{ "id": 3640529, "name": "In re MARRIAGE OF FRYDA SHEHADE, Petitioner-Appellee, and MESBAH SHEHADE, Respondent (Sabhi Chehade, Respondent-Appellant)", "name_abbreviation": "In re Marriage of Shehade", "decision_date": "1985-10-24", "docket_number": "No. 84-1902", "first_page": "692", "last_page": "704", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "137 Ill. App. 3d 692" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "419 N.E.2d 487", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "94 Ill. App. 3d 1145", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3124648 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1148" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/94/1145-01" ] }, { "cite": "412 N.E.2d 698", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "89 Ill. App. 3d 959", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5541800 ], "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/89/0959-01" ] }, { "cite": "458 N.E.2d 1141", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "120 Ill. App. 3d 1009", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3593708 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1014" }, { "page": "1016" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/120/1009-01" ] }, { "cite": "384 N.E.2d 398", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "66 Ill. App. 3d 567", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3317208 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "574" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/66/0567-01" ] }, { "cite": "390 N.E.2d 361", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1978, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "71 Ill. App. 3d 625", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5582301 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "627" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/71/0625-01" ] }, { "cite": "430 N.E.2d 91", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "102 Ill. App. 3d 444", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3077482 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "447" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/102/0444-01" ] }, { "cite": "456 N.E.2d 311", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "119 Ill. App. 3d 306", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3628893 ], "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "315" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/119/0306-01" ] }, { "cite": "415 N.E.2d 1260", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "92 Ill. App. 3d 292", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5534302 ], "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "298-99" }, { "page": "299" }, { "page": "298" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/92/0292-01" ] }, { "cite": "407 N.E.2d 655", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "85 Ill. App. 3d 881", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3196290 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "883" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/85/0881-01" ] }, { "cite": "94 Ill. 2d 205", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3106858 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "221" }, { "page": "222" }, { "page": "222-23" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/94/0205-01" ] }, { "cite": "403 N.E.2d 683", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1983, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "82 Ill. App. 3d 1102", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3223587 ], "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1105" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/82/1102-01" ] }, { "cite": "446 N.E.2d 499", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 5, "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "39 Ill. 2d 205", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "219" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "401 N.E.2d 1229", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "81 Ill. App. 3d 1128", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3229053 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1130" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/81/1128-01" ] }, { "cite": "383 N.E.2d 185", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "73 Ill. 2d 342", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5440660 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "357" }, { "page": "359" }, { "page": "359" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/73/0342-01" ] }, { "cite": "94 Ill. 2d 205", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3106858 ], "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/94/0205-01" ] }, { "cite": "446 N.E.2d 499", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 1 } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 995, "char_count": 27025, "ocr_confidence": 0.767, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.158688901286008e-07, "percentile": 0.5835452182733434 }, "sha256": "5662d8353dbebc6fa718eb779051a69ea5ab44f834ad8e2a1e5db594a0d5ce80", "simhash": "1:838c654f67f21776", "word_count": 4544 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:48:08.242422+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "In re MARRIAGE OF FRYDA SHEHADE, Petitioner-Appellee, and MESBAH SHEHADE, Respondent (Sabhi Chehade, Respondent-Appellant)." