Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, NA v. Envirobusiness, Inc. , 22 N.E.3d 125 ( 2014 )

2014 IL App (1st) 133575
No. 1-13-3575
THIRD DIVISION
November 5, 2014
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT
WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NA, ) Appeal from the
as Trustee for the Registered Holders of J.P. Morgan ) Circuit Court of
Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corp., ) Cook County.
Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series )
2002-C3, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. )
)
ENVIROBUSINESS, INC., a Massachusetts Corp., d/b/a )
EBI Consulting, formerly d/b/a EBI Consultants, )
)
Defendant. )
_______________________________________________ ) Nos. 2004 L 10701 & 2004
WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NA, ) CH 3099 (Cons.)
)
Plaintiff-Appellee, )
)
v. )
)
CRAIG J. WALKER, )
)
Defendant-Appellant )
) The Honorable
(CIBC, Inc., Defendant-Appellee; 318 West Adams, LLC, ) Alexander P. White
and Steven Byers, Defendants). ) Judge, presiding.
No. 1-13-3575
JUSTICE LAVIN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Presiding Justice Pucinski and Justice Mason concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 This interlocutory appeal arises from supplemental proceedings filed by Wells Fargo
Bank Minnesota, N.A. (Wells Fargo), to enforce a monetary judgment against Craig Walker. In
those proceedings, commenced pursuant to section 2-1402 of the Code of Civil Procedure (the
Code) (735 ILCS 5/2-1402 (West 2012)), the circuit court ordered Walker to turn over certain
stock to Wells Fargo. On appeal, Walker asserts that the circuit court erred by ordering him to
turn over stock in non-Illinois corporations and by denying his request to stay the enforcement of
the turnover order. We affirm.
¶2 I. BACKGROUND
¶ 3 As a threshold matter, we note that the parties have entered into a stipulation to limit the
record on appeal, likely due to the cumbersome nature of the proceedings below. Such
stipulations are permitted by Illinois Supreme Court Rule 321(a) (eff. Feb. 1, 1994).
Nonetheless, it remains the appellant's burden to present a sufficiently complete record. Fleming
v. Moswin, 2012 IL App (1st) 103475-B, ¶ 113. The limited record before us does not contain
the original complaint or the subsequently filed pleadings that led to the underlying judgment.
Similarly, the parties' briefs improperly present facts without citation to the record. Ill. S. Ct. R.
341(h)(6), (i) (eff. Feb. 6, 2013). Thus, we are unable to say with certainty what claims were
filed against any given party or even verify the accuracy of the caption on appeal. We further
note that the record does not contain a report of proceedings. See Ill. S. Ct. R. 323 (eff. Dec. 13,
2005). While the record on appeal is sufficient to review most of the issues raised, we remind
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litigants that stipulating to a limited record pursuant to Rule 321 does not excuse them from
supporting facts with citations to the record, as required by Rule 341, and that reviewing courts
must be able to accurately comprehend the procedural context in which an appeal arises. See In
re Estate of Lundahl, 332 Ill. App. 3d 646, 649 (2002).
¶4 It appears that on December 5, 2002, CIBC, Inc. (CIBC), issued an $11 million
commercial mortgage loan to 318 West Adams, LLC (the borrower), secured by the borrower's
office building (the property). Walker was a principal on the loan, which was eventually sold to
J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corporation (J.P. Morgan) and placed in an
investment trust. In addition, Wells Fargo, as trustee, subsequently foreclosed on the property.
Wells Fargo then purchased the property and sold it to a third party in July 2005.
¶5 Wells Fargo apparently filed a complaint against CIBC and Walker, as well as other
parties not before us, after discovering that certain misrepresentations were made with respect to
the loan and the property. Pertinent to this appeal, it appears that the circuit court entered
judgment in favor of Wells Fargo and against Walker for approximately $18 million. The court
also apparently entered judgment in favor of CIBC and against Walker for approximately $5
million. Walker then filed related appeals from that judgment (Nos. 1-13-2714, 1-13-2745, 1-
13-2746 and 1-13-2763 (consolidated)). Walker did not, however, obtain a stay of the monetary
judgment against him. Accordingly, on August 28, 2013, Wells Fargo pursued enforcement of
that judgment by starting supplementary proceedings against Walker under section 2-1402 of the
Code.
