Illinois 2023-2024 Regular Session

Illinois House Bill HB5477 Compare Versions

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11 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB5477 Introduced , by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: See Index Amends the Uniform Arbitration Act. Allows a party to serve upon another party a demand for arbitration or a notice of intention to arbitrate, specifying the agreement under which arbitration is sought and the name and address of the party serving the notice and stating that unless the party served applies to stay the arbitration within 20 days after service the party shall be precluded from objecting that a valid agreement was not made or has not been complied with and from asserting in court the bar of a limitation of time. Provides that in an arbitration brought by a consumer or employee that requires the drafting party to pay certain fees and costs before the arbitration can proceed, if the fees or costs to initiate an arbitration proceeding are not paid within 30 days after the due date, the drafting party is in material breach of the arbitration agreement, is in default of the arbitration, and waives its right to compel arbitration. Sets forth various actions a party may take if the drafting party materially breaches the arbitration agreement. Includes sanctions an arbitrator or court may impose for materially breaching the agreement. Provides that, if a party is represented by an attorney, papers to be served on the party shall be served upon the attorney for that party, and any agreement which discriminates against or penalizes a party for retaining the services of counsel in an arbitration is null and void. In a provision regarding venue, provides that: if the name of the county is not specified, the application shall be brought in the county where the party seeking arbitration resides or is doing business, and other proceedings affecting arbitration are to be brought in the county where at least one of the parties resides or is doing business or where the arbitration was held or is pending; if there are multiple parties seeking arbitration against the same party or parties, the proceeding may be brought in any court and county where any of the parties seeking arbitration resides or is doing business or where the arbitration was held or is pending; and if there is no county in which the proceeding may be brought, the proceeding may be brought in any county. LRB103 35069 LNS 65022 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB5477 Introduced , by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: See Index See Index Amends the Uniform Arbitration Act. Allows a party to serve upon another party a demand for arbitration or a notice of intention to arbitrate, specifying the agreement under which arbitration is sought and the name and address of the party serving the notice and stating that unless the party served applies to stay the arbitration within 20 days after service the party shall be precluded from objecting that a valid agreement was not made or has not been complied with and from asserting in court the bar of a limitation of time. Provides that in an arbitration brought by a consumer or employee that requires the drafting party to pay certain fees and costs before the arbitration can proceed, if the fees or costs to initiate an arbitration proceeding are not paid within 30 days after the due date, the drafting party is in material breach of the arbitration agreement, is in default of the arbitration, and waives its right to compel arbitration. Sets forth various actions a party may take if the drafting party materially breaches the arbitration agreement. Includes sanctions an arbitrator or court may impose for materially breaching the agreement. Provides that, if a party is represented by an attorney, papers to be served on the party shall be served upon the attorney for that party, and any agreement which discriminates against or penalizes a party for retaining the services of counsel in an arbitration is null and void. In a provision regarding venue, provides that: if the name of the county is not specified, the application shall be brought in the county where the party seeking arbitration resides or is doing business, and other proceedings affecting arbitration are to be brought in the county where at least one of the parties resides or is doing business or where the arbitration was held or is pending; if there are multiple parties seeking arbitration against the same party or parties, the proceeding may be brought in any court and county where any of the parties seeking arbitration resides or is doing business or where the arbitration was held or is pending; and if there is no county in which the proceeding may be brought, the proceeding may be brought in any county. LRB103 35069 LNS 65022 b LRB103 35069 LNS 65022 b A BILL FOR
22 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB5477 Introduced , by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
33 See Index See Index
44 See Index
55 Amends the Uniform Arbitration Act. Allows a party to serve upon another party a demand for arbitration or a notice of intention to arbitrate, specifying the agreement under which arbitration is sought and the name and address of the party serving the notice and stating that unless the party served applies to stay the arbitration within 20 days after service the party shall be precluded from objecting that a valid agreement was not made or has not been complied with and from asserting in court the bar of a limitation of time. Provides that in an arbitration brought by a consumer or employee that requires the drafting party to pay certain fees and costs before the arbitration can proceed, if the fees or costs to initiate an arbitration proceeding are not paid within 30 days after the due date, the drafting party is in material breach of the arbitration agreement, is in default of the arbitration, and waives its right to compel arbitration. Sets forth various actions a party may take if the drafting party materially breaches the arbitration agreement. Includes sanctions an arbitrator or court may impose for materially breaching the agreement. Provides that, if a party is represented by an attorney, papers to be served on the party shall be served upon the attorney for that party, and any agreement which discriminates against or penalizes a party for retaining the services of counsel in an arbitration is null and void. In a provision regarding venue, provides that: if the name of the county is not specified, the application shall be brought in the county where the party seeking arbitration resides or is doing business, and other proceedings affecting arbitration are to be brought in the county where at least one of the parties resides or is doing business or where the arbitration was held or is pending; if there are multiple parties seeking arbitration against the same party or parties, the proceeding may be brought in any court and county where any of the parties seeking arbitration resides or is doing business or where the arbitration was held or is pending; and if there is no county in which the proceeding may be brought, the proceeding may be brought in any county.
