Pruitt v. Pruitt , 995 N.E.2d 313 ( 2013 )

ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS
Appellate Court
Pruitt v. Pruitt, 2013 IL App (1st) 130032
Appellate Court RUSSELL PRUITT, Petitioner-Appellant, v. STEPHANIE PRUITT and
Caption PATRICK BARRETT, Respondents-Appellees.
District & No. First District, Fifth Division
Docket No. 1-13-0032
Filed August 2, 2013
Held The petition to establish grandparent visitation filed by the maternal
(Note: This syllabus grandfather of respondents’ child was properly dismissed on the ground
constitutes no part of that the grandfather failed to sustain his burden of establishing that
the opinion of the court respondents’ claim that they were living together was unfounded or
but has been prepared required the resolution of an essential element of material fact before it
by the Reporter of could be proven.
Decisions for the
convenience of the
reader.)
Decision Under Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 12-D-8451; the Hon.
Review Carole K. Bellows, Judge, presiding.
Judgment Affirmed.
Counsel on Goldberg Law Group, LLC., of Chicago (Michael K. Goldberg, of
Appeal counsel), for appellant.
Schiffman & Jacobs, P.C., of Highland Park (Reena Schiffman and C.
Corey S. Berman, of counsel), for appellees.
Panel JUSTICE PALMER delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Justices Howse and Taylor concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 Petitioner Russell Pruitt is the maternal grandfather of B.B., a minor child born on
October 5, 2010. On September 5, 2012, Russell filed a petition to establish grandparent
visitation pursuant to section 607(a-3) of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage
Act (750 ILCS 5/607(a-3) (West 2012)), commonly referred to as the grandparent visitation
statute. Respondents Stephanie Pruitt and Patrick Barrett, B.B.’s unmarried parents,
responded with a motion to strike and dismiss the petition pursuant to section 2-619(a)(9)
of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure (the Code) (735 ILCS 5/2-619(a)(9) (West 2012)).
The court granted respondents’ motion to dismiss. Russell appeals the dismissal of his
petition for grandparent visitation. We affirm.
¶2 BACKGROUND
¶3 Russell’s petition alleged, inter alia, that from August 2010 until July 2012, Stephanie
and B.B., upon B.B’s birth, resided in Russell’s household with him, his wife and his minor
children. During this time, Russell and his family provided supervision and care as well as
food, clothing and other support for B.B. and Stephanie. The petition further alleged that no
order of parentage, support or visitation had been entered. The remainder of the petition, in
essence, alleged that, despite Russell’s attempts, he had been unable to negotiate a reasonable
visitation schedule with respondents, to the detriment of B.B.’s mental, physical and
emotional health.1
¶4 Russell’s attempt to serve his petition upon both Stephanie and Patrick through the Cook
1
The rather sparse petition failed to allege that Russell is a grandparent at all, but that fact
was established by affidavit in his response to the motion to strike and dismiss. Further, the fact that
B.B. was born out of wedlock, a fact Russell relied upon along with his allegation that respondents
were not living together, was also missing from the petition. However, while respondents denied the
allegation that they do not live together, they admitted that B.B. was born out of wedlock in their
motion to strike and dismiss the petition.
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County sheriff was unsuccessful. The sheriff’s returns of service show that service was
attempted at 1508 West Euclid Avenue, Arlington Heights, Illinois, on September 7, 2012,
and that neither respondent was served. The officer who completed the returns of service
added the notation, “Peggy Heimann states def. does not live at listed address” to each
return.2
¶5 Subsequently, Russell was able to obtain service on respondents by special process server
and sworn affidavits of service were filed with the court. One affidavit of service showed that
Stephanie was personally served at the Euclid Avenue address on October 2, 2012. The other
affidavit of service showed that Patrick was served by abode service at the same address, as
follows:
“By leaving a copy at his/her usual place of abode with Stephanie Pruitt, a member of the
household of the age of 13 years or upwards and informed that person of the contents
thereof on October 02, 2012, and further mailed a copy of said documents in a sealed
envelope with postage prepaid addressed to the defendant, Patrick Barrett, at his/her
usual place of abode on October 03, 2012.”
