Court Opinion

ID: 9893900
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-30 20:06:21.245444+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:54.655736
License: Public Domain

2023 IL App (1st) 220744-U
                                                                               FIRST DISTRICT,
                                                                               FIRST DIVISION
                                                                               October 30, 2023

                                                No. 1-22-0744

     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
     _____________________________________________________________________________

      IN RE MARRIAGE OF:                            )
                                                          Appeal from the
                                                    )
                                                          Circuit Court of
      YOKFA SOKOLSKI,                               )
                                                          Cook County, Illinois.
                                                    )
                              Petitioner-Appellant, )
                                                          No. 11 D 4867
      v.                                            )
                                                    )
                                                          Honorable
      LAWRENCE SOKOLSKI,                            )
                                                          Doretha Renee Jackson,
                                                    )
                                                          Judge Presiding.
                              Respondent-Appellee.  )
     _____________________________________________________________________________

            JUSTICE COGHLAN delivered the judgment of the court.
            Presiding Justice Fitzgerald Smith and Justice Lavin concurred in the judgment.

                                                  ORDER

¶1          Held: Appeal dismissed for lack of jurisdiction where orders temporarily modifying
                  parenting time and appointing a guardian ad litem were not final orders.

¶2          Petitioner Yokfa Sokolski appeals from the denial of her motion to vacate the circuit

     court’s orders appointing a guardian ad litem and temporarily modifying parenting time of her

     minor children, with whom she shares joint custody with respondent Lawrence Sokolski. For the

     following reasons, this appeal is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

¶3                                            BACKGROUND
     No. 1-22-0744

¶4           The record on appeal does not contain a complete report of proceedings. 1 The following

     facts are discerned from our review of the common law record.

¶5           Petitioner and respondent were married on May 20, 2002, and had two children together:

     An.S., born in 2006, and Ad.S., born in 2010. On May 12, 2011, petitioner filed a petition for

     dissolution of marriage. On August 16, 2012, the trial court entered a judgment of dissolution of

     marriage, approving and incorporating the parties’ marital settlement agreement. The marital

     settlement agreement provided, in relevant part, that the parties would share joint custody of the

     children and that petitioner would be “designated the primary residential parent.” Respondent

     was granted visitation every Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. until school the following day and every

     other weekend from 5:00 p.m. on Friday through 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Respondent was also

     ordered to pay child support to petitioner.

¶6           On August 19, 2014, pursuant to a “Full Parenting Agreement,” the parties agreed to a

     “Temporary Parenting Schedule” while respondent was unemployed and a “Regular Parenting

     Schedule” to take effect once respondent returned to work. Petitioner was still designated the

     “Primary Residential Parent.”

¶7           On May 4, 2015, petitioner filed a pro se motion for “parenting schedule,” indicating that

     respondent did not pick up the children for his scheduled visitation and gave “no explanation”

     for his failure to do so. On May 26, 2015, the court modified the parties’ parenting schedule,

     granting respondent visitation every weekend from Friday at 9:00 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. on

     Saturday and from Sunday at 10:00 a.m. until Monday at 8:30 a.m.

¶8           On March 31, 2021, petitioner filed a pro se motion for “parenting schedule,” alleging

     that respondent failed to return the children after his weekend visitation. Specifically, petitioner

             1
              The only transcript in the report of proceedings filed on appeal is the August 16, 2012
     proceeding on the petition for dissolution of marriage.
                                                        -2-
       No. 1-22-0744

       alleged that she dropped off the children at respondent’s residence on Friday, February 26, in

       accordance with their “court order and agreement,” but respondent “never returned them on

       Sunday.” Petitioner requested that respondent “return the children back to their primary

       residence and stop parental alienation.” The notice of motion indicates that petitioner’s motion

       was set for a hearing on April 26, 2021.2

¶9             On April 26, 2021, the circuit court entered an order of continuance providing that,

       “Minor children shall temporarily reside with Dad-Lawrence; Mom shall have video parenting

       time as agreed by parties; [guardian ad litem (GAL)] appointed by separate order.” In a separate

       order entered on the same date, the court appointed a GAL to address “Residential Care; Video

       Parenting Time; [and] Open DCFS Case.” The court continued the case to June 17, 2021 for a

       status on the GAL’s report.

