{ "id": 4266547, "name": "THEO HILL, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. PS ILLINOIS TRUST, Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "Hill v. PS Illinois Trust", "decision_date": "2006-09-26", "docket_number": "No. 1\u201405\u20144000", "first_page": "310", "last_page": "320", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "368 Ill. App. 3d 310" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "405 U.S. 233", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 11722077 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1972, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/405/0233-01" ] }, { "cite": "662 N.E.2d 602", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1996, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "278 Ill. App. 3d 307", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 1156818 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "313" }, { "page": "313", "parenthetical": "\"the defendant's conduct must violate public policy, be so oppressive as to leave the consumer with little alternative but to submit, and injure the consumer\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/278/0307-01" ] }, { "cite": "675 N.E.2d 584", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1996, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "775 N.E.2d 951", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2002, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "201 Ill. 2d 403", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1477014 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "416-17" }, { "page": "419" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/201/0403-01" ] }, { "cite": "485 U.S. 478", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 13731 ], "weight": 12, "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "485" }, { "page": "575" }, { "page": "1345" }, { "page": "486" }, { "page": "576" }, { "page": "1345" }, { "page": "487" }, { "page": "576" }, { "page": "1346" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/485/0478-01" ] }, { "cite": "419 U.S. 345", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6175165 ], "weight": 13, "year": 1974, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "350" }, { "page": "483" }, { "page": "453" }, { "page": "52" }, { "page": "350" }, { "page": "483" }, { "page": "453" }, { "page": "52" }, { "page": "350" }, { "page": "483" }, { "page": "453" }, { "page": "52" }, { "page": "50" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/419/0345-01" ] }, { "cite": "526 U.S. 40", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 11132829 ], "weight": 26, "year": 1999, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "50" }, { "page": "143" }, { "page": "985" }, { "page": "50" }, { "page": "143" }, { "page": "985" }, { "page": "50" }, { "page": "143-44" }, { "page": "985" }, { "page": "52" }, { "page": "144" }, { "page": "986" }, { "page": "145" }, { "page": "986" }, { "page": "144-45" }, { "page": "986" }, { "page": "144-45" }, { "page": "986" }, { "page": "143" }, { "page": "985" }, { "page": "53" }, { "page": "145" }, { "page": "986" }, { "page": "53" }, { "page": "145" }, { "page": "986" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/526/0040-01" ] }, { "cite": "383 U.S. 787", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6175705 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1966, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/383/0787-01" ] }, { "cite": "457 U.S. 922", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6196193 ], "weight": 18, "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "928" }, { "page": "489-90" }, { "page": "2749" }, { "page": "937" }, { "page": "495" }, { "page": "2753-54" }, { "page": "941" }, { "page": "498" }, { "page": "2756" }, { "page": "941" }, { "page": "498" }, { "page": "2756" }, { "page": "939" }, { "page": "496-97" }, { "page": "2754-55" }, { "page": "939" }, { "page": "496-97" }, { "page": "2754-55" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/457/0922-01" ] }, { "cite": "398 U.S. 144", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6169865 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1970, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "170" }, { "page": "161" }, { "page": "1615" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/398/0144-01" ] }, { "cite": "42 U.S.C. \u00a71983", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "U.S.C.", "year": 2000, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "436 U.S. 149", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 1490186 ], "weight": 