Orbitz Worldwide, LLC,                                      )
                                                             )
                             Third-Party Plaintiff-Appellee )
                                                             )
 v.                                                          )
                                                             )
 Havas Chicago Worldwide, LLC,                               ) Honorable
                                                             ) Preston Jones, Jr.
                            Third-Party Defendant-Appellee). ) Judge, Presiding

                                          OPINION

       JUSTICE DEBRA B. WALKER delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
       Presiding Justice McBride and Justice Burke concurred in the judgment and opinion.

¶1     Plaintiffs, Kiley Saunders and Sarah Scanlon, appeal the trial court’s judgment that the

Joint Tortfeasor Contribution Act (Contribution Act) (740 ILCS 100/0.01 et seq. (West 2020))

applied to set off a portion of their settlement with Havas Chicago Worldwide, LLC (Havas),

against a potential judgment in their case against defendants Ramses Meijer and Orbitz

Worldwide, LLC (Orbitz). On appeal, plaintiffs contend that the trial court’s determination was
No. 1-22-1018

error where (1) Havas was not a party subject to liability in tort under the Contribution Act, and

(2) the civil rights violations caused by Havas’ misconduct were distinct from the tort injuries

caused by Orbitz’s misconduct. For the following reasons, we affirm.

¶2                                     I. BACKGROUND

¶3     Plaintiffs were employed by Havas, an advertising and marketing company. In November

2017, Expedia Group, Inc. (Expedia) hired Havas to create an advertising and marketing campaign

for Orbitz. Meijer managed the Orbitz project and worked directly with Havas employees,

including plaintiffs.

¶4     In December 2019, plaintiffs filed separate charges against Havas with the Illinois

Department of Human Rights (Department), claiming that they were subjected to sexual

harassment and a hostile work environment. Both received a “Notice of Opt Out” of the

Department’s investigative and administrative process, and the Department notified them of their

right to commence an action in circuit court.

¶5     On May 29, 2020, plaintiffs filed a 20-count complaint against Havas, Expedia, and Meijer,

alleging violations of the Gender Violence Act (740 ILCS 82/1 et seq. (West 2020)), negligence,

sexual assault in violation of the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/1-101 et seq. (West

2020)), assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Plaintiffs alleged that

Meijer raped them after an Expedia-sponsored social event.

¶6     In the complaint, plaintiffs alleged that “Expedia fostered and condoned a corporate culture

that tolerated and promoted sexually-harassing and abusive conduct toward women.” Meijer had

a “long history” of harassing women, which was “well-known at Expedia.” Senior-level executives

at Expedia knew of Meijer’s propensity to make sexual comments toward women, massage the

shoulders of women on his team, and kiss them on the cheek. One supervisor expressed concern

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No. 1-22-1018

to plaintiffs about Meijer’s behavior during work-related social outings. Despite this knowledge,

Meijer’s team members “routinely made efforts to explain away [his] lewd, uncomfortable, and

sexually charged language as a vestige of his European upbringing.” Plaintiffs alleged that

Expedia’s failure to address Meijer’s “sexually harassing behavior,” or discipline him, fostered “a

toxic and hostile work environment for women who worked with” Meijer. “As a direct and

proximate result thereof, [plaintiffs] suffered severe emotional distress, anxiety, humiliation,

anguish, embarrassment, degradation, loss of enjoyment of life, and mental pain and suffering.”

¶7     Havas’ employment practices also created “a hostile and sexually-charged and harassing

work environment.” Havas’ sexual harassment policies and training failed to instruct employees

on handling sexually harassing behavior, nor did Havas provide a mechanism for confidential

reporting of misconduct. Rather, “the culture promoted at Havas was that of the quintessential

‘boys club,’ ” where work-related outings consisted of “alcohol-infused social events and

company-expensed trips to strip clubs.” Havas employees were “encouraged and expected to

attend happy hours and other social events with clients to maintain and strengthen client

relationships.”

