2025 IL App (1st) 241007-U
SECOND DIVISION March 18, 2025
No. 1-24-1007
NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1). ______________________________________________________________________________
IN THE APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT ______________________________________________________________________________
KISWANI LAW, P.C., ) Appeal from the ) Circuit Court of Plaintiff-Appellant, ) Cook County. ) v. ) No. 24M1500147 ) CHAUNDI INTOE, ) Honorable ) Thomas A. Morrissey, Defendant-Appellee. ) Judge Presiding. _____________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE McBRIDE delivered the judgment of the court. Presiding Justice Van Tine and Justice Howse concurred in the judgment.
ORDER
¶1 Held: Circuit court order denying judgment creditor’s wage deduction request and entering an installment payment plan applicable to small claims actions reversed where the instant action did not involve a small claim.
¶2 Plaintiff, Kiswani Law, P.C., (Kiswani) is a law firm which provided legal services to
defendant, Chaundi Intoe, in a domestic relations action. On May 31, 2023, after that
representation, the parties entered into a consent judgment awarding Kiswani $9614.53, as attorney
fees that Intoe agreed were reasonable and necessary. At some point thereafter, Intoe stopped
making payments to Kiswani as agreed in the consent decree. No. 1-24-1007
¶3 On March 12, 2024, Kiswani filed an Affidavit for Wage Deduction Order, averring that it
was still owed $8,206.82 under the judgment, and that it believed that Intoe was employed by
Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Thereafter, the circuit court clerk issued a summons to CPS. CPS
responded, confirming that Intoe was employed with CPS and that she was paid every two weeks.
After completing the form calculation to determine the amount of withholding, CPS determined
that $797.53 of Intoe’s biweekly wages were subject to withholding.
¶4 The court held a hearing on May 3, 2024. A transcript of that hearing does not appear in
the record in this appeal. On May 6, 2024, the trial court entered a written order on Kiswani’s
request for wage deduction. The court noted that CPS indicated that Intoe is an active employee
and that she earns sufficient wages for garnishment. The court further noted that Intoe “requested
a Rule 288 installment plan in lieu of a wage garnishment order,” and that Kiswani “objected to”
an installment plan under Rule 288.
¶5 The court further stated that Intoe acknowledged the $9614.53 judgment, and that the
current balance due was $8255.02. The court ordered Intoe to pay that amount, plus statutory
interest and costs in installments of “$150.00 biweekly, beginning May 17, 2024, and every other
Friday thereafter until the amount due with statutory interest and costs [is] paid in full.”
¶6 The court then stated the following:
“Authority for the use of this Order [for installment payments] is found in Illinois
Supreme Court Rule 288, Installment Payment of Judgments, which provides
[“]The court may order that the amount of a small claim judgment shall be
paid to the prevailing party on a certain date or in specified installments.[”]
¶7 The court denied Kiswani’s request for a wage deduction, and ordered CPS to “return held
funds to Ms. Intoe.”
2 No. 1-24-1007
¶8 Kiswani filed a timely notice of appeal from that order. In this court Kiswani contends that
the trial court erred in denying its wage deduction request, and instead ordering an installment
payment plan under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 288. Kiswani contends that it met the statutory
requirements to be entitled to a wage deduction order, and the trial court erred in ordering an
installment plan under a Rule that applies only to small claims actions.
¶9 Initially, we note that Intoe has not filed a responsive brief in this matter. As such, we
review this appeal pursuant to the standards set forth in First Capitol Mortgage Corp. v. Talandis
Construction Corp., 63 Ill. 2d 128 (1976). In this matter, the record is simple and the claimed error
is such that we can easily decide the matter without the aid of an appellee’s brief. Id. at 133.
¶ 10 In this case, Kiswani sought to garnish a portion of Intoe’s wages pursuant to the Wage
Deduction Act (Act). 735 ILCS 5/12–801 et seq. (West 2022). The Act contains the statutory
authority for enforcement of judgments by levying against a judgment debtor’s wages. See A.J.
Smith Federal Savings Bank v. Sabuco, 2013 IL App (3d) 120578, ¶ 11. Specifically, section 12-
803 of the Code allows garnishment of “the lesser of (1) 15% of such gross amount paid for that
week or (2) the amount by which disposable earnings for a week exceed 45 times the Federal
Minimum Hourly Wage.” Intoe’s wages, as provided by CPS, subject her to garnishment under
the first option.
¶ 11 After a judgment creditor applies for issuance of a summons, a hearing is held to determine
whether a wage deduction order, requiring the employer to make periodic deductions from an
employee’s wages to satisfy the judgment, is to be entered. Id. The judgment debtor may dispute
the amount or validity of the underlying judgment (id.; 735 ILCS 5/12–808.5(4) (West 2022)), the
employer’s answer, and whether and to what extent the income is exempt from garnishment (see
735 ILCS 5/12-811 (West 2022)).
3 No. 1-24-1007
¶ 12 Here, the trial court’s written order establishes that Intoe did not dispute the judgment or
the amount that remained due. Thereafter, CPS confirmed that Intoe’s wages were sufficient for
garnishment, and applying the 15% calculation to Intoe’s non-exempt biweekly wages left $797.53
for withholding.
