Buczak v. Central Savings & Loan Ass'n

594 N.E.2d 1291, 230 Ill. App. 3d 490, 171 Ill. Dec. 771
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedMay 26, 1992
Docket1-90-1717
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 594 N.E.2d 1291 (Buczak v. Central Savings & Loan Ass'n) 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
Buczak v. Central Savings & Loan Ass'n, 594 N.E.2d 1291, 230 Ill. App. 3d 490, 171 Ill. Dec. 771 (Ill. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

PRESIDING JUSTICE BUCKLEY

delivered the opinion of the court:

Plaintiff Robert Buczak appeals from an order of the circuit court of Cook County which granted summary judgment to defendant Central Savings and Loan Association (Central) and dismissed on limitations grounds the action against defendant A. Willard Longenecker (Longenecker). Buczak seeks reinstatement of his suit against both defendants. For the reasons that follow, we reverse the grant of summary judgment to Central and affirm the dismissal of Longenecker.

On April 9, 1985, plaintiff filed this action for personal injuries which he sustained on April 9, 1983. The complaint alleged that plaintiff was visiting a tenant at a two-flat building in Chicago (the property) when a raised, front porch bannister upon which he was leaning collapsed. Named as defendants were, among others not relevant here, Central, Pedro and Julie Vasquez, and “unknown owners and unknown renters.” Plaintiff alleged that these defendants, as “owners and occupants of the building,” owed plaintiff a duty of care regarding the maintenance of the property. Central answered the complaint admitting an “ownership interest” in the property on the day of injury but denied the remaining allegations. The Vasquezes’ answer denied having an ownership interest in the property on the day of injury.

On March 4, 1986, Central filed a third-party complaint against Longenecker alleging that Longenecker was a contract purchaser of the property pursuant to an installment contract dated November 12, 1981. Central sought contribution and indemnification from Longenecker in the event that Central was held liable for plaintiff’s injuries. Longenecker, in response to Central’s discovery, admitted the terms of the contract and being in possession of the property since November 1981.

On August 5, 1987, Central moved for summary judgment against plaintiff asserting that, under Illinois law, because it was merely a contract seller and not in possession and control of the property on the injury date, it owed plaintiff no duty. On September 11, 1987, 18 months after Central filed its third-party complaint, plaintiff filed an amended complaint which added Longenecker as a party defendant. Longenecker subsequently filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff’s amended complaint alleging that the applicable two-year statute of limitations period had passed.

Plaintiff responded to defendants’ motions by directing the circuit court to (1) paragraph 7 of the installment contract, (2) the affidavit of his attorney, Mark Levin, and (3) Longenecker’s deposition testimony. Plaintiff alleged that these matters precluded the entry of summary judgment and dismissal on limitations grounds.

Regarding paragraph 7, plaintiff claimed summary judgment was not proper as this paragraph established Central to be both legal and equitable owner of the property. Paragraph 7 provided:

“No right, title or interest, legal or equitable, in the premises, or any part thereof, shall vest in Purchaser until delivery of the deed aforesaid by Seller, or until the full payment of the purchase price at the times and in the manner herein provided.”

Regarding Levin’s affidavit and Longenecker’s deposition testimony, plaintiff claimed summary judgment and dismissal were not proper because equitable estoppel should estop Central from denying that it did not own the building on the day in question and prevent Longenecker from asserting a limitations defense.

In Levin’s affidavit, Levin stated that, after being retained by plaintiff in April 1983 and prior to filing suit, he sent a private investigator to the premises to ascertain whether any signs of ownership existed. The investigator was unable to find any signs of ownership. Levin stated he then conducted a title search of the property and found Central to be the record owner of title, with Pedro and Julie Vasquez having some unknown interest in the property. No installment contract was recorded.

Levin stated that during April 1983, he telephoned Central and talked to a bank officer who acknowledged that Central owned the property. The officer refused to divulge any further information, stating: “You can find what you want in the Recorder’s office. I’ll let you find it out.” Levin also telephoned Pedro Vasquez, who informed Levin that the Vasquezes had quitclaimed their interest in the property to Central in December 1981. Vasquez informed Levin that, prior to the conveyance, Central was informed that the front stairs were in poor condition.

Levin asserted that he also attempted to determine ownership by checking with the city of Chicago’s Department of Inspectional Services. Levin learned that on September 20, 1982, the city mailed a notification to the Vasquezes of numerous building code violations, including ones pertaining to the front porch.

Levin stated that on June 23, 1983, he mailed a notice of attorney’s lien to Central and the Vasquezes. On August 31, 1983, Levin received a letter from Michael Boyle of Raymond Bandrigna and Associates, Inc. (Bandrigna), a claims insurance adjusting company, indicating that it represented Home & Auto Insurance Company and that Central was its insured. Boyle requested complete hospital and medical records and that plaintiff sign the enclosed consent form.

Levin stated that he received more letters from Bandrigna dated October 21, 1983, December 16, 1983, February 23, 1984, May 22, 1984, July 17, 1984, and October 3, 1984. Each of these letters was similar in content to the letter of October 21, 1983. Levin received a different letter from an Atlantic Companies’ claims supervisor on June 13, 1985. This letter contained a caption naming Central as a prospective defendant and requested medical and lost wage information necessary to the proper evaluation of the case.

Levin further stated that he had several telephone conversations with Boyle. Boyle indicated to Levin that he was adjusting the matter for Central as owners of the property and that he needed certain information regarding plaintiff’s injuries. Levin concluded his affidavit by stating that at no time did anybody indicate the existence of the installment contract or that Longenecker had any interest in the property.

As for Longenecker’s deposition testimony, Longenecker testified that he was the owner of a real estate company and also a broker. Longenecker testified that an officer at Central told him that Central had purchased the property at a foreclosure sale and that Longenecker could purchase it with no money down under an installment contract. Longenecker decided not to record the agreement as he did not want to place a cloud on the title and because Central was a trustworthy savings and loan. Longenecker testified that the only knowledge he had of the suit was when Central mailed him Levin’s notice of attorney’s lien. Longenecker sent this correspondence to his insurance agent.

On December 1, 1987, Judge Sodaro of the circuit court granted Longenecker’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s amended complaint. The court rejected plaintiff’s arguments that Longenecker had been timely sued as an “unknown party” pursuant to section 2 — 413 of the Code of Civil Procedure (the Code) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 110, par.

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

Related

Popovich v. Hasouneh
2021 IL App (1st) 200263-U (Appellate Court of Illinois, 2021)
Escobar v. COCA-COLA ENTERPRISES, INC.
390 F. Supp. 2d 692 (N.D. Illinois, 2005)
Fitton v. Barrington Realty Co., Inc.
653 N.E.2d 1276 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1995)
M.J. Oldenstedt Plumbing Co. v. K Mart Corp.
629 N.E.2d 214 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1994)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
594 N.E.2d 1291, 230 Ill. App. 3d 490, 171 Ill. Dec. 771, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/buczak-v-central-savings-loan-assn-illappct-1992.