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                                     Appellate Court                           Date: 2018.04.12
                                                                               09:52:50 -05'00'




             L.D.S., LLC v. Southern Cross Food, Ltd., 2017 IL App (1st) 163058



Appellate Court         L.D.S., LLC, an Illinois Limited Liability Company, Plaintiff-
Caption                 Appellant, v. SOUTHERN CROSS FOOD, LTD., and BRENDAN
                        SKEHAN, Defendants (Brendan Skehan, Defendant-Appellee).



District & No.          First District, Fourth Division
                        Docket No. 1-16-3058



Filed                   December 21, 2017



Decision Under          Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 08-L-8363; the
Review                  Hon. Brigid Mary McGrath, Judge, presiding.



Judgment                Affirmed.


Counsel on              Robert S. Schwartz, of Robinson & Schwartz, LLC, of Chicago, for
Appeal                  appellant.

                        Patrick J. Ruberry, of Litchfield Cavo, LLP, of Chicago, for appellee.



Panel                   JUSTICE GORDON delivered the judgment of the court, with
                        opinion.
                        Presiding Justice Burke and Justice McBride concurred in the
                        judgment and opinion.
                                              OPINION

¶1       The instant appeal concerns the validity of a personal guaranty purportedly executed by
     defendant Brendan Skehan in connection with the lease of commercial property between
     plaintiff L.D.S., LLC, and defendant Southern Cross Food, Ltd. (Southern Cross). This case
     came before us previously, after the trial court granted Skehan’s motion to dismiss, and we
     reversed and remanded. L.D.S., LLC v. Southern Cross Food, Ltd., 2011 IL App (1st) 102379,
     ¶ 1. After remand, the matter proceeded to a bench trial, where plaintiff presented the
     testimony of one witness, plaintiff’s principal. After plaintiff had rested its case in chief,
     Skehan moved for a directed finding, which the trial court granted. Plaintiff appeals and we
     affirm.

¶2                                          BACKGROUND
¶3       As noted, this case has previously been before this court, after the trial court granted
     Skehan’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s verified second amended complaint. Consequently, our
     recitation of the facts up to that point is primarily taken from our prior opinion.
¶4       On July 30, 2008, plaintiff filed a verified complaint against defendants, alleging that
     defendants had breached their obligations under a lease agreement. The complaint alleged that
     on July 20, 2006, plaintiff, as landlord, and Southern Cross, as tenant, executed a lease dated
     March 31, 2006, for a property located at 117 South Clinton Street in Chicago, which was to be
     used as a Quizno’s restaurant; Skehan signed the lease as president of Southern Cross. The
     lease agreement’s provision concerning a security deposit provided, in relevant part:
                  “Concurrently with Tenant’s execution of this Lease, Tenant shall deposit with
             Landlord the Security Deposit.”
¶5       According to documents attached to the complaint, on July 21, 2006, Southern Cross took
     possession of the property and the keys, and on July 24, 2006, Southern Cross tendered
     plaintiff its security deposit. The receipt for the possession of the property provided:
                  “On July 21, 2006 the keys and the possession of the store #117 South Clinton,
             Chicago has been given to the tenant Mr. Brendon [sic] Skehan.
                  It is mutually agreed that the landlord shall also complete his work (installation of
             HVAC unit and dividing wall) that is required as per lease agreement during the period
             tenant will perform his work as required by Quizno.”
¶6       According to the complaint, on July 26, 2006, Skehan executed a personal guaranty of the
     lease. The purported guaranty was attached to the complaint and was entitled, “Rider Attached
     to the Lease Dated 03-31-2006 By & Between L.D.S. LLC Limited Liability Company and
     Southern Cross Food, Ltd an Illinois Corporation (‘Tenant’).” The guaranty provided:
                  “It is hereby agreed as follows:
                  The tenant, Mr. Brendon [sic] Skehan has signed the lease agreement in [sic] behalf
             of Southern Cross Food, Ltd an Illinois Corporation, (‘Tenant’). Upon signing below
             Brendon [sic] Skehan as principal of the corporation ‘Southern Cross Food, Ltd
             corporation’ hereby personally guarantees the payments of rent and all others [sic]
             performance or obligations of the tenant.”
¶7       According to a document attached to the complaint, during the lease term, Southern Cross
     failed to pay rent, leaving an outstanding balance in 2007 and entirely ceasing to pay rent

