LeCrone v. Leckrone

JUSTICE McMORROW,

dissenting:

I respectfully dissent from the majority’s reversal of the trial court’s imposition of sanctions on respondent law firm (hereinafter referred to as “respondent”) pursuant to section 2 — 611 of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 110, par. 2—611). Section 2 — 611 authorizes a trial court to impose sanctions when an attorney has failed to perform a reasonable prefiling investigation to determine whether the client’s position is well grounded in law and fact. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 110, par. 2—611.) The imposition of sanctions under section 2—611 is subject to reversal on appeal only if the court abused its discretion. (Chicago Title & Trust Co. v. Anderson (1988), 177 Ill. App. 3d 615, 625, 532 N.E.2d 595.) I dissent because I do not agree with the determination of the majority that the able trial court abused its discretion.

The trial court in the instant cause ordered that respondent pay $7,000 towards the expenses incurred by defendant to defend the suit brought by plaintiffs on the advice of respondent. The court imposed the sanctions pursuant to section 2 — 611 because the court found that the complaint filed by the respondent on plaintiffs’ behalf was not well grounded in fact and warranted by existing law or a good-faith argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law. The record fully supports the trial court’s determination that, based on established legal precedent, the complaint could not be legally supported, the complaint was factually inadequate, and the respondent failed to make an objectively reasonable investigation into the law and facts prior to filing the complaint. Consequently, I find no abuse of the trial court’s discretion justifying reversal.

I

The pertinent facts precipitating entry of section 2 — 611 sanctions upon the respondent are not in dispute. Respondent filed suit on behalf of plaintiffs, who are the grandchildren of Anthony and Hattie Lecrone. According to the record, Anthony and Hattie each had separate wills. Anthony’s will left his entire estate upon his death to Hattie. If Hattie predeceased Anthony, Anthony’s will left half of his estate to his son, Gordon Leckrone (Gordon), and half of the estate to the plaintiffs. Hattie’s will left virtually all of her estate to Anthony. If Anthony predeceased Hattie, Hattie’s will left her entire estate to Gordon to the exclusion of plaintiffs, except for a $1,000 bequest to each of the plaintiffs. Under Hattie’s will, if Gordon predeceased Hattie, plaintiffs would inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of Gordon’s wife, Harriet Leckrone (Harriet), and Gordon’s children. Respondent prepared and filed plaintiffs’ complaint, alleging that plaintiffs and Gordon entered into an oral agreement whereby Gordon agreed that, if he survived Hattie, his mother, and inherited her estate, he, Gordon, would share half of his inheritance with the plaintiffs. Pursuant to that oral agreement, plaintiffs agreed to share half of Hattie’s estate with Gordon’s wife, Harriet, and Gordon’s children, in the event that Gordon predeceased Hattie. The plaintiffs’ complaint alleged that Gordon “stated that he felt a moral obligation to make such distribution despite the fact that the terms of Hattie Lecrone’s Will only required him to make payments of $1,000.00 to each of the Plaintiffs.” Attached to the complaint were copies of two letters written by Gordon to one of the plaintiffs that referred to and acknowledged this alleged oral agreement arid Gordon’s intention to execute a will that would ensure plaintiffs’ receipt of half of Hattie’s estate, in the event that Gordon died before making such distribution in full. The complaint included a copy of Gordon’s last will and testament, reflecting such distribution to the plaintiffs in specific bequests to them.

Plaintiffs’ complaint alleged that Gordon died before making full distribution to plaintiffs. The complaint stated that plaintiffs were informed after Gordon’s death that there were insufficient funds in his estate to satisfy his specific bequests to the plaintiffs. Plaintiffs alleged that they had received a written statement showing disposition of Gordon’s estate that prevented distribution to the plaintiffs. A copy of this document was attached to the plaintiffs’ complaint.

