No. 2--06--1305 Filed: 12-6-07
______________________________________________________________________________
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
SECOND DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________
PAMELA BUBLITZ and JOSEPH ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
SNIDER, ) of Du Page County.
)
Plaintiffs-Appellants, )
)
v. ) No. 02--L--1036
)
WILKINS BUICK, MAZDA, SUZUKI, )
INC.; MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN )
OPERATIONS; and MAZDA AMERICA )
CREDIT, ) Honorable
) Stephen J. Culliton,
Defendants-Appellees. ) Judge, Presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE HUTCHINSON delivered the opinion of the court:
Plaintiffs, Pamela Bublitz and Joseph Snider, appeal the circuit court's denial of their jury trial
demand and its judgment against them following a bench trial. Plaintiffs filed a complaint against
defendants, Wilkins Buick, Mazda, Suzuki, Inc. (Wilkins); Mazda North American Operations; and
Mazda America Credit, under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty--Federal Trade Commission
Improvement Act (Magnuson-Moss Act) (15 U.S.C. §2310(d)(1) (2000)) and the Uniform
Commercial Code (UCC) (810 ILCS 5/2--608 (West 2002)). We determine that (1) because
plaintiffs were seeking equitable relief, they were not entitled to a jury trial, and (2) they waived their
arguments concerning an evidentiary issue at trial. Accordingly, we affirm.
I. BACKGROUND
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On December 14, 2001, plaintiffs purchased a new Mazda Tribute (the vehicle) from Wilkins.
They signed documents showing $980.74 equity in a trade-in vehicle. They also provided a $500
deposit and a down payment of $2,200.04. Plaintiffs financed the remainder of the purchase. The
vehicle was subject to a limited manufacturer warranty for three years or 50,000 miles. The limited
warranty excluded damages for financial losses such as loss of use, lodging, car rental, travel costs,
loss of pay, and other expenses or damages. The purchase contract also contained a dealer's
disclaimer of warranties.
On December 17, 2001, the vehicle experienced transmission and clutch failure. Plaintiffs
brought the vehicle in for repair, and between December 17, 2001, and February 7, 2002, they
brought it in six more times. According to plaintiffs, the vehicle underwent warranty repairs for
multiple items such as a defective clutch cable, a leaking transmission, a defective clutch, an
improperly installed drive-belt pulley, a defective CD player, and defective power steering. The
vehicle was in for warranty repairs during 39 days of the first 3,600 miles of driving.
On February 18, 2002, while the vehicle was in for repair, plaintiffs informed Wilkins that they
no longer wanted it and that they wanted a replacement vehicle or their money back. Wilkins refused.
Plaintiffs refused to reclaim the vehicle and filed suit alleging the following counts: (1) breach
of written warranty under the Magnuson-Moss Act; (2) breach of implied warranty of merchantability
under the Magnuson-Moss Act; and (3) revocation of acceptance under the UCC. In each count,
plaintiffs stated that they revoked their acceptance of the vehicle and sought damages. They also
alleged two counts that are not at issue on appeal, under section 433.2 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (16 C.F.R. §433.2 (2002)) and the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business
Practices Act (815 ILCS 505/1 et seq. (West 2002)).
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Both plaintiffs and defendants filed jury demands. Before trial, plaintiffs told the trial court
that, because they did not want to keep the vehicle, they were not seeking diminution in value, the
measure of damages for breach of warranty. Instead, they advised the trial court that they were
seeking only damages for revocation of acceptance. At one point the trial court asked plaintiffs'
attorney: "You're asking only for damages which flow *** from the equitable remedy of rescission
or revocation[?]" Plaintiffs' attorney replied: "[T]hat is correct." On another occasion, the trial court
asked: "[S]o you are seeking only the equitable remedy?" Plaintiffs' attorney responded:
"[A]bsolutely." Although they conceded that they were seeking an equitable remedy, they argued to
the trial court that a jury should determine whether there was a breach of warranty and that, if there
was, the trial court would then determine the damages. The trial court determined that the
proceeding was equitable and denied the parties' jury trial demands.
At trial, over plaintiffs' objection, the trial court allowed Tom Ballun, the business manager
at Wilkins, to testify about the value of plaintiffs' trade-in vehicle listed in the contract. Ballun
testified that the trade-in vehicle actually had negative equity, and because lending institutions did not
like to see negative equity, Wilkins increased the trade allowance by $6,000. Wilkins then adjusted
the price of the vehicle by the same amount to reflect the adjustment to the trade allowance. Ballun
testified that by making the adjustments, Wilkins was able to secure for plaintiffs zero-percent
financing and no payments for six months.
