{ "id": 223617, "name": "WENDELL WRIGHT et al., Appellees, v. THE CITY OF DANVILLE, Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "Wright v. City of Danville", "decision_date": "1996-12-19", "docket_number": "No. 78181", "first_page": "391", "last_page": "409", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "174 Ill. 2d 391" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill.", "id": 8772, "name": "Illinois Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "267 Ill. App. 3d 375", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 333163 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/267/0375-01" ] }, { "cite": "845 F.2d 715", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 10546697 ], "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "723" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/845/0715-01" ] }, { "cite": "193 Ill. App. 3d 280", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2496959 ], "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/193/0280-01" ] }, { "cite": "141 Ill. 2d 180", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3238693 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "198" }, { "page": "196" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/141/0180-01" ] }, { "cite": "977 F.2d 339", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 10514215 ], "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "343-44" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/977/0339-01" ] }, { "cite": "143 Ill. 2d 458", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5591400 ], "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "475" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/143/0458-01" ] }, { "cite": "159 Ill. 2d 469", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 781334 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "488" }, { "page": "494" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/159/0469-01" ] }, { "cite": "123 Ill. 2d 281", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5551167 ], "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "286" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/123/0281-01" ] }, { "cite": "61 Ill. 2d 494", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2965785 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1975, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "500-01" }, { "page": "495-96", "parenthetical": "indemnity clause in construction contract" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/61/0494-01" ] }, { "cite": "210 Ill. App. 3d 484", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2533732 ], "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "489-91", "parenthetical": "indemnity clause in agreement regarding use of railroad tracks" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/210/0484-01" ] }, { "cite": "122 Ill. App. 3d 717", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3524098 ], "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "717-18", "parenthetical": "indemnity clause of insurance policy" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/122/0717-01" ] }, { "cite": "334 Ill. 78", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 5220358 ], "year": 1929, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "81" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/334/0078-01" ] }, { "cite": "272 Ill. App. 3d 168", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 252869 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "173" }, { "page": "173" }, { "page": "173" }, { "page": "173" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/272/0168-01" ] }, { "cite": "182 Ill. 135", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 3214381 ], "year": 1899, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/182/0135-01" ] }, { "cite": "53 Ill. 2d 347", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2925511 ], "year": 1972, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "355" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/53/0347-01" ] }, { "cite": "1 Ill. App. 3d 603", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5314918 ], "year": 1971, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/1/0603-01" ] }, { "cite": "355 So. 2d 1111", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "So. 2d", "case_ids": [ 9747291 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1114" }, { "page": "1114-15" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/so2d/355/1111-01" ] }, { "cite": "64 Ill. 2d 559", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5428669 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1976, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "567-68", "parenthetical": "recognizing a city's right to recover from its officials who are convicted of corruption charges" }, { "page": "565" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/64/0559-01" ] }, { "cite": "423 So. 2d 974", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "So. 2d", "case_ids": [ 9551664 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "976-77", "parenthetical": "costs of defending public official for misconduct charges served public purpose only because official was acquitted of charges" }, { "page": "976" }, { "page": "976" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/so2d/423/0974-01" ] }, { "cite": "397 So. 2d 352", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "So. 2d", "case_ids": [ 9551014 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "354" }, { "page": "354" }, { "page": "354" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/so2d/397/0352-01" ] }, { "cite": "295 Md. 429", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Md.", "case_ids": [ 1974104 ], "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "439", "parenthetical": "indemnity ordinance served public purpose primarily because it limited reimbursement to only those public officials who had successfully defended themselves against criminal charges" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/md/295/0429-01" ] }, { "cite": "456 A.2d 380", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.2d", "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "385", "parenthetical": "indemnity