27, "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "151" }, { "page": "190" }, { "page": "1731" }, { "page": "155" }, { "page": "193" }, { "page": "1733" }, { "page": "163" }, { "page": "198" }, { "page": "1737" }, { "page": "157" }, { "page": "194" }, { "page": "1734" }, { "page": "164" }, { "page": "198" }, { "page": "1737" }, { "page": "164" }, { "page": "198" }, { "page": "1737" }, { "page": "164" }, { "page": "198" }, { "page": "1737" }, { "page": "164" }, { "page": "198" }, { "page": "1737" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/436/0149-01" ] }, { "cite": "387 U.S. 369", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 11337097 ], "weight": 9, "year": 1967, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "381" }, { "page": "838" }, { "page": "1634" }, { "page": "381" }, { "page": "838" }, { "page": "1634" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/387/0369-01" ] }, { "cite": "92 L. Ed. 1161", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed.", "weight": 3, "year": 1948, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1180" }, { "page": "1181" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "334 U.S. 1", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6157293 ], "weight": 6, "year": 1948, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "13" }, { "page": "842" }, { "page": "13-15" }, { "page": "842" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/334/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "114 L. Ed. 2d 2077", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed. 2d", "year": 1948, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "710 N.E.2d 798", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1999, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "186 Ill. 2d 198", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 243955 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1999, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "227" }, { "page": "227" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/186/0198-01" ] }, { "cite": "500 U.S. 614", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6228877 ], "weight": 6, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "621-22" }, { "page": "674" }, { "page": "621-22" }, { "page": "674" }, { "page": "622" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/500/0614-01" ] }, { "cite": "489 N.E.2d 351", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "140 Ill. App. 3d 713", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3533124 ], "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "717" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/140/0713-01" ] }, { "cite": "348 N.E.2d 831", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1976, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "64 Ill. 2d 11", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5428696 ], "weight": 6, "year": 1976, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "15-16" }, { "page": "15" }, { "page": "18" }, { "page": "16" }, { "page": "16" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/64/0011-01" ] }, { "cite": "824 N.E.2d 221", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "214 Ill. 2d 60", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 8450556 ], "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "73" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/214/0060-01" ] }, { "cite": "672 N.E.2d 302", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "\"Moreover, even if the issue were not waived, we believe that [plaintiffs] constitutional arguments are without merit\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "284 Ill. App. 3d 577", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 1260418 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "587", "parenthetical": "\"Moreover, even if the issue were not waived, we believe that [plaintiffs] constitutional arguments are without merit\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/284/0577-01" ] }, { "cite": "810 N.E.2d 13", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2004, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "211 Ill. 2d 106", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 8451129 ], "year": 2004, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "118-19" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/211/0106-01" ] }, { "cite": "174 Ill. 2d 482", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 223623 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "490, 675" }, { "page": "502" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/174/0482-01" ] }, { "cite": "773 N.E.2d 641", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2002, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "201 Ill. 2d 81", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1477001 ], "weight": 3, "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "85" }, { "page": "86" }, { "page": "86" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/201/0081-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1180, "char_count": 27196, "ocr_confidence": 0.776, "pagerank": { "raw": 7.856703299427298e-08, "percentile": 0.45887192651000114 }, "sha256": "96f622983beb52c63e2033caff45c785405b9467ad46a1ffb7c7df1831437b75", "simhash": "1:aa0ed6163854be27", "word_count": 4604 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T20:06:43.500571+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "THEO HILL, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. PS ILLINOIS TRUST, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "PRESIDING JUSTICE WOLFSON\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nThe storage facility sold off plaintiffs property because his rent payments were overdue. That sale gives rise to the plaintiff\u2019s constitutional and statutory claims we address in this appeal.