Sjogren v. Maybrooks, Inc.

573 N.E.2d 1367, 214 Ill. App. 3d 888, 158 Ill. Dec. 182, 15 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1160, 1991 Ill. App. LEXIS 887
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedMay 28, 1991
Docket1-90-0485
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 573 N.E.2d 1367 (Sjogren v. Maybrooks, Inc.) 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
Sjogren v. Maybrooks, Inc., 573 N.E.2d 1367, 214 Ill. App. 3d 888, 158 Ill. Dec. 182, 15 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1160, 1991 Ill. App. LEXIS 887 (Ill. Ct. App. 1991).

Opinion

JUSTICE CAMPBELL

delivered the opinion of the court:

Plaintiff Mary Sjogren appeals from orders of the circuit court of Cook County dismissing one count of her complaint against defendant Maybrooks and denying her motion to amend an agreed order.

The record on appeal indicates the following. On February 4, 1989, plaintiff allegedly entered into an oral contract to sell computer equipment worth $6,850 to defendant. The equipment was delivered to defendant on February 13, 1989. Defendant did not pay for the equipment upon delivery or any of plaintiff’s subsequent requests for payment.

Defendant had use of the computer equipment for 38 days. Plaintiff filed a two-count complaint against defendant on March 17, 1989. Only the first count, alleging breach of oral contract, is before this court. Defendant attempted to return the equipment on March 23, 1989, but plaintiff refused delivery. Defendant was served with plaintiff’s summons and complaint on March 29, 1989.

Defendant then filed a motion to dismiss the breach of oral contract claim pursuant to section 2—619(a)(7) of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 110, par. 2—619(a)(7)), alleging that plaintiff’s claim was barred by the Statute of Frauds (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 26, par. 2—201). On August 7, 1989, the trial court entered an agreed order granting plaintiff until September 19, 1989, to respond to the motion. On August 21, 1989, plaintiff filed a motion to modify the August 7 order so that plaintiff would have 21 days from receipt of written discovery requested by plaintiff to respond to the motion to dismiss. On September 15, 1989, the trial court denied plaintiff’s motion, leaving the September 19 deadline intact.

Following a hearing on defendant’s section 2 — 619 motion, the trial court dismissed the claim, determining that the claim was barred by the Statute of Frauds. This appeal followed.

Initially, we note that the purpose of a section 2—619 motion is to provide a mechanism to dispose of issues of law or easily proved issues of fact. (Chicago Steel Rule Die & Fabricators Co. v. Malan Construction Co. (1990), 200 Ill. App. 3d 701, 558 N.E.2d 341; Consumer Electric Co. v. Cobelcomex, Inc. (1986), 149 Ill. App. 3d 699, 703, 501 N.E.2d 156.) The court may, in its discretion, decide questions of fact upon the hearing of the motion. (North Park Bus Service, Inc. v. Pastor (1976), 39 Ill. App. 3d 406, 349 N.E.2d 664.) However, if the court cannot determine with reasonable certainty that the alleged defense exists, the motion should be denied. (Dangeles v. Marcus (1978), 57 Ill. App. 3d 662, 667, 373 N.E.2d 645.) Moreover, in deciding the merits of the motion, a trial court cannot determine disputed factual issues solely upon affidavits and counteraffidavits. Premier Electrical Construction Co. v. La Salle National Bank (1984), 132 Ill. App. 3d 485, 477 N.E.2d 1249.

Plaintiff’s first argument on appeal is that plaintiff’s partial performance of the contract — delivering the computer equipment — takes her claim outside the Statute of Frauds. Plaintiff relies upon Anastasio v. Radford (1958), 14 Ill. 2d 526, 153 N.E.2d 37, and its progeny, in support of this contention. See Andersen v. Koss (1988), 173 Ill. App. 3d 872, 527 N.E.2d 1098; Cooper v. Pedersen (1961), 29 Ill. App. 2d 384, 173 N.E.2d 549.

Although acts of partial performance are typically sufficient to take an oral agreement out from under the operation of the Statute of Frauds in an action at equity, such acts do not take an action at law outside the operation of the Statute of Frauds. (Gibbons v. Stillwell (1986), 149 Ill. App. 3d 411, 415, 500 N.E.2d 965, 968-69 (citing numerous Illinois cases). Compare e.g., Rose v. Dolejs (1953), 1 Ill. 2d 280, 116 N.E.2d 402 (action at equity), with Wheeler v. Frankenthal & Brothers (1875), 78 Ill. 124 (action at law).) This rule is a specific reflection of the general principle that the aid of equity can be invoked only in the absence of an adequate legal remedy. (White v. City of Ottawa (1925), 318 Ill. 463, 149 N.E. 521; Eveland v. Board of Education (1950), 340 Ill. App. 308, 92 N.E.2d 182.) Although law and equity have been merged in our modern court system, equitable relief will not lie where there is an adequate remedy at law. Ives v. Town of Limestone (1978), 62 Ill. App. 3d 771, 379 N.E.2d 394.

The cases cited by plaintiff were actions for equitable relief; Anastaplo concerned injunctive relief, Andersen concerned replevin and Cooper concerned specific performance. In this case, plaintiff’s alleged oral contract with defendant was not for the purchase of a particular piece of real property or for delivery of any sort of unique item, such as a show dog or shares of corporate stock that are not available on the open market. Plaintiff therefore had an adequate remedy at law for damages and is not entitled to seek equitable relief. Indeed, her complaint seeks damages alone. The doctrine of part performance does not apply to an action at law for damages; hence, the delivery of the equipment does not take the alleged oral agreement out of the Statute of Frauds.

Plaintiff’s next two arguments are related and will be considered together. Plaintiff maintains that the trial court erred in dismissing the breach of oral contract claim because defendant’s use of the goods was inconsistent with plaintiff’s ownership. Plaintiff also maintains that defendant failed to effectively reject the goods. Defendant disagrees with both of these contentions.

Illinois law provides that a contract which fails to meet the formal requirement of a writing signed by the party to be charged, but which would otherwise be valid, is enforceable “with respect to goods for which payment has been made and accepted or which have been received and accepted.” (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 26, par. 2—201(3)(c).) It is undisputed that no payment has been made in this case. It is equally undisputed that the goods were received by defendant.

Acceptance of goods is governed by section 2—606 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), as adopted in Illinois, which provides in relevant part:

“(1) Acceptance of goods occurs when the buyer
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573 N.E.2d 1367, 214 Ill. App. 3d 888, 158 Ill. Dec. 182, 15 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1160, 1991 Ill. App. LEXIS 887, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sjogren-v-maybrooks-inc-illappct-1991.