2014 IL App (1st) 130109
FIFTH DIVISION June 27, 2014
No. 1-13-0109
In re MARRIAGE OF ) Appeal from the ) Circuit Court SANDRA COZZI-DIGIOVANNI, ) of Cook County ) Petitioner and Counterrespondent-Appellee, ) ) and ) No. 07 D 09096 ) COSIMO DIGIOVANNI, ) ) Respondent-Counterpetitioner ) Honorable ) Raul Vega, (Michael D. Canulli, Appellant) ) Judge Presiding.
JUSTICE PALMER delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion. Presiding Justice Gordon and Justice McBride concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 This appeal arises in the context of the dissolution of marriage action between
petitioner and counterrespondent Sandra Cozzi DiGiovanni (Sandra) and respondent
and counterpetitioner Cosimo DiGiovanni (Cosimo). During the pendency of the
dissolution proceeding, Cosimo's former counsel, Michael D. Canulli (Canulli), filed a
petition against Sandra seeking contribution for attorney fees and costs owed by
Cosimo to Canulli. The court granted summary judgment to Sandra on the petition,
finding that, pursuant to section 503(j) of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of
Marriage Act (the Act) (750 ILCS 5/503(j) (West 2010)), it did not have subject matter 1-13-0109
jurisdiction to consider the petition. It denied Canulli's motion to reconsider.
¶2 Canulli appeals the court's orders, asserting (1) nine arguments challenging the
court's interpretation of sections 503(j) and 508(a) of the Act (750 ILCS 5/503(j), 508(a)
(West 2010)); (2) that Sandra waived her objection to the petition and (3) that the court
was revested with jurisdiction. He also requests that, upon remand for a hearing on his
petition, the case be reassigned to a different trial judge. Although Sandra has not filed
a brief in response, we will consider the appeal pursuant to the principles set forth in
First Capitol Mortgage Corp. v. Talandis Construction Corp., 63 Ill. 2d 128, 131-33
(1976). We reverse and remand for further proceedings.
¶3 BACKGROUND
¶4 Sandra filed a petition for dissolution of marriage in September 2007. Three
months later, Cosimo filed a counterpetition for dissolution of the marriage. Canulli
represented Cosimo and continued to do so until July 21, 2009, on which date the court
entered an order allowing Canulli to withdraw his appearance as Cosimo’s attorney.
Another attorney then filed an appearance for Cosimo.
¶5 In October 2009, Canulli filed a "petition for final fee hearing against former
client," seeking attorney fees and costs from Cosimo. He asserted that he had received
$12,397.40 in payments from Cosimo but was owed an additional $28,364.65. A
mediation hearing on the petition was scheduled for January 5, 2010.
¶6 However, on January 4, 2010, Cosimo filed a petition for relief in the United
States Bankruptcy Court, seeking discharge of assorted obligations under chapter 7 of
the United States Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. (2006)). Cosimo listed
Canulli as one of his creditors. As a result of the bankruptcy filing, the circuit court
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entered an order staying prosecution of Canulli’s petition against Cosimo and continued
the petition for a status hearing on the bankruptcy.
¶7 On January 5, 2010, Canulli filed a "petition for attorney's fees, costs and
expenses hearing" against Sandra, citing section 508(c) "et seq." of the Act. He
asserted that Cosimo owed him $28,364.65 in attorney fees and costs and, given that
Cosimo was seeking bankruptcy relief, it appeared that Cosimo would not pay the
attorney fees and costs he had incurred in the dissolution action. Canulli claimed that
Sandra had a demonstrated ability to pay Cosimo's attorney fees and costs because
Cosimo had told him that Sandra had purchased a winning lottery ticket worth in excess
of $2 million. Canulli requested an evidentiary hearing on the petition and a judgment
against Sandra in his favor for $28,364.65 plus additional sums as necessary.
¶8 Sandra moved to dismiss, arguing that, even if Canulli's petition against her was
interpreted as a petition for contribution, section 508(c) of the Act provides that Canulli
can only file a final fee petition during the pendency of a dissolution proceeding against
his own client, not against the opposing party.
¶9 On February 18, 2010, the court granted her motion, finding that "former counsel
may only obtain fees pursuant to [section] 508(c) which is limited to seeking fees
against his client" and "Canulli is the former counsel of Cosimo DiGiovanni and he does
and has not represented Sandra." It "denied, as a matter of law," Canulli's petition for a
fees and costs hearing against Sandra. The court ordered that "notice of future
proceedings including prove up or entry of judgment shall be given to Mr. Canulli."