\nPlaintiff Theo Hill filed a class action lawsuit against defendant PS Illinois Trust (PS), alleging the Illinois Self-Storage Facility Act (Storage Act) (770 ILCS 95/1 et seq. (West 2004)) violated the due process clause of the Illinois Constitution (Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, \u00a72). Plaintiff also alleged on his own behalf that PS\u2019s actions in conducting a lien sale under the Storage Act were \u201cunfair and deceptive\u201d under the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act (Act or CFA) (815 ILCS 505/2 (West 2004)).\nPS moved to dismiss plaintiffs case pursuant to section 2 \u2014 615 of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure (Code) (735 ILCS 5/2 \u2014 615 (West 2004)). The trial court granted PS\u2019s motion.\nOn appeal, plaintiff contends the trial court erred when it determined he failed to allege the requisite state action necessary to support a claim under the Illinois due process clause, and that he failed to state a claim under the Act. We affirm in part and reverse and remand in part.\nFACTS\nThe pleadings reveal the facts relevant to this appeal. On August 5, 2003, defendant entered into a contract with PS for the rental of a storage locker in order to store his personal property. Plaintiff made his monthly payments for August and September. On October 17, 2003, plaintiff called PS\u2019s storage facility to inform it that he would be late with October\u2019s rent payment, but would make the payment later in the week. Plaintiff was told his account was past due, but was not told his property would be auctioned off if payment was not made.\nPlaintiff was unable to make the October and November rental payments. On December 5, 2003, plaintiff called PS to check the balance on his account and arrange payment. Plaintiff was told his belongings were auctioned off on November 25, 2003. Plaintiff\u2019s personal property was worth in excess of $25,000. According to plaintiff, he never received notice that PS would be auctioning off his property in order to enforce a lien created under section 3 of the Storage Act. 770 ILCS 95/3 (West 2004).\nOn January 26, 2005, plaintiff called PS to demand the return of any balance remaining from the lien sale, as required by section 4(j) of the Storage Act. 770 ILCS 95/4(j) (West 2004). A representative of PS told plaintiff, \u201cI have no idea what you are talking about.\u201d On February 9, 2005, plaintiff faxed PS a letter demanding the return of any balance remaining. PS never responded to the letter.\nPlaintiff filed a two-count complaint against PS in the circuit court of Cook County. In count I, plaintiff sought, on behalf of himself and a putative class of PS customers, a declaratory judgment that the Storage Act was unconstitutional \u201con its face and as applied\u201d because it failed to provide adequate notice. In count II, plaintiff alleged on his own behalf that PS, in violation of the Act, engaged in unfair and deceptive conduct when it sold his property.\nPS moved to dismiss the complaint pursuant to section 2 \u2014 615 of the Code. PS contended: (1) plaintiff failed to allege the requisite state action necessary to support a claim under the due process clause of the Illinois State Constitution; and (2) plaintiff failed to allege any facts that would constitute an unfair act in violation of the Act. The trial court dismissed Count I and gave plaintiff time to amend his claim under the Act. Plaintiff then filed a motion to amend his complaint. The trial court denied plaintiff\u2019s motion to amend and dismissed the case with prejudice. Plaintiff appealed the dismissal of the Act and declaratory judgment claims, but did not appeal from the trial court\u2019s refusal to allow him to amend his complaint, nor did he appeal dismissal of his conversion claim.\nDECISION\nA section 2 \u2014 615 motion to dismiss challenges only the legal sufficiency of the complaint. 