After hearing the evidence, the trial court entered judgment in favor of defendants. Plaintiffs
appeal.
II. ANALYSIS
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Plaintiffs first contend that they had a right to a jury trial under both the federal and state
constitutions because they sought money damages. Defendants correctly note that plaintiffs conceded
at trial that they were seeking damages based solely on revocation of acceptance. Defendants argue
that because revocation of acceptance is an equitable remedy, there was no right to a jury trial. We
review a litigant's right to a jury trial de novo. Catania v. Local 4250/5050, 359 Ill. App. 3d 718, 722
(2005).
A. Application of Federal Law
Initially, plaintiffs argue that federal law applies to their jury demand. We disagree. The
guaranty of a jury trial articulated in the United States Constitution does not extend to the states
through the fourteenth amendment. Stevens v. Lou's Lemon Tree, Ltd., 187 Ill. App. 3d 458, 466
(1989). Thus, the federal guaranty does not apply to state court proceedings applying state law. See
Boatmen's National Bank v. Ward, 231 Ill. App. 3d 401, 410 (1992). Instead, the state constitution
applies. See Ward, 231 Ill. App. 3d at 410.
The Magnuson-Moss Act provides a consumer with a private cause of action against a
manufacturer or retailer that fails to comply with the terms of a written warranty or any implied
warranty. 15 U.S.C. §2310(d)(1) (2000); Shoop v. DaimlerChrysler Corp., 371 Ill. App. 3d 1058,
1060 (2007). However, "[w]hen the Act does not conflict with state law governing the sale of
consumer products, state law applies." Shoop, 371 Ill. App. 3d at 1060. Here, the Act does not
conflict with state law, and state law is applicable. Accordingly, we apply state law to determine
whether plaintiffs were entitled to a jury trial.
B. Right to a Jury Trial for Damages Based on Revocation of Acceptance
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Plaintiffs contend that they were entitled to a jury trial under Illinois law because they sought
damages. However, at trial they conceded that they were seeking damages solely pursuant to an
equitable remedy.
Article I, section 13, of the Illinois Constitution provides: "The right of trial by jury as
heretofore enjoyed shall remain inviolate." Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, §13. This provision guarantees
the right of trial by jury as it existed at common law. Martin v. Heinold Commodities, Inc., 163 Ill.
2d 33, 72 (1994); Bank One, N.A. v. Borse, 351 Ill. App. 3d 482, 487 (2004). The Illinois
Constitution thus provides a right to a jury trial only in those cases where the right existed at common
law when the constitution was originally adopted. Martin, 163 Ill. 2d at 72-73. The right to a jury
trial does not depend on whether money damages are sought. Martin, 163 Ill. 2d at 74-75; Borse,
351 Ill. App. 3d at 487. In addition, in Illinois, a statutory right that is unknown at common law does
not confer the right to a jury in the absence of statutory language conferring such a right. See Martin,
163 Ill. 2d at 73-75 (denying right to a jury trial under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business
Practices Act).
Here, neither the Magnuson-Moss Act nor section 2--608 of the UCC provides for a jury trial.
Thus, the only question before us is whether the common law provided a right to a jury trial of
plaintiffs' claims when the constitution was adopted. "At common law, equitable claims were
creations of the courts of chancery and were tried without the right to a jury." Borse, 351 Ill. App.
3d at 488; Martin, 163 Ill. 2d at 78. In a case seeking equitable relief, a trial court may direct that
an issue or issues be tried by a jury. 735 ILCS 5/2--1111 (West 2002). But the impaneling of a jury
in such a case is in the discretion of the trial court, and the verdict is only advisory. See Carroll v.
Hurst, 103 Ill. App. 3d 984, 991 (1982).
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Here, plaintiffs stated that they were not seeking diminution in value, the legal damages for
breach of warranty. See 810 ILCS 5/2--714(2) (West 2002); Razor v. Hyundai Motor America, 222
Ill. 2d 75, 106 (2006). Instead, they told the trial court that they sought revocation of acceptance,
an equitable remedy for breach of warranty. Mydlach v. DiamlerChrysler Corp., 226 Ill. 2d 307, 310
(2007) (Mydlach II); Mydlach v. DiamlerChrysler Corp., 364 Ill. App. 3d 135, 158 (2005) (Mydlach
I); Mrugala v. Fairfield Ford, Inc., 325 Ill. App. 3d 484, 491 (2001). Thus, although the trial court
could have impaneled an advisory jury, plaintiffs had no right to a jury trial.