¶10 On March 22, 2010, Canulli filed a motion to reconsider the court's February 18,
2010, order dismissing his contribution petition against Sandra.
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¶11 On March 24, 2010, the court granted Sandra leave to file for a legal separation
rather than dissolution of marriage. On the same date, it entered a judgment for legal
separation. In the judgment, the court approved and incorporated the parties' marital
separation agreement and an addendum thereto. In the addendum, the parties agreed
that, given Canulli's filing of his petition against Sandra and his stated intent to appeal
the court's denial of the petition, the following provision was incorporated into the
separation agreement:
"Respondent [Cosimo] shall be responsible for and pay his own attorney
fees incurred in this cause. Respondent waives whether by statute or otherwise
any right to contribution for attorney fees from Petitioner [Sandra].
Petitioner shall be responsible for and pay her own attorney fees incurred
in this cause. But her right to contribution for attorney fees from Respondent or
her right to seek a contribution from any attorney fees she is ordered to pay
Michael Canulli pursuant to Canulli's Petition or any similar petition filed by him is
reserved. Petitioner may only file a Petition for Contribution for attorney fees
against Respondent if the trial court's order of February 19, 2010 is reversed or
overturned in whole or in part by either the trial court or the appellate court or it is
remanded by the appellate court to the trial court for further proceedings."
(Emphasis in original.)
The court's order stated that it retained jurisdiction over the subject matter of the case
and the parties for the purposes of enforcing all terms of the judgment and the
agreement.
¶12 On April 15, 2010, the bankruptcy court entered an order granting Cosimo's
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petition for chapter 7 discharge.
¶13 On June 22, 2010, the court denied Canulli's motion to reconsider the dismissal
of his petition for contribution against Sandra.
¶14 On July 12, 2010, Canulli filed a "motion to complete common law record and
other relief," asserting that, in an unrelated domestic relations case before a different
trial judge, the judge had entered an order contrary to that entered on Canulli's petition,
allowing the attorney to pursue a petition for contribution against the opposing party.
Canulli requested (1) leave to supplement the record with the orders entered in the
other case and (2) reconsideration of the court's order granting Sandra's motion to
dismiss his petition given the contradictory ruling on the identical issue.
¶15 On July 19, 2010, the court (1) denied the motion to complete the common law
record and (2) vacated its February 18, 2010, order granting Sandra's motion to dismiss
Canulli's contribution petition against her. It ordered Sandra to answer the petition.
¶16 Sandra filed her answer and two affirmative defenses in August 2010. She
argued Canulli’s action for contribution was barred because (1) any debt owed to
Canulli for attorney fees had been discharged by Cosimo’s bankruptcy and there was,
therefore, no longer any debt owed to Canulli to which Sandra could be required to
contribute and (2), pursuant to section 508 of the Act, a former counsel may petition for
fees only against the attorney's own client. Sandra filed a petition for contribution
against Cosimo pursuant to the addendum to the parties' marital separation agreement.
She also filed a petition for interim attorney fees against Canulli, asserting that she
would be unable to properly defend against his petition for contribution without an award
of interim fees.
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¶17 Cosimo answered and filed an affirmative defense to Sandra's petition for
contribution. He argued that, because Canulli’s attorney fees had been discharged in
the chapter 7 bankruptcy, Cosimo had no legal obligation or duty to pay Canulli's fees
and Sandra was prohibited from seeking contribution from Cosimo for those fees as the
fees had been properly discharged.
¶18 In January 2011, the court awarded Sandra $10,000 in interim attorney fees from
Canulli, noting that Canulli failed to appear or file a responsive pleading. However, in
March 2011, the court granted Canulli's motion to vacate the interim fee award.
¶19 The case continued through assorted answers, responses and motions, including
Canulli's motion to add Sandra's daughter Catherine as a necessary party. Canulli
asserted that Sandra had given the proceeds of the $2 million lottery ticket to Catherine
prior to the parties' legal separation in order to keep the winnings out of the marital
estate and he sought an opportunity to demonstrate such. He stated Sandra's
ownership interest in the lottery winnings was relevant to his petition for contribution
given that her financial circumstances and ability to pay were in issue.
¶20 In March 2012, Sandra filed a motion for summary judgment, asserting the court
was without subject matter jurisdiction to consider Canulli’s contribution petition.