                                                 -2-
       beginning in March 2008. On July 14, 2008, L.D.S. relet the premises to a Dunkin Donuts
       restaurant, which began paying rent in November 2008.
¶8         On December 22, 2008, Skehan1 filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to section 2-615 of the
       Code of Civil Procedure (Code) (735 ILCS 5/2-615 (West 2006)). In the motion, Skehan
       claimed that the verified complaint did not allege any new consideration for Skehan’s personal
       guaranty of the lease, which was required since the guaranty was executed after the lease
       became effective.
¶9         Plaintiff did not respond to Skehan’s motion to dismiss but, instead, on February 9, 2009,
       filed a verified amended complaint. Count I of the verified amended complaint was
       substantially identical to the allegations in the verified complaint. An additional count II
       included several new allegations, which alleged that the consideration for the guaranty was
       plaintiff’s permission to place interior signage on the premises.
¶ 10       On March 31, 2009, Skehan filed a motion to dismiss count II of plaintiff’s verified
       amended complaint pursuant to section 2-615 of the Code. Once again, Skehan claimed that
       the verified amended complaint did not allege new consideration for the guaranty. He claimed
       that the purported consideration was plaintiff’s granting of permission to install interior
       signage pursuant to an alleged agreement on July 24, 2006, but claimed that could not be new
       consideration for the guaranty since installation of the signage was already permitted under the
       original terms of the lease. On August 14, 2009, the trial court granted Skehan’s motion to
       dismiss without prejudice and granted plaintiff leave to file a second amended complaint.
¶ 11       On September 11, 2009, plaintiff filed a verified second amended complaint. Count I
       concerned the breach of the lease agreement and was substantially identical to the earlier
       complaints. Count II concerned the breach of guaranty and included several new allegations:
                    “10. Contemporaneously with the signing of the Lease, on July 26, 2006, Skehan
               executed a personal guaranty (‘Guaranty’). *** The Lease and Guaranty were part of a
               single lease transaction in which Southern Cross procured a Lease for the Premises and
               Skehan guarantied Southern Cross’s obligation under the Lease.
                    11. This single transaction took place over the course of several days. On or about
               July 21, 2006, Skehan signed a Receipt for the keys to the Premises. The Security
               Deposit was dated July 24, 2006, and was delivered to Plaintiff thereafter with a copy
               of the executed Lease. *** Plaintiff refused to accept the Security Deposit until Skehan
               executed the Guaranty on July 26, 2006. Plaintiff never intended to enter into the Lease
               without the Guaranty.”
¶ 12       On October 13, 2009, Skehan filed a motion to dismiss count II of the verified second
       amended complaint pursuant to section 2-615 of the Code. Skehan claimed that the verified
       second amended complaint failed to cure the pleading defect in the verified amended
       complaint and that no cure was possible. On March 3, 2010, the trial court granted Skehan’s
       motion to dismiss and dismissed the verified second amended complaint with prejudice.
       Plaintiff appealed, and we reversed the trial court’s dismissal of the verified second amended
       complaint. L.D.S., LLC v. Southern Cross Food, Ltd., 2011 IL App (1st) 102379, ¶ 1.

           1
            Southern Cross never filed an appearance and, on February 24, 2009, the trial court entered a
       default judgment against Southern Cross in the amount of $94,361.30, plus attorney fees of $2,756.25
       and costs. However, during his opening statement, plaintiff’s counsel indicated that Southern Cross had
       become insolvent.

