Northbrook Bank & Trust Company v. Abbas

Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Contracts
Citation
Case Number: 
2018 IL App (1st) 162972
Decision Date: 
Friday, March 30, 2018
District: 
1st Dist.
Division/County: 
Cook Co., 1st Div,
Holding: 
Affirmed.
Justice: 
REYES

After bench trial, court entered judgment for Plaintiff, as successor interest to First Chicago Bank & Trust, on its breach of contract claim on a $1.8 million loan agreement. Defendant failed to present a prima facie case that Plaintiff lacked standing at time it filed suit. Plaintiff showed that it became owner of loan through purchase and assumption agreement. Court did not abuse its discretion in awarding attorney fees to Plaintiff. Fee-shifting provision  included definition of "attorneys' fees", which includes allocated costs of Bank's in-house counsel. Plaintiff sought fees and costs related to 4 separate foreclosure suits, which fall within provisions of agreement. Plaintiff provided detailed account of attorneys' services. Evidentiary hearing on fee petition was not required.(HALL and ROCHFORD, concurring.)