Hawes v. Luhr Bros., Inc.

After entering a voluntary dismissal order, the circuit court of St. Clair County allowed plaintiffs motion to reinstate his complaint for damages under the Jones Act (46 U.S.C. § 688 et seq.). The initial order of voluntary dismissal was without prejudice, but it did not specifically reserve to plaintiff the right to reinstate. The defendant appealed (155 Ill. 2d R. 301), claiming that the trial court had no jurisdiction to allow the reinstatement. The appellate court affirmed in an unpublished opinion. No. 5 — 01—0952 (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23). We granted leave to…