                                                      -3-
¶ 13        After remand, on December 4, 2012, Skehan filed an answer and affirmative defense to the
       verified second amended complaint, in which he denied the allegations of the complaint and
       alleged that the signature on the guaranty purporting to be his was a forgery.
¶ 14        On May 13, 2015, plaintiff filed a motion for leave to file a third amended complaint,
       which was denied without prejudice “due to [the] age of [the] case.” On March 31, 2016,
       Skehan filed a motion for summary judgment, which was denied on September 2, 2016.
¶ 15        On October 17, 2016, the case came before the trial court for trial. Plaintiff’s sole witness
       was Subhash Saluja, plaintiff’s principal, who testified that since 1990, he had owned,
       managed, or controlled approximately 25 leased units of commercial property. Saluja testified
       that plaintiff had purchased 113 to 117 South Clinton, which was being operated as a food
       court, at the end of 1989 and separated the property into five separate units. The unit at issue
       was one of those units. Saluja testified that he required personal guarantees from some, but not
       all, of his tenants; as an example of a tenant who did not require a guaranty, Saluja testified that
       “I had a tenant, Panda Express. They have 1500 restaurants. I leased them my premises, 113
       South Clinton, and I never made a demand” for a personal guaranty.
¶ 16        Saluja testified that the unit at issue, 117 South Clinton, had been vacant while he was
       searching for a tenant. Saluja retained a real estate broker, who proposed tenants to him. Saluja
       rejected one proposed tenant—a doctor or dentist—because the proposed tenant refused to
       sign a personal guaranty. Saluja rejected another proposed tenant because “[t]hey had no
       assets.” In February or March 2006, the broker proposed Southern Cross as a prospective
       tenant. Saluja testified:
                     “He called me that Quizno’s wants to come there. And I know Quizno’s is a good
                franchise. In those days, it was a better market. So I said okay. And initially, I did not
                know [whether] I am renting to Quizno’s franchisor or I am renting to franchisee.
                Initially, when Todd told me Quizno’s, I said okay. And if Quizno’s was to be signing
                for franchisor, I would never say guarantee because Quizno’s has maybe 100 or 500
                restaurants. So it would be stupid of me to tell them [to] become personal guarantor.”
       Saluja testified that he did not meet anyone prior to signing the lease on July 20, 2006.
¶ 17        Saluja testified that he spoke to his attorney, who drafted a lease agreement, and then the
       attorneys “[were] talking to each other.” Saluja testified that “I was under this impression that
       my attorney is talking to the Quizno’s attorney, although Quizno’s was not my tenant, but
       franchisor’s, but I was thinking that Quizno’s attorney there was talking to my attorney for the
       franchisee.” When asked what he meant by “Quizno’s attorney,” Saluja testified that he
       believed that his attorney was talking to the attorney for the franchisor—Quizno’s—who was
       negotiating the lease on behalf of the franchisee—Southern Cross. Saluja “ha[d] no idea” what
       led him to have that impression.
¶ 18        Saluja testified that he signed the lease on July 20, 2006, and identified the lease agreement
       as the same one attached to the complaint; the lease was admitted into evidence. Saluja read
       aloud a provision of the lease’s definition section, which provided “QF: Quizno’s Franchising
       LLC or Quizno’s Franchising II LLC,” and read aloud another provision setting the tenant’s
       mailing address as an address on June Lane in Lombard, “Attn: Brendan Skehan.”
¶ 19        Saluja testified that after he signed the lease, it was faxed to his attorney, and his attorney
       received a copy signed by Skehan; it was close to one week before Saluja received a copy with
       Skehan’s signature. Saluja received the copy and “when I [saw] the lease on the top written


                                                    -4-
       there, ‘Quizno’s,’ and then I [saw] over there written their name, tenant building address, then
       I said, ‘Wait a minute. This is—what is going on? I am not renting to Brendan, and I don’t see
       over there the name franchisor.’ So then I said, ‘Wait a minute. I have to have the personal
       guarantee.’ ”
¶ 20       Saluja testified that “Brendan met me at the premises on [the] 21st, next day, and I told him
       that first of all I do not have the lease agreement complete. Normally he has signed it, but I
       have not received. And secondly, that I told him that this is incomplete. I’ve got to have a
       personal guarantee, otherwise we are not in business. We cannot give you the business.”2
       Skehan did not raise any concerns about signing a guaranty.
¶ 21       Saluja identified a copy of the guaranty and testified that it was not the original, which he
       had given to Skehan; the copy of the guaranty was admitted into evidence. He told Skehan to
       have the guaranty “approved from the Quizno’s, *** then I will accept from you the rent check
       or security deposit.” Saluja identified his signature on the bottom of the guaranty and testified
       that he signed it July 26; Saluja also identified Skehan’s signature and testified that Skehan
       signed it in front of him on the morning of July 26. Saluja accepted a check from Skehan at the
       leased premises on July 28. Saluja testified that he drafted the guaranty based on a version that
       he had used with other tenants that was stored on his computer.
¶ 22       On cross-examination, Saluja testified that he had not asked his attorney to insert a
       guaranty into the lease agreement. Saluja further testified that, up to the point where he signed
       the lease, he was unaware that he was leasing the property to Southern Cross as opposed to
       Quizno’s. He was not involved in drafting the lease, leaving it to the attorneys to communicate
       with each other and only waiting for the final draft to review. Saluja was again presented with
       a copy of the lease agreement and testified that it was an “incomplete” copy of the lease
       because it did not include the personal guaranty. However, Saluja admitted that he signed the
       “incomplete” lease agreement and further admitted that the term “personal guaranty” did not
       appear anywhere in the lease, either expressly or by reference.
¶ 23       On cross-examination, Skehan’s counsel also asked Saluja follow-up questions based on
       testimony he had given on direct, in which he testified as to a wall that was constructed in the
       unit and changes to the HVAC system:
                    “Q. All right. Yesterday you told us that in exchange for this guaranty that Mr.
                Skehan allegedly provided, you agreed to build a wall. Do you remember that
                testimony?
                    A. Not only [a] wall. There was other things, too.
                    Q. You agreed to build a demising wall; isn’t that true, sir?
                    A. As per this one, yes.
                    Q. Sir, that obligation existed, and that’s part of the lease that you signed on July
                20th; true?
                    A. Yes.
                    Q. That obligation was in no way contingent on Mr. Skehan signing a personal
                guaranty; isn’t that true? Isn’t that true, sir?

