In re Illinois Bell Link-Up II and Late Charge Litigation

Class action suit was filed for damages from Illinois Bell's assessment of late payment charges on consumer bills mailed without a dated postmark. After reaching settlement, AT& T changed billing procedures, no longer dating outside of envelope with mailing date but printing string of unidentifiable numbers on the bill itself. Class counsel appealed circuit court's denial of class's motion for summary judgment and motion to enforce settlement agreement. Court properly denied class's motion for summary judgment on issue of damages, as class counsel failed to maintain his burden to show damages proximately caused by breach of settlement agreement and actual losses due to breach. (STERBA and HYMAN, concurring.)