¶8     After Havas secured Expedia’s business, Havas management “made clear to its employees

that keeping the client happy was a top priority.” As a result, female employees believed they had

to endure Meijer’s “increasingly sexual comments and physical conduct with Havas female

employees.” Although Havas management witnessed Meijer’s “frequent sexual comments and

unwanted physical contact” with female employees, they did nothing “to prevent the foreseeable

attacks” on plaintiffs. “Instead, Havas valued the lucrative contract with its client Expedia over the

safety and well-being of its employees.”

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No. 1-22-1018

¶9     Plaintiffs alleged that Havas “failed to take corrective measures to eliminate the ongoing

sexual harassment” and, as “a direct and proximate result of Defendant Havas’ actions and failure

to address the hostile work environment caused by [Meijer’s] sexual harassment,” each plaintiff

has “lost and will continue to lose, income and other employment benefits and has suffered

physical and emotional pain, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-pecuniary

losses.”

¶ 10   On August 4, 2020, plaintiffs entered into a confidential settlement agreement with Havas.

Plaintiffs moved for leave to file an amended complaint that removed Havas but added Orbitz as

a defendant. On September 16, 2020, Havas was dismissed from the action with prejudice.

¶ 11   On January 6, 2021, the trial court dismissed Expedia from the action where uncontroverted

affidavits established that Orbitz, not Expedia, employed Meijer. On February 8, 2021, plaintiffs

filed their second-amended complaint which removed Expedia as a defendant. Orbitz filed a

motion to dismiss, and the trial court granted the motion as to all counts except those alleging

negligent retention and supervision of Meijer. The negligence counts asserted that Meijer was

acting within the course and scope of employment at all relevant times and that he was unfit to

work directly with women and posed a danger to them. Orbitz knew or should have known of the

risks in employing Meijer. Plaintiffs sought compensatory and punitive damages, damages for

emotional distress, and interest and costs.

¶ 12   On June 14, 2021, Orbitz filed a third-party complaint against Havas for contribution.

Havas filed a motion for a good faith finding on the settlement and dismissal of the third-party

complaint. On March 4, 2022, the trial court granted Havas’ motion, finding that the settlement

between plaintiffs and Havas was reasonable and made in good faith. The proposed order stated

that Havas was discharged from all liability for contribution under the Contribution Act.

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No. 1-22-1018

¶ 13   Although Orbitz did not object to the proposed order, it wanted an amendment providing

that if plaintiffs obtained a judgment against Orbitz on the remaining counts, Orbitz was entitled

under the Contribution Act to a set off “equal to the full amount of the settlement between Plaintiffs

and Havas.” Plaintiffs did not agree with the amendment. On June 10, 2022, after briefing and oral

argument, the trial court entered an order finding that the Contribution Act applied and, as a result,

Orbitz was entitled to a setoff of 30% of the total settlement. This represented the settlement

amount allocated for pain and suffering damages. The order gave Orbitz 30 days from the close of

discovery in which to file a motion to reconsider the setoff amount.

¶ 14   The order further stated that the court’s finding that the Contribution Act applied was “a

final judgment” and, pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 304(a) (eff. Mar. 8, 2016), there was

no just reason to delay enforcement or appeal of that ruling. The order did not include the court’s

finding that the settlement was reasonable and made in good faith, or its calculation of the amount

of setoff, in its final judgment determination. On July 8, 2022, plaintiffs filed this appeal.

¶ 15                                       II. ANALYSIS

¶ 16   Plaintiffs contend that the trial court erred in finding that the Contribution Act applied to

their case where Havas was not a party subject to liability in tort, and the injuries caused by Havas’

misconduct were not the same injuries caused by Orbitz’s misconduct. This issue involves

interpretation of the Contribution Act, which we review de novo. Robidoux v. Oliphant, 201 Ill. 2d

324, 332 (2002).