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE LINN\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nFryda Shehade (Fryda) filed a petition in the Cook County circuit court for dissolution of her marriage to Mesbah Shehade (Mesbah), distribution of their marital estate, and custody of their child. During the pendency of the proceeding the trial court entered an order which enjoined Mesbah from transferring, encumbering, or otherwise disposing of any of the property which belonged either to Fryda individually or to Fryda and Mesbah jointly.\nThereafter Mesbah assigned to his brother, Sabhi Chehade (Sabhi), Mesbah\u2019s interest in an agreement for the purchase of certain property located in Chicago and held in a land trust. Mesbah had entered into the agreement for the purchase of the property during the pendency of the dissolution proceeding.\nRoughly seven months after the assignment, the trial court entered an order which enjoined Mesbah from conveying, transferring, assigning, or otherwise dealing with the property until further order of court. The order was entered pursuant to Fryda\u2019s motion therefor. Apparently, neither Fryda nor the trial court was aware of Mesbah\u2019s assignment of the property to his brother at the time the order was entered.\nAfter Fryda learned of the assignment, she filed with the trial court a petition for rule to show cause, to add additional parties, and for other relief. In the pleading, Fryda contended that Mesbah\u2019s assignment of his interest in the Chicago property to Sabhi constituted a fraud upon her right to and in the property, and that the assignment was colorable, illusory, and a sham. As ultimately amended, Fryda\u2019s petition requested that the assignment be declared null and void, that Sabhi be made an additional party defendant, and that he be directed to reimburse her for all rents collected from the property since the trial court\u2019s order which enjoined Mesbah from assigning his interest in the property.\nSabhi answered Fryda\u2019s petition and denied that the transaction had been colorable, illusory, or a sham or fraud upon Fryda\u2019s interest. Following a hearing at which Fryda, Sabhi, and Sabri Shehade (a nephew of Mesbah and his brother Sabhi) testified, the trial court found that the transaction was a sham designed to deprive Fryda of her interest to and in the premises. The court held the assignment null and void and ordered Sabhi to account to Fryda for rents he had collected on the premises. The trial court later denied Sabhi\u2019s motion to reconsider its order. Sabhi appeals.\nThe parties raise the following questions for our review:\n1. Whether the trial court\u2019s determination that Mesbah\u2019s assignment of his interest in the property to Sabhi was a sham, illusory, and colorable, was against the manifest weight of the evidence;\n2. Whether the trial court acted beyond the scope of its authority under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 40, par. 101 et seq.) where it held the assignment null and void and ordered Sabhi to account to Fryda for rents collected upon the premises.\nWe affirm.\nBackground\nThe record reflects the following pertinent pleading and testamentary evidence.\nAccording to Fryda\u2019s petition for dissolution of marriage and other relief which was filed on October 13, 1982, Fryda and Mesbah were married on March 5, 1974; one child, age seven, was born of the marriage. Fryda claimed that during the course of the marriage, Mes-bah acquired various assets which were marital assets, \u201cnotwithstanding their standing in the name of [Mesbah], any alias of [Mesbah], or any nominee on his behalf.\u201d\nMesbah\u2019s answer to the petition denied in material substance the allegations of the petition, and requested that the same be dismissed.\nRoughly four months after her petition for dissolution was filed, Fryda presented to the court her emergency petition for injunctive and other relief. In it she alleged in substance that Mesbah had caused her physical abuse; had attacked her automobile and caused it damage to the extent that it was inoperable; and that Mesbah had \u201cbragged\u201d to Fryda \u201cthat he was in the process of selling certain parcels of real estate acquired during the marriage, and that there would be nothing left for [Fryda] to obtain her share of in this case.