Because they did not receive the funds allegedly promised them by Gordon, one of the plaintiffs contacted respondent to determine whether plaintiffs had any legal recourse against Gordon’s estate, or against Gordon’s wife, Harriet. According to the record, the respondent sent plaintiffs an opinion letter, which stated that the plaintiffs “may have a potential cause of action against the Estate of [Gordon] and his wife for the imposition of a constructive trust on all monies received by [Gordon] and his wife from the estates of your grandparents.” The respondent’s letter further stated that a “complaint for imposition of constructive trust is not one that is based on recovery or compensation under any theory of tort or contract law.” According to the letter, respondent stated that “no cause of action can be made on your behalf for breach of contract law” and that “Illinois does not recognize the existence of a contract for which the consideration is love and affection, or moral obligation.” The respondent’s opinion letter provided the following analysis of the clients’ “potential” constructive trust claim:

“The complaint for constructive trust is a restitutionary remedy which arises by operation of law and is imposed by a court on equitable and public policy grounds, in situations where a person holding money or property would profit by a wrong or be unjustly enriched at the expense of another if he were permitted to retain it. It is our opinion that such a cause of action can be maintained on your behalf showing that your uncle [Gordon] and his wife received one-half [sic] of the estate of your grandparents and that there was an agreement between you and your uncle that your side of the family would be entitled to one-half of that estate. Our firm would attempt to base a complaint for constructive trust on the case of Labarbera v. Labarbera.”

The respondent’s opinion letter went on to state that it would seek to impose a constructive trust on funds held by Gordon’s wife, Harriet, since “she may have benefited from the assets which were received from [the plaintiffs’] grandparents’ estates” and “may have taken assets which were in the name of [Gordon] and converted them either into joint tenancy assets or assets to be held in her sole name.” (Emphasis added.)

The respondent also recommended the filing of an action for an accounting with respect to the funds received by Gordon from Hattie’s estate and the disposition of any such assets. The respondent’s letter to plaintiffs stated that if an accounting revealed “that your uncle [Gordon] made investments in good faith and/or that he did have extensive medical bills, [you] would have the option of dropping the litigation at any time. However, as no estate has been opened up for your uncle, bringing an action for accounting appears to be the only way to seek to have a full and complete accounting made of your uncle’s actions prior to his death.”

Thereafter, respondent filed suit on plaintiffs’ behalf, against Gordon’s estate and against his wife, Harriet. The complaint requested the imposition of a constructive trust, an accounting, and injunctive relief. With respect to the imposition of a constructive trust, the complaint merely alleged that Gordon, “as *** uncle and the primary caretaker of their grandparents, *** occupied a special position of confidence and trust with the Plaintiffs.” According to the pleading, “[t]his confidential relationship was evidenced by the frequent correspondence between Gordon Leckrone and the Plaintiffs, his niece and nephews, which reflected the existing oral agreement among the parties, and Gordon Leckrone’s intent to distribute one half of the estate of Hattie A. Lecrone to the Plaintiffs should he inherit such property and to so provide for such distribution in his Will.” The complaint alleged that “the oral agreement among the parties and such provisions for the Plaintiffs were made by Gordon Leckrone in consideration for the love and affection he felt for the Plaintiffs and, as stated by Gordon Leckrone himself, as a result of the moral obligation he felt toward the Plaintiffs, as the children of his deceased brother.” The complaint alleged that “pursuant to the existing agreement between Gordon Leckrone and the Plaintiffs, Plaintiffs are entitled to” half of the funds Gordon inherited from Hattie.

The complaint further alleged that “as a result of the existing confidential relationship, between Gordon Leckrone and the Plaintiffs, a constructive trust should be imposed on the Estate of Gordon L. Leckrone for that amount of funds due to the Plaintiffs in order to avoid the unjust enrichment of Harriet Leckrone and to ensure that the Plaintiffs receive the funds they are justly entitled to pursuant to the existing oral agreement between Gordon Leckrone and the Plaintiffs.”

