98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB4428

 

Introduced , by Rep. Ron Sandack

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
735 ILCS 5/13-214.3  from Ch. 110, par. 13-214.3

    Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. In provisions limiting an action against an attorney for malpractice to no later than 6 years after the date on which the attorney's act or omission occurred, adds this exception: 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.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by
5changing Section 13-214.3 as follows:
 
6    (735 ILCS 5/13-214.3)  (from Ch. 110, par. 13-214.3)
7    (Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 89-7,
8which has been held unconstitutional)
9    Sec. 13-214.3. Attorneys.
10    (a) In this Section: "attorney" includes (i) an individual
11attorney, together with his or her employees who are attorneys,
12(ii) a professional partnership of attorneys, together with its
13employees, partners, and members who are attorneys, and (iii) a
14professional service corporation of attorneys, together with
15its employees, officers, and shareholders who are attorneys;
16and "non-attorney employee" means a person who is not an
17attorney but is employed by an attorney.
18    (b) An action for damages based on tort, contract, or
19otherwise (i) against an attorney arising out of an act or
20omission in the performance of professional services or (ii)
21against a non-attorney employee arising out of an act or
22omission in the course of his or her employment by an attorney
23to assist the attorney in performing professional services must

 

 

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1be commenced within 2 years from the time the person bringing
2the action knew or reasonably should have known of the injury
3for which damages are sought.
4    (c) Except as provided in subsection (d), an action
5described in subsection (b) may not be commenced in any event
6more than 6 years after the date on which the act or omission
7occurred; however, if the person entitled to bring the action
8is still represented by the attorney or the attorney knowingly
9conceals the act or omission so as to prevent the person
10bringing the action from becoming aware of the act or omission,
11the period of limitations does not begin to run until the
12person is no longer represented by the attorney or until the
13person knows or should have known of the injury.
14    (d) When the injury caused by the act or omission does not
15occur until the death of the person for whom the professional
16services were rendered, the action may be commenced within 2
17years after the date of the person's death unless letters of
18office are issued or the person's will is admitted to probate
19within that 2 year period, in which case the action must be
20commenced within the time for filing claims against the estate
21or a petition contesting the validity of the will of the
22deceased person, whichever is later, as provided in the Probate
23Act of 1975.
24    (e) If the person entitled to bring the action is under the
25age of majority or under other legal disability at the time the
26cause of action accrues, the period of limitations shall not

 

 

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1begin to run until majority is attained or the disability is
2removed.
3    (f) This Section applies to all causes of action accruing
4on or after its effective date.
5(Source: P.A. 86-1371.)