\u201d Fryda further alleged that she therefore feared that Mesbah would waste, sell, convey, transfer, assign, hide, conceal, destroy, encumber or otherwise dissipate the marital estate of the parties unless he were restrained and enjoined from doing so during the pendency of the cause.\nBased upon these allegations, as well as the arguments of both parties at a hearing upon the petition held on the day it was-filed at which both Fryda and Mesbah were present, the trial court entered an order dated February 10, 1983, which granted Fryda\u2019s petition. The trial court\u2019s order stated inter alia that \u201ceach of the parties is restrained and enjoined from wasting, selling, conveying, hiding, transferring, concealing, damaging, destroying, encumbering or otherwise dealing with assets held in his or her name or alias, or in the name of another for the benefit of either party, pending further Order of Court.\u201d\nRoughly a month and a half later, on March 31, and pursuant to Fryda\u2019s petition for a rule to show cause and other relief, the trial court entered an order which directed, inter alia, that a domestic violence order be issued against Mesbah instanter. The agreed order of protest, filed the same day, provided in relevant part that Mesbah was \u201crestrained from transferring, encumbering, concealing, damaging or otherwise disposing of any of [Fryda\u2019s] property or joint property of [Fryda and Mesbah].\u201d The order stated an expiration date and time of March 31, 1984, at 4 p.m.\nThereafter, between April and September, 1983, the parties litigated matters pertaining to temporary custody of the minor child, temporary maintenance and child support, and attorney\u2019s fees. Temporary custody was awarded to Fryda in mid-July. In early September, Fryda filed an emergency petition for rule to show cause and other relief in which she alleged that Mesbah had exercised visitation with the parties\u2019 child on August 27, but had failed to return the child to Fryda\u2019s custody. She claimed that she had been informed and believed that Mesbah had removed the child from the State of Illinois and the United States.\nA rule was entered against Mesbah on the same day, made returnable on September 19, 1983. Mesbah failed to appear on the appointed day. His attorney of record motioned the court to withdraw as Mes-bah\u2019s counsel; the affidavit in support of the motion stated in pertinent part that the attorney believed, \u201c[u]pon information and belief, [that] [Mesbah] is not any longer living in the United States of America.\u201d An attachment order upon Mesbah was issued on September 19. His attorney of record was also granted leave to withdraw on that date.\nA month later, on November 16, Fryda petitioned the court to grant her leave to file her petition to add the Devon Bank as an additional party defendant, and to issue temporary restraining orders, without notice and without bond for good cause shown, restraining the bank and Mesbah from effecting the assignment, conveyance, sale or transfer of numerous specified bank accounts and of the interest in a certain land trust held by the bank. The trial court granted the motion and entered the temporary restraining orders as requested. Fryda was also granted leave to file her petition to add Devon Bank as an additional party respondent.\nA week later the trial court granted Fryda\u2019s motion to add Devon Bank. The trial court further converted its temporary restraining orders of November 16 into preliminary injunctions, issued without notice and without bond, pending further court order.\nTwo months later, on January 30, 1984, Fryda filed a petition for rule to show cause, to add an additional party, and for other relief. In it she alleged in pertinent substance that on April 20, 1983, Mesbah assigned his beneficial interest in the Devon land trust to his brother, Sabhi Chehade. A copy of the assignment was attached to the pleading. Fryda claimed that the assignment was in violation of the court's previous orders and constituted a fraud upon her right to and in said property, and was colorable, illusory, and a sham. Fryda further alleged that Sabhi knew of the court\u2019s orders which enjoined Mesbah from any assignment or other conveyance of such property. She requested, inter alia, that Sabhi be made an additional party respondent in the cause and that the April 20 assignment be set aside and declared null and void. The petition was later amended to request in addition that Sabhi be directed to reimburse Fryda for all rents collected at the premises since November 16, 1983.