delivered the opinion of the court:
In July 2000, рlaintiff, Michelle A. Magee, filed a small claims complaint against defendant, Janice M. Garreau, seeking $3,500 in damages for injuries sustained in an automobile accident on July 27, 1999. The complaint alleged that defendant’s vehicle rear-ended plaintiffs vehicle. Plaintiffs amended complaint sought over $5,000 in damages. Plaintiff and defendant were each represented by counsel at the arbitration hearing on January 9, 2001. The arbitrаtion panel awarded plaintiff $3,500 plus costs, and the award was filed with the clerk of the circuit court on January 16, 2001. The parties were notified that they had 30 days from that date to reject the award or judgment would be entered on the award. The matter was set for the entry of judgment on February 21, 2001, at 1:30 p.m. On that date, the trial court entered judgment for plaintiff.
On March 22, 2001, defendant, through counsel, Brian Russell, of the law firm of Parrillo, Weiss & O’Halloran (Pаrrillo), filed an undesignated “Motion” (the Motion) seeking to vacate the judgment entered on February 21 and seeking to enforce a settlement in the amount of $2,100 alleged to have been reached by the parties on February 5, 2001. On April 4, 2001, the trial court found “no legal basis” for defendant’s Motion and denied it. Defendant appeals, arguing that there was an enforceable settlement agreement; that defendant complied with its terms and did not materially breach the agreement; and that the agreement should be enforced. Alternatively, defendant seeks a remand for further proceedings. We affirm.
Defendant’s unverified Motion alleged that, on February 5, 2001, the parties reached a settlement wherein defendant “agreed to tender a draft for $2,100 on the award call date in exchange for an executed release and a dismissal with prejudice of the matter”; that defendant’s counsel sent plaintiffs counsel a letter confirming the settlement and asked plaintiffs counsel to inform him if the described settlement did not conform with his understanding; and that defendant’s counsel never heard from plaintiffs counsel that this was not his understanding.
The Motion further alleged that, on February 21, 2001, the matter came before the court for the award call and defendant’s counsel tendered plaintiffs сounsel a draft for $2,100. However, plaintiff’s counsel refused the tender, and the court entered judgment on the arbitration award. The Motion alleged that plaintiffs counsel indicated that he would not accept the draft because it included as payee a lienholder he was unaware of. The Motion concluded that defendant was now “severely prejudiced” and was facing a judgment for $1,400 more than the agreed sеttlement and an order requiring the payment of costs. The Motion prayed for a vacatur of the February 21 order and an extension of time for filing a rejection, or a vacatur of the order and an order enforcing the alleged settlement, or an order allowing defendant to tender to the clerk of the court the $2,100 draft in exchange for an order fully satisfying the February 21 judgment and fully releasing defendant.
Russell’s affidavit suppоrting defendant’s Motion stated that the settlement was reached with plaintiff’s counsel, James Magee, on February 5, 2001; that the settlement consisted of defendant tendering a draft for $2,100 on the “award call” date in exchange for a full release of defendant and a dismissal with prejudice; and that no discussion of liens took place. Magee would not agree to send Russell a release and dismissal in advance of the awаrd call date. Russell sent Magee a letter on February 6, 2001, confirming the agreement and asked him to notify Russell if this agreement was not his understanding. Russell’s affidavit further stated he “never received any notification that he [Magee] did not understand the agreement to be stated above.”
The affidavit of Marny Berridge stated that Berridge was an attorney who appeared for defendant at the February 21 award call; that on that date she tendered a draft to plaintiff’s counsel for $2,100; and that the tender of the draft was refused by plaintiffs counsel because the draft included a lienholder as payee.
Plaintiff moved to strike or otherwise deny the Motion. Plaintiff argued that the Motion was not a true 30-day posttrial motion pursuant to section 2 — 1203 of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2— 1203 (West 2000)). Section 2 — 1203 provides that, in a nonjury case, within 30 days after the entry of judgment, a party mаy file a motion for a rehearing, a retrial, a modification of the judgment, a vacatur of the judgment, or other relief. 735 ILCS 5/2 — 1203 (West 2000). To be valid and to extend the time for appeal, such a motion must be directed against the judgment and must contain specific grounds warranting relief such as reconsideration or vacatur. Robertson v. Winnebago County Forest Preserve District,
In her motion, plaintiff argued that defendant’s Motion did not state аny grounds for relief from the judgment; that the Motion on its face indicated that defendant did not tender payment pursuant to the agreement; and that the appropriate procedure would have been to reject the judgment pending settlement. Plaintiff further stated that the Motion improperly asserted the existence of a settlement that was not performed; that the alleged settlement provided for payment tо plaintiff no later than February 21 at 1:30 p.m.; and that the tender was made after that time and in a form payable to plaintiff and a third party and was not negotiable by plaintiff.