In Mydlach I, the First District recognized cases from the United States District Court for the
Northern District of Illinois holding that revocation of acceptance is an available form of equitable
relief under the Magnuson-Moss Act if the plaintiff succeeds in showing a breach of warranty.
Mydlach I, 364 Ill. App. 3d at 158. In doing so, the court cited a federal district court case similar
to this appeal. Mydlach I, 364 Ill. App. 3d at 158, citing Jones v. Fleetwood Motor Homes, 127 F.
Supp. 2d 958 (N.D. Ill. 2000).
In Jones--a case that both plaintiffs and defendants rely upon--the purchaser of a motor home
alleged that untimely and inadequate repairs were made to the vehicle in violation of its warranty.
The purchaser filed suit under the Magnuson-Moss Act, alleging breach of written warranty, breach
of implied warranty of merchantability, and revocation of acceptance. The district court held that the
revocation of acceptance claims were not separate counts, but were equitable relief that could be
granted by the court instead of a jury. The initial breach of warranty issues were tried to a jury, with
the issue of revocation tried to the court. After the jury returned a damages amount for breach of
warranty that was unacceptable to the purchaser, the purchaser moved to amend the judgment to
instead award him a refund for revocation of acceptance. The court denied this request. The court
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reasoned that revocation is an equitable remedy and that the jury award was an adequate remedy at
law.
In Jones, the district court allowed an initial jury determination of the breach of warranty
claims. But unlike the case before us, the claims in Jones were brought in federal court and sought
the standard measure of legal damages for breach of warranty. Here, we are not presented with the
question of whether plaintiffs would have a right to a jury trial in state court if they had pursued the
standard measure of legal damages for breach of warranty. Instead, we are presented with a case
where plaintiffs sought solely an equitable remedy.
When determining the right to a jury trial, we have referred to the type of relief sought. When
that relief was equitable, we have held that a jury was not available as a matter of right. See generally
Borse, 351 Ill. App. 3d at 488 (discussing equitable remedies for breach of trust). Further, it has been
stated that where equity has acquired jurisdiction, it may determine all matters, including legal issues.
See City of Chicago v. Westphalen, 93 Ill. App. 3d 1110, 1128 (1981).
Here, as plaintiffs conceded, the lack of a claim for diminution damages left an action that was
seeking only the equitable relief of revocation of acceptance. At that point, the trial court had the
discretion to impanel a jury, but it was not required to do so. See 735 ILCS 5/2--1111 (West 2002);
Hurst, 103 Ill. App. 3d at 991. Because plaintiffs sought solely equitable relief, they were not entitled
to a jury determination of their claims.
C. Testimony About Trade Value
Plaintiffs next argue, without any citation to legal authority, that the trial court erred in
allowing testimony about the valuation of their trade-in vehicle. They contend that the testimony was
allowed in violation of the parol evidence rule. Under the parol evidence rule, any evidence of prior
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or contemporaneous agreements is not admissible to alter the terms of an otherwise unambiguous
written contract. Vuagniaux v. Korte, 273 Ill. App. 3d 305, 312 (1995).
Plaintiffs have waived this claim by failing to comply with Supreme Court Rule 341(h)(7) (210
Ill. 2d R. 341(h)(7)). Rule 341(h)(7) requires an appellant's brief to include "[a]rgument, which shall
contain the contentions of the appellant and the reasons therefor, with citation of the authorities and
the pages of the record relied on." 210 Ill. 2d R. 341(h)(7). An issue not clearly defined and
sufficiently presented fails to satisfy the requirements of Rule 341(h)(7) and is waived. Vincent v.
Doebert, 183 Ill. App. 3d 1081, 1087 (1989).
In any event, the testimony here was not offered to alter the terms of the contract. Instead,
it was offered to show the actual value of the vehicle for purposes of determining damages. Thus,
the evidence did not violate the parol evidence rule. Also, because the trial court found that there was
insufficient evidence for revocation, it never reached the issue of damages. Plaintiffs do not argue
on appeal that the trial court erred in that respect. As a result, any error in allowing the evidence was
harmless.
III. CONCLUSION
We determine that plaintiffs were not entitled to a jury trial and that they waived any issue
concerning evidence of the value of their trade-in vehicle. Because we conclude that plaintiffs were
not entitled to a jury trial, we need not discuss defendants' alternative argument that plaintiffs could
not recover because they failed to show that the disclaimer of incidental and consequential damages
in the contract was unconscionable.
The judgment of the circuit court of Du Page County is affirmed.
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Affirmed.
GROMETER, P.J., and CALLUM, J., concur.
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