¶6 During those proceedings, Wells Fargo filed an amended motion for an order requiring
Walker to turn over for sale his stock in 12 Colorado corporations. Wells Fargo alleged that with
two exceptions, Walker owned 100% of each company. In addition, Wells Fargo asked that the
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No. 1-13-3575
court order Walker to turn over the stock to a business broker who could value and sell it. Wells
Fargo suggested that if the parties could not agree on a broker, the court could select one. We
further note that Wells Fargo also filed two collection proceedings against Walker in Colorado
(case No. 2013-CV-30582; case No. 2013-CV-30490). Moreover, CIBC filed a "cross-motion
for turnover order" in light of CIBC's judgment against Walker. CIBC asked that it be permitted
to participate in the stock's valuation and sale.
¶7 In response, Walker argued that his stock held in Colorado corporations was exempt from
turnover. Walker, relying on subsection 2-1402(j) of the Code (735 ILCS 5/2-1402(j) (West
2012)), argued that the circuit court lacked power to compel the delivery of property that was
statutorily exempt from levy. Additionally, case law interpreting statutes found in article XII of
the Code (see 735 ILCS 5/12-170 et seq. (West 2012)) had found non-Illinois stock to be
property statutorily exempt from levy. Alternatively, Walker requested that the court permit him
to deposit stock into the court's registry pending Walker's appeal from the judgment against him.
¶8 In reply, Wells Fargo argued that only three statutory exemptions from turnover existed:
the homestead exemption (735 ILCS 5/12-901 et seq. (West 2012)), exemptions for certain
personal property (735 ILCS 5/12-1001 (West 2012)), and the retirement plan exemption (735
ILCS 5/12-1006 (West 2012)). Accordingly, in its view, foreign stock was not exempt from
turnover. Wells Fargo further argued that article XII of the Code was irrelevant because Wells
Fargo had not sought an order of levy.
¶9 On November 18, 2013, the circuit court entered a written order requiring Walker to turn
over his stock for sale. Specifically, the court ordered Walker to deliver the stock to Wells
Fargo's attorney, "to be held by him in escrow" pending further order. The court also ordered the
parties to attempt to agree upon a broker to sell the stock. If the parties failed to agree, however,
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the court could appoint a broker. In addition, the court granted CIBC's motion for turnover and
permitted CIBC to participate in the valuation and sale process. Furthermore, the court denied
Walker's request to place the stock in the court's registry. Walker now appeals. 1
¶ 10 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 11 A. Turnover of Non-Illinois Stock
¶ 12 On appeal, Walker once again asserts that because stocks in non-Illinois corporations are
exempt from levy, they are also exempt from turnover in supplemental proceedings under section
2-1402.
¶ 13 A citation to discover assets, also known as a supplementary proceeding, is the
predominant procedure for enforcing judgments. Robert G. Markoff, Jeffrey A. Albert, Steven
A. Markoff & Christopher J. McGeehan, Citations to Discover Assets, in Creditors' Rights in
Illinois § 2.42 (Ill. Inst. for Cont. Legal Educ. 2014) (citing 735 ILCS 5/2-1402(c)). That
procedure, found in section 2-1402 of the Code, provides judgment creditors with a mechanism
to initiate supplementary proceedings against a judgment debtor or third party in order to
discover the judgment debtor's assets and apply them to satisfy the underlying judgment. Eclipse
Manufacturing Co. v. United States Compliance Co., 381 Ill. App. 3d 127, 133 (2007). To that
end, this statute provides a circuit court with broad powers to compel parties to satisfy a
judgment with discovered assets. Stonecrafters, Inc. v. Wholesale Life Insurance Brokerage,
Inc., 393 Ill. App. 3d 951, 958 (2009). Actions that a creditor may accomplish by another type
of enforcement may be accomplished in supplemental proceedings, as a citation to discover
assets has features of a creditor's bill, execution, garnishment, levy and sale. Robert G. Markoff,
Jeffrey A. Albert, Steven A. Markoff & Christopher J. McGeehan, Citation to Discover Assets,
1
CIBC has adopted Wells Fargo's brief on appeal.
