David Kibbey v. State of Illinois

ORDER

GAGLIARDO, J. This matter appearing before the Illinois Court of Claims coming to be heard on Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss and Claimant’s Objection thereto, and this Court being fully advised in the premises:

BACKGROUND

The Claimant, David Kibbey, filed his Complaint on June 7, 2021 arguing that Respondent engaged in aggravated cruelty under 510 ILCS 70/3.02 while caring for Claimant’s dog ultimately leading to said dog’s death; and that Respondent violated the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, 815 ILCS 505 ("Consumer Fraud Act"), based on allegations of several allegedly deceptive acts related to the veterinary care provided to his dog. On July 30, 2021, Respondent filed a combined Motion to Dismiss pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-619. 1.

On September 10, 2021, Claimant filed his Objection to Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss. On October 12, 2021, Respondent responded through its Reply in Support of Motion to Dismiss; Claimant then further responded to Respondent’s Reply on November 23, 2021.

LEGAL ANALYSIS

I. Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss under 735 ILCS 5/2-619 To briefly summarize the relevant facts related to Respondent’s Section 619 Motion, the death of Claimant’s dog occurred on July 4, 2018; and Claimant filed his Complaint on June 7, 2021. Respondent cites to Section 2-619 of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure which provides that a respondent may bring a motion to dismiss an action if, inter alia: the action was not commenced within the time limited by law; or if the claim is barred by an affirmative matter that defeats the claim. Under the Court of Claims Act, claims “must be filed within 2 years after [they] first accrue…” 705 ILCS 505/22(h). As such, Respondent argues that the two-year limitation period began on the date of death; whereas in response, Claimant argues that the limitation period did not begin to toll until Claimant received all documents related to the same matter. Although it is true that Claimant was made aware of [*241] his injury on the date of his dog’s death; as of March 20, 2020, the Court of Claim’s statutes of limitation have been put on hold by Administrative Rule. See 74 Ill. Admin Code 790.40(d). Section 790.40 of the Court of Claims Rules specifically provides that “Pursuant to the disaster proclaimed by the Governor in Gubernatorial Proclamation number 2020-038, the statute of limitations for filing claims in the Illinois Court of Claims, as referenced in 705 ILCS 22, and the Notice provision of 705 ILCS 22-1, is tolled for the pendency of this disaster and for a period of 30 days thereafter.” On June 7, 2021, the date of Claimant’s initial filing with this Court, the Governor’s Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation was still in effect, therefore tolling the limitation period. Accordingly, with respect to Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss Claimant’s Complaint under 735 ILCS 5/2-619, Respondent’s Motion is denied.

II. Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss under 735 ILCS 5/2-615 Section 2-615 of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure provides that a respondent may bring a motion to dismiss an action based on insufficiency in the pleadings. Here, Respondent also argues that the allegations set forth in Claimant’s Complaint are insufficient and require dismissal pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-615. In his Complaint and subsequent filings intended to clarify the Complaint, Claimant argues that Respondent violated the Cruel Treatment section and the Aggravated Cruelty section of the Humane Care for Animals Act (510 ILCS 70/3.01); as well as arguing Respondent violated the Consumer Fraud Act (815 ILCS 505).

A. Cruel Treatment (510 ILCS 70/3.01(c)) The Cruel Treatment Section provides “No owner of a dog or cat that is a companion animal may expose the dog or cat in a manner that places the dog or cat in a life-threatening situation for a prolonged period of time in extreme heat or cold conditions that: (1) results in injury to or death of the animal; or (2) results in hypothermia, hyperthermia, frostbite, or similar condition as diagnosed by a doctor of veterinary medicine.” 5 10 ILCS 70/3.01 (c)).

According to Claimant’s “clarification” for his inclusion of this section, Claimant states the reason for citing to this statute was because the police department “failed to investigate”.

Based on the pleadings, Claimant has failed to provide any facts that suggest Respondent subjected his dog to “extreme heat”.

B. Aggravated Cruelty (510 ILCS 70/3.02(a)) The Aggravated Cruelty Section provides “No person may intentionally commit an act that causes a companion animal to suffer serious injury or death.” (510 ILCS 70/3.02(a)). A claim of aggravated cruelty pursuant to 510 ILCS 70/3.02(a) is a specific intent offense.

People v. Kirkpatrick, 148 N.E.3d 279, 292 (5th Dist. 2020). To establish a violation of this statute, a Claimant must provide evidence that Respondent intended to kill or seriously injure his dog. Claimant has failed to provide any facts establishing Respondent’s intent to kill or seriously injure his dog.

[*242] C. Consumer Fraud Act (815 ILCS 505) In order to prevail in a cause of action arising under the Consumer Fraud Act (815 ILCS 505), a Claimant must satisfy five elements: (1) a deceptive act or practice by the defendant; (2) the defendant's intent that the plaintiff rely on the deception; (3) the occurrence of the deception in the course of conduct involving trade or commerce; and (4) actual damage to the plaintiff; (5) proximately caused by the deception. See Avery v. State Farm Mut. Auto.

Ins. Co., 216 Ill.2d 100, 190 (2005). Here, Claimant is unable to satisfy element 3 under the Consumer Fraud Act because veterinary care does not qualify as "trade or commerce". See Tkacz v. Weiner, 368 Ill App.3d 610 (1st Dist. 2006) (finding Consumer Fraud Act inapplicable to dental practice); Feldstein v. Guinan, 148 Ill.App.3d 610 (1st Dist. 1986) (finding Consumer Fraud Act inapplicable to medical practice); Frahm v. Urkovich, 1 13 Ill.App.3d 580 (1st Dist. 1983) (finding Consumer Fraud Act inapplicable to legal practice).

The terms "trade" or "commerce" mean the advertising, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of any services and any property, tangible or intangible, real, personal, or mixed, and any other article, commodity, or thing of value wherever situated, and shall include any trade or commerce directly or indirectly affecting the people of this State. 815 ILCS 505/1 (f).

Similar to the professional services described in Tkacz, Feldstein, and Frahm, veterinary medicine is not an ordinary commercial enterprise and does not qualify as "trade or commerce". Therefore, Claimant is unable to satisfy the elements required to bring a claim under the Consumer Fraud Act.

THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT Respondent's Motion to Dismiss under 735 ILCS 5/2-615 is GRANTED.

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