735 ILCS 5/2 \u2014 615 (West 2004); Jarvis v. South Oak Dodge, Inc., 201 Ill. 2d 81, 85, 773 N.E.2d 641 (2002). The central inquiry is whether the allegations of the complaint, when considered in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, are sufficient to state a cause of action relief may be granted on. Jarvis, 201 Ill. 2d at 86; Connick v. Suzuki Motor Co., 174 Ill. 2d 482, 490, 675, N.E.2d 584 (1996). We review de novo the dismissal of a complaint under section 2 \u2014 615 of the Code. Jarvis, 201 Ill. 2d at 86.\nI. Due Process\nPlaintiff contends the trial court erred when it determined he failed to allege the requisite state action necessary to support a claim under the Illinois due process clause.\nInitially, we note plaintiff has not indicated he complied with Supreme Court Rule 19 (134 Ill. 2d R. 19), which requires a litigant challenging the constitutionality of a statute, ordinance, or administrative regulation to serve notice of the challenge upon the Attorney General or other affected agency or officer. While we recognize the failure of a litigant to strictly comply with the rule may result in forfeiture, our supreme court has concluded that \u201ca party\u2019s failure to timely comply with Rule 19 does not deprive the court of jurisdiction to consider the constitutional issue.\u201d Village of Lake Villa v. Stoko vich, 211 Ill. 2d 106, 118-19, 810 N.E.2d 13 (2004); Serafin v. Seith, 284 Ill. App. 3d 577, 587, 672 N.E.2d 302 (1996) (\u201cMoreover, even if the issue were not waived, we believe that [plaintiffs] constitutional arguments are without merit\u201d). We will decide the issue, although its ripeness for consideration is dubious.\nTo assert a violation of the Illinois due process clause, a plaintiff must allege a state action deprived him of a protected right, privilege, or immunity. In re Adoption of L.T.M., 214 Ill. 2d 60, 73, 824 N.E.2d 221 (2005); USA I Lehndorff Vermoegensverwaltung GmbH & Cie v. Cousins Club, Inc., 64 Ill. 2d 11, 15-16, 348 N.E.2d 831 (1976). The Illinois due process clause stands \u201cas a prohibition against governmental action, not action by private individuals.\u201d Methodist Medical Center of Illinois v. Taylor, 140 Ill. App. 3d 713, 717, 489 N.E.2d 351 (1986).\nPlaintiff contends state action was properly alleged in this case because the State of Illinois \u201cauthorized\u201d PS, under section 4 of the Storage Act, to violate his constitutional rights by selling his property without due process. See 770 ILCS 95/4 (West 2004). Plaintiff contends there are three distinct tests for determining whether there is state action. See Edmonson v. Leesville Concrete Co., 500 U.S. 614, 621-22, 114 L. Ed. 2d 660, 674, Ill S. Ct. 2077, 2083 (1991). Plaintiff contends the third test, the \u201cstate authorization model,\u201d applies in this case because the Storage Act specifically authorized PS to conduct the lien sale.\nIn response, PS contends plaintiffs failure to attribute state action to PS\u2019s decision to sell his goods is fatal to his due process claim. Defendant contends section 4 of the Storage Act permitted, but did not compel, PS to sell plaintiffs belongings. See 770 ILCS 95/3 (West 2004). PS contends merely permitting a private actor to make such a choice cannot support a finding of state action.\nWhen appropriate, the Illinois Supreme Court has interpreted our state due process clause to provide greater protections than its federal counterpart. Lewis E. v. Spagnolo, 186 Ill. 2d 198, 227, 710 N.E.2d 798 (1999). \u201cNonetheless, federal precedent interpreting the federal due process clause is useful as a guide in interpreting the Illinois provision.\u201d Spagnolo, 186 Ill. 2d at 227.\nTo support his contention, plaintiff relies on three United States Supreme Court decisions: Edmonson, 500 U.S. 614, 114 L. Ed. 2d 2077, Ill S. Ct. 660; Shelley v. Kraemer, 334 U.S. 1, 92 L. Ed. 1161, 68 S. Ct. 836 (1948); and Reitman v. Mulkey, 387 U.S. 369, 18 L. Ed. 2d 830, 87 S. Ct. 1627 (1967).\nIn Edmonson, the Court noted that \u201cin determining whether a particular action or course of conduct is governmental in character, it is relevant to examine the following: the extent to which the actor relies on governmental assistance and benefits [citations]; whether the actor is performing a traditional governmental function [citations]; and whether the injury caused is aggravated in a unique way by the incidents of governmental authority.\u201d Edmonson, 500 U.S. at 621-22, 114 L. Ed. 2d at 674, 111 S. Ct. at 2083. However, the Court also noted that \u201c[although private use of state-sanctioned private remedies or procedures does not rise, by itself, to the level of state action, [citation] our cases have found state action when private parties make extensive use of state procedures with \u2018overt, significant assistance of state officials.\u2019 [Citation.]\u201d Edmonson, 500 U.S. at 622, 114 L. Ed. 2d at 674, 111 S. Ct. at 2083-84.