FREDERICKSON v. BLUMENTHAL

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Docket Number

No. 1-93-2949

Attorney(S)

Robert Handelsman and Terence J. Tyksinski, both of Chicago, for appellant. James T. Crotty Associates, of Chicago, for appellee.

Judges

JUSTICE RAKOWSKI delivered the opinion of the court:

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Smart Summary

Factual and Procedural Background

This case arises from a dispute regarding possession of a savings account originally funded by Hedwig Mayer in 1963. Mayer deposited $4,362.79 of her own money into a savings account at Chesterfield Savings and Loan Association, asking the defendant, Warner Blumenthal, to hold the money in his name. Mayer retained possession of the passbook until her death in 1988, and the defendant never made deposits or withdrawals from the account. The defendant declared interest on his taxes from 1963 until 1991. After Mayer’s death, the plaintiff, as administrator of her estate, demanded repayment of the funds in 1989, which the defendant refused. The account balance as of November 1992 was $19,980.98. The circuit court imposed a constructive trust on the account in favor of the plaintiff and granted the defendant a credit for taxes paid. The defendant appealed the imposition of the constructive trust and the court’s ruling on the statute of limitations.

Legal Issues Presented

Whether the plaintiff submitted sufficient evidence to justify the imposition of a constructive trust on the savings account.
Whether the trial court erred in holding that the plaintiff’s action was not barred by the statute of limitations.

Arguments of the Parties

Defendant's Arguments

The defendant contended that the plaintiff did not present sufficient evidence to justify imposing a constructive trust.
The defendant argued that the action was barred by the five-year statute of limitations applicable to constructive trust claims, asserting the limitations period began at the time of the original deposit in 1963.
The defendant also argued that the plaintiff had an adequate remedy at law (unjust enrichment), making the imposition of a constructive trust improper.

Plaintiff's Arguments

The plaintiff maintained that the defendant held the money in trust for Mayer and that it would be inequitable for him to retain the funds.
The plaintiff argued that the statute of limitations did not begin to run until demand was made and refused in 1989, applying the discovery rule.
The plaintiff contended that a constructive trust was appropriate because it provided a more adequate remedy than an action at law, allowing the court to freeze the account and order turnover.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent	Rule or Principle Cited For	Application by the Court
Suttles v. Vogel, 126 Ill.2d 186 (1988)	Definition and grounds for imposing a constructive trust, including fraud, fiduciary breach, duress, coercion, or mistake.	The court relied on Suttles to explain the nature of constructive trusts and the necessity of wrongdoing or inequity to impose one.
In re Estate of Engel, 87 Ill. App.3d 273 (1980)	Broadened circumstances under which a constructive trust may be imposed when one person holds money belonging to another.	Used to support the imposition of a constructive trust even absent traditional fiduciary breach or fraud, emphasizing equity and good conscience.
Martin v. Heinold Commodities, Inc., 163 Ill.2d 33 (1994)	Recognition that constructive trusts may arise in various equitable circumstances.	Referenced to corroborate the availability of constructive trust remedies in cases similar to the instant one.
Chicago Park District v. Kenroy, Inc., 107 Ill. App.3d 222 (1982)	Application of constructive trust principles even without allegations of fraud or breach of confidential relationship.	Supported the court’s rejection of defendant’s narrow view of constructive trust prerequisites and the applicability of the discovery rule to limitations.
Hill v. Names Addresses, Inc., 212 Ill. App.3d 1065 (1991)	Equity court’s jurisdiction not ousted by availability of legal remedies; adequacy of remedy comparison.	Used to reject the defendant’s argument that unjust enrichment was an adequate remedy, supporting the equity court’s authority to impose constructive trust.
Johnson v. North American Life Casualty Co., 100 Ill. App.2d 212 (1968)	Standards for determining adequacy of legal remedies compared to equitable remedies.	Quoted to emphasize the court’s discretion to impose equitable remedies despite available legal remedies.
David v. Russo, 91 Ill. App.3d 1023 (1980)	Application of the discovery rule to constructive trust claims regarding accrual of cause of action.	Applied to hold that the statute of limitations began when plaintiff discovered or should have discovered the defendant’s adverse claim, not at the time of deposit.
Shelburn v. Richardson, 8 Ill. 597 (1846)	Limitations period begins when the plaintiff could have discovered the injury.	Distinguished by the court as not supporting defendant’s argument that limitations started at deposit.
Brehm v. Sargent Lundy, 66 Ill. App.3d 472 (1978)	Limitations begin at time of clear denial of claim or knowledge of adverse position.	Distinguished for facts showing plaintiff had notice long before suit, unlike instant case.
Roush v. Illinois Oil Co., 180 Ill. App. 346 (1913)	Statute of limitations bars action if contractual obligations are not exercised timely.	Distinguished as involving contractual repurchase obligation, not applicable here.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The court first reviewed the nature of a constructive trust as an equitable remedy imposed by law to prevent unjust enrichment where one party wrongfully holds property belonging to another. Drawing on Suttles v. Vogel, the court explained that constructive trusts require some form of wrongdoing or inequity. However, the court acknowledged broader precedents allowing constructive trusts absent traditional fiduciary breaches or fraud, such as in In re Estate of Engel.

