Tag Archives: diligence

Rule 103(b): Plaintiff’s Year-Long Delay In Serving Lawsuit Merits Dismissal For Lack of Diligence – IL 1st Dist.

Illinois Supreme Court Rule 103(b) requires a plaintiff to exercise diligence in serving a defendant.  The rule is based on the principle that litigation should have an end-date and not languish.  Rule 103(b) also heightens the probability that suits will be resolved when the underlying facts are fresh in the minds of the parties and …

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Misnomer, Mistaken Identity and Rule 103(b) – Illinois Standards

The misnomer and mistaken identity doctrines each involve situations where a plaintiff has sued a defendant too late.   Misnomer is basically a spelling error. The plaintiff can correct a misspelled defendant’s name at any time, even after judgment.  735 ILCS 5/2-401(b).   With mistaken identity, the analysis is more intricate: the court applies Code …

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