2016 IL App (1st) 152735 Nos. 1-15-2735, 1-15-2790 (cons.) Opinion filed December 30, 2016
FIFTH DIVISION
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
FIRST DISTRICT
LARRY ORUTA, ) Appeal from the Circuit Court ) of Cook County. Plaintiff-Appellant, ) ) v. ) No. 11 L 8803 ) B.E.W. and CONTINENTAL, ) The Honorable ) James Flannery, Jr., Defendants. ) Judge, presiding.
PRESIDING JUSTICE GORDON delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion. Justice Reyes concurred in the judgment and opinion. Justice Lampkin specially concurred, with opinion.
OPINION Nos. 1-15-2735, 1-15-2790 (cons.)
¶1 This court has dismissed three prior appeals by plaintiff in this same case
for lack of jurisdiction. Oruta v. B.E.W., 2014 IL App (1st) 133941-U1 (Dec. 5,
2014) (Oruta 1);2 Oruta v. B.E.W., 2014 IL App (1st) 131690-U (Aug. 1, 2014)
(Oruta 2); Oruta v. B.E.W., 2013 IL App. (1st) 123541-U (Dec. 20, 2013)
(Oruta 3).3 For the following reasons, this opinion will mark our fourth time
dismissing an appeal by the same litigant in the same case for lack of
jurisdiction.
¶2 BACKGROUND
¶3 I. First Appeal
¶4 We provide a description of the prior appeals in this opinion, so that
issues do not repeat themselves. We quote from the documents because the
events of this case are so bizarre that they would be hard to believe without
documentation. Just for example, plaintiff was able to obtain from the trial 1 Although two of these appeals were decided by Supreme Court Rule 23 orders which generally "may not be cited," the rule specifically allows them to be cited for the "law of the case," which is the purpose for which we cite them here. Ill. S. Ct. R. 23 (eff. July 1, 2011). 2 Although citation style does not require us to include decision dates, we provide them here to indicate how frequently we addressed the same issues with the same plaintiff–more than three times in three years. 3 We also dismissed at least two other appeals by plaintiff for want of prosecution. Oruta v. Continental Air Transport, No. 1-14-0404 (Nov. 24, 2014) (for failure to file a brief), petition for leave to appeal denied, No. 118911 (Sept. 30, 2015); Oruta v. Continental Air Transport, No. 1-14-3224 (Apr. 2, 2015) (for failure to file the record). 2 Nos. 1-15-2735, 1-15-2790 (cons.)
court an $80,000 garnishment order on a nonexistent judgment; and a defendant
was forced to file a motion to dismiss–multiple times–although there was never
any record of a complaint being filed which named it as a defendant.
¶5 In our first Rule 23 order, dated December 20, 2013, 4 we summarized the
case as follows:
"Plaintiff Larry Oruta filed a series of pro se complaints, that were
completely unintelligible, against defendants B.E.W.,[5] Continental Air
Transport, Inc., Budget Avis (Budget) and other parties seeking to
enforce a judgment that never existed. Defendant Budget, who is the
only party before this court on appeal, responded to each complaint with
a motion to dismiss pursuant to section 2-615 of the Illinois Code of Civil
Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2-615 (West 2010)). Oruta filed a garnishment
against a bank claiming he obtained a judgment against Continental on a
workers compensation case, and after service of process, filed a motion
for a turn over of funds. The trial court granted the motion, ordering the
bank to turn over $80,000 to Oruta in satisfaction of judgment. Actually, 4 The circuit court number was No. 11 L 8803, which is the same circuit court number in the case at bar. There is no Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission case number listed in the December 20, 2013, Rule 23 order. 5 Defendant B.E.W. is referred to in court captions and orders sometimes by its initials and sometimes by its full name, Bobby E. Wright Comprehensive Behavioral Health Center. For consistency's sake, we will refer to this defendant as "B.E.W." unless we are providing an exact quote. 3 Nos. 1-15-2735, 1-15-2790 (cons.)
the record on appeal indicates that Oruta received no award from the
workers compensation case, had no judgment, and filled out the
garnishment forms claiming that there was a judgment. The trial court
subsequently vacated its turn over order, finding that no judgment
existed, and ordered that Oruta return any money he may have received.
Oruta appealed the order vacating the turn over order only and, for the
following reasons, we dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. After
Oruta filed his notice of appeal, Budget, who was apparently not a party
to the workers compensation case, prevailed on its motion to dismiss."