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88 A BILL FOR
99 HB5477LRB103 35069 LNS 65022 b HB5477 LRB103 35069 LNS 65022 b
1010 HB5477 LRB103 35069 LNS 65022 b
1111 1 AN ACT concerning civil law.
1212 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
1313 3 represented in the General Assembly:
1414 4 Section 5. The Uniform Arbitration Act is amended by
1515 5 changing Sections 6 and 17 and by adding Sections 1.1, 2.1,
1616 6 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4 as follows:
1717 7 (710 ILCS 5/1.1 new)
1818 8 Sec. 1.1. Definitions. As used in this Act:
1919 9 "Consumer" means an individual who seeks, uses, or
2020 10 acquires, by purchase or lease, any goods or services for
2121 11 personal, family, or household purposes.
2222 12 "Employee" means any current employee, former employee, or
2323 13 applicant for employment. "Employee" includes any person who
2424 14 is, was, or who claims to have misclassified as an independent
2525 15 contractor or otherwise improperly placed into a category
2626 16 other than employee or applicant for employment.
2727 17 (710 ILCS 5/2.1 new)
2828 18 Sec. 2.1. Notice of intention to arbitrate. A party may
2929 19 serve upon another party a demand for arbitration or a notice
3030 20 of intention to arbitrate, specifying the agreement under
3131 21 which arbitration is sought and the name and address of the
3232 22 party serving the notice, or of an officer or agent if the
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3636 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB5477 Introduced , by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
3737 See Index See Index
3838 See Index
3939 Amends the Uniform Arbitration Act. Allows a party to serve upon another party a demand for arbitration or a notice of intention to arbitrate, specifying the agreement under which arbitration is sought and the name and address of the party serving the notice and stating that unless the party served applies to stay the arbitration within 20 days after service the party shall be precluded from objecting that a valid agreement was not made or has not been complied with and from asserting in court the bar of a limitation of time. Provides that in an arbitration brought by a consumer or employee that requires the drafting party to pay certain fees and costs before the arbitration can proceed, if the fees or costs to initiate an arbitration proceeding are not paid within 30 days after the due date, the drafting party is in material breach of the arbitration agreement, is in default of the arbitration, and waives its right to compel arbitration. Sets forth various actions a party may take if the drafting party materially breaches the arbitration agreement. Includes sanctions an arbitrator or court may impose for materially breaching the agreement. Provides that, if a party is represented by an attorney, papers to be served on the party shall be served upon the attorney for that party, and any agreement which discriminates against or penalizes a party for retaining the services of counsel in an arbitration is null and void. In a provision regarding venue, provides that: if the name of the county is not specified, the application shall be brought in the county where the party seeking arbitration resides or is doing business, and other proceedings affecting arbitration are to be brought in the county where at least one of the parties resides or is doing business or where the arbitration was held or is pending; if there are multiple parties seeking arbitration against the same party or parties, the proceeding may be brought in any court and county where any of the parties seeking arbitration resides or is doing business or where the arbitration was held or is pending; and if there is no county in which the proceeding may be brought, the proceeding may be brought in any county.