\nIn Shelley, the Court concluded restrictive racial covenant agreements, standing alone, could not be regarded as a violation of any rights guaranteed by the fourteenth amendment. \u201cSo long as the purposes of those agreements are effectuated by voluntary adherence to their terms, it would appear clear that there has been no action by the State.\u201d Shelley, 334 U.S. at 13, 92 L. Ed. at 1180, 68 S. Ct. at 842. When the restrictive terms and purposes of the agreements were judicially enforced in state courts, however, sufficient state action was present to bring them under the purview of the fourteenth amendment. Shelley, 334 U.S. at 13-15, 92 L. Ed. at 1181, 68 S. Ct. at 842.\nFinally, in Reitman, the United States Supreme Court held a California statute not only repealed an existing law forbidding private racial discriminations, but \u201cwas intended to authorize, and does authorize, racial discrimination in the housing market.\u201d Reitman, 387 U.S. at 381, 18 L. Ed. 2d at 838, 87 S. Ct. at 1634. The California Supreme Court held the statute would significantly encourage and involve the State in private discrimination. After analyzing the decision, the Court found it had not been presented with any persuasive considerations indicating the California judgment should be overturned. Reitman, 387 U.S. at 381, 18 L. Ed. 2d at 838, 87 S. Ct. at 1634.\nBy contrast, in Flagg Brothers, Inc. v. Brooks, 436 U.S. 149, 151, 56 L. Ed. 2d 185, 190, 98 S. Ct. 1729, 1731 (1978), a case similar to the instant action, the Court considered whether a warehouseman\u2019s proposed sale of goods entrusted to him for storage in order to collect overdue storage fees, as permitted by a New York statute, was an action properly attributable to the State of New York. Plaintiff initiated a class action in federal district court under section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act (42 U.S.C. \u00a71983 (2000)), seeking damages, an injunction against the threatened sale of her belongings, and a declaration that such a sale pursuant to the New York statute would violate the due process and equal protection clauses of the fourteenth amendment. In order to establish a section 1983 claim, plaintiff was required to show: (1) she was deprived of a right \u201c \u2018secured by the Constitution and the laws\u2019 of the United States\u201d; and (2) Flagg Brothers deprived her of this right acting \u201c \u2018under color of any statute\u2019 of the State of New York.\u201d Flagg Brothers, 436 U.S. at 155, 56 L. Ed. 2d at 193, 98 S. Ct. at 1733.\nThe Court held the New York statute had done nothing more than \u201cauthorize (and indeed limit) \u2014 without participation by any public official \u2014 what Flagg Brothers would tend to do, even in the absence of such authorization, i.e., dispose of respondents\u2019 property in order to free up its valuable storage space.\u201d Flagg Brothers, 436 U.S. at 162 n.12, 56 L. Ed. 2d at 197 n.12, 98 S. Ct. at 1737 n.12. The proposed sale pursuant to the lien was not a significant departure from traditional private arrangements. Flagg Brothers, 436 U.S. at 163, 56 L. Ed. 2d at 198, 98 S. Ct. at 1737. The \u201ctotal absence of overt official involvement\u201d distinguished the case from earlier decisions imposing procedural restrictions on creditors\u2019 remedies. Flagg Brothers, 436 U.S. at 157, 56 L. Ed. 2d at 194, 98 S. Ct. at 1734.\nNotwithstanding, the plaintiffs contended Flagg Brothers\u2019 proposed action under the statute was properly attributable to the State because \u201cthe State has authorized and encouraged it\u201d by enacting the statute. Flagg Brothers, 436 U.S. at 164, 56 L. Ed. 2d at 198, 98 S. Ct. at 1737. Rejecting the plaintiffs\u2019 contention, the Court held its cases reflect that a State is responsible for the act of a private party only \u201c \u2018when the State, by its law, has compelled the act.\u2019 \u201d Flagg Brothers, 436 U.S. at 164, 56 L. Ed. 2d at 198, 98 S. Ct. at 1737, quoting Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 170, 26 L. Ed. 2d 142, 161, 90 S. Ct. 1598, 1615 (1970). The Court noted it had \u201cnever held that a State\u2019s mere acquiescence in a private action converts that action into that of the State.\u201d Flagg Brothers, 436 U.S. at 164, 56 L. Ed. 2d at 198, 98 S. Ct. at 1737. Flagg Brothers\u2019 actions pursuant to the statute, without something more, were not sufficient to justify characterizing Flagg Brothers as a state actor. The Court did not directly or indirectly limit its decision to section 1983 cases.\nPlaintiff contends Flagg Brothers is inapplicable here because the plaintiff in that case sought to hold individuals personally liable under section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act, rather than simply seeking to declare the New York statute unconstitutional. Plaintiff contends the issue of whether a defendant is a state actor is not relevant in an action seeking only to declare a state statute unconstitutional.