{ "id": 1209112, "name": "WILLIAM GARCIA et al., Plaintiffs-Appellees and Cross-Appellants, v. BARBARA GUTIERREZ, Defendant (Country Companies Insurance, as Subrogee of William Garcia et al., Intervenors-Appellants and Cross-Appellees)", "name_abbreviation": "Garcia v. Gutierrez", "decision_date": "2002-05-29", "docket_number": "No. 3\u201401\u20140305", "first_page": "127", "last_page": "131", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "331 Ill. App. 3d 127" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "688 N.E.2d 859", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "862" }, { "page": "862" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "293 Ill. App. 3d 452", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 847547 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "456" }, { "page": "456" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/293/0452-01" ] }, { "cite": "607 N.E.2d 1204", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "holding that ambiguous provisions in an insurance policy are to be construed in favor of the insured" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "154 Ill. 2d 90", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 4820940 ], "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "holding that ambiguous provisions in an insurance policy are to be construed in favor of the insured" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/154/0090-01" ] }, { "cite": "683 N.E.2d 972", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1997, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "291 Ill. App. 3d 343", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 456097 ], "year": 1997, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/291/0343-01" ] }, { "cite": "760 N.E.2d 550", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2001, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "326 Ill. App. 3d 272", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 1281382 ], "year": 2001, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/326/0272-01" ] }, { "cite": "748 N.E.2d 674", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "noting that an appellate court is vested with jurisdiction to hear appeals of final orders" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "321 Ill. App. 3d 879", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 132373 ], "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "noting that an appellate court is vested with jurisdiction to hear appeals of final orders" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/321/0879-01" ] }, { "cite": "592 N.E.2d 160", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "163" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "227 Ill. App. 3d 715", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5796381 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "720" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/227/0715-01" ] }, { "cite": "693 N.E.2d 333", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "181 Ill. 2d 512", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 821420 ], "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/181/0512-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 477, "char_count": 9061, "ocr_confidence": 0.77, "pagerank": { "raw": 5.3353754340853354e-08, "percentile": 0.3358415876755749 }, "sha256": "7d5e8cb57e1f6279983a3521c602bc90d2d3ec9f2ad8616a4b659383e02844d3", "simhash": "1:282800aac8a28d68", "word_count": 1449 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T14:37:46.779771+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "WILLIAM GARCIA et al., Plaintiffs-Appellees and Cross-Appellants, v. BARBARA GUTIERREZ, Defendant (Country Companies Insurance, as Subrogee of William Garcia et al., Intervenors-Appellants and Cross-Appellees)." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE BRESLIN\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nPlaintiffs William and Anita Garcia settled a personal injury action with defendant Barbara Gutierrez\u2019s insurance company for injuries William and their daughter Krista sustained in a car accident. Thereafter, the Garcias\u2019 insurance carrier, Country Companies, intervened to protect its subrogation rights. The trial court determined that Country Companies had no subrogation rights as to Krista\u2019s recovery but that under the common fund doctrine the Garcias\u2019 attorney was entitled to one-third of the amount that Country Companies had paid for Krista\u2019s medical expenses. Country Companies appealed. We affirm the holding that Country Companies had no subrogation rights on Krista\u2019s recovery based on its policy language. But we hold that the common fund doctrine was not applicable. Accordingly, we reverse in part and remand for the common fund monies to be returned to Krista\u2019s estate.\nFACTS\nKrista was injured when the car driven by her father was struck by a vehicle driven by Gutierrez. Country Companies paid $5,000 to the medical providers who treated Krista\u2019s injuries. Thereafter, the Garcias filed a three-count complaint against Gutierrez. Count I was for personal injuries that William sustained in the accident and for payments he made for Krista\u2019s medical expenses. Count II sought reimbursement for Krista\u2019s medical bills that were paid by Anita pursuant to the Rights of Married Persons Act (750 ILCS 65/15 (West 2000)). Count III was brought by Anita on behalf of Krista for Krista\u2019s personal injuries and medical expenses. The parties settled the case, pursuant to which William received $60,000 and Krista received $55,000. Country Companies was reimbursed from William\u2019s proceeds for expenses paid on his behalf.\nThe Garcias filed a motion on behalf of their daughter to adjudicate Country Companies\u2019 lien on the proceeds of Krista\u2019s settlement and for application of the common fund doctrine if the hen was determined to be valid. Country Companies intervened and claimed that a hen attached to the amounts William and Anita recovered for Krista\u2019s medical expenses under counts I and II of the complaint. The trial court denied the Garcias\u2019 motion to adjudicate the hen, determined that the common fund doctrine was apphcable to the $5,000 Country Companies had paid to Krista\u2019s medical providers, and reduced the $5,000 claim by one-third for attorney fees and for expenses incurred. The court further determined that no hen attached to the claim against Krista\u2019s estate. The court subsequently ruled that Country Companies had no valid lien on any portion of Krista\u2019s recovery. Country Companies appealed. After the appeal was filed, Country Companies discovered that the case between the Garcias and Gutierrez had never been dismissed after settlement was reached and thus prepared an agreed order of dismissal which the trial court entered. Country Companies then refiled the appeal in a timely fashion.