4040 LRB103 35069 LNS 65022 b LRB103 35069 LNS 65022 b
4141 LRB103 35069 LNS 65022 b
4242 A BILL FOR
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4848 See Index
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6767 1 party is an association or corporation, and stating that
6868 2 unless the party served applies to stay the arbitration within
6969 3 20 days after service the party shall be precluded from
7070 4 objecting that a valid agreement was not made or has not been
7171 5 complied with and from asserting in court the bar of a
7272 6 limitation of time. Notice or demand shall be served in the
7373 7 same manner as a summons or by registered or certified mail,
7474 8 return receipt requested. An application to stay arbitration
7575 9 must be made by the party served within 20 days after service
7676 10 upon the party of the notice or demand or the party shall be so
7777 11 precluded. Notice of such application shall be served in the
7878 12 same manner as a summons or by registered or certified mail,
7979 13 return receipt requested. Service of the application may be
8080 14 made upon the adverse party or upon the adverse party's
8181 15 attorney if the attorney's name appears on the demand for
8282 16 arbitration or the notice of intention to arbitrate. Service
8383 17 of the application by mail shall be timely if the application
8484 18 is posted within the prescribed period. Any provision in an
8585 19 arbitration agreement or arbitration rules which waives the
8686 20 right to apply for a stay of arbitration or proscribes a manner
8787 21 of notifying a party of an intention to commence arbitration
8888 22 that is more burdensome than that described in this Section is
8989 23 null and void.
9090 24 (710 ILCS 5/2.2 new)
9191 25 Sec. 2.2. Fees and costs of arbitration initiation;
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102102 1 invoice; breach of agreement; sanctions.
103103 2 (a) In an arbitration brought by a consumer or employee
104104 3 that requires, either expressly or through application of
105105 4 State or federal law or the rules of the arbitrator, the
106106 5 drafting party to pay certain fees and costs before the
107107 6 arbitration can proceed, if the fees or costs to initiate an
108108 7 arbitration proceeding are not paid within 30 days after the
109109 8 due date, the drafting party is in material breach of the
110110 9 arbitration agreement, is in default of the arbitration, and
111111 10 waives its right to compel arbitration under Section 2.
112112 11 After an employee or consumer meets the filing
113113 12 requirements necessary to initiate an arbitration, the
114114 13 arbitrator shall immediately provide an invoice for any fees
115115 14 and costs required before the arbitration can proceed to all
116116 15 of the parties to the arbitration. The invoice shall be
117117 16 provided in its entirety, shall state the full amount owed and
118118 17 the date that payment is due, and shall be sent to all parties
119119 18 by the same means on the same day. To avoid delay, absent an
120120 19 express provision in the arbitration agreement stating the
121121 20 number of days in which the parties to the arbitration must pay
122122 21 any required fees or costs, the arbitrator shall issue all
123123 22 invoices to the parties as due upon receipt.
124124 23 (b) If the drafting party materially breaches the
125125 24 arbitration agreement and is in default under subsection (a),
126126 25 the employee or consumer may:
127127 26 (1) withdraw the claim from arbitration and proceed in
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138138 1 a court of appropriate jurisdiction; or
139139 2 (2) compel arbitration in which the drafting party
140140 3 shall pay reasonable attorney's fees and costs related to
141141 4 the arbitration.
142142 5 (c) If the employee or consumer withdraws the claim from
143143 6 arbitration and proceeds with an action in a court of
144144 7 appropriate jurisdiction under paragraph (1) of subsection
145145 8 (b), the statute of limitations with regard to all claims
146146 9 brought or that relate back to any claim brought in
147147 10 arbitration shall be tolled as of the date of the first filing
148148 11 of a claim in a court, arbitration forum, or other dispute
149149 12 resolution forum.
150150 13 (d) If the employee or consumer proceeds with an action in
151151 14 a court of appropriate jurisdiction, the court shall impose
152152 15 sanctions on the drafting party in accordance with Section
153153 16 2.4.
154154 17 (710 ILCS 5/2.3 new)
155155 18 Sec. 2.3. Fees and costs of arbitration continuance;
156156 19 invoice; breach of agreement; sanctions.
