Bernhauser v. Glen Ellyn Dodge, Inc.
State: Illinois
Court: 2nd District Appellate
Docket No: 2-96-1171, 1174,
1188 cons.
Case Date: 06/11/1997
Nos. 2--96--1171, 2--96--1174, 2--96--1188 cons.
________________________________________________________________
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
SECOND DISTRICT
________________________________________________________________
ERNEST BERNHAUSER, Indiv. and ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
on Behalf of All Others ) of Du Page County.
Similarly Situated, )
) No. 95--L--2169
Plaintiff-Appellant, )
)
v. )
)
GLEN ELLYN DODGE, INC., and )
CHRYSLER CORPORATION, ) Honorable
) Robert K. Kilander,
Defendants-Appellees. ) Judge, Presiding.
________________________________________________________________
MONOHAR L. JASUJA, Indiv. and ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
on Behalf of All Others ) of Du Page County.
Similarly Situated, )
) No. 95--L--1050
Plaintiff-Appellant, )
)
v. )
)
ROHR-MONT MOTORS, INC., f/k/a )
Toyota of Westmont, ) Honorable
) Robert K. Kilander,
Defendant-Appellee. ) Judge, Presiding.
________________________________________________________________
KIMBERLEIGH A. WEBER, Indiv. ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
and on Behalf of All Others ) of Lake County.
Similarly Situated, )
) No. 95--CH--346
Plaintiff-Appellant, )
)
v. )
)
ROHR-VILLE MOTORS, INC., d/b/a )
Saturn of Waukegan, ) Honorable
) Peter M. Trobe,
Defendant-Appellee. ) Judge, Presiding.
_________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE INGLIS delivered the opinion of the court:
In the above-entitled cases, consolidated for decision in this
court, class-plaintiffs, Ernest Bernhauser (Bernhauser), Monohar L.
Jasuja (Jasuja), and Kimberleigh A. Weber (Weber) (collectively,
plaintiffs), ask us to decide whether their allegations state a
claim under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act
(Consumer Fraud Act) (815 ILCS 505/1 et seq. (West 1994)) against
defendants, Glen Ellyn Dodge Inc. (Glen Ellyn), Rohr-Mont Motors,
Inc. (Rohr-Mont), Rohr-Ville Motors, Inc. (Rohr-Ville)
(collectively, dealerships). Additionally, we are also called upon
to decide whether Bernhauser has stated a claim for civil
conspiracy against defendant Chrysler Corporation (Chrysler).
In case No. 2--96--1171, Bernhauser v. Glen Ellyn Dodge, Inc.,
Bernhauser alleged that he purchased a car from Glen Ellyn pursuant
to a retail installment contract (RIC). In addition to the car,
Bernhauser also purchased an extended-service contract. In the
itemization of the various amounts owing on the RIC, Bernhauser
alleged that Glen Ellyn placed the amount for the extended-service
contract under the heading "Amounts Paid to Others for You," which
inaccurately represented that this was a pass-through charge.
Bernhauser alleged that instead of passing on the charge Glen
Ellyn's standard practice was to pay a small amount as an
administrative fee to a third party and keep the rest as profit.
On December 29, 1995, Bernhauser filed a class action
complaint alleging that Glen Ellyn had violated the Consumer Fraud
Act through the use of deceptive or misleading statements in the
RIC. Plaintiff also eventually filed an amended count II of his
complaint, alleging that defendant Chrysler engaged in a conspiracy
with its dealerships to retain a substantial portion of the money
collected for the extended-service contracts, which were listed
under "Amounts Paid to Others for You" on the Chrysler RICs. Glen
Ellyn moved to dismiss Bernhauser's complaint, pursuant to section
2--615 of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2--615 (West
1994)), on the ground that compliance with the Truth in Lending Act
(15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. (19__)) was a complete bar to liability.
Chrysler also filed a motion to dismiss Bernhauser's complaint
pursuant to section 2--615 on the ground that Glen Ellyn's
compliance with the Truth in Lending Act barred its own vicarious
liability. The trial court granted the motions to dismiss, finding
that Truth in Lending Act permitted the nondisclosure of where the
extended-service contract money was going. On September 11, 1996,
the trial court dismissed Bernhauser's complaint with prejudice,
and his timely appeal followed.