ordinance served public purpose primarily because it limited reimbursement to only those public officials who had successfully defended themselves against criminal charges" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "165 Mich. App. 416", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mich. App.", "case_ids": [ 2298635 ], "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "420", "parenthetical": "Shepherd, J., concurring" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mich-app/165/0416-01" ] }, { "cite": "419 N.W.2d 24", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.2d", "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "26", "parenthetical": "Shepherd, J., concurring" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "39 Mich. App. 446", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mich. App.", "case_ids": [ 2082872 ], "year": 1972, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "449" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mich-app/39/0446-01" ] }, { "cite": "197 N.W.2d 853", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.2d", "year": 1972, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "854" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "512 N.W.2d 351", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 10594371 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "355" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nw2d/512/0351-01" ] }, { "cite": "84 N.J. 591", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.J.", "case_ids": [ 350237 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "596" }, { "page": "596", "parenthetical": "criminal conviction for misuse of office constitutes a \"perversion and prostitution\" of duties and establishes that the acts were not within scope of employment" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nj/84/0591-01" ] }, { "cite": "423 A.2d 988", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "991-92" }, { "page": "990-91", "parenthetical": "criminal conviction for misuse of office constitutes a \"perversion and prostitution\" of duties and establishes that the acts were not within scope of employment" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "234 Va. 614", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Va.", "case_ids": [ 2098071 ], "year": 1988, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/va/234/0614-01" ] }, { "cite": "363 S.E.2d 918", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1988, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "283 Ark. 26", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1880001 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "28-29" }, { "page": "906-07" }, { "page": "28-29", "parenthetical": "official duties of a public official never require him to participate in criminal activities" }, { "page": "906-07", "parenthetical": "official duties of a public official never require him to participate in criminal activities" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/283/0026-01" ] }, { "cite": "57 Md. App. 248", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Md. App.", "case_ids": [ 2252249 ], "weight": 6, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "260" }, { "page": "902" }, { "page": "258", "parenthetical": "\"[T]o reimburse [convicted public officials] for their legal expenses would not encourage the 'faithful and courageous discharge of duty on the part of public officials.' [Citation.] On the contrary, it would encourage the reverse\"" }, { "page": "901", "parenthetical": "\"[T]o reimburse [convicted public officials] for their legal expenses would not encourage the 'faithful and courageous discharge of duty on the part of public officials.' [Citation.] On the contrary, it would encourage the reverse\"" }, { "page": "258" }, { "page": "901" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/md-app/57/0248-01" ] }, { "cite": "48 N.Y.2d 348", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.2d", "case_ids": [ 4373302 ], "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "353-54" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ny-2d/48/0348-01" ] }, { "cite": "398 N.E.2d 537", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "540-41" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "422 N.Y.S.2d 932", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.S.2d", "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "935-36" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "126 N.J. Super. 277", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.J. Super.", "case_ids": [ 317087 ], "year": 1974, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "278-79", "parenthetical": "no authority for indemnification of municipal officer for costs of defending criminal charges which amount to official misconduct" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nj-super/126/0277-01" ] }, { "cite": "314 A.2d 81", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.2d", "year": 1974, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "81-82", "parenthetical": "no authority for indemnification of municipal officer for costs of defending criminal charges which amount to official misconduct" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "493 Pa. 50", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Pa.", "case_ids": [ 8731517 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "55-57" }, { "page": "362-64" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/pa/493/0050-01" ] }, { "cite": "124 N.J. Super. 590", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.J. Super.", "case_ids": [ 314768 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1973, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "596" }, { "page": "596", "parenthetical": "criminal misconduct originating out of performance of duties was not act occurring within the scope of those duties" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nj-super/124/0590-01" ] }, { "cite": "308 A.2d 71", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1973, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "75" }, { "page": "75", "parenthetical": "criminal misconduct originating out of performance of duties was not act occurring within the scope of those duties" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "142 Ill. 2d 495", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3236738 ], "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "506" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/142/0495-01" ] }, { "cite": "115 Ill. App. 3d 905", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3557491 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "910-11" }, { "page": "909" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/115/0905-01" ] }, { "cite": "129 Ill. 2d 351", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5567184 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "359" }, { "page": "361" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/129/0351-01" ] }, { "cite": "137 Ill. App. 3d 1004", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3640861 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1006" }, { "page": "1006" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/137/1004-01" ] }, { "cite": "97 Ill. App. 3d 488", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3111081 ], "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "493" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/97/0488-01" ] }, { "cite": "131 Ill. App. 2d 261", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2903826 ], "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "263" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/131/0261-01" ] }, { "cite": "281 Ill. App. 3d 775", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 150223 ], "year": 1996, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/281/0775-01" ] }, { "cite": "57 Ill. App. 3d 887", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3423171 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "897" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/57/0887-01" ] }, { "cite": "164 N.J. Super. 386", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.J. Super.", "case_ids": [ 927412 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "390", "parenthetical": "misconduct involving personal gain at public expense cannot be said to benefit the public" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nj-super/164/0386-01" ] }, { "cite": "396 A.2d 613", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.2d", "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "617", "parenthetical": "misconduct involving personal gain at public expense cannot be said to benefit the public" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "93 Ill. App. 3d 244", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3130065 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "258" }, { "page": "258" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/93/0244-01" ] }, { "cite": "30 Ill. App. 2d 120", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5788275 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1961, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "128" }, { "page": "127-28" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/30/0120-01" ] }, { "cite": "174 Mo. 125", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mo.", "case_ids": [ 1347257 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1903, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "148" }, { "page": "148" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mo/174/0125-01" ] }, { "cite": "73 S.W. 623", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "weight": 2, "year": 1903, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "630" }, { "page": "630" } ], "opinion_index": 0 } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1297, "char_count": 32562, "ocr_confidence": 0.795, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.6890926739018056e-07, "percentile": 0.9283769053717031 }, "sha256": "12972d6876a4177ce618f3e42820a8a7e7f9096f0c09486853fda5e39cc5174c", "simhash": "1:876cf5ea82427450", "word_count": 5198 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:45:59.454651+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "WENDELL WRIGHT et al., Appellees, v. THE CITY OF DANVILLE, Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE NICKELS\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nPlaintiffs, Ernie A. Cox, Jerome D. Brown, and Raymond T. Randall, former commissioners of the City of Danville, Kevin Scharlau, as executor of the estate of former commissioner Wilbur Scharlau, and Wendell Wright, former corporation counsel, filed a complaint seeking reimbursement from the city of attorney fees and litigation expenses incurred in defending the criminal prosecution of the commissioners and corporation counsel. The circuit court of Vermilion County found that indemnity was not warranted and dismissed the complaint under sections 2 \u2014 615 and 2 \u2014 619 of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2 \u2014 615, 2 \u2014 619 (West 1994)). The appellate court reversed, holding that genuine issues of material fact existed which precluded judgment as a matter of law for the city. 267 Ill. App. 3d 375. We granted the city\u2019s petition for leave to appeal (155 Ill. 2d R. 315), and we reverse.\nBACKGROUND\nThe present appeal arises out of attempts by plaintiffs to recover attorney fees and litigation expenses incurred by the former commissioners and corporation counsel in their defense of criminal charges of official misconduct and conflict of interest. The criminal prosecutions resulted from the manner in which the group negotiated the settlement of a lawsuit filed against the commissioners and the city.\nIn January 1987, a group of African-American residents of Danville filed a lawsuit in federal district court against the city and its commissioners alleging that the nonpartisan, at-large, citywide process for electing commissioners excluded African-American representation and diluted minority voting strength, thereby violating the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. \u00a7 1973b (1982 & Supp. V 1987)). The commissioners and corporation counsel negotiated a proposed settlement of the voting rights lawsuit which would change the form of government from a mayor-commissioner system to a mayor-alderman system with aldermen elected from seven two-member districts. The settlement also provided that the present commissioners would be appointed as administrators of the various departments that corresponded with their current respective commission duties. These newly created administrative positions would be guaranteed for a minimum of three years at salaries the commissioners would set themselves.