The stipulated facts and defendant’s own testimony established that the money was Mayer’s, held by defendant in name only, and that defendant never claimed ownership. The defendant’s retention of the funds, despite demand for repayment, justified imposing a constructive trust to prevent inequity.

The court rejected the defendant’s argument that unjust enrichment was an adequate remedy, noting that equitable relief was necessary to protect the funds from possible withdrawal and to provide a more effective remedy, including freezing the account and turnover orders.

Regarding the statute of limitations, the court applied the Illinois discovery rule, holding that the cause of action accrued when the plaintiff knew or should have known of the adverse claim. Since Mayer possessed the passbook until her death and the defendant refused repayment only in 1989, the suit filed in 1990 was timely. The court distinguished cases cited by defendant where plaintiffs had earlier notice or contractual obligations triggering limitations.

Holding and Implications

The court affirmed the circuit court’s order imposing a constructive trust on the savings account in favor of the plaintiff and rejecting the statute of limitations defense.

The direct effect is that the funds in the account are held under a constructive trust for the estate of Hedwig Mayer, and the defendant is obligated to transfer the funds accordingly. The decision reinforces the application of constructive trusts as an equitable remedy to prevent unjust enrichment in circumstances where property is wrongfully held, and clarifies that the statute of limitations for such claims accrues upon discovery of the adverse claim, not at the time of the original deposit. No new precedent was established beyond the application of existing Illinois law.

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CRAIG FREDERICKSON, Special Adm'r of the Estate of Hedwig Mayer, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. WARNER BLUMENTHAL et al., Defendants (Warner Blumenthal, Defendant-Appellant).

JUSTICE RAKOWSKI delivered the opinion of the court:

This is an action for possession of a savings account under a theory of constructive trust. The appellee, Craig Frederickson (plaintiff), the administrator of the estate of Hedwig Mayer, decedent, filed the suit requesting a declaration of rights to the account against the appellant, Warner Blumenthal (defendant), and Chesterfield Savings and Loan Association. The circuit court imposed a constructive trust on the account in favor of the plaintiff and granted a credit and setoff of $5,147 in favor of the defendant for taxes that he paid relative to the account. On appeal, the defendant raises the following issues: (1) whether the plaintiff submitted evidence sufficient to justify the imposition of a constructive trust; and (2) whether the trial court erred in holding that the action was not barred by the statute of limitations. For the reasons which follow, we affirm.

The following facts were stipulated to at the bench trial. On February 28, 1963, Hedwig Mayer, the defendant's aunt, deposited $4,362.79 of her own money in a savings account at Chesterfield Savings and Loan Association and asked the defendant to hold the money for her under his name. After Mayer deposited the money, she brought the signature card to the defendant so he could sign it. At the time, Mayer was of sound mind and body. Although the account was in the defendant's name, he was holding the money for Mayer, who always possessed the passbook from 1963 until her death in December 1988, when she was 88 years old. The defendant never made or attempted to make deposits or withdrawals. The defendant declared the interest on his taxes from 1963 until 1991. Demand was made of repayment in October 1989. The defendant refused to release the funds to the estate of Hedwig Mayer. As of November 17, 1992, the balance in the account was $19,980.98.