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No. 1-13-3575
in Creditors' Rights in Illinois § 2.42 (Ill. Inst. for Cont. Legal Educ. 2014). Additionally,
supplemental proceedings are intended to be expeditious and efficient. In re FBN Food
Services, Inc., 158 B.R. 756, 761 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. 1993). The debtor bears the burden of
demonstrating that property is exempt from being applied to satisfy a judgment. See In re
Marriage of Takata, 383 Ill. App. 3d 782, 788 (2008).
¶ 14 Section 2-1402 states, in pertinent part, as follows:
"(c) When assets or income of the judgment debtor not exempt from the
satisfaction of a judgment, a deduction order or garnishment are discovered, the court
may, by appropriate order or judgment:
(1) Compel the judgment debtor to deliver up, to be applied in satisfaction
of the judgment, in whole or in part, money, choses in action, property or effects
in his or her possession or control, so discovered, capable of delivery and to
which his or her title or right of possession is not substantially disputed.
***
(j) This Section does not grant the power to any court to order installment or
other payments from, or compel the sale, delivery, surrender, assignment or conveyance
of any property exempt by statute from the enforcement of a judgment thereon, a
deduction order, garnishment, attachment, sequestration, process or other levy or
seizure." 735 ILCS 5/2-1402 (West 2012).
¶ 15 Wells Fargo, relying on Gonzalez v. Profile Sanding Equipment, Inc., 333 Ill. App. 3d
680, 692-93 (2002), contends that we must review the circuit court's decision for an abuse of
discretion because section 2-1402(c) provides that the court may order property to be turned
over, which generally conveys discretion. With that said, Wells Fargo puts the proverbial cart
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No. 1-13-3575
before the horse. Section 2-1402(c) does not give the circuit court discretion to order the
turnover of exempt property. Accordingly, Walker's contention that non-Illinois stock is
statutorily exempt from turnover presents a legal question, which we review de novo. Goldfine
v. Barack, Ferrazzano, Kirschbaum & Perlman, 2014 IL 116362, ¶ 20.
¶ 16 Our primary objective in construing a statute is to ascertain and give effect to the
legislature's intent. Goldfine, 2014 IL 116362, ¶ 21. The most reliable indicator of such intent is
a statute's plain language. Id. As a result, we cannot add limitations, exceptions, or conditions
under the guise of statutory construction. In re the Minor Child Stella, 353 Ill. App. 3d 415, 421
(2004). In addition, reviewing courts must consider all provisions of a statutory enactment as a
whole. Bank of America, N.A. v. Adeyiga, 2014 IL App (1st) 131252, ¶ 98. When a statute's
language is clear and unambiguous, it must be applied without considering other aids of
construction. Commonwealth Edison Co. v. Illinois Commerce Comm'n, 2014 IL App (1st)
132011, ¶ 19. Where a statute is ambiguous, however, we may look to other sources to
determine the legislature's intent. Bank of America, N.A., 2014 IL App (1st) 131252, ¶ 98. A
statute is ambiguous where well informed persons could reasonably understand the statute in
more than one manner. Commonwealth Edison Co., 2014 IL App (1st) 132011, ¶ 21.
Moreover, section 2-1402 must be liberally construed. Stonecrafters, Inc., 393 Ill. App. 3d at
958. With these principles in mind, we must determine whether foreign stock is exempt from
turnover.
¶ 17 Wells Fargo asserts that the only types of property exempt from satisfying a judgment
pursuant to section 2-1402 are the homestead exemption, exemptions for certain enumerated
items of personal property, and the retirement plan exemption, found, respectively, in sections
12-901, 12-1001 and 12-1006 of the Code (735 ILCS 5/12-901, 12-1001, 12-1006 (West 2012)).
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Wells Fargo, however, cites no legal authority in support of its interpretation of section 2-1402.
See Ill. S. Ct. R. 341(h)(7) (eff. Feb. 6, 2013) (requiring that argument contain citations to
authority). In addition, the statute's plain language does not include the suggested limitation.