¶ 13 The trial court, however, did not enter a wage deduction order for that amount. Instead, the
trial court stated that Intoe “requested a Rule 288 installment plan in lieu of a wage garnishment
order,” and the court agreed, ordering her to pay $150 biweekly, less than one-fifth of what would
have been required under a wage deduction order. Although we do not have a copy of the transcript
in this case, and we do not know what arguments Intoe made to the court along with her request
for an installment plan, this court has previously explained that a court may not deviate from the
15% required by the Act, even in cases of “extreme hardship.”
¶ 14 In National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2004-1 v. Ogunbiyi, 2018 IL App (1st) 170861,
a student loan borrower did not repay her student loans. When the borrower obtained employment,
the note holder sought an order garnishing 15% of her pretax income under section 12-803 of the
Code. The borrower “persuaded the [trial] court that the wage deduction would impose excessive
hardship on her” and accordingly, the trial court denied the wage deduction, and ordered the
borrower to pay a reduced monthly payment to the note holder. Id., ¶ 5.
¶ 15 On appeal, this court explained that section 12-803 of the Code previously allowed a court
to order garnishment of the borrower’s wages up to a “maximum” of 15%. Id., ¶ 10. In 2007,
however, the legislature amended the provision to remove the word “maximum.” This court
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2025 IL App (1st) 241007-U
SECOND DIVISION March 18, 2025
No. 1-24-1007
NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1). ______________________________________________________________________________
IN THE APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT ______________________________________________________________________________
KISWANI LAW, P.C., ) Appeal from the ) Circuit Court of Plaintiff-Appellant, ) Cook County. ) v. ) No. 24M1500147 ) CHAUNDI INTOE, ) Honorable ) Thomas A. Morrissey, Defendant-Appellee. ) Judge Presiding. _____________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE McBRIDE delivered the judgment of the court. Presiding Justice Van Tine and Justice Howse concurred in the judgment.
ORDER
¶1 Held: Circuit court order denying judgment creditor’s wage deduction request and entering an installment payment plan applicable to small claims actions reversed where the instant action did not involve a small claim.
¶2 Plaintiff, Kiswani Law, P.C., (Kiswani) is a law firm which provided legal services to
defendant, Chaundi Intoe, in a domestic relations action. On May 31, 2023, after that
representation, the parties entered into a consent judgment awarding Kiswani $9614.53, as attorney
fees that Intoe agreed were reasonable and necessary. At some point thereafter, Intoe stopped
making payments to Kiswani as agreed in the consent decree. No. 1-24-1007
¶3 On March 12, 2024, Kiswani filed an Affidavit for Wage Deduction Order, averring that it
was still owed $8,206.82 under the judgment, and that it believed that Intoe was employed by
Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Thereafter, the circuit court clerk issued a summons to CPS. CPS
responded, confirming that Intoe was employed with CPS and that she was paid every two weeks.
After completing the form calculation to determine the amount of withholding, CPS determined
that $797.53 of Intoe’s biweekly wages were subject to withholding.
¶4 The court held a hearing on May 3, 2024. A transcript of that hearing does not appear in
the record in this appeal. On May 6, 2024, the trial court entered a written order on Kiswani’s
request for wage deduction. The court noted that CPS indicated that Intoe is an active employee
and that she earns sufficient wages for garnishment. The court further noted that Intoe “requested
a Rule 288 installment plan in lieu of a wage garnishment order,” and that Kiswani “objected to”
an installment plan under Rule 288.
¶5 The court further stated that Intoe acknowledged the $9614.53 judgment, and that the
current balance due was $8255.02. The court ordered Intoe to pay that amount, plus statutory
interest and costs in installments of “$150.00 biweekly, beginning May 17, 2024, and every other
Friday thereafter until the amount due with statutory interest and costs [is] paid in full.”
¶6 The court then stated the following:
“Authority for the use of this Order [for installment payments] is found in Illinois
Supreme Court Rule 288, Installment Payment of Judgments, which provides
[“]The court may order that the amount of a small claim judgment shall be
paid to the prevailing party on a certain date or in specified installments.[”]
¶7 The court denied Kiswani’s request for a wage deduction, and ordered CPS to “return held
funds to Ms. Intoe.”
2 No. 1-24-1007
¶8 Kiswani filed a timely notice of appeal from that order. In this court Kiswani contends that
the trial court erred in denying its wage deduction request, and instead ordering an installment
payment plan under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 288. Kiswani contends that it met the statutory
requirements to be entitled to a wage deduction order, and the trial court erred in ordering an
installment plan under a Rule that applies only to small claims actions.