\nThe Vermilion County State\u2019s Attorney, arguing that the proposed settlement was a conflict of interest, issued subpoenas for the commissioners and corporation counsel to appear before the grand jury. The federal district court enjoined the grand jury proceedings and added the State\u2019s Attorney to the proceedings before it. Subsequently, the federal district court held hearings on the proposed settlement. These hearings revealed that the commissioners and the corporation counsel knew that they could not prevail in the voting rights litigation. The commissioners contended, however, that they needed to stay in office for a period of time after the new aldermen were elected in order to ensure a smooth transition into the new system of government. The federal district court approved and entered the consent decree settling the voting rights suit and dissolved the injunction against the State\u2019s Attorney.\nLess than two weeks later, the commissioners enacted a new indemnity ordinance. The ordinance, suggested by the corporation counsel, added indemnification for city appointees, which included the positions of corporation counsel and the new department administrators. In addition to civil indemnity, the ordinance provided indemnity for criminal actions if the person seeking indemnity had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful and the act or omission was within the scope of the office or employment.\nSoon thereafter, the State\u2019s Attorney reconvened the grand jury. At the grand jury proceedings, the commissioners testified that they would receive personal benefits under the federal consent decree and that they would never have agreed to the settlement without the retention provisions. In addition, the corporation counsel testified that the group felt that they were being asked to sacrifice their personal positions and that \"if they were going to give up something, they were entitled to something in return.\u201d Subsequently, the grand jury returned an eight-count indictment against the commissioners and corporation counsel charging official misconduct and conflict of interest.\nThe federal district court again enjoined the state prosecution on the grounds that it had previously resolved the issue of the commissioners\u2019 and corporation counsel\u2019s criminal liability. However, the federal court of appeals reversed, finding that the district court had only determined that the city had the power to enter into the decree, and not that the negotiation process was lawful. Derrickson v. City of Danville, 845 F.2d 715, 723 (7th Cir. 1988).\nSubsequently, the group stood trial in the circuit court of Vermilion County on the criminal charges of violating conflict of interest (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 24, par. 3 \u2014 14\u20144; ch. 102, par. 3) and official misconduct (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 33 \u2014 3) statutes. During the bench trial, the commissioners and corporation counsel admitted that they had no right to require that they retain their jobs as a condition of settling the voting rights litigation and that they were not legally entitled to retention. The circuit court found all of the commissioners and the corporation counsel guilty of official misconduct (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 33\u2014 3(c)) and violating the prohibitions against municipal officials holding pecuniary interests in governmental contracts (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 24, par. 3 \u2014 14\u20144(a); ch. 102, par. 3(a)). The commissioners were each sentenced to two years\u2019 conditional discharge and fined $1,000. The corporation counsel was sentenced to two years\u2019 conditional discharge, 90 days\u2019 imprisonment, and fined $5,000.\nWhile the appeal of their convictions was still pending before the appellate court, Commissioner Wilbur Scharlau died. The appellate court abated all proceedings against Scharlau ab initio and vacated his conviction. Subsequently, the appellate court reversed the convictions (People v. Scharlau, 193 Ill. App. 3d 280 (1990)); however, this court reversed the appellate court and reinstated the convictions (People v. Scharlau, 141 Ill. 2d 180 (1990)). Thereafter, the commissioners and corporation counsel were unsuccessful in seeking a writ of habeas corpus in federal court. Wright v. DeArmond, 977 F.2d 339, 343-44 (7th Cir. 1992). As a result of this prolonged litigation, the group incurred attorney fees and litigation expenses of $321,311.47.\nThe present appeal arises out of plaintiffs\u2019 two-count complaint filed in the circuit court of Vermilion County seeking reimbursement of the attorney fees and litigation expenses, but not criminal fines, from the city. The complaint was based on two Danville indemnity ordinances, number 7192 (Danville, Ill., Ordinance No. 7192 (eff. July 8, 1986)) and number 7237 (Danville, Ill., Ordinance No. 7237 (eff. March 10, 1987)) (count I), and on common law indemnity (count II). The pertinent ordinance was passed by the commissioners subsequent to the entry of the consent decree in federal district court. The relevant language from the ordinance follows:\n\"Where the Mayor, member of the City Council, or any appointee of the Mayor or any member of the City Council, has acted in his official capacity, the City shall indemnify the Mayor, member of City Council, or any appointee of the Mayor or member of the City Council who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding by reason of the fact that the person is or was the Mayor, member of the City Council, or any appointee of the Mayor or any member of the City Council, of the city. Under this indemnification, the city shall pay all expenses (including attorneys\u2019 fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the city. Such indemnification by the city shall apply to any criminal action or proceeding, if the indemnified person had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, and any act or omission within the scope of the office or employment.