Construction Law

(Brauer, R-Springfield) lifts the cap on the $25 court-services fee that a county may charge civil litigants and convicted defendants for courthouse security if there is an acceptable cost study prepared that justifies it. Scheduled for House Judiciary Committee Wednesday morning.

(Haine, D-Alton) creates the Non-Recourse Civil Litigation Funding Act that regulates lending to consumers in litigation in which the consumer assigns to the lender a contingent right to receive a portion of the potential proceeds of the consumer's legal claim. Just introduced.

(Sims, D-Chicago) makes the Act inapplicable unless there is a written and executed contract to improve the lot or tract of land or for the purpose of improving the tract of land or to manage a structure under construction. Just introduced.

(Link, D-Lake Bluff) amends the Code of Civil Procedure to provide that in any any successful appeal under the Administrative Review Law of an adverse decision by a unit of local government, the court shall award the plaintiff all reasonable costs, including court costs and attorney's fees, associated with the appeal. If the court finds the decision by the unit of local government to be clearly erroneous or that the plaintiff's rights to due process were abridged, the court may award the plaintiff all reasonable costs associated with the entire case dating back to the inception of the administrative proceeding. Scheduled for a hearing in Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

(Sandack, R-Lombard) amends the Code of Civil Procedure statute of repose for attorneys by tolling the six-year statute of repose if the client is still represented by the attorney or the attorney knowingly conceals the act or omission. The period of limitations will not begin to run until the person is no longer represented by the attorney or until the client should have known of the injury. Introduced and referred to House Rules Committee.

House Bill 3775 (Tyron, R-Crystal Lake) amends the Residential Mortgage License Act of 1987 to do two things. (1) Prohibits a mortgage lender acting on behalf of a borrower from requiring the seller of real property to disclose the terms of a private trust agreement regarding the real property if the seller has obtained title insurance for the transaction. (2) Prohibits a mortgage lender acting on behalf of a borrower from withholding approval or threatening to do so of the borrower’s residential mortgage loan because the seller has not disclosed the terms of a private trust agreement regarding the real property. Introduced and referred to House Rules Committee.

(D'Amico, D-Chicago; Mulroe, D-Chicago) prohibits using a hand-held cell phone or personal digital assistant while driving. Exempts the use of a hands-free or voice-operated mode, which may include the use of a headset. It also exempts using an electronic communication device that is activated by pressing a single button to initiate or terminate a voice communication. Second or subsequent convictions are moving violations. The fine is a maximum of $75 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense, $125 for the third offense, and $150 for the fourth or subsequent offense. Effective Jan. 1, 2014.

(Riley, D-Hazel Crest; Hutchinson, D-Chicago Heights) raises the maximum court automation fee from $15 to $25 for all parties in civil actions and convicted defendants in criminal actions. It keeps the ceiling at $15 for defendants who receive supervision in a criminal or conservation prosecution. It must receive county board approval, but seems to be automatic. It is on the Governor's desk awaiting action.

(Silverstein, D-Chicago; Lang, D-Skokie) makes four changes to collection practice. (1) It allows enforcements (wage deduction orders, pay orders and turnover orders) to continue beyond seven years without revival. If a judgment becomes dormant during the pendency of an enforcement proceeding against wages under Part 14 of Article 12 or under Article XII, the enforcement may continue to conclusion without revival of the underlying judgment so long as the enforcement is done under court supervision and includes a wage deduction order or turnover order and is against an employer, garnishee, or other third-party respondent. (2) It allows service of garnishments by certified mail. (3) It makes the recording of foreign judgments as liens on real estate. (4) It clarifies that a court in a citation proceeding may enter any order that could be entered in a non-wage garnishment and that this change is declaratory of existing law. It was signed into law yesterday and effective January 1, 2014.

(Raoul, D-Chicago; Sims, D-Chicago) amends the Code of Civil Procedure to create an enforcement mechanism for cases in which the parties agree to settle, but the defendant won't comply with the agreement. It is limited to cases seeking money damages involving personal injury, wrongful death, or tort action. It requires a settling defendant pay all sums due the plaintiff within 30 days of tender of all applicable documents required under this new section. It requires a "settling defendant" to tender a release to the plaintiff within 14 days of written confirmation of the settlement. If the law requires court approval of a settlement, the plaintiff must tender to the defendant a copy of the court order approving the settlement. If there is a known third-party right of recovery or subrogation interest, the plaintiff may protect the third party's right of recovery or subrogation interest by tendering to the defendant (1) A signed release of the attorney's lien; and (2) A letter from the plaintiff's attorney agreeing to hold the full amount of the claimed lien in the plaintiff's attorney's client-fund account pending final resolution of lien amount; or (a) A signed release of the healthcare-provider lien or documentation of the agreement between the plaintiff and Medicare or private health insurance company as to the amount of the settlement that will be accepted in satisfaction of the right of recovery; or (b) An offer that the defendant hold the full amount of the claimed right to recovery pending a final resolution of the right to recovery; or (c) Documentation of any other resolution of the liens as agreed to by the parties. If the court finds, after a hearing, that payment has not been made within 30 days of tender of the necessary documents, judgment must be entered against that defendant for the amount in the executed release, costs incurred in obtaining the judgment, and 9 percent interest from the date of the plaintiff's tender. The Act exempts units of local government, the State of Illinois, and state employees. Effective January 1, 2014.