Harris Trust & Savings Bank v. La Salle National Bank

I

This appeal arises from a dispute between a lessor and its lessees regarding the interpretation of a lease. The circuit court adopted lessees’ construction of the lease, granted their motion for judgment on the pleadings, and denied lessor’s motion for partial summary judgment. The circuit court then granted lessor’s request to certify the question of the lease’s interpretation to us, and we allowed its appeal.

II

Plaintiff-lessor Harris Trust & Savings Bank (lessor) filed its amended complaint on February 5, 1986. Lessor alleged that it was trustee under a land trust and that defendant La…