¶ 17   The Contribution Act provides that “where 2 or more persons are subject to liability in tort

arising out of the same injury to person or property, *** there is a right of contribution among

them, even though judgment has not been entered against any or all of them.” 740 ILCS 100/2(a)

(West 2020). This right of contribution exists for a tortfeasor “who has paid more than his pro rata

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No. 1-22-1018

share of the common liability, and his total recovery is limited to the amount paid by him in excess

of his pro rata share.” Id. § 2(b). When a party liable in tort arising out of the same injury enters

into a settlement agreement in good faith, the recovery on any claim against the other tortfeasors

may be reduced by any amount stated in the agreement. Id. § 2(c).

¶ 18    The Contribution Act furthers two important public policies by encouraging settlements

and equitably apportioning damages among tortfeasors. Sperl v. Henry, 2018 IL 123132, ¶ 32. To

that end, the Contribution Act focuses “on the culpability of the parties rather than on the precise

legal means by which the plaintiff is ultimately able to make each defendant compensate [them]

for [their] loss.” Doyle v. Rhodes, 101 Ill. 2d 1, 14 (1984). The contribution between tortfeasors

“ ‘is not a recovery for the tort but the enforcement of an equitable duty to share liability for the

wrong done.’ ” Id. (quoting Puller v. Puller, 110 A.2d 175, 177 (Pa. 1955)).

¶ 19    For contribution to apply, however, the Contribution Act requires that the parties be

“subject to liability in tort arising out of the same injury.” 740 ILCS 100/2(a) (West 2020). Liability

in tort in this context means potential tort liability determined at the time of the plaintiff’s injury.

Raab v. Frank, 2019 IL 124641, ¶ 21. A “tort” is a “civil wrong, other than breach of contract, for

which a remedy may be obtained, usu. in the form of damages.” Black’s Law Dictionary (11th ed.

2019); see also Hernon v. E.W. Corrigan Construction Co., 149 Ill. 2d 190, 195 (1992) (defining

“tort” as “ ‘[a] private or civil wrong or injury *** for which the court will provide a remedy in

the form of an action for damages,’ ” and finding that the plaintiff’s allegations of negligence and

a Illinois Structural Work Act violation fell “within the ambit of the word ‘tort’ ” (quoting Black’s

Law Dictionary 1335 (5th ed. 1979))); Pleasant Hill Cemetery Ass’n v. Morefield, 2013 IL App

(4th) 120645, ¶ 31 (finding that “[a] tort is, by definition, contrary to law—it is a civil wrong, a

breach of a legal duty, for which the law affords a remedy”). If plaintiffs’ underlying claim against

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No. 1-22-1018

Havas does not create liability in tort, Orbitz cannot recover on its contribution claim. Raab, 2019

IL 124641, ¶ 21.

¶ 20      For torts based on a theory of common law negligence, there must exist “a duty or an

obligation requiring one to conform to a certain standard of conduct for the protection of another

against an unreasonable risk.” Fancil v. Q.S.E. Foods, Inc., 60 Ill. 2d 552, 554 (1975). A legal duty

necessary to prove tortious conduct, for contribution purposes, may be based either on common

law or on a standard of conduct imposed by statute. People v. Brockman, 143 Ill. 2d 351, 372

(1991).

¶ 21      In Brockman, the State filed a complaint against the defendant for violating provisions of

the Environmental Protection Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 111½, ¶ 1001 et seq.). Brockman, 143

Ill. 2d at 358. The State’s complaint alleged that the defendant caused or allowed waste to be

accepted or deposited on its site, and these violations resulted in the contamination of ground and

surface water. Id. at 359. The defendant filed a third-party action against the generators and

transporters that deposited waste at the site asserting, in relevant part, a claim for contribution

under the Contribution Act. Id. at 359-60. The third-party defendants argued that the Contribution

Act was inapplicable where liability in the case was created by statute and did not sound in tort.

