                                      2017 IL App (1st) 161000
                                            No. 1-16-1000
                                                                       Third Division
                                                                      March 29, 2017
     ______________________________________________________________________________

                                               IN THE
                                APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
                                          FIRST DISTRICT
     ______________________________________________________________________________

                                                   )    Appeal from the

     JOSEPH BAAR TOPINKA, Individually and )            Circuit Court of

     in His Capacity as Executor of the Estate of  )    Cook County.

     Judy Baar Topinka,                            )

                                                   )    No. 15 CH 18684
                        Plaintiff-Appellant,       )
                                                   )    Honorable
                        v.                         )    Anna H. Demacopoulos,
                                                   )    Judge, presiding.

     NANCY KIMME, Individually and in Her          )

     Capacity as Chairman of Citizens for Judy     )

     Baar Topinka; BRADLEY A. BURNETT,             )

     Individually and in His Capacity as Treasurer )

     of Citizens for Judy Baar Topinka; and        )

     CITIZENS FOR JUDY BAAR TOPINKA, a             )

     Political Committee,                          )

                                                   )
                        Defendants-Appellees.      )
     ______________________________________________________________________________

                  JUSTICE COBBS delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
                  Presiding Justice Fitzgerald Smith and Justice Lavin concurred in the judgment
               and opinion.
                                               OPINION

¶1         This case arises from the circuit court’s grant of defendants Nancy Kimme, Citizens for

        Judy Baar Topinka (Committee), and Bradley A. Burnett’s motion to dismiss plaintiff Joseph

        Baar Topinka’s complaint pursuant to section 2-619(a)(1) of the Code of Civil Procedure
     No. 1-16-1000

        (Code) (735 ILCS 5/2-619 (a)(1) (West 2014)). The trial court found that it lacked subject

        matter jurisdiction because plaintiff’s claims stem from alleged violations of the Illinois

        Election Code, and therefore, the State Board of Elections (Board) has exclusive jurisdiction

        over these claims. The trial court further explained that these claims could never properly be

        heard in the circuit court because appeals from decisions of the Board bypass the circuit court

        and are heard directly by the appellate court. On appeal, plaintiff contends that the court

        erred in granting defendants’ motion to dismiss because it had subject matter jurisdiction, he

        has standing to proceed with the litigation, and his claims have merit. We affirm.

¶2                                            BACKGROUND

¶3          The following facts were established in the record. The Committee was created in 1970

        to support the various political campaigns of Judy Baar Topinka (Topinka). In December

        2014, Topinka died unexpectedly while serving as Illinois State Comptroller. On December

        31, 2014, the Committee’s fund had approximately $993,834.00. The Committee’s statement

        of organization, which was written prior to Topinka’s death, provided that upon dissolution

        any remaining funds would be donated to the Riverside Township Regular Republican

        Organization.

¶4          On December 29, 2015, plaintiff, individually and as executor of Topinka’s estate, filed a

        complaint alleging that he was entitled to $341,618.52 of the Committee’s funds. He

        specifically alleged that he must receive these funds because the State Gift Ban Act 1

        prohibits political committee expenditures for the personal use of a public official or the

            1
             The State Gift Ban Act (5 ILCS 425/1 to 999 (West 2002)) was repealed in 2003. Pub. Act 93­
        617, § 85 (eff. Dec. 9, 2003). The exception for funds that were available as of June 30, 1998, is
        contained in section 9-8.10(a) of the Election Code. 10 ILCS 5/9-8.10(a) (West 2014). The exception
        was added to Article 9 of the Election Code at the same time the State Gift Ban Act was created. See
        Pub. Act 90-0737 (eff. Jan 1, 1999) (creating the State Gift Ban Act (5 ILCS 425/1 to 999) and
        adding section 9-8.10 to the Election Code (10 ILCS 5/9-8.10)).
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        official’s family member but makes an exception for funds that were available as of June 30,

        1998. He asserted that as of June 30, 1998, the Committee had $341,618.52 in its fund and

        therefore it was required to remit that amount of money to him. Notably, plaintiff did not

        allege that Topinka ever requested these funds or that he had requested these funds from the

        Committee and was denied.