\nSabhi\u2019s answer to the petition, filed March 7, 1984, denied that the assignment was a sham and denied any knowledge of the court\u2019s injunction against Mesbah to restrain his assignment of his interest in the land trust.\nThe trial court held its hearing on the matter on May 8, 1984. Fryda testified on her own behalf; Sabhi and his nephew testified in opposition.\nFryda testified that she knew her brother-in-law Sabhi and knew that he had business dealings with her husband. She stated that one day in February 1983 she went to her husband\u2019s store to bring him lunch, which was customary for her to do. While there she heard Mes-bah speaking to Sabhi in Arabic. Mesban told Sabhi that Fryda was suing Mesbah for divorce, that everything was \u201ctied up,\u201d and that Mesbah said that he was \u201cgoing to screw [Fryda] up\u201d because he was \u201cnot going to give her anything, and that [he was] going to transfer everything to [his] brothers.\u201d\nFryda testified that she was able to understand two people speaking to each other in Arabic. She further stated that the conversation took place on or about February 10, 1983, the date upon which the trial court entered its order which enjoined Mesbah from selling any of his real estate.\nAccording to Sabhi, he knew nothing of the February 10 order and nothing of the divorce proceeding. He stated that on February 10 he was in the Middle East and that he returned to the United States on or about February 25, 1983.\nSabhi stated that a few days after his return, he learned from a friend that Mesbah was going to sell his interest in the premises at issue to the friend. Sabhi expressed to the friend his desire to purchase the building. The friend responded that Mesbah had told the friend that Mesbah would not sell the property to Sabhi.\nSabhi stated that he had not talked to his brother in 2 1/2 years. He met with Mesbah at some point and offered to buy the building in installments. The value of the building was $80,000, and it was encumbered by a $50,000 mortgage. Sabhi agreed to assume the mortgage and to pay Mesbah $30,000 in installments, although they did not specify the amounts of these installments because, as brothers, they understood that Sabhi would pay Mesbah when he was able. Sabhi gave Mesbah a check for $2,750 on March 5, 1983, which was admitted into evidence. He stated that it was a deposit on his purchase of the interest in the agreement.\nLater Mesbah refused to sign documents of assignment until Sabhi paid him more money. Sabhi offered to pay Mesbah with merchandise rather than money, and Mesbah agreed. A document admitted into evidence indicated a listing of several kinds of merchandise in various amounts, the values thereof, and a total value of $7,254.28. The document contains no names, dates, signatures, or references to the assignment or any other form of transaction.\nThe assignment, also admitted into evidence, was dated April 20, 1983. In it Mesbah assigned to Sabhi his interest in an articles of agreement for trustee\u2019s deed, dated November 23, 1982, wherein Devon Bank as trustee under trust agreement No. 3972 was seller and \u201cMisbah Chihade [sic]\u201d was the purchaser of property located at 2867 North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago. Also admitted into evidence was the consent to and agreement of the sole beneficiary of the land trust to the assignment from Mesbah to Sabhi. This document was dated May 19,1983.\nSabhi testified that he later made the following payments to Mes-bah, as indicated. On June 6, 1983, he gave Mesbah a check for $6,000. He stated that Mesbah told him to put the check in the name of their nephew because Mesbah owed the nephew money. Sabhi placed the nephew\u2019s name on the check. In December 1983, Sabhi had a cashier\u2019s check made payable to Mesbah for $3,367.72. In January\n1984, Sabhi had another cashier\u2019s check made payable to Sabri for $2,528.\nIn September, 1983, Mesbah asked Sabhi for more money, because, Mesbah said, he was going \u201con vacation.\u201d Sabhi gave Mesbah a check for $5,000 but told him to hold it until Sabhi had sufficient funds to cover the check. Sabhi testified that Mesbah gave the check to their nephew, who attempted to cash the check but could not because there were insufficient funds in the account.\nTwo weeks later, Sabhi paid the nephew $2,000 by check. He paid the balance of $3,000 three weeks later, in cash.\nIn April 1984, Sabhi sent a cashier\u2019s check for $1,000 to Mesbah. In May he sent two more cashier\u2019s checks for $1,000 each to Mesbah. All of these were sent to Mesbah in Jerusalem.