¶6 Respondents moved to dismiss the petition for grandparent visitation pursuant to section
2-619(a)(9). The gist of their motion to dismiss was that Russell’s petition failed to satisfy
any of the conditions precedent for allowing a grandparent to file a petition for visitation as
set forth in section 607(a-5)(1) of the grandparent visitation statute (750 ILCS 5/607(a-5)(1)
(West 2012)). Attached to the motion were the sworn affidavits of both respondents stating,
as relevant to this appeal, that B.B. was born out of wedlock and respondents were living
together at the Euclid Avenue address.3
¶7 On November 19, 2012, the trial court entered an order giving Russell an opportunity to
respond to the motion to dismiss. The order further provided that, upon receiving the
response, the court would determine if an evidentiary hearing was necessary.
¶8 On November 21, 2012, Russell filed his response. As pertinent to this appeal, Russell
admitted that B.B. was born out of wedlock but denied that respondents lived together at “the
stated address.” He further alleged, “that the Cook County Sheriff was advised by the owner
that the Respondents did not live at said address *** and that any contact with Respondents
at said address has been after advance notice to them.”
¶9 In the sworn affidavit that accompanied Russell’s response, he stated the following:
“9. I do not know if my daughter is living with Patrick, someone else or somewhere
2
Apparently as a result of mistakes in drafting, one return of service incorrectly listed Russell
as both the defendant and the plaintiff and the other return incorrectly listed Russell as the defendant
and Patrick as the plaintiff. The summons, however, correctly reflected that Stephanie and Patrick
were the respondents that were the subject of the attempted service. We will assume that the sheriff
attempted to serve Stephanie and Patrick.
3
In their affidavits, respondents also swore that they were the biological parents of B.B.,
were alive, had not been declared incompetent and had not been incarcerated in jail or prison during
the three-month period preceding the filing of the petition.
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else, but when I engaged the Cook County Sheriff to serve this petition on Stephanie and
Patrick at the only address I knew ([the Euclid Avenue address]), the sheriff’s deputy was
told they did not reside there.
10. Stephanie was served with this petition outside of the [Euclid Avenue] address
after a special process server located her vehicle.
11. I do not believe that Stephanie and Patrick are living together and caring for
[B.B.] as contemplated in the statute.”
¶ 10 On the same date that Russell filed his response, the trial court entered an order that
indicated that the parties were not present but were represented by counsel and that it had
reviewed the pleadings and found no need for an evidentiary hearing. The order provided that
the motion to dismiss was granted, the court finding that “Russell has no standing pursuant
to 750 ILCS 5/607 et al.”4 The order further provided that respondents were granted 28 days
to file a fee petition. However, the record does not indicate that such a petition was ever filed
in the trial court. No report of proceedings pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 323 (eff.
Dec. 13, 2005) has been filed with this court with respect to the trial court’s November 21,
2012, ruling.
¶ 11 ANALYSIS
¶ 12 On appeal, Russell claims that the trial court erred in granting respondents’ motion to
dismiss pursuant to section 2-619(a)(9) without first holding an evidentiary hearing on the
issue of his standing to pursue grandparent visitation. The grandparent visitation statute
provides that “[g]randparents, great-grandparents, and siblings of a minor child, who is one
year old or older, have standing to bring an action in circuit court by petition, requesting
visitation in accordance with” its provisions. 750 ILCS 5/607(a-3) (West 2012). However,
the statute further provides, in pertinent part:
“any grandparent, great-grandparent, or sibling may file a petition for visitation rights to
a minor child if there is an unreasonable denial of visitation by a parent and at least one
of the following conditions exists:
***
(D) the child is born out of wedlock, the parents are not living together, and the
petitioner is a maternal grandparent, great-grandparent, or sibling of the child born
out of wedlock[.]” 750 ILCS 5/607(a-5)(1)(D) (West 2012).
