Thompson v. Frank

• Decision Date: 25 May 2000
• Docket Number: No. 3-99-0623.,3-99-0623.
• Citation: 730 N.E.2d 143,313 Ill. App.3d 661,246 Ill.Dec. 463
• Parties: Diana THOMPSON, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Bruce FRANK and Jerry Serritella, Defendants-Appellees.
• Court: United States Appellate Court of Illinois

730 N.E.2d 143

313 Ill. App.3d 661

246 Ill.Dec. 463

Diana THOMPSON, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Bruce FRANK and Jerry Serritella, Defendants-Appellees.

No. 3-99-0623.

Appellate Court of Illinois, Third District.

May 25, 2000.

Rehearing Denied June 23, 2000.

R.J. Lannon, Jr., Joel M. Koppenhoefer (argued), Herbolsheimer, Lannon, Henson, Duncan & Reagan, Ottawa, for Diana Thompson.

Jerry Serritella (argued), Peoria, for Bruce Frank, Jerry Serritella.

Presiding Justice SLATER delivered the opinion of the court:

Plaintiff, Diana Thompson, filed a complaint against defendants, Bruce Frank and Jerry Serritella, seeking damages for libel and intentional infliction of emotional distress. On defendants' motion, the trial court dismissed the complaint on the ground that defendants were absolutely privileged to make the defamatory statements alleged by plaintiff because the statements relate to pending litigation between plaintiff and defendant Frank. On appeal, plaintiff contends that absolute privilege does not bar her actions for libel and intentional infliction of emotional distress. For the reasons that follow, we reverse and remand.

Diana Thompson and Bruce Frank are parties to a child custody dispute. During the course of this dispute, Frank's attorney, Jerry Serritella, sent Jerry Thompson, Diana's husband, a letter. In the letter, Serritella related that Diana had engaged in a sexual relationship with Frank in the hope of persuading Frank to compromise his legal position in the custody dispute. Moreover, Serritella described Diana as "devious" and "dishonest." Serritella noted that Jerry (Thompson) is "in a unique position to be aware of the numerous things [Diana] has done with the purpose [of depriving] Mr. Frank of access to his son." Serritella urged Jerry to become a witness on Frank's behalf.

Subsequently, Diana filed a four-count complaint against Frank and Serritella. In the complaint, Diana alleges that Serritella's letter to her husband is defamatory. In counts I and III, Diana alleges that Frank and Serritella libeled her by sending the letter to her husband. In counts II and IV, Diana alleges that Frank and Serritella intentionally caused her to suffer severe emotional distress.

Defendants filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to subsection 2-619(a)(9) of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2-619(a)(9) (West 1998)). In the motion, defendants contend that they cannot be held liable for making the allegedly defamatory statements because the statements were made in a communication related to an on-going judicial proceeding. Defendants also filed the affidavit of Jerry Serritella. In the affidavit, Serritella avers that the honesty, character, and integrity of the parties had become an issue relevant to the custody dispute. Serritella further states that he sent the allegedly defamatory letter to Jerry Thompson in an effort to procure him as a witness against his wife. According to Serritella, procuring Jerry's testimony would help Frank to show that Diana had "continually interfered and attempted to thwart" Frank's visitation rights. Moreover, Serritella states that he sent the letter in the hope that it would cause Jerry to divorce Diana and thereby diminish Diana's financial ability to care for her son.

The trial court granted defendants' motion to dismiss with respect to all four counts of plaintiff's complaint. This appeal followed.

On appeal, plaintiff contends that the trial court erred by dismissing her complaint. In particular, plaintiff maintains that the allegedly defamatory statements made by defendants are not subject to an absolute privilege.

Subsection 2-619(a)(9) of the Code of Civil Procedure provides for dismissal of a complaint if "the claim asserted against defendant is barred by other affirmative matter avoiding the legal effect of[,] or defeating[,] the claim." 735 ILCS 5/2-619(a)(9) (West 1998). Thus, under this subsection, the moving party admits the legal sufficiency of the complaint but asserts an affirmative defense or other matter that avoids or defeats the claim. Stratman v. Brent, 291 Ill.App.3d 123, 225 Ill. Dec. 448, 683 N.E.2d 951 (1997). In a defamation action, the issue of absolute privilege is treated as an affirmative defense that may be raised and determined in a section 2-619 motion. Lykowski v. Bergman, 299 Ill.App.3d 157, 233 Ill.Dec. 356, 700 N.E.2d 1064 (1998).

In ruling on a section 2-619 motion, the trial court assumes the veracity of all well-pleaded facts of the complaint. Stratman, 291 Ill.App.3d 123, 225 Ill.Dec. 448, 683 N.E.2d 951. Moreover, the trial court may consider all the pleadings, depositions, and affidavits of record. Stratman, 291 Ill.App.3d 123, 225 Ill.Dec. 448, 683 N.E.2d 951. An order granting a section 2-619 motion is subject to de novo review. Stratman, 291 Ill.App.3d 123, 225 Ill.Dec. 448, 683 N.E.2d 951. In particular, the reviewing court determines whether there exists a genuine issue of material fact that should have precluded dismissal and, in the absence of such an issue of fact, whether the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Illinois Graphics Co. v. Nickum, 159 Ill.2d 469, 203 Ill.Dec. 463, 639 N.E.2d 1282 (1994).

An attorney is absolutely privileged to publish defamatory matter concerning another in communications preliminary to a proposed judicial proceeding, or in the institution of, or during the course and as a part of, a judicial proceeding in which he participates as counsel, if it has some relation to the proceeding. Restatement (Second) of Torts § 586 (1977). A private litigant enjoys the same privilege concerning a proceeding to which he is a party. Restatement (Second) of Torts § 587 (1977). An absolute privilege provides a complete bar to a claim for defamation, regardless of the defendant's motive or the unreasonableness of his conduct. Lykowski, 299 Ill.App.3d 157, 233 Ill.Dec. 356, 700 N.E.2d 1064. In light of the complete immunity provided by an absolute privilege, the classification of absolutely privileged communications is necessarily narrow. Barakat v. Matz, 271 Ill.App.3d 662, 208 Ill.Dec. 111, 648 N.E.2d 1033 (1995). Whether an allegedly defamatory statement is subject to an absolute privilege is a question of law. Barakat, 271 Ill.App.3d 662, 208 Ill.Dec. 111, 648 N.E.2d 1033.

In the case at bar, this court must decide whether a defamatory letter sent by one party's attorney to the spouse of the opposing party to a pending judicial proceeding falls within the class of absolutely ...