3432 West Henderson Building, LLC v. Gizynski ( 2017 )


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    2017 IL App (1st) 160588
                                          No. 1-16-0588
    Opinion filed June 20, 2017
    Second Division
    IN THE
    APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
    FIRST DISTRICT
    3432 WEST HENDERSON BUILDING, LLC, as
    )
    Successor in Interest to Citizens Bank & Trust
    )
    Company of Chicago,
    )
    )
    Plaintiff-Appellee and Cross-Appellant,
    )
    )
    v.                                                      Appeal from the Circuit Court
    )
    of Cook County.
    )
    WIESLAW GIZYNSKI,
    )
    )
    Defendant-Appellant and Cross-Appellee            Nos. 09 CH 20706 &
    )
    13 L 50596 (consolidated)
    )
    and
    )
    )
    NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY,                       The Honorable
    )
    Carl Anthony Walker,
    )
    Plaintiff                                         Judge, presiding.
    )
    )
    v.
    )
    )
    WIESLAW GIZYNSKI,
    )
    )
    Defendant.
    PRESIDING JUSTICE HYMAN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
    Justices Pierce and Mason concurred in the judgment and opinion.
    1-16-0588
    OPINION
    ¶1           The underlying case involved default on a note and mortgage. The issues defendant
    Wieslaw Gizynski raises pertain to the amount and calculation of the trial court’s award of
    attorney’s fees 1 and interest on the fees. On cross-appeal, 3432 West Henderson Building, LLC
    (Henderson Building), contends the trial court erred in denying its motion for leave to file a fee
    petition regarding Gizynski’s motion to reconsider. Because we find the trial court properly
    calculated Henderson Building’s attorney’s fees, including default interest, and was not obligated
    to hold an evidentiary hearing on the fee request, we affirm the order and its denial of the motion
    to reconsider. But as to the trial court’s denying Henderson Building’s request to file a fee
    petition for the time spent responding to the motion to reconsider, we remand for further
    consideration as well as consideration of fees incurred in this proceeding.
    ¶2                                             BACKGROUND
    ¶3           Gizynski owned commercial property at 3432 West Henderson Street since 1994. In
    April 2005, he signed a note for a $1.4 million loan from Citizens Bank & Trust Company of
    Chicago. A first mortgage on the property secured the note. The following month the parties
    amended the terms so that in the event of default, the interest rate would increase to a total
    interest rate of 13.5%. In February 2009, Gizynski defaulted on the loan, and Citizens Bank filed
    a foreclosure proceeding. While the foreclosure case was pending, Henderson Building acquired
    the promissory note and mortgage, substituted itself as the successor real party in interest, and
    filed an amended verified complaint.
    1
    Throughout this opinion we deviate from the Style Manual for the Supreme and Appellate
    Courts of Illinois (4th ed. 2012) by using “attorney’s fees” instead of “attorney fees.” As noted by legal
    grammarian and author of the leading books on legal writing, Bryan Garner, in A Dictionary of Modern
    Legal Usage 91 (2d ed. 1995), “attorney’s fees” is the prevalent form. Moreover, the Illinois Mortgage
    Foreclosure Act, which is discussed in this opinion, refers to “attorney’s fees.” See 745 ILCS 5/15-1510
    (West 2016).
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    ¶4          In January 2013, Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) filed a petition to intervene in
    the foreclosure case to exercise eminent domain over the property. NEIU filed a complaint for
    condemnation and, ultimately, acquired the property for $5.2 million. A joint motion for entry of
    stipulation of value and an order of judgment vesting fee simple title in NEIU was granted, and
    the foreclosure and condemnation cases were consolidated. NEIU deposited the $5.2 million
    with the Cook County Treasurer.
    ¶5          In November 2014, Henderson Building filed a petition for disbursement of funds in the
    consolidated case. Henderson Building sought a payoff amount of nearly $2.6 million, which
    included (i) unpaid principle balance, (ii) reimbursement of an advance to satisfy property taxes
    and liens against the property; (iii) late fees; (iv) attorney’s fees of $108,104.35; and
    (v) $1,005,279.21 in accrued interest. The petition attached the affidavit of Gayle Teicher, an
    accountant for Henderson Building, stating that the attorney’s fees had been paid or were in the
    process of being paid.