In case No. 2--96--1174, Jasuja v. Rohr-Mont Motors, Inc.,
Jasuja made substantially the same allegations as Bernhauser. He
alleged that Rohr-Mont listed the price of the extended-service
contract under a section of the RIC entitled "Amounts Paid to
Others for You," which gave rise to the inference that this was a
pass-through charge. He further alleged that Rohr-Mont kept most
of the money, passing a small amount along to a third party as an
administrative fee.
Jasuja filed his third amended class action complaint on April
26, 1996, alleging that Rohr-Mont's practice of placing the charges
for an extended-service contract under the heading "Amounts Paid to
Others for You" violated the Consumer Fraud Act. Rohr-Mont moved
to dismiss Jasuja's complaint pursuant to section 2--619(a)(9) of
the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2--619(a)(9) (West 1994))
on the grounds that the Truth in Lending Act and its accompanying
regulations permitted it to place the charges for extended-service
contracts under the "Amounts Paid to Others for You" heading and
Rohr-Mont's compliance was a bar to liability. Rohr-Mont also
alleged that Jasuja's failure to attach a copy of the extended-
service contract was an alternate ground to dismiss the complaint
because it was a necessary document. See 735 ILCS 5/2--606 (West
1994). The trial court granted Rohr-Mont's motion to dismiss,
finding that compliance with the Truth in Lending Act acted as a
bar against liability under the Consumer Fraud Act. On September
11, 1996, the trial court dismissed Jasuja's complaint with
prejudice, and his timely appeal followed.
In case No. 2--96--1188, Weber v. Rohr-Ville Motors, Inc.,
Weber alleged that Rohr-Ville also placed the charges for an
extended-service contract under the heading, "Amounts Paid to
Others for You," yet kept most of the money and passed along a
small portion to a third party. She alleged that this practice
violated the Consumer Fraud Act.
Weber filed her class action complaint on May 26, 1995,
alleging that Rohr-Ville violated the Consumer Fraud Act in count
I, was unjustly enriched in count II, and alleged that Bank One
Milwaukee violated the Consumer Fraud Act in count III. Weber
voluntarily dismissed counts II and III early in 1996. Rohr-Ville
moved to dismiss Weber's complaint pursuant to section 2--615 of
the Code of Civil Procedure on the grounds that Weber's allegations
of misrepresentation were contradicted by exhibits attached to the
complaint, her allegations were not made with sufficient
specificity, and she did not sufficiently plead damages under the
Consumer Fraud Act.
The trial court granted Rohr-Ville's motion on May 9, 1996,
finding that Rohr-Ville's compliance with the Truth in Lending Act
was a defense to a consumer fraud claim. Weber filed a motion to
reconsider, which was denied on June 6, 1996. On June 24, 1996,
Weber filed an "Emergency Motion to Present Additional Authority,"
the functional equivalent to a motion to reconsider the ruling on
the first motion to reconsider. On July 11, 1996, the trial court
entered an order purporting to stay the time for filing a notice of
appeal for 45 days. On September 6, 1996, the trial court denied
Weber's "Emergency Motion to Present Additional Authority." Weber
filed a notice of appeal on October 2, 1996.
Before we reach the merits of the appeals, we must first
consider whether we have jurisdiction over Weber's appeal. A
notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days of the entry of the
final judgment appealed from. 155 Ill. 2d R. 303(a)(1). "No
request for reconsideration of a ruling on a post-judgment motion
will toll the running of the time within which a notice of appeal
must be filed under [Rule 303]." 155 Ill. 2d R. 303(a)(2).
The trial court's ruling became final and appealable on June
6, 1996, when it denied Weber's motion to reconsider its May 9,
1996, order granting Rohr-Ville's motion to dismiss. Weber's
notice of appeal was due on July 6, 1996. Weber's filing of her
second motion to reconsider (the "Emergency Motion to Present
Additional Authority") did not toll the running of the time period.
Accordingly, her notice of appeal was almost three months late,
and, is ineffective.
