VG Marina Management Corp. v. Wiener

882 N.E.2d 196, 378 Ill. App. 3d 887, 317 Ill. Dec. 622, 2008 Ill. App. LEXIS 41
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedJanuary 25, 2008
Docket2-05-0610
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 882 N.E.2d 196 (VG Marina Management Corp. v. Wiener) 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
VG Marina Management Corp. v. Wiener, 882 N.E.2d 196, 378 Ill. App. 3d 887, 317 Ill. Dec. 622, 2008 Ill. App. LEXIS 41 (Ill. Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

JUSTICE HUTCHINSON

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant, Frank Wiener, appeals from the trial court’s orders granting summary judgment to plaintiff, VG Marina Management Corporation, on its complaint for rent and awarding plaintiff attorney fees incurred in bringing the complaint. On appeal, defendant contends that (1) the award of attorney fees violates section 5 — 12—140(f) of Chicago’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (the RLTO) (Chicago Municipal Code §5 — 12—140(f) (amended November 6, 1991)), and (2) the lease agreement between the parties is unenforceable because it contains several provisions that violate the RLTO. On February 2, 2007, this court, with Justice O’Malley dissenting, filed its opinion affirming the trial court’s judgment. See VG Marina Management Corp. v. Wiener, 371 Ill. App. 3d 201 (2007). We held that the lease agreement was enforceable and that plaintiff was entitled to the recovery of attorney fees under section 5 — 12—180 of the RLTO (Chicago Municipal Code §5 — 12—180 (amended November 6, 1991)), as the prevailing party in an action for rent under section 5 — 12— 130(a) of the RLTO (Chicago Municipal Code §5 — 12—130(a) (amended November 6, 1991)). VG Marina, 371 Ill. App. 3d at 205-08.

In dissent, Justice O’Malley disagreed with the majority’s conclusion that the RLTO allowed attorney fees in this case. VG Marina, 371 Ill. App. 3d at 208 (O’Malley, J, dissenting). The dissent noted that plaintiff had never argued that section 5 — 12—130(a) applied to its case, and the dissent rejected the majority’s reliance upon this section as a basis to affirm the trial court, VG Marina, 371 Ill. App. 3d at 210-12 (O’Malley, J., dissenting). The dissent suggested that the parties should have been permitted the opportunity to file supplemental briefs on the applicability of section 5 — 12—130(a) to the case and stated that “without any input from the parties on this issue, I do not venture a conclusion as to the application of section 5 — 12—130(a) to this case.” VG Marina, 371 Ill. App. 3d at 211 (O’Malley, J., dissenting).

Defendant filed a petition for leave to appeal our decision to the supreme court. On May 31, 2007, the supreme court entered an order denying defendant’s petition for leave to appeal. VG Marina Management Corp. v. Wiener, 224 Ill. 2d 594 (2007). However, the supreme court’s denial order contained the following directions:

“In the exercise of this court’s supervisory authority, the Appellate Court, Second District, is directed to vacate its judgment in VG Marina Management Corp. v. Wiener, 371 Ill. App. 3d 201 (2007). The appellate court is directed to order supplemental briefing on the applicability of section 5 — 12—130(a) of Chicago’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance, as suggested by the dissenting justice.” VG Marina, 224 Ill. 2d at 594-95.

On July 17, 2007, pursuant to this directive, this court entered an order vacating our February 2, 2007, opinion in this case and requiring the parties to file supplemental briefs on the applicability of section 5 — 12—130(a) of the RLTO. The parties filed supplemental briefs, and we held oral argument on December 11, 2007. With the benefit of these additional arguments, we now file the following opinion.

On April 19, 2001, plaintiff filed a “complaint for rent.” Plaintiff attached to its complaint a copy of the parties’ lease agreement. The lease agreement provided that plaintiff leased to defendant a condominium unit located at 300 North State Street in Chicago. In its complaint, plaintiff alleged that defendant vacated the premises and breached the lease agreement by failing to timely make rent payments. Plaintiff sought the recovery of this amount and further alleged that it was “entitled to reimbursement of its fees of counsel and costs incurred in this action pursuant to the Lease.” Paragraph 15(e) of the lease agreement provided as follows:

“Lessee shall pay upon demand all Lessor’s costs, charges and expenses, including the fees of agents and others retained by Lessor and, as provided by applicable laws and court rules, the fees of counsel incurred in enforcing Lessee’s obligations hereunder or incurred by Lessor in any litigation, negotiation, or transaction in which Lessee causes Lessor, without Lessor’s fault, to become involved or concerned.”

The parties subsequently filed cross-motions for summary judgment. Defendant did not contest plaintiffs assertion that he had failed to pay rent due under the lease agreement. Rather, defendant argued, inter alia, that the attorney fees provision contained in paragraph 15(e) of the lease was unenforceable under the RLTO and that the lease as a whole was unenforceable as a matter of public policy, by virtue of several lease provisions that violated the RLTO. On September 14, 2004, the trial court denied defendant’s motion for summary judgment and granted plaintiffs motion for summary judgment. The trial court also ruled that plaintiff was entitled to an award of attorney fees and granted plaintiff leave to file a fee petition. On May 19, 2005, after considering plaintiffs petition for attorney fees, the trial court entered judgment against defendant for $30,380.66, consisting of $6,798.82 for unpaid rent, $1,081.84 for costs, and $22,500 for plaintiffs attorney fees. Defendant timely appeals.

Defendant first contends that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment to plaintiff on the issue of attorney fees. As he did at trial, defendant argues that the attorney fees provision contained in paragraph 15(e) of the lease is unenforceable under section 5 — 12— 140(f) of the RLTO. Summary judgment is proper when the pleadings, depositions, and affidavits on file demonstrate that no genuine issue of material fact exists and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. City of Oakbrook Terrace v. Suburban Bank & Trust Co., 364 Ill. App. 3d 506, 510 (2006). We review de novo the propriety of an order granting summary judgment. City of Oakbrook Terrace, 364 Ill. App. 3d at 510, citing Outboard Marine Corp. v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., 154 Ill. 2d 90, 102 (1992).

The same rules that govern the interpretation of statutes apply in construing municipal ordinances. Starr v. Gay, 354 Ill. App. 3d 610, 612 (2004). As in the case of a statute, the primary objective in construing an ordinance is to ascertain and give effect to the intent of the lawmaking body as disclosed by the language contained in the ordinance. Starr, 354 Ill. App. 3d at 612-13. The best indicator of this intent comes from the language of the ordinance itself, but may also include consideration of the reason behind and the necessity for the ordinance. American National Bank v. Powell, 293 Ill. App. 3d 1033, 1038 (1997) (interpreting the RLTO). The construction and legal effect of the lease agreement and the provisions of the RLTO are questions of law, which we review de novo. Lawrence v. Regent Realty Group, Inc., 197 Ill. 2d 1, 9 (2001); Plambeck v. Greystone Management & Columbia National Trust Co., 281 Ill. App. 3d 260, 266 (1996).

Prior to considering the merits of defendant’s contention, we must first address plaintiffs argument in its supplemental brief that the provisions of the RLTO do not apply to the lease agreement in the instant case.

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Bluebook (online)
882 N.E.2d 196, 378 Ill. App. 3d 887, 317 Ill. Dec. 622, 2008 Ill. App. LEXIS 41, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/vg-marina-management-corp-v-wiener-illappct-2008.