Sandra argued that there was no statutory or jurisdictional basis on which to hear
Canulli's petition because section 503(j) of the Act requires that a petition for
contribution to attorney fees from the opposing party must be heard and decided before
entry of judgment and Canulli sought to have his petition heard two years after entry of
final judgment, the March 24, 2010, judgment of legal separation. Sandra also argued
that she did not waive the lack of subject matter jurisdiction because such may be
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raised at any time and cannot be waived.
¶21 Canulli responded that, under the statute, where a timely petition for contribution
such as his is filed, the circuit court retains jurisdiction to decide the petition even after
entry of a judgment of divorce or legal separation. He also asserted that, because the
judgment for legal separation specifically reserved the issue of which party was to pay
his attorney fees, the judgment for legal separation was not a final judgment and the
court continued to exercise its jurisdiction over the issue of contribution. He requested
that the court strike Sandra's motion for summary judgment as untimely, or deny her
motion and/or find the parties revested the court with jurisdiction to hear his petition.
¶22 On August 7, 2012, the court entered an order granting Sandra’s motion for
summary judgment. The order stated as follows:
"(1) Mr. Canulli filed a petition for contribution on 1/5/10,
(2) The trial court entered a judgment for legal separation on 3/24/10,
(3) The trial judge did not conduct a 503(j) hearing before judgment was
entered or at the end of proofs,
(4) Mr. Canulli did not appear on 3/24/10 for a 503(j) hearing,
(5) This court rejects Mr. Canulli's argument that it should vacate the
judgment for legal separation in order for there to be a 503(j) hearing, and further
finds that it would be against public policy to vacate said judgment at this point in
time."
¶23 Canulli filed a motion to reconsider, arguing that the court's determination that it
lacked subject matter jurisdiction to conduct a hearing on contribution because the
judgment of legal separation had been entered was erroneous as a matter of law and
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based on erroneous presumptions. He asserted that, despite the court's order requiring
that he be notified of the date of any prove-up hearing or entry of judgment, he had not
received notice that the parties intended to present to the court and request entry of the
judgment for legal separation on March 24, 2010. He stated the court erroneously
presumed that he had received notice of the entry of judgment for legal separation and
that Canulli was required to appear in court that day "when no such hearing was
scheduled" and asserted the judgment was void for lack of notice. Canulli also asserted
that, because the judgment of legal separation was void, it could not serve as a basis to
grant summary judgment or deprive him of his right to contribution. He further reiterated
his argument that the court did not lose subject matter jurisdiction under section 503(j)
to rule on his petition for contribution upon entry of the judgment for legal separation.
¶24 The court denied Canulli's motion to reconsider on December 3, 2012, finding
"no error of law of fact and [Canulli] should have appeared in court on March 24th and
on today's date." Canulli timely filed his notice of appeal from the court's orders on
January 2, 2013.
¶25 ANALYSIS
¶26 Canulli raises 12 issues on appeal but they concern only 4 main arguments: (1)
the circuit court erred in its interpretation of section 503(j) of the Act; (2) Sandra waived
her objection to Canulli's contribution petition by litigating it for almost three years; (3)
even if the court did lose subject matter jurisdiction, it was revested with jurisdiction by
Sandra's participation in the three-year litigation on the petition; and (4) upon remand for
a hearing on Canulli's contribution petition, the case should be reassigned to a different
circuit court judge as the hearing judge's "various rulings and his grant of interim
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attorney fees of $10,000 against Canulli are suggestive of some degree or appearance
of prejudice and justice and fairness would be served by a reassignment of the case to
a different judge." As noted previously, Canulli's brief is unopposed.
¶27 We agree with Canulli that the court erred in its interpretation of section 503(j).
For the reasons that follow, we find the court did have subject matter jurisdiction to
consider Canulli's petition and erred in granting summary judgment to Sandra.
Therefore, we reverse and remand for a hearing on the petition. Given this conclusion,
we will not address Canulli's arguments regarding waiver and revestment of jurisdiction.
We deny Canulli's request that we remand to a different trial judge.
¶28 Section 503(j) of the Act
¶29 Canulli represented Cosimo in the dissolution action for two years. He then
withdrew as Cosimo's counsel and filed a petition for final attorney fees against Cosimo
during the pendency of the dissolution proceedings. Upon Cosimo's bankruptcy filing,
Canulli filed a petition for contribution against Sandra, the opposing party, citing section
508(c) of the Act. Two months later, the court entered a judgment of legal separation
and approved the parties' agreement of legal separation. Two years later, Sandra
moved for summary judgment, arguing inter alia that, pursuant to section 503(j) of the
Act, the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to consider the petition because the
judgment for legal separation had already been entered. The court granted Sandra's
motion for summary judgment, noting that the petition was not decided prior to entry of
the judgment for legal separation. Canulli argues that the court erred in granting
summary judgment to Sandra because the court improperly read into section 503(j) a
mandate that, where a judgment of legal separation has been entered, the court lacks
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subject matter jurisdiction to consider a pending contribution petition.
