102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB1678

 

Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Adriane Johnson

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
735 ILCS 5/9-107  from Ch. 110, par. 9-107

    Amends the Eviction Article of the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that, in counties that have a website that the staff of the county maintains, if the plaintiff is unable to obtain personal service on the defendant, the sheriff shall cause the notice of the eviction action to be posted on the website of the county where the cause is to be tried at least 10 days before the day set for the appearance.


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A BILL FOR

 

SB1678LRB102 14917 LNS 20272 b

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 9-107 as follows:
 
6    (735 ILCS 5/9-107)  (from Ch. 110, par. 9-107)
7    Sec. 9-107. Constructive service. If the plaintiff, his or
8her agent, or attorney files an eviction action, with or
9without joinder of a claim for rent in the complaint, and is
10unable to obtain personal service on the defendant or unknown
11occupant and a summons duly issued in such action is returned
12without service stating that service can not be obtained, then
13the plaintiff, his or her agent or attorney may file an
14affidavit stating that the defendant or unknown occupant is
15not a resident of this State, or has departed from this State,
16or on due inquiry cannot be found, or is concealed within this
17State so that process cannot be served upon him or her, and
18also stating the place of residence of the defendant or
19unknown occupant, if known, or if not known, that upon
20diligent inquiry the affiant has not been able to ascertain
21the defendant's or unknown occupant's place of residence, then
22in all such eviction cases whether or not a claim for rent is
23joined with the complaint for possession, the defendant or

 

 

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1unknown occupant may be notified by posting and mailing of
2notices; or by publication and mailing, as provided for in
3Section 2-206 of this Act. However, in cases where the
4defendant or unknown occupant is notified by posting and
5mailing of notices or by publication and mailing, and the
6defendant or unknown occupant does not appear generally, the
7court may rule only on the portion of the complaint which seeks
8an eviction order, and the court shall not enter judgment as to
9any rent claim joined in the complaint or enter personal
10judgment for any amount owed by a unit owner for his or her
11proportionate share of the common expenses, however, an in rem
12judgment may be entered against the unit for the amount of
13common expenses due, any other expenses lawfully agreed upon
14or the amount of any unpaid fine, together with reasonable
15attorney fees, if any, and costs. The claim for rent may remain
16pending until such time as the defendant or unknown occupant
17appears generally or is served with summons, but the eviction
18order shall be final, enforceable and appealable if the court
19makes an express written finding that there is no just reason
20for delaying enforcement or appeal, as provided by Supreme
21Court rule of this State.
22    Such notice shall be in the name of the clerk of the court,
23be directed to the defendant or unknown occupant, shall state
24the nature of the cause against the defendant or unknown
25occupant and at whose instance issued and the time and place
26for trial, and shall also state that unless the defendant or

 

 

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1unknown occupant appears at the time and place fixed for
2trial, judgment will be entered by default, and shall specify
3the character of the judgment that will be entered in such
4cause. The sheriff (i) shall post 3 copies of the notice in 3
5public places in the neighborhood of the court where the cause
6is to be tried, at least 10 days prior to the day set for the
7appearance or, in counties that have a website that the staff
8of the county maintains, shall cause the notice to be posted on
9the website of the county where the cause is to be tried at
10least 10 days prior to the day set for the appearance, and,
11(ii) if the place of residence of the defendant or unknown
12occupant is stated in any affidavit on file, shall at the same
13time mail one copy of the notice addressed to such defendant or
14unknown occupant at such place of residence shown in such
15affidavit. On or before the day set for the appearance, the
16sheriff shall file the notice with an endorsement thereon
17stating the time when and places where the sheriff posted and
18to whom and at what address he or she mailed copies as required
19by this Section. For want of sufficient notice any cause may be
20continued from time to time until the court has jurisdiction
21of the defendant or unknown occupant.
22(Source: P.A. 100-173, eff. 1-1-18.)