Real Estate – DeBlasio & Gower LLC

New Rules for Evictions in Illinois

The Illinois Supreme Court has issued new rules governing how a landlord can evict a tenant. In short, the landlord must attach a copy of the lease and a copy of the notice or demand […]

Mortgage Loan Servicer Homeward Tagged with Punitive Damages: Total Award $3,506,000.

(August 2018) In the Georgia federal case of McGinnis v. American Home Mortgage Servicing, 901 F.3d 1282 (11th Cir. 2018), Jane McGinnis filed a lawsuit against Homeward (fka American Home Mortgage Servicing), which was responsible […]

Jury’s $3 Million Punitive Damage Award Against Mortgage Loan Servicer Ocwen Reduced on Appeal to $582,000.

(November 2019) A federal jury awarded Monette Saccameno $582,000 in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages against her mortgage loan servicing company, Ocwen. On appeal, the Seventh Circuit lowered the punitive damage award […]

Collecting Money – Powerful Weapon – Citation to Discover Assets

One of the most powerful tools to collect on a money judgment in Illinois is the citation to discover assets. Once the citation is served on the judgment debtor (the person or company that […]

Exhibit Attached to Complaint Sinks Real Estate Case. Plaintiff Loses Property.

Filing a complaint is one of the first steps taken when filing a lawsuit. It is also one of the most important. The dangers of conflicting allegations and exhibits attached to the complaint is evidenced […]

Homeowner’s Consumer Fraud Act Claim Against Insurance Company Allowed to Proceed Despite Insurance Code.

In Burress-Taylor v. American Security Insurance Company, the plaintiff’s home was damaged by fire. She had two insurance policies, both of which covered loss by fire. Unfortunately, the shared liability of the two insurance companies was […]

7th Circuit Limits Liability of Architectural and Engineering Firm to $70,000 on $4.2 Million Loss.

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled in the construction case SAMS Hotel Group, LLC v. Environs, Inc., whichinvolved the design and construction of a hotel in Fort Wayne, Indiana. SAMS contracted with […]

Illinois Supreme Court Upholds Chicago’s Condominium Ordinance.

In Palm v. 2800 Lake Shore Drive Condo. Ass’n, 2013 IL 110505, Gary Palm sought production of his condo association’s financial records pursuant to section 13-72-080 of the Chicago Municipal Code. The Association refused, claiming […]

Enforcement of a Mechanic’s Lien in Illinois.

The Illinois Mechanic’s Lien Act allows someone who provides labor or material to the improvement of private property to attach a lien to the property if he or she is not paid for the labor […]

Be Careful What You Write In Emails.

Be careful what you write in emails – your opponent might read them someday.