\nContrary to plaintiff\u2019s contention, however, the United States Supreme Court has noted: \u201c \u2018In cases under \u00a71983, \u201cunder color\u201d of law has consistently been treated as the same thing as the \u201cstate action\u201d required under the Fourteenth Amendment.\u2019 \u201d Lugar v. Edmondson Oil Co., 457 U.S. 922, 928, 73 L. Ed. 2d 482, 489-90, 102 S. Ct. 2744, 2749 (1982), quoting United States v. Price, 383 U.S. 787, 794 n.7, 16 L. Ed. 2d 267, 272 n.7, 86 S. Ct. 1152, 1157 n.7 (1966).\nFor example, in American Manufacturers Mutual Insurance Co. v. Sullivan, 526 U.S. 40, 50, 143 L. Ed. 2d 130, 143, 119 S. Ct. 977, 985 (1999), the plaintiffs, hoping to avoid the traditional application of the Court\u2019s section 1983 state-action cases, characterized their claim as a \u201cfacial\u201d or \u201cdirect\u201d challenge to the procedures contained in the statute. The plaintiffs contended the Court need not concern itself with the \u201c \u2018identity of the defendant\u2019 or the \u2018act or decision by a private actor or entity who is relying on the challenged law.\u2019 \u201d Sullivan, 526 U.S. at 50, 143 L. Ed. 2d at 143, 119 S. Ct. at 985. The Court held the argument ignored its repeated insistence that state action requires:\n\u201cboth an alleged constitutional deprivation \u2018caused by the exercise of some right or privilege created by the State or by a rule of conduct imposed by the State or by a person for whom the State is responsible,\u2019 and that \u2018the party charged with the deprivation must be a person who may fairly be said to be a state actor.\u2019 \u201d (Emphasis in original.) Sullivan, 526 U.S. at 50, 143 L. Ed. 2d at 143-44, 119 S. Ct. at 985, quoting Lugar, 457 U.S. at 937, 73 L. Ed. 2d at 495, 102 S. Ct. at 2753-54.\nThe Court noted that in cases involving extensive state regulation of private activity, \u201cwe have consistently held that \u2018[t]he mere fact that a business is subject to state regulation does not by itself convert its action into that of the State for purposes of the Fourteenth Amendment.\u2019 \u201d Sullivan, 526 U.S. at 52, 143 L. Ed. 2d at 144, 119 S. Ct. at 986, quoting Jackson v. Metropolitan Edison Co., 419 U.S. 345, 350, 42 L. Ed. 2d 477, 483, 95 S. Ct. 449, 453 (1974). A private actor will not be held to constitutional standards unless \u201c \u2018there is a sufficiently close nexus between the State and the challenged action of the regulated entity so that the action of the latter may be fairly treated as that of the State itself.\u2019 \u201d Sullivan, 419 U.S. at 52, 143 L. Ed. 2d at 145, 119 S. Ct. at 986, quoting Jackson, 419 U.S. at 350, 42 L. Ed. 2d at 483, 95 S. Ct. at 453.\nWhether such a \u201cclose nexus\u201d exists depends on whether the State exercised coercive power or provided such significant encouragement, either overt or covert, that the choice must be deemed to be that of the state. Sullivan, 419 U.S. at 52, 143 L. Ed. 2d at 144-45, 119 S. Ct. at 986; Jackson, 419 U.S. at 350, 42 L. Ed. 2d at 483, 95 S. Ct. at 453. \u201cAction taken by private entities with the mere approval or acquiescence of the State is not state action.\u201d Sullivan, 419 U.S. at 52, 143 L. Ed. 2d at 144-45, 119 S. Ct. at 986.\nThe dividing line we seek to apply in this case was clearly drawn by the United States Supreme Court in Tulsa Professional Collection Services, Inc. v. Pope, 485 U.S. 478, 99 L. Ed. 2d 565, 108 S. Ct. 1340 (1988). There, the question was whether a provision of Oklahoma\u2019s probate laws requiring contract claims against an estate be presented within a specified time period violated the due process clause.\nThe issue was whether state action wrongfully deprived a creditor of its property rights. Citing Flagg Brothers, the Court observed: \u201cPrivate use of state-sanctioned private remedies or procedures does not rise to the level of state action.\u201d Tulsa Professional Collection Services, Inc., 485 U.S. at 485, 99 L. Ed. 2d at 575, 108 S. Ct. at 1345. \u201cBut,\u201d the Court continued, \u201cwhen private parties make use of state procedures with the overt, significant assistance of state officials, state action may be found.\u201d Tulsa Professional Collection Services, Inc., 485 U.S. at 486, 99 L. Ed. 2d at 576, 108 S. Ct. at 1345.\nThe Court found significant state action because the probate court was \u201cintimately involved throughout, and without that, involvement the time bar is never activated.\u201d Tulsa Professional Collection Services, Inc., 485 U.S. at 487, 99 L. Ed. 2d at 576, 108 S. Ct. at 1346. In the case before us, there was no significant state action by a court or by any other state official.