The complaint also requested an accounting of the funds which Gordon had inherited from Hattie. The plaintiffs alleged that they had been informed there were insufficient funds to distribute to plaintiffs those specific bequests set forth in Gordon’s will, and that plaintiffs had been advised of the reasons for this shortfall. Plaintiffs alleged that they had written to Harriet “requesting a full accounting of the estate of Gordon Leckrone, including any and all documents reflecting any purchases, expenses and/or investments by Gordon Leckrone or Harriet Leckrone regarding any and all property in the Estates of Anthony and Hattie Lecrone or owned by Gordon Leckrone.” The complaint alleged that Harriet “ha[s] refused and continue[s] to refuse to comply with Plaintiffs’ request for accounting.” According to the pleading, the plaintiffs, “as grandchildren of Anthony and Hattie Le-crone and by virtue of the oral agreement made between Plaintiffs and [Gordon] prior to his death, are beneficiaries and interested parties in the Estate of [Gordon] and are entitled to receive an accounting as to the status of the Estate and the distribution of any and all assets contained therein.”

The complaint, in a separate count for injunctive relief, requested an order restraining Harriet from dissipating assets derived from the estates of Gordon or his parents.

In response to the plaintiffs’ complaint, Harriet filed a motion to dismiss the pleading for failure to state a claim for which relief could be granted. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 110, par. 2— 615.) The motion to dismiss argued in pertinent part that, pursuant to the terms of the wills of Anthony and Hattie Lecrone, the entire estate of Hattie had rightfully passed to Gordon. The motion also pointed out that Gordon’s will provided for a gift to the plaintiffs, but that Gordon’s estate contained insufficient funds to satisfy these specific bequests. The motion to dismiss noted that an accounting, attached as an exhibit to plaintiffs’ complaint, had already been provided to the plaintiffs. This accounting set forth the disposition of the various estates and explained the reasons for the shortfall in Gordon’s estate. In her second amended motion to dismiss, Harriet requested that the respondent and the plaintiffs be sanctioned, under section 2 — 611, for their failure to make a reasonable investigation into the law and facts underlying the plaintiffs’ complaint.

The respondent did not file a response to the motion to dismiss or file a motion for leave to amend the complaint. The respondent also did not draft or file a response to Harriet’s request for fees under section 2—611. Rather, the respondent sought and was allowed leave to withdraw as counsel for the plaintiffs. Thereafter, before the date on which the motion to dismiss was scheduled to be heard by the trial court, respondent advised the plaintiffs of the withdrawal order entered by the court, and advised plaintiffs that “in order to protect your interests, it is [sic] your own appearance in this cause [sic]. It is our further suggestion, that said new counsel should consider the advisability of an [sic] voluntary dismissal of this cause, so that sanctions as requested in the motion to dismiss may be avoided.”

The record indicates that the plaintiffs did not obtain substitute counsel, and that the plaintiffs did not appear at the trial court’s hearing on the motion to dismiss. Following the hearing, the trial court allowed the motion to dismiss and dismissed the entire complaint with prejudice. The trial court continued the matter for consideration of Harriet’s petition for fees under section 2 — 611. Following briefing by all parties and hearing on the section 2 — 611 petition, the trial court imposed sanctions upon respondent in the amount of $7,000. In its oral pronouncements, the trial court observed that its decision was based “only [on] an objective standard and [did] not rely[ ] on hindsight.” The court went on to state:

“I have reviewed the Labarbera case and for the life of me I can’t see how any objective lawyer could have believed that that case would control these facts and give rise to a potential for recovery. *** To my view the theory from the very beginning is unsupportable; including the letter to the client from [respondent]. The letter is so contrived or the theory is so contrived that it cannot be described as the product of imaginative thinking or artful lawyering. It is the product of the most charitable thing I could say is wishful thinking.
Let’s throw something into court and hope that Harriet Le-crone [sic] will throw some money at the file. That’s all this file says to me.
I’m satisfied that there was no meaningful investigation of the law or the facts. I’m satisfied that the *** plaintiffs’ lawyers had on hand sufficient knowledge and sufficient information from their client to know that this complaint was, if not frivolous, then clearly inappropriate to be presented in a serious fashion.
The accounting *** was not only inartfully drafted, the accounting count flies in the face of the fact that the accounting was at hand at the time that it was asked for, with no representation that the accounting at hand was in any fashion inappropriate.”