¶30 A drastic means of disposing of litigation, summary judgment should be granted
only when the right of the moving party is clear and free from doubt. Mashal v. City of
Chicago, 2012 IL 112341, ¶ 49. The movant has the burden of production on a
summary judgment motion. Mashal, 2012 IL 112341, ¶ 49. Summary judgment is
granted only when the pleadings, depositions and admissions on file and the affidavits,
if any, construed strictly against the movant and liberally in favor of the respondent,
" '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.' " Axen v. Ockerlund Construction Co., 281
Ill. App. 3d 224, 229 (1996) (quoting Purtill v. Hess, 111 Ill. 2d 229, 240 (1986));
Gauthier v. Westfall, 266 Ill. App. 3d 213, 219 (1994). We review the circuit court's
entry of summary judgment de novo. Golden Rule Insurance Co. v. Schwartz, 203 Ill.
2d 456, 462 (2003).
¶31 Our standard of review for the construction and application of a statute is also
de novo. Solon v. Midwest Medical Records Ass'n, 236 Ill. 2d 433, 439 (2010). Our
main objective in interpreting a statute is to determine and give effect to the intent of the
legislature. Solon, 236 Ill. 2d at 440. The most reliable indicator of the legislature's
intent is the language of the statute, which must be given its plain and ordinary
meaning. Solon, 236 Ill. 2d at 440. Clear and unambiguous statutory language must be
applied as written, without resort to extrinsic aids of statutory construction and without
reading into it exceptions, limitations, or conditions that conflict with the expressed intent
or that render any part of the statute meaningless or superfluous. Solon, 236 Ill. 2d at
440-41. Only if a statute is ambiguous, if it is capable of being understood by
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reasonably well-informed persons in two or more different ways, will we consider
extrinsic aids of construction in order to discern the legislative intent. Solon, 236 Ill. 2d
at 440.
¶32 Relevant here are sections 508 and 503 of the Act. Section 508 of the Act is
titled "Attorney's Fees; Client's Rights and Responsibilities Respecting Fees and Costs."
750 ILCS 5/508 (West 2010). It governs attorney fees generally, including petitions for
contribution of attorney fees and costs incurred in initial dissolution proceedings
[predecree proceedings] and in postdecree proceedings. Blum v. Koster, 235 Ill. 2d 21,
46 (2009).
¶33 Section 508(a) provides, in relevant part:
"The court from time to time, after due notice and hearing, and after considering
the financial resources of the parties, may order any party to pay a reasonable
amount for his own or the other party's costs and attorney's fees. Interim
attorney's fees and costs may be awarded from the opposing party, in a pre-
judgment dissolution proceeding in accordance with subsection (c-1) of Section
501 and in any other proceeding under this subsection. At the conclusion of any
pre-judgment dissolution proceeding under this subsection, contribution to
attorney's fees and costs may be awarded from the opposing party in accordance
with subsection (j) of Section 503 and in any other proceeding under this
subsection. Fees and costs may be awarded in any proceeding to counsel from
a former client in accordance with subsection (c) of this Section. Awards may be
made in connection with the following:
(1) The maintenance or defense of any proceeding under this Act.
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(2) The enforcement or modification of any order or judgment under
this Act.
(3) The defense of an appeal of any order or judgment under this
Act, including the defense of appeals of post-judgment orders.
(3.1) The prosecution of any claim on appeal (if the prosecuting
party has substantially prevailed).
(4) The maintenance or defense of a petition brought under Section
2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure seeking relief from a final order or
judgment under this Act.
(5) The costs and legal services of an attorney rendered in
preparation of the commencement of the proceeding brought under this
Act.
(6) Ancillary litigation incident to, or reasonably connected with, a
proceeding under this Act.
***
The court may order that the award of attorney's fees and costs (including
an interim or contribution award) shall be paid directly to the attorney, who may
enforce the order in his or her name, or that it shall be paid to the appropriate
party. Judgment may be entered and enforcement had accordingly." (Emphases
added.) 750 ILCS 5/508(a) (West 2010).
