West-Howard v. The Department of Children and Family Services , 2013 IL App (4th) 120782 ( 2013 )

ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS
Appellate Court
West-Howard v. Department of Children & Family Services, 2013 IL App (4th) 120782Appellate Court JULIA WEST-HOWARD, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. THE DEPARTMENT
Caption OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, Defendant-Appellee.
District & No. Fourth District
Docket No. 4-12-0782
Filed August 29, 2013
Held The Department of Children and Family Services’ final administrative
(Note: This syllabus decision upholding its decision to remove plaintiff’s grandchildren from
constitutes no part of her home was properly served on plaintiff when her attorney was mailed
the opinion of the court a certified copy of the decision, and the complaint plaintiff filed 45 days
but has been prepared later seeking administrative review of the decision in the trial court was
by the Reporter of properly dismissed, notwithstanding the fact that plaintiff was never
Decisions for the personally served with the decision, since the Illinois Administrative
convenience of the Procedure Act applied to the proceedings, the Act provided for service on
reader.)
plaintiff’s attorney and required plaintiff to file her complaint seeking
review within 35 days of service on her attorney, and in the absence of
such a timely filing, the trial court lacked jurisdiction to review the
decision.
Decision Under Appeal from the Circuit Court of Champaign County, No. 12-MR-320;
Review the Hon. Thomas J. Difanis, Judge, presiding.
Judgment Affirmed.
Counsel on Julia West-Howard, of Rantoul, appellant pro se.
Appeal
Lisa Madigan, Attorney General, of Chicago (Michael A. Scodro,
Solicitor General, and Nadine J. Wichern, Assistant Attorney General, of
counsel), for appellee.
Panel JUSTICE HOLDER WHITE delivered the judgment of the court, with
opinion.
Presiding Justice Steigmann and Justice Knecht concurred in the
judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 In March 2012, the Director of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
issued a final administrative decision, upholding DCFS’s decision to remove the
grandchildren of plaintiff, Julia West-Howard, from plaintiff’s home. DCFS served
plaintiff’s attorney by certified mail with a copy of the decision on March 9, 2012, and 45
days later plaintiff filed a complaint for administrative review in the circuit court.
¶2 Following a July 2012 hearing, the circuit court granted DCFS’s motion to dismiss
plaintiff’s complaint pursuant to sections 2-619(a)(1) and (a)(5) of the Code of Civil
Procedure (Civil Code) (735 ILCS 5/2-619(a)(1), (a)(5) (West 2012)), based on plaintiff’s
failure to file the complaint within 35 days from the date DCFS served a copy of its final
administrative decision. In August 2012, the circuit court denied plaintiff’s motion to
reconsider.
¶3 Plaintiff appeals, arguing the circuit court erred by dismissing her complaint.
¶4 We disagree and affirm.
¶5 I. BACKGROUND
¶6 On March 9, 2012, the Director issued a final administrative decision, upholding DCFS’s
decision to remove plaintiff’s grandchildren from her home. DCFS served plaintiff’s attorney
by certified mail with a copy of the decision on March 9, 2012. On April 23, 2012, plaintiff
filed a complaint for administrative review in the circuit court, seeking review of DCFS’s
decision and naming DCFS as the defendant.
¶7 In June 2012, DCFS filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff’s complaint pursuant to sections
2-619(a)(1) and (a)(5) of the Civil Code (735 ILCS 5/2-619(a)(1), (a)(5) (West 2012)),
alleging the circuit court lacked jurisdiction to consider plaintiff’s complaint. Specifically,
DCFS asserted under the Administrative Review Law, plaintiff was required to file her
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complaint in the circuit court and issue summons to DCFS within 35 days from the date she
was served a copy of the final administrative decision. 735 ILCS 5/3-103 (West 2012).
Because plaintiff failed to do so, DCFS argued the circuit court lacked subject-matter
jurisdiction. Plaintiff responded to the motion, asserting she was not sent, nor did she ever
receive, notice of the Director’s decision.
¶8 In July 2012, the circuit court held a hearing on DCFS’s motion. Plaintiff renewed her
argument that she was not sent notice of the Director’s decision. The court explained to
plaintiff that notice had been sent to her attorney, who still represented her at the time the
Director issued his decision. Accordingly, the court dismissed plaintiff’s complaint,
reasoning it was deprived of jurisdiction based on plaintiff’s failure to timely file her
complaint.