Furthermore, while not pertinent to our appeal, subsection 2-1402(b) suggests a different
interpretation. That provision, which contains the requisite citation notice form, enumerates both
Illinois and federal exemptions and concludes, "The judgment debtor may have other possible
exemptions under the law." 735 ILCS 5/2-1402(b) (West 2012). This demonstrates that the
legislature did not contemplate a finite list of exemptions. See also Robert G. Markoff, Jeffrey
A. Albert, Steven A. Markoff & Christopher J. McGeehan, Instructions for Respondents
Answering Citation to Discover Assets, in Creditors' Rights in Illinois § 2.63 (Ill. Inst. for Cont.
Legal Educ. 2014) (Exempt assets include receipts from pension and profit-sharing plans, social
security payments, exempt portions of wages and disability payments.).
¶ 18 More importantly, Wells Fargo fails to acknowledge section 2-1402(j), the very
subsection Walker claims provides him with an exemption from turnover. Despite the broad
power granted to the court in supplemental proceedings, the plain language of subsection 2-
1402(j) provides that an asset which is exempt from levy is also exempt from delivery and sale,
i.e. turnover. 735 ILCS 5/2-1402(j) (West 2012); see also Cochennour v. Lofton, 62 Ill. App. 3d
955, 956 (1978) (finding under the prior version of that subsection that the supplemental
proceedings provision does not authorize the court to order payments to be made from property
that is statutorily exempt from attachment); Collosseo v. Lynn, 88 Ill. App. 3d 344, 346-47
(1980) (because bail bonds were exempt from garnishment, they were not subject to
supplemental proceedings). While Wells Fargo argues that the two types of enforcement actions
are meaningfully distinguishable, the legislature apparently found otherwise. As a result, we
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reject Wells Fargo's contention that it is irrelevant whether Walker's stock is statutorily exempt
from levy.
¶ 19 Notwithstanding our rejection of Wells Fargo's position, we find section 2-1402(j) to be
ambiguous with regard to whether "property exempt by statute" from levy refers to types of
property that statutes expressly and categorically make exempt or, whether such language
includes property that cannot be levied upon by a creditor in certain circumstances due to a
statute. Both interpretations find support. The former interpretation furthers section 2-1402's
objective of making supplemental proceedings expeditious and efficient. In re FBN Food
Services, Inc., 158 B.R. at 761. On the other hand, "exempt property" generally means "[a]
debtor's holdings and possessions that, by law, a creditor cannot attach to satisfy a debt." Black's
Law Dictionary (9th ed. 2009). Arguably, property may be statutorily exempt from levy where a
statute makes it impossible for a creditor to levy upon it in particular circumstances. The parties
have not addressed this ambiguity. In any event, we need not resolve the ambiguity in this
appeal. Even under the latter interpretation of section 2-1402(j), which is more favorable to
Walker, he has not demonstrated that his stock was statutorily exempt from levy.
¶ 20 Walker contends that non-Illinois stock is exempt from levy under article XII of the Code
(735 ILCS 5/12-170 et seq. (West 2012)). Cf. Dowling v. Chicago Options Associates, Inc., 365
Ill. App. 3d 341, 345, 354 (2006) (the debtor conceded that his stock was subject to collection).
Wells Fargo agrees. The parties fail to address, however, the conflict between article XII of the
Code and revised article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) (810 ILCS 5/8-101 et seq.
(West 2012)), both of which purport to govern levy on stock. We first examine the former
statutory scheme.
¶ 21 1. Article XII of the Code
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No. 1-13-3575
¶ 22 Section 12-170, found in article XII, states that "[t]he share or interest of a stockholder in
any corporation may be levied upon in the enforcement of a judgment, and sold as hereinafter
provided." 735 ILCS 5/12-170 (West 2012). In addition, section 12-171, titled "Mode of levy
on corporate stock," states as follows:
"If the property has not been attached in the same action, the officer shall leave a copy of
the judgment with the clerk, treasurer or cashier of the company, if there is such officer,
otherwise with any officer or person having the custody of the books and papers of the
corporation; and the property shall be considered as seized in the enforcement of the
judgment when the copy is so left, and shall be sold in like manner as goods and
chattels." 735 ILCS 5/12-171 (West 2012).