At the bench trial, the only witness was the defendant, who testified as an adverse witness. Between 1960 and 1963, the defendant saw Mayer about four times a month. He testified that he had a good relationship with Mayer until her death in 1988.

A constructive trust is one raised by operation of law as distinguished from a trust created by express agreement between the parties. ( Suttles v. Vogel (1988), 126 Ill.2d 186, 193, 533 N.E.2d 901.) The Suttles court stated:

"A constructive trust is created when a court declares the party in possession of wrongfully acquired property as the constructive trustee of that property [citation], because it would be inequitable for that party to retain possession of the property. The sole duty of the constructive trustee is to transfer title and possession of the wrongfully acquired property to the beneficiary. [Citation.]

A constructive trust is generally imposed in two situations: first, where actual or constructive fraud is considered as equitable grounds for raising the trust and, second, where there is a fiduciary duty and a subsequent breach of that duty. [Citations.] A constructive trust may also arise when duress, coercion or mistake is present. [Citation.] Some form of wrongdoing is a prerequisite to the imposition of a constructive trust." Suttles, 126 Ill.2d at 193.

Although there is authority to support the defendant's contention that a constructive trust will not be imposed in the absence of a fiduciary relationship, fraud, or some form of wrongdoing, other courts have broadened the circumstances where a constructive trust is an available remedy. For example, in In re Estate of Engel (1980), 87 Ill. App.3d 273, 408 N.E.2d 1134, the decedent was holding his mother's money in a savings account that was held solely in his name. The evidence showed the money belonged to the mother. When the decedent's only heir, his daughter, attempted to keep the money after the decedent's death, the trial court concluded that a constructive trust was created and the mother was awarded the money. The appellate court affirmed, noting "where one person has received money which belongs to another under circumstances whereby in equity and good conscience he ought not keep it, recovery will be allowed under a theory of constructive or resulting trust." Engel, 87 Ill. App.3d at 275; see also Martin v. Heinold Commodities, Inc. (1994), 163 Ill.2d 33, 643 N.E.2d 734; Chicago Park District v. Kenroy, Inc. (1982), 107 Ill. App.3d 222, 437 N.E.2d 783 (the plaintiff's allegations stated an action for a constructive trust despite the failure to allege elements constituting fraud or breach of a confidential relationship).

At trial in the instant case, the following took place:

"MR. CROTTY [Plaintiff's attorney]: The stipulation would be, your Honor, that on or about February 28, 1963 that the plaintiff decedent Hedwig Mayer asked the defendant Warner Blumenthal to hold money for her under his name in the Chesterfield Savings Loan account. And that he agreed to do that.

MR. TYKSINSKI [Defendant's attorney]: That's been alleged under Paragraph 5 and 6 of the complaint, and we admitted it."

Later, the defendant testified:

"MR. CROTTY: All right. And that money was her money that was deposited in that account?

A. Yes.

Q. But in your name, correct?

A. She deposited it, and if I recall brought me a signature card. She made the deposit, and I signed the signature card, if I remember.

Q. But the money was to be held in your name for her, correct? That's one of the stipulations?

A. It was her money."

It is evident from this testimony that the defendant knew the money was Mayer's. He never testified that Mayer was giving the money to him or that the money was ever going to belong to him. The plaintiff has met his burden by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant received money belonging to another under circumstances where in equity and good conscience he ought not keep it. As such, the trial court's decision to impose a constructive trust on the account cannot be said to be against the manifest weight of the evidence.