    ¶6          In December 2014, the trial court gave Gizynski until February 4, 2015, to reply to
    Henderson Building’s disbursement petition. On February 4, Gizynski sought additional time to
    respond, and the trial court gave him until March 3. In the interim, on January 30, Henderson
    Building filed supplemental exhibits to its petition, which included an additional $15,868.95 in
    attorney’s fees incurred in defending against Gizynski’s reply to its disbursement petition, for a
    total payoff amount of $2,657,203.16.
    ¶7          On March 3, 2015, Gizynski filed his reply raising numerous objections to Henderson
    Building’s disbursement request including its assertions that the loan documents were not
    originals, Henderson Building incorrectly calculated the payoff amount, Henderson Building was
    not obligated to purchase other liens on the property, Henderson Building should not be awarded
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    attorney’s fees relating to the condemnation case, and attorney’s fees and real estate taxes should
    not be added to principal once the foreclosure case was filed.
    ¶8            On April 3, 2015, Gizynski’s attorney filed a motion to withdraw, stating that Gizynski
    had terminated his service and retained another attorney. Henderson Building filed a response
    objecting to the motion to withdraw and asking that it only be granted if a substitute appearance
    was filed and if the court did not delay the scheduled May 6, 2015, hearing on its disbursement
    petition. The trial court denied the motion to withdraw at that time but continued the hearing on
    the disbursement petition until May 20, 2015. (The record does not indicate a final ruling on the
    motion to withdraw, and the same attorney is now representing Gizynski on appeal.)
    ¶9            On May 15, 2015, Henderson Building filed supplemental exhibits in support of its
    disbursement petition, showing additional attorney’s fees of $52,123.52 and a payoff amount of
    nearly $2.8 million.
    ¶ 10          On May 20, 2015, the trial court entered an order granting Gizynski and Henderson
    Building until June 10 to submit authority addressing a mortgagee’s right to collect interest up to
    satisfaction of a condemnation award. On July 8, Henderson Building filed supplemental exhibits
    in support of its petition showing an additional $17,348.41 in attorney’s fees and a payoff
    amount of $2,826,316.02.
    ¶ 11          On September 24, 2015, the trial court entered an opinion and order granting Henderson
    Building’s disbursement petition. The trial court stated that the mortgage expressly added to the
    balance of the note various expenses the lender was required to pay, namely “taxes, liens,
    security interest, encumbrances and other claims” levied or placed on the property, or advance
    funds otherwise necessary “for insuring, maintaining and preserving the Property.” Henderson
    Building paid property taxes and discharged four receiver’s liens on the property and included
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    those amounts to the unpaid loan balance. The trial court found that the proper interest rate under
    the amended terms was 13.5% from the date of default based on the original 7.5% interest rate
    and an additional 6% default rate. The court also found Henderson Building was entitled to late
    fees.
    ¶ 12           In addition, the note and mortgage expressly provided for reimbursement of attorney’s
    fees. The note stated that if the borrower fails to pay and the lender hires attorneys to help collect
    on the note, the borrower owes the lender its attorney’s fees and expenses whether or not there is
    a lawsuit. The mortgage similarly provided, “[i]f Lender institutes any suit or action to enforce
    any of the terms of this Mortgage, Lender shall be entitled to recover such sum as the court may
    adjudge reasonable as attorneys’ fees at trial and upon any appeal.” Further, the mortgage
    provided that “all reasonable expenses Lender incurs that in Lenders’ opinion are necessary at
    any time for the protection of its interest or the enforcement of its interest or the enforcement of
    its rights shall become a part of the Indebtedness payable on demand and shall bear interest at the
    Note rate from the date of the expenditure until paid.”
    ¶ 13           Analyzing Henderson Building’s attorney’s fees request, the trial court stated:
    “Henderson Building’s legal expenses were incurred over a [2½-]year period,
    beginning in February of 2012, and involved multiple, protracted actions. Henderson
    Building incurred legal expenses in relation to the condemnation action initiated by
    NEIU and the subsequent consolidation of those actions. Henderson Building also
    incurred attorneys’ fees in relation to a planned UCC sale of an assignment of the
    beneficial interest in Gizynski’s land trust, which was necessitated by the slow
    progression of the foreclosure proceeding. Henderson Building’s total legal expenses
    for all these matters was $108,104.35. *** Those fees are similar to the rates charged
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    by firms of similar size and stature engaged in the practices of commercial litigation
    with offices located in Cook County, Illinois.”