Oruta 1, 2013 IL App (1st) 123541-U, ¶ 2.
¶6 In our 2013 order, we observed that plaintiff had filed his notice of
appeal before the trial court's January 14, 2013, order dismissing the case with
prejudice. Thus, his appeal of the turnover order was an appeal of a nonfinal
order, and we lacked jurisdiction to review it for the reasons explained in our
Rule 23 order, which we will not repeat here. Oruta 1, 2013 IL App (1st)
123541-U, ¶ 21. We therefore dismissed his appeal for lack of jurisdiction.
¶7 As for the odd assortment of named defendants, the record reveals that
plaintiff initially made claims of overcharges on a rental car against defendant
Budget and then sought to add, to the same case, unrelated claims relating to
worker's compensation against defendants B.E.W. and Continental.
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¶8 II. Second Appeal
¶9 Next, plaintiff appealed from an order finding him in civil contempt and
ordering him into the sheriff's custody for not obeying an earlier order to return
the $80,000 that he improperly obtained by garnishment upon a nonexistent
judgment. Oruta 2, 2014 IL App (1st) 131690-U, ¶ 2. Plaintiff was to stay in
the county jail until he purged himself from the contempt finding by returning
the wrongfully obtained funds. On May 20, 2013, plaintiff appealed, even
though the trial court had already ordered his immediate release from custody
on April 24, 2013. We described the underlying facts in that case as follows:
"Plaintiff's claims against B.E.W. and Continental concern in relevant
part workers' compensation claims upon which the Commission issued
decisions on June 20, 2012.
In case 04WC30529, with B.E.W. as the employee-respondent, the
Commission denied plaintiff benefits upon a finding that he failed to
prove a causal connection between his present health and his work-
related accident of September 3, 2003. On June 28, 2012, the court in the
instant case (then pending against Budget, Chase and Sedgwick) granted
plaintiff leave to add B.E.W. as a defendant. On July 18, plaintiff
obtained a summons in workers' compensation review, in case
04WC30529; however, while its caption names the Commission, B.E.W.,
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and Continental as defendants, the list of parties to be summoned, and
plaintiff's certificate of mailing, do not list the Commission as a served
party. See 820 ILCS 305/19(f)(1) (West 2012) (judicial review of
Commission decision must be commenced within 20 days of party's
notice of decision). Plaintiff also filed a complaint naming the same
defendants and seeking review of the Commission's decision and
purporting to raise claims of misrepresentation and fraud, negligence,
emotional distress, and retaliatory discharge. The complaint alleged that
the Commission's decision was erroneous but merely named the other
claims without any further allegation.
In case 06WC4948, with Continental as the employer-respondent, the
Commission granted plaintiff benefits of $383.76 per week for 37.5
weeks of temporary total incapacity for work, plus certain specified
medical expenses and interest, resulting from an accident on January 3,
2006. In September 2012, upon plaintiff's motion, the court transferred
the workers' compensation case pursuant to its order of June 28, 2012.
That same month, plaintiff obtained a summons in workers'
compensation review, in cases 04WC30529 and 06WC4948, naming the
Commission, B.E.W., and Continental as defendants; again, plaintiff's
certificate of mailing did not include the Commission.
6 Nos. 1-15-2735, 1-15-2790 (cons.)
As noted in our prior order, the trial court found on December 4,
2012, that Budget was the only properly served and represented
defendant and that plaintiff had no default or monetary judgment against
any defendant, and the court ordered that default against B.E.W. [sic]
was denied, that any previous order requiring the turnover of funds to
plaintiff was vacated as plaintiff had not won any monetary judgment,
and that plaintiff had until December 7, 2012, to return any funds
erroneously released to him. Plaintiff appealed this order, which we
found to be non-final as it did not terminate any litigation against any
party.
On December 10, 2012, the court ordered that plaintiff appear on
December 13 and show cause why he should not be held in civil
contempt for not returning funds by December 7 as ordered on December
4. The order noted that plaintiff was notified in person on December 4
that failure to obey that day's order would result in a proceeding for civil
contempt. On December 13, 2012, the court found plaintiff in contempt
and ordered the sheriff to arrest and incarcerate him until he purged his
contempt by returning $80,000 to Fifth Third Bank. The order recited
that plaintiff made misrepresentations that resulted in a judgment of
7 Nos. 1-15-2735, 1-15-2790 (cons.)
$80,000 against Continental and thus an $80,000 garnishment and
turnover order against Fifth Third Bank.