¶34 Section 508(a) provides that attorney fees and costs may be awarded to an
attorney in connection with the attorney's representation of his or her client in the
original dissolution/predecree proceeding (such as in "[t]he maintenance or defense of
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any proceeding under this Act" (750 ILCS 5/508(a)(1) (West 2010)) and in postdecree
proceedings (such as in "[t]he enforcement or modification of any order or judgment
under this Act" and in the prosecution or defense of claims on appeal (750 ILCS
5/508(a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(3.1) (West 2010))). The attorney can obtain a judgment for
attorney fees from the attorney's own client or, pursuant to a petition for contribution,
from an opposing spouse. 750 ILCS 5/508(a) (West 2010).
¶35 "The attorneys for the litigants in a dissolution proceeding are considered as
parties in interest in an action for attorney fees to the extent that while such fees are
generally awarded to the client, they properly 'belong' to the attorney." In re Marriage of
Baltzer, 150 Ill. App. 3d 890, 893 (1986). As a party in interest, the attorney has
standing in such cases to pursue an action for fees himself. Lee v. Lee, 302 Ill. App. 3d
607, 612 (1998) (citing Baltzer, 150 Ill. App. 3d at 893).1 Section 508(a), therefore,
allows an attorney to pursue a contribution action in his own name. Rocca, 408 Ill. App.
3d at 968; 750 ILCS 5/508(a) (West 2010) ("The court may order that the award of
attorney's fees and costs (including an interim or contribution award) shall be paid
directly to the attorney, who may enforce the order in his or her name ***.").
1 We cite herein to Lee v. Lee, 302 Ill. App. 3d 607 (1998), In re Marriage of Baltzer, 150 Ill. App. 3d 890 (1986), and Heiden v. Ottinger, 245 Ill. App. 3d 612 (1993), for the proposition that, under the Act, as a party in interest, the attorney has standing in contribution cases to pursue an action for attorney fees himself. All three cases considered attorney fees under section 508 of the Act as it existed prior to amendments to the Act in 1997. However, although section 508 has been twice amended since 1997, the cases remain good law. In re Parentage of Rocca, 408 Ill. App. 3d 956, 964 (2011). The 1997 amendments did not alter the statute such that an attorney's ability to pursue contribution is now restricted in a manner that did not exist when the statute was considered in Lee, Baltzer and Heiden. Rocca, 408 Ill. App. 3d at 964. Instead, "by including, for example, specific provisions permitting interim fees and contribution, the effect of the amendments was to expand the avenues for attorneys to obtain fees and to encourage attorneys to represent even those clients who are financially disadvantaged." (Emphasis in original.) Rocca, 408 Ill. App. 3d at 968.
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¶36 Here, Canulli is seeking contribution from Sandra for attorney fees and costs
incurred during his representation of Cosimo during the original, predecree dissolution
proceeding.2 He cited to section 508(c) in his contribution petition. However, section
508(c) concerns "[f]inal hearings for attorney's fees and costs against an attorney's own
client, pursuant to a Petition for Setting Final Fees and Costs of either a counsel or a
client." (Emphasis added.) 750 ILCS 5/508(c) (West 2010). Sandra was never Canulli's
client; she was the opposing party in the dissolution action. Therefore, section 508(c)
does not apply to Canulli's petition for contribution against Sandra. Rocca, 408 Ill. App.
3d at 967.
¶37 Instead, section 503(j) of the Act applies to Canulli's petition for contribution
against Sandra. Section 508(a) specifically references section 503(j), stating that, "[a]t
the conclusion of any pre-judgment dissolution proceeding under this subsection,
contribution to attorney's fees and costs may be awarded from the opposing party in
accordance with subsection (j) of Section 503 and in any other proceeding under this
subsection." 750 ILCS 5/508(a) (West 2010). Section 503 is titled "Disposition of
property" and generally addresses the distribution of property in the original judgment
for dissolution of marriage. 750 ILCS 5/503 (West 2010); Blum, 235 Ill. 2d at 46.
Subsection (j) of section 503 addresses contribution from an opposing party toward
attorney fees and costs incurred in the proceeding before the final dissolution of
marriage judgment. Blum, 235 Ill. 2d at 46. It "governs the procedural requirements
2 Canulli withdrew from representing Cosimo during the pendency of the dissolution action, prior to entry of the judgment of legal separation. Necessarily, therefore, he did not expend any time and effort on Cosimo's behalf thereafter and post- decree attorney fees are not at issue here.