\nThe nephew of Mesbah and Sabhi testified that Mesbah had owed him $20,000, all of which had been repaid by the time of the hearing. He testified that payment was made with $7,000 worth of general merchandise, a check in the amount of $6,000, and the monies paid to him by Sabhi in lieu of the $5,000 check not covered by sufficient funds.\nThe nephew stated that he had brought the $20,000 from the Middle East when he came to the United States, apparently in approximately 1980. He stated that he kept the money in a safe rather than a bank. He testified that he loaned the money to Mesbah in 1981. He also stated that from 1980 to 1983 he worked for his uncle Yusef, earning roughly $300 per week. In July 1983 Sabhi opened his own business of selling clothing; apparently part of his inventory was comprised of merchandise given to him by Mesbah.\nBased on the evidence and testimony of Fryda, Sabhi, and the nephew of Sabhi and Mesbah, as well as the arguments of counsel, the court entered its order on May 8 which granted Fryda\u2019s petition. The court\u2019s order provided that: (1) Sabhi and the Devon Bank were named as respondents in the cause; (2) a rule was entered against Mesbah instanter, who was found in contempt of court; (3) the assignment of April 20, 1983, from Mesbah to Sabhi was held to be null and void and of no legal effect whatsoever; and (4) Sabhi was to forthwith account to Fryda for all rents collected by him or for him by reason of his pretended ownership of said property.\nSabhi subsequently filed a motion to vacate this order, which the trial court denied. Sabhi\u2019s timely appeal followed.\nOpinion\nI\nSabhi argues first that the trial court\u2019s judgment should be reversed because there was no evidence that the assignment was made collusively with the intent that Mesbah would retain true title to and ownership of the property.\nGenerally, a spouse has an absolute right to dispose of his or her property in any manner and without the concurrence of the other spouse. (Johnson v. La Grange State Bank (1978), 73 Ill. 2d 342, 357, 383 N.E.2d 185; Payne v. River Forest State Bank & Trust Co. (1980), 81 Ill. App. 3d 1128, 1130, 401 N.E.2d 1229.) Such disposition of property is permissible even where its sole purpose is to minimize or defeat the statutory marital interest the other spouse may have in the property conveyed. (Hofmann v. Hofmann (1983), 39 Ill. 2d 205, 219, 446 N.E.2d 499; Lesnik v. Estate of Lesnik (1980), 82 Ill. App. 3d 1102, 1105, 403 N.E.2d 683.) Nevertheless, where a conveyance from a spouse to a third party is essentially nothing more than a sham transaction, it is tantamount to a fraud and subject to defeasance by the other spouse. Hofmann v. Hofmann (1983), 94 Ill. 2d 205, 221, 446 N.E.2d 499; In re Estate of Nemecek (1980), 85 Ill. App. 3d 881, 883, 407 N.E.2d 655.\nA sham transfer of property is one which is either \u201ccolorable\u201d or \u201cillusory,\u201d such that the transferor had no intent to convey any present interest in the property, but, in fact, intended to retain complete ownership. (Johnson v. La Grange State Bank (1978), 73 Ill. 2d 342, 359, 383 N.E.2d 185; O\u2019Neill v. DeLaney (1980), 92 Ill. App. 3d 292, 298-99, 415 N.E.2d 1260.) \u201c[A]n illusory transfer is one which takes back all that it gives, while a colorable transfer is one which appears absolute on its face but due to some secret or tacit understanding between the transferor and the transferee the transfer is, in fact, not a transfer because the parties intended that ownership be retained by the transferor. [Citation.]\u201d Johnson v. La Grange State Bank (1978), 73 Ill. 2d 342, 359, 383 N.E.2d 185.\nIn order to establish that a transfer of property amounted to a fraud subject to defeasance, the complaining spouse must prove such allegations by clear and convincing evidence. (Hofmann v. Hofmann (1983), 94 Ill. 2d 205, 222, 446 N.E.2d 499; In re Marriage of Glessner (1983), 119 Ill. App. 3d 306, 315, 456 N.E.2d 311.) The determination of whether the conveyance at issue was fraudulent depends upon all of the circumstances surrounding the transfer. O\u2019Neill v. De Laney (1980), 92 Ill. App. 3d 292, 299, 415 N.E.2d 1260.\nIn the case at bar, the trial court found that Mesbah\u2019s assignment of his interest in the real estate purchase agreement to Sabhi was nothing more than a sham transaction designed to circumvent the court\u2019s prior order which restrained and enjoined Mesbah from conveying, transferring, selling, or assigning any of his property pending final disposition of the dissolution action. Based upon all of the surrounding circumstances and the testimony of the witnesses at the court\u2019s hearing, the trial court essentially concluded that Mesbah had no intent to convey to Sabhi any present interest in the property, but instead planned to retain ownership in himself.