\nANALYSIS\nCountry Companies argues on appeal that the trial court erred when it determined that Country Companies was not entitled to recover medical payments made on Krista\u2019s behalf and when it apphed the common fund doctrine. This court reviews questions of law de novo. Woods v. Cole, 181 Ill. 2d 512, 693 N.E.2d 333 (1998).\nAs a threshold issue, we must first address the Garcias\u2019 assertion that Country Companies failed to preserve any issues for appeal because the agreed order of dismissal referenced the settlement of all claims, including the subrogation issue.\nA court order is to be interpreted in its entirety with reference to other parts of the record, including pleadings, motions, and issues before the court. See Granville Beach Condominium Ass\u2019n v. Granville Beach Condominiums, Inc., 227 Ill. App. 3d 715, 592 N.E.2d 160 (1992). An order is to be construed in a reasonable manner that gives effect to the apparent intention of the trial court. See Granville Beach Condominium Ass\u2019n, 227 Ill. App. 3d at 720, 592 N.E.2d at 163.\nThe agreed order states that the \u201c[pjlaintiffs have settled their causes of action with the defendants,\u201d \u201cthat all parties seek and [sic] final order dismissing the [plaintiffs\u2019 causes of actions with prejudice pursuant to settlement,\u201d and \u201cthat this matter is pending in the Appellate Court, but it appears that no final dismissal order was entered.\u201d When read in its entirety and construed with the rest of the record, the order does not indicate that Country Companies\u2019 subrogation claim was included in the settlement and the dismissal. While in-artfully drafted, we interpret the agreed order to mean that it memorialized the settlement between the Garcias and Gutierrez and provided a final and appealable order on the subrogation and common fund doctrine issues. Thus, we hold that jurisdiction is properly before this court. See Hartford Fire Insurance Co. v. Whitehall Convalescent & Nursing Home, Inc., 321 Ill. App. 3d 879, 748 N.E.2d 674 (2001) (noting that an appellate court is vested with jurisdiction to hear appeals of final orders). Country Companies\u2019 first argument is that William and Anita were contractually bound under the terms of the insurance contract to reimburse it for medical payments it made on Krista\u2019s behalf.\nWords of an insurance policy are to be given their plain meaning, but if they are susceptible to more than one meaning, they are ambiguous and should be narrowly construed against the insurer. See Maremont Corp. v. Continental Casualty Co., 326 Ill. App. 3d 272, 760 N.E.2d 550 (2001). To determine whether an ambiguity exists, the policy should be read in its factual context wherein ambiguities may be discovered in the terms used. See Pahn v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., 291 Ill. App. 3d 343, 683 N.E.2d 972 (1997).\nThe policy states that \u201c[i]f we make a payment *** and the person to whom or from whom payment was made *** has a right to recover damages, Country Companies is subrogated to that right\u201d (emphasis added). Based on this language, we determine that the subrogation provision is ambiguous. The contract language suggests Country Companies\u2019 subrogation rights only attach to parties to whom Country Companies made payment or from whom payment was made. Such an interpretation would exclude Country Companies from subrogating an insured\u2019s recovery whenever Country Companies paid medical providers directly and would contravene the essence of subrogation. Accordingly, we hold that Country Companies had no subrogation right to recover for payments it made for Krista\u2019s medical expenses. See Outboard Marine Corp. v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., 154 Ill. 2d 90, 607 N.E.2d 1204 (1992) (holding that ambiguous provisions in an insurance policy are to be construed in favor of the insured).\nWe turn now to Country Companies\u2019 second argument, that the trial court erred when it applied the common fund doctrine and awarded the Garcias\u2019 attorney one-third of the amount Country Companies paid for Krista\u2019s medical expenses.\nUnder the common fund doctrine, a lawyer who recovers a sum of money for the benefit of others beyond his client is entitled to reasonable attorney fees from the fund as a whole. See Country Mutual Insurance Co. v. Birner, 293 Ill. App. 3d 452, 688 N.E.2d 859 (1997). To be entitled to fees under the doctrine, an attorney must show (1) that the fund was created as a result of legal services he performed; (2) that the subrogee did not participate in creating the fund; and (3) that the subrogee benefitted out of the fund. Birner, 293 Ill. App. 3d at 456, 688 N.E.2d at 862. When these conditions are satisfied, fees and expenses incurred in setting up the fund should be apportioned among those who benefitted from its creation. Birner, 293 Ill. App. 3d at 456, 688 N.E.2d at 862.\nBecause we determined that Country Companies had no subrogation rights, it follows that Country Companies did not benefit from any common fund that was created. Because one of the elements necessary for application of the common fund doctrine is lacking, we hold that the trial court erred in implementing the doctrine, and we reverse its decision. Consequently, the $5,000 that was taken from Krista\u2019s recovery should be returned to her estate and no attorney fees or expenses should be deducted or paid out of Krista\u2019s recovery. We remand for the trial court to act in accordance with this order.\nFor the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the circuit court of Will County is affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.\nAffirmed in part and reversed in part; cause remanded.\nHOLDRIDGE and SLATER, JJ., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE BRESLIN" } ], "attorneys": [ "Gregory F. Kelly, James E Newman (argued), and Shari Shelmadine, all of Newman & Felafas, of Chicago, for appellant.", "Bennett J. Braun (argued), of Joliet, for appellees." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "WILLIAM GARCIA et al., Plaintiffs-Appellees and Cross-Appellants, v. BARBARA GUTIERREZ, Defendant (Country Companies Insurance, as Subrogee of William Garcia et al., Intervenors-Appellants and Cross-Appellees).\nThird District\nNo. 3\u201401\u20140305\nOpinion filed May 29, 2002.\nGregory F. Kelly, James E Newman (argued), and Shari Shelmadine, all of Newman & Felafas, of Chicago, for appellant.\nBennett J. Braun (argued), of Joliet, for appellees." }, "file_name": "0127-01", "first_page_order": 145, "last_page_order": 149 }