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applicable to petitions for contribution of attorney fees and costs incurred prior to the
entry of final orders for dissolution of marriage," i.e., for fees and costs incurred during
predecree proceedings. Blum, 235 Ill. 2d at 47. Canulli is seeking contribution from
Sandra, the opposing party, for attorney fees incurred as Cosimo's counsel during the
pre-decree dissolution proceeding. Therefore, section 503(j) rather than section 508(c)
applies to his petition.
¶38 Section 503(j) provides, in relevant part:
"After proofs have closed in the final hearing on all other issues between the
parties (or in conjunction with the final hearing, if all parties so stipulate) and
before judgment is entered, a party's petition for contribution to fees and costs
incurred in the proceeding shall be heard and decided, in accordance with the
following provisions:
(1) A petition for contribution, if not filed before the final hearing on
other issues between the parties, shall be filed no later than 30 days after
the closing of proofs in the final hearing or within such other period as the
court orders.
(2) Any award of contribution to one party from the other party shall
be based on the criteria for division of marital property under this Section
503 and, if maintenance has been awarded, on the criteria for an award of
maintenance under Section 504.
(5) A contribution award (payable to either the petitioning party or
the party's counsel, or jointly, as the court determines) may be in the form
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of either a set dollar amount or a percentage of fees and costs (or a
portion of fees and costs) to be subsequently agreed upon by the
petitioning party and counsel or, alternatively, thereafter determined in a
hearing pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 508 or previously or
thereafter determined in an independent proceeding under subsection (e)
of Section 508."3 750 ILCS 5/503(j) (West 2010).
¶39 From the court's order, it appears that the court interpreted section 503(j) to
mean that, if a contribution petition filed in a dissolution or legal separation proceeding
is not heard and decided before entry of the judgment for dissolution or legal separation,
the court loses jurisdiction to consider the petition once that judgment is entered.
¶40 We agree with the circuit court that, pursuant to section 503(j), a petition for
contribution to attorney fees must be heard and decided before the final judgment is
entered. In re Marriage of Lindsey-Robinson, 331 Ill. App. 3d 261, 268 (2002). Under
the Act, a judgment for dissolution of marriage or of legal separation becomes final
"when entered." 750 ILCS 5/413(a) (West 2000); Marriage of Lindsey-Robinson, 331
Ill. App. 3d at 268. However, nothing in the clear and unambiguous language of the Act,
and specifically that in sections 503(j) and 508(a), provides that, once a judgment is
entered in a dissolution or legal separation action, the court loses jurisdiction to consider
a pending contribution petition. The timing provisions in section 503(j) are not
jurisdictional prerequisites. Marriage of Lindsey-Robinson, 331 Ill. App. 3d at 269,
3 "While section 503(j) appears to present the petitioner as a party, as opposed to an attorney, the Marriage Act clearly anticipates that an attorney will, at times, act as a petitioning party, as evidenced by section 508(a)'s provision that any counsel or former counsel may petition the court for an award and judgment and may enforce the order in his or her own name." Rocca, 408 Ill. App. 3d at 968. 16 1-13-0109
following Belleville Toyota, Inc. v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., 199 Ill. 2d 325
(2002).
¶41 In Belleville Toyota, Inc., our supreme court held that, "[w]ith the exception of the
circuit court's power to review administrative action, which is conferred by statute, a
circuit court's subject matter jurisdiction is conferred entirely by our state constitution."
Belleville Toyota, Inc., 199 Ill. 2d at 334. Such "jurisdiction extends to all 'justiciable
matters.' " Id. (quoting Ill. Const.1970, art. VI, § 9). "[A] 'justiciable matter' is a
controversy appropriate for review by the court, in that it is definite and concrete, as
opposed to hypothetical or moot, touching upon the legal relations of parties having
adverse legal interests." Id. at 335.
¶42 As noted previously, section 508 of the Act provides for the awarding of attorney
fees. "Thus, it is evident that the awarding of attorney fees within a dissolution
proceeding is a justiciable matter." In re Marriage of Baniak, 2011 IL App (1st) 092017,
¶ 16. "The legislature's creation of a new justiciable matter, however, does not mean
that the legislature thereby confers jurisdiction on the circuit court." Belleville Toyota,
Inc., 199 Ill. 2d at 335. "[E]xcept in the area of administrative review, the jurisdiction of
the circuit court flows from the constitution." (Emphasis omitted.) Id. (citing Ill.
