Craig v. Citicorp Savings

578 N.E.2d 1331, 219 Ill. App. 3d 142, 161 Ill. Dec. 685, 1991 Ill. App. LEXIS 1575
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedSeptember 11, 1991
DocketNo. 5—89—0801
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 578 N.E.2d 1331 (Craig v. Citicorp Savings) 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
Craig v. Citicorp Savings, 578 N.E.2d 1331, 219 Ill. App. 3d 142, 161 Ill. Dec. 685, 1991 Ill. App. LEXIS 1575 (Ill. Ct. App. 1991).

Opinions

JUSTICE LEWIS

delivered the opinion of the court:

The plaintiff, Virginia Craig, brought suit against the defendant, Citicorp Savings, in two counts, the first pertaining to the defendant’s refusal to pay principal and interest on a certificate of deposit issued in plaintiff’s name, the second for conversion. The defendant refused to pay on the basis that the plaintiff had paid no consideration for the certificate and that the certificate was issued in her name by mistake. The trial court granted the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and denied the defendant’s motion to reconsider the ruling granting summary judgment; the defendant has appealed. The trial court granted the defendant’s motion to dismiss the second count of the complaint, allowing plaintiff leave to amend. However, the plaintiff filed a notice of intention to stand on the second count of her complaint, the trial court entered judgment dismissing that count with prejudice, and plaintiff has cross-appealed.

The defendant presents a single issue for review, whether the trial court improperly granted summary judgment and improperly denied defendant’s motion to reconsider that ruling. Section 2 — 1005(c) of the Code of Civil Procedure (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 110, par. 2 — 1005(c)) provides that summary judgment shall be rendered “if the pleadings, depositions and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” In making the determination whether there is a genuine issue as to any material fact, the court must construe the pleadings, depositions, and affidavits most strictly against the moving party and most liberally in favor of the opponent. (Martin v. American Legion Post No. 784 (1978), 66 Ill. App. 3d 116, 383 N.E.2d 672.) Where the facts admit of more than one conclusion, including a conclusion unfavorable to the party moving for summary judgment, such facts cannot support a motion for summary judgment. (Martin, 66 Ill. App. 3d 116, 383 N.E.2d 672.) In determining whether there is a genuine issue of material fact, inferences may be drawn from the facts that are not in dispute. (Riley v. Singer (1979), 75 Ill. App. 3d 1036, 394 N.E.2d 746.) If fair-minded persons could draw different inferences from the facts, a triable issue exists and a motion for summary judgment must be denied. (Riley, 75 Ill. App. 3d 1036, 394 N.E.2d 746.) It is only when the undisputed facts are susceptible of but a single inference that the issue becomes one of law. (Riley, 75 Ill. App. 3d 1036, 394 N.E.2d 746.) Although there is no dispute in the evidence, if reasonable persons could draw different conclusions from the undisputed evidence, summary judgment should not be entered. (Martin v. Hertz Corp. (1982), 104 Ill. App. 3d 592, 432 N.E.2d 1262.) If the court is presented with any set of facts about which reasonable men might disagree, summary judgment should be denied. (Lesser v. Village of Mundelein (1975), 36 Ill. App. 3d 433, 344 N.E.2d 29.) The right of a moving party to obtain a summary judgment must be clear and free from doubt. (Manahan v. Daily News-Tribune (1977), 50 Ill. App. 3d 9, 365 N.E.2d 1045.) The purpose of a summary judgment proceeding is not to try an issue of fact but, rather, to determine whether there is an issue of fact to be tried. (Beverly Bank v. Alsip Bank (1982), 106 Ill. App. 3d 1012, 436 N.E.2d 598.) The summary judgment procedure may not be used to try any issue; it is not a modified trial procedure. (Manahan, 50 Ill. App. 3d 9, 365 N.E.2d 1045.) The function of a jury is to decide disputed issues of fact. (Diversey Liquidating Corp. v. Neunkirchen (1939), 370 Ill. 523, 19 N.E.2d 363.) Where no such issue is presented, there can be no denial of the right to a jury trial. Diversey, 370 Ill. 523, 19 N.E.2d 363.

In her motion for summary judgment, the plaintiff asserted that “[tjhere is no legitimate defense that has been or can be raised by Defendant as to the effect of the certificate of deposit they have admittedly issued. There is no competent evidence supporting Defendant’s contention the certificate of deposit was issued in error or that it was issued without any consideration.”

It is undisputed that on March 31, 1987, the defendant issued a one-year certificate, a copy of which is attached as exhibit “A” to both the plaintiff’s complaint and her motion for summary judgment, in the name of Virginia I. Craig, specifying an opening balance of $21,000 with an initial rate of earnings of 5.93% per annum and an initial maturity date of March 31, 1988. The account number appearing on the certificate is 66 — 80—0000009. On the back of the certificate is the statement, “This certifies that the Accountholder holds a savings account with the terms as shown herein in Citicorp Savings.” Also attached to the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment is the discovery deposition of David C. White, who stated that at the time in question he worked for the defendant, opening new accounts, and that the signature on the certificate is undisputedly his. He had known the plaintiff, he said, “probably 25 years.” She had purchased certificates of deposit in the past and at times, if she were out of town, had them mailed to her. Apparently, the day before the plaintiff sought payment on the certificate, the account had been paid out to customers of the bank named Vernon and Anna Deadmond. David White stated that an account number established on the computer in the name of Vernon Deadmond corresponded to that on the certificate in plaintiff’s name. In the motion for summary judgment, the plaintiff maintained, in reliance upon First National Bank v. Myers (1876), 83 Ill. 507, that a certificate of deposit is evidence of so high and satisfactory a character as to the sum deposited that, to escape its effect, the maker must overcome it by clear and convincing evidence. The plaintiff took the position that the defendant could not meet this burden and that there was no genuine issue of material fact precluding entry of summary judgment in her favor.

In its response to the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment, the defendant admitted that the plaintiff’s case was based upon a failure to pay a certificate of deposit issued by the defendant. The defendant denied that no legitimate defense has been or even can be raised “as I.R.S. Ch. 17, Sec. 610 and Ch. 110, Sec. 613(d) provide for defenses of lack of consideration and Exhibits B-E all support such' a defense and it is a question for the jury as to whether such evidence is clear and convincing.”

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

Related

Emcasco Insurance v. CE Design, Ltd.
784 F.3d 1371 (Tenth Circuit, 2015)
G.M. Sign, Inc. v. Elm Street Chiropractic, Ltd.
871 F. Supp. 2d 763 (N.D. Illinois, 2012)
Guick v. Sentinel Technologies
Appellate Court of Illinois, 1997
Guice v. Sentinel Technologies, Inc.
689 N.E.2d 355 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1997)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
578 N.E.2d 1331, 219 Ill. App. 3d 142, 161 Ill. Dec. 685, 1991 Ill. App. LEXIS 1575, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/craig-v-citicorp-savings-illappct-1991.