\u201d Danville, Ill., Ordinance No. 7237 (eff. March 10, 1987).\nThe city subsequently filed a combined motion to dismiss pursuant to sections 2 \u2014 615 and 2 \u2014 619(a)(9) of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2 \u2014 615, 2 \u2014 619(a)(9) (West 1994)). In support of its motion, the city submitted certified copies of the trial court\u2019s findings in the criminal prosecution of the commissioners and corporation counsel and this court\u2019s opinion affirming the criminal convictions. The circuit court, finding no basis for indemnity under either the ordinances or common law indemnity, granted the city\u2019s motion to dismiss. The circuit court also observed that the commissioners\u2019 act of amending the ordinance to provide additional indemnity \"tainted the circumstances in such a way\u201d that indemnity was improper. The appellate court reversed. 267 Ill. App. 3d 375. It concentrated on the language of the indemnity ordinance and determined that the plaintiffs could conceivably prove a set of facts that would enable them to recover and, therefore, the city was not entitled to judgment as a matter of law.\nThe city argues before this court that the appellate court must be reversed and the trial court\u2019s dismissal of the action affirmed because (1) Danville\u2019s indemnity ordinance is invalid as against the public policy which prohibits the indemnification of expenses arising from one\u2019s own willful misconduct; (2) the doctrine of collateral estoppel precludes plaintiffs from relitigating the issue of scope of employment which was determined by the commissioners\u2019 and corporation counsel\u2019s criminal convictions; and (3) plaintiffs cannot recover under a theory of common law indemnity because they are the ones who engaged in wrongful conduct.\nANALYSIS\nThe question presented by a motion to dismiss pursuant to section 2 \u2014 615 is whether sufficient facts are contained in the pleadings which, if established, would entitle the plaintiff to relief. Urbaitis v. Commonwealth Edison, 143 Ill. 2d 458, 475 (1991). The circuit court should dismiss a cause of action on the pleadings only if it is clearly apparent that no set of facts can be proven which will entitle a plaintiff to recovery. Illinois Graphics Co. v. Nickum, 159 Ill. 2d 469, 488 (1994). If a cause of action is dismissed pursuant to a section 2 \u2014 619 motion on the pleadings, the questions on appeal are whether a genuine issue of material fact exists and whether the defendant is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Illinois Graphics Co., 159 Ill. 2d at 494. Nevertheless, a dismissal pursuant to section 2 \u2014 619 may be affirmed on any grounds which are called for by the record regardless of whether the circuit court relied on those grounds or whether the circuit court\u2019s reasoning was correct. Beckman v. Freeman United Coal Mining Co., 123 Ill. 2d 281, 286 (1988).\nI. Validity of the Indemnity Ordinance\nThe city contends that plaintiffs cannot recover under the indemnity ordinance because it is invalid as against public policy. In support of this argument, the city cites cases for the general proposition that agreements to indemnify against one\u2019s own willful misconduct are contrary to public policy and thus unenforceable. See, e.g., Davis v. Commonwealth Edison Co., 61 Ill. 2d 494, 500-01 (1975). However, the city\u2019s reliance on such precedent is misplaced. All the cases cited involved indemnification under provisions of an insurance policy or other type of contract. See Davis, 61 Ill. 2d at 495-96 (indemnity clause in construction contract); West Suburban Mass Transit District v. Consolidated R. Corp., 210 Ill. App. 3d 484, 489-91 (1991) (indemnity clause in agreement regarding use of railroad tracks); Rubenstein Lumber Co. v. Aetna Life & Casualty Co., 122 Ill. App. 3d 717, 717-18 (1984) (indemnity clause of insurance policy). As the city itself observes, this case involves no contract or bargained-for agreement which plaintiffs rely on for indemnity. Rather, plaintiffs rely on an indemnity ordinance which was passed by the commissioners to place liability on the municipality for certain litigation brought against its officials. The General Assembly has expressly authorized local public entities to indemnify their officers and employees in certain situations. See 745 ILCS 10/2 \u2014 302 (West 1994) (local public entity may indemnify employees for judgment and costs of certain civil actions; however, it may not indemnify punitive damage awards); 745 ILCS 10/9 \u2014 102 (West 1994) (local public entity is empowered to pay certain tort judgments entered against an employee).\nHowever, even if the indemnity ordinance does not violate public policy, public policy is not the only limitation a local public entity encounters when it determines how to expend its public funds. The expenditure of public funds must be for a public purpose. Ill. Const. 1970, art. VIII, \u00a7 1; see also Elsenau v. City of Chicago, 334 Ill. 78, 81 (1929); City of Elmhurst ex rel. Mastrino v. City of Elmhurst, 272 Ill. App. 3d 168, 173 (1994); 65 ILCS 5/8\u2014 1 \u2014 2 (West 1994). Defraying the costs of purely private litigation has always been outside the bounds of a proper public purpose. See, e.g., City of Chicago v. Williams, 182 Ill. 135 (1899); City of Elmhurst ex rel. Mastrino, 272 Ill. App. 3d at 173.\nPlaintiffs assert that the indemnity ordinance was enacted for a public purpose and to benefit the city. Although a legislative body may have broad discretion in determining what constitutes a public purpose (People ex rel. City of Salem v. McMackin, 53 Ill. 2d 347, 355 (1972)), that discretion is not unlimited and courts will intervene when public property is devoted to a purely private use (City of Elmhurst ex rel. Mastrino, 272 Ill. App. 3d at 173). An unsuccessful criminal defense involving the holder of a public office, but not arising out of the lawful exercise of the duties of that office, is purely private litigation (see Guerine v. City of North-lake, 1 Ill. App. 3d 603 (1971)), and as such, absorbing the costs of such litigation cannot be considered a proper public purpose (City of Elmhurst ex rel. Mastrino, 272 Ill. App. 3d at 173). Moreover, even a home rule unit, such as Danville, may only exercise powers and perform functions pertaining to its government and affairs. Ill. Const. 