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Trzebiatowski v. Jerome

Supreme Court of Illinois
Jan 23, 1962
179 N.E.2d 622 (Ill. 1962)

Summary

In TrzebiatowskiII, the supreme court held that “all of the evidence should be submitted before a single judge or master who may see the witnesses, weigh their testimony and determine their credibility."

Summary of this case from Anderson v. Kohler

Opinion

No. 36605. Reversed and remanded.

Opinion filed January 23, 1962.

APPEAL from the Circuit Court of Du Page County; the Hon. PHILIP E. LOCKE, Judge, presiding.

GRAHAM McELLIGOTT, of Chicago, (WILLIAM C. WINES, ERRETT O. GRAHAM, and JOHN A. McELLIGOTT, of counsel,) for appellant.

EDGAR J. ELLIOTT, of Wheaton, for appellee.


In a prior appeal in this cause we reversed a decree for the plaintiff, Anna M. Trzebiatowski, and remanded the cause to the circuit court of Du Page County with directions that additional evidence be heard. ( Trzebiatowski v. Jerome, 19 Ill.2d 30.) Upon remandment, however, the chancellor who had heard the evidence in the original proceeding granted a change of venue on the ground of prejudice, an action which has not been challenged and which had the inevitable effect of requiring a trial de novo. The matter was assigned to a new judge who, over proper and strenuous objection by defendant, permitted plaintiff to introduce into evidence the transcript of the proceedings at the original hearing even though there was no showing plaintiff's witnesses were not available on the second trial. Thereafter, plaintiff rested, and the defendant introduced additional testimony and evidence, after which a decree was again entered for the plaintiff. A freehold being involved, defendant has appealed directly to this court.

Under the circumstances reflected in the record it was error for the second chancellor to admit the transcript of the first proceeding into evidence and to consider it as a basis of decision. The full hearing contemplated by due process of law contemplates that all of the evidence should be submitted before a single judge or master who may see the witnesses, weigh their testimony and determine their credibility. ( People ex rel. Reiter v. Lupe, 405 Ill. 66; Mills v. Ehler, 407 Ill. 602; Buchsbaum Co. v. Federal Trade Com. (7th cir.) 153 F.2d 85; Smith v. Dental Products Co. (7th cir.) 168 F.2d 516.) It was the clear duty of the chancellor here to conduct a trial de novo.

Accordingly, the decree of the circuit court of Du Page County is reversed, and the cause is remanded with directions to have a trial de novo. Reversed and remanded, with directions.


Summaries of

Trzebiatowski v. Jerome

Supreme Court of Illinois
Jan 23, 1962
179 N.E.2d 622 (Ill. 1962)

In TrzebiatowskiII, the supreme court held that “all of the evidence should be submitted before a single judge or master who may see the witnesses, weigh their testimony and determine their credibility."

Summary of this case from Anderson v. Kohler
Case details for

Trzebiatowski v. Jerome

Case Details

Full title:ANNA M. TRZEBIATOWSKI, Appellee, vs. WILLIAM C. JEROME, Appellant

Court:Supreme Court of Illinois

Date published: Jan 23, 1962

Citations

179 N.E.2d 622 (Ill. 1962)
179 N.E.2d 622

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