\nIt is well settled that a trial court\u2019s determination in this regard will be set aside only if it is against the manifest weight of the evidence. (Vee See Construction Co. v. Luckett (1981), 102 Ill. App. 3d 444, 447, 430 N.E.2d 91.) It is also long established that a court of review will not disturb a judgment where it is based upon an assessment of the credibility of the witnesses. (Economy Fire & Casualty Co. v. Warren (1979), 71 Ill. App. 3d 625, 627, 390 N.E.2d 361.) Thus, \u201c[t]he credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be accorded their testimony is a matter solely within the province of the trial court as trier of fact.\u201d Ross v. Steiner (1978), 66 Ill. App. 3d 567, 574, 384 N.E.2d 398.\nIn order to conclude here that the assignment from Mesbah to Sabhi was a sham, the trial court discredited the testimony of Sabhi and his nephew as to the natures of and bases for the various monetary transfers between Mesbah, Sabhi, and their nephew. Thus the trial court correctly subjected the transaction to closer scrutiny since the transfer was between family members. (Hofmann v. Hofmann (1983), 94 Ill. 2d 205, 222-23, 446 N.E.2d 499.) Such close scrutiny was particularly appropriate here, where the nephew, when questioned, \u201cIf you were asked to come and testify to something you will help him (the uncle), will you not,\u201d replied, \u201cOf course. He is my family.\u201d\nWithout the testimony of Sabhi and his nephew, there was no clear proof that the payments from Sabhi to Mesbah were made in relation to Sabhi\u2019s purchase of Mesbah\u2019s interest in the property. In fact, in view of the admitted business dealing between them, the payments could have been made for any number of reasons wholly unrelated to the purported assignment.\nIn addition to this lack of proof as to the true nature of the payments between the brothers and their nephew, the record establishes other surrounding circumstances. First, Fryda testified that she heard Mesbah tell Sabhi that he intended to \u201cgive\u201d everything to his brothers in order to deprive Fryda of any interest therein. In addition, Mesbah subsequently left the country with the parties\u2019 only child and travelled to Jerusalem in direct violation of the court\u2019s order that temporary custody be in Fryda. Moreover, Sabhi knew of this, admitted that he knew of this, and in fact admitted that he sent some of his payments to Mesbah in Jerusalem.\nBased upon all of the evidence produced at trial and the circumstances surrounding the assignment, the trial court reasonably could have found that the transfers of money between the brothers and the nephew were part and parcel of their collusive attempt to defraud Fryda of her interest and yet to smokescreen the intent that Mesbah retain true ownership of the property. Accordingly, we cannot conclude that the trial court\u2019s judgment was against the manifest weight of the evidence.\nII\nSabhi argues in addition that even if there had been evidence of a collusive transfer, the trial court could have awarded only a marital property lien against the transferee\u2019s title; consequently, the trial court erred in invalidating the assignment.\nA trial court judge in the domestic relations division possesses the jurisdiction to hear all issues which are justiciable in nature and are related to the dissolution of marriage proceeding. (In re Marriage of Pahlke (1983), 120 Ill. App. 3d 1009, 1014, 458 N.E.2d 1141; In re Marriage of Peshek (1980), 89 Ill. App. 3d 959, 412 N.E.2d 698.) Thus a judge may declare a transfer void when it is demonstrated that the conveyance was colorable or illusory. O\u2019Neill v. De Laney (1980), 92 Ill. App. 3d 292, 298, 415 N.E.2d 1260.\nThe trial court here had full authority to declare the assignment from Mesbah to Sabhi void and of no legal effect. We note that Hofmann v. Hofmann (1983), 94 Ill. 2d 205, 446 N.E.2d 499, upon which Sabhi relies, does not dictate a contrary result. Hofmann involved a fraudulent forfeiture of the property in dispute and is consequently distinguishable from the facts here.\nSabhi also contends that Fryda could not claim any marital interest in the assignment at issue because no evidence was presented as to the percentage of marital property interest to which Fryda would be entitled upon dissolution of the marriage. No showing to this effect was required, however, as Mesbah\u2019s interest was presumed to be marital property (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 40, par. 503(b)) in which both Mesbah and Fryda were presumed to have a species of common ownership which vested upon the commencement of the dissolution action and continued during its pendency (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 40, par. 503(c)) and which in any event was to be finally determined by the court at a later date. (See Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 40, par. 501(d)(3); In re Marriage of Pahlke (1983), 120 Ill. App. 3d 1009, 1016, 458 N.E.2d 1141; In re Marriage of Zymali (1981), 94 Ill. App. 3d 1145, 1148, 419 N.E.2d 487.) Consequently we find no basis for reversal of the trial court\u2019s judgment.