1970, art. VII, \u00a7 6(a). Legal expenses privately incurred by holders of public office pursuant to their conviction of criminal official misconduct and corruption charges cannot reasonably be said to pertain to a home rule unit\u2019s government and affairs.\nPlaintiffs cite City of Montgomery v. Collins, 355 So. 2d 1111 (Ala. 1978), for the general proposition that it is a proper corporate purpose for a municipality to expend public funds to defend its officials from criminal charges. Collins, 355 So. 2d at 1114. In City of Montgomery v. Collins, the Supreme Court of Alabama determined that defense of police officers from criminal perjury charges was a proper corporate purpose. However, in doing so, the court relied primarily on the fact that the city risked liability in subsequent civil litigation should the police officers be convicted. Collins, 355 So. 2d at 1114-15. This concern is inapplicable in the instant case. First, in City of Montgomery v. Collins there was no indemnity statute or ordinance at issue. Contrarily, the Illinois General Assembly has already addressed the indemnity of local public employees and the corresponding civil liability of their employing cities. See 745 ILCS 10/2\u2014 302, 9 \u2014 102 (West 1994). Additionally, the commissioners and corporation counsel were convicted of official misconduct and conflict of interest charges for holding an interest in a government contract. The city is at no risk of becoming involved in civil litigation with an injured third party as a result of the convictions. In fact, if there was any victim of the commissioners\u2019 and corporation counsel\u2019s actions, it was the city itself. See City of Chicago ex rel. Cohen v. Keane, 64 Ill. 2d 559, 567-68 (1976) (recognizing a city\u2019s right to recover from its officials who are convicted of corruption charges).\nAlthough plaintiffs are correct in their assertion that courts in some jurisdictions have determined that defending a public official from criminal charges may be a proper public purpose, it is generally held in these jurisdictions that a valid public purpose exists only when the authority of the municipality is limited to the reimbursement of legal expenses incurred in a successful defense. See Lomelo v. City of Sunrise, 423 So. 2d 974, 976-77 (Fla. App. 1983) (costs of defending public official for misconduct charges served public purpose only because official was acquitted of charges); Ellison v. Reid, 397 So. 2d 352, 354 (Fla. App. 1981); Snowden v. Anne Arundel County, 295 Md. 429, 439, 456 A.2d 380, 385 (1983) (indemnity ordinance served public purpose primarily because it limited reimbursement to only those public officials who had successfully defended themselves against criminal charges); Bowens v. City of Pontiac, 165 Mich. App. 416, 420, 419 N.W.2d 24, 26 (1988) (Shepherd, J., concurring); Sonnenberg v. Farmington Township, 39 Mich. App. 446, 449, 197 N.W.2d 853, 854 (1972); Kroschel v. City of Afton, 512 N.W.2d 351, 355 (Minn. App. 1994); Valerius v. City of Newark, 84 N.J. 591, 596, 423 A.2d 988, 991-92 (1980); Beckett v. Board of Supervisors, 234 Va. 614, 619 n.7, 363 S.E.2d 918, 921 n.7 (1988). Still, other states have held that the cost of defending a public official from criminal or official misconduct charges is never a proper public purpose. See Hall v. Thompson, 283 Ark. 26, 28-29, 669 S.W.2d 905, 906-07 (1984); Bowling v. Brown, 57 Md. App. 248, 260, 469 A.2d 896, 902 (1984); Corning v. Village of Laurel Hollow, 48 N.Y.2d 348, 353-54, 398 N.E.2d 537, 540-41, 422 N.Y.S.2d 932, 935-36 (1979); Township of Manalapan v. Loeb, 126 N.J. Super. 277, 278-79, 314 A.2d 81, 81-82 (1974) (no authority for indemnification of municipal officer for costs of defending criminal charges which amount to official misconduct); Silver v. Downs, 493 Pa. 50, 55-57, 425 A.2d 359, 362-64 (1981); see also 56 Am. Jur. 2d Municipal Corporations \u00a7 208 (1971) (municipality has no power to reimburse an official for expenses incurred in defense of official misconduct charges); 63A Am. Jur. 2d Public Officers and Employees \u00a7 406 (1984) (members of governing body may not expend public funds to shield themselves from consequences of own unlawful and corrupt acts); 3 McQuillin on Municipal Corporations \u00a7 12.137.10 (3d rev. ed. 1990) (municipality cannot expend money to reimburse its officer for expenses incurred in defending official misconduct charges). Under the principles of all these cases, plaintiffs would not be able to recover the expenses of the unsuccessful criminal defense of the commissioners and corporation counsel from the city.\nFurther, the purpose of indemnification, so as not to inhibit capable individuals from seeking public office, has no relevance in the context of the criminal conduct involved in this case. No official of public government should be encouraged to engage in criminal acts by the assurance that he will be able to pass defense costs on to the taxpayers of the community he was elected to serve. See Powers v. Union City Board of Education, 124 N.J. Super. 590, 596, 308 A.2d 71, 75 (1973). To the contrary, holding public officials personally liable for the expenses incurred iri unsuccessfully defending charges of their criminal, misconduct in office tends to protect the public and to secure honest and faithful service by such servants. Indeed, allowing expenditure of public funds for such use would encourage a disregard of duty and place a premium upon neglect or refusal of public officials to perform the duties imposed upon them by law. Bowling v. Brown, 57 Md. App. 248, 258, 469 A.2d 896, 901 (1984) (\"[T]o reimburse [convicted public officials] for their legal expenses would not encourage the 'faithful and courageous discharge of duty on the part of public officials.