Section 12-173, titled "Certificate of corporate officer," also states, in pertinent part, that "[t]he
officer of the company who keeps a record or account of the shares or interest of the
stockholders therein, shall, upon the exhibiting to him or her of the certified copy of the
judgment, be bound to give a certificate of the number of shares or amount of the interest held by
the judgment debtor." 735 ILCS 5/12-173 (West 2012). These provisions do not expressly state
that non-Illinois stock is exempt, immediately placing doubt on Walker's contentions that such
property is statutorily exempt.
¶ 23 Walker nonetheless contends that the effect of those provisions is to render out-of-state
stock statutorily exempt from levy, relying on Reid Ice Cream Co. v. Stephens, 62 Ill. App. 334
(1895). In Reid, the appellate court held, "[t]he attempted levy upon and sale of the stock of this
corporation, organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, was nugatory.
Shares of stock can be attached only in the State creating the corporation." Id. at 339. In
reaching this conclusion, the reviewing court apparently agreed with the stockholder's reliance
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on section 53 of "An Act in regard to judgments and decrees ***" (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1893, ch. 77,
¶ 53), which was substantially similar to the present section 12-171, and section 55 (Ill. Rev.
Stat. 1893, ch. 77, ¶ 55), which was substantially similar to the present section 12-173. Reid Ice
Cream Co., 62 Ill. App. at 338. The stockholder had apparently argued that because section 53
required an officer to leave a copy of the judgment with the person who had the corporation's
books and papers, an Illinois constable could not levy upon the stock of a foreign corporation
that maintained its records and papers outside of Illinois. Id. Accordingly, the reviewing court
agreed with the shareholder's contention that the attempted levy and sale of a New York
corporation's stock by leaving a copy of the judgment with the corporation's Chicago manager,
who did not have custody over the corporation's books and papers, was invalid. Id. at 338-39.
Furthermore, no officer of the corporation had provided a certificate reflecting the judgment
debtor's number of shares, as required by section 55. Id. We note that Reid corresponds with the
historical principle that the situs of stock is the state under whose laws the corporation was
incorporated and that certificates were merely evidence of ownership. Martin v. Central Trust
Co. of Illinois, 327 Ill. 622, 634-35 (1927).
¶ 24 The Reid decision is not binding authority. Clark v. Children's Memorial Hospital, 2011
IL 108656, ¶ 37 (appellate court decisions before 1935 are not binding). With that said, the
decision in that case still accurately reflects the present version of article XII. See also 3 Ill. L.
and Prac. Attachments § 5 (2014) ("shares of stock of a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of another state cannot be attached in Illinois"). The Reid decision does not, however,
comport with the UCC.
¶ 25 2. The UCC
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No. 1-13-3575
¶ 26 The predecessor to the UCC was the Uniform Stock Transfer Act (Transfer Act) (Ill. Rev.
Stat. 1957, ch. 23, ¶ 416 et seq.). In re Estate of Jorgensen, 70 Ill. App. 2d 398, 403 (1966). The
Transfer Act provided that " 'no attachment or levy upon shares of stock for which a certificate is
outstanding shall be valid until such certificate be actually seized by the officer making the
attachment or levy, or be surrendered to the corporation which issued it, or its transfer by the
holder to be enjoined.' " Trade Bond & Mortgage Co. v. Schwartz, 303 Ill. App. 165, 168 (1940)
(quoting 1917 Ill. Laws 316). Thus, in contrast to article XII, the Transfer Act generally required
attachment to take place where the certificate was located. See 11 William Meade Fletcher,
Cyclopedia of the Law of Corporations § 5103 (rev. ed. 1995). After the Transfer Act was
superseded by the UCC, the same held true. See Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 26, ¶ 8-317; see also 11
William Meade Fletcher, Cyclopedia of the Law of Corporations § 5101 (rev. ed. 1995) ("After
states enacted the Uniform Stock Transfer Act, and later Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial
Code, courts tended to view the situs of shares as the place where the share certificates were
located."). Effective in 1988, however, the UCC began to distinguish between certificated and
uncertificated securities. See Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 26, ¶ 8-317. While certificated securities
were generally levied on by an officer's seizure of the security, uncertificated securities were
generally levied on by legal process at the issuer's executive office. See Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch.