Id. at 371.

¶ 22      Our supreme court disagreed. Pursuant to the Environmental Protection Act, the third-party

defendants had a duty not to contaminate the environment. Id. at 372. The court further found that,

“[a]s a result of the contamination, the State has suffered injury for which it could have maintained

an action for damages.” Id. Although the State sought injunctive relief rather than damages, that

fact did not “convert the conduct into something other than tortious” conduct. Id. at 372-73. The

court concluded that “a violation of the [Environmental Protection Act] creates the potential for

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No. 1-22-1018

liability in tort and that it may be a proper predicate for a contribution claim.” Id. at 373.

¶ 23   Here, Havas’ liability for plaintiffs’ injuries stems from the Human Rights Act. Therefore,

we must determine whether a violation of the Human Rights Act, like a violation of the

Environmental Protection Act, creates the potential for liability in tort as required by the

Contribution Act.

¶ 24   The Human Rights Act provides that it is the public policy of Illinois “[t]o prevent sexual

harassment in employment.” 775 ILCS 5/1-102(B) (West 2020). Accordingly, it is a civil rights

violation:

       “[f]or any employer, employee, agent of any employer, employment agency or labor

       organization to engage in sexual harassment; provided, that an employer shall be

       responsible for sexual harassment of the employer’s employees by nonemployees or

       nonmanagerial and nonsupervisory employees only if the employer becomes aware of the

       conduct and fails to take reasonable corrective measures.” Id. § 2-102(D).

“Sexual harassment” is defined as:

       “any unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors or any conduct of a sexual

       nature when (1) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term

       or condition of an individual’s employment, (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct

       by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual,

       or (3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an

       individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working

       environment.” Id. § 2-101(E).

¶ 25   Under the Human Rights Act, it is a civil rights violation for an employer to engage in or

condone the sexual harassment of its employees. The statute establishes a standard of conduct that

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No. 1-22-1018

imposes a duty upon employers like Havas to address any sexual harassment of which they have

knowledge.

¶ 26   Plaintiffs’ original complaint alleged that Havas “knew about [Meijer’s] sexually harassing

behavior towards female employees at Havas, yet ignored [Meijer’s] conduct *** because Havas

did not want to lose Expedia as an important and lucrative client.” Plaintiffs alleged that Havas

violated the Human Rights Act by failing “to take corrective measures to eliminate the ongoing

sexual harassment” and “allowing the sexual harassment to continue, which resulted in [plaintiffs’]

horrific rape.” Plaintiffs further alleged that Havas “is liable for the hostile work environment it

created.” As a “direct and proximate result of Defendant Havas’ actions,” plaintiffs sought

damages for loss of income and other employment benefits, as well as compensatory damages for

“physical and emotional pain, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and other non-pecuniary

losses.”

¶ 27   Plaintiffs clearly alleged that Havas breached a duty owed to them under the Human Rights

Act and, as a direct and proximate result, plaintiffs suffered injuries for which they sought

compensation. In other words, plaintiffs requested damages for tortious conduct pursuant to a

statute. See Brockman, 143 Ill. 2d at 372-73. Following the reasoning in Brockman, we find that a

violation of the Human Rights Act “creates the potential for liability in tort and that it may be a

proper predicate for a contribution claim.” Id. at 373; see also Cirilo’s, Inc. v. Gleeson, Sklar &

Sawyers, 154 Ill. App. 3d 494, 497 (1987) (finding that the third-party complaint stated a cause of

action against the bank for contribution where the bank breached its statutory duty to “pay only

those checks which were ‘properly payable,’ ” and the plaintiff suffered damages as a direct result).

¶ 28   At oral argument, plaintiffs disagreed that their claims pursuant to a statute sound in tort.

