After trial, court entered judgment of dissolution, and sanctioned one of wife's attorneys with $50,000 judgment against him and in favor of husband. Court valued marital estate at more than $21 million, but parties disputed whether assets held in irrevocable trusts were also part of marital estate. Court ruled that assets in those trusts were not part of marital estate. Court did not err in denying wife's motion to continue trial on grounds that another of her attorneys was expected to imminently give birth, as other attorney referred to himself in court as wife's "lead attorney". Court applied the correct legal standard in assessing dissipation by looking to when the parties' marriage began undergoing an irreconcilable breakdown. Court did not abuse its discretion in sanctioning wife's attorney. His memorandum in opposition to summary judgment, and other pleadings, contained many serious allegations of misconduct not supported by any evidence, and caused toxic dynamic that continued throughout trial. (BURKE and SCHOSTOK, concurring.)
Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Dissolution of Marriage