The defendant filed a motion to dismiss upon the ground that the cause of action alleged in the complaint was not commenced within the time limited by law, and in support thereof the defendant said in his motion:
“1. That on the 6th day of November, 1956, plaintiff and defendant entered into an agreement, in writing, described as “Professional Budget Plan”, whereby plaintiff promised to pay to defendantthe sum of Five Hundred Seventy-five and no/100 ($575) Dollars, in the manner therein provided, for professional dental services to be rendered by the defendant, a true and correct copy of said agreement in writing, and a true and correct copy of Patient’s Office Record being attached hereto and made a part hereof by reference ; that no other contract has been entered into by the parties hereto.
2. That this defendant, by virtue of the provisions of said agreement in writing and Patient’s Office Record, as kept by the defendant with respect to the plaintiff herein, did not agree or contract to straighten plaintiff’s teeth.
3. That on and after August 7, 1956, this defendant rendered professional orthodontic service and treatment to the plaintiff up to and including the 6th day of July, 1957, and defendant performed no professional services for said plaintiff after July 6,1957.
4. That the cause of action alleged in plaintiff’s Complaint is, in substance and in fact, an action in tort for damages for alleged injuries to the person of the plaintiff.
5. That by virtue of the provisions of Chapter 83, Section 15, Illinois Revised Statutes, 1957 Edition, actions and damages for injuries to the person shall be сommenced within two years next after the action accrued therefor.
6. That at all times mentioned herein, defendant has resided in the State of Illinois.
7. That by virtue of the foregoing, the action of the plaintiff has been barred by the provisions of Chapter 83, Section 15, Illinois Revised Statutes.
8. That the affidavit of the defendant in support of this motion is attached hereto.”
The defendant’s affidavit attached to his motion to dismiss was to the effect that on November 6, 1956 he entered into an agreement in writing with the plaintiff, a correct copy of which is attached and made a part thereof; he made and kept an office record for her, a correct copy of which is attached and made a part thereof; no other agreement in writing has been made between him and the plaintiff; on and after November 6,1956 he rendered professional orthodontic services and treatment to the. plaintiff to July 6,1957; he performed no professional services for her after July 6, 1957; at all times since November 6, 1956 he has resided in Illinois.
Attached to the dеfendant’s motion to dismiss and his affidavit is a copy of a printed instrument entitled “Professional Budget Plan,” dated November 6, 1956, signed by the defendant as “Doctor” and by the plaintiff as “Contracting party,” with the word “(Seal)” after each signature, in the presence of one Donna Ewing, which reads, so far as material, as follows: “1. The Doctor ... is rendering and/or will render professional services to Dorothy Stanley, patient, a more complete description of which services are described on the patient’s office record which is hereby made a part of this Plan by incorporation as fully and completely as though the same were set forth in full herein. 2. Now, therefore, in consideration of such professional services rendered or to be rendered the Patient, the undersigned contracting party whose signature appears hereafter, on or before the date or dates mentioned below, promises to pay the Doctor . . . the total sum of Five Hundred Seventy-five and No/100 Dollars . . . .” Then follows the schedule of payment, etc., provisions for the event of failure to pay etc., a provision for the event of delays, etc., a provision
Also attached to the motion to dismiss and affidavit is the patient’s office record which indicates regular payments up to October 19, 1957, and also indicates, so far as may be material:
10- 15-56 — Impressions, x-ray, photo.
11- 6-56 — Construction of appliance.
11-13-56 — Completion of appliance — first adjustment.
1- 14-57 — Adjustment.
2- 9-57 — Adjustment.
3- 11-57 — Observation.
3-30-57 — Adjustment.
5- 4-57 — Adjustment.
6- 10-57 — Observation.
7- 6-57 ■ — • Adjustment.
At the hearing on the Motion to Dismiss, the plaintiff filed a counteraffidavit alleging as follows:
“2. The affiant says she was first aware of any damage to herself as a result of the professional services rendered to her by the defendant in said cause in the month of October, 1957, and prior to that time had had no knowledge of or no reason to believe that she had in any way been damaged by the treatments or conduct of the defendant, and that her cause of action against the defendantfirst occurred sometime in the month of October, 1957, the exact day of the month being unknown to the plaintiff.
“3. All during the period of time that the defendant was performing professional services for the plaintiff, up to and including July 6, 1957, the plaintiff had absolutely no knowledge that the defendant was in any way breaching his contract with her, or that she was receiving any damage as a result of the contract she had entered into with the defendant.”
The Court on September 30, 1960 allowed the defendant’s motion to dismiss for the reason that the action of the plaintiff was not commenced within the time limited by law, dismissed the complaint, and entered a final judgment for the defendant. The Court’s view was that this is a tort action for damages for an injury to the person, it had to be commenced within two years next after the. cause of action accrued, Ch 83 Ill Rev Stats, 1957, par 15, the cause of action accrued on or before July 6, 1957, and the complaint filed August 7, 1959 was beyond the two year period. Within 30 days after the judgment the plaintiff filed a motion for leave to file an amended complaint and a motion to vacate the judgment, which were later denied. The record indicates an Amended Complaint “as presented after motion disallowed but not filed.” The plaintiff appeals.