Russell claims that the pleadings and accompanying exhibits raised a disputed issue of fact
precluding a dismissal under section 2-619(a)(9) and requiring an evidentiary hearing on the
4
While the trial court’s order specified that the dismissal was as a result of lack of standing,
we agree with respondents that the dismissal is more appropriately characterized as a result of the
cause of action being barred for failure to satisfy a statutory condition. Standing is conferred on a
grandparent seeking visitation by section 607(a-3) of the grandparent visitation statute. 750 ILCS
5/607(a-3) (West 2012). We may affirm the lower court on any basis in the record. In re Estate of
Funk, 221 Ill. 2d 30, 86 (2006).
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question of whether respondents were living together.
¶ 13 “The purpose of a section 2-619 motion to dismiss is to dispose of issues of law and
easily proved issues of fact at the outset of litigation.” Van Meter v. Darien Park District,
207 Ill. 2d 359, 367 (2003). Specifically, section 2-619(a)(9) permits involuntary dismissal
where “the claim asserted against defendant is barred by other affirmative matter avoiding
the legal effect of or defeating the claim.” 735 ILCS 5/2-619(a)(9) (West 2012); Van Meter,
207 Ill. 2d at 367. An “affirmative matter” in a section 2-619(a)(9) motion is “something in
the nature of a defense” which, although the moving party admits the legal sufficiency of the
complaint, negates the cause of action completely. (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Van
Meter, 207 Ill. 2d at 367.
¶ 14 For purposes of a section 2-619(a)(9) motion to dismiss, the defendant bears the initial
burden to prove the affirmative matter defeating the plaintiff’s claim. Epstein v. Chicago
Board of Education, 178 Ill. 2d 370, 383 (1997). “The ‘affirmative matter’ asserted by the
defendant must be apparent on the face of the complaint or supported by affidavits or certain
other evidentiary materials.” Epstein, 178 Ill. 2d at 383.
“Once a defendant satisfies this initial burden of going forward on the section 2-619(a)(9)
motion to dismiss, the burden then shifts to the plaintiff, who must establish that the
affirmative defense asserted either is ‘unfounded or requires the resolution of an essential
element of material fact before it is proven.’ ” Epstein, 178 Ill. 2d at 383 (quoting Kedzie
& 103rd Currency Exchange, Inc. v. Hodge, 156 Ill. 2d 112, 116 (1993)).
“The plaintiff may establish this by presenting ‘affidavits or other proof.’ ” Epstein, 178 Ill.
2d at 383 (quoting 735 ILCS 5/2-619(c) (West 1992)). We review a section 2-619 dismissal
de novo. Van Meter, 207 Ill. 2d at 368.
¶ 15 Affidavits in connection with motions under section 2-619 are controlled by Illinois
Supreme Court Rule 191 (Ill. S. Ct. R. 191 (eff. Jan. 4, 2013)). Rule 191(a) provides:
“[A]ffidavits submitted in connection with a motion for involuntary dismissal under
section 2-619 *** shall be made on the personal knowledge of the affiants; shall set forth
with particularity the facts upon which the claim, counterclaim, or defense is based; shall
have attached thereto sworn or certified copies of all documents upon which the affiant
relies; shall not consist of conclusions but of facts admissible in evidence; and shall
affirmatively show that the affiant, if sworn as a witness, can testify competently
thereto.” Ill. S. Ct. R. 191(a) (eff. Jan. 4, 2013).
¶ 16 Respondents’ sworn affidavits averring that they live together provide the necessary
affirmative matter that could defeat Russell’s section 607(a-5)(1)(D) claim for visitation. The
affidavits state facts within the personal knowledge of each respondent and otherwise fully
comport with the requirements of Rule 191. As a result, respondents satisfied their burden
of going forward on the section 2-619 motion to dismiss.