¶9 Later that month, plaintiff filed a motion to reconsider, asserting her former attorney
failed to inform her of the Director’s decision and she never received notice about the
decision from DCFS. In August 2012, DCFS filed a response, asserting plaintiff’s motion
failed to present (1) any newly discovered evidence, (2) a change in the law, or (3) any error
in the circuit court’s application of the law. Following a hearing later that month, the circuit
court denied plaintiff’s motion to reconsider, finding DCFS properly served the Director’s
decision on plaintiff’s then-attorney, whose failure to inform plaintiff of the decision did not
form a basis to excuse the Administrative Review Law’s jurisdictional requirement.
¶ 10 This appeal followed.
¶ 11 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 12 On appeal, plaintiff argues the circuit court erred by dismissing her complaint. In its
appellee brief, DCFS asserts the circuit court properly dismissed plaintiff’s complaint for
lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. In her reply brief, plaintiff contends DCFS should have
served notice of its decision on plaintiff rather than serving only plaintiff’s attorney.
¶ 13 A. The Relevant Statutory Provisions
¶ 14 Before addressing the facts of this case, we first outline the relevant statutory provisions.
¶ 15 The Children and Family Services Act (Services Act) expressly adopts the Illinois
Administrative Procedure Act (Procedure Act). 20 ILCS 505/4 (West 2012). The Procedure
Act provides that “[p]arties or their agents appointed to receive service of process” shall be
notified personally or by registered or certified mail of any final decision or order adverse
to a party. 5 ILCS 100/10-50(a) (West 2012). Upon request, a copy of the decision or order
shall be delivered or mailed to the party and the party’s attorney of record. 5 ILCS 100/10-
50(a) (West 2012).
¶ 16 Any parent or guardian affected by a final administrative decision of DCFS may have the
decision reviewed “only under and in accordance with the Administrative Review Law.” 20
ILCS 505/9.9 (West 2012). Accordingly, the provisions of the Administrative Review Law
“shall apply to and govern all proceedings” for judicial review of DCFS’s administrative
decisions. 20 ILCS 505/9.9 (West 2012).
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¶ 17 The Administrative Review Law specifies that an action to review a final administrative
decision is commenced by the filing of a complaint and the issuance of summons within 35
days from the date that a copy of the decision sought to be reviewed was served upon the
party affected by the decision. 735 ILCS 5/3-103 (West 2012). A decision is “deemed to have
been served” when a copy of the decision is deposited in the United States mail with postage
prepaid “to the party affected by the decision at his or her last known residence or place of
business.” 735 ILCS 5/3-103 (West 2012). “Unless review is sought of an administrative
decision” within the time and manner provided in the Administrative Review Law, “the
parties to the proceeding before the administrative agency shall be barred from obtaining
judicial review of such administrative decision.” 735 ILCS 5/3-102 (West 2012).
¶ 18 DCFS also sets forth regulations governing its service appeal process. Those regulations
provide the “Director shall send the final administrative decision to those listed in Section
337.230 of this Part.” 89 Ill. Adm. Code 337.220 (2002). Section 337.230 lists “[t]he
appellant” as a party who receives a copy of the final administrative decision. 89 Ill. Adm.
Code 337.230 (1995). An “appellant” is defined as “the person who requests a service appeal
or on whose behalf a service appeal is requested.” 89 Ill. Adm. Code 337.20 (2012).
¶ 19 B. Whether the Circuit Court Had Jurisdiction
to Consider Plaintiff’s Appeal
¶ 20 Having reviewed the relevant statutory provisions, we now consider whether the circuit
court possessed jurisdiction in this case.
¶ 21 Section 2-619(a)(1) of the Civil Code permits a circuit court to dismiss a complaint if the
court lacks subject-matter jurisdiction. 735 ILCS 5/2-619(a)(1) (West 2010). In addition,
section 2-619(a)(5) of the Civil Code allows the circuit court to dismiss a complaint if the
action is “not commenced within the time limited by law.” 735 ILCS 5/2-619(a)(5) (West
2010). We review de novo a circuit court’s dismissal of a complaint under section 2-619 of
the Civil Code. Morris v. Williams, 359 Ill. App. 3d 383, 386, 834 N.E.2d 622, 626 (2005).