    ¶ 14          The trial court rejected Gizynski’s argument that Henderson Building should not be
    awarded attorney’s fees relating to the foreclosure consolidated with the condemnation case
    because the foreclosure was “unsuccessful and not completed.” The trial court noted that this
    claim was unsupported by legal authority and contradicted by the plain language of the note and
    mortgage, which did not require a foreclosure to be successful and complete for the lender to be
    entitled to attorney’s fees. Also rejected was Gizynski’s assertion that Henderson Building did
    not show that the attorney’s fees had been paid, noting that Henderson Building submitted the
    affidavit of its accountant averring that the attorney’s fees were paid or in the process of being
    paid. Lastly, the trial court rejected Gizynski’s argument that Henderson Building’s attorney
    added no value to the case: “Whether any value was added is irrelevant to the analysis. What
    matters is whether the attorneys’ fees were reasonable and whether Henderson Building deemed
    the attorneys’ services necessary.”
    ¶ 15          The trial court approved Henderson Building’s initial request of $108,104.35 in
    attorney’s fees and joined it to the principal, which accrued interest at a rate of 13.5% under the
    default interest provision. By a separate order, the trial court directed Henderson Building to
    submit a final payoff amount including interest. On the issue of the attorney’s fees, the trial judge
    said that “the attorney fees need some adjustment and may need some further review. *** [F]ees
    need to be reasonable. So, I still need to do further review of those once you come up with a final
    number.”
    ¶ 16          As noted, while its petition was pending, Henderson Building filed supplemental exhibits
    showing additional attorney’s fees incurred, and on September 25, 2015, it filed final
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    supplemental exhibits reflecting a total payoff amount of $2,885,837.13, which included an
    additional $5785.50 in attorney’s fees for a total of $199,229.78, and the continual accrual of
    interest. On October 1, 2015, the trial court directed the Cook County Treasurer to disburse
    $2,885,837.14 to Henderson Building.
    ¶ 17          Gizynski filed a motion to reconsider the disbursement order arguing (i) default interest
    should not have been applied to the attorney’s fee award, (ii) the trial court failed to make a
    written finding regarding the appropriateness of the attorney’s fees incurred after Henderson
    Building filed its petition, and (iii) the court failed to hold an evidentiary hearing regarding the
    appropriateness of the attorney’s fee award. In its reply, Henderson Building asked the court for
    leave to file a fee petition for attorney’s fees it incurred in defending the motion. The trial court
    denied the motion to reconsider and Henderson Building’s request for additional attorney’s fees.
    ¶ 18          Gizynski appeals the disbursement order and the denial of its motion to reconsider.
    Henderson Building cross-appeals, asking us to reverse the trial court’s denial of its request for
    leave to file a fee petition relating to the motion to reconsider. Henderson Building asks us to
    award it reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses incurred in this appeal and remand for a hearing
    on the reasonableness of attorney’s fees in the motion to reconsider.
    ¶ 19                                              ANALYSIS
    Initially, we note that Gizynski’s brief fails to include appropriate references to the pages
    of the appellate record in its statement of facts and its argument section in violation of Illinois
    Supreme Court Rule 341(h)(6), (7) (eff. Feb. 6, 2013). It is within our discretion to strike a brief
    and dismiss an appeal for failure to comply with the rules. Parkway Bank & Trust Co. v. Korzen,
    
    2013 IL App (1st) 130380
    , ¶ 10. Because the brief is adequate in most respects and the
    deficiencies do not hinder our ability to review the issues, we will not strike it. See Spangenberg
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    1-16-0588
    v. Verner, 
    321 Ill. App. 3d 429
    , 432 (2001) (declining to strike brief where it complied with rules
    in other ways and none of violations were so flagrant as to hinder or preclude review).
    ¶ 20                                           Attorney’s Fees
    ¶ 21          Turning to the merits, Gizynski argues that the trial court (i) should not have calculated
    the interest on the attorney’s fees at the default rate of 13.5%, as the fees were not part of the
    principal indebtedness and the Eminent Domain Act does not permit interest on attorney’s fees;
    (ii) should not have awarded attorney’s fees because Henderson Building was not successful in
    the foreclosure case; (iii) improperly awarded Henderson Building more than $199,000 in
    attorney’s fees rather than the $108,104.35 it was owed; and (iv) should have held an evidentiary
    hearing on the fee request and required Henderson Building to submit time sheets to support the
    computerized billing statements.