           2
            We note that earlier, Saluja testified that he decided he needed a guaranty upon receiving the
       countersigned copy of the lease, which occurred approximately a week after he signed the lease on July
       20. However, here, he testifies that he raised the issue of the guaranty with Skehan on July 21.

                                                     -5-
                   A. That had nothing to do with [the] demising wall. That is [a] different document I
               have on the table.
                   Q. So in other words then, your alleged willingness and agreement to build a
               demising wall was not something you gave to Mr. Skehan in exchange for his allegedly
               providing you with a putative guaranty; is that correct?
                   A. No. Sir, guaranty has nothing to do with a wall, with a Lease Agreement or what
               security [deposit] I am getting, what rent I am getting, how many years he is getting.
                   Guaranty, or go home. You give me, I signed this document, and I also tell him you
               have a guaranty. Okay. I signed it. I accepted it.
                   Rent he wanted to give me. I said no unless all documents are completed, and I did
               not accept a single penny from him until all lease documents are signed and those were
               approved by me on the table, and by his attorney.”
       Saluja testified similarly concerning the HVAC system:
                   “Q. Now, Mr. Saluja, you told us yesterday that in exchange for installing HVAC
               components on the property, Mr. Skehan agreed to personally guaranty the lease. Do
               you remember that testimony?
                   A. No, it is not. Personal guaranty has to be there.
                   Q. So in other words, installing the HVAC equipment, that was not consideration
               that you have in exchange for the alleged guaranty; isn’t that true?
                   A. HVAC was already there in the building when I gave him the premises.
                                                   ***
                   He want[ed] additional. Yes, I give him.
                   Q. Sir, the fact is that HVAC equipment was something you were required to install
               per the terms of the Lease Agreement that you signed on July 20, 2006; isn’t that
               correct?
                   A. Yes.”
¶ 24      Later, Saluja testified:
                   “Q. Well, what did you give Mr. Skehan in exchange for this guaranty?
                   A. Exchange? I give him the premises. I give him the property, rent the business.”
¶ 25      On redirect, Saluja was asked whether he informed Skehan that he would withhold
       possession of the premises if a guaranty was not signed, and Saluja testified:
                   “Yeah I gave him the keys on [July 21], I told him that I have the Lease Agreement,
               but I didn’t see your name on the top of the lease, and I have to have a personal
               guaranty from you before this lease is fully completed, and I also told him if I tell my
               attorney to draft the agreement, this guaranty agreement, he will take again six weeks,
               because he took three months drafting the lease. So why don’t you come in my home,
               we can draft ourself [sic].
                   He said okay. On [the] 26th, he came, I gave him, he looked at that, he signed it, and
               I got the copy, and I gave him [the] original.
                   I told him now go to your attorney, get it approved, because your attorney is
               involved in this transaction.
                   If attorney approves, then I cash the check. Otherwise, I am sorry.