26, ¶ 8-317.
¶ 27 Illinois ultimately adopted revised article 8 of the UCC, which now governs investment
securities, including shares in closely held corporations. See 810 ILCS Ann. 5/8-103, Uniform
Commercial Code Comment 2 (Smith-Hurd 2004). The purpose of that article is “to facilitate
the negotiability of investment securities.” In re Wallace A. Erickson & Co., 44 B.R. 163, 166
(Bankr. N.D. Ill. 1984). In addition, "[t]he local law of the issuer's jurisdiction *** governs ***
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whether an adverse claim can be asserted against a person to whom transfer of a certificated or
uncertificated security is registered or a person who obtains control of an uncertificated
security." 810 ILCS 5/8-110 (West 2012). Furthermore, an issuer's jurisdiction is "the
jurisdiction under which the issuer of the security is organized or, if permitted by the law of that
jurisdiction, the law of another jurisdiction specified by the issuer." 810 ILCS 5/8-110(d) (West
2012).
¶ 28 Regardless of whether Illinois or Colorado law controls our inquiry, both jurisdictions
follow the same relevant UCC provisions. Like article XII of the Code, the "Creditor's legal
process" provision of the UCC, a provision which neither party cites, governs the levy of stock.
Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 4-8-112 (West 2012); 810 ILCS 5/8-112 (West 2012). That section
provides, in pertinent, part, as follows:
"(a) The interest of a debtor in a certificated security may be reached by a creditor
only by actual seizure of the security certificate by the officer making the attachment or
levy, except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) of this section. However, a
certificated security for which the certificate has been surrendered to the issuer may be
reached by a creditor by legal process upon the issuer.
(b) The interest of a debtor in an uncertificated security may be reached by a
creditor only by legal process upon the issuer at its chief executive office in the United
States, except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) of this section." Colo. Rev. Stat.
Ann. § 4-8-112 (West 2012).
See also 810 ILCS 5/8-112 (West 2012).
Thus, the UCC retained the distinction between certificated and uncertificated securities.
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¶ 29 As to the former, the officer must seize from the debtor the actual security certificate,
unless the certificate has been surrendered. It follows that a debtor's certificated stock in a
Colorado corporation may be levied upon by an Illinois officer if the certificate is located within
the State. See 11 William Meade Fletcher, Cyclopedia of the Law of Corporations § 5106 (rev.
ed. 1995) ("Although the [UCC] in effect governs the situs of shares of stock for purposes of
attachment or levy, it is perhaps more accurate to say that the Code identifies the jurisdiction that
has authority over the shares."). This is in stark contrast to section 12-171 of the Code, which
requires the sheriff, in all instances, to leave the judgment with the corporation's appropriate
officer in order for levy to occur. See 735 ILCS 5/12-171 (West 2012). We further note that,
unlike section 12-173 of the Code, the UCC does not require the corporation's officer to deliver
to the sheriff a certificate of the number of shares held by the debtor. See 4A Timothy J. Storm,
Illinois Practice § 6:67, cmt. 1 (2014) (observing that section 12-173 of the Code conflicts with
the UUC and "is virtually impossible for a corporate officer to comply with if the securities are
held for the judgment debtor's benefit by a securities intermediary"). 2
¶ 30 Accordingly, at a minimum, article XII of the Code and revised article 8 of the UCC
conflict regarding levy on certificated securities. See 4A Timothy J. Storm, Illinois Practice
§ 6:65, cmts. 2 through 3 (2014). When the plain language of two statutes is conflicting, courts
will attempt to construe them together if such a construction is reasonable. Abruzzo v. City of
Park Ridge, 231 Ill. 2d 324, 332 (2008). With that said, legislative intent remains paramount.
Id. To that end, the more specific statute controls over the general statute, and the more recently
enacted statute prevails over the older statute. Department of Central Management Services v.
2
Our research indicates that the original authors of this resource were Jerold S. Solovy, Robert L.
Byman, Howard S. Suskin, Barry Levenstam, & Vincent E. Lazar.
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No. 1-13-3575
American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME), 298 Ill. App. 3d 640,
645-46 (1998).