Instead, they compared liability under the Human Rights Act to dramshop liability under the

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No. 1-22-1018

Liquor Control Act of 1934 (Dramshop Act) (235 ILCS 5/6-21 (West 2020)). The Dramshop Act

provides, in relevant part, that:

        “[e]very person who is injured within this State *** by any intoxicated person has a right

        of action in his or her own name, severally or jointly, against any person, licensed under

        the laws of this State or of any other state to sell alcoholic liquor, who, by selling or giving

        alcoholic liquor, within or without the territorial limits of this State, causes the intoxication

        of such person.” Id. § 6-21(a).

Our supreme court determined that purveyors selling intoxicating beverages to a person are liable

only under the provisions of the Dramshop Act, and this liability is a “nontort liability” for

purposes of the Contribution Act. Hopkins v. Powers, 113 Ill. 2d 206, 211 (1986).

¶ 29    Unlike the Human Rights Act, the Dramshop Act imposes no duty to conform to a standard

of conduct in order to escape liability. Rather, alcohol suppliers are strictly liable under the statute

regardless of fault. Cunningham v. Brown, 22 Ill. 2d 23, 25-26 (1961). Purveyors of alcohol also

owe no duty of care, under common law or statute, to third-party victims injured by an intoxicated

person. Id. at 26-27; Hopkins, 113 Ill. 2d at 211. Generally, when a statutory or common law duty

is absent, there is no liability in tort for contribution purposes. Martin v. Lion Uniform Co., 180

Ill. App. 3d 955, 960 (1989). Accordingly, Dramshop Act cases are not relevant authority here.

¶ 30    We also find Maksimovic v. Tsogalis, 177 Ill. 2d 511 (1997), a case cited by plaintiffs,

distinguishable. In Maksimovic, the plaintiff filed a complaint with the Illinois Human Rights

Commission alleging sexual harassment by her former manager. Several months later, she filed an

action for damages in the circuit court. Id. at 514. The issue in Maksimovic was whether the

exclusive remedy provision of the Human Rights Act divested the circuit court of jurisdiction to

consider the plaintiff’s separate common law damages claim. Id. at 513.

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No. 1-22-1018

¶ 31    The court found that the plaintiff “alleged facts sufficient to establish the elements of

assault, battery and false imprisonment. These are long-recognized tort actions which exist wholly

separate and apart from a cause of action for sexual harassment” under the Human Rights Act. Id.

at 517. The purpose of the Human Rights Act is “to eradicate sexual harassment in the workplace,”

and the court found this purpose “distinct from [that of] a common law tort action.” Id. at 518. It

further noted that the exclusive remedy provision did not mention common law actions. Id. The

court found that a “legislative intent to abolish all common law torts factually related to sexual

harassment [was] not apparent from a plain reading of the statute.” Id.

¶ 32    Since the plaintiff’s tort claims had an independent basis, “without reference to legal duties

created” by the Human Rights Act, her action for damages did not infringe upon the exclusive

remedy provision of the Human Rights Act. Id. at 517. Therefore, the circuit court could exercise

jurisdiction over her tort claims. Id.

¶ 33    We note that Maksimovic was decided prior to amendment of the statute. Before the August

2007 amendment, the Human Rights Act “provided the Illinois Human Rights Commission with

exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate claims of civil rights violations.” Robinson v. Village of Oak

Park, 2013 IL App (1st) 121220, ¶ 18. The statute now provides that after filing a charge under

the Human Rights Act, the complainant may submit a written request to opt out of the investigation

and “commence a civil action in the appropriate circuit court or other appropriate court of

competent jurisdiction.” 775 ILCS 5/7A-102(C-1) (West 2020). We should read Maksimovic in

light of the exclusive jurisdiction provision applicable to the case at the time.

¶ 34    More importantly, Maksimovic found only that the Human Rights Commission did not

have exclusive jurisdiction over the plaintiff’s common law tort claims. Although the court found

that a violation of the Human Rights Act differed in purpose from a common law tort action, it

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No. 1-22-1018

never determined that a civil rights violation could not be a tort. Maksimovic did not reach this

issue because the defendant did not seek contribution from another tortfeasor. We find Maksimovic

inapplicable here.