Const.1970, art. VI, § 9). The legislature, in defining a justiciable matter, may not
"impose 'conditions precedent' to the court's exercise of jurisdiction that cannot be
waived." Id. at 335-36.
"Characterizing the requirements of a statutory cause of action as nonwaivable
conditions precedent to a court's exercise of jurisdiction is merely another way of
saying that the circuit court may only exercise that jurisdiction which the
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legislature allows. We reiterate, however, that the jurisdiction of the circuit court
is conferred by the constitution, not the legislature. Only in the area of
administrative review is the court's power to adjudicate controlled by the
legislature." Id. at 336.
¶43 The litigation at bar does not arise under our administrative review law.
Therefore, to paraphrase our supreme court, the circuit court was not exercising special
statutory jurisdiction and, instead, had jurisdiction to hear and determine Canulli's claim
because it was among the general class of cases – those presenting a section 508
claim for attorney fees under the Act, a justiciable matter – to which the court's
constitutionally granted original jurisdiction extends. Belleville Toyota, Inc., 199 Ill. 2d at
340. Even if Canulli's petition defectively stated its claim under the Act, the circuit court
would not have been deprived of subject matter jurisdiction. Id.
¶44 "Following Belleville Toyota, we must find that the timing provision of section
503(j) of the Act, although mandatory (see People v. O'Brien, 197 Ill. 2d 88, 93 (2001)
(holding that the legislature's use of 'shall' demonstrates its intent to create a
mandatory, rather than directive, provision)), is not a jurisdictional prerequisite and thus
may be waived." Marriage of Lindsey-Robinson, 331 Ill. App. 3d at 269. Since the
timing requirements in section 503(j) are not jurisdictional, the court did not lose subject
matter jurisdiction when it did not meet the requirement that, "before judgment is
entered, a party's petition for contribution to fees and costs incurred in the proceeding
shall be heard and decided." Although this is a directive to the court, the court does not
lose jurisdiction to consider the petition if it fails to abide by the directive. The court,
therefore, should have held a hearing on Canulli's petition.
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¶45 Section 503(j) requires that "[a]ny award of contribution to one party from the
other party shall be based on the criteria for division of marital property under this
Section 503 and, if maintenance has been awarded, on the criteria for an award of
maintenance under Section 504." 750 ILCS 5/503(j)(2) (West 2010).
"In predecree proceedings, the apportionment of attorney fees is viewed
as another aspect of financial allocation that a trial court must factor into the total
picture at the time of dissolution. In re Marriage of Tomei, 253 Ill. App. 3d 663,
666 (1993) (the allocation of attorney fees is 'integrally related to decisions
regarding the financial resources of each of the parties, [and] a disposition of
their allocation should be made before the reviewing court can properly assess
the trial court's decisions regarding maintenance, child support, or division of
property'); [citation]. The language of section 503(j) requires that contribution
petitions be decided after proofs have closed in the final hearing, but before
judgment is entered – in other words, as soon as the final amount of fees can be
calculated, but while the trial court can still include the fees in its decision on all
of the financial matters that have arisen. Section 503(j) is clearly directed toward
ensuring that all financial allocations are determined at the same time that
attorney fees for predecree proceedings are sought." In re Marriage of Blum,
377 Ill. App. 3d 509, 533 (2007), aff'd in relevant part, Blum v. Koster, 235 Ill. 2d
21 (2009)).
¶46 Given that attorney fees are to be awarded in view of the total disposition of
property and assets, ideally a determination regarding a petition for contribution would
be made at the same time as or immediately following a hearing on the proofs required
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for the apportionment of the parties' property and assets in a predecree proceeding,
prior to entry of the judgment for legal separation. However, the circumstances here are
unique in that the court had dismissed Cannulli's petition for contribution prior to entry of
the judgment.4 As Cannulli timely filed a motion to reconsider that dismissal prior to
entry of judgment, that issue should have been resolved prior to the entry of judgment.
Unfortunately, it was not, but it is not clear from the record whether the trial court was
made aware of the pendency of the motion to reconsider.
¶47 Subsequent to the judgment’s entry, the motion to reconsider was denied.
However, when the court subsequently vacated its earlier dismissal and reinstated
Canulli's petition for contribution, the petition became viable. Following Belleville and
Lindsay-Robinson, the timing requirement in section 503(j) is not jurisdictional.