We also reject the defendant's argument that because the plaintiff had an adequate remedy at law (unjust enrichment), it was error to impose a constructive trust. Although unjust enrichment was an available remedy, we question whether it was adequate. We fail to understand why the plaintiff in this case should be forced to jump through the hoops of collection and post-judgment proceedings only to discover that defendant had withdrawn the funds from the account. Unlike an action at law, an equity court could freeze the account, determine the rights of the parties, and enter a turnover order on the bank. " '[T]he fact that a remedy at law is available does not oust an equity court of jurisdiction. The question to be determined is whether the remedy at law compares favorably with the remedy afforded by the equity court.' " ( Hill v. Names Addresses, Inc. (1991), 212 Ill. App.3d 1065, 1082, 571 N.E.2d 1085, quoting Johnson v. North American Life Casualty Co. (1968), 100 Ill. App.2d 212, 218, 241 N.E.2d 332.) Additionally, as we have already established, Illinois law provides that the imposition of a constructive trust is proper under facts very similar to this case. Engel, 87 Ill. App.3d at 275-76.

Next, the defendant contends the court erred in holding the plaintiff's action was not barred by the statute of limitations because it was filed 25 years after Hedwig Mayer first deposited the money and the limitations applicable to constructive trusts is five years. For the following reasons, we conclude that the defendant's argument is without merit.

All civil actions not otherwise provided for by statute shall be commenced within five years after the cause of action accrued. ( 735 ILCS 5/13-205 (West 1992).) Constructive trusts are subject to the five-year statute of limitations. ( Chicago Park District v. Kenroy, Inc. (1978), 58 Ill. App.3d 879, 887, 374 N.E.2d 670, aff'd in part rev'd in part (1980), 78 Ill.2d 555, 402 N.E.2d 181.) Similarly, actions for unjust enrichment are also governed by the five-year statute. Ill. Rev. Stat. 1969, ch. 83, par. 16.

"[T]he more difficult question is as to when 'the cause of action accrued,' thereby triggering the statute of limitations." ( Kenroy, Inc., 58 Ill. App.3d at 887.) In applying the Illinois discovery rule to a constructive trust action, the court held the plaintiff has the burden of showing it neither knew, nor could have known, of the facts supporting its cause of action until a time that is within the five-year limitations period. Kenroy, Inc., 58 Ill. App.3d at 888; see also David v. Russo (1980), 91 Ill. App.3d 1023, 415 N.E.2d 531 (discovery rule applicable where the plaintiffs seeking a constructive trust did not have any reason to suspect the defendants were acting against their interests until a time within the five-year limitations period).

In the case sub judice, the passbook remained in the hands of Mayer until she died in December 1988. The defendant never withdrew funds, nor attempted to do so. On October 31, 1989, the defendant refused to release the funds to Mayer's estate. As a result, suit was filed in May 1990. Like the plaintiff in David, neither Hedwig Mayer nor the plaintiff had any reason to suspect the defendant was acting against their interests until demand was made and refused in October 1989. In applying the Illinois discovery rule to this case, suit was filed well within the five-year statute of limitations.

The cases cited by defendant do not support his position that the five-year statute of limitations began to run the day that Mayer deposited the money in 1963. In Shelburn v. Richardson (1846), 8 Ill. 597, the appellant who made the mistake of overpayment 10 years earlier could have found his error anytime after the overpayment. In Brehm v. Sargent Lundy (1978), 66 Ill. App.3d 472, 384 N.E.2d 55, the defendant made its position clear that the plaintiff was not entitled to a pension and had never made any pension payments to him from the time he claimed he was entitled to the payments in 1963 until the commencement of the lawsuit in 1976. In Roush v. Illinois Oil Co. (1913), 180 Ill. App. 346, the plaintiff had an affirmative obligation under the contract to repurchase the stock 12 months from the contract date and it was the failure of the plaintiff to exercise this obligation within the statute of limitations that barred the action.

Based upon the aforementioned, the order of the circuit court is affirmed.

Affirmed.

EGAN and ZWICK, JJ., concur.

Justice Gus P. Giannis participated in oral argument before his reassignment to the circuit court. Justice Morton Zwick was substituted on the panel and has listened to the oral argument tape and has read the briefs.