The plaintiff’s theory is that her cause of action (either in tort or in contract) accrued in October, 1957 when the elеment of damage first occurred to her knowledge, and the suit filed August 7, 1959 was timely filed even if the two year limitations statute applies; she could maintain an action for breach of warranty of the written contract within ten years of its breach, under Ch 83 Ill Rev Stats, 1957, par 17;
The defendant’s theory is that the plaintiff’s cause of action accrued at the time of committing the alleged negligent acts, which acts terminated on July 6,1957; the action is one for damages for injury to thе person and falls under the two year statute of limitations, Ch 83, Ill Bev Stats, 1957, par 15; the order denying leave to file an amended complaint should not be reversed because no appeal is taken from that order and because the proposed amended complaint was not presented to the trial court prior to entry of that order.
Ch 110 Ill Rev Stats, 1959, par 48, being Section 48 of the Civil Practice Act, provides, so far as material:
“48. Sec. 48. Involuntary dismissal based upon certain defects or defenses. (1) Defendant may, within the time for pleading, file a motion for dismissal of the action or for other appropriate relief upon any of the following grounds. If the grounds do not appear on the face of the pleading attacked the motion shall be supported by affidavit:
(e) That the action was not commenced within the time limited by law.
(3) If, upon the hearing of the motion, the opposite party presents affidavits or other proof denying the facts alleged or establishing facts obviating the grounds of defect, the court may hear and determine the same and may grant or deny the motion. If a material and genuine disputed question of fact is raised the court may decide the motion upon the affidavits and evidence offered by the parties, or may deny the motionwithout prejudice to the right to raise the subject matter of the motion by answer and shall so deny it if the action is one at law and a jury demand has been filed by the opposite party in apt time.”
This action is one at law. A jury demand has been filed by the plaintiff in apt time. The Court is therefore required to deny the defendant’s motion if a material and genuine disputed question of fact is raised. The issue, therefore, is: Is a material and genuine disputed question of fact raised as to whether “the action was not commenced within the time limited by law.”
Section 43 of the Civil Practice Act, Ch 110 Ill Rev Stats 1959, par 43, also provides, so far as material:
“(4) The facts constituting any affirmative defense, such as ... or cannot be recovered upon by reason of any statute . . . and any defense which by other affirmative matter seeks to avoid the legal effect of or defeat the cause of action set forth in the complaint, . . . must be plainly set forth in the answer or reply.”
The main purpose of Section 48 is to provide for a disposition of a case upon such defenses, as indicated therein, as may be decided by resort to a record or matter so conclusive that a plaintiff could not deny it; if it cannot with reasonable certainty be determined from the record then before the Court that the alleged defense exists the motion should not be allowеd on that grounds; the purpose is primarily that of affording a means of obtaining at the outset a summary disposition of issues of law or of easily proved issues of fact, with a reservation of jury trial as to disputed questions of fact: Tidwell v. Smith et al. (1960) 27 Ill App2d 63,
The statute of limitations is an affirmative defense аnd the burden of proving it rests upon the party pleading it; the statute is procedural and affects only the remedy, not the substantive rights; ordinarily it cannot be raised by a motion to strike unless it affirmatively appears from the pleading attacked that the cause of action is barred by the particular section of the limitations statute being interposed as a defense: Burnett v. West Madison State Bank et al. (1940) 375 Ill 402,
The statute of limitations, Ch 83 Ill Rev Stats, 1959, par 15 and par 17 (so far as material) provides:
“15. Personal Injuries, Penalties, Etc.) Sec. 14. Actions for damages for an injury to the person, or for false imprisonment, or malicious prosecution, or for a statutory penalty, or for abduction, or for seduction, or for criminal conversation, shall bе commenced within two years next after the cause of action accrued.
“17. On Writings — New Contract.) Sec 16. Actions on bonds, promissory notes, bills of exchange, written leases, written contracts, or otherevidences of indebtedness in writing, shall be. commenced within ten years next after the cause of action accrued; . .
The complaint here alleges that on or about November 1, 1956 the plaintiff entered into a contract with the defendant, the only copy being in the possession of the defendant, by which he agreed to straighten her teeth; prior thereto he held himself out to be and represented he was an orthodontist, skilled in straightening teeth; in reliance on those representations and promises she agreed to and did undergo a course of treatment administered by him and designed by him to straighten her teeth; and by virtue of the breach of contract so entered into she has been damaged. True, a copy of the written instrument is not attached as an exhibit or recited at length therein, and the plaintiff did not attach to the complaint аn affidavit stating facts showing that the instrument is not accessible to her, as Section 36 of the Civil Practice Act requires: Ch 110 Ill Rev Stats, 1959, par 36. But the allegation of the complaint that the only copy is in the possession of the defendant is, in effect, an allegation it is not accessible to her, and the defendant has not by the present motion, or otherwise, raised any objection to the complaint because of the absence of such a copy or such a recital or such an affidavit. The complaint, fairly viewed, is founded upon a written instrument, within the meaning of Section 36. Indeed, from the defendant’s motion to dismiss, etc., it appears admitted that there was a written instrument between the parties, namely, the instrument entitled “Professional Budget Plan” and the associated “patient’s office record,” and that the defendant has the only copy thereof. The parties have apparently proceeded in the Court below and here on the basis that that particular instrument is the written instrument
The complaint reading as it does, and this particular written instrument upon which the complaint is to he considered as founded providing as it does, the action, from the present record, looks like an action on an alleged “written contract,” under Ch 83 Ill Rev Stats, 1959, par 17, and if it is, the limitations period is ten years next after the cause of action accrued.
