Village of Dolton v. Stephens-Redeaux

Plaintiff filed a complaint seeking a judicial deed over an allegedly abandoned property. The trial court entered an order of property abandonment and issued a judicial deed to the plaintiff. Subsequently, the County of Cook filed a petition to intervene, alleging it had purchased the property at a tax sale. The trial court granted the petition to intervene and then granted intervenor’s petition to vacate the judgment and plaintiff appealed. The appellate court affirmed, finding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion under the circumstances and that section 2-1401, as an equitable remedy, allowed the trial court to vacate the prior order when new facts came to light. (PUCINSKI and HYMAN, concurring)