In December 2012, B.E.W. appeared, and in January 2013 filed a
motion to dismiss claiming a limitations defense: that plaintiff did not sue
B.E.W. for his 2003 discharge until 2012. On January 14, 2013, the
court granted with prejudice both Budget's pending motion to dismiss on
all claims and B.E.W.'s motion to dismiss on all claims. The court also
set a status hearing 'for any remaining issues to the extent there are any
such issues.' The order did not include a finding there is no just reason
for delaying appeal. See Ill. S. Ct. R. 304(a) (eff. Feb. 26, 2010).
On April 4, 2013, the court found that plaintiff continued to be in civil
contempt for not complying with the December 4 order and reiterated
that he would remain in the sheriff's custody until he paid $80,000.
However, on April 24, 2013, the court ordered plaintiff's immediate
release from the sheriff's custody.
Plaintiff filed the instant notice of appeal on May 20, 2013, seeking to
appeal the orders of April 4 and 24, 2013.” Oruta 2, 2014 IL App (1st)
131690-U, ¶¶ 3- 10.
¶ 10 In our order in Oruta 2, we observed that, while an order imposing a
penalty for civil contempt is generally appealable, plaintiff waited until May 20,
8 Nos. 1-15-2735, 1-15-2790 (cons.)
2013, to file his notice of appeal, and "May 20 is well over 30 days after April
4." Oruta 2, 2014 IL App (1st) 131690-U, ¶ 12 (citing Ill. S. Ct. R. 303(a) (eff.
June 4, 2008)). In addition, plaintiff's incarceration for contempt was terminated
by one of the orders being appealed. Oruta 2, 2014 IL App (1st) 131690-U, ¶
12. Thus, we once again dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
¶ 11 III. Third Appeal
¶ 12 After the contempt proceedings were terminated, plaintiff moved to
reinstate the garnishment proceedings, claiming that he had been granted a final
judgment. Oruta 3, 2014 IL App (1st) 133941-U, ¶ 5. He claimed that the trial
court had reopened the proceedings, and he submitted in support a purported
order that the trial court subsequently found had never been entered. Oruta 3,
2014 IL App (1st) 133941-U, ¶ 6. Plaintiff then appealed the trial court's order
which found that the purported order had never been entered. Oruta 3, 2014 IL
App (1st) 133941-U, ¶ 6.
¶ 13 We described the facts giving rise to his third appeal as follows:
"In November 2013, plaintiff filed a motion to reinstate his citation
and garnishment proceedings, claiming that he was granted a final
judgment in January 2012. On December 3, 2013, plaintiff obtained a
citation to discover assets reciting that he had a January 2012 judgment
9 Nos. 1-15-2735, 1-15-2790 (cons.)
*** and that the judgment now amounted to $103,000. However, the
court vacated the citation that same day.
Later in December 2013, plaintiff filed a motion to show cause ***
claiming that the court reopened citation proceedings on November 22,
2013. Attached to the motion was a near-illegible document purporting
to be a court order. On December 16, 2013, the court struck the 'alleged
order' of November 22, 2013, as 'having never been entered by this court.'
Plaintiff filed a notice of appeal on December 19, 2013, from the
December 16 order." Oruta 3, 2014 IL App (1st) 133941-U, ¶¶ 5-6.
¶ 14 We once again dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, holding: "Plaintiff is
not appealing from a final order—an order making a final disposition of any
claim against any party—and we accordingly dismiss this appeal." Oruta 3,
2014 IL App (1st) 133941-U, ¶ 7.
¶ 15 IV. Fourth and Instant Appeals
¶ 16 On September 18, 2014, the trial court entered an order in this same case,
with the same circuit court number (No. 11 L 8803), stating: "This matter
coming on plaintiff's emergency motion to refund his alleged Illinois Workers
Compensation Commission bond: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: Plaintiff's
motion is denied the court having no jurisdiction." The bond appears to refer to
a bond described two years earlier in a decision by the Illinois Workers'
10 Nos. 1-15-2735, 1-15-2790 (cons.)
Compensation Commission which stated that, if defendant Continental Airport
Express wanted to appeal the decision to the circuit court, it would have to
obtain a bond in the sum of $14,500. Oruta v. BEW, No. 12 IW CC 0636 (IL
WCC, June 20, 2012).
