Dunn v. Patterson

Plaintiffs, Charles and Charlotte Dunn, brought a declaratory judgment action against defendant, Lawrence Patterson, the attorney who prepared an estate plan for them. The circuit court of Will County entered judgment on the pleadings, finding, as a matter of law, that provisions in certain estate planning documents prepared by defendant were contrary to public policy and void. The trial court thereafter awarded attorney fees constituting a Supreme Court Rule 137 (155 Ill. 2d R. 137) sanction against defendant in the amount of $5,393.75.

Patterson appeals, arguing: (1) the trial court erred in…