II

At the time respondent filed suit on behalf of the plaintiffs, section 2—611 of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure governed the nature and extent of an attorney’s obligation to analyze the legal and factual basis of a client’s claim. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 110, par. 2—611.) Section 2—611 requires an attorney to certify that he has made an objectively reasonable investigation into the factual and legal basis of his client’s claims, and to certify that this investigation reveals the client’s position is well grounded in law and fact. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 110, par. 2—611.) It is the province of the trial court to determine whether an attorney’s legal and factual investigation has been objectively reasonable in light of all the surrounding circumstances. (Chicago Title & Trust Co. v. Anderson (1988), 177 Ill. App. 3d 615, 623, 532 N.E.2d 595.) The trial court’s conclusion is entitled to great weight and deference and will be disturbed only if it is against the manifest weight of the evidence. Chicago Title & Trust, 177 Ill. App. 3d at 625.

A

The majority’s decision to reverse rests upon whether or not respondent reasonably believed that existing law would warrant the imposition of a constructive trust on the allegations in the complaint and in the factual setting of this case. Illinois law regarding imposition of a constructive trust is well established. “A constructive trust is an equitable remedy imposed by a court to prevent the unjust enrichment of a party through actual fraud or breach of a fiduciary relationship. [Citations.]” (In re Liquidation of Security Casualty Co. (1989), 127 Ill. 2d 434, 447, 537 N.E.2d 775.) The Illinois Supreme Court in Sutiles v. Vogel (1988), 126 Ill. 2d 186, 193-94, 533 N.E.2d 901, stated:

“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. [Citation.]
A constructive trust will not be imposed unless the complaint makes specific allegations of wrongdoing [citations], such as fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, duress, coercion or mistake. Furthermore, the grounds for imposing a constructive trust must be so clear, convincing, strong and unequivocal as to lead to but one conclusion. [Citations.]” (Emphasis added.)

See also Charles Hester Enterprises, Inc. v. Illinois Founders Insurance Co. (1986), 114 Ill. 2d 278, 499 N.E.2d 1319; Perry v. Wyeth (1962), 25 Ill. 2d 250, 184 N.E.2d 861; Dial v. Dial (1959), 17 Ill. 2d 537, 162 N.E.2d 404; Gluth Brothers Construction, Inc. v. Union National Bank (1988), 166 Ill. App. 3d 18, 518 N.E.2d 1345.

The complaint filed and drafted by the respondent did not allege the existence of actual or constructive fraud. Nor did the complaint request a constructive trust because of duress, coercion, or mistake. Significantly, the plaintiffs’ complaint did not allege any “wrongdoing” or a breach of fiduciary duty. The complaint failed to allege facts to establish a fiduciary relationship. On the legal insufficiency of the complaint in this respect alone, the trial court was correct in granting defendant’s motion to dismiss.

The complaint alluded to the existence of a “confidential relationship” between plaintiffs and Gordon. Although the terms “confidential” and “fiduciary” have been used interchangeably (see, e.g., In re Estate of Kieras (1988), 167 Ill. App. 3d 275, 521 N.E.2d 263), I will utilize the term “fiduciary” for the sake of clarity.

A fiduciary relationship arises when “one party has reposed trust and confidence in another who thereby gains an influence and superiority over the other. [Citation.]” (Taino v. Sanchez (1986), 147 Ill. App. 3d 871, 874, 498 N.E.2d 571.) Thus, a “fiduciary relationship exists where there is a special confidence reposed on one side and a resulting superior knowledge and influence on the other. [Citation.]” (A.T. Kearney, Inc. v. INCA International, Inc. (1985), 132 Ill. App. 3d 655, 661, 477 N.E.2d 1326; see also Chicago Land Clearance Comm’n v. Yablong (1960), 20 Ill. 2d 204, 170 N.E.2d 145; In re Estate of Shedrick (1984), 122 Ill. App. 3d 861, 462 N.E.2d 581.) The source of the relationship may be moral, social, domestic, or personal. (Anderson v. Lybeck (1958), 15 Ill. 2d 227, 232, 154 N.E.2d 259.) Significant factors in the determination of whether a fiduciary relationship exists include the degree of kinship between the parties, the differences in their ages, health, mental condition, education, and business experience, and the degree of trust reposed in the dominant party. (Kester v. Crilly (1950), 405 Ill. 425, 91 N.E.2d 419; In re Estate of Kieras (1988), 167 Ill. App. 3d 275, 521 N.E.2d 263; Metropulos v. Chicago Art Glass, Inc. (1987), 156 Ill. App. 3d 727, 509 N.E.2d 1068.) Ultimately, there must be a showing of domination and subservience resulting in a benefit to the grantee. (Maley v. Burns (1955), 6 Ill. 2d 11, 126 N.E.2d 695.) In addition, the dominant party in whom confidence has been reposed must have gained an advantage, by virtue of that confidence and trust, in the procurement of the property which forms the corpus of the trust. See Compton v. Compton (1953), 414 Ill. 149, 111 N.E.2d 109; see also Beelman v. Beelman (1984), 121 Ill. App. 3d 684, 460 N.E.2d 55; Whewell v. Cox (1977), 54 Ill. App. 3d 179, 369 N.E.2d 330.