¶5         Plaintiff additionally alleged that Kimme misappropriated the Committee’s funds.

        Specifically he alleged that after December 10, 2014, there was no work to be done by the

        Committee but Kimme nevertheless paid herself $25,000 on January 10, 2015, and that an

        August 7, 2015, check for $63,807.22, which was made out to cash, was endorsed by

        Kimme. Thus, he argued, Kimme misappropriated $88,807.22 of the Committee’s funds for

        personal use. Plaintiff requested that all remaining committee funds be held in a constructive

        trust and that no further expenditures be made until the rights of the parties were determined.

        He maintained that it would be inequitable for defendants to retain possession of the funds.

        Plaintiff also requested a declaratory judgment that:

                     “a. Nancy Kimme did not have the right to expend [the Committee’s] funds to

           herself and/cash;

                     b. Nancy’s Kimme shall no longer have the right to make decisions as to the

           expenditure of [the Committee’s] funds;

                     c. $341,618.52 of [the Committee’s] fund qualifies to be transferred to [plaintiff],

           individually or as executor of the Estate of Judy Baar Topinka;

                     d. $341,618.52 of [the Committee’s] fund is to be transferred to [plaintiff],

           individually or as executor of the Estate of Judy Baar Topinka;




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                     e. For any such other and further relief as this Honorable Court deems just and

           proper.”

        Thereafter, defendants filed a section 2-619 motion to dismiss, asserting that the court lacked

        subject matter jurisdiction. The court granted their motion and explained that these claims

        must be brought before the Board.



¶6                                             ANALYSIS

¶7         The primary issue to be decided in this appeal is whether the circuit court had subject

        matter jurisdiction to hear plaintiff’s claims that he was entitled to a portion of the

        Committee’s funds and that Kimme misappropriated funds. Plaintiff contends that the circuit

        court erred in granting the motion to dismiss because the Board does not have the authority to

        question the propriety of the Committee’s disbursals, the condition precedent to the Board’s

        authority was not triggered because he did not file a complaint with the Board, and that the

        Board’s authority to conduct hearings is limited to only sections 9-8.5 and 9-10 of the

        Election Code. Thus, he argues, the circuit court had general subject matter jurisdiction.

        Defendants respond that the circuit court did not have subject matter jurisdiction because

        plaintiff’s claims allege violations of the Election Code and should have been brought before

        the Board.

¶8         A motion to dismiss filed pursuant to section 2-619 of the Code admits the legal

        sufficiency of the complaint, but asserts an affirmative matter that avoids or defeats the

        claim. Relf v. Shatayeva, 2013 IL 114925, ¶ 20. A defendant may motion for involuntary

        dismissal where “the court does not have jurisdiction of the subject matter of the action,

        provided the defect cannot be removed by a transfer of the case to a court having jurisdiction.

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          735 ILCS 5/2-619(a)(1) (West 2014). Whether a circuit court has subject matter jurisdiction

          to hear a claim is a question of law, which we review de novo. McCormick v. Robertson,

          2015 IL 118230, ¶ 18.

¶9           “ ‘[S]ubject matter jurisdiction’ refers to the power of a court to hear and determine cases

          of the general class to which the proceeding in question belongs.” Belleville Toyota, Inc. v.

          Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., 199 Ill. 2d 325, 334 (2002). Generally, the circuit court’s

          jurisdiction is conferred by our constitution, which provides that the circuit court has

          jurisdiction to hear all justiciable matters except where our supreme court has original

          exclusive jurisdiction. Ill. Const. 1970, art. VI, § 9. The circuit court’s power to review

          administrative actions, however, is conferred by statute. Id. (“Circuit Courts shall have such

          power to review administrative action as provided by law.”); Belleville Toyota, Inc., 199 Ill.

          2d at 334. Where the court is exercising this special statutory jurisdiction, its jurisdiction is

          limited to strict compliance with statute. Fredman Brothers Furniture Co. v. Department of

          Revenue, 109 Ill. 2d 202, 210 (1985). Further, the legislature may “vest original jurisdiction

          in an administrative agency when it enacts a comprehensive statutory scheme that creates

          rights and duties that have no counterpart in the common law or equity.” J&J Ventures

          Gaming, LLC v. Wild, Inc., 2016 IL 119870, ¶ 23.