¶ 31 Here, the parties have presented no reasonable construction that would permit us to
construe these statutes together. In addition, neither one is more specific than the other. The
UCC's provisions, however, were clearly enacted more recently than the nineteenth century
provisions still found in article XII of the Code. Accordingly, the UCC prevails and the
appellate court's pre-UCC decision in Reid has no persuasive value.
¶ 32 We also reject Walker's reliance on the Florida decision of Sargeant v. Al-Saleh, 137 So.
3d 432 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2014), a decision that is neither binding nor persuasive. Independent
Trust Corp. v. Kansas Bankers Surety Co., 2011 IL App (1st) 093294, ¶ 24. Not only is
Sargeant distinguishable, as it dealt with stock certificates located in foreign countries (Sargeant,
137 So. 3d at 433-34), but that case did not involve Florida's enactment of the UCC's "Creditor's
legal process" provision. See Fla. Stat. Ann. § 678.1121 (West 2012). In addition, while Walker
contends that all claims against an asset should be decided in a single forum, the legislature
apparently considered that policy when it enacted section 2-1402(g) of the Code. That section
states that where another individual claims an interest in property discovered in the citation, the
court shall permit or require the claimant to appear and maintain his right. See 735 ILCS 5/2-
1402(g) (West 2012); see also Robert G. Markoff, Jeffrey A. Albert, Steven A. Markoff &
Christopher J. McGeehan, Orders in Citation Proceedings, in Creditors' Rights in Illinois § 2.54
(Ill. Inst. for Cont. Legal Educ. 2014) (a creditor must ascertain whether third parties have a
claim to an asset discovered in a citation proceeding). To the extent Walker believes that
existing statutes do not alleviate his policy concerns, Walker presents a matter for the legislature.
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¶ 33 Similarly, we encourage the legislature to revisit the redundant provisions purporting to
govern levy upon stock. It goes without saying that securities frequently constitute a debtor's
most significant asset and are vital to a judgment creditor's ability to obtain redress. Extraneous
legislation unnecessarily complicates what should be an efficient and expeditious process.
¶ 34 3. Walker's Stock
¶ 35 Having determined as a legal matter that foreign stocks are not categorically exempt from
levy and turnover, we also find that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion by requiring
Walker to turn over his stock in this particular instance. As stated, Walker had the burden of
demonstrating that his stock was exempt from levy and, thus, was exempt from turnover under
section 2-1402. If Walker's stock is held in certificated securities located in Illinois, no
impediment exists to their seizure. Walker has held steadfast to the Reid decision in this case,
however, and has made no record of whether his securities were certificated or uncertificated, or
where they are located. Accordingly, Walker did not satisfy his burden of demonstrating that his
particular stocks were exempt from satisfying the judgment in this instance.
¶ 36 B. Sale of Property
¶ 37 Next, Walker asserts the circuit court improperly ordered his stock to be delivered to
opposing counsel, rather than the sheriff, relying solely on Dowling. There, the reviewing court
held that under the language of the 2002 version of section 2-1402(e) (735 ILCS 5/2-1402(e)
(West 2002)), property must be delivered to the sheriff for sale. Dowling, 365 Ill. App. 3d at
354-55. Accordingly, the circuit court in that case erred in disposing of the debtor's property by
ordering him to deliver his ownership interest in the property directly to his creditor. Id.
¶ 38 Here, however, the court did not expressly order Walker to convey his ownership interest
to Wells Fargo. Instead, Wells Fargo's counsel was ordered to hold the stock until a broker could
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be appointed to sell it. In addition, Wells Fargo concedes on appeal that Walker remains the
owner of his stock until that broker sells it. Furthermore, following Dowling, subsection 2-
1402(e) was amended to allow the court to appoint individuals other than the sheriff to sell
nonexempt property of the debtor. Robert G. Markoff, Jeffrey A. Albert, Steven A. Markoff &
Christopher J. McGeehan, Turnover to Sheriff or Court-Appointed Sales Agent, in Creditors'
Rights in Illinois § 2.56 (Ill. Inst. for Cont. Legal Educ. 2014) (citing Pub. Act 95-661 (eff. Jan.
