Construction Law

(Fine, D-Glenview) requires every count in a complaint and counterclaim to request specific remedies the party believes it should receive from the court except in personal injury actions. For personal injury actions, a party may not claim an amount of money unless necessary to comply with the circuit court rules. Allows a party to request remedies from the court in the alternative. Remedies requested from the court do not limit the remedies available except in the case of default. In default cases, if a remedy is sought in the pleading that is beyond what the defaulted party requested, notice must be given to the defaulted party. The defendant is not prohibited from requesting from the plaintiff the amount of damages sought in interrogatories. Repeals a provision regarding prayer for relief. Scheduled for hearing next Tuesday in Senate Judiciary Committee. 

(Manley, D-Romeoville,) provides that a director, officer, member, manager. general partner, or person dissociated as a general partner of a business entity remains liable to a home buyer after dissolution of the entity for any obligation arising under a warranty for the sale of a new home. It amends the Business Corporation Act of 1983, the Limited Liability Company Act, and the Uniform Limited Partnership Act (2001). It is scheduled for hearing this Wednesday in House Judiciary Committee. 

(Curran, R-Woodridge) exempts from inspection and copying interagency or intra-agency memoranda or letters that would not be available by law to a party other than an agency in litigation with the agency. Provides that the exemption does not apply to a record created 25 years or more before the date on which the record is requested. Scheduled for hearing tomorrow in Senate Judiciary Committee. 

(Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview) amends the Code of Civil Procedure to provide that unless the action is governed by the procedures or provisions of another statute, a person suffering legal wrong because of a final administrative decision, or adversely affected or aggrieved by a final administrative decision, is entitled to judicial review of the final administrative decision to the same extent, with the same rights and the same responsibilities, as a person who is a party. The only exception is that this person is not entitled to relief if there was a previous public hearing at which the person failed to present his or her position. To the extent necessary, the person may provide new or additional evidence to the court for the limited purpose of demonstrating the legal wrong or adverse effect or impairment that he or she has experienced or may experience as a result of the final administrative decision.

These new provisions are limited to final administrative permitting decisions made by the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Public Health, or Department of Transportation that impact the public trust in the waters and lands of this State, State parks or natural areas, threatened or endangered species, surface or ground water quality, air quality, or other matters affecting the right to a healthful environment under the Illinois Constitution. 

For purposes of this Section, "adversely affected or aggrieved" means a plaintiff demonstrates: (1) an injury-in-fact that is concrete and particularized, actual, and imminent; (2) a causal connection between the plaintiff's injury and the defendant's conduct; and (3) a likelihood that a decision in the plaintiff's favor would redress the injury. 

House Bill 2839 is scheduled for hearing next week in House Judiciary Committee. 

(Harris, D-Chicago) authorizes the board of managers acting on behalf of all unit owners to allocate the percentage of ownership in the common elements as a tract for each unit for the limited purpose of calculating the assessment or levy of any such taxes, special assessments, or charges of the State of Illinois or of any political subdivision. It may do so by a two-thirds vote of the unit members at a meeting duly called for such a purpose or upon such greater vote as may be required by the declaration or bylaws. 

Requires this allocation of ownership to be based on the square footage of each individual unit and that it be separate from, and in addition to, the allocation for purposes of association assessments for common expenses, association special assessments and charges, and voting rights. It has been assigned to the House Revenue and Finance Committee. 

House Bill 1466 is limited to associations with 20 units or less. It has been assigned to House Revenue and Finance Committee for a hearing next week. 

(Andrade, D-Chicago) prohibits a community association manager who provides community association management services from entering into any agreement for payment or commission with any person, corporation, party, partnership, or other entity that provides goods or services to the association without first giving prior written disclosure to the board of managers. Assigned to House Judiciary Committee. 

(Harris, D-Chicago) authorizes the board of managers acting on behalf of all unit owners to allocate the percentage of ownership in the common elements as a tract for each unit for the limited purpose of calculating the assessment or levy of any such taxes, special assessments, or charges of the State of Illinois or of any political subdivision. It may do so by a two-thirds vote of the members of the board of managers or by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the unit owners at a meeting duly called for such a purpose, or upon such greater vote as may be required by the declaration or bylaws.

Requires this allocation of ownership to be based on the square footage of each individual unit and that it be separate from, and in addition to, the allocation for purposes of association assessments for common expenses, association special assessments and charges, and voting rights. It has been assigned to the House Revenue and Finance Committee.

(Thapedi, D-Chicago) amends the Common Interest Community Association Act to limit the concurrent exercise by units of local government of powers and functions exercised by the State affecting community instruments and accounting practices.

It also amends the Condominium Property Act to limit the concurrent exercise by units of local government of powers and functions exercised by the State affecting an association’s: budgeting practices; sale of property; notice requirements; contracts with board members; voting procedures; property improvement procedures; accounting practices; collection and sharing of records; amendment to the condominium instruments; and subdivision or combination of units. It has been sent to the House floor by the House Judiciary Committee.

(Van Pelt, D-Chicago) seals eviction proceedings and remain so unless a final order of eviction in favor of the plaintiff is entered. The unsealed records must remain unsealed for a period of seven years. After seven years, access to the court records may be obtained only by specified parties. If a case is filed by a board of managers of a condominium association and names or joins a tenant of a condominium unit to the proceedings, the tenant’s name must be permanently suppressed by order of the court. It has been assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee.

(Thapedi, D-Chicago) repeals Section 2-1108 of the Code of Civil Procedure allowing special interrogatories in verdicts. House Bill 2233 is assigned to House Judiciary Committee.