¶ 10         The Election Code comprehensively governs political committee funds and sets forth a

          procedure to adjudicate disputes involving expenditures. See 10 ILCS 5/ art. 9 (West 2014).

          Thus, the legislature vested the Board with original jurisdiction to hear such claims. The

          Election Code provides, inter alia:

                       “(a) A political committee shall not make expenditures:

                                                      ***

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                (3) For satisfaction or repayment of any debts other than loans made to the

      committee or to the public official or candidate on behalf of the committee or repayment

      of goods and services purchased by the committee under a credit agreement. Nothing in

      this Section authorizes the use of campaign funds to repay personal loans. ***

                                              ***

                (11) For payments to a public official or candidate or his or her family member

      unless for compensation for services actually rendered by that person. The provisions of

      this item (11) do not apply to expenditures by a political committee in an aggregate

      amount not exceeding the amount of funds reported to and certified by the State Board or

      county clerk as available as of June 30, 1998, in the semi-annual report of contributions

      and expenditures filed by the political committee for the period concluding June 30,

      1998.” 10 ILCS 5/9-8.10(a) (West 2014).

   The Election Code also contemplates the dissolution of a committee and dictates the

   permitted uses of remaining funds. 10 ILCS 5/9-5 (West 2014). When a committee dissolves

   or becomes inactive:

      “all contributions in its possession, after payment of the committee’s outstanding

      liabilities, including staff salaries, shall be refunded to the contributors in amounts not

      exceeding their individual contributions, or transferred to other political or charitable

      organizations consistent with the positions of the committee or the candidates it

      represented. In no case shall these funds be used for the personal aggrandizement of any

      committee member or campaign worker.” Id.

   The Board is authorized to investigate any alleged violation of section 9-8.10, levy fines, and

   render rulings and issue opinions related to compliance. 10 ILCS 5/9-8.10(b) (West 2014). In

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          addition, the Board may hold investigations and hearings on any matter covered by Article

          IX (10 ILCS 5/9-18 (West 2014)) and any person who believes a violation of Article IX has

          occurred may file a verified complaint with the Board (10 ILCS 5/9-20 (West 2014)).

¶ 11         Plaintiff’s complaint essentially alleged three claims: (1) he was entitled to $341,618.52

          of the Committee’s funds pursuant to the State Gift Ban Act; (2) Kimme misappropriated a

          total of $83,807.22 of the Committee’s funds for personal use in violation of the Election

          Code; and (3) conversion based upon the same alleged misappropriation of Committee funds.

          Plaintiff also requested that the court create a constructive trust because “it would be

          inequitable for Defendants to retain possession of funds wrongfully appropriated from the

          account as well as of the funds remaining in the account” and a declaratory judgment in his

          favor.

¶ 12         Each allegation is based on provisions in the Election Code. Despite plaintiffs assertion

          that he was entitled to funds under the State Gift Ban Act (5 ILCS 425/1 to 999 (West

          2014)), that act was repealed in 2003. Pub. Act 93-617, § 85 (eff. Dec. 9, 2003). The

          language regarding funds that were available as of June 30, 1998, does appear in the Election

          Code, however, and was effective at the time of Topinka’s death and the filing of plaintiff’s

          complaint. 10 ILCS 5/9-8.10(a) (West 2014). Thus, any argument that plaintiff is entitled to

          these funds invokes the Election Code. Under the Election Code, the Board is explicitly

          authorized to “hold investigations, inquiries, and hearings concerning any matter covered by

          [Article IX],” which includes the provision on pre-June 30, 1998, funds. Moreover, to the

          extent that plaintiff contends that the Committee must pay him $341,618.52 pursuant to

          section 9-8.10, the Election Code makes clear that the Board has the authority to investigate




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          violations of this specific provision and issue rulings and opinions. 10 ILCS 5/9-8.10(b)

          (West 2014). Therefore, it is obvious that the Board was authorized to hear plaintiff’s claim.