\nAffirmed.\nJOHNSON, J., concurs.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE LINN" }, { "text": "PRESIDING JUSTICE JIGANTI,\ndissenting:\nA conveyance of real property can only be voided upon a showing of clear and convincing evidence that the transferor had no intent to convey any present interest in the property but, in fact, intended to retain complete ownership. (Hofmann v. Hofmann (1983), 94 Ill. 2d 205, 446 N.E.2d 499.) The setting aside of a conveyance is a harsh remedy in that it deprives one of the right of ownership of property, therefore, the burden is on the party attacking the conveyance to establish through clear and convincing evidence that the transfer was a sham.\nFryda\u2019s evidence at trial consisted of her testimony that she overheard Mesbah stating that he wanted to \u201ctransfer\u201d everything to Sabhi and leave her nothing. In her emergency petition for injunctive relief, she alleged that Mesbah was in the process of \u201cselling\u201d certain parcels of real estate acquired during the marriage in an attempt to deprive her of any marital rights she may have in the property.\nThis evidence, at best, merely shows that Mesbah may have intended to defeat any possible marital interest Fryda may have had in the property conveyed. However, as the majority correctly points out, Mesbah had the right to dispose of his property without the concurrence of Fryda even if the transfer may have been for the sole purpose of minimizing or defeating her marital rights in the property.\nWhile it is true that conveyances among family members are subject to stricter scrutiny than arms-length transactions, the familial relationship alone does not raise the presumption that the conveyance was fraudulent. Sabhi testified that he agreed to buy the property from Mesbah for $80,000. The terms of the sale were that Sabhi was to assume the $50,000 mortgage on the property and pay the $30,000 balance to Mesbah in installments. The agreement was evidenced by a general assignment, signed by Mesbah and notarized by Sabhi\u2019s attorney, which shows that Mesbah transferred his interest in the property to Sabhi. Also admitted was a consent to the assignment signed by the sole beneficiary of the land trust to the assignment from Mesbah to Sabhi. Sabhi and his nephew, Sabri, testified to a number of payments made by Sabhi to either Mesbah, or upon the direction of Mes-bah, to Sabri over several months amounting to approximately $30,000. Several cancelled checks were admitted into evidence which substantiated Sabhi\u2019s testimony that he paid Mesbah nearly $30,000 for the property. While the majority may speculate as to the purpose of these payments, Fryda did not present any evidence that would contradict or \u201cdiscredit\u201d the testimony of Sabhi and his nephew.\nThe facts that Mesbah fled the country with the couple\u2019s only son in violation of a custody order and that Mesbah also violated a court order restraining him from selling or transferring property pending the divorce action are circumstances which do not establish clearly and convincingly that Mesbah intended to retain ownership. Rather, the majority\u2019s recitation of these facts, in effect, unfairly penalizes Sabhi for his brother\u2019s misconduct and has no relevance to the issue of whether the transfer of property was a sham. In conclusion, the evidence Fryda produced at trial did not clearly and convincingly establish that the transaction was colorable or illusory and that Mesbah intended to retain ownership of the property. Accordingly, I would reverse the judgment.", "type": "dissent", "author": "PRESIDING JUSTICE JIGANTI," } ], "attorneys": [ "DiMonte & Lizak, of Chicago (Albert Koretzky, of counsel), for appellant.", "Collins & Uscian, of Chicago (George B. Collins and Christopher Bargione, of counsel), for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "In re MARRIAGE OF FRYDA SHEHADE, Petitioner-Appellee, and MESBAH SHEHADE, Respondent (Sabhi Chehade, Respondent-Appellant).\nFirst District (4th Division)\nNo. 84 \u2014 1902\nOpinion filed October 24, 1985.\nJIGANTI, P.J., dissenting.\nDiMonte & Lizak, of Chicago (Albert Koretzky, of counsel), for appellant.\nCollins & Uscian, of Chicago (George B. Collins and Christopher Bargione, of counsel), for appellee." }, "file_name": "0692-01", "first_page_order": 714, "last_page_order": 726 }