{ "id": 4259155, "name": "JUDITH KENNEDY, Independent Adm'r of the Estate of Edith R. Nesmon, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. LEANNA KARNOPP GRIMSLEY et al., Defendants-Appellants", "name_abbreviation": "Kennedy v. Grimsley", "decision_date": "2005-10-13", "docket_number": "No. 3\u201405\u20140189", "first_page": "511", "last_page": "515", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "361 Ill. App. 3d 511" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "641 N.E.2d 834", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "837" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "267 Ill. App. 3d 513", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 333117 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "518" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/267/0513-01" ] }, { "cite": "783 N.E.2d 77", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "80" }, { "page": "80-81" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "335 Ill. App. 3d 356", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 637072 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "360" }, { "page": "361" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/335/0356-01" ] }, { "cite": "683 N.E.2d 516", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "519" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "291 Ill. App. 3d 155", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 456127 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "158" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/291/0155-01" ] }, { "cite": "823 N.E.2d 213", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "355 Ill. App. 3d 439", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3599771 ], "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/355/0439-01" ] }, { "cite": "827 N.E.2d 983", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "356 Ill. App. 3d 447", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3748805 ], "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/356/0447-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 465, "char_count": 7857, "ocr_confidence": 0.801, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.03580807328026e-08, "percentile": 0.1424924773606492 }, "sha256": "f30d3e3e95b4f9790cd076561f86e5c98c98bf4a0f76801ae3e999e878455823", "simhash": "1:3ded7cec3b549ed2", "word_count": 1242 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:43:20.596028+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "JUDITH KENNEDY, Independent Adm\u2019r of the Estate of Edith R. Nesmon, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. LEANNA KARNOPP GRIMSLEY et al., Defendants-Appellants." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "PRESIDING JUSTICE SLATER\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nThis court granted defendants\u2019 application for leave to appeal under Supreme Court Rule 308 (155 Ill. 2d R. 308) to consider whether plaintiffs claim for punitive damages for alleged fraud in inducing an attorney-client relationship is barred by section 2 \u2014 1115 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Code) (735 ILCS 5/2\u20141115 (West 2004)). We find that it is.\nFacts\nThe third amended complaint filed by plaintiff Judith Kennedy, administrator of the estate of Edith Nesmon, consists of four counts. Count I alleges that defendant Leanna Karnopp Grimsley (hereinafter defendant) committed legal malpractice by failing to file a medical malpractice lawsuit prior to the expiration of the statute of limitations. Count II alleges that defendant was an employee of the law firm of Grimsley & Grimsley, P.C., (hereinafter law firm) and it asserts liability based on respondeat superior. Neither of those counts is at issue in this appeal.\nCount III of plaintiffs complaint alleges that at the initial meeting with defendant on January 18, 2000, plaintiff told defendant that she was seeking an attorney who was skilled in handling medical negligence cases and defendant told plaintiff that she was \u201cwell familiar\u201d with such cases. Defendant also told plaintiff that she was familiar with the legal principles governing such cases in the State of California. According to plaintiff, defendant made these statements with the intent to deceive plaintiff and induce her to enter into an attorney-client relationship. Plaintiff asserts that defendant in fact had no prior experience in medical negligence cases, had no knowledge of California law and was not competent to try a medical negligence case. Plaintiff hired defendant in reliance on her false statements and defendant subsequently failed to file suit prior to the running of the statute of limitations. Plaintiff sought both compensatory and punitive damages. Count IV realleges the same claim against the law firm on the basis of respondeat superior.\nDefendant subsequently filed a motion to dismiss counts III and IV on various grounds, which the trial court denied. However, the court identified the issue of the application of section 2 \u2014 1115 of the Code as a question of law suitable for immediate appeal under Rule 308, and this appeal followed.\nAnalysis\nStandard of Review\nThe scope of review in an interlocutory appeal under Rule 308 is ordinarily limited to the question certified by the trial court, which is reviewed de novo. See Thompson v. Gordon, 356 Ill. App. 3d 447, 827 N.E.2d 983 (2005). In addition, questions of statutory interpretation are subject to de novo review. Schweickert v. AG Services of America, Inc., 355 Ill. App. 3d 439, 823 N.E.2d 213 (2005).