\u2019 [Citation.] On the contrary, it would encourage the reverse\u201d). The types of individuals who are drawn to these corrupt practices should not be given any incentive to seek public office.\nOur holding is also compatible with the articulated purpose of the official misconduct and conflict of interest statutes, which is to keep the loyalties of public officials to their public trust undivided and to compel them to act in a lawful manner while acting in their official capacities. Fellhauer v. City of Geneva, 142 Ill. 2d 495, 506 (1991); Scharlau, 141 Ill. 2d at 198; People v. Samel, 115 Ill. App. 3d 905, 910-11 (1983). To allow the use of public funds to reimburse a convicted official for his legal expenses would shield that official from the entire consequences of his illegal conduct, thus frustrating the purpose of those statutes. In conclusion, the city has neither the duty nor the authority to reimburse plaintiffs for legal fees incurred in the unsuccessful defense of criminal official misconduct and conflict of interest charges. Therefore, to the extent it attempts to indemnify officials convicted of crimes for their attorney fees and costs incurred in their unsuccessful criminal defense, we hold the Danville ordinance invalid. In so holding, we expressly make no determination regarding the authority of any municipality or home rule unit to indemnify its officers and employees who are found not guilty of criminal conduct.\nII. Scope of Employment\nIn the event that the public purpose doctrine did not prevent reimbursement of plaintiffs for their criminal litigation expenses, plaintiffs still could not recover under the ordinance or any statute because the commissioners\u2019 and corporation counsel\u2019s actions, as a matter of law, were outside the scope of their employment. We disagree with the appellate court\u2019s determination that scope of employment is not a real issue in the case. Acting within the scope of their office or employment is a prerequisite for plaintiffs to receive indemnity under the specific terms of the ordinance. Danville, Ill., Ordinance No. 7237 (eff. March 10, 1987). Moreover, a statutory requirement for any indemnification of employees of local public entities is that the underlying act occurred within the scope of employment. 745 ILCS 10/ 2 \u2014 302, 9 \u2014 102 (West 1994). Finally, under a traditional respondeat superior analysis, an employer can be liable for the torts of his employee, however, only for those torts that are committed within the scope of that employment. See Pyne v. Witmer, 129 Ill. 2d 351, 359 (1989); see generally Restatement (Second) of Agency \u00a7 219 (1958). Therefore, because there are no means for the city to indemnify the commissioners and corporation counsel unless their actions were within the scope of their employment, it is dispositive in this case.\nWhile even the criminal acts of an employee may fall within the scope of employment (see, e.g., Webb v. Jewel Cos., 137 Ill. App. 3d 1004, 1006 (1985); Restatement (Second) of Agency \u00a7 231 (1958)), if the employee\u2019s actions are different from the type of acts he is authorized to perform or were performed purely in his own interest, he has departed from the scope of employment (see Sunseri v. Puccia, 97 Ill. App. 3d 488, 493 (1981); Restatement (Second) of Agency \u00a7 228(2) (1958)). Moreover, an employer is not responsible for acts which are clearly inappropriate to or unforeseeable in the accomplishment of an authorized result. Serious crimes are generally unforeseeable because they are different in nature from what employees in a lawful occupation are expected to do. See Restatement (Second) of Agency \u00a7 231, Comment a (1958); see also Webb, 137 Ill. App. 3d at 1006; Nelson v. Nuccio, 131 Ill. App. 2d 261, 263 (1971). Further, if a deviation is exceedingly marked and unusual, the employee may be found to be outside the scope of employment as a matter of law. Pyne, 129 Ill. 2d at 361.\nWe recognize that this case does not involve the circumstances typically present in a traditional respondeat superior analysis \u2014 when an injured third party attempts to hold an employer vicariously liable for the torts of an employee. Nevertheless, the principles advanced in the context of imposing vicarious liability upon an employer are applicable in cases seeking to impose duties upon a public entity to indemnify and defend its employees because both liabilities are premised upon employee acts occurring within the scope of employment. See Deloney v. Board of Education, 281 Ill. App. 3d 775 (1996). In applying these principles to the case at bar, it is clear that the commissioners\u2019 and corporation counsel\u2019s self-dealing was committed solely for their personal benefit and had no relation to their positions as elected officials. Although the commissioners had authority to negotiate a settlement of the voting rights lawsuit, utilizing the negotiations to illegally advance their own personal interests by preserving their employment was an action obviously different from those they were authorized to perform. No elected official can be authorized to act in a manner that violates official misconduct and conflict of interest statutes. Hall v. Thompson, 283 Ark. 26, 28-29, 669 S.W.2d 905, 906-07 (1984) (official duties of a public official never require him to participate in criminal activities). Moreover, this court has already determined that the commissioners\u2019 and corporation counsel\u2019s acts were unauthorized. Scharlau, 141 Ill. 2d at 196.\nAdditionally, the group\u2019s actions, which resulted in their convictions of official misconduct and conflict of interest charges, were clearly committed for their own interests. A conviction for corrupt practices establishes that a public official exploited his fiduciary position for his personal benefit. City of Chicago ex rel. Cohen v. Keane, 64 Ill. 2d 559, 565 (1976). Furthermore, the essence of a violation of the statute \"is that a public official has attempted to personally enrich himself or another by an act exceeding his \u2019lawful authority\u2019 as a public servant.