Pawlikowski v. Toyota Motor Credit Corp.

• Decision Date: 23 December 1999
• Docket Number: No. 2-98-1649.,2-98-1649.
• Citation: 722 N.E.2d 767,243 Ill.Dec. 1,309 Ill. App.3d 550
• Parties: Candace PAWLIKOWSKI, Indiv. and on Behalf of Those Similarly Situated, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellee.
• Court: United States Appellate Court of Illinois

722 N.E.2d 767

309 Ill. App.3d 550

243 Ill.Dec. 1

Candace PAWLIKOWSKI, Indiv. and on Behalf of Those Similarly Situated, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellee.

No. 2-98-1649.

Appellate Court of Illinois, Second District.

December 23, 1999.

Daniel A. Edelman, Cathleen M. Combs, James O. Latturner, Jeffrey S. Sell, Jamie S. Franklin, Edelman & Combs, Chicago, Lawrence A. Stein, Huck, Bouma, Martin, Charlton & Bradshaw, P.C., Wheaton, Vincent L. DiTommaso, DiTommaso & Associates, Oak Brook, for Candace Pawlikowski.

Thomas M. Crisham, Jean M. Prendergast, Quinlan & Crisham, Ltd., Chicago, Toyota Motor Credit Corporation.

Stuart Berks, Deutsch, Levy & Engel, Chtd., Chicago, for Arlington Toyota, Inc.

Justice GEIGER delivered the opinion of the court:

The plaintiff, Candace Pawlikowski, appeals from the November 23, 1998, order of the circuit court of Du Page County dismissing, with prejudice, counts IV, V, and VI of her third amended complaint against the defendant, Toyota Motor Credit Corporation (TMCC). The plaintiff contends that she has sufficiently alleged causes of action for fraudulent misrepresentation, violations of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act (the Consumer Fraud Act) (815 ILCS 505/2 (West 1998)), and restitution to survive TMCC's motion to dismiss brought pursuant to section 2-615 of the Code of Civil Procedure (the Code) (735 ILCS 5/2-615 (West 1998)). We affirm in part and reverse in part.

I. Background

On February 24, 1994, the plaintiff filed her class action complaint against TMCC and Arlington Toyota, Inc. (Arlington), concerning a retail installment contract for the sale of a motor vehicle and an extended warranty. The plaintiff alleged that she had entered into the retail installment contract on May 6, 1991, with Arlington. The contract was later assigned by Arlington to TMCC, a finance company. The plaintiff further alleged that the retail installment contract contained a certain disclosure as follows:

"OTHER CHARGES INCLUDING AMOUNTS PAID TO OTHERS ON YOUR BEHALF:

* * *

C. Cost of Optional Mechanical Breakdown Protection Paid to the MBP Company Named Below Covering Certain Mechanical Repairs MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN INS. $900.00"

The plaintiff further alleged that although the retail installment contract provided that $900 was paid to the MBP (warranty company), this statement was misleading. The plaintiff alleged that the amount actually paid to the warranty company was substantially less, with the difference (upcharge) retained by Arlington.

This cause was certified to proceed as a class action on January 3, 1995. Thereafter, a class member filed an objection to a proposed settlement agreement. Following the trial court's denial of the objection and entry of an order approving the settlement, this court entered an order pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 23 (166 Ill.2d R. 23) reversing the trial court's order approving the settlement and remanding the cause for further proceedings. See Pawlikowski v. Grant-Davis, No. 2-96-0684, 287 Ill.App.3d 1124, 237 Ill.Dec. 944, 710 N.E.2d 574 (1997) (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23).

On August 26, 1998, the plaintiff filed her third amended complaint. Counts I, II, and III were directed at Arlington and are not at issue in this appeal. Counts IV, V, and VI were brought against TMCC. Count IV alleged fraudulent misrepresentation; count V, violations of the Consumer Fraud Act; and count VI, restitution. In count IV, the plaintiff alleged that TMCC had "printed and distributed" the form retail installment contract. The plaintiff also alleged that TMCC had conspired with Arlington to defraud consumers when TMCC knew that Arlington would retain an upcharge. In count V, the plaintiff alleged that TMCC had failed to advise the plaintiff of the misstatement on the retail installment contract. In count VI, the plaintiff alleged that TMCC had unjustly kept monies belonging to the plaintiff and requested "restitution."

On September 23, 1998, TMCC filed a motion to dismiss counts IV, V, and VI pursuant to section 2-615 of the Code. In its motion, TMCC argued that the plaintiff had failed to state viable causes of action and that the causes were not pled with specificity. TMCC contended that it was not liable under the Consumer Fraud Act as an assignee of the retail installment contract and that the plaintiff had failed to allege specifically the nature of the fraudulent conduct. TMCC also argued that it could not be held liable for fraud committed by Arlington.

On November 23, 1998, the trial court granted TMCC's motion to dismiss, with prejudice. The plaintiff filed a timely notice of appeal.