¶ 17 On October 22, 2014, plaintiff filed a notice of appeal of the September
18 order 6 and, on April 2, 2015, this court dismissed this appeal for lack of
prosecution, specifically, for failure to file a record on appeal, which had been
due almost three months earlier on January 5, 2015. Instead of seeking an
extension of time with this court to file the record on appeal, plaintiff began
filing motions in the trial court asking the lower court to "revisit" this same
bond—apparently so he could appeal again.
¶ 18 On August 21, 2015, plaintiff moved the trial court "to revisit prior
motion filed and presented in court in [sic] October 20th 2014. But the trial
court requested for proof of bond granted by Cook County court pertaining to
ILWC 305(19g) filed and granted through Illinois Secretary [of] State on 8-27-
12. Therefore motion to show cause on part of bond."
¶ 19 Section 19(g) of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act (820 ILCS
305/19(g) (West 2012)) provides that "either party may present a certified copy 6 The notice of appeal also states that plaintiff is appealing an order dated October 15, 2014. However, this court cannot locate an October 15, 2014, order in the appellate record.
11 Nos. 1-15-2735, 1-15-2790 (cons.)
of the award *** when the same has become final *** for the payment of
compensation *** to the Circuit Court." 7 Plaintiff appears to be moving for
release of the bond put up by his employer to satisfy a judgment. However, the
record before us shows that a bond was placed on August 27, 2012, but there is
no evidence in the record as to whether this bond still exists; and plaintiff
provides us no reasons or evidence that he would be entitled to the proceeds of
the bond; and the record on appeal does not provide any reasons or evidence
that plaintiff would be entitled to the proceeds of the bond.
¶ 20 On August 21, 2015, plaintiff also moved the trial court for "return of
bond," stating that it was "used as collateral and ILWC 305(19g) award granted
by the ILWC Commission and Cook County on 6-20-12 and 8-2—12 by [trial
judge]. Also on matters coming to be heard on 8-21-15 def. Hartford ins. c/o
Sedgwick asked to appear at Room 2005 at 10:30 a.m. court having ruled on 8-
21-15."
¶ 21 On August 28, 2015, plaintiff moved for "default judgment," stating:
"Plaintiff asserts that def. B.E.W. and Continental were transferred from ILWC
[Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission] jurisdiction to Cook County
judicial [circuit court] on 8-8-12 and 9-4-12 & court having jurisdiction entered 7 Section 19(g) further provides: "Judgment shall not be entered until 15 days' notice of the time and place of the application for the entry of judgment shall be served upon the employer by filing such notice with the Commission[.]" 820 ILCS 305/19(g) (West 2012). 12 Nos. 1-15-2735, 1-15-2790 (cons.)
orders by [judge's name]. But clerk's office failed to enter transfer (summons &
complaint) of service on 10-17-12 against B.E.W." Plaintiff further stated:
"Note: on 11-22-13 order was entered to clarify missing complaint & summons
thus default be entered against B.E.W."
¶ 22 On September 3, 2015, plaintiff moved again for default judgment,
stating: "Under ILCWC 305 19 (g)(1)[8] court having jurisdiction in a transfer
order entered on 8-8-12 and 9-4-12 by [trial court]. Also order to amend both
defendants B.E.W. on 6-28-12 by [trial court] and Continental on 5-9-12.
B.E.W. secured on 10-17-12. But clerk's office misfiled Service of Summons
and Complaint. But order for clarification made 11-22-13." Plaintiff further
stated: "Note [trial judge] allowed missing Complaint and Summons entered on
11-22-13 open court. For motion filed 8-28-15 for 9-3-15."
¶ 23 On September 22, 2015, plaintiff filed another notice of appeal, which
stated that he was appealing an order issued by the trial court also on September
22, 2015. That appeal was assigned No. 1-15-2735. On September 29, 2015,
plaintiff filed a second notice of appeal, listing the same parties, which also
stated that the order being appealed was the September 22, 2015, order. That
appeal was assigned No. 1-15-2790. 8 The relevant portions of Section 19(g) of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305/19(g) (West 2012)) are quoted above in the text. There is no subsection (1) in section 19(g). However, if plaintiff meant section 19(f)(1), that section is quoted in relevant part in the analysis below. 13 Nos. 1-15-2735, 1-15-2790 (cons.)