                                                   -6-
                    Then I called him the next day or third day, and he said, yes, I did talk to my
                attorney, it is okay, and then so I said okay.”
       Saluja further testified that July 21 was the first time he informed Skehan that he required a
       personal guaranty.
¶ 26        After Saluja’s testimony, plaintiff rested its case in chief, and Skehan filed a motion for a
       directed finding.3 Skehan’s counsel argued that plaintiff had failed to establish the prima facie
       elements of the case because there was no meeting of the minds and “[f]undamentally,
       [plaintiff] thought it was dealing with someone entirely different from Southern Cross. So
       [plaintiff] thought it didn’t need a guaranty. That’s the testimony.” Skehan’s counsel further
       argued that once Saluja determined that he required a guaranty, there was a separate
       transaction between Skehan and Saluja that required new consideration, and there was no such
       consideration. In response, plaintiff’s counsel argued that Saluja did not execute the lease
       agreement until he accepted the security deposit, which was done after Skehan had signed the
       guaranty, demonstrating that there was only one transaction.
¶ 27        The trial court granted Skehan’s motion for a directed finding, finding that Saluja was “an
       excellent witness,” but that “under his testimony, his testimony alone, it reflects there were
       separate negotiations regarding the personal guaranty.” The court found that Saluja believed
       that he was dealing with Quizno’s and that “[i]t is his practice when dealing with a large
       company like that, he explained it doesn’t make any sense to have a personal guaranty because
       it is a large company with sufficient assets. He doesn’t need it. If it was a franchisee such as
       Mr. Skehan’s company, Southern Cross Foods, he said ‘I would have required a personal
       guaranty.’ ” The court further found:
                    “As he testified, once he found out who the tenant was, one of the terms of the lease
                then would be a guaranty, but it was not written in the lease.
                    But once he found out—so the lease is signed 7/20/2006. On 7/21, he says ‘I need a
                personal guaranty.’
                    But on that same date, he gives the tenant possession.
                    The receipt, which he prepared, states ‘On July 21, 2006, the keys and the
                possession of the store has been given to the tenant, Mr. Brendan Skehan. As initially
                agreed, the landlord shall also complete his work, installation of the HVAC unit. As
                required per the lease agreement, during the period tenant will perform his work as
                required.’
                    So as of that date, the keys have been tendered. Possession had been provided. The
                tenant had provided a security deposit.
                    Paragraph 5 of [the] lease states ‘Concurrently with tenant’s execution of this lease,
                tenant shall deposit with the landlord the security deposit,’ and they did. He provided
                the check.
                    At the point Mr. Saluja said ‘No. I want a personal guaranty now. I’m not going to
                cash it.’
                    At that point the terms of the lease, which had been signed, executed had been
                complied with.

           3
           The trial transcript indicates that Skehan filed a written motion for directed finding, but the written
       motion is not contained in the record on appeal.

                                                       -7-
                   The subsequently a personal guaranty was executed on July 26th.
                   But that was pursuant to a separate negotiation. That was not the same negotiations
               as undertaken in entering into a new lease.”
¶ 28       The court noted that, throughout his testimony, Saluja had been clear that he had given
       Skehan possession of the premises in exchange for the guaranty but found that, “looking at the
       evidence in whatever light, the receipt is clear. The keys and possession of the store had been
       given to the tenant. Now he wrote down the wrong name,[4] but he is the one who prepared this
       agreement. And I find that doesn’t affect the validity of the fact that possession of the premises
       was given to the tenant on July 21, 2006.” The court found:
                   “He admitted he signed the lease. He was discussing—let’s see.
                   He made it clear. He said ‘I was just going to back out of this lease if he didn’t give
               a personal guaranty.’
                   But he already entered into the lease. The lease was already executed prior to the
               personal guaranty being provided to him.
                   So after the lease was executed in every sense of the word, he tried to put in a new
               provision, and he negotiated for one. But the problem is that there was not sufficient
               consideration for that provision.”
¶ 29       The trial court rejected plaintiff’s argument that by refusing to accept the tendered security
       deposit, plaintiff delayed the execution of the lease agreement until after the personal guaranty
       was signed. The court found that “ ‘The tenant shall deposit with landlord.’ So that was the
       obligation. The tenant to deposit. The fact that the landlord decided not to cash it, to reject it,
       that doesn’t affect the consideration of the lease.” Accordingly, the court found that “I don’t
       think plaintiff in their case-in-chief has met a prima facie case because they have not provided
       sufficient evidence regarding consideration.”
¶ 30       On October 19, 2016, the trial court entered a written order granting Skehan’s motion for a
       directed finding “in its entirety” and entered judgment in favor of Skehan and against plaintiff.
       This appeal follows.

¶ 31                                            ANALYSIS
¶ 32        On appeal, plaintiff argues that the trial court erred in granting Skehan’s motion for a
       directed finding because the evidence established that the guaranty was executed
       contemporaneously with the lease and therefore did not require additional consideration. As an
       initial matter, Skehan argues that plaintiff’s brief should be stricken and its arguments forfeited
       due to inadequacies in the statement of facts and analysis sections of plaintiff’s appellate brief.
       Illinois Supreme Court Rule 341(h) (eff. Jan. 1, 2016) provides the requirements for an
       appellant’s opening brief. Rule 341(h)(6) provides that the statement of facts “shall contain the
       facts necessary to an understanding of the case, stated accurately and fairly without argument
       or comment, and with appropriate reference to the pages of the record on appeal.” Ill. S. Ct. R.
       341(h)(6) (eff. Jan. 1, 2016). Rule 341(h)(7) provides that the argument section “shall contain

           4
            While the trial court did not elaborate on this point, the receipt provides that possession of the
       premises “has been given to the tenant Mr. Brendon Skehan.” It is presumably the reference to Skehan
       as the tenant, as opposed to Southern Cross, that the trial court is referring to when noting that Saluja
       “wrote down the wrong name.”

