Block & Co. v. Storm Printing Co.

351 N.E.2d 271, 40 Ill. App. 3d 92, 1976 Ill. App. LEXIS 2725
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedJune 28, 1976
Docket62509, 62753 cons.
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 351 N.E.2d 271 (Block & Co. v. Storm Printing Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Block & Co. v. Storm Printing Co., 351 N.E.2d 271, 40 Ill. App. 3d 92, 1976 Ill. App. LEXIS 2725 (Ill. Ct. App. 1976).

Opinions

Mr. JUSTICE BURKE

delivered the opinion of the court:

Storm Printing Company (Storm) appeals from an order enjoining it from further prosecution of an action against Block and Company, Inc. (Block), in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. Storm brought suit against Block in the Judicial District Court of Dallas County, Texas subsequent to the filing of the present action by Block in the circuit court of Cook County. Block removed the action from the Texas State court to the United States District Court.

Storm is a corporation organized under the laws of Texas and maintains its principal office in Dallas, Texas. Block is an Illinois corporation which is located in Wheeling, Illinois. Block is a merchandiser of a variety of equipment and supplies utilized by banks, savings and loan associations, and other financial institutions. Block and Storm entered into a contract by which Storm agreed to print and distribute certain merchandise catalogs. Block promotes the sale of its products through the distribution of merchandise catalogs to numerous financial institutions.

Block filed a complaint in the circuit court against Storm on April 7, 1975, alleging breach of contract on the ground that Storm defectively produced 220,000 catalogs contrary to the requirements contained in the parties’ agreement and contrary to the standards of good workmanship. Block further alleged that Storm failed to complete printing and distribution of the catalogs in the time specified by the agreement, and that Storm did not properly distribute many of the catalogs in accordance with Block’s instructions. The complaint averred that the contract between the parties was formed in Illinois.

On May 20, 1975, Storm filed a special appearance and a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction. Storm did not request a hearing on the motion to dismiss. However, on August 14, 1975, Storm submitted an answer alleging that the terms of the parties’ agreement are different from the terms represented by Block in its complaint; that the catalogs were completely printed and ready for distribution in the time required by Block; that any default and delay in performance was caused by the actions of Block; and that improper distribution of catalogs resulted from Block’s faulty shipping instructions. Storm further alleged that the contract was formed in Texas.

Prior to filing its answer, Storm brought an action against Block in the Judicial District Court of Dallas County, Texas on June 7, 1975. Storm sought recovery of the purchase price of goods and services rendered to Block in the production of the same merchandise catalogs which Block claimed in its Illinois action to be defectively printed and distributed. Block subsequently removed the suit from the Texas State court to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division.

On July 3,1975, Block filed an emergency motion in the circuit court for an injunction to restrain Storm from taking any further action in the Texas State court. On July 16, 1975, the injunction was granted by an order which extended the injunction’s effect until “further order of the court.” The injunction order was amended nunc pro tunc on August 8, 1975, to specify the reasons for the court’s ruling. Storm filed a notice of appeal from the injunction order on August 11,1975. Storm did not, however, file the record with this court until October 6,1975. On October 15,1975, on the motion of Storm, the circuit court made a finding that pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 304 there was no just reason for delaying enforcement or appeal of the injunction order of July 16,1975. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1975, ch. 110A, par. 304.) Thereafter, Storm filed a second notice of appeal from the July injunction order. Storm’s appeal is predicated on the second notice of appeal.

At the outset we consider Block’s contention that the appeal be dismissed because of failure by Storm to comply with Supreme Court Rule 307 which provides that an appeal from an interlocutory order must be perfected within 30 days from the entry thereof by filing a notice of appeal and the record within the same 30 days unless the time is extended by this court. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1975, ch. 110A, par. 307.) Block offered the same argument to this court in a motion to dismiss the appeal on October 15, 1975, which we denied.