Weber argues that her second post-judgment motion was filed
within the 30-day period during which a trial court retains
jurisdiction over a matter after disposing of it. She contends
that this is sufficient to allow the trial court to rule on her
motion and that the trial court's "stay" of the notice of appeal
was an implicit vacation of its June 6 ruling on Weber's first
post-judgment motion, citing to Workman v. St. Therese Medical
Center, 266 Ill. App. 3d 286 (1994), for support.
Workman is factually distinguishable. There, the plaintiff
filed a motion and an order was entered (1) vacating the trial
court's order which struck the plaintiff's first post-judgment
motion, and (2) reinstating the first post-judgment motion.
Workman, 266 Ill. App. 3d at 289. Here, Weber did not file a
motion to vacate the trial court's June 6 order, and, equally
importantly, the trial court did not vacate the June 6 order. It
simply purported to stay the time for filing the notice of appeal.
Workman does not support Weber's position, and we continue to
regard Weber's second post-judgment motion as a second motion to
reconsider.
Weber next argues that her second post-judgment motion raised
new issues which could not have been raised in the first motion
and, thus, falls within an exception to the rule that subsequent
post-judgment motions will not extend the time to file a notice of
appeal. Aetna Life Insurance Co. v. H.W. Stout & Associates, Inc.,
112 Ill. App. 3d 570, 575 (1983). Weber misconstrues the effect of
her motion. Her motion did not raise a new issue; rather, it
merely raised a new case concerning the same issues already
litigated. We reject this argument.
Weber finally argues that the dealership waived its objection
by acquiescing to the trial court's order--in effect arguing that
the parties have conferred jurisdiction by waiver or agreement.
This they cannot do. "Compliance with the deadlines for appeals in
Supreme Court Rule 303 [(155 Ill. 2d R. 303)] is mandatory and
jurisdictional [citations], and appellate jurisdiction may not be
conferred by laches, consent, waiver or estoppel." Martin v.
Cajda, 238 Ill. App. 3d 721, 728 (1992). We do not have
jurisdiction over appeal No. 2--96--1188 and accordingly dismiss
it.
We turn now to the merits of the remaining plaintiffs'
appeals. When reviewing a motion to dismiss, we must take as true
all well-pleaded facts and determine whether the complaint
sufficiently sets forth a claim upon which relief may be granted.
Grimaldi v. Webb, 282 Ill. App. 3d 174, 179 (1996). We will not
dismiss a complaint " 'unless it clearly appears that no set of
facts can be proved which will entitle plaintiffs to recover.' "
Grimaldi, 282 Ill. App. 3d at 179, quoting People ex rel. Daley v.
Datacom Systems Corp., 146 Ill. 2d 1, 11 (1991).
Section 2 of the Consumer Fraud Act provides, in pertinent
part:
"Unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive
acts or practices, including 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 the intent that
others rely upon the concealment, suppression or omission of
such material fact, or the use or employment of any practice
described in Section 2 of the 'Uniform Deceptive Trade
Practices Act' [(815 ILCS 510/2 (West 1994))], *** in the
conduct of any trade or commerce are hereby declared
unlawful whether any person has in fact been misled,
deceived or damaged thereby." 815 ILCS 505/2 (West 1994).
In order to state a cause of action under the Consumer Fraud Act,
the plaintiff must allege: (1) a deceptive act or practice; (2)
the defendant intended for the plaintiff to rely on the deception;
and (3) that the deception occurred in the course of conduct
involving trade or commerce. Siegel v. Levy Organization
Development Co., 153 Ill. 2d 534, 542 (1992). Significantly, under
the Consumer Fraud Act, the plaintiff is not required to allege
that he or she actually relied upon the deception. Siegel, 153
Ill. 2d at 542.
Plaintiffs allege that the deceptive act was the dealerships'
practice of placing the charge for the extended-service contract
under the section heading "Amounts Paid to Others for You"; this
section also included payments to public officials for license,
title, and taxes. Plaintiffs allege that the placement of the
charge for the extended-service contract implies that it is a pass-
through charge, as are the license, title, and tax charges.