¶ 13         Additionally, plaintiff’s claims for conversion and that Kimme misappropriated

          Committee funds explicitly allege violations of the Election Code. Plaintiff’s contentions are

          based on the Election Code’s prohibition of the use of committee funds for personal purposes

          when a committee dissolves. 10 ILCS 5/9-5 (West 2014). The Election Code’s plain

          language expressly gives the Board the power to determine whether a particular expenditure

          was improper. 10 ILCS 5/9-8.10, 9-18 (West 2014). Thus, it is unquestionable that the Board

          was authorized to decide whether Kimme misappropriated funds. We note that plaintiff’s

          reliance on Troy v. State Board of Elections, 84 Ill. App. 3d 740 (1980)) for the proposition

          that the Board does not have authority to review the propriety of expenditures is misplaced.

          The Election Code was amended after Troy was decided but prior to Topinka’s death, to add

          section 9-8.10, which prohibits certain expenditures and contains express language

          authorizing the Board to review expenditures for whether they violate section 9-8.10. 10

          ILCS 5/9-8.10(b) (West 2014). See Pub. Act 90-737, § 220 (eff. Jan. 1, 1999). In addition,

          section 9-18 authorizes the Board to hold hearings involving any section of Article IX. 10

          ILCS 5/9-18 (West 2014).

¶ 14         Next, plaintiff maintains that his request for a declaratory judgment removes his claims

          from the purview of the Board and allows him to avail himself of the circuit court because

          the Board cannot grant him a declaratory judgment. We disagree for two reasons. First, a

          party cannot seek a declaratory judgment where, as here, the legislature has authorized an

          agency to adjudicate a claim. AEH Construction, Inc. v. Department of Labor, 318 Ill. App.

          3d 1158, 1163 (2001). It must exhaust its administrative remedies prior to judicial review. Id.


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          Second, to the extent that expenditures after Topinka’s death were suspect because Topinka

          was no longer living, these claims would be appropriately brought before the Board as

          alleged violations of the Election Code. In fact, plaintiff’s own contention is that the post-

          death expenditures were illegal because they were made for Kimme’s “personal use,” which

          section 9-5 explicitly prohibits. 10 ILCS 5/9-5 (West 2014).

¶ 15         Although not cogently asserted in his complaint, plaintiff additionally argues in his reply

          brief that he was seeking a declaratory judgment regarding the manner and time by which a

          political committee must dissolve after a candidate’s death, which he could not obtain from

          the Board. We find this argument unpersuasive. The Election Code sufficiently sets forth the

          actions of a committee that are permitted, prohibited, or required. If a committee can no

          longer carry out its stated purpose in its statement of organization (see 10 ILCS 5/9-3 (West

          2014)) or comply with other provisions of the Election Code because of a candidate’s death,

          then it will inevitably become inactive, dissolve or, ultimately violate the Election Code,

          which would implicate the relevant Election Code provisions.

¶ 16         Accordingly, the court did not err in finding that it did not have subject matter

          jurisdiction to hear plaintiff’s claims. The legislature vested the Board with original

          jurisdiction over alleged improper expenditures by a political committee. Plaintiff cannot

          defeat the Board’s authority simply by refusing to trigger the “condition precedent” of filing

          a complaint before it and instead filing his claims in the circuit court. In fact, as the lower

          court noted, the Election Code mandates that judicial review of the Board’s decisions are to

          be heard directly by the appellate court. 10 ILCS 5/9-22 (West 2014). Thus, plaintiff’s claims

          could never properly be heard by the circuit court.




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¶ 17         As we have concluded that the circuit court lacked subject matter jurisdiction, we need

          not address whether plaintiff had standing to bring these claims. We note in passing,

          however, that “[a]ny person who believes a violation of [Article 9] has occurred may file a

          verified complaint with the Board.” 10 ILCS 5/9-20 (West 2014). We also do not reach the

          merits of whether he is entitled to funds held by the Committee as of June 30, 1998, or

          whether Kimme misappropriated funds. Such determinations must first be made by the

          Board.

¶ 18                                         CONCLUSION

¶ 19         For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County.

¶ 20         Affirmed.




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