¶ 17 The burden then shifted to Russell to establish that the affirmative matter asserted by
respondents was either unfounded or required the resolution of an essential element of
material fact before it could be proven. Epstein, 178 Ill. 2d at 383. Russell attempts to
prevent dismissal of his claim by relying on his affidavit and the Cook County sheriff’s
returns of service to show that respondents do not live together. These submissions are not
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competent evidence pursuant to Rule 191.
¶ 18 In his affidavit, Russell admitted in paragraph 9 that he did not know whether
respondents were living together. Such an admission, absent any other evidence that
respondents were not living together, would generally end the inquiry. Russell follows this
statement with his contention in paragraph 11 that he does not believe respondents are living
together. A statement of belief is certainly not a statement made on the basis of personal
knowledge but rather is a conclusion that is not competent evidence under Rule 191.
Outboard Marine Corp. v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., 154 Ill. 2d 90, 132 (1992).
¶ 19 Russell also relies on the statement in paragraph 9 of his affidavit that a sheriff’s deputy
was told by Peggy Heimann that respondents did not live at the Euclid Avenue address where
he attempted to serve them as well as on the return of service forms he attached as an exhibit
to his response. Russell’s reliance on this information is misplaced for several reasons.
¶ 20 First, it is hearsay upon hearsay. The returns of service filed by the deputy sheriff are not
sworn to or certified pursuant to section 1-109 of the Code (735 ILCS 5/1-109 (West 2012)).5
They, therefore, cannot stand alone as admissible evidence. Additionally, this is information
that was told to the deputy by someone else and is, therefore, double hearsay. Even if we
were to consider the deputy sheriff as an affiant, Heimann’s statement would not be
admissible through him due to the extra step of hearsay. Absent some exception to the
hearsay rule, hearsay statements obviously do not comport with Rule 191’s requirement that
the witness be competent to testify to the facts averred. A Rule 191 affidavit based on
hearsay is inadmissable and insufficient to warrant relief. State ex rel. Beeler, Schad &
Diamond, P.C. v. Target Corp., 367 Ill. App. 3d 860, 874 (2006); see generally Ill. R. Evid.
801 (eff. Jan. 1, 2011); see also Ill. R. Evid. 805 (eff. Jan. 1, 2011) (“Hearsay included within
hearsay is not excluded under the hearsay rule if each part of the combined statements
conforms with an exception to the hearsay rule provided in these rules.”).
¶ 21 Second, Russell’s reliance on Heimann’s alleged statements to the deputy sheriff is
misplaced as, even if admissible, the statements do not prove what he needs to prove in the
face of respondents’ affidavits. The return of service for Patrick and separate return of service
for Stephanie contain the same statement: “Peggy Heimann states def. does not live at listed
address.” The sheriff was unable to effectuate service at the Euclid Avenue address because
the serving officer was told neither respondent lived there. However, the fact that
respondents do not live there does not mean that they are not living together, which is the fact
that Russell needed to negate.
5
Although the exhibit contains the words “I certify,” it does not in any other way comport
with section 1-109, which provides:
“The person or persons having knowledge of the matters stated in a pleading, affidavit or
other document certified in accordance with this Section shall subscribe to a certification
in substantially the following form: Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to Section
1-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the undersigned certifies that the statements set forth
in this instrument are true and correct, except as to matters therein stated to be on
information and belief and as to such matters the undersigned certifies as aforesaid that he
verily believes the same to be true.” 735 ILCS 5/1-109 (West 2012).
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¶ 22 For the foregoing reasons, Russell’s affidavit and the sheriff’s returns of service are not
competent evidence pursuant to Rule 191. Accordingly, Russell has failed to establish a
contested issue of fact that would have precluded dismissal of his claim and the trial court
correctly granted respondents’ motion to dismiss pursuant to section 2-619(a)(9) without an
evidentiary hearing.
