‘Your Check Bounced Like a Superball®!’ – Bad Check Laws in Illinois – Civil Liability

(photo credit: www.sportsunlimitedinc.com) The civil provisions of the Illinois Deceptive Practices Act, 720 ILCS 5/17-1 (a criminal statute), govern situations where a defendant issues bad checks with intent to defraud.  Section 5/17-1(B) provides: (B) Bad checks. A person commits a deceptive practice when: (1) With intent to obtain control over property or to pay for …

Mechanics’ Lien Enhancement Rule – Post-Cypress Creek

Section 16 of the mechanics lien statute (770 ILCS 60/17), which codifies the enhancement rule (please see prior post), was recently amended in the wake of 2011’s LaSalle National Bank v. Cypress Creek 1, LLP decision: http://www.state.il.us/court/Opinions/SupremeCourt/2011/February/109954.pdf In Cypress Creek, the Illinois Supreme Court severely diluted contractor’s lien rights by allowing a construction lender to trump contractors’ rights …

Illinois Contractor’s Lien Issues: The Enhancement Rule

The enhancement doctrine comes into play when liened property goes to foreclosure sale and the sale proceeds are insufficient to pay off both the lender and competing lien claimants. The lender, who often records its mortgage before the contractor’s lien attaches, will argue that its mortgage interest takes priority over the contractor’s lien and any property sale proceeds …