Perhaps the most closely, though not necessarily entirely analogous case to which we’ve been referred is Kain v. The Arizona Copper Co., Ltd. (1913) 14 Ariz 566, where the Court reversed and remanded a judgment which had sustained the defendant company’s demurrers raising the Arizona statute of limitations to a complaint by the plaintiff employee of the defendant alleging a contract by the defendant to furnish the plaintiff hospital, nursing, and medical services if injured while employed, certain breаches, negligent examinations, incompetent treatment, etc., wherein the court said, in part, p 569 ff:
“It is not an action for personal injury nor for malpractice by the mining company. The complaints . . . allege a contract between appellant and mining company . . . The cause of action stated is for a breach of contract to furnish skilled and competent physicians and surgeons and competently to treat appellant’s injuries as it had agreed to do. ... It is, therefore, clear that it is not for personal injury or for malpractice, . . . and consequently the limitation of one year, . . . is inapplicable.
“The contract ... is pleaded as an express contract, but it is not shown whether it is a written or verbal contract. . . .”
“The complaint does not show upon its face that the contract pleaded was not in writing, and we have treated the contract sued upon, for the purpose of the special demurrer, as a written contract. . . .
“. . . If they undertake to furnish treatment, not as a charity, they stand in no different light from the ordinary physician. . . .”
The defendant refers us to no Illinois case holding that there cannot be a written contract between a dentist and patient for orthodontist services, or that, if there is, in fact and in law, such a written contract the ten year statute of limitations does not apply to an action thereon, or sustaining a motion to dismiss under Section 48 of the Civil Practice Act of an action on such a written contract on the grounds the action was not commenced within the time limited by law.
The defendant argues that in malprаctice suits for personal injuries the two year statute of limitations applies even though the relationship between dentist and patient is based on contract; according to the rule of ejusdem generis, where words of general description follow particular and specific words the general words include only things of the. same class or nature as the specific words, and “written contracts” in Ch 83 Ill Rev Stats, 1959, par 17 means only things of the same class as “bonds, promissory notes, etc.” and by implication excludes a written сontract for professional services; where the plaintiff must prove his written contract in part by parol evidence the ten year statute of limitations,, applicable to certain writings, has no application, the particular written instrument
A cause of action upon a written contract is not necessarily taken out of that class by reliance in a proper case upon some competent evidence of surrounding circumstances. In determining whether the written provision imports a warranty implied by law competent evidence may in a proper case be considered of the surrounding circumstances in arriving at the true meaning of the parties. That does not necessarily violate the parol evidence rule or militate against characterizing the cause of action as one arising upon a written contract. In determining what the contract contemplates heed may be given to what was before the parties in the way of surrounding circumstances at the time of execution of the contract. Inferred intentions, necessarily implied from the express provisions, may be just as much a part of the contract as the clearly expressed undertakings. The law governing the parties at the time the contract is made necessarily enters into and forms a part of every contract
Tbe alleged written contract here provides for professional services of tbe defendant doctor, who, by bis motion etc., admits tbat be rendered professional orthodontic service and treatment to tbe plaintiff up to and including July 6, 1957, and, of course, admits tbe type of services such as are shown by bis own patient’s office record as to tbe plaintiff, which is a part of tbe contract, but be sаys be did not agree or contract to straighten plaintiff’s teeth. Tbe office record discloses “impressions, x-ray, photo,” “construction of appliance,” “completion of appliance,” six separate “adjustments,” and two “observations.” Tbe defendant argues tbat tbe written instrument is incomplete, and tbe type of professional services must be determined from parol evidence. Tbe plaintiff argues tbat she can show tbe nature of tbe services tbe defendant was to render, namely, teeth straightening, by рarol evidence. Tbe contract in question may be somewhat ambiguous in tbe sense tbat it does not expressly state tbe particular type of professional services to be rendered. However, we believe competent extrinsic evidence would be admissible to aid tbe Court in reaching a proper interpretation of tbe agreement and to show tbe exact nature of tbe. professional services to be rendered. See: 12 Ill Law and Prac, pp 387, 395, 398, 399, 402, 405, 429, 435.
A motion was made by tbe plaintiff within 30 days after tbe judgmеnt to vacate the judgment and for leave to file an amended complaint. Tbe plaintiff argues she should have been allowed to file an amended complaint. This and other points argued we do not deem it necessary to pass upon. We believe tbat on the present record as presented to us tbe two year statute of limitations 'did not apply because this is an action upon an alleged written contract.
Reversed and remanded.