1, 2008)). Subsection 2-1401(e) states as follows:
"All property ordered to be delivered up shall, except as otherwise provided in this
Section, be delivered to the sheriff to be collected by the sheriff or sold at public sale and
the proceeds thereof applied towards the payment of costs and the satisfaction of the
judgment. If the judgment debtor's property is of such a nature that it is not readily
delivered up to the sheriff for public sale or if another method of sale is more appropriate
to liquidate the property or enhance its value at sale, the court may order the sale of such
property by the debtor, third party respondent, or by a selling agent other than the sheriff
upon such terms as are just and equitable. The proceeds of sale, after deducting
reasonable and necessary expenses, are to be turned over to the creditor and applied to the
balance due on the judgment." (Emphasis added.) 735 ILCS 5/2-1402(e) (West 2012).
Accordingly, this statute authorizes the court to appoint an agent, in lieu of the sheriff, to sell the
debtor's property. Although Walker argues the court did not expressly find that sale by an agent
was more appropriate, the statute contains no such requirement. In any event, the court
implicitly made that finding. We find no error.
¶ 39 C. The Circuit Court's "Escrow" Order
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¶ 40 Walker also asserts that the circuit court improperly ordered Wells Fargo's counsel to
retain Walker's stock as an escrow agent. An escrow agent has a fiduciary duty to the party
making the deposit and the party for whose benefit the deposit is made. Fantino v. Lenders Title
& Guaranty Co., 303 Ill. App. 3d 204, 208 (1999). As a result, an escrow agent must act
impartially toward all of the parties. Patel v. Lacey, 203 Ill. App. 3d 1048, 1051 (1990).
Walker contends that Wells Fargo's counsel cannot act as both an advocate for Wells Fargo and
an impartial escrowee. Walker's position rests, however, on the premise that section 2-1402
requires the stock to be placed in escrow or that the court intended that the stock be placed in
escrow within the technical meaning of the term.
¶ 41 Section 2-1402 does not require the circuit court to appoint an escrow agent. See 735
ILCS 5/2-1402 (West 2012). Instead, that statute grants the court broad powers to see that the
judgment is satisfied. Stonecrafters, Inc., 393 Ill. App. 3d at 958. In addition, the court intended
that counsel hold the stock only until an appropriate broker could be appointed to sell it.
Accordingly, this was merely an interim step toward finding a neutral broker. Furthermore, the
court clearly knew that Wells Fargo's counsel was not a neutral individual, undermining Walker's
belief that the court meant counsel to be an escrow agent in the technical sense. With that said,
Walker is protected by the potential contempt proceedings Wells Fargo's attorney would face if
he acted outside the scope of the court's order. While the court's use of the word "escrow" was
seemingly inaccurate, Walker has not shown that the court's order overstepped the broad
authority granted by section 2-1402.
¶ 42 To the extent Walker contends the turnover order was vague, the circuit court clearly
anticipated in its interlocutory order that details regarding the stock brokerage were yet to be
determined. In addition, Walker has cited no authority in support of his position that the order
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was impermissibly vague. Accordingly, he has forfeited this contention. See Lake County
Grading Co., LLC v. Village of Antioch, 2014 IL 115805, ¶ 36.
¶ 43 D. Denial of Stay
¶ 44 Finally, Walker contends the circuit court erred by denying his motion to stay the
turnover order on the condition that he deposit his stock into the court registry. Walker correctly
asserts that we review the denial of a stay for an abuse of discretion. In re Estate of Michalak,
404 Ill. App. 3d 75, 99 (2010). Absent a report of proceedings, however, the record in this case
does not show how the court exercised its discretion. The circuit court's written order does not
include the court's reasoning. In the absence of a sufficient record, we must presume the circuit
court's order was sound. In re Marriage of Iqbal, 2014 IL App (2d) 131306, ¶ 51.
¶ 45 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 46 We conclude that pursuant to the UCC, stock in non-Illinois corporations is not as a rule
exempt from levy or, in turn, from turnover under section 2-1402. In addition, Walker did not
demonstrate that his stock was exempt in this instance. Furthermore, the record before us reveals
no error with respect to the court's chosen method for turnover. Accordingly, we affirm.
¶ 47 Affirmed.
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