Independent Trust Corp. v. Kansas Bankers

2011 IL App (1st) 093294, 954 N.E.2d 401, 352 Ill. Dec. 541, 2011 Ill. App. LEXIS 704
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedJune 30, 2011
Docket1-09-3294
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 2011 IL App (1st) 093294 (Independent Trust Corp. v. Kansas Bankers) 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
Independent Trust Corp. v. Kansas Bankers, 2011 IL App (1st) 093294, 954 N.E.2d 401, 352 Ill. Dec. 541, 2011 Ill. App. LEXIS 704 (Ill. Ct. App. 2011).

Opinion

954 N.E.2d 401 (2011)
352 Ill. Dec. 541

INDEPENDENT TRUST CORPORATION, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
KANSAS BANKERS SURETY COMPANY, a Kansas Corporation, Defendant-Appellee.

No. 1-09-3294.

Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, Sixth Division.

June 30, 2011.
Rehearing Denied August 8, 2011.

*402 Robert J. Shelist, Mark A. Schwartz, Shelist & Schwartz, LLP, Chicago, for Appellant.

John R. Zemenak, Rathjie & Woodward, Wheaton, Stanley R. Parker, Parker & Hay, LLP, Topeka, KS, for Appellee.

OPINION

Justice CAHILL delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.

¶ 1 The core issue in this case is whether section 6-7.1 of the Corporate Fiduciary Act (Act) (205 ILCS 620/6-7.1 (West 2006)) tolls the contractual termination provision of a financial institution crime bond insurance policy (Bond) when the insured, Independent Trust Corporation (Intrust), notified the insurer, Kansas Bankers Surety Company (KBS), of a claim or right of action before a receiver was appointed to liquidate the insured. We believe the Act tolls the termination provision of the Bond. We reverse the trial court's order granting KBS's cross-motion for summary judgment and remand for further proceedings.

¶ 2 This case has a complicated litigation history, and various matters related to the dissolution and liquidation of Intrust have previously been before this court. See In re Possession & Control of the Commissioner of Banks & Real Estate of Independent Trust Corp., 327 Ill.App.3d 441, 261 Ill.Dec. 775, 764 N.E.2d 66 (2001) (Possession of Intrust); Independent Trust Corp. v. Hurwick, 351 Ill.App.3d 941, 286 Ill.Dec. 669, 814 N.E.2d 895 (2004). We revisit the facts here to the extent necessary to understand the issues raised on appeal.

¶ 3 Intrust was an Illinois corporate fiduciary organized under the Act and regulated by the Illinois Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate (the CBRE). Possession of Intrust, 327 Ill.App.3d at 449, 261 Ill.Dec. 775, 764 N.E.2d 66. Intrust served as a custodian for various investment trust assets customers placed in its custody, such as individual retirement accounts, qualified benefit plans and personal trusts. Possession of Intrust, 327 Ill. App.3d at 449-50, 261 Ill.Dec. 775, 764 N.E.2d 66.

*403 ¶ 4 On December 20, 1999, Intrust and KBS executed the Bond in question. Under the Bond, KBS agreed to indemnify Intrust for various losses resulting from criminal activity, including losses incurred from fraudulent acts committed by employees, forgeries and securities. These insuring agreements were subject to two relevant conditions and limitations of the Bond: (1) a termination provision and (2) a notice/proof of loss provision.

¶ 5 The termination provision provides that the Bond terminates "immediately upon the taking over of the Insured by a receiver or other liquidator or by State or Federal officials." The provision also terminates KBS's liability for a loss discovered after the appointment of a receiver:

"Termination of the bond as to any Insured terminates liability for any loss sustained by such Insured which is discovered after the effective date of such termination.
After termination or cancellation, no State or Federal official, agency, receiver, or liquidator, acting in the capacity of supervisor, liquidator, receiver, regulator, corporate, or any other capacity shall have or exercise any right to make any claim against the Underwriter, unless a Proof of Loss, duly sworn to, with full particulars and complete documentation has been received by the Underwriter prior to the termination or cancellation of this bond."

¶ 6 The notice/proof of loss provision of the Bond reads:

"(a) At the earliest practicable moment, not to exceed 30 days, after discovery of loss, the Insured shall give the Underwriter notice thereof.
(b) Within 6 months after such discovery, the Insured shall furnish to the Underwriter proof of loss, duly sworn to, with full particulars."

¶ 7 The Bond was effective from December 20, 1999, to December 20, 2000, and provided insurance coverage in the amount of $10 million. The Bond covered losses discovered during the policy period, irrespective of whether the losses occurred during that period.

¶ 8 As of April 14, 2000, Intrust acted as custodian for approximately $1.84 billion in cash and noncash assets. Possession of Intrust, 327 Ill.App.3d at 450, 261 Ill.Dec. 775, 764 N.E.2d 66. In the course of its business, Intrust held large amounts of cash on a daily basis in a single, commingled account. Possession of Intrust, 327 Ill.App.3d at 450, 261 Ill.Dec. 775, 764 N.E.2d 66. From December 1990 through April 23, 1999, Intrust transferred substantial amounts of cash from the commingled account to an escrow account at Intercounty Title Company (Intercounty). Possession of Intrust, 327 Ill.App.3d at 451, 261 Ill.Dec. 775, 764 N.E.2d 66. Intercounty's corporate officers were also, to varying degrees, corporate officers of Intrust. See Hurwick, 351 Ill.App.3d at 943-44, 286 Ill.Dec. 669, 814 N.E.2d 895. Because a majority of the transferred funds was never returned to Intrust, the CBRE directed Intrust to reestablish control of the money. Possession of Intrust, 327 Ill.App.3d at 450-51, 261 Ill.Dec. 775, 764 N.E.2d 66. In an effort to do so, Intrust retained counsel.

¶ 9 The record shows that Intrust's attorney sent a letter to KBS on March 10, 2000, informing it:

"Pursuant to Section 5(a) [(proof of loss provision)] of the Kansas Bankers Surety Company's Bonds & Policies for [Intrust], [Intrust] hereby provides notice that a loss of a type that may be covered by the bond has been or will be incurred by [Intrust]. Although the exact amount of the loss is currently unknown, it may exceed $63 million.
*404 Pursuant to Section 5(b), [Intrust] will furnish the Underwriter of proof of loss, duly sworn to, with full particulars at the earliest practicable moment."

¶ 10 On March 13, 2000, KBS responded to the letter, directing Intrust to provide a proof of loss within six months of the date of discovery of the loss. On April 14, 2000, because Intrust failed to reestablish control of the money transferred to Intercounty, the CBRE seized control of Intrust under the Act, appointed PriceWaterhouseCoopers, LLP, as receiver and commenced an action for dissolution and liquidation of Intrust.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2011 IL App (1st) 093294, 954 N.E.2d 401, 352 Ill. Dec. 541, 2011 Ill. App. LEXIS 704, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/independent-trust-corp-v-kansas-bankers-illappct-2011.