Magee’s affidavit stated that, before arbitration, he repeatedly sought a settlement offer from defendant and no offer was ever made; that defendant’s attorney advised that a settlement would not be considered until after the arbitration decisiоn was announced; and that Russell first offered a settlement of $2,100 on February 1. On or about February 5, 2001, Magee informed Russell that the offer would be accepted if full payment was actually received before February 16. Russell advised that he could not assure payment before that date. Magee advised Russell that Magee’s perception was that defendant’s insurance carrier was likely to delay or otherwise frustrate payment; that any settlement would be absolutely conditioned upon full, prompt, and unconditional payment presented in the amount of $2,100 no later than 1:30 p.m. on February 21; that the tender must be made in advance of the issuance of any dismissal or release; and that any delay or contingency would mean there was no settlement. The affidavit incorporated “true” copies of Russell’s letter of February 6 and Magee’s letter of February 13..
According to Magee’s affidavit, at 1:40 p.m. on February 21, he received from Berridge the tender of a check for $2,100 payable to plaintiff and Humana. Magee advised Berridge that the tender was technically late and included a payee not previously agreed to. Magee noted that the check was dated February 13, 2001. Upon Magee’s inquiry, Berridge advised that she did not know when the check was rеceived but that Magee must accept the check as presented because of a subrogation claim by Humana. Magee advised Berridge that he was not aware of a subrogation claim; that there was no agreement to accept a check subject to such claims; that this made it impossible to determine the value of the settlement; and that the form of the check meant that any actual payment would be delayed. Magee advised Berridge that the tender did not conform with the conditional settlement agreement, was not immediately negotiable in the form presented, and was rejected.
Russell’s letter of February 6 to Magee stated:
“This letter is to confirm our settlement of this matter for $2,100. Pursuant to our agreement we will exchange the draft for an executed release on February 21, 2001 at the award call date. At that time we will also dismiss this matter with prejudice. If this letter does not conform with your understanding please inform me immediately.”
Magee’s letter of February 13 to Russell stated:
“I write to confirm that we have agreed to accept settlement in the amount of $2,100.00 if paid no later than February 21, 2001 at 1:30 EM. [the court status call]. If payment is made by then, we will dismiss the case; if payment is not made by then, we have no agreement.
If any questions exist, please call.”
The terse bystander’s report of proceedings merely states that the cause came before the court on April 4, 2001, on defendant’s Motion to vacate the judgment. The court heard the arguments of counsel but did not take evidence. The respective parties made the same arguments set forth in the Motion and the response, and the court denied the Motion. A supplement to the bystander’s report states that, although no evidentiary hearing was held, the parties agreed that both would testify as set out in their respective affidavits. The court further found that the Motion stated no appropriate grounds for relief as to the merits of the judgment or to compel settlement.
In response to defendant’s arguments on appeal, plaintiff first argues that this court lacks jurisdiction to consider the judgment on the award because no valid posttrial motion was filed that effectuated an extension of time to file a notice of appeаl. The nature of defendant’s Motion is unclear. It is inartfully drafted and fails to state the legal authority, rule, or statute under which it was brought. It is doubtful that it satisfies the usual requirements of a motion to vacate the judgment under section 2 — 1203 of the Code. Such a 30-day post-judgment motion must be directed against the judgment and must be based on specific grounds that would provide a form of relief available under section 2 — 1203. The Motion did not allege that the triаl court’s judgment was in error. See Robertson,
However, we first point out that there is but one procedure for challenging an award entered in a mandatory arbitration proceeding: a party must file a timely notice of rejection of the award and rеquest a trial. As a limited exception, a party who fails to appear at the arbitration hearing may file a petition to vacate the judgment pursuant to sections 2 — 1301 and 2 — 1401 of the Code (735 ILCS 5/2 — 1301, 2 — 1401 (West 2000); 145 Ill. 2d R. 91(a); Mrugala v. Fairfield Ford, Inc.,
In response to plaintiff’s jurisdictional argument, defendant asserts that there was a legal basis for the Motion because a party may file a motion to enforce a settlement agreement within a lawsuit. Defendant cites, for example, Kim v. Alvey, Inc.,
In Brewer v. National R.R. Passenger Corp.,
To the extent that defendant asserts that her Motion was in the nature of a supplementary or enforcemеnt proceeding to satisfy the judgment while the trial court still retained jurisdiction, we consider whether the Motion presented a meritorious claim to enforce the alleged settlement agreement. We conclude that it did not.