¶ 10           On May 11, 2021, respondent filed a pro se motion to modify allocation of parental

       responsibilities based on a substantial change in circumstances. Respondent alleged that “[t]he

       children have been mentally and verbally abused by their mother as well as being molested by an

       in-house family member (half brother)” and that petitioner “allowed her son to stay around the

       house after [their daughter] informed her of his actions.” Respondent asked that the court grant

       him “sole responsibility for all decision making when it comes to the children” and to modify

       parenting time to provide visitation with petitioner every other weekend, “provided the mother’s

       son is not allowed around the children.” Respondent also requested a modification of child

       support and that petitioner reimburse child support payments made to her since the children had

       been living with respondent since March 1, 2021. No ruling on respondent’s motion appears in

       the record on appeal.

               2
                According to petitioner’s appellate brief, both petitioner and respondent appeared at the April
       26, 2021 hearing pro se.
                                                           -3-
       No. 1-22-0744

¶ 11          On May 26, 2021, petitioner, through counsel, filed a “Motion to Vacate the Orders

       Entered on April 26, 2021,” arguing that the circuit court lacked jurisdiction to enter the

       “temporary order modifying the current parenting time schedule.” 3 Citing Ligon v. Williams, 264

       Ill. App. 3d 701 (1994), petitioner argued that the circuit court did “not have jurisdiction to

       adjudicate an issue not presented to it through proper pleadings” because “Respondent did not

       have any motion and/or petition on file asking this court to hear it.” Petitioner also asserted that

       she “was not prepared to proceed to argue any such motion and/or petition” to “modify the

       current parenting time schedule.”

¶ 12          On April 26, 2022, the circuit court denied petitioner’s motion to vacate. The court’s

       order indicates that on April 13, 2022, respondent appeared pro se and petitioner appeared

       through counsel. The court heard “the legal argument from Petitioner’s attorney and a brief

       statement from the Respondent regarding what brought the parties to the court on April 26, 2021,

       over Petitioner’s relevance objection.” The court also “hear[d] a short statement from Petitioner

       denying Respondent’s statements regarding the alleged abuse.” The court found that it “had

       jurisdiction to enter *** [the] order modifying custody (parenting time) due to the fact that the

       order was entered protecting the best interest of the parties[’] minor children, based on

       representations made to the court on April 26, 2021.” The order further indicates that

       “[a]dditional reasons for denying Petitioner’s Motion to Vacate the Order Entered on April 26,

       2021 are fully stated in the transcript of the proceedings held on April 13, 2021[sic].”

¶ 13          On May 24, 2022, petitioner filed a notice of appeal pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court

       Rule 304(b)(6) (eff. Mar. 8, 2016). Petitioner indicates that she appeals from “[t]he orders

       entered on April 26, 2021 modifying parenting time (custody) and appointing a GAL” and “[t]he

              3
                While the motion is titled “Motion to Vacate the Orders Entered on April 26, 2021” (emphasis
       added), petitioner made no argument concerning the circuit court’s order appointing a GAL.
                                                        -4-
       No. 1-22-0744

       order entered on April 26, 2022 denying the Petitioner’s Motion to Vacate the Order Entered on

       April 26, 2021.” Prior to filing her notice of appeal, petitioner filed a motion to stay enforcement

       of the April 26, 2021 order during the pendency of this appeal. The record on appeal does not

       contain any ruling on petitioner’s motion to stay.

¶ 14                                                 ANALYSIS

¶ 15           Petitioner argues that the circuit court’s April 26, 2021 order temporarily modifying

       parenting time is void because there was “no pleading on file requesting a modification of

       custody [or] parenting time.”4 She also asserts that her due process rights were violated since she

       did not have “notice that custody was at issue.” Respondent, who has filed a pro se brief on

       appeal, maintains that the circuit court’s judgment is “valid and enforceable” where the “[j]udge

       spoke to both parties involved, received all the information and ordered that the minor children

       temporarily stay with Respondent while a GAL was appointed and the ongoing DCFS case was

       pending.”

