Gliwa v. Washington Polish Loan & Building Ass'n

34 N.E.2d 736, 310 Ill. App. 465, 1941 Ill. App. LEXIS 859
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedMay 19, 1941
DocketGen. No. 41,575
StatusPublished
Cited by44 cases

This text of 34 N.E.2d 736 (Gliwa v. Washington Polish Loan & Building 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
Gliwa v. Washington Polish Loan & Building Ass'n, 34 N.E.2d 736, 310 Ill. App. 465, 1941 Ill. App. LEXIS 859 (Ill. Ct. App. 1941).

Opinion

Mr. Justice Matchett

delivered the opinion of the court.

I.

This appeal by defendant is from a summary judgment for $13,152.70, and an order denying' a motion to set it aside. The procedure was under section 57 of the Civil Practice Act (Smith-Hurd Ann. Stats., ch. 110, par. 181, p. 485 [Jones Ill. Stats. Ann. 104.057]); Bule 15 of the Supreme Court (Smith-Hurd Ann. Stats., ch. 110, § 259.15, p. 523 [Jones Ill. Stats. Ann. 105.15]).

Complaint was filed May 22, 1939. Motions to strike were denied but an amended complaint was filed. It is in two counts. The first consisting of seven paragraphs is in substance for money had and received and against the corporation alone. The second count charged several defendants with conspiracy to appropriate plaintiff’s money. The judgment order reserved for future trial the action stated in the second count.

The first count alleged (naming particular dates) the deposit by plaintiff with defendant, beginning June 15, 1920, and ending July 10, 1926, items amounting to $9,040. It also alleged a credit on that date of $960 interest, and delivery to plaintiff by defendant “Certificate of Paid-Up Stock,” etc., $10,000, par value $100 per share. It avers that until June 1935, defendant acknowledged this indebtedness and made pay- ' ments to plaintiff (stating items) but thereafter denied its relationship and debt to plaintiff. Another paragraph charged defendant had accumulated large sums of money since 1932, applicable to the retirement of this certificate.

Defendant answering admitted incorporation; denied plaintiff opened an account June 15, 1920; credit of interest; delivery of certificate; that plaintiff had $10,000 on deposit; was the owner of paid-np shares; that defendant acknowledged the indebtedness or made payments thereon, but admitted it denied any such debt in 1935. The answer further set up res adjudicata and the statute of limitations as defenses.

A motion to strike was denied. Plaintiff moved for summary judgment supported by an affidavit of twenty-three paragraphs with fifteen exhibits, a transcript of testimony of Martin Oleszkiewicz upon oral deposition, a like transcript of a part of a similar examination of plaintiff, and the affidavit of a handwriting expert with exhibits attached. In opposition defendant submitted its verified answer, amendment and motion to strike plaintiff’s motion, two counter-affidavits and a transcript of testimony of plaintiff.

II.

Defendant says the trial court should have held the summary judgment procedure inapplicable because of the complex nature of the case. From the first enactment of a summary judgment procedure statute in this State (Laws of Illinois, 1853, p. 172), in the adoption of this procedure in England (1855, See Bills of Exchange Act, 18 and 19, Vicxt. c. 67), in the Practice Act of 1872 (Rev. Stat. 1874, ch. 110, § 37), later in section 55 of the Practice Act of 1907, and now in section 57 of the Civil Practice Act, it is said the intention is manifested to limit summary procedure to cases simple in their nature. Workman & Clark & Co. v. Brazileno, 1 K. B. 968, 978; Lagos v. Grunwaldt, 1 K. B. 41; Fisher v. Sun Underwriters Ins. Co. of New York, 55 R. 1.175,179 Atl. 702, 705; Clark & Samenow, 38 Y. L. J. 423, 424; Berick v. Curran, 55 R. I. 193, 179 Atl. 708, 710. The authorities so hold but do not undertake to lay down any precise rule. Manifestly this is a matter which must be left largely to the discretion of the trial judge. He should be quick to sense the actual situation. The mere fact that defendant presents complicated defenses may prove he has astute, able and learned counsel. It does not necessarily prove the case is complex or complicated. To so hold would emasculate the statute. The statute limits the procedure to actions on contracts, express or implied. If further limitation was thought necessary or wise it would undoubtedly have been stated in the statute or rule. The case here is on an implied contract. It is in substance for money had and received. The complaint alleges deposits by plaintiff with defendant, and defendant’s refusal to repay. The evidence is largely in possession of the association. The case is not complicated except as defendant makes it so. The trial judge thought so. We do not disagree.

III.

Defendant points out the rules which guide the courts. The procedure may not be used to impair right of trial by jury. Diversey Liquidating Corp. v. Neunkirchen, 370 Ill. 523. The purpose of the procedure is not to try an issue of fact as that term is used in law but rather to try whether there is an issue of fact between the parties within the legal meaning. The method is necessarily inquisitorial. The pleadings (important) are not controlling. If it appears from facts stated in affidavits or documents that the answer pleaded is sham or false or frivolous it will be disregarded. If there is a material issue of fact it must be submitted to a jury. In Berick v. Curran, 55 R. I. 193, 179 Atl. 708, 710, this procedure is well described as, “a two-edged weapon — useful if it precludes the interposition of defenses for delay, but dangerous if it deprives a defendant of the opportunity to have a trial of seriously contested questions of fact or law.”

The authorities say affidavits for plaintiff should be construed strictly, those for defendants liberally. Shientag, 4 Fordham L. R. 186; Gleason v. Hoeke, 5 App. Dist. of Col. 1, 4-5; Fidelity & Deposit Co. v. United States for use of Smoot, 187 U. S. 315, 320; Wells v. Alropa Construction Corp., 82 Fed. (2d) 887, 889, are cited.

Plaintiff’s right to judgment should he free from doubt. Lord Esher in Sheppards & Co. v. Wilkinson & Jarvis, 6 T. L. R. 13, and many other cases.

Even if defense papers are found insufficient, judgment should not be ordered unless plaintiff’s affidavit (strictly construed) leaves no question of defendant’s liability. People for use of Dyer v. Sanculius, 284 Ill. App. 463, 474-475; Weiss v. Goldberger, 209 App. Div. 615, 205 N. Y. S. 1, 3; 4 Fordham L. R. 186, 216; Wm. H. Frear & Co., Inc. v. Bailey, 127 Misc. 79, 214 N. Y. S. 675, 677.

If the defense is “arguable,” “apparent,” made in “good faith” it should be submitted to a jury. Fidelity & Deposit Co. v. United States for use of Smoot, 187 U. S. 315, 320. The court is bound to accept statement of facts as true when alleged in defendant’s affidavits. The whole record must be considered.

Conceding the rules to be as stated it remains to apply them in this case. As stated, plaintiff’s action in so far as this defendant is concerned is an action for money had and received. The Supreme Court has held this an appropriate kind of action in a case of this kind against a building and loan association. Prairie State Loan & Bldg. Ass’n v. Gorrie, 167 Ill. 414, 418.

IV.

The affidavit of plaintiff shows defendant is an Illinois corporation, she the widow of Jacob Gliwa with whom she jointly owned real estate in Cook county. He died December 9, 1919, and she received from the Industrial Commission an award of damages of $4,037.

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34 N.E.2d 736, 310 Ill. App. 465, 1941 Ill. App. LEXIS 859, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gliwa-v-washington-polish-loan-building-assn-illappct-1941.