    ¶ 22          Attorney’s fees in mortgage foreclosure proceedings are governed by section 15-1510 of
    the Illinois Mortgage Foreclosure Law (Foreclosure Law) (735 ILCS 5/15-1510 (West 2014)).
    That section permits an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs “to the defendant who
    prevails in a motion, an affirmative defense or counterclaim, or in the foreclosure action.” 735
    ILCS 5/15-1510(a) (West 2014). Section 15-1510(b) provides that “[a]ttorneys’ fees and other
    costs incurred in connection with the preparation, filing or prosecution of the foreclosure suit
    shall be recoverable in a foreclosure only to the extent specifically set forth in the mortgage or
    other written agreement between the mortgagor and the mortgagee or as otherwise provided in
    this Article.” 735 ILCS 5/15-1510(b) (West 2014). The statute does not abrogate the contractual
    terms of the mortgage in the assessment of attorney’s fees. 735 ILCS 5/15-1510(a) (West 2014).
    Generally, we review a trial court’s award of attorney’s fees under the deferential abuse of
    discretion standard. Chicago Title & Trust Co v. Chicago Title & Trust Co., 248 Ill. App. 3d
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    1-16-0588
    1065, 1072 (1993). Here, we must interpret the language of the mortgage and note, and we thus
    apply the de novo standard of review, which we apply to contracts. Cathay Bank v. Accetturo,
    
    2016 IL App (1st) 152783
    , ¶ 26.
    ¶ 23          Gizynski first contends the trial court erred in adding the attorney’s fees to the principal,
    which accrued interest at a default rate of 13.5%. Gizynski argues that section 15-1510(b) of the
    Foreclosure Law controls and does not permit adding attorney’s fees to the principal. As noted,
    section 15-1510 expressly states that the statute does not abrogate the terms of the mortgage;
    thus, we must look to those sections of the loan documents addressing attorney’s fees. Gizynski
    contends the default rate of 13.5% applies only to the principal indebtedness and that under the
    language of the mortgage and the note, “indebtedness” does not include attorney’s fees. The
    mortgage broadly defines indebtedness: “any amounts expended or advanced by Lender to
    discharge Grantor’s obligations or expenses incurred by lender to enforce Grantor’s obligations
    under this Mortgage, together with interest on such amounts as provided in this Mortgage.” The
    mortgage further states that “all reasonable expenses Lender incurs that in Lenders’ opinion are
    necessary at any time for the protection of its interest or the enforcement of its interest or the
    enforcement of its rights shall become a part of the Indebtedness payable on demand and shall
    bear interest at the Note rate from the date of the expenditure until paid.” And it states that the
    lender’s attorney’s fees for protecting its interest “shall become a part of the Indebtedness
    payable on demand and shall bear interest at the Note rate from the date of the expenditure until
    repaid.” So the loan documents permit attorney’s fees to be added to the principal indebtedness,
    which under the changes in terms of agreement, accrued interest at the default rate of 13.5%.
    ¶ 24          Gizynski also contends that Henderson Building should not be awarded attorney’s fees,
    as Henderson Building abandoned the foreclosure case by having failed to respond to his motion
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    to dismiss the fourth amended complaint for foreclosure, and should not be awarded attorney’s
    fees incurred in pursuing the foreclosure action. As the trial court noted, “[n]either the note nor
    mortgage require a legal action to be successful and completed for the lender, Henderson
    Building, to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees.” The note provides for recovery of attorney’s
    fees “whether or not there is a lawsuit.” Similarly, the mortgage provides for the lender to
    recover reasonable attorney’s fees “whether or not any court action is involved.” As a result, we
    reject Gizynski’s contention that the trial court could award Henderson Building attorney’s fees
    only in the event the foreclosure case went to judgment.
    ¶ 25          Gizynski next asserts that rather than apply the Foreclosure Law or look to the terms of
    the mortgage in analyzing the attorney’s fee issue, we should look to the Eminent Domain Act.
    Specifically, Gizynski contends that after fee title was transferred to NEIU, the foreclosure case
    ended and the matter became a condemnation case governed by the Eminent Domain Act. As
    such, the trial court may not award interest on attorney’s fees. We disagree.
    ¶ 26          While the consolidation of the cases and the transfer of title effectively halted the
    foreclosure case, Henderson Building retained its interest in the property through the mortgage
    and was forced to incur legal expenses to protect that interest in response to claims by Gizynski.