\nSimilarly, the Illinois Supreme Court considered whether the Illinois distress-for-rent provisions (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 80, pars. 16 through 34) were unconstitutional in Cousins Club, Inc., 64 Ill. 2d 11. Under the distress-for-rent provisions, the actual distraint was accomplished by the acts of the lessor; no State action was involved in the procedure. The court noted:\n\u201cThere are numerous holdings that when a creditor exercises his self-help remedy to repossess personal property as authorized under section 9 \u2014 503 of the Uniform Commercial Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 26, par. 9 \u2014 503) or under similar statutes, there is no State action involved so far as the question of due process is concerned.\u201d Cousins Club, Inc., 64 Ill. 2d at 15.\nThe question was not simply whether state action was involved but, rather, whether the role of the State was \u201csufficiently significant, constitutionally speaking, so that one may invoke the protection afforded by the due process clause.\u201d Cousins Club, Inc., 64 Ill. 2d at 18. The court held the State was not \u201c \u2018significantly involved,\u2019 where, as here, the lessor takes possession of his tenant\u2019s property pursuant to a statute that simply codifies the lessor\u2019s common law right to do this and that does not have the State carry out the lessor\u2019s rights.\u201d Cousins Club, Inc., 64 Ill. 2d at 16.\nIn an attempt to circumvent the holdings in Flagg Brothers, Sulli van, and Cousins Club, Inc., plaintiff contends the United States Supreme Court \u201cunequivocally\u201d held in Lugar: \u201cWhile private misuse of a state statute does not describe conduct that can be attributed to the State, the procedural scheme created by the statute obviously is the product of state action.\u201d (Emphasis added.) Lugar, 457 U.S. at 941, 73 L. Ed. 2d at 498, 102 S. Ct. at 2756. Plaintiff, however, ignores the Lugar Court\u2019s determination that a state statute \u201cis subject to constitutional restraint and properly may be addressed in a \u00a71983 action, if the second element of the state-action requirement is met as well.\u201d (Emphasis added.) Lugar, 457 U.S. at 941, 73 L. Ed. 2d at 498, 102 S. Ct. at 2756. The second element is whether, under the facts of the case, a private party may be appropriately characterized as a state actor. Lugar, 457 U.S. at 939, 73 L. Ed. 2d at 496-97, 102 S. Ct. at 2754-55.\nIn this case, there is no question plaintiffs deprivation of property resulted from the exercise of a right or privilege having its source in state authority, i.e., the lien sale conducted pursuant to section 4 of the Storage Act. See 770 ILCS 95/4 (West 2004). Therefore, the question becomes whether PS may be appropriately characterized as a \u201cstate actor.\u201d See Sullivan, 419 U.S. at 50, 143 L. Ed. 2d at 143, 119 S. Ct. at 985; Lugar, 457 U.S. at 939, 73 L. Ed. 2d at 496-97, 102 S. Ct. at 2754-55.\nSimilar to the statutes in Flagg Brothers and Sullivan, the Storage Act authorized, but did not require or compel, PS to sell plaintiffs personal property stored at the facility in order to satisfy a lien for past-due rent. Besides establishing the right to a lien and providing a self-help remedy by enacting the Storage Act, the State was not significantly involved in the seizure and sale of plaintiff\u2019s property. See Cousins Club, Inc., 64 Ill. 2d at 16.\nWhile we recognize the State\u2019s decision to provide storage facility owners the option of conducting a lien sale can be seen as encouragement to do just that, \u201cthis kind of subtle encouragement is no more significant than that which inheres in the State\u2019s creation or modification of any legal remedy.\u201d Sullivan, 526 U.S. at 53, 143 L. Ed. 2d at 145, 119 S. Ct. at 986. Because the State did not compel, assist in, or significantly encourage the seizure and sale of plaintiffs property, we find PS\u2019s actions did not amount to \u201cstate action.\u201d See Sullivan, 526 U.S. at 53, 143 L. Ed. 2d at 145, 119 S. Ct. at 986; Flagg Brothers, 436 U.S. at 164, 56 L. Ed. 2d at 198, 98 S. Ct. at 1737.\nWe therefore conclude the trial court did not err in dismissing count I of plaintiffs complaint.\nII. Consumer Fraud\nPlaintiff contends the trial court erred in dismissing count II of his complaint because he adequately stated a cause of action under the unfair conduct prong of the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act.\nThe Act is \u201ca regulatory and remedial statute intended to protect consumers, borrowers, and business people against fraud, unfair methods of competition, and other unfair and deceptive business practices.\u201d Robinson v. Toyota Motor Credit Corp., 201 Ill. 2d 403, 416-17, 775 N.E.2d 951 (2002). A complaint raising a claim under the Act \u201cmust state with particularity and specificity the deceptive manner of defendant\u2019s acts or practices, and the failure to make such averments requires the dismissal of the complaint.