The dealerships argue that plaintiffs failed to allege to whom
the charges for the extended-service contracts were going to be
made. Rather, according to the dealerships, plaintiffs merely
allege that the charges are going to "E.S.C." or to "CHRY SERV
CTRT." The dealerships claim that there is no factual basis for
the conclusion that the charges are going to a third party. We
reject the dealerships' argument.
Plaintiffs' reasoning is simple, direct, and logical. The
charges were placed under the heading "Amounts Paid to Others for
You." There were blanks provided for the names or purposes of the
charge. Other charges in this section included those for the
license, taxes, and title. Viewing these facts in the light most
favorable to plaintiffs, there is an ample basis to conclude that
the charges for the extended-service contract were likewise going
to a third party. We note that the dealerships did not list the
persons or entities receiving the charges, like the "State of
Illinois" or "Secretary of State," but rather listed the items or
reasons for incurring the charges in this section. Also, the
dealerships did not list themselves as recipients of these charges.
Thus, it is eminently reasonable to conclude that a charge under
the heading "Amounts Paid to Others for You" would in fact be paid
to a third party.
The dealerships also argue, in passing, that there was no
deceptive act because the RIC accurately set forth the amount
plaintiffs agreed to pay for the extended-service contracts. This
circuitous argument apparently is based upon a disingenuous reading
of plaintiffs' complaints. The deceptions which plaintiffs allege
stem from the allegation that the dealerships did not, as they
represented, pay the entire charge for the extended-service
contracts to third parties but, instead, retained substantial
portions of the charges. The dealerships' argument is irrelevant
to plaintiffs' allegations, and, accordingly, we ignore it.
Plaintiffs next allege that the dealerships intended for them
to rely upon the representation that the extended-service contract
charges were all being passed to a third party. They further
allege that the dealerships sold and leased new and used cars and
that the alleged deception occurred during the normal course of the
dealerships' business. Finally, the plaintiffs allege that the
dealerships retained a substantial part of the extended-service
contract charge. The dealerships do not dispute these allegations.
Thus, we find that plaintiffs have stated a prima facie claim under
the Consumer Fraud Act. See Siegel, 153 Ill. 2d at 542.
The dealerships, however, raise a number of contentions which
could defeat plaintiffs' claims. We next consider the dealerships'
affirmative defenses under the Consumer Fraud Act.
The dealerships assert that compliance with the Truth in
Lending Act and Regulation Z (see generally 12 C.F.R. 226 (1979))
provides a complete defense to liability for claims under the
Consumer Fraud Act. 815 ILCS 505/10b(1) (West Supp. 1995); Lanier
v. Associates Finance, Inc., 114 Ill. 2d 1, 17-18 (1986). We do
not read Lanier as expansively as do the dealerships. Instead, we
choose to take Lanier at its word, for the supreme court limited
its holding to the case, stating that "the defendant's compliance
with the disclosure requirements of the Truth in Lending Act is a
defense to liability under the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act in the
present case." (Emphasis added.) Lanier, 114 Ill. 2d at 18.
Thus, our inquiry is whether the dealerships complied with the
disclosure requirements of the Truth in Lending Act and, if so,
whether, under the particular facts of this case, compliance is a
defense to liability under the Consumer Fraud Act.
We do not believe that the dealerships complied with the
disclosure requirements of the Truth in Lending Act and Regulation
Z. The purpose of the Truth in Lending Act is to promote "a
meaningful disclosure of credit terms" in order to allow a consumer
to "compare more readily the various credit terms available to him
and to avoid the uninformed use of credit." 15 U.S.C. 1601(a)
(19__). Congress delegated rulemaking authority under the Truth in
Lending Act to the Federal Reserve Board. 15 U.S.C. 1604(a)
(19__). The Federal Reserve Board's administrative interpretations
of the Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z are dispositive
"[u]nless demonstrably irrational ***." Ford Motor Credit Co. v.
Milhollin, 444 U.S. 555, 565, 63 L. Ed. 2d 22, 31, 100 S. Ct. 790,
797 (1980).