Defendant argues that this court should review the issue of the purported agreement de novo. Defendant relies on Solar v. Weinberg,
Defendant begins with the assumption that there was an enforceable settlement agreement, but defendant failed to establish by clear, specific analysis, both here and in the trial court, that all of the elements of a valid contract were met. A settlement agreement is binding only if there is an offer, an acceptance, and a meeting of the minds as to the terms of the settlement. Sementa v. Tylman,
Russell’s letter to Magee manifested an offer to settle that invited response. Magee’s response, as stated both in his affidavit and in his letter, was that he agreed to accept the settlement in the amount of $2,100 if paid no later than February 21, at 1:30 p.m. The letter clearly stated that, “if pаyment is not made by then, we have no agreement.” A careful examination of Russell’s terse affidavit shows that it did not directly contradict Magee’s. Defendant attempts to “spin” the facts in her brief by denying receipt of Magee’s letter wherein Magee demanded payment by 1:30 p.m. There is no direct support in the record for such a denial. In his highly qualified statement in his affidavit, Russell merely stated that he “never received any notification that he [Magee] did not understand the agreement to be stated above.” This is not the same as saying that he never received any letter at all. In any case, defendant failed to establish this specific fact in the trial court and cannot create a disputed question of fact merely by stating unfounded facts in her brief. We have absolutely no reason to question the veracity of Magee’s affidavit, which incorpоrated his letter, notwithstanding defendant’s innuendos.
Defendant also claims that nothing in Magee’s letter indicates that a payment after 1:30 p.m. was untimely. However, the letter clearly and unequivocally made payment at that time an essential condition precedent to the existence of an agreement. This condition is also stated in Magee’s affidavit.
Defendant also introduced new terms into the purported agreеment by adding an unknown third-party payee lienholder. Yet, the issue of liens, by Russell’s own admission in his affidavit, was never discussed. It is clear from the undisputed facts that there was no meeting of the minds to support the formation of an enforceable contract. The trial court properly denied the Motion.
A similar result was reached in Poole v. Mosley,
In Poole, plaintiffs counsel believed that he was to receive a $7,000 draft no later than September 25, 1998, seven days after defendant received an executed release, but defense counsel believed that payment was not required until after a dismissal order had been entered. According to plaintiffs counsel, defense counsel first mentioned the need for a dismissal order on the eve of the entry of judgment even though there had been no prior discussion that payment would be conditioned on the entry of a dismissal order. The reviewing court noted that defense counsel’s inaction in ignoring plaintiffs counsel’s inquiries until late in the business day preceding the entry of judgment forced plaintiffs counsel to protect his client’s interest by seeking the entry of judgment. The reviewing court affirmed the denial of defendant’s motion.
Finally, plaintiff contends that this appeal is frivolous and requests this court to impose sanctions, in the form of attorney fees, against defense counsel pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 375(b) (155 Ill. 2d R. 375(b)). Plaintiff argues that the primary purpоse of the appeal is to delay, harass, or cause needless expense and that defendant has failed to consider this court’s jurisdiction or to present sufficient argument on the merits. We agree.
Under Rule 375(b), a reviewing court may sanction a party for an appeal that is frivolous or is taken for an improper purpose. An appeal is frivolous if it is not reasonably well grounded in fact and is not warranted by existing law or a good-faith argument to extend, modify, or reverse existing law, or if a reasonable and prudent attorney would not have taken the appeal. An appeal is taken for an improper purpose if it is designed to delay, harass, or cause needless expense. Belfour v. Schaumburg Auto,
Beyond the salient jurisdictional concerns, this appeal is utterly without merit. Defense counsel argued that the parties had an enforceable settlement agreement when the undisputed facts clearly revealed no meeting of the minds. Furthermore, in an attempt to manufacture some inkling of merit, counsel took liberties with the facts that bordered on outright misrepresentations. We have no choice but to conclude that this appeal is frivolous and was taken for an improper purpose.
Thus, we direct plaintiff to submit within 14 days an affidavit and detailed statement of reasonable expenses and attorney fees incurred as a result of defending this appeal. Parrillo will have 14 days thereafter to respond to the reasonableness of the expenses and fees. We then will file an order determining the amount of the sanction to be imposed on Parrillo. See Belfour,
For these reasons, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Lake County, and we impose sanctions against Parrillo under Supreme Court Rule 375(b).
Affirmed; sanctions imposed.