¶ 24 The September 22 order states in full:
"1. Matters coming to the Court on motion to grant plaintiff Larry
Oruta Rule 305 (pg g) award and pursuant [(]see 305(a)[)] under 710
ILCS 5-18 is denied on grounds of lack of jurisdiction.
2. Matter to default defendant B.E.W. on grounds of service on 10-17-
12 is also denied on jurisdictional grounds."
¶ 25 On March 24, 2016, this court allowed plaintiff's motion to consolidate the
two appeals; and on October 27, 2016, this court ordered that the two
consolidated cases would be taken for consideration on the record and the
appellant's brief only.
¶ 26 ANALYSIS
¶ 27 As we observed above, this court has dismissed three prior appeals by
plaintiff in this same case for lack of jurisdiction. Oruta v. B.E.W., 2014 IL
App. (1st) 133941-U (Dec. 5, 2014) (Oruta 1); Oruta v. B.E.W., 2014 IL App
(1st) 131690-U (Aug. 1, 2014) (Oruta 2); Oruta v. B.E.W., 2013 IL App (1st)
123541-U (Dec. 20, 2013) (Oruta 3). For the following reasons, this opinion
will mark our fourth dismissal of an appeal by the same litigant in the same case
for lack of jurisdiction.
14 Nos. 1-15-2735, 1-15-2790 (cons.)
¶ 28 I. No Table of Contents
¶ 29 Plaintiff's brief fails to include a table of contents to the record on appeal.
We can dismiss the appeal on this basis alone.
¶ 30 When litigants appear pro se, their status does not relieve them of their
burden of complying with the court's rules. Epstein v. Galuska, 362 Ill. App. 3d
36, 39 (2005); see also Holzrichter v. Yorath, 2013 IL App (1st) 110287, ¶ 78
("In Illinois, parties choosing to represent themselves without a lawyer must
comply with the same rules."). "Where an appellant's brief fails to comply with
supreme court rules, this court has the inherent authority to dismiss the appeal."
Epstein, 362 Ill. App. 3d at 42 (citing In re Marriage of Gallagher, 256 Ill.
App. 3d 439, 442 (1993)). "While this court is not bound to enforce strict,
technical compliance with the rules where, despite minor inadequacies in an
appellate brief, the basis for an appeal is fairly clear [citation], a party's failure
to comply with basic rules is grounds for disregarding his or her arguments on
appeal." Epstein, 362 Ill. App. 3d at 42.
¶ 31 Under Supreme Court Rule 342(a), an appellant's brief must include, in
"an appendix, *** a complete table of contents, with page references, of the
record on appeal." Ill. S. Ct. R. 342(a) (eff. Jan. 1, 2005). Plaintiff's appellate
brief does not contain a complete table of contents with page references to the
record. It contains a page entitled "Docketing order," which contains only a
15 Nos. 1-15-2735, 1-15-2790 (cons.)
partial list of some documents with cites to the record. The brief also contains a
page entitled "Appendix" with a list of 16 documents with apparent page
numbers, from 1 to 17, that do not correspond to either the pages in the record
or the documents in the appendix.
¶ 32 This appendix also includes documents that are not in the appellate
record, and thus must be disregarded. Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule
342(a) (eff. Jan. 1, 2005), the appendix must contain "pleadings or other
materials from the record which are the basis of the appeal." However, a party
may generally not rely on matters outside the record to support its position on
appeal. Kenner v. City of Herrin, 235 Ill. 2d 338, 346 (2009). Thus, if the
materials are not taken from the record, they may not generally be placed before
the appellate court in an appendix and will be disregarded. Hubeny v. Chairse,
305 Ill. App. 3d 1038, 1042 (1999). See also Kenner, 235 Ill. 2d at 346 (when a
party disregards this rule, a reviewing court may strike the brief or "simply
disregard the inappropriate material").
¶ 33 Supreme court rules are not advisory suggestions, but rules to be
followed. In re Marriage of Hluska, 2011 IL App (1st) 092636, ¶ 57; In re
Estate of Michalak, 404 Ill. App. 3d 75, 99 (2010). Since plaintiff's appellate
brief fails to follow the provisions set forth in Supreme Court Rule 342(a), we
may, within our discretion, dismiss his appeal for failure to do so. Hluska, 2011
16 Nos. 1-15-2735, 1-15-2790 (cons.)
IL App (1st) 092636, ¶ 57; Fender v. Town of Cicero, 347 Ill. App. 3d 46, 51
(2004) (citing Collier v. Avis Rent A Car System, Inc., 248 Ill. App. 3d 1088,
1095 (1993)).