    As the trial court noted, “the very arguments Gizynski offered in an attempt to oppose a
    disbursement” often “proffered without any legal support or basis” “were claims that would
    materially affect Henderson Building’s interest in the Property or the proceeds thereof.”
    ¶ 27          Moreover, the condemnation provision in the mortgage permits Henderson Building to
    recover its attorney’s fees. Specifically, the provision titled “Application of Net Proceeds” states:
    “If all or any part of the Property is condemned by eminent domain proceedings or by
    any proceeding or purchase in lieu of condemnation, Lender may at its election
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    require that all or any portion of the net proceeds of the award be applied to the
    Indebtedness or the repair or restoration of the Property. The net proceeds of the
    award shall mean the award after payment of all reasonable costs, expenses and
    attorneys’ [sic] fee incurred by Lender in connection with the condemnation.”
    ¶ 28          As noted, “indebtedness” includes attorney’s fees the lender incurs in protecting its
    interest or enforcing its interest or rights under the mortgage. After filing its disbursement
    petition in November 2014 until the trial court’s September 24 order, Henderson Building
    incurred attorney’s fees enforcing its rights under the mortgage against numerous claims by
    Gizynski including that (i) the mortgage documents were not originals, (ii) Henderson Building
    was not legally obligated under the mortgage to purchase liens that affected the property,
    (iii) Henderson Building is not entitled to the interest requested because it acquired the mortgage
    and note from a company not entitled to do business in Illinois, and (iv) late fees owed under the
    mortgage were improperly calculated. Thus, as Henderson Building incurred these attorney’s
    fees while protecting its interests under the mortgage, they were properly counted as part of the
    indebtedness and could be paid from the net proceeds of the condemnation proceeding. Nothing
    in the Eminent Domain Act prevents parties from contractually agreeing to pay interest on
    attorney’s fees or precludes Henderson Building from enforcing that agreement. The trial court
    properly looked to the mortgage in assessing attorney’s fees.
    ¶ 29          Gizynski next contends that in its September 24, 2015 order, the trial court awarded
    Henderson Building $108,104.35 in attorney’s fees but that its ultimate award included
    attorney’s fees totaling more than $199,000. Gizynski suggests Henderson Building acted
    improperly by trying to “hide” an additional $91,000 in fees in the final disbursement order. This
    assertion is without merit.
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    ¶ 30          In its September 24, 2015, opinion and order, the trial court noted that Henderson
    Building’s attorney’s fees as set forth in its original petition totaled $108,104.35, “[t]o date.”
    And, in a separate order the same date, the trial court instructed that it needed to undertake
    additional review of the attorney’s fees owed and asked Henderson Building to submit a final
    payoff amount including interest. In court, the trial judge stated that the attorney’s fees needed
    adjustment and possibly further review. “[F]ees need to be reasonable,” the trial court said. “So, I
    still need to do further review of those once you come up with a final number.” With leave of
    court, Henderson Building submitted supplemental exhibits in support of its final payoff
    statement, listing attorney’s fees in the amount of $199,229.78. Thus, Gizynski’s contention that
    Henderson Building acted improperly or that the trial court had no basis for its attorney’s fee
    award is erroneous.
    ¶ 31          Gizynski also contends Henderson Building failed to present sufficient documentation to
    support the attorney’s fees award. Again we disagree. The record shows that as of November 18,
    2014, Henderson Building requested $108,104.35 in attorney’s fees. After that date, Henderson
    Building submitted multiple supplemental exhibits showing attorney’s fees incurred since that
    date, with detailed billing statements. For instance, on January 23, 2015, Henderson Building
    filed a supplemental exhibit with billing records showing that it had incurred an additional
    $15,868 in attorney’s fees for a total of $123,972.35. Henderson Building again supplemented its
    petition on May 15, 2015, with an exhibit showing that it had incurred an additional $52,123.52
    in attorney’s fees, and on July 8, 2015, showing an additional $17,348.41 in attorney’s fees. As
    noted, on September 25, 2015, Henderson Building submitted its final payoff statement and
    supporting documents, with an additional attorney’s fees amount of $5785.50, for a total in
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    attorney’s fees of $199,229.78. All of these supplemental exhibits include detailed billing
    statements to permit the trial judge to determine the reasonableness of the fees charged.
    ¶ 32          Without supporting authority, Gizynski proposes that Henderson Building should have
    been required to submit the fee agreement and a litigation budget. The trial court had sufficient
    documentation to assess Henderson Building’s attorney’s fee petitions and did not err in its
    calculation.