¶9 Initially, we note that Intoe has not filed a responsive brief in this matter. As such, we
review this appeal pursuant to the standards set forth in First Capitol Mortgage Corp. v. Talandis
Construction Corp., 63 Ill. 2d 128 (1976). In this matter, the record is simple and the claimed error
is such that we can easily decide the matter without the aid of an appellee’s brief. Id. at 133.
¶ 10 In this case, Kiswani sought to garnish a portion of Intoe’s wages pursuant to the Wage
Deduction Act (Act). 735 ILCS 5/12–801 et seq. (West 2022). The Act contains the statutory
authority for enforcement of judgments by levying against a judgment debtor’s wages. See A.J.
Smith Federal Savings Bank v. Sabuco, 2013 IL App (3d) 120578, ¶ 11. Specifically, section 12-
803 of the Code allows garnishment of “the lesser of (1) 15% of such gross amount paid for that
week or (2) the amount by which disposable earnings for a week exceed 45 times the Federal
Minimum Hourly Wage.” Intoe’s wages, as provided by CPS, subject her to garnishment under
the first option.
¶ 11 After a judgment creditor applies for issuance of a summons, a hearing is held to determine
whether a wage deduction order, requiring the employer to make periodic deductions from an
employee’s wages to satisfy the judgment, is to be entered. Id. The judgment debtor may dispute
the amount or validity of the underlying judgment (id.; 735 ILCS 5/12–808.5(4) (West 2022)), the
employer’s answer, and whether and to what extent the income is exempt from garnishment (see
735 ILCS 5/12-811 (West 2022)).
3 No. 1-24-1007
¶ 12 Here, the trial court’s written order establishes that Intoe did not dispute the judgment or
the amount that remained due. Thereafter, CPS confirmed that Intoe’s wages were sufficient for
garnishment, and applying the 15% calculation to Intoe’s non-exempt biweekly wages left $797.53
for withholding.
¶ 13 The trial court, however, did not enter a wage deduction order for that amount. Instead, the
trial court stated that Intoe “requested a Rule 288 installment plan in lieu of a wage garnishment
order,” and the court agreed, ordering her to pay $150 biweekly, less than one-fifth of what would
have been required under a wage deduction order. Although we do not have a copy of the transcript
in this case, and we do not know what arguments Intoe made to the court along with her request
for an installment plan, this court has previously explained that a court may not deviate from the
15% required by the Act, even in cases of “extreme hardship.”
¶ 14 In National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2004-1 v. Ogunbiyi, 2018 IL App (1st) 170861,
a student loan borrower did not repay her student loans. When the borrower obtained employment,
the note holder sought an order garnishing 15% of her pretax income under section 12-803 of the
Code. The borrower “persuaded the [trial] court that the wage deduction would impose excessive
hardship on her” and accordingly, the trial court denied the wage deduction, and ordered the
borrower to pay a reduced monthly payment to the note holder. Id., ¶ 5.
¶ 15 On appeal, this court explained that section 12-803 of the Code previously allowed a court
to order garnishment of the borrower’s wages up to a “maximum” of 15%. Id., ¶ 10. In 2007,
however, the legislature amended the provision to remove the word “maximum.” This court
extensively examined the legislative history of the amendment, including transcripts of legislative
debates on the amendment, showing that the amendment was intended to eliminate “judicial
discretion as to who’s going to pay their bills and who is not,” and that under the amended statute,
4 No. 1-24-1007
there would not be judicial “flexibility in hardship cases to order a smaller percentage of
garnishment.” Id., ¶ 11. This court determined that, in passing the amendment, “the legislature
showed its intent to deny the courts the discretion to enter a wage deduction order in an amount
less than the amount set by section 12-803.” Id., ¶ 13. “Because the legislature explicitly eliminated
judicial discretion in the determination of the amount to deduct from wages,” this court reversed
the circuit court’s order, and remanded for further proceedings. Id., ¶ 19.
¶ 16 As in Ogunbiyi, the trial court here was not authorized to enter an order allowing Intoe to
make payments less than that authorized by the Act. And this conclusion is not altered by the trial
court’s reliance on Illinois Supreme Court Rule 288 as “authority” for the installment order. Under
Rule 288, a “court may order that the amount of a small claim judgment shall be paid to the
prevailing party on a certain date or in specified installments.” (Emphasis added). Rule 281 defines
“small claim” for “the purpose of application of Rules 281 through 288” as “a civil action based
on either tort or contract for money not in excess of $10,000, exclusive of interest and costs.”
¶ 17 The judgment here, although under the threshold amount, was not part of a small claim
action. Instead, the judgment was entered as part of a domestic relations proceeding. Accordingly,
Rule 288 provides no authority for an installment plan deviating from the amount dictated by
section 12-803. See Silver Cross Hospital v. Campbell, 140 Ill. App. 3d 746, 748 (1986) (“[R]ule
[288] has no applicability in the instant case, since as heretofore stated, the judgments with which
we are concerned were not obtained in a small claim action.”).
¶ 18 For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County
and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
¶ 19 Reversed and remanded.