¶ 35    Likewise, we find unavailing plaintiffs’ argument that allowing contribution in this case

would frustrate the comprehensive statutory scheme created when the legislature enacted the

Human Rights Act. The two cases plaintiffs cite in support, Thomas v. EDI Specialists, Inc., 773

N.E.2d 415 (Mass. 2002), and Northwest Airlines, Inc. v. Transport Workers Union of America,

AFL-CIO, 451 U.S. 77 (1981), are distinguishable.

¶ 36    In Thomas, the defendant employer in a discrimination complaint sought contribution from

its employee, who was the primary offender. Thomas, 773 N.E.2d at 416. The complaint did not

name the employee. Id. The Massachusetts Supreme Court found that allowing an employer to

seek contribution from an employee would contradict the statute’s clear intent to hold employers

responsible for the discriminatory actions of its employees, “regardless of whether these actions

were authorized or supported by the employer or its policies.” Id. at 419. The contribution action

against the employee was also improper because the employee was not named in the charge before

the Commission or in the complaint. As such, he had no opportunity to invoke the administrative

protections of the statute. Id.

¶ 37    In Northwest Airlines, the district court found the air carrier liable under the Equal Pay Act

of 1963 (Equal Pay Act) (29 U.S.C. § 206(d) (1976)) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

(Title VII) (42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2 (1976)), for the improper wage differential between certain

female and male employees. Northwest Airlines, 451 U.S. at 81. The air carrier filed motions for

contribution and indemnification against two unions that allegedly bore partial responsibility for

the difference in wages. Id. at 80-82. The court denied the motions as untimely. Id. at 82. “Promptly

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No. 1-22-1018

thereafter,” the air carrier filed a separate action claiming a federal common-law right to

contribution from the unions. Id. The district court dismissed the action under the Equal Pay Act

but determined that the air carrier stated a claim for contribution under Title VII. Id. at 83-84.

¶ 38   The United States Supreme Court reasoned that a right of contribution in the case could

exist if (1) the Equal Pay Act and Title VII explicitly or implicitly created the right or (2) federal

common law recognized the right. Id. at 90. The court found neither an express nor implied right

of contribution in favor of employers in the Equal Pay Act or in Title VII. Id. at 93. Rather, the

comprehensive remedial scheme of those statutes strongly evidenced a legislative intent “not to

authorize additional remedies,” which federal courts had little power to change. Id. at 93-95. The

Court further found that no federal common law right of contribution existed among tortfeasors

outside of the admiralty context. Id. at 96-97. Therefore, the district court should have granted the

unions’ motion to dismiss the entire action for contribution. Id. at 98-99.

¶ 39   We do not find Thomas or Northwest Airlines persuasive here. First, Thomas is a

Massachusetts case, and this court is not bound by the decisions of other states. Perik v. JPMorgan

Chase Bank, N.A., 2014 IL App (1st) 132245, ¶ 25. Additionally, unlike Thomas, Orbitz was not

seeking contribution from its employee, and plaintiffs’ original complaint and charge named Havas

as a party. The concerns expressed by the Massachusetts court in Thomas are not implicated here.

¶ 40   In Northwest Airlines, the United States Supreme Court found that the air carrier had no

contribution right to claim at all. Here, the Illinois legislature enacted the Contribution Act

specifically to recognize a joint tortfeasor’s right of contribution. Doyle, 101 Ill. 2d at 8. We need

not scour the provisions of the Human Rights Act to search for a contribution remedy or look to

common law, as was the case in Northwest Airlines. We do not read Northwest Airlines as

prohibiting a contribution claim that is authorized by an Illinois statute, as is Orbitz’s claim here.