¶ 22 Under the Illinois Constitution, final administrative decisions are appealable only “as
provided by law.” Ill. Const. 1970, art. VI, § 9; Collinsville Community Unit School District
No. 10 v. Regional Board of School Trustees, 218 Ill. 2d 175, 181, 843 N.E.2d 273, 277
(2006). Thus, “a court is said to exercise ‘special statutory jurisdiction’ when it reviews an
administration decision.” Id. at 182, 843 N.E.2d at 277. If the statutorily prescribed
procedures are not strictly followed, no jurisdiction is conferred. Rodriguez v. Sheriff’s Merit
Comm’n, 218 Ill. 2d 342, 350, 843 N.E.2d 379, 383 (2006). Indeed, the Administrative
Review Law expressly provides that “[u]nless review is sought of an administrative decision
within the time and in the manner herein provided, the parties to the proceeding before the
administrative agency shall be barred from obtaining judicial review of such administrative
decision.” 735 ILCS 5/3-102 (West 2012).
¶ 23 Based on the foregoing, the Illinois Supreme Court has concluded the Administrative
Review Law’s 35-day filing requirement is jurisdictional. Fredman Brothers Furniture Co.
v. Department of Revenue, 109 Ill. 2d 202, 211, 486 N.E.2d 893, 896 (1985). Thus, if a
“complaint is not timely filed, no jurisdiction is conferred on the circuit court and judicial
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review of the administrative order is barred.” Collinsville Community Unit School District
No. 10, 218 Ill. 2d at 182, 843 N.E.2d at 278.
¶ 24 Plaintiff does not dispute the Director sent its final decision by certified mail to plaintiff’s
attorney on March 9, 2012. Plaintiff’s jurisdictional argument, as we understand it, is that
DCFS should have also served her with its decision. We disagree.
¶ 25 The Procedure Act requires DCFS to notify “[p]arties or their agents appointed to receive
service of process” of final decisions or orders adverse to a party. 5 ILCS 100/10-50(a) (West
2012). Likewise, DCFS’s regulations require the Director to send final administrative
decisions to the appellant. 89 Ill. Adm. Code 337.230 (1995). “Appellant” is defined as “the
person who requests a service appeal or on whose behalf a service appeal is requested.” 89
Ill. Adm. Code 337.20 (2012). Under both the Procedure Act and DCFS’s regulations,
service on plaintiff’s attorney was proper. As DCFS points out, the Procedure Act states an
agency decision shall be served on both the party and his representative “[u]pon request” (5
ILCS 100/10-50(a) (West 2012)), but the record does not indicate plaintiff ever made such
a request.
¶ 26 We find support for our conclusion in Massoud v. Board of Education of Valley View
Community District No. 365, 97 Ill. App. 3d 65, 422 N.E.2d 236 (1981). There, the Third
District noted the Procedure Act, which governed service of process, permitted notice to be
sent “to the party or to an agent appointed to receive service.” (Emphasis in original.)
Massoud, 97 Ill. App. 3d at 69, 422 N.E.2d at 239. The court reasoned, “[c]ertainly, an
attorney of record before an administrative agency is appointed to receive service for his
client, barring an express statement to the contrary in his entry of appearance.” Massoud, 97
Ill. App. 3d at 69, 422 N.E.2d at 239.
¶ 27 Here, DCFS properly served plaintiff on March 9, 2012, when DCFS sent the Director’s
final decision by certified mail to plaintiff’s attorney. Plaintiff did not file her complaint until
April 23, 2012–45 days after the decision was served. Accordingly, the circuit court lacked
jurisdiction to consider plaintiff’s complaint and properly dismissed it.
¶ 28 Because we conclude the circuit court lacked jurisdiction to consider plaintiff’s
complaint, we need not address plaintiff’s arguments concerning the merits of the Director’s
decision. In addition, we decline to address the remaining contentions in plaintiff’s reply
brief, as she has waived these contentions by failing to include them in her opening brief. See
Ill. S. Ct. R. 341(h)(7) (eff. July 1, 2008) (“Points not argued are waived and shall not be
raised in the reply brief ***.”).
¶ 29 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 30 For the reasons stated, we affirm the circuit court’s judgment.
¶ 31 Affirmed.
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