\u201d People v. Samel, 115 Ill. App. 3d 905, 909 (1983). The official misconduct statutes are intended to punish the activities of public officials who have exploited their official positions to the detriment of the public good. People v. Steinmann, 57 Ill. App. 3d 887, 897 (1978). The commissioners and corporation counsel admitted that they would not have settled the voting rights action without the provisions ensuring their continued employment for a fixed term and the right to set their own salaries. In addition, the group knew that they were not legally entitled to these provisions. Such self-dealing can be nothing more than acting purely in one\u2019s own interests. See Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Burlington v. Conda, 164 N.J. Super. 386, 390, 396 A.2d 613, 617 (1978) (misconduct involving personal gain at public expense cannot be said to benefit the public).\nWhile the commissioners\u2019 and corporation counsel\u2019s public employment provided the opportunity for their misconduct, by no stretch of the imagination could their actions be deemed an extension of their legitimate functions as elected officials. Therefore, their conduct neither arose out of nor was incidental to the performance of their duties and, thus, was not within the scope of their employment. See Bowling v. Brown, 57 Md. App. 248, 258, 469 A.2d 896, 901 (1984); Valerius v. City of Newark, 84 N.J. 591, 596, 423 A.2d 988, 990-91 (1980) (criminal conviction for misuse of office constitutes a \"perversion and prostitution\u201d of duties and establishes that the acts were not within scope of employment); Powers v. Union City Board of Education, 124 N.J. Super. 590, 596, 308 A.2d 71, 75 (1973) (criminal misconduct originating out of performance of duties was not act occurring within the scope of those duties). In this case, the record clearly reveals that the commissioners and corporation counsel stepped aside from their duties as officers of the City of Danville and acted for the sole, unlawful, independent, and personal purpose of promoting their own interests. As a matter of law, their actions were outside the scope of their employment such that the city owed no statutory duty to defend or indemnify them in the criminal action.\nIII. Collateral Estoppel\nThe city also contends that inherent in the commissioners\u2019 and corporation counsel\u2019s criminal convictions is the determination that they also acted outside the scope of their employment. The city then reasons that the doctrine of collateral estoppel thus bars plaintiffs from relitigating the scope of employment issue in this case. Plaintiffs respond that scope of employment was not an issue decided in People v. Scharlau. Alternatively, plaintiff Kevin Scharlau independently argues that he cannot be bound by any determinations made in People v. Scharlau because Wilbur Scharlau\u2019s conviction was vacated.\nNotwithstanding these contentions, we determined today that, as a matter of law, by virtue of their criminal convictions the commissioners and corporation counsel acted outside the scope of their employment. Furthermore, we determined that the public purpose doctrine prevents reimbursement of plaintiffs in this instance. Therefore, we need not address whether People v. Scharlau decided the scope of employment issue or the effect of collateral estoppel upon this litigation.\nIV. Common Law Indemnity\nPlaintiffs also contend that they are entitled to reimbursement of their legal expenses under a common law theory of indemnity. They cite cases for the general proposition that a principal is required to indemnify an agent for losses resulting from the good-faith execution of the agency. See Lundy v. Whiting Corp., 93 Ill. App. 3d 244, 258 (1981); American Telephone & Telegraph Co. v. Leveque, 30 Ill. App. 2d 120, 128 (1961); Lomelo v. City of Sunrise, 423 So. 2d 974, 976 (Fla. App. 1983); Ellison v. Reid, 397 So. 2d 352, 354 (Fla. App. 1981); State ex rel. Crow v. City of St. Louis, 174 Mo. 125, 148, 73 S.W. 623, 630 (1903). However, none of these cases support plaintiffs\u2019 position. American Telephone & Telegraph Co. v. Leveque and Lundy v. Whiting Corp. both dealt with the issue of implied indemnity among joint tortfeasors. Specifically, when two tortfeasors have breached a duty to a plaintiff, the passively negligent tortfeasor may be allowed to shift liability to the actively negligent tortfeasor. See American Telephone & Telegraph Co., 30 Ill. App. 2d at 127-28; Lundy v. Whiting Corp., 93 Ill. App. 3d at 258. This theory is not applicable to the instant case and plaintiffs have conceded as much in their briefs.\nThe other cases offered by plaintiffs stand for the propositions that a public official acting pursuant to authority, within the scope of employment, and while serving a public purpose may be indemnified by a municipality for expenses he incurs. See Lomelo, 423 So. 2d at 976; Ellison, 397 So. 2d at 354; State ex rel. Crow, 174 Mo. at 148, 73 S.W. at 630. We have already determined that the commissioners and corporation counsel were not acting pursuant to authority or within the scope of their employment and they were not serving a public purpose. Therefore, plaintiffs\u2019 action for common law indemnity also must fail.\nCONCLUSION\nFor the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the appellate court is reversed. The judgment of the circuit court dismissing the complaint is affirmed.\nAppellate court judgment reversed; circuit court judgment affirmed.\nCHIEF JUSTICE BILANDIC took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE NICKELS" } ], "attorneys": [ "Craig H. DeArmond, of Kurth & DeArmond, of Dan-ville, for appellant.", "Everett L. Laury and Gregory G. Lietz, of Hutton, Laury, Hesser, Lietz & Wilcox, of Danville, for appellees." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "(No. 78181.\nWENDELL WRIGHT et al., Appellees, v. THE CITY OF DANVILLE, Appellant.\nOpinion filed December 19, 1996.\nBILANDIC, C.J., took no part.\nCraig H. DeArmond, of Kurth & DeArmond, of Dan-ville, for appellant.\nEverett L. Laury and Gregory G. Lietz, of Hutton, Laury, Hesser, Lietz & Wilcox, of Danville, for appellees." }, "file_name": "0391-01", "first_page_order": 401, "last_page_order": 419 }