{
  "id": 872593,
  "name": "ELLEN C. PARIS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. CHERRY PAYMENT SYSTEMS, INC., Defendant-Appellee",
  "name_abbreviation": "Paris v. Cherry Payment Systems Inc.",
  "decision_date": "1994-07-19",
  "docket_number": "No. 1-93-3260",
  "first_page": "383",
  "last_page": "386",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "265 Ill. App. 3d 383"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.",
    "id": 8837,
    "name": "Illinois Appellate Court"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 29,
    "name_long": "Illinois",
    "name": "Ill."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "793 F. Supp. 228",
      "category": "reporters:federal",
      "reporter": "F. Supp.",
      "case_ids": [
        7406120
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/f-supp/793/0228-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "838 F.2d 242",
      "category": "reporters:federal",
      "reporter": "F.2d",
      "case_ids": [
        1310216
      ],
      "year": 1992,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/f2d/838/0242-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "842 F. Supp. 1023",
      "category": "reporters:federal",
      "reporter": "F. Supp.",
      "case_ids": [
        3846890
      ],
      "year": 1988,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/f-supp/842/1023-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "566 F. Supp. 242",
      "category": "reporters:federal",
      "reporter": "F. Supp.",
      "case_ids": [
        3571849
      ],
      "year": 1993,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/f-supp/566/0242-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "609 N.E.2d 378",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "N.E.2d",
      "year": 1987,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "241 Ill. App. 3d 331",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d",
      "case_ids": [
        2434749
      ],
      "year": 1987,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ill-app-3d/241/0331-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "509 N.E.2d 744",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "N.E.2d",
      "weight": 2,
      "year": 1988,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "156 Ill. App. 3d 637",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d",
      "case_ids": [
        3505997
      ],
      "weight": 2,
      "year": 1988,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "643"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ill-app-3d/156/0637-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "582 N.E.2d 196",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "N.E.2d",
      "year": 1987,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "221 Ill. App. 3d 440",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d",
      "case_ids": [
        5794038
      ],
      "year": 1987,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ill-app-3d/221/0440-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "485 N.E.2d 359",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "N.E.2d",
      "year": 1991,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "109 Ill. 2d 65",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ill. 2d",
      "case_ids": [
        3125759
      ],
      "year": 1991,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ill-2d/109/0065-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "528 N.E.2d 429",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "N.E.2d",
      "weight": 2,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "174 Ill. App. 3d 434",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d",
      "case_ids": [
        3515949
      ],
      "weight": 2,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "443"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ill-app-3d/174/0434-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "505 N.E.2d 1045",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "N.E.2d",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "153 Ill. App. 3d 136",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d",
      "case_ids": [
        3607564
      ],
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "144"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ill-app-3d/153/0136-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "531 N.E.2d 1",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "N.E.2d",
      "year": 1987,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "125 Ill. 2d 230",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ill. 2d",
      "case_ids": [
        5555225
      ],
      "year": 1987,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "245"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ill-2d/125/0230-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "601 N.E.2d 720",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "N.E.2d",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "151 Ill. 2d 142",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ill. 2d",
      "case_ids": [
        3291423
      ],
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "160"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ill-2d/151/0142-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "421 N.E.2d 876",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "N.E.2d",
      "weight": 2,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "85 Ill. 2d 124",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ill. 2d",
      "case_ids": [
        5469094
      ],
      "weight": 4,
      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "128"
        },
        {
          "page": "130"
        },
        {
          "page": "131"
        },
        {
          "page": "130"
        }
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ill-2d/85/0124-01"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "analysis": {
    "cardinality": 490,
    "char_count": 6976,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.782,
    "pagerank": {
      "raw": 5.7801115123929334e-08,
      "percentile": 0.36082663506636875
    },
    "sha256": "5a2e41bf6d6b189769882b53c4244654692cc78f82e8cf03880a3c1df574d014",
    "simhash": "1:96ec7cefbfd3c507",
    "word_count": 1120
  },
