HB3566 EngrossedLRB104 10092 JRC 20164 b HB3566 Engrossed LRB104 10092 JRC 20164 b HB3566 Engrossed LRB104 10092 JRC 20164 b 1 AN ACT concerning civil law. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by 5 changing Sections 9-106 and 9-121 as follows: 6 (735 ILCS 5/9-106) (from Ch. 110, par. 9-106) 7 Sec. 9-106. Pleadings and evidence. 8 (a) On complaint by the party or parties entitled to the 9 possession of such premises being filed in the circuit court 10 for the county where such premises are situated, stating that 11 such party is entitled to the possession of such premises 12 (describing the same with reasonable certainty), and that the 13 defendant (naming the defendant) unlawfully withholds the 14 possession thereof from him, her or them, the clerk of the 15 court shall issue a summons. 16 (b) A complaint may not name a minor as a defendant. As 17 used in this Section, "minor" means a person under the age of 18 18, unless that person has been ordered emancipated under the 19 Emancipation of Minors Act and has the rights and 20 responsibilities of a mature minor under of the Emancipation 21 of Minors Act. 22 (c) A complaint that names a defendant who is a minor at 23 the time of filing shall be dismissed in its entirety against HB3566 Engrossed LRB104 10092 JRC 20164 b HB3566 Engrossed- 2 -LRB104 10092 JRC 20164 b HB3566 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 10092 JRC 20164 b HB3566 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 10092 JRC 20164 b 1 all defendants. Any action dismissed under this Section shall 2 be immediately sealed under Section 9-121. 3 (d) In addition to any other remedies available to the 4 minor, a minor named as a defendant in violation of this 5 Section is entitled to reasonable attorney's fees, actual 6 damages, and liquidated damages in the amount of $1,000. 7 (e) Nothing in this Section prohibits a party from 8 refiling an action against any defendants who otherwise may be 9 properly named. Upon dismissing the case under this Section, 10 the court may not waive any fees associated with refiling the 11 action against defendants that are otherwise properly named. 12 (f) The defendant may under a general denial of the 13 allegations of the complaint offer in evidence any matter in 14 defense of the action. Except as otherwise provided in Section 15 9-120, no matters not germane to the distinctive purpose of 16 the proceeding shall be introduced by joinder, counterclaim or 17 otherwise. However, a claim for rent may be joined in the 18 complaint, and judgment may be entered for the amount of rent 19 found due. 20 (Source: P.A. 90-360, eff. 1-1-98.) 21 (735 ILCS 5/9-121) 22 Sec. 9-121. Sealing of court file. 23 (a) Definition. As used in this Section, "court file" 24 means the court file created when an eviction action is filed 25 with the court. HB3566 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 10092 JRC 20164 b HB3566 Engrossed- 3 -LRB104 10092 JRC 20164 b HB3566 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 10092 JRC 20164 b HB3566 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 10092 JRC 20164 b 1 (b) Discretionary sealing of court file. The court may 2 order that a court file in an eviction action be placed under 3 seal if the court finds that the plaintiff's action is 4 sufficiently without a basis in fact or law, which may include 5 a lack of jurisdiction, that placing the court file under seal 6 is clearly in the interests of justice, and that those 7 interests are not outweighed by the public's interest in 8 knowing about the record. 9 (c) Mandatory sealing of court file. The court file 10 relating to an eviction action brought against a tenant under 11 Section 9-207.5 of this Code or as set forth in subdivision 12 (h)(6) of Section 15-1701 of this Code or that has been 13 dismissed under Section 9-106 of this Code shall be placed 14 under seal. 15 (d) This Section is operative on and after August 1, 2022. 16 (Source: P.A. 102-5, eff. 5-17-21.) HB3566 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 10092 JRC 20164 b