Before Regulation Z was amended, allegations of dealership
conduct similar to that in this case stated a claim for a the Truth
in Lending Act violation. See, e.g., Swanagan v. Al Piemonte Ford
Sales, Inc., No. 94--C--4070 (N.D. Ill. August 15, 1995); Cirone-
Shadow v. Union Nissan, Inc., No. 94--C--6723 (N.D. Ill. February
2, 1995). On December 7, 1995, the Federal Reserve Board issued a
proposed change to its comments to Regulation Z, which provided:
"Creditor-imposed charges added to amounts paid to
others. A creditor that offers an item for sale in both
cash and credit transactions sometimes adds an amount (often
referred to as an 'upcharge') to a fee charged to a consumer
by a third party for a service (such as for a maintenance or
service contract) that is payable in an equal amount in both
types of transactions, and retains that amount. At its
option, the creditor may list the total charge(including the
portion retained by it) as an amount paid to others, or it
may choose to reflect the amounts in the manner in which
they were actually paid to or retained by the appropriate
parties." (Emphasis in original.) 60 Fed. Reg. 62765
(December 7, 1995).
Responding to comments, the Federal Reserve Board issued the final
form of the commentary, effective April 1, 1996, which provided:
"2. Charges added to amounts paid to others. A sum is
sometimes added to the amount of a fee charged to a consumer
for a service provided by a third party (such as for an
extended warranty or a service contract) that is payable in
the same amount in comparable cash and credit transactions.
In the credit transaction, the amount is retained by the
creditor. Given the flexibility permitted in meeting the
requirements of the amount financed itemization (see
commentary to Section 226.18(c)), the creditor in such cases
may reflect that the creditor has retained a portion of the
amount paid to others. For example, the creditor could add
to the category 'amounts paid others' language such as '(we
may be retaining a portion of this amount).' " (Emphasis in
original.) 61 Fed. Reg. 14954 (1996), New Comment
226.18(c)(1)(iii)-2.
Additionally, the Federal Reserve Board explained the purpose for
the changes made between the proposed and final versions of the
rule:
"As proposed, the comment stated that a creditor could
include in the 'amount paid to others,' any amount retained
by the creditor without itemizing or noting this fact.
Concern is raised about the appropriateness of such
treatment under the [Truth in Lending Act] where a
substantial portion of a fee categorized as 'amounts paid to
others,' is in fact retained by the creditor. Accordingly,
a sentence has been added to clarify that given the
flexibility in itemizing the amount financed, creditors may
reflect that they have retained a portion of the 'amount
paid to others' rather than disclosing the specific amount
retained." 61 Fed. Reg. 14954 (1996), New Comment
226.18(c)(1)(iii)-2.
A split in authority arose in the trial courts regarding the
interpretation of the final commentary. See Cirone-Shadow v. Union
Nissan, 955 F. Supp. 938, 942 (1997) (collecting cases on both
sides of the split). One line of cases focused on the permissive
language of the commentary in concluding that "[t]he [Federal
Reserve Board] did not require creditors to alter their method of
disclosure: the words 'must' or 'shall' do not appear ***."
Taylor v. Quality Hyundai, Inc., 932 F. Supp. 218, 220 (N.D. Ill.
1996). The second line of cases looked at the effect of the
changes between the proposed and final versions of the comment, as
well as supplemental explanatory material issued by the Federal
Reserve Board in concluding that "the finalized commentary reveals
an intent not to relieve the dealer of the obligation to disclose
the existence of an upcharge, but rather to relieve the dealer only
of the obligation to disclose the amount of the upcharge."
Alexander v. Continental Motor Werks, Inc., 933 F. Supp. 715, 718
(1996).