  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:16:00.157691+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "ELLEN C. PARIS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. CHERRY PAYMENT SYSTEMS, INC., Defendant-Appellee."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "JUSTICE HARTMAN\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nPlaintiff Ellen C. Paris (Paris) appeals dismissal of her complaint for retaliatory discharge, arguing the circuit court erred in granting defendant\u2019s section 2 \u2014 615 motion to dismiss (735 ILCS 5/2 \u2014 615 (West 1992)) for failure to state a cause of action.\nOn February 17, 1993, Paris accepted a position as a telemarketer with defendant Cherry Payment Systems, Inc. (Systems), and began work the following day, of which she informed her son, Thomas M. Paris, an attorney. Her son advised her that he represented a client involved in litigation against Systems unrelated to her current position.\nOn February 22, 1993, Paris\u2019 son wrote Systems\u2019 attorneys, advising them that Paris had accepted a job with defendant, claiming this did not present a conflict of interest. Systems\u2019 attorneys\u2019 reply letter stated a conflict existed and requested Paris\u2019 son to resolve the situation. By telephone, Paris\u2019 son reiterated his belief to one of Systems\u2019 attorneys that Paris\u2019 employment posed no conflict with his representation of a client involved in litigation against Systems.\nOn March 9, 1993, Peter Moles, Paris\u2019 supervisor, and David Giangreco called Paris into Moles\u2019 office where, according to Paris\u2019 complaint, Giangreco informed her she was fired because her son was representing someone in a lawsuit against Systems. Paris claims that Moles protested the firing and described her as \"a top notch telemarketer\u201d who had \"done nothing but make money for the company since the day she began.\u201d Giangreco allegedly informed Paris that Systems\u2019 attorneys had decided to fire her and rejected Moles\u2019 request to speak with these attorneys.\nOn March 23, 1993, Paris brought an action for retaliatory discharge. Systems moved to dismiss pursuant to section 2 \u2014 615 of the Code of Civil Procedure. (735 ILCS 5/2 \u2014 615 (West 1992).) On August 12, 1993, the circuit court dismissed her complaint finding that she sought an unprecedented extension of the retaliatory discharge tort.\nParis contends the circuit court erred in dismissing her complaint since she stated a valid claim for retaliatory discharge. Systems responds that the court properly dismissed the complaint because Paris failed to allege violation of a clearly mandated public policy.\n\u20221 The tort of retaliatory discharge is an exception to the general rule that an at-will employee is terminable at any time for any or no cause. (Palmateer v. International Harvester Co. (1981), 85 Ill. 2d 124, 128, 421 N.E.2d 876.) A valid claim for retaliatory discharge requires a showing that an employee has been (1) discharged; (2) in retaliation for the employee\u2019s activities; and (3) that the discharge violates a clear mandate of public policy. (Hartlein v. Illinois Power Co. (1992), 151 Ill. 2d 142, 160, 601 N.E.2d 720.) Although there is no precise definition of public policy, it concerns what is right and just and what affects the citizens of the State collectively. {Palmateer, 85 Ill. 2d at 130.) The cause of action is allowed where the public policy is clear, but is denied where it is equally clear that only private interests are at stake. Palmateer, 85 Ill. 2d at 131.\nHere, Paris failed to allege her discharge was in retaliation for her own activities. Her termination resulted from a lawsuit filed by others. More importantly, Paris has failed to plead adequately that her discharge contravened a clearly mandated public policy.\nParis relies upon the \"certain remedy\u201d provision of the Illinois Constitution (Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, \u00a7 12) (section 12) to support her contention that a clear public policy of free access to the courts was violated when she was discharged in retaliation for her son\u2019s lawsuit. Her reliance is misplaced. Section 12 and its predecessors have been construed as an expression of political philosophy and not as a mandate that a \"certain remedy\u201d be provided in any specific form. Bilyk v. Chicago Transit Authority (1988), 125 Ill. 2d 230, 245, 531 N.E.2d 1; Wheeling Trust & Savings Bank v. Tremco Inc. (1987), 153 Ill. App. 3d 136, 144, 505 N.E.2d 1045.\n\u20222 In order to constitute a public policy exception justifying application of the tort of retaliatory discharge, the matter \"must strike at the heart of a citizen\u2019s social rights, duties, and responsibilities.\u201d (Palmateer v. International Harvester Co. (1981), 85 Ill. 2d 124, 130, 421 N.E.2d 876.) Illinois courts have applied the tort of retaliatory discharge in only two situations: where the discharge stems from asserting a worker\u2019s compensation claim and where the discharge is for certain activities referred to as \"whistle-blowing.\u201d (Abrams v. Echlin Corp. (1988), 174 Ill. App. 3d 434, 443, 528 N.E.2d 429.) Other than these two circumstances, however, Illinois courts have consistently refused to expand the tort to encompass a private and individual grievance. (Price v. Carmack Datsun, Inc. (1985), 109 Ill. 2d 65, 485 N.E.2d 359; Eisenbach v. Esformes (1991), 221 Ill. App. 3d 440, 582 N.E.2d 196; Buechele v. St. Mary\u2019s Hospital Decatur (1987) , 156 Ill. App. 3d 637, 509 N.E.2d 744; Abrams v. Echlin Corp. (1988) , 174 Ill. App. 3d 434, 528 N.E.2d 429; Mitchell v. Deal (1993), 241 Ill. App. 3d 331, 609 N.E.2d 378.) The right to file a retaliatory discharge lawsuit claiming individual injury without implicating any clearly mandated public policy is not cognizable by Illinois law. Buechele v. St. Mary\u2019s Hospital Decatur (1987), 156 Ill. App. 3d 637, 643, 509 N.E.2d 744.\n\u20223 Given the limited scope of the tort of retaliatory discharge, we conclude, as have cases in other jurisdictions construing similar language, that section 12 does not create a clear and unambiguous public policy exception to the employment-at-will doctrine. Kavanagh v. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (N.D. Ill. 1983), 566 F. Supp. 242; Deit ers v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. (M.D. Tenn. 1993), 842 F. Supp. 1023; Beam v. IPCO Corp. (7th Cir. 1988), 838 F.2d 242; Whitman v. Schlumberger Ltd. (N.D. Cal. 1992), 793 F. Supp. 228.\nParis also contends the preamble to the Rules of Professional Conduct (134 Ill. 2d preamble) provides a public policy basis for her retaliatory discharge claim by ensuring access to counsel and the courts. As the previous discussion illustrates, free access to the courts by third parties has not been recognized as a public policy exception to the employment-at-will doctrine. The instant case involves a private dispute and, therefore, does not provide a set of facts warranting expansion of the tort of retaliatory discharge.\nFor the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.\nAffirmed.\nDiVITO, P.J., and McCORMICK, J., concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "JUSTICE HARTMAN"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Glenn M. Turner, of Wheeling, for appellant.",
      "Winston & Strawn, of Chicago (William G. Miossi and Joseph J. Torres, of counsel), for appellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "ELLEN C. PARIS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. CHERRY PAYMENT SYSTEMS, INC., Defendant-Appellee.\nFirst District (2nd Division)\nNo. 1 \u2014 93\u20143260\nOpinion filed July 19, 1994.\nGlenn M. Turner, of Wheeling, for appellant.\nWinston & Strawn, of Chicago (William G. Miossi and Joseph J. Torres, of counsel), for appellee."
  },
  "file_name": "0383-01",
  "first_page_order": 403,
  "last_page_order": 406
}