157157 20 (a) In an arbitration brought by a consumer or employee,
158158 21 either expressly or through application of State or federal
159159 22 law or the rules of the arbitrator, that the drafting party pay
160160 23 certain fees and costs during the pendency of an arbitration
161161 24 proceeding, if the fees or costs required to continue the
162162 25 arbitration proceeding are not paid within 30 days after the
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173173 1 due date, the drafting party is in material breach of the
174174 2 arbitration agreement, is in default of the arbitration, and
175175 3 waives its right to compel the employee or consumer to proceed
176176 4 with that arbitration as a result of the material breach.
177177 5 The arbitrator shall provide an invoice for any fees and
178178 6 costs required for the arbitration proceeding to continue to
179179 7 all of the parties to the arbitration. The invoice shall be
180180 8 provided in its entirety, shall state the full amount owed and
181181 9 the date that payment is due, and shall be sent to all parties
182182 10 by the same means on the same day. To avoid delay, absent an
183183 11 express provision in the arbitration agreement stating the
184184 12 number of days in which the parties to the arbitration must pay
185185 13 any required fees or costs, the arbitrator shall issue all
186186 14 invoices to the parties as due upon receipt. Any extension of
187187 15 time for the due date shall be agreed upon by all parties.
188188 16 (b) If the drafting party materially breaches the
189189 17 arbitration agreement and is in default under subsection (a),
190190 18 the employee or consumer may unilaterally elect to:
191191 19 (1) withdraw the claim from arbitration and proceed in
192192 20 a court of appropriate jurisdiction. If the employee or
193193 21 consumer withdraws the claim from arbitration and proceeds
194194 22 with an action in a court of appropriate jurisdiction, the
195195 23 statute of limitations with regard to all claims brought
196196 24 or that relate back to any claim brought in arbitration
197197 25 shall be tolled as of the date of the first filing of a
198198 26 claim in any court, arbitration forum, or other dispute
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209209 1 resolution forum;
210210 2 (2) continue the arbitration proceeding, if the
211211 3 arbitrator agrees to continue administering the
212212 4 proceeding, notwithstanding the drafting party's failure
213213 5 to pay fees or costs. The neutral arbitrator may institute
214214 6 a collection action at the conclusion of the arbitration
215215 7 proceeding against the drafting party that is in default
216216 8 of the arbitration for payment of all fees associated with
217217 9 the arbitration proceeding brought by a consumer or
218218 10 employee, including the cost of administering any
219219 11 proceedings after the default;
220220 12 (3) petition the court for an order compelling the
221221 13 drafting party to pay all arbitration fees that the
222222 14 drafting party is obligated to pay under the arbitration
223223 15 agreement or the rules of the arbitrator;
224224 16 (4) pay the drafting party's fees and proceed with the
225225 17 arbitration proceeding. As part of the award, the employee
226226 18 or consumer shall recover all arbitration fees paid on
227227 19 behalf of the drafting party without regard to any
228228 20 findings on the merits in the underlying arbitration; or
229229 21 (5) if the employee or consumer withdraws the claim
230230 22 from arbitration and proceeds in a court of appropriate
231231 23 jurisdiction under paragraph (1), both of the following
232232 24 apply:
233233 25 (A) The employee or consumer may bring a motion,
234234 26 or a separate action, to recover all attorney's fees
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245245 1 and all costs associated with the abandoned
246246 2 arbitration proceeding.
247247 3 (B) The recovery of arbitration fees, interest,
248248 4 and related attorney's fees shall be without regard to
249249 5 any findings on the merits in the underlying action or
250250 6 arbitration.
251251 7 The court shall impose sanctions on the drafting party in
252252 8 accordance with Section 2.4.
253253 9 (c) If the employee or consumer continues in arbitration
254254 10 under paragraphs (2) through (4) of subsection (b), the
255255 11 arbitrator shall impose appropriate sanctions on the drafting
256256 12 party, including monetary sanctions, issue sanctions, evidence
257257 13 sanctions, or terminating sanctions.