Accordingly, Canulli's reinstated petition should have been heard, even though the court
had already entered the judgment.5
¶48 We note that, in the court's order granting Sandra's motion for summary
judgment on Canulli's petition, it stated that Canulli did not appear for a section 503(j)
hearing on March 24, 2010, the date on which the court entered the judgment for legal
separation and approved the parties' agreement of legal separation and addendum
thereto. Canulli argues, as he did below in his motion to reconsider, that he did not
4 Canulli filed his petition for contribution on January 5, 2010. The court dismissed his petition on February 18, 2010. Canulli filed his motion to reconsider the dismissal on March 22, 2010. The court entered the judgment of legal separation on March 24, 2010. The court subsequently denied Canulli's motion to reconsider the dismissal of his petition on June 22, 2010. 5 In the parties' addendum to their agreement for legal separation, they specifically provided for a circumstance in which Canulli's petition was reinstated, either by the circuit court or the appellate court on remand, reserving to Sandra the right to seek contribution from Cosimo should she be ordered to pay Canulli on his petition.
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receive notice that the parties intended to request the court to enter the judgment of
legal separation and approve the agreement on that date. However, the record
contains a notice to Canulli to the effect that Cosimo intended to present to the court a
pleading requesting "prove up" on March 24, 2010.6 Nevertheless, Canulli's failure to
appear at the prove-up hearing was of no import because his motion to reconsider was
still pending at the time of the hearing and should have been resolved prior to entry of
judgment at the hearing.
¶49 Further, we note that, upon remand, the issue of the parties' agreement in the
addendum to the agreement for legal separation will arise. The parties' agreement
regarding who will pay attorney fees and costs is not binding on Canulli. Rocca, 408 Ill.
App. 3d at 968 (citing Lee, 302 Ill. App. 3d 607, and Heiden v. Ottinger, 245 Ill. App. 3d
612 (1993)). The parties provided in the addendum to their legal separation agreement
that each party would pay their own attorney fees and costs. However, as stated
previously, the right to attorney fees and costs belongs to the attorney, not to either of
the parties. Lee, 302 Ill. App. 3d at 612 (citing Baltzer, 150 Ill. App. 3d at 893).
Therefore, a marital settlement agreement (or, as in this case, an agreement of legal
separation) purporting to allocate attorney fees will generally not extinguish a spouse's
former attorney's right to pursue an award of fees from the other spouse. Lee, 302 Ill.
App. 3d at 612-13. The parties are free to settle the division and allocation of their
property, assets and liability but their agreement is not binding on third party creditors
such as prior counsel. Lee, 302 Ill. App. 3d at 614. They "cannot waive something that
belongs to someone else." Rocca, 408 Ill. App. 3d at 969. Accordingly, neither party
6 There is no copy of the relevant pleading in the record and we cannot, therefore, determine its content. 21 1-13-0109
can waive by their agreement Canulli's statutory right to pursue or request a hearing on
a claim for attorney fees and costs against Sandra. Rocca, 408 Ill. App. 3d at 969-70;
Lee, 302 Ill. App. 3d at 614. Canulli was within his rights to pursue Sandra for
contribution to attorney fees.
¶50 For the foregoing reasons, the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment
to Sandra on Canulli's contribution petition against her. Where, as here, attorney fees
are contested, the court must conduct a hearing on the issue to allow the attorney to
present evidence in support of the petition, including evidence of the opposing spouse's
ability to pay his attorney fees. Lee 302 Ill. App. 3d at 613. Accordingly, we reverse
and remand for a hearing on Canulli's petition for contribution against Sandra.
¶51 It would be precipitous of us to vacate the judgment of legal separation at this
time. We leave it to the circuit court to determine, pending the outcome of the hearing
on the petition for contribution, whether the parties' agreement for legal separation must
be modified. We also leave to the trial court the interesting question, which has not
been briefed before us, as to what effect the bankruptcy discharge has on Canulli's
petition against Sandra.
¶52 Remaining Issues
¶53 Given our determination that the circuit court erred in granting summary
judgment to Sandra, we need not address Canulli's arguments regarding Sandra's
waiver and revestment of the court's jurisdiction. Lastly, with regard to Canulli's request
that we assign this case to a different trial judge on remand, we find no evidence to
support Canulli's assertion that the original judge's actions "are at least suggestive of
some degree of prejudice" and deny his request.
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¶54 CONCLUSION
¶55 For the reasons stated above, we reverse the grant of summary judgment to
Sandra on Canulli's petition for contribution and remand for a hearing on the petition.
¶56 Reversed and remanded.