Ronan v. Rittmueller

Defendants, Kenneth Ritmueller and Ralph Obenauf, appeal from a judgment of the circuit court of McHenry County, sitting without a jury, finding them liable to plaintiffs for $20,000 in actual and $20,000 in exemplary damages for fraudulent misrepresentations. Defendants essentially contend that plaintiffs failed to prove them guilty of fraud by clear and convincing evidence.

Although plaintiffs have not filed a brief in this court we consider the appeal under the standards set forth in First Capitol Mortgage Corp. v. Talandis Construction Corp. (1976), 63 Ill. 2d 128, 133, 345 N.E.2d 493,…