II. Discussion

On appeal, the plaintiff argues that (1) TMCC's "involvement" in the misstatement on the retail installment contract renders it liable for fraudulent misrepresentation and under the Consumer Fraud Act; (2) TMCC is liable under the preservation of claims provision of the retail installment contract; (3) her causes of action for fraudulent misrepresentation and under the Consumer Fraud Act were pled with sufficient specificity; and (4) restitution is a valid, independent cause of action. TMCC reasserts on appeal the same arguments made at the trial level and, in addition, requests that we review the trial court's order certifying the plaintiff class.

Because the complaint was dismissed in response to a section 2-615 motion to dismiss, the only question before this court is whether the allegations of the complaint, when viewed in a light most favorable to the plaintiff, are sufficient to state a cause of action upon which relief can be granted. Vernon v. Schuster, 179 Ill.2d 338, 344, 228 Ill.Dec. 195, 688 N.E.2d 1172 (1997). The issue is one of law, and our review is de novo. Vernon, 179 Ill.2d at 344,

228 Ill. Dec. 195,

688 N.E.2d 1172.

In reviewing a dismissal under section 2-615 of the Code, we must take all well-pleaded facts in the complaint as true and draw all reasonable inferences from those facts that are favorable to the pleader. Ziemba v. Mierzwa, 142 Ill.2d 42, 47, 153 Ill.Dec. 259, 566 N.E.2d 1365 (1991). However, we will not take conclusions of law or fact as true unless they are supported by specific factual allegations. Ziemba, 142 Ill.2d at 47, 153 Ill.Dec. 259, 566 N.E.2d 1365. A cause of action should not be dismissed on the pleadings unless it is apparent that no set of facts can be proven that would entitle the plaintiff to recover. Illinois Graphics Co. v. Nickum, 159 Ill.2d 469, 488, 203 Ill.Dec. 463, 639 N.E.2d 1282 (1994).

A. Consumer Fraud Act

For her first contention on appeal, the plaintiff argues that she has properly stated a cause of action under the Consumer Fraud Act. TMCC argues that the plaintiff cannot state a claim under the Consumer Fraud Act because TMCC is not liable under the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA) (15 U.S.C. § 1641(a) (1994)), which serves as a bar to liability under the Consumer Fraud Act. TMCC also argues that it cannot be held "secondarily" liable for fraud committed by Arlington. TMCC further argues that the plaintiff has failed to plead any facts regarding TMCC's involvement in the transaction at issue. Prior to addressing whether the plaintiff has pled her cause of action with sufficient specificity, we turn to the question of whether the plaintiff is barred as a matter of law from asserting a claim under the Consumer Fraud Act against TMCC.

We first address whether the plaintiff may state a cause of action under the Consumer Fraud Act against TMCC regardless of TMCC's liability under TILA. The Consumer Fraud Act prohibits any concealment, suppression, or omission of any material fact in trade or commerce with the intent that others rely upon the concealment, suppression, or omission. Perona v. Volkswagen of America, Inc., 292 Ill.App.3d 59, 65, 225 Ill.Dec. 868, 684 N.E.2d 859 (1997).

TMCC relies upon the court's decision in Lanier v. Associates Finance, Inc., 114 Ill.2d 1, 101 Ill.Dec. 852, 499 N.E.2d 440 (1986), in support of its argument that its alleged compliance with TILA bars liability under the Consumer Fraud Act. In Lanier, the court considered whether the plaintiff could state a cause of action under the Consumer Fraud Act based upon a certain disclosure contained in a loan document. The disclosure provided that the "Rule of 78's" method of accounting would be utilized to calculate the interest refund on prepayment of the loan. Lanier, 114 Ill.2d at 5, 101 Ill.Dec. 852, 499 N.E.2d 440. The plaintiff argued that she did not understand the "Rule of 78's" method and that she believed that she would receive a greater credit for prepayment than she actually did. Lanier, 114 Ill.2d at 6, 101 Ill.Dec. 852, 499 N.E.2d 440. At issue was whether the defendant had complied with TILA and, if so, whether compliance would bar liability under the Consumer Fraud Act. Lanier, 114 Ill.2d at 11, 101 Ill.Dec. 852, 499 N.E.2d 440.

The court noted that, pursuant to section 10b of the Consumer Fraud Act, the Consumer Fraud Act does not apply to "[a]ctions or transactions specifically authorized by laws administered by any regulatory body or officer acting under statutory authority of this State or the United States." 815 ILCS 505/10b(1) (West 1998). The court interpreted this provision to mean that "conduct which is authorized by Federal statutes and regulations, such as those administered by the Federal Reserve Board, is exempt from liability under the Consumer Fraud Act." Lanier, 114 Ill.2d at 17-18, 101 Ill.Dec. 852, 499 N.E.2d 440. In concluding that the defendant had not violated the Consumer Fraud Act, the court noted that the loan disclosure documents were authorized by federal regulations, despite the fact that the "Rule of 78's" method of accounting was not explained. Lanier, 114 Ill.2d at 16, 101 Ill. Dec. 852, 499 N.E.2d 440. Because the defendant in Lanier had complied with TILA's disclosure...