In light of this precedent, the complaint drafted and filed by the respondent was legally insufficient to state a claim for the imposition of a constructive trust. To support its request for a constructive trust, the complaint drafted and filed by respondent alleged in vague and conclusory terms the existence of a “confidential relationship” between the plaintiffs and Gordon, because Gordon was the plaintiffs’ “uncle and the primary caretaker of their grandparents *** [and therefore] occupied a special position of confidence and trust with the Plaintiffs.” The pleading alleged that the correspondence between Gordon and the plaintiffs regarding the parties’ alleged oral agreement was evidence of the “confidential relationship” between Gordon and the plaintiffs. The complaint further alleged that the oral agreement was made by Gordon “in consideration for the love and affection he felt for the Plaintiffs and *** as a result of the moral obligation he felt toward the Plaintiffs, as the children of his deceased brother.” The pleading alleged that plaintiffs were entitled to half of their grandparents’ estate “pursuant to the oral agreement” between Gordon and plaintiffs, and that a constructive trust should be imposed “in order to avoid the unjust enrichment of [Harriet] and to ensure that the Plaintiffs receive the funds they are justly entitled to pursuant to the existing oral agreement” between Gordon and the plaintiffs.

Thus, stripped to its essentials, the complaint drafted and filed by the respondent suggested the existence of a fiduciary relationship between Gordon and the plaintiffs because: (1) Gordon was the plaintiffs’ uncle and the primary caretaker of their grandparents; (2) the plaintiffs and Gordon had an oral agreement regarding distribution of the grandparents’ estate; and (3) this oral agreement was founded on Gordon’s sense of “moral obligation” to the plaintiffs and his “love and affection” for the plaintiffs.

None of these circumstances establishes the existence of a fiduciary relationship between Gordon and the plaintiffs: the familial ties between the parties, including a sense of moral obligation or love and affection, were insufficient to set forth a fiduciary relationship. (Perry v. Wyeth (1962), 25 Ill. 2d 250, 184 N.E.2d 861; see also Metropulos v. Chicago Art Glass, Inc. (1987), 156 Ill. App. 3d 727, 509 N.E.2d 1068; Beelman v. Beelman (1984), 121 Ill. App. 3d 684, 460 N.E.2d 55.) Also, as the respondent acknowledged in its opinion letter to the plaintiffs, love and affection do not constitute consideration for a contract. (O’Neill v. DeLaney (1980), 92 Ill. App. 3d 292, 415 N.E.2d 1260.) In addition, an oral agreement does not establish the existence of a fiduciary duty, nor does breach of a contract give rise to a constructive trust. Swanson v. Randall (1964), 30 Ill. 2d 194, 195 N.E.2d 656; Evans v. Berko (1951), 408 Ill. 438, 97 N.E.2d 316; Estate of Kern (1986), 142 Ill. App. 3d 506, 491 N.E.2d 1275.

There is nothing in the record to indicate that the respondent consulted the well-established, relevant Illinois legal precedent set forth above when it investigated the legal validity of the client’s proposed constructive trust claim. Instead, according to the record, respondent identified and relied exclusively upon one case, Labarbera v. Labarbera (1983), 116 Ill. App. 3d 959, 452 N.E.2d 684, with respect to the respondent’s recommendation that the plaintiffs file suit for the imposition of a constructive trust. Respondent relied on the Labarbera case in both the trial court and before this court for its position that the facts in the instant case would give rise to a potential for recovery. However, the trial court correctly determined that the Labarbera case provides no support for the respondent’s legal advice to the plaintiffs.