The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
recently resolved the split, holding that the commentary does not
authorize a dealer to make an inaccurate disclosure, but instead
authorizes "the dealer to disclose only the fact that he is
retaining a portion of the charge, rather than the exact amount of
the retention." Gibson v. Bob Watson Chevrolet-Geo, Inc., Nos. 96-
-2673, 96--2776, 96--3093 cons., slip op. at ___ (7th Cir. April
23, 1997). We find Gibson and Alexander to be persuasive. This
interpretation of the commentary benefits both consumers (notifying
them of an upcharge) and dealers (preventing disclosure of the
actual amount of the charge) as well as adhering to the
"fundamental proposition that any [Truth in Lending Act] disclosure
must be accurate." Alexander, 933 F. Supp. at 718. To adopt the
dealerships' reasoning would be to authorize a violation of the
Truth in Lending Act. This reasoning is, at best, illogical, if
not "demonstrably irrational." Accordingly, we adopt the reasoning
of Gibson and Alexander and find that the dealerships did not
comply with the disclosure requirements of the Truth in Lending Act
by inaccurately stating the charge for an extended-service contract
was paid to a third party.
The dealerships contend that their RICs have found a safe
harbor for complying with "Form H-3" under Regulation Z. See 12
C.F.R. 226, App. H-3. The dealerships' argument is misplaced.
Initially, we note that the dealerships seem to have lost
sight of the fact that this is an action under the Consumer Fraud
Act. the Truth in Lending Act enters this action only so far as
compliance with the Truth in Lending Act is a defense to a claim
under the Consumer Fraud Act. Next, the claim plaintiffs are
making goes to the substance, not form, of the contract. Thus,
using a model form is not a bar to plaintiffs' claim. Cirone-
Shadow, 955 F. Supp. at 944. Finally, because the form requires a
numerical disclosure, the dealerships would be required to list the
actual amount passing to the extended-service contract
administrator, and the safe harbor is unavailable to disclosures
required to be given numerically. Gibson, Nos. 96--2673, 96--2776,
96--3093 cons., slip op. at ___.
The dealerships next ask us to consider whether the new
commentary to Regulation Z can be applied to the instant actions.
They argue that, if the new commentary is merely a clarification of
existing law, then it may be retroactively applied. If, however,
it is a substantive change, then it may not be retroactively
applied. Under either view, however, the dealerships did not
comply with the Truth in Lending Act, and, thus, plaintiffs stated
a cause of action.
As noted above, before the changes to the commentary, a
dealership, which inaccurately represented that the charge for an
extended-service contract was paid to a third party when it
actually retained a substantial portion of the charge, violated the
Truth in Lending Act. See, e.g., Swanagan v. Al Piemonte Ford
Sales, Inc., No. 94--C--4070 (N.D. Ill. August 15, 1995); Cirone-
Shadow v. Union Nissan, Inc., No. 94--C--6723 (N.D. Ill. February
2, 1995). Thus, even if the new commentary works a substantive
change in the law, the dealerships would nevertheless have violated
the Truth in Lending Act under the old commentary. However, our
interpretation of the new commentary is consistent with the idea
that it merely clarifies existing law. Indeed, were we to agree
with the dealerships' interpretation, then the new commentary would
substantively change the existing law because it would allow a
dealer to make a knowing misrepresentation about an amount paid to
others and yet comply with the Truth in Lending Act. Our
interpretation, however, gives dealers the flexibility to alert the
consumer to an upcharge without being required to disclose the
amount of the upcharge, thus making an accurate disclosure as the
Truth in Lending Act has always required. Therefore, the new
commentary is applicable to these appeals. See Pope v. Shalala,
998 F.2d 473, 482-86 (7th Cir. 1993).
In light of our determination that the dealerships did not
comply with the disclosure requirements of the Truth in Lending Act
and Regulation Z, we need not address the applicability of Lanier
to the circumstances of this case. Because the dealerships
allegedly violated the Truth in Lending Act, they are unable to
raise any affirmative matter sufficient to defeat plaintiffs'
complaints. Accordingly, we find that the trial courts erred by
dismissing plaintiffs' complaints. We next consider the remaining
argument of the dealerships.
The dealerships contend that plaintiffs' complaints should be
dismissed pursuant to section 2--606 of the Code of Civil Procedure
(735 ILCS 5/2--606 (West 1994) ("If a claim or defense is founded
upon a written instrument, a copy thereof *** must be attached to
the pleading as an exhibit or recited therein")) for failing to
attach the extended-service contract applications to their amended
complaints. The dealerships assert that these applications were
documents upon which plaintiffs' complaints were based, and,
therefore, plaintiffs failed to include necessary documents with
their pleadings. The dealerships urge that we dismiss plaintiffs'
complaints with prejudice. Christoffel v. Country Mutual Insurance
Co., 183 Ill. App. 3d 32, 35 (1989).