                                                       -8-
       the contentions of the appellant and the reasons therefor, with citation of the authorities and the
       pages of the record relied on.” Ill. S. Ct. R. 341(h)(7) (eff. Jan. 1, 2016). Under Rule 341(h)(7),
       “[p]oints not argued are waived and shall not be raised in the reply brief, in oral argument, or
       on petition for rehearing.” Ill. S. Ct. R. 341(h)(7) (eff. Jan. 1, 2016). Supreme court rules are
       not advisory suggestions, but rules to be followed. In re Marriage of Hluska, 2011 IL App (1st)
       092636, ¶ 57; In re Estate of Michalak, 404 Ill. App. 3d 75, 99 (2010). “Where an appellant’s
       brief fails to comply with supreme court rules, this court has the inherent authority to dismiss
       the appeal.” Epstein v. Galuska, 362 Ill. App. 3d 36, 42 (2005) (citing In re Marriage of
       Gallagher, 256 Ill. App. 3d 439, 442 (1993)). “While this court is not bound to enforce strict,
       technical compliance with the rules where, despite minor inadequacies in an appellate brief,
       the basis for an appeal is fairly clear [citation], a party’s failure to comply with basic rules is
       grounds for disregarding his or her arguments on appeal [citation].” Epstein, 362 Ill. App. 3d at
       42. In the case at bar, we agree with Skehan that plaintiff’s statement of facts is deficient, as it
       devotes one sentence to explaining everything that occurred at trial, and that sentence
       discusses plaintiff’s counsel’s opening statement. However, given the thorough statement of
       facts contained in Skehan’s brief and the fact that the trial testimony consisted of a single
       witness, we are able to adequately understand the issues on appeal and decline to strike
       plaintiff’s brief under the factual circumstances of this case.
¶ 33       Turning to the merits, in the case at bar, we are asked to review the trial court’s grant of a
       motion for a directed finding. In a nonjury case, the defendant may, at the close of the
       plaintiff’s case-in-chief, make a motion for a finding in his favor, known as a directed finding.
       735 ILCS 5/2-1110 (West 2014). In ruling on this motion, the trial court is required to engage
       in a two-part analysis. People ex rel. Sherman v. Cryns, 203 Ill. 2d 264, 275 (2003). First, the
       court must determine whether, as a matter of law, the plaintiff has presented a prima facie case.
       Sherman, 203 Ill. 2d at 275. “A plaintiff establishes a prima facie case by proffering at least
       ‘some evidence on every element essential to [the plaintiff’s underlying] cause of action.’ ”
       Sherman, 203 Ill. 2d at 275 (quoting Kokinis v. Kotrich, 81 Ill. 2d 151, 154 (1980)). “If the
       plaintiff has failed to meet this burden, the court should grant the motion and enter judgment in
       the defendant’s favor.” Sherman, 203 Ill. 2d at 275. Since this determination is a question of
       law, the trial court’s ruling is reviewed de novo. Sherman, 203 Ill. 2d at 275. De novo
       consideration means we perform the same analysis that a trial judge would perform. People v.
       McDonald, 2016 IL 118882, ¶ 32.
¶ 34       If the trial court determines that the plaintiff has presented a prima facie case, the court
       moves to the second prong of its analysis. Sherman, 203 Ill. 2d at 275. “In its role as the finder
       of fact, the court must consider the totality of the evidence presented, including any evidence
       which is favorable to the defendant.” Sherman, 203 Ill. 2d at 275-76. Importantly, in contrast to
       the standard to be employed when ruling on a motion for directed verdict in a jury trial, in
       ruling on a motion for directed finding, “the court is not to view the evidence in the light most
       favorable to the plaintiff. [Citation.] Rather, the circuit court must weigh all the evidence,
       determine the credibility of the witnesses, and draw reasonable inferences therefrom.”
       Sherman, 203 Ill. 2d at 276. See 735 ILCS 5/2-1110 (West 2014) (“In ruling on the motion the
       court shall weigh the evidence, considering the credibility of the witnesses and the weight and
       quality of the evidence.”). “This weighing process may result in the negation of some of the
       evidence presented by the plaintiff.” Sherman, 203 Ill. 2d at 276. “After weighing the quality
       of all of the evidence, both that presented by the plaintiff and that presented by the defendant,