In Labarbera, the plaintiff filed suit for the imposition of a constructive trust over certain funds held by the wife of the plaintiff’s deceased brother. Plaintiff argued that his brother had misappropriated funds held by their parents, who had died intestate. Plaintiff’s brother had executed a “declaration” wherein he acknowledged that plaintiff was entitled to half of their parents’ estate pursuant to rules of intestate succession. Plaintiff’s brother retained all of the parents’ estate for his own benefit and failed to distribute plaintiff’s share to him. When the brother died intestate, plaintiff sought the imposition of a constructive trust upon half of the funds, held by the wife of his deceased brother, that had been inherited from the parents.

The appellate court determined that there existed a fiduciary relationship between plaintiff and his brother. The court noted “the obvious moral obligations which arise from this [familial] relationship” (116 Ill. App. 3d at 966) between plaintiff’s brother and their parents. In this regard, the court took into account that the plaintiff’s brother had always handled the parents’ affairs in the past, and that the plaintiff trusted his brother to properly convey half of the parents’ estate to the plaintiff. The court reasoned that “the existence of the confidential relationship between [plaintiff’s brother] and [his] parents created a presumption of influence which was acknowledged by [plaintiff’s brother] when he signed the declaration” (116 Ill. App. 3d at 966) recognizing plaintiff’s entitlement, under intestate succession law, to half of the parents’ estate. The court concluded that plaintiff’s brother received “unjust enrichment *** by virtue of this relationship.” 116 Ill. App. 3d at 966.

The instant cause bears no resemblance to the significant facts of Labarbera. In Labarbera, the plaintiff was lawfully entitled to half of the proceeds of his deceased parents’ estate. The plaintiff in Labarbera placed trust and confidence in his brother to preserve the plaintiff’s vested interests in the estate and to eventually convey plaintiff’s share to him. In Labarbera, there was legal entitlement to plaintiff’s share which was in the possession of the wife of plaintiff’s deceased brother. In the case at bar, the plaintiffs were not entitled, under their grandparents’ wills, to half of the proceeds of the grandparents’ estate. Anthony’s will left his entire estate to his wife, Hattie, upon his death. According to the terms of Hattie’s will, the entire estate passed to Gordon, with the exception of small specific bequests which plaintiffs received. Consequently, Gordon inherited and was lawfully in possession of the bulk of the estate pursuant to the terms of the wills of Anthony and Hattie. As the owner of the estate he inherited, Gordon had the absolute right to dispose of his property during his life as he saw fit. In re Estate of Puetz (1988), 167 Ill. App. 3d 807, 521 N.E.2d 1277.

There is nothing in plaintiffs’ complaint to show that Gordon came into possession of the estate because of any undue influence Gordon exerted upon Hattie or upon plaintiffs. Gordon wrote to plaintiffs that he felt a moral obligation to divide one-half of the estate with the plaintiffs. However, Gordon’s expression of this moral obligation did not prompt plaintiffs to part with any present interest plaintiffs had in their grandparents’ estate. Plaintiffs did not allege any facts to show that Gordon or his wife, Harriet, undertook any wrongful act that caused the failure of the specific bequests to plaintiffs in Gordon’s will. Consequently, there is nothing in the record to show that Gordon or his wife, Harriet, was unjustly enriched, to the plaintiffs’ disadvantage, by the parties’ alleged oral agreement. Failing any specific allegation of undue influence and unjust enrichment, plaintiffs could not state a claim for a breach of a fiduciary duty under Labarbera. The majority correctly notes that the imposition of the constructive trust in Labarbera “was due to the misappropriation of the funds by the plaintiff’s brother.” (Emphasis added.) (220 Ill. App. 3d at 379.) There is no indication or allegation of misappropriation in the case at bar.

