HB5665eng 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB5665 Engrossed LRB097 15509 AJO 60632 b

AN ACT concerning foreclosure.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by adding Sections 15-1108, 15-1109, and 15-1110 as follows:

(735 ILCS 5/15-1108 new)

Sec. 15-1108. False representation concerning real estate title.

(a) A person commits false representation concerning title to real estate when he or she knowingly as part of any transaction or legal proceeding pursuant to this Article XV:

(1) claims an interest in, or a lien or encumbrance against, real estate in a document that is recorded in the recorder's office in the county in which the real estate is located and who knows or has reason to know that the document is forged or groundless, contains a material misstatement, or false claim or is otherwise invalid;

(2) executes or notarizes a document purporting to create an interest in, or a lien or encumbrance against, real estate, that is recorded in the recorder's office in the county in which the real estate is located and who has specific knowledge that the document is forged, contains a material misstatement, or false claim or is otherwise invalid; or

(3) causes a document described in paragraph (1) or (2) to be recorded in the recorder's office in the county in which the real estate is located and who has specific knowledge that the document is forged, contains a material misstatement, or false claim or is otherwise invalid.

(b) False representation concerning title to real estate as described by paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (a) is a Class 4 felony.

(735 ILCS 5/15-1109 new)

Sec. 15-1109. Pattern of false representation concerning real estate title.

(a) A person commits a pattern of making false representations concerning title to real estate when he or she knowingly, as part of any transaction or legal proceedings pursuant to this Article XV, commits one or more violations of paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of Section 15-1108 in 2 or more transactions:

(1) which have the same or similar pattern, purposes, results, accomplices, victims or methods of commission, or are otherwise interrelated by distinguishing characteristics;

(2) which are not isolated incidents within the preceding 4 years; and

(3) in which the aggregate loss or intended loss is more than $250.

(b) A pattern of making false representations concerning title to real estate described in subsection (a) is a Class 3 felony.

(735 ILCS 5/15-1110 new)

Sec. 15-1110. Civil action for false representation concerning real estate title.

(a) In addition to the criminal penalties imposed for a violation of Section 15-1108 or 15-1109, any person who violates Section 15-1108 or 15-1109 is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for each violation. This penalty is recoverable in a civil action, brought in the name of the State by the Attorney General, in the circuit court in the county in which the real estate is located. In such an action, the Attorney General may recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the owner or holder of the beneficial interest in real estate which is the subject of a false representation concerning title may bring a civil action in the circuit court in the county in which the real estate is located to recover any damages suffered by the owner or holder of the beneficial interest plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs. The owner or holder of the beneficial interest in the real estate must, before bringing a civil action pursuant to this subsection, send a written request by first class mail to the person who made the false representation requesting that the person record a document which corrects the false representation. If the person records such a document not later than 20 days after the date of the written request, the owner or holder of the beneficial interest may not bring a civil action pursuant to this subsection.