                                                    -9-
       the court should determine, applying the standard of proof required for the underlying cause,
       whether sufficient evidence remains to establish the plaintiff’s prima facie case. If the circuit
       court finds that sufficient evidence has been presented to establish the plaintiff’s prima facie
       case, the court should deny the defendant’s motion and proceed with the trial. [Citation.] If,
       however, the court determines that the evidence warrants a finding in favor of the defendant, it
       should grant the defendant’s motion and enter a judgment dismissing the action.” Sherman,
       203 Ill. 2d at 276. A reviewing court will not reverse the trial court’s ruling on appeal unless it
       is contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence. Sherman, 203 Ill. 2d at 276. “A decision is
       against the manifest weight of the evidence only when an opposite conclusion is apparent or
       when the findings appear to be unreasonable, arbitrary, or not based on the evidence.”
       Eychaner v. Gross, 202 Ill. 2d 228, 252 (2002).
¶ 35       In the case at bar, the parties agree that the trial court granted Skehan’s motion based on the
       second prong, namely, that there was insufficient evidence to establish plaintiff’s prima facie
       case. Accordingly, we will affirm the trial court’s judgment unless it was against the manifest
       weight of the evidence.
¶ 36       The issue presented in the instant case is whether there was sufficient consideration for the
       guaranty purportedly signed by Skehan. We considered this issue in the first appeal, and the
       law concerning it remains the same. If a guaranty is executed after the underlying obligation
       was entered into, new consideration is generally needed for the guaranty. Tower Investors,
       LLC v. 111 East Chestnut Consultants, Inc., 371 Ill. App. 3d 1019, 1028 (2007). However, if a
       guaranty is executed contemporaneously with the original contract, the consideration for the
       original contract is sufficient consideration for the guaranty and no new consideration is
       required for the guaranty. Tower Investors, 371 Ill. App. 3d at 1028; Pedott v. Dorman, 192 Ill.
       App. 3d 85, 94 (1989); Continental National Bank of Fort Worth v. Schiller, 89 Ill. App. 3d
       216, 219-20 (1980); Vaughn v. Commissary Realty, Inc., 30 Ill. App. 2d 296, 302 (1961).
¶ 37       In the case at bar, the trial court found that the guaranty was executed after the lease
       agreement had been executed and therefore required new consideration to be enforceable.
       However, plaintiff argues that the evidence demonstrated that the guaranty was executed
       contemporaneously with the lease agreement, relying primarily on the case of Vaughn v.
       Commissary Realty, Inc., 30 Ill. App. 2d 296 (1961). As we noted in our prior opinion, in that
       case, on or about February 11, 1957, the plaintiffs entered into a lease for real estate in
       Champaign with the defendant, a corporation. Vaughn, 30 Ill. App. 2d at 297. The lease
       provided in part that the defendant would not be liable for any default in rental payments by an
       assignee of the lease. Vaughn, 30 Ill. App. 2d at 298. Approximately nine days later, on
       February 20, 1957, the defendant executed a guaranty, guaranteeing performance by its
       assignees by paying any unpaid rent or paying a set sum that was based on the time the default
       occurred. Vaughn, 30 Ill. App. 2d at 297-98. Later, one of the defendant’s assignees defaulted
       on the lease by failing to pay the rent. Vaughn, 30 Ill. App. 2d at 299. The plaintiffs brought
       suit against the defendant, seeking a monetary judgment under the terms of the guaranty.
       Vaughn, 30 Ill. App. 2d at 299. In its answer, the defendant argued as an affirmative defense
       that the guaranty was executed without consideration and was therefore void. Vaughn, 30 Ill.
       App. 2d at 300. After a bench trial, the trial court entered judgment in favor of the plaintiffs.
       Vaughn, 30 Ill. App. 2d at 300-01.
¶ 38       On appeal, the appellate court held that the evidence demonstrated that the guaranty was
       executed contemporaneously with the lease. Vaughn, 30 Ill. App. 2d at 302. The court noted