¶ 16           Initially, we note that respondent’s pro se brief does not comply with Supreme Court

       Rule 341(h), as it fails to include citations to the appellate record or relevant legal authority. Ill.

       S. Ct. R. 341(h)(7) (eff. Oct. 1, 2020). Although we are not to “serve as an advocate for the

       appellee” and are not “required to search the record for the purpose of sustaining the judgment of

       the trial court” (First Capitol Mortgage Corp. v. Talandis Construction Corp., 63 Ill. 2d 128, 133

       (1976)), this court has an independent duty to consider whether we have jurisdiction over this

       appeal. Secura Insurance Co. v. Illinois Farmers Insurance Co., 232 Ill. 2d 209, 213 (2009) (“A

       reviewing court must ascertain its jurisdiction before proceeding in a cause of action, regardless

       of whether either party has raised the issue.”).

               While petitioner also asks this court to vacate the circuit court’s April 26, 2021 order appointing
               4

       a GAL, she provides no argument as to why this order is void or should otherwise be vacated.
                                                           -5-
       No. 1-22-0744

¶ 17           Generally, this court only has jurisdiction over appeals from final judgments, unless a

       statute or supreme court rule provides otherwise. In re Marriage of Verdung, 126 Ill. 2d 542, 553

       (1989). Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 303 (eff. July 1, 2017), a notice of appeal must be

       filed “within 30 days after the entry of the final judgment appealed from or, if a timely posttrial

       motion directed against the judgment is filed *** within 30 days after the entry of the order

       disposing of the last pending postjudgment motion directed against that judgment or order ***.”

       See also In re Marriage of Harris, 2015 IL App (2d) 140616, ¶ 13 (noting that “the denial of a

       postjudgment motion is reviewable as part of the review of the final order against which the

       motion is directed”).

¶ 18           “ ‘An order is final and appealable if it terminates the litigation between the parties on the

       merits or disposes of the rights of the parties, either on the entire controversy or a separate part

       thereof.’ ” In re Marriage of Gutman, 232 Ill. 2d 145, 151 (2008) (quoting R.W. Dunteman Co.

       v. C/G Enterprises, Inc., 181 Ill. 2d 153, 159 (1998)). Whether an order is “temporary or final”

       depends on “its substance and not its form.” Levy v. Skilling, 136 Ill. App. 3d 727, 729 (1985); In

       re Marriage of Harris, 2015 IL App (2d) 140616, ¶ 17 (finding that a custody order was final

       despite the trial court’s characterization of the order as “temporary”).

¶ 19           Nothing in the April 26, 2021 orders temporarily modifying parenting time and

       appointing a GAL indicates that they were intended to be final orders. Rather, the circuit court

       temporarily modified parenting time and appointed a GAL in light of the allegations that were

       raised at the April 26, 2021 hearing and continued the case to address “Residential Care; Video

       Parenting Time; [and] Open DCFS Case.” 5 Additionally, the electronic docket of the Clerk of the

               5
                 While the record on appeal does not contain a report of proceedings of the April 26, 2021 or
       April 13, 2022 hearings, the circuit court’s order denying petitioner’s motion to vacate indicates that it
       heard a “brief statement regarding what brought the parties to the court on April 26, 2021” and
       petitioner’s response “denying Respondent’s statements regarding the alleged abuse.”
                                                            -6-
       No. 1-22-0744

       Circuit Court of Cook County, which we may take judicial notice of (see TCF National Bank v.

       Richards, 2016 IL App (1st) 152083, ¶ 50), indicates that the parties have continued to litigate

       the issue of parenting time during the pendency of this appeal. It follows that the April 26, 2021

       orders are not final, and the April 26, 2022 order denying petitioner’s motion to vacate is not an

       order disposing of a postjudgment motion directed against a final judgment.