We are of the opinion that the injunction order of July 16,1975, is a final and appealable order. The purpose of the order was and is to restrain the prosecution of the action by Storm in the Texas court. The intention is to retain jurisdiction of the case and to protect that jurisdiction against interference. While the order for the injunction uses language usually pertaining to a temporary injunction, the order in fact grants a permanent injunction. We adhere to the previous order entered by this court denying Block’s motion to dismiss the appeal.

We next consider the only two issues presented by Storm on appeal. Storm first contends that it had the option of instituting a separate action in a Texas State court instead of filing a counterclaim in the circuit court pursuant to section 38 of the Civil Practice Act. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1975, ch. 110, par. 38.) Storm argues that electing to file a separate action under section 38 precludes issuance of the trial court’s injunction. Secondly, Storm contends that the criteria established by the Illinois Supreme Court for enjoining foreign actions was not satisfied.

Our Supreme Court’s decision in James v. Grand Truck Western R.R. Co., 14 Ill. 2d 356, 152 N.E.2d 858, cert. denied, 358 U.S. 915, 3 L. Ed. 2d 239, 79 S. Ct. 288, controls the disposition of the issues raised. The plaintiff in James, a resident of Michigan, instituted a wrongful death action in Illinois. In reaction, the defendant railroad filed suit in Michigan and obtained an injunction restraining plaintiff from further prosecuting her Illinois action. The Supreme Court allowed plaintiff’s motion for a counterinjunction enjoining the enforcement of the Michigan injunction.

The James decision firmly establishes that a court of equity has the power, in appropriate circumstances, to restrain persons within its jurisdiction from instituting or proceeding with actions in the courts of sister States. More specifically, James reaffirms this State’s policy to protect the jurisdiction which is first acquired over the parties and the merits of the cause. Illinois courts have consistently refrained enjoining parties from prosecuting a prior instituted action pending in another jurisdiction absent convincing proof of fraud, gross wrong or oppression. (James v. Grand Trunk Western R.R. Co., 14 Ill. 2d 356, 366, 371, 152 N.E.2d 858, 864, 866.) The James decision does not require a similarly stringent standard of proving gross wrong or manifest injustice, as suggested by Storm, before an Illinois cotut may enjoin a party from further proceeding in a subsequently instituted action pending in a sister jurisdiction. People ex rel. Scott v. Jones, 44 Ill. 2d 343, 255 N.E.2d 397.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Syniuk v. IBY Transport, Inc.
2024 IL App (1st) 231427-U (Appellate Court of Illinois, 2024)
Mikoff v. Unlimited Development, Inc.
2024 IL App (4th) 230513 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 2024)
Trapani Construction Co.3-2573, Inc. v. Elliot Group, Inc.
2016 IL App (1st) 143734 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 2016)
Trapani Construction Company, Inc. v. The Elliot Group, Inc.
2016 IL App (1st) 143734 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 2016)
Cabrera v. FIRST NAT. BANK OF WHEATON
753 N.E.2d 1138 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 2001)
Cabrera v. First National Bank
Appellate Court of Illinois, 2001
Altair Corp. v. Grand Premier Trust and Investment, Inc.
742 N.E.2d 351 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 2000)
Eckel v. O'Keefe
627 N.E.2d 166 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1993)
Pfaff v. Chrysler Corp.
610 N.E.2d 51 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1992)
Torcasso v. Standard Outdoor Sales, Inc.
597 N.E.2d 772 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1992)
Pfaff v. Chrysler Corp.
567 N.E.2d 52 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1991)
International Insurance v. Morton Thiokol, Inc.
542 N.E.2d 6 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1989)
Park Plaza, Inc. v. Lincolnland Properties, Inc.
540 N.E.2d 789 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1989)
National Hockey League v. Intermart, Inc.
470 N.E.2d 1 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1984)
Foutch v. O'BRYANT
459 N.E.2d 958 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1984)
Lowe v. Norfolk & Western Railway Co.
421 N.E.2d 971 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1981)
Block & Co. v. Storm Printing Co.
351 N.E.2d 271 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1976)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
351 N.E.2d 271, 40 Ill. App. 3d 92, 1976 Ill. App. LEXIS 2725, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/block-co-v-storm-printing-co-illappct-1976.