258258 14 (710 ILCS 5/2.4 new)
259259 15 Sec. 2.4. Breach of arbitration agreement; monetary
260260 16 sanctions; additional sanctions.
261261 17 (a) The court shall impose a monetary sanction against a
262262 18 drafting party that materially breaches an arbitration
263263 19 agreement pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 2.2 or
264264 20 subsection (a) of Section 2.3, by ordering the drafting party
265265 21 to pay the reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees and
266266 22 costs, incurred by the employee or consumer as a result of the
267267 23 material breach.
268268 24 (b) In addition to the monetary sanction described in
269269 25 subsection (a), the court may order any of the following
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280280 1 sanctions against a drafting party that materially breaches an
281281 2 arbitration agreement under subsection (a) of Section 2.2 or
282282 3 subsection (a) of Section 2.3, unless the court finds that the
283283 4 one subject to the sanction acted with substantial
284284 5 justification or that other circumstances make the imposition
285285 6 of the sanction unjust:
286286 7 (1) an evidence sanction by an order prohibiting the
287287 8 drafting party from conducting discovery in the civil
288288 9 action;
289289 10 (2) a terminating sanction by:
290290 11 (A) an order striking out the pleadings or parts
291291 12 of the pleadings of the drafting party; or
292292 13 (B) an order rendering a judgment by default
293293 14 against the drafting party; or
294294 15 (3) a contempt sanction by an order treating the
295295 16 drafting party as in contempt of court.
296296 17 (710 ILCS 5/6) (from Ch. 10, par. 106)
297297 18 Sec. 6. Representation by attorney.
298298 19 A party has the right to be represented by an attorney at
299299 20 any proceeding or hearing under this Act. A waiver thereof
300300 21 prior to the proceeding or hearing is ineffective. If a party
301301 22 is represented by an attorney, papers to be served on the party
302302 23 shall be served upon the attorney for that party. Any
303303 24 agreement which discriminates against or penalizes a party for
304304 25 retaining the services of counsel in an arbitration is null
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315315 1 and void.
316316 2 (Source: Laws 1961, p. 3844.)
317317 3 (710 ILCS 5/17) (from Ch. 10, par. 117)
318318 4 Sec. 17. Venue.
319319 5 (a) An initial application shall be made to the court of
320320 6 the county in which the agreement provides the arbitration
321321 7 hearing shall be held or, if the hearing has been held, in the
322322 8 county in which it was held. Otherwise the application shall
323323 9 be made in the county where the adverse party resides or has a
324324 10 place of business or, if he has no residence or place of
325325 11 business in this State, to the court of any county. All
326326 12 subsequent applications shall be made to the court hearing the
327327 13 initial application unless the court otherwise directs.
328328 14 (b) If the name of the county is not specified, the
329329 15 application shall be brought in the county where the party
330330 16 seeking arbitration resides or is doing business, and other
331331 17 proceedings affecting arbitration are to be brought in the
332332 18 county where at least one of the parties resides or is doing
333333 19 business or where the arbitration was held or is pending.
334334 20 (c) If there are multiple parties seeking arbitration
335335 21 against the same party or parties, the proceeding may be
336336 22 brought in any court and county where any of the parties
337337 23 seeking arbitration resides or is doing business or where the
338338 24 arbitration was held or is pending. All subsequent
339339 25 applications shall be made to the court hearing the initial
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350350 1 application unless the court otherwise directs.
351351 2 (d) If there is no county in which the proceeding may be
352352 3 brought under this Section, the proceeding may be brought in
353353 4 any county.
354354 5 (Source: Laws 1961, p. 3844.)
355355 HB5477- 11 -LRB103 35069 LNS 65022 b 1 INDEX 2 Statutes amended in order of appearance HB5477- 11 -LRB103 35069 LNS 65022 b HB5477 - 11 - LRB103 35069 LNS 65022 b 1 INDEX 2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
356356 HB5477- 11 -LRB103 35069 LNS 65022 b HB5477 - 11 - LRB103 35069 LNS 65022 b
357357 HB5477 - 11 - LRB103 35069 LNS 65022 b
358358 1 INDEX
359359 2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
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371371 1 INDEX
372372 2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
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