¶ 20          Nevertheless, petitioner asserts that this court has jurisdiction under Illinois Supreme

       Court Rule 304(b)(6) (eff. Mar. 8, 2016). Rule 304 applies to “Appeals from Final Judgments

       that do not Dispose of an Entire Proceeding.” (Emphasis added.) Ill. S. Ct. R. 304 (eff. Mar. 8,

       2016). Rule 304(a) provides that “[i]f multiple parties or multiple claims for relief are involved

       in an action, an appeal may be taken from a final judgment as to one or more but fewer than all

       of the parties or claims only if the trial court has made an express written finding that there is no

       just reason for delaying either enforcement or appeal or both.” Ill. S. Ct. R. 304(a).

¶ 21          Under Rule 304(b), certain final orders that do not dispose of an entire proceeding are

       appealable without a Rule 304(a) finding. See Ill. S. Ct. R. 304(b) (eff. Mar. 8, 2016). Rule

       304(b)(6) allows for the immediate appeal from a “custody or allocation of parental

       responsibilities judgment or modification of such judgment entered pursuant to the Illinois

       Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act [citation] or the Illinois Parentage Act of 2015

       [citation].” Ill. S. Ct. R. 304(b)(6) (eff. Mar, 8, 2016). However, Rule 304, by its very terms, only

       applies to final judgments that do not dispose of the entire proceeding. See D’Agostino v. Lynch,

       382 Ill. App. 3d 639, 642 (2008) (“Rule 304(b) makes certain specific types of final orders that

       do not dispose of an entire proceeding immediately appealable without a special finding”)

       (emphasis added and emphasis omitted); see also In re Guardianship of J.D., 376 Ill. App. 3d

       673, 676 (2007) (noting that Rules 301, 303, and 304 “are applicable only to final judgments”).

                                                        -7-
       No. 1-22-0744

¶ 22          Because, as previously discussed, the circuit court’s April 26, 2021 order temporarily

       modifying parenting time was not a final order, we do not have jurisdiction under Rule

       304(b)(6). See In re Marriage of Harris, 2015 IL App (2d) 140616, ¶ 16 (finding that the

       committee comments to Rule 304(b)(6) suggest that it is limited to permanent custody

       determinations rather than temporary or interim orders); In re Marriage of Wendy S. and George

       D., 2020 IL App (1st) 191661, ¶ 14 (“pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 304(b)(6) ***,

       appeals can be taken from final judgments modifying a custody judgment even where the

       judgment does not dispose of the entire proceeding”) (emphasis added); Matt v. Matt, 2023 IL

       App (1st) 221405-U, ¶¶ 15-16 (cited as persuasive authority pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court

       Rule 23(e) (eff. Feb. 1, 2023)) (court lacked jurisdiction over appeal from temporary order

       modifying custody because Rule 304(b)(6) only applies to permanent custody determinations

       and Rule 304 is limited to appeals from final judgments). Additionally, Rule 304(b)(6) is

       inapplicable to the circuit court’s order appointing a GAL, as it is not a “custody or allocation of

       parental responsibilities judgment or modification of such judgment.” See Ill. S. Ct. R. 304(b)(6).

¶ 23          Finally, petitioner is not appealing from an interlocutory order appealable as of right

       under Supreme Court Rule 307. See Ill. S. Ct. R. 307(a)(1)-(7) (eff. Nov. 1, 2017). Nor did she

       petition this court for leave to appeal from an “interlocutory order[ ] affecting the care and

       custody of or allocation of parental responsibilities for unemancipated minors” under Rule

       306(a)(5). See Ill. S. Ct. R. 306(a)(5) (eff. Oct. 1, 2020). Accordingly, this court lacks

       jurisdiction over the instant appeal.

¶ 24                                             CONCLUSION

¶ 25          For the foregoing reasons, we dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction.

¶ 26          Appeal dismissed.

                                                        -8-