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No. 1-22-1018

In fact, the Court in Northwest Airlines recognized the propriety of such a claim. See Northwest

Airlines, 451 U.S. at 86-87 (noting that although there is no common law right to contribution

among joint tortfeasors, most states have changed that rule “either by statute or by judicial

decision”).

¶ 41   Plaintiffs argue, however, that the Human Rights Act provides no method for an employer

to join a third party in contribution “at the agency level.” Therefore, similar to Northwest Airlines,

allowing contribution here would frustrate the process set forth in the statute. We disagree.

¶ 42   Havas was named in plaintiffs’ charge with the Department. After plaintiffs filed their

charge, the Department served Havas and plaintiffs with a notice of plaintiffs’ right to opt out of

the Department’s investigation. See 775 ILCS 5/7A-102(B) (West 2020). Plaintiffs opted out of

the investigation, and upon receiving notice of their opt-out, the Department “ceased its

investigation” and “administratively clos[ed] the charge.” Id. § 7A-102(C-1). Plaintiffs thereafter

filed an action in circuit court, and Orbitz filed its third-party claim for contribution against Havas

in those proceedings. At that point, the administrative process set forth in the Human Rights Act

no longer applied.

¶ 43   Furthermore, allowing Orbitz to set off a portion of plaintiffs’ settlement with Havas

supports the Contribution Act’s purpose of equitably apportioning damages among joint

tortfeasors. Plaintiffs’ complaint alleged that both Orbitz and Havas fostered a corporate culture

that tolerated the sexual harassment of women, and both had knowledge of Meijer’s misconduct

but failed to address his troubling behavior. As a result, plaintiffs suffered compensatory damages,

as well as physical and emotional pain, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life. Contribution

between two tortfeasors is “the enforcement of an equitable duty to share liability for the wrong

done.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Doyle, 101 Ill. 2d at 14. What matters is the culpability

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of the parties, not the theories of recovery on which liability is based. Id. We agree with the trial

court that the Contribution Act applied here.

¶ 44    Plaintiffs also contend that the total settlement amount should not be set off because the

Contribution Act allows only a setoff of compensation they received for the same injury. The trial

court determined that Orbitz was entitled to a setoff of 30% of the total settlement amount, which

represented plaintiffs’ pain and suffering damages. However, the order allowed Orbitz time to file

a motion for reconsideration of the setoff amount until “30 days from the close of discovery.” As

a result, the court did not make this determination appealable under Rule 304(a).

¶ 45    The trial court’s determination as to the amount of setoff was not a final judgment, as Orbitz

has the opportunity to file a motion to reconsider the amount. A judgment is not final if the trial

court retains jurisdiction to resolve matters of substantial controversy. In re M.M., 337 Ill. App. 3d

764, 771 (2003). This court’s jurisdiction is limited to appeals from final judgments. In re

Marriage of Verdung, 126 Ill. 2d 542, 553 (1989). Therefore, this issue is not properly before us

at this time.

¶ 46                                   III. CONCLUSION

¶ 47    For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

¶ 48    Affirmed.

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No. 1-22-1018

                Saunders v. Orbitz Worldwide, LLC, 2023 IL App (1st) 221018

Decision Under Review:        Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 20-L-05809;
                              the Hon. Preston Jones Jr., Judge, presiding.

Attorneys                     Lisa B. Weinstein, of Grant & Eisenhofer P.A., of Chicago, Kelly
for                           L. Tucker (pro hac vice) and Cynthia B. Morgan (pro hac vice), of
Appellant:                    Grant & Eisenhofer P.A., of Wilmington, Delaware, and Irene R.
                              Lax (pro hac vice), of Grant & Eisenhofer P.A., of New York, New
                              York, for appellants.

Attorneys                     Michael A. Warner Jr. and Caroline K. Kane, of Franczek P.C.,
for                           and Bennett L. Epstein, Jena L. Levin, and Patrick J. McMahon,
Appellee:                     of Foley & Lardner LLP, both of Chicago, for appellees.

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