\nSection 2 \u2014 1115 of the Code provides:\n\u201c\u00a7 2 \u2014 1115. Punitive damages not recoverable in healing art and legal malpractice cases. In all cases, whether in tort, contract or otherwise, in which the plaintiff seeks damages by reason of legal, medical, hospital, or other healing art malpractice, no punitive, exemplary, vindictive or aggravated damages shall be allowed.\u201d 735 ILCS 5/2 \u2014 1115 (West 2004).\nDespite the broad language of section 2 \u2014 1115 and its seemingly sweeping prohibition against punitive damages in legal malpractice cases, this court has held that section 2 \u2014 1115 does not apply to complaints alleging common law fraud. In Cripe v. Leiter, 291 Ill. App. 3d 155, 683 N.E.2d 516 (1997), the plaintiff alleged that the billing statements of the defendant attorney contained false statements regarding the number of hours spent on certain trust and guardianship matters. We found that punitive damages were not prohibited because section 2 \u2014 1115 was \u201conly applicable if the behavior alleged in the complaint amounts to legal malpractice.\u201d Cripe, 291 Ill. App. 3d at 158, 683 N.E.2d at 519. Since fraud and legal malpractice were distinct causes of action, punitive damages were available. Cripe, 291 Ill. App. 3d 155, 683 N.E.2d 516. The trial court in this case specifically relied on Cripe in denying defendants\u2019 motion to dismiss counts III and IV\nOf course, a plaintiff cannot avoid the effect of section 2 \u2014 1115 by simply applying a fraud label to a legal malpractice claim. Instead, \u201cin determining the applicability of section 2 \u2014 1115, the court must look to the \u2018nature of the behavior alleged\u2019 in plaintiffs\u2019 complaint to \u2018determine whether the activities fall within the term \u201clegal malpractice.\u201d \u2019 \u201d Brush v. Gilsdorf, 335 Ill. App. 3d 356, 360, 783 N.E.2d 77, 80 (2002), quoting Safeway Insurance Co. v. Spinak, 267 Ill. App. 3d 513, 518, 641 N.E.2d 834, 837 (1994). In Brush this court held that punitive damages were not available in an action for breach of fiduciary duty brought against a law firm for failure to disclose possible conflicts of interest and for failing to inform plaintiff of settlement offers. \u201c[B]ecause injury was suffered by reason of the attorneys\u2019 professional conduct during the course of legal representation, the gravamen of the claim is legal malpractice, regardless of which theory or claim has been pled.\u201d Brush, 335 Ill. App. 3d at 361, 783 N.E.2d at 80-81.\nSimilarly in this case, we believe that the gravamen of plaintiffs claim is one for legal malpractice, not fraud. The nature of the behavior alleged concerns defendant\u2019s actions and statements in the creation of the attorney-client relationship, the necessary predicate to any malpractice action. Plaintiff\u2019s attempt to carve out a separate cause of action is understandable in light of section 2 \u2014 1115, but it creates an artificial distinction between the formation of the attorney-client relationship and its consequences. The essence of plaintiff\u2019s claim is that her relationship with defendant caused her harm, due to a lack of skill, knowledge or effort. Plaintiff\u2019s allegations that defendant misled her about that lack of skill or knowledge are so inextricably intertwined with her claims for legal malpractice that they cannot escape the effect of section 2 \u2014 1115. Unlike the fraudulent billing at issue in Cripe, which was unrelated to issues of legal skill and ability, plaintiffs allegations of defendant\u2019s lack of knowledge and ability are precisely those underlying her malpractice suit. We find, therefore, that plaintiff\u2019s claims for punitive damages in counts III and IV of her third amended complaint are barred by section 2 \u2014 1115 of the Code. Accordingly, we answer affirmatively the following question certified by the trial court:\n\u201cWhether the trial court improperly denied Defendants\u2019 Motion to Dismiss Counts III and IV of Plaintiffs Third Amended Complaint, when Section 2 \u2014 1115 of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure prohibits actions for punitive damages against attorneys in all cases, whether in tort, contract or otherwise, in which Plaintiff seeks damages by reason of legal malpractice and where Counts III and IV of Plaintiffs Third Amended Complaint seek punitive damages as recovery against attorneys for alleged common law fraud in the inducement of the attorney client relationship[.]\u201d\nFor the reasons stated above, the certified question is answered in the affirmative, and this cause is remanded for further proceedings.\nCertified question answered; cause remanded.\nLYTTON and O\u2019BRIEN, JJ., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "PRESIDING JUSTICE SLATER" } ], "attorneys": [ "R. Michael Henderson (argued) and Adam P. Chaddock, both of Quinn, Johnston, Henderson & Pretorius, Chtrd., of Peoria, for appellants.", "James R. Carter, Boyd O. Roberts III, and Brian Allen Kuehn (argued), all of Carter Law Offices, of Peoria, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "JUDITH KENNEDY, Independent Adm\u2019r of the Estate of Edith R. Nesmon, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. LEANNA KARNOPP GRIMSLEY et al., Defendants-Appellants.\nThird District\nNo. 3\u201405\u20140189\nOpinion filed October 13, 2005.\nRehearing denied November 17, 2005.\nR. Michael Henderson (argued) and Adam P. Chaddock, both of Quinn, Johnston, Henderson & Pretorius, Chtrd., of Peoria, for appellants.\nJames R. Carter, Boyd O. Roberts III, and Brian Allen Kuehn (argued), all of Carter Law Offices, of Peoria, for appellee." }, "file_name": "0511-01", "first_page_order": 529, "last_page_order": 533 }