The dealerships' argument is without merit. Plaintiffs'
complaints involve the substance of the RICs, not the extended-
service contracts. While plaintiffs mention the extended-service
contracts in their complaint, this mere mention does not transform
the extended-service contract into a document upon which the action
is founded. Plaintiffs properly attached copies of the RICs to
their complaints. Accordingly, we hold that plaintiffs complied
with the requirements of section 2--606.
We next consider Bernhauser's allegations against Chrysler.
In count II of his complaint, Bernhauser alleges that Chrysler
engaged in a civil conspiracy with Glen Ellyn to obtain money
improperly from its customers. Chrysler first recapitulates the
arguments of the dealerships, contending that Glen Ellyn complied
with the Truth in Lending Act and that the new commentary should
not retroactively apply to its detriment. In light of our
resolution of these arguments against the dealerships above, we
need not address Chrysler's arguments except to note that they
cannot serve as a basis to dismiss count II.
Chrysler next attacks the sufficiency of Bernhauser's
complaint. To state a cause of action for civil conspiracy, the
plaintiff must allege a combination of two or more persons for the
purpose of accomplishing by some concerted action either an
unlawful purpose or a lawful purpose by unlawful means. Adcock v.
Brakegate, Ltd., 164 Ill. 2d 54, 62 (1994). Bernhauser alleged
that Chrysler authorized and encouraged Glen Ellyn to sell Chrysler
service contracts (extended-service contracts) at a price
determined by the dealership and provided the dealership with
preprinted applications which collected financial information
including the amount collected by the dealership from the customer
for the extended-service contract. Bernhauser also alleged that
Chrysler conspired with Glen Ellyn to represent that the charge for
the extended-service contract was a sum certain which would be
collected by and passed through the dealership to Chrysler.
Bernhauser also alleged that Chrysler knowingly authorized Glen
Ellyn to retain a substantial amount of the charge collected for
the extended-service contract.
We believe, contrary to Chrysler's assertions, that these
allegations are sufficiently specific to state a claim for
conspiracy. See Dymek v. Nyquist, 128 Ill. App. 3d 859, 866
(1984), quoting Ingram v. Little Company of Mary Hospital, 108 Ill.
App. 3d 456, 459 (1982) ("Plaintiff here has alleged the ultimate
facts, albeit inferential, necessary to support a legally
cognizable claim for civil conspiracy. We stress that '[w]hile
ultimate facts necessary to support an action must be alleged, the
pleader need not set forth evidence which very well may be derived
from discovery subsequent to the filing of the complaint' ").
Chrysler also questions whether Bernhauser has alleged the
requisite elements of conspiracy. Specifically, Chrysler
challenges whether Bernhauser pleaded the element of concerted
action. "A 'concert of action' occurs when a tortious [or
unlawful] act is committed with another or pursuant to a common
design or when one party renders substantial assistance to another
knowing that the other's conduct constitutes a breach of duty [or
law]." Hume & Liechty Veterinary Associates v. Hodes, 259 Ill.
App. 3d 367, 369 (1994).
Bernhauser sufficiently pleaded concert of action. Bernhauser
alleged that Chrysler both authorized Glen Ellyn's conduct and
provided forms which indicated the information about the amount
Glen Ellyn charged for the extended-service contracts. This was
the requisite "substantial assistance" to facilitate Glen Ellyn's
violation of the Consumer Fraud Act and the Truth in Lending Act.
We hold that the trial court erroneously dismissed Bernhauser's
conspiracy claim against Chrysler.
For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the judgments of the
circuit court of Du Page County in appeal Nos. 2--96--1171 and 2--
96--1174 and remand these causes for further proceedings; we
dismiss appeal No. 2--96--1188 for lack of jurisdiction.
Nos. 2--96--1171, 2--96--1174--Reversed and remanded.
No. 2--96--1188--Dismissed.
GEIGER, P.J., and McLAREN, J., concur.
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