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       that the preamble of the guaranty “clearly indicated” that the guaranty was executed by the
       defendant as a part of its lease transaction and that the reason for the existence of the guaranty
       was the fact that, under the lease, the defendant was not liable for any default in rental payment
       by assignees. Vaughn, 30 Ill. App. 2d at 301. The court further noted that the defendant
       regularly leased properties and immediately assigned them to a different corporation and
       regularly included guaranty agreements, although the guaranty in the case was not the
       defendant’s standard guaranty. Vaughn, 30 Ill. App. 2d at 301-02. The court held that the
       evidence in the case demonstrating the execution of the lease and the guaranty “warrants no
       conclusion other than that the lease and guaranty *** were part of a single transaction in which
       defendant procured a lease for plaintiffs’ premises and plaintiffs were given an agreement
       guaranteeing the rent reserved under said lease.” Vaughn, 30 Ill. App. 2d at 302. It specifically
       noted that the passage of nine days between the execution of the lease and the execution of the
       guaranty was “without significance,” stating that “[t]here is no evidence in the record
       indicating any separate negotiations between the parties concerning the guaranty agreement. If
       any took place, then we must assume that defendant would have produced evidence as to the
       same.” Vaughn, 30 Ill. App. 2d at 302-03.
¶ 39       We found Vaughn instructive in the first appeal, noting that, like in Vaughn, the passage of
       several days between the execution of the lease and the execution of the guaranty was not
       dispositive because plaintiff had sufficiently alleged that the two were executed
       contemporaneously as part of a single transaction. L.D.S., 2011 IL App (1st) 102379, ¶ 47.
       However, we agree with the trial court that after the circumstances surrounding the lease
       agreement were more fully fleshed out through Saluja’s testimony, such a comparison is no
       longer appropriate. In Vaughn, the court specifically noted that “[t]here is no evidence in the
       record indicating any separate negotiations between the parties concerning the guaranty
       agreement. If any took place, then we must assume that defendant would have produced
       evidence as to the same.” Vaughn, 30 Ill. App. 2d at 302-03. Here, by contrast, the record does
       contain evidence indicating separate negotiations. Specifically, the record indicates that Saluja
       signed the lease on July 20 despite believing that the lease agreement was “incomplete.”
       According to the receipt, “the keys and the possession of the store” were given to Skehan on
       July 21. That day was the first time Saluja ever raised the issue of a guaranty, and the guaranty
       was presented to Skehan and executed on July 26, two days after Southern Cross had tendered
       its security deposit to plaintiff. As the trial court found, it is apparent that Saluja belatedly
       realized that he was contracting with Southern Cross instead of Quizno’s and sought to insert a
       guaranty into an already-completed transaction. Accordingly, we cannot find the trial court’s
       conclusion that there were separate negotiations to be against the manifest weight of the
       evidence, and the situation present in Vaughn is in no way analogous to the situation present in
       the instant case. Given the presence of separate negotiations and separate transactions, new
       consideration was required for the guaranty. Tower Investors, 371 Ill. App. 3d at 1028. Since
       Saluja admitted several times that there was no new consideration, the trial court’s conclusion
       that plaintiff was unable to establish a prima facie case equally was not against the manifest
       weight of the evidence.
¶ 40       We are not persuaded by plaintiff’s argument that the lease agreement was never
       “executed” until after Saluja accepted the security deposit, which he refused to do until after
       Skehan had signed the guaranty. The lease agreement does not specify that execution of the
       agreement is conditioned on plaintiff’s acceptance of the security deposit. As the trial court


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       noted, the lease agreement simply states that “[c]oncurrently with Tenant’s execution of this
       Lease, Tenant shall deposit with Landlord the Security Deposit,” and Southern Cross did, in
       fact, tender its security deposit to plaintiff on July 24. Plaintiff does not provide any other
       evidence to suggest that execution of the lease may be delayed by plaintiff’s refusal to accept
       the security deposit, other than Saluja’s testimony as to his actions. In fact, as the trial court
       found, the agreement had been signed, the security deposit had been tendered, and the keys and
       possession of the property had been turned over, all prior to any guaranty having been
       presented to Skehan. In short, as the trial court found, “the lease was executed in every sense of
       the word.” We cannot find the trial court’s conclusion that the lease had been fully executed
       prior to the guaranty being presented to Skehan to be against the manifest weight of the
       evidence, and accordingly, find plaintiff’s argument otherwise to be unpersuasive.
¶ 41       As a final matter, Skehan requests the imposition of sanctions for what he terms a
       “frivolous” appeal. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 375(b) (eff. Feb. 1, 1994) provides for the
       imposition of sanctions for frivolous appeals that are not taken in good faith. The imposition of
       sanctions under Rule 375(b) is left entirely to the discretion of the reviewing court. McNally v.
       Bredemann, 2015 IL App (1st) 134048, ¶ 24 (citing Kheirkhahvash v. Baniassadi, 407 Ill.
       App. 3d 171, 182 (2011)). In the case at bar, we decline to impose such sanctions.

¶ 42                                          CONCLUSION
¶ 43       For the reasons set forth above, the trial court’s conclusion that plaintiff could not establish
       a prima facie case was not against the manifest weight of the evidence, where the testimony of
       plaintiff’s principal established that the guaranty and the lease agreement were two separate
       transactions, requiring new consideration for the guaranty.

¶ 44      Affirmed.




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