\u201d Robinson, 201 Ill. 2d at 419; Connick v. Suzuki Motor Co., 174 Ill. 2d 482, 502, 675 N.E.2d 584 (1996).\nUnfair or deceptive acts or practices are described in the Act as:\n\u201cincluding but not limited to the use or employment of any deception, fraud, false pretense, false promise, misrepresentation or the concealment, suppression or omission of any material fact, with intent that others rely upon the concealment, suppression or omission of such material fact.\u201d 815 ILCS 505/2 (West 2004).\nA plaintiff may allege that conduct is unfair under the Act without alleging that the conduct is deceptive. Saunders v. Michigan Avenue National Bank, 278 Ill. App. 3d 307, 313, 662 N.E.2d 602 (1996). In determining whether conduct is unfair, the Act mandates consideration \u201cbe given to the interpretations of the Federal Trade Commission and the federal courts relating to Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act.\u201d 815 ILCS 505/2 (West 2004). In Federal Trade Comm\u2019n v. Sperry & Hutchinson Co., 405 U.S. 233, 244 n.5, 31 L. Ed. 2d 170, 179 n.5, 92 S. Ct. 898, 905 n.5 (1972), the United States Supreme Court set out the requirements for establishing unfair conduct: (1) whether the practice offends public policy; (2) whether it is immoral, unethical, oppressive, or unscrupulous; and (3) whether it causes consumers substantial injury. See also Saunders, 278 Ill. App. 3d at 313 (\u201cthe defendant\u2019s conduct must violate public policy, be so oppressive as to leave the consumer with little alternative but to submit, and injure the consumer\u201d).\nIn dismissing count II of the complaint, the trial court found: \u201cPlaintiff fails to allege that [PS] did not comply with the provisions of the Self Storage Facilities Act; therefore, Plaintiff fails to allege facts that constitute a violation of the act on any basis, let alone unfairness.\u201d\nPlaintiffs complaint, however, alleged PS violated the Consumer Fraud Act\u2019s prohibition against unfair practices by failing to provide plaintiff with any form of statutorily required notice that his property was being sold. Plaintiff specifically alleged that he \u201cnever received notice, either by telephone, in-person delivery or certified mail, that [PS] would be seeking to enforc\u00e9 the lien created in its favor,\u201d as \u201crequired both by the Act itelf \u2014 see 770 ILCS 95/4(A)(C) \u2014 and by the express terms of the rental agreement Plaintiff signed.\u201d Plaintiff also alleged PS engaged in unfair conduct by: failing to inform him of the outcome of the lien sale, or even acknowledge that it was statutorily required to return any surplus from such sale to plaintiff on demand; selling his personal property without allowing him the opportunity to exercise his statutory right to redeem the property; and failing to return to him any funds recouped from the sale of goods over and above the lien amount after defendant made a demand for the surplus.\nFurthermore, plaintiff alleged PS\u2019s conduct offended Illinois public policy, as embodied in the Storage Act; was unethical and oppressive because it was contrary to well-established industry practices and afforded him no reasonable opportunity to avoid the lien sale; and significantly harmed him because he lost nearly all of his possessions, including items of inestimable personal and sentimental value.\nAfter reviewing the allegations contained in count II of the complaint, taking them as true, we find they were sufficient to state a cause of action under the Act for unfair conduct.\nWe therefore conclude the trial court erred in dismissing count II of plaintiffs complaint.\nCONCLUSION\nWe affirm the trial court\u2019s dismissal of count I of plaintiff\u2019s complaint. We reverse the trial court\u2019s dismissal of count II of plaintiffs complaint and remand for further proceedings.\nAffirmed in part; reversed and remanded in part.\nHOFFMAN and SOUTH, JJ., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "PRESIDING JUSTICE WOLFSON" } ], "attorneys": [ "Christopher Langone, Mark Lavery, and Jason G. Shanfield, all of Langone Law Firm, of Chicago, for appellant.", "Richard T. Greenberg, Donald C. Pasulka, and Angelo M. Russo, all of McGuire Woods, LLR of Chicago, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "THEO HILL, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. PS ILLINOIS TRUST, Defendant-Appellant.\nFirst District (2nd Division)\nNo. 1\u201405\u20144000\nOpinion filed September 26, 2006.\nChristopher Langone, Mark Lavery, and Jason G. Shanfield, all of Langone Law Firm, of Chicago, for appellant.\nRichard T. Greenberg, Donald C. Pasulka, and Angelo M. Russo, all of McGuire Woods, LLR of Chicago, for appellee." }, "file_name": "0310-01", "first_page_order": 328, "last_page_order": 338 }