    ¶ 33                                          Evidentiary Hearing
    ¶ 34          Gizynski believes the trial court committed reversible error by failing to hold an
    evidentiary hearing on Henderson Building’s attorney’s fee request. Again, Gizynski presents no
    authority. In any event, this court has held that trial courts faced with fee petitions are not
    required to hold evidentiary hearings as a matter of course. Young v. Alden Gardens of
    Waterford, LLC, 
    2015 IL App (1st) 131887
    , ¶ 113 (fee petition warrants evidentiary hearing only
    when response of party to be charged with paying award raises issues of fact that cannot be
    resolved without further evidence); see also Raintree Health Care Center v. Illinois Human
    Rights Comm’n, 
    173 Ill. 2d 469
    , 495 (1996) (stating “courts frequently award attorney fees ***
    without holding evidentiary hearings”). The person asking for fees and costs has the burden of
    proof. Fried v. Barad, 
    187 Ill. App. 3d 1024
    , 1029 (1989). Where proof can be made on the basis
    of pleadings or trial evidence, an additional hearing is not required. 
    Id. ¶ 35
             Next, Gizynski argues, relying on Aliano v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 
    2015 IL App (1st) 143367
    , that the trial court’s award of attorney’s fees constituted reversible error because
    Henderson Building did not support its request for fees with the “underlying time sheets.”
    Gizynski failed to raise this issue before the trial court; it is forfeited. Cambridge Engineering,
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    Inc. v. Mercury Partners 90 BI, Inc., 
    378 Ill. App. 3d 437
    , 453 (2007) (arguments not raised
    before trial court are forfeited).
    ¶ 36           Lastly, we reject Gizynski’s insistence that the record does not support Henderson
    Building having paid the attorney’s fees. As noted, Henderson Building’s petition for
    disbursement included the affidavit of its accountant stating that the attorney’s fees had been
    paid or were in the process of being paid. Nothing else in the record supports a finding that this is
    false or that the fees have not been paid.
    ¶ 37                                Cross-Appeal for Attorney’s Fee Petition
    ¶ 38           On cross-appeal, Henderson Building asks us to reverse the denial of its motion for leave
    to file a petition for fees incurred in defending against Gizynski’s motion to reconsider and asks
    that the case be remanded for consideration of the reasonableness of attorney’s fees it requested
    in defending that motion and in this appeal.
    ¶ 39           As noted, a trial court has broad discretion in awarding attorney’s fees, and its decision
    will not be reversed absent an abuse of discretion. Richardson v. Haddon, 
    375 Ill. App. 3d 312
    ,
    314 (2007). A court may consider a multitude of factors, including the nature of the case, its
    difficulty level, the skill and standing of the attorney, the degree of responsibility required, the
    usual and customary charges for similar work, and the connection between the litigation and the
    fees charged. 
    Id. at 314-15.
    In Richardson, we found that the trial court abused its discretion by
    summarily disregarding a fee petition, stating that “the trial court should either award those fees
    that it decides are reasonable or clearly state the reasons for the particular reductions” instead of
    denying the attorney’s fee petition in entirely. 
    Id. at 316.
    The trial court denied Henderson
    Building’s request for leave to file a fee petition without explanation. We must reverse that part
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    of its order and remand for reconsideration and an explanation as to why Henderson Building is
    not entitled to request reasonable attorney’s fees in defending Gizynski’s motion to reconsider.
    ¶ 40          Henderson Building also asks for attorney’s fees for defending this appeal, noting that the
    mortgage provides for the recovery of attorney’s fees and costs for “appeals, and any anticipated
    post-judgment collection services.” Similarly, the note requires Gizynski to pay the lender’s
    attorney’s fees and legal expenses, “whether or not there is a lawsuit, including *** appeals.”
    Henderson Building also points out that this court has held that attorney’s fees incurred on
    appeal of a foreclosure case are recoverable. See Standard Bank & Trust Co. v. Callaghan, 
    215 Ill. App. 3d 76
    , 83 (1991) (holding provision in note intended to encompass all reasonable
    attorney’s fees resulting from foreclosure proceedings, including fees incurred in seeking
    deficiency judgment and for appeals). On remand, the trial court should consider the
    reasonableness of Henderson Building’s attorney’s fees in this appeal.
    ¶ 41          Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded for further proceedings.
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Document Info

Docket Number: 1-16-0588

Filed Date: 6/20/2017

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 6/20/2017