Rep. Lou Lang

Filed: 3/6/2013

 

 


 

 


 
09800HB2905ham001LRB098 08988 RLC 42287 a

1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2905

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2905 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The Criminal Code of 2012 is amended by
5changing Section 32-13 as follows:
 
6    (720 ILCS 5/32-13)
7    Sec. 32-13. Unlawful clouding of title.
8    (a) Any person who intentionally records or files or causes
9to be recorded or filed any document in the office of the
10recorder or registrar of titles of any county of this State
11that is a cloud on the title of land in this State, knowing
12that the theory upon which the purported cloud on title is
13based is not recognized as a legitimate legal theory by the
14courts of this State or of the United States, commits the
15offense of unlawful clouding of title.
16    (b) Unlawful clouding of title is a Class 4 felony A

 

 

09800HB2905ham001- 2 -LRB098 08988 RLC 42287 a

1misdemeanor.
2    (c) In addition to any other sentence that may be imposed,
3the court shall order any person convicted of a violation of
4this Section, or placed on supervision for a violation of this
5Section, to execute a release of the purported cloud on title
6as may be requested by or on behalf of any person whose
7property is encumbered or potentially encumbered by the
8document filed. Irrespective of whether or not a person charged
9under this Section is convicted of the offense of unlawful
10clouding of title, when the evidence demonstrates that, as a
11matter of law, the cloud on title is not a type of cloud
12recognized or authorized by the courts of this State or the
13United States, the court shall forthwith direct the recorder or
14registrar of titles to expunge the cloud.
15    (c-5) This Section does not apply to an attorney licensed
16to practice law in this State who in good faith files a lien on
17behalf of his or her client and who in good faith believes that
18the validity of the lien is supported by statutory law, by a
19decision of a court of law, or by a good faith argument for an
20extension, modification, or reversal of existing court
21decisions relating to the validity of the lien.
22    (d) For purposes of this Section, "cloud on title" or
23"cloud on the title" means an outstanding claim or encumbrance
24that, if valid, would affect or impair the title of the owner
25of an estate in land and on its face has that effect, but can be
26shown by extrinsic proof to be invalid or inapplicable to that

 

 

09800HB2905ham001- 3 -LRB098 08988 RLC 42287 a

1estate.
2(Source: P.A. 89-682, eff. 1-1-97.)".