In my opinion, the trial court properly found that an objectively reasonable analysis of Labarbera demonstrates that it provides no legal support in the case at bar for the respondent’s recommendation that suit be filed for the imposition of a constructive trust. Therefore, I do not accept the majority’s determination that the complaint drafted and filed by the respondent was well grounded in law.

With respect to whether a fiduciary relationship existed, the majority reasons that it was “not too far-fetched for respondents to allege that a confidential relationship existed between plaintiffs and Gordon by virtue of their familial relationship.” (220 Ill. App. 3d at 380.) The majority also states that respondent alleged in the complaint that Gordon “occupied a special position of confidence and trust with plaintiffs.” 220 Ill. App. 3d at 380.

The majority neglects to note that there are no specific facts alleged in the plaintiffs’ complaint to demonstrate the existence of “trust and confidence” that would constitute a fiduciary relationship between plaintiffs and Gordon. The majority is in error in relying upon the family relationship between the parties to demonstrate a fiduciary relationship. In In re Estate of Kieras (1988), 167 Ill. App. 3d 275, 521 N.E.2d 263, a gift to a son by the father was challenged by the remaining siblings. The Kieras court recognized that even a relationship between a parent and child is not a fiduciary relationship as a matter of law. (Kieras, 167 Ill. App. 3d at 280.) “It has been well established *** that the mere fact of blood relationship *** does not establish a confidential or fiduciary relationship. [Citation.]” (Perry v. Wyeth (1962), 25 Ill. 2d 250, 253, 184 N.E.2d 861; see also Metropulos v. Chicago Art Glass, Inc. (1987), 156 Ill. App. 3d 727, 509 N.E.2d 1068; Beelman v. Beelman (1984), 121 Ill. App. 3d 684, 460 N.E.2d 55; Edwards v. Miller (1978), 61 Ill. App. 3d 1023, 378 N.E.2d 583.) Thus, contrary to the majority holding, a fiduciary relationship between Gordon and plaintiffs does not arise by virtue of the uncle-nephews-niece relationship as a matter of law. It was, therefore, incumbent upon plaintiffs to allege facts giving rise to a fiduciary relationship and breach thereof. The complaint utterly failed to do this.

B

The record also shows that the respondent failed to make an objectively reasonable investigation into the facts supporting the plaintiffs’ claims. The majority wholly neglects to consider this additional violation of section 2 — 611.

Under section 2—611, an attorney cannot institute legal proceedings in order to determine whether there is, in fact, sufficient evidence to support the client’s position. (Chicago Title & Trust, 177 Ill. App. 3d at 623.) In its opinion letter, the respondent suggested that filing suit was appropriate because Harriet “may have benefited from the assets which were received from the plaintiffs’ grandparents’ estates” and “may have taken assets which were in the name of Gordon LeCrone and converted them either into joint tenancy assets or assets to be held in her sole name.” (Emphasis added.) In addition, the respondent recommended that if it was determined that Gordon “made investments in good faith and/or *** [had] extensive medical bills, [the plaintiffs] would have the option of dropping the litigation at any time.” These recommendations from the respondent violated section 2—611. Under section 2—611, an attorney cannot “ ‘ “file now and investigate later.” ’ ” (Chicago Title & Trust, 177 Ill. App. 3d at 623, quoting In re Mitan (1987), 119 Ill. 2d 229, 255, 518 N.E.2d 1000; see also In re TCI Ltd. (7th Cir. 1985), 769 E2d 441.) It is also noteworthy that after Harriet filed a motion to dismiss the complaint and requested section 2—611 sanctions, the respondent withdrew from the case and suggested that plaintiffs retain substitute counsel to “consider the advisability of an [sic\ voluntary dismissal of this cause, so that sanctions as requested in the motion to dismiss may be avoided.”

The record supports the trial court’s conclusion that “there was no meaningful investigation of the law or facts” by the respondent before it filed suit on plaintiffs’ behalf. I cannot accept the majority’s unjustified deviation from and reversal of the trial court’s sound judgment in the instant cause. In my opinion, the trial court clearly did not abuse its discretion.

For these reasons, I respectfully dissent. In light of the majority’s disposition, I do not address the parties’ remaining arguments.