¶ 23 Additionally, we note that Russell is in the unique position of claiming that the
respondents do not live together on Euclid Avenue while simultaneously claiming that they
do. Service by the sheriff on Euclid Avenue was unsuccessful. Russell relies heavily on the
notations on the returns of service reflecting that Heimann stated that respondents do not live
at the Euclid Avenue address. In order to effectuate service, Russell then received permission
to cause an alias summons to issue as to each respondent and to serve the same through a
special process server. An affidavit of service filed with the court shows that personal service
was effectuated on Stephanie at the Euclid Avenue address. A second affidavit of service
filed with the court shows that Patrick was served at the same Euclid Avenue address by
abode service:
“[b]y leaving a copy at his/her usual place of abode with Stephanie Pruitt, a member of
the household of the age of 13 years or upwards and informed that person of the contents
thereof on October 02, 2012, and further mailed a copy of said documents in a sealed
envelope with postage prepaid addressed to the defendant, Patrick Barrett, at his/her
usual place of abode on October 03, 2012.”6
¶ 24 As a result, in order to obtain personal jurisdiction over Patrick, Russell has taken the
position in his own filings that Patrick’s usual place of abode is at the Euclid Avenue address
and that Stephanie is also a member of that household. Russell has, therefore, essentially
admitted that respondents live together, the very fact that he needed to negate.
¶ 25 Respondents have asked this court to assess sanctions pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court
Rule 375 and have sought an award of their reasonable attorney fees. Rule 375 provides that
sanctions may be appropriate where we determine that an appeal “is frivolous, or that an
appeal or other action was not taken in good faith, for an improper purpose, such as to harass
or to cause unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of litigation.” Ill. S. Ct. R.
375(b) (eff. Feb. 1, 1994). In support of respondents’ request, they contend that Russell
offered the trial court no admissible facts to support his contention that they were not living
together, i.e., to support his basis for seeking reasonable visitation, and his appeal was
frivolous. Russell counters that, as he had a reasonable belief that respondents were not
living together, he had a good-faith argument that he had a right to an evidentiary hearing on
6
Section 2-203(a) of the Code provides in relevant part:
“Except as otherwise expressly provided, service of summons upon an individual defendant
shall be made (1) by leaving a copy of the summons with the defendant personally, (2) by
leaving a copy at the defendant’s usual place of abode, with some person of the family or
a person residing there, of the age of 13 years or upwards, and informing that person of the
contents of the summons, provided the officer or other person making service shall also send
a copy of the summons in a sealed envelope with postage fully prepaid, addressed to the
defendant at his or her usual place of abode ***.” 735 ILCS 5/2-203(a) (West 2012).
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the issue. He further posits that there is no evidence that his appeal was intended to delay,
harass or cause needless expense.
¶ 26 We note that respondents were given leave to file a fee petition in the trial court and
could have done so pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 137. They did not do so.7 While
we ultimately do not agree with Russell’s positions on appeal, taking into consideration all
the facts and circumstances of the case, we do not find that Russell’s appeal was frivolous
or taken in bad faith, or that it was taken for the purposes of harassment or to cause needless
expense. Accordingly, respondents’ request for sanctions pursuant to Rule 375 is denied.
¶ 27 Conclusion
¶ 28 For the reasons stated above, we affirm the decision of the trial court.
¶ 29 Affirmed.
7
Rule 137 provides:
“The signature of an attorney or party constitutes a certificate by him that he has
read the pleading, motion or other [paper]; that to the best of his knowledge, information,
and belief formed after reasonable inquiry it is well grounded in fact and is warranted by
existing law or a good-faith argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing
law, and that it is not interposed for any improper purpose, such as to harass or to cause
unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of litigation. *** If a pleading, motion,
or other paper is signed in violation of this rule, the court, upon motion or upon its own
initiative, may impose upon the person who signed it, a represented party, or both, an
appropriate sanction, which may include an order to pay to the other party or parties the
amount of reasonable expenses incurred because of the filing of the pleading, motion or
other [paper], including a reasonable attorney fee.” Ill. S. Ct. R. 137 (eff. Feb. 1, 1994).
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