¶ 34 II. No Cites to Record
¶ 35 In addition, the argument section of plaintiff's appellate brief fails to
comply with the provisions of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 341(h)(7) (eff. Jan.
1, 2016), which require "references to the volume and pages of the record on
appeal so that we are able to assess whether the facts which [the appellant]
presents are accurate and a fair portrayal of the events in this case." Hluska,
2011 IL App (1st) 092636, ¶ 58 (discussing the requirements of Rule 341(h(7)).
Specifically, Supreme Court Rule 341(h)(7) requires the "Argument" section of
an appellant's brief to cite "the pages of the record relied on." Ill. S. Ct. R.
341(h)(7) (eff. Jan. 1, 2016). Plaintiff's argument section does not contain one
citation to the volume or page numbers of the record.
¶ 36 In Epstein, after first remarking on the pro se litigants' extensive
litigation experience, this court dismissed their appeal for failure to comply
with supreme court rules. Epstein, 362 Ill. App. 3d at 43. In Epstein, we used
language that is equally applicable to the case before us: "[Appellants] appear
to take this court for fools and seem to labor under the presumption that we
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would take their appeal ignorant of their extensive, prolific,[9] and sometimes
ludicrous attempts to elude and forestall judgments *** and the enforcement
thereof. *** We refuse to further enable this pathology[.] In short, we will not
abide [their] attempt to perpetuate litigation that concluded long ago, and
pursuant to our discretion to dismiss an appeal for violations of supreme court
rules [citation], we dismiss this appeal." Epstein, 362 Ill. App. 3d at 43.
¶ 37 III. Jurisdiction
¶ 38 On September 18, 2014, the trial court in the instant case entered an order
finding that it had no jurisdiction to entertain a motion by plaintiff concerning
an alleged Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission bond. Plaintiff
appealed this order, but his failure to file the record for three months led to the
dismissal of this appeal.
¶ 39 In an attempt to keep this issue alive, plaintiff filed more motions with
the trial court which were also dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
¶ 40 In his appellate brief, plaintiff lists as one of the "issues presented for
review": "Did [C]ook [C]ounty have jurisdiction to deny appellant Statutory
Bond entered on 6-20-12 ***?" However, he cites no page in the appellate
9 Plaintiff has filed not only numerous appeals in this case in the last few years, but also appeals in other unrelated cases. E.g., Oruta v. BEK, 2012 IL App (1st) 092651-U, ¶¶ 1, 6 (another appeal, which consolidated two separate circuit court cases, was also dismissed for lack of jurisdiction). 18 Nos. 1-15-2735, 1-15-2790 (cons.)
record as proof that the bond still exists. The trial court must not have viewed
proof either because, in its September 18, 2014, order, it referred to "his alleged
Illinois Workers Compensation Commission bond." (Emphasis added.) The
June 20, 2012, decision by the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission
stated only that, if defendant Continental Airport Express wanted to appeal the
decision to the circuit court, it would have to obtain a bond in the sum of
$14,500. Oruta v. BEW, No. 12 IW CC 0636 (IL WCC, June 20, 2012). See
820 ILCS 305/19(f)(2) (West 2012) (describing the bond procedure for review).
The record contains evidence of a bond taken out on August 27, 2012, but there
is no evidence whether the bond still exists.
¶ 41 The appellate record includes a letter by plaintiff's attorney, dated August
25, 2015, which states that the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission
entered an award in plaintiff's favor against Continental and that Continental
paid the award. If this letter—submitted by plaintiff—is correct, and the award
was paid, then we are not clear what claim plaintiff would have against the
bond, even if it still existed.
¶ 42 In addition, plaintiff's attorney stated in this August 20, 2015, letter that
plaintiff filed an appeal pro se of the Commission's decision. To the extent that
plaintiff is appealing the decision or actions of Illinois Workers' Compensation
Commission, we have no more jurisdiction than the original trial court did.
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"Although the circuit courts are courts of general jurisdiction, that presumption
does not apply in workers' compensation proceedings where the court exercises
special statutory jurisdiction." Rojas v. Illinois Workers' Compensation
Comm'n, 406 Ill. App. 3d 965, 971 (2010) (citing Kavonius v. Industrial
Comm'n, 314 Ill. App. 3d 166, 169 (2000)); Residential Carpentry, Inc. v.
Kennedy, 377 Ill. App. 3d 499, 502 (2007). "In an appeal from a decision of the
Commission, the circuit court obtains subject matter jurisdiction only if the
appellant complies with the statutorily mandated procedures set forth in the
Act." Rojas, 406 Ill. App. 3d at 971 (citing Esquivel v. Illinois Workers'
Compensation Comm'n, 402 Ill. App. 3d 156, 159 (2010)); Residential
Carpentry, 377 Ill. App. 3d at 502.
¶ 43 Section 19(f) of the Workers' Compensation Act provides, in relevant
part:
"The decision of the Commission *** shall, in the absence of fraud,
be conclusive unless reviewed as in this paragraph hereinafter provided.
***
(1) *** [T]he Circuit Court *** shall by summons to the Commission
have power to review all questions of law and fact presented by such
record.
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A proceeding for review shall be commenced within 20 days of the
receipt of notice of the decision of the Commission. *** [S]ervice shall
be made upon the Commission and other parties in interest by mailing
notices of the commencement of the proceedings[.] ***
The Commission shall not be required to certify the record of their
proceedings to the Circuit Court, unless the party commencing the
proceeding for review in the Circuit Court [shall pay the proper amount
for the cost of the preparation of the record].
In its decision on review the Commission shall determine *** the
probable cost of the record to be filed as part of the summons in that case
and no request for a summons may be filed and no summons shall issue
unless the party seeking to review the decision of the Commission shall
exhibit to the clerk of the Circuit Court proof of payment by filing a
receipt showing payment or an affidavit of the attorney setting forth that
payment has been made of the sums so determined ***." 820 ILCS
305/19(f) (West 2012).
¶ 44 In the case at bar, the decision of the Commission, dated June 20, 2012,
determined that the cost of the record was $35. However, plaintiff has not cited
to a page in the record before us, nor can we find one, which shows that he
submitted to the clerk of the circuit court proof of his payment of this $35
21 Nos. 1-15-2735, 1-15-2790 (cons.)
within 20 days of his receipt of the June 20, 2012, decision. " '[I]n order to
perfect jurisdiction in the circuit court, the appellant must not only file a written
request for summons within 20 days after receiving the Commission's decision,
but he or she must also exhibit to the clerk of the circuit court within the same
time frame either a receipt showing payment of the probable cost of the record
on appeal or an affidavit of an attorney setting forth that such payment has been
made to the Commission.' " Rojas, 406 Ill. App. 3d at 972 (quoting Esquivel,
402 Ill. App. 3d at 159-60). 10 In addition, as we observed in a prior order,
"plaintiff's certificate of mailing did not include the Commission." Oruta 2,
2014 IL App (1st) 131690-U, ¶ 5; 820 ILCS 305/19(f) (West 2012) ("service
shall be made upon the Commission and other parties in interest by mailing
notices of the commencement of the proceedings").
¶ 45 In plaintiff's jurisdictional statement in his appellate brief, plaintiff states
that "[t]he appellate court has judicial authority to reverse all rulings of the
lower court as a matter of law *** under ILWC 303(19)g." It is not so simple.
If plaintiff had a problem with an action taken by the Illinois Workers'
10 Although plaintiff had been granted permission on August 23, 2011, to proceed as an indigent person in the instant case when it was still solely against Budget, plaintiff does not point to a page in the record where he later applied for and received a waiver of this $35 fee in order to appeal the Commission's decision in a separate appeal. 22 Nos. 1-15-2735, 1-15-2790 (cons.)
Compensation Commission or related to its decision, then he had to follow the
statutory requirements necessary to appeal to the circuit court. Plaintiff does
not cite evidence in the record that he did so. Thus, this court lacks jurisdiction.
¶ 46 CONCLUSION
¶ 47 For the foregoing reasons, we dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction
and for failure to abide by supreme court rules.
¶ 48 Appeal dismissed.
¶ 49 JUSTICE LAMPKIN, specially concurring.
¶ 50 I specially concur only in the result reached by the majority. This case,
however, does not qualify for disposition by opinion because it does not
establish a new rule of law, does not modify, explain or criticize an existing rule
of law, and does not resolve, create or avoid an apparent conflict of authority
within the appellate court. Ill. S. Ct. R. 23(a) (eff. July 1, 2011).