093_SB0168

 
                                     LRB093 05290 WGH 05380 b

 1        AN ACT concerning civil procedure.

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

 4        Section 5.  The Code of Civil  Procedure  is  amended  by
 5    adding Section 2-615.1 as follows:

 6        (735 ILCS 5/2-615.1 new)
 7        Sec  2-615.1.  Right  of petition or free speech; special
 8    motion to dismiss.
 9        (a)  The General Assembly finds and declares  that  there
10    has  been a disturbing increase in lawsuits brought primarily
11    to chill the valid exercise of the constitutional  rights  of
12    freedom of speech and petition for the redress of grievances.
13    The  General  Assembly  finds  and declares that it is in the
14    public  interest  to  encourage  continued  participation  in
15    matters of public significance, and that  this  participation
16    should  not be chilled through abuse of the judicial process.
17    To this end, this Section shall be construed broadly.
18        (b)  As used in this Section, "act in  furtherance  of  a
19    person's  right  of  petition or free speech under the United
20    States Constitution or Illinois  Constitution  in  connection
21    with a public issue" includes:
22             (1)  any  written  or oral statement or writing made
23        before a legislative, executive, or judicial  proceeding,
24        or any other official proceeding authorized by law;
25             (2)  any  written  or oral statement or writing made
26        in connection with an issue under consideration or review
27        by a legislative, executive, or  judicial  body,  or  any
28        other official proceeding authorized by law;
29             (3)  any  written  or oral statement or writing made
30        in a place open to  the  public  or  a  public  forum  in
31        connection with an issue of public interest; and
 
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 1             (4)  any   other   conduct  in  furtherance  of  the
 2        exercise of the constitutional right of petition  or  the
 3        constitutional  right of free speech in connection with a
 4        public issue or an issue of public interest.
 5        (c)  A cause of action against a person arising from  any
 6    act  of  that  person in furtherance of the person's right of
 7    petition or free speech under the United States  Constitution
 8    or Illinois Constitution in connection with a public issue is
 9    subject  to  a  special  motion  to  dismiss unless the court
10    determines that the party bringing the action has established
11    that there is a probability that the party  will  prevail  on
12    the  claim.  In  making  its  determination,  the court shall
13    consider the pleadings and supporting and opposing affidavits
14    stating the facts upon which  the  liability  or  defense  is
15    based.  If  the  court determines that the party bringing the
16    action has established a probability  that  he  or  she  will
17    prevail on the claim, neither that determination nor the fact
18    of  that determination shall be admissible in evidence at any
19    later stage of the case, and no burden of proof or degree  of
20    proof   otherwise   applicable  shall  be  affected  by  that
21    determination.
22        (d)  In an action subject  to  subsection  (c),  a  party
23    filing a special motion to dismiss is entitled to recover his
24    or  her  attorney's fees and costs if the motion prevails. If
25    the court finds that a special motion to dismiss is frivolous
26    or is solely intended to cause unnecessary delay,  the  party
27    bringing  the  action  is  entitled  to  recover  his  or her
28    attorney's fees and costs.
29        (e)  A special motion to dismiss may be filed  within  60
30    days of the pleading that is subject to the special motion to
31    dismiss or, in the court's discretion, at any later time upon
32    terms it deems proper. The special motion to dismiss shall be
33    scheduled  for hearing not more than 30 days after service of
34    the motion unless the docket conditions of the court  require
 
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 1    a later hearing.
 2        (f)  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (f),
 3    all  discovery proceedings in the action shall be stayed upon
 4    the filing of a notice of motion made under this Section. The
 5    stay of discovery shall remain  in  effect  until  notice  of
 6    entry of the order ruling on the motion. The court, on motion
 7    and notice and for good cause shown, may order that specified
 8    discovery be conducted notwithstanding this subsection (f).
 9        (g)  An  order  granting  or  denying a special motion to
10    dismiss is appealable in the same manner as a final order  in
11    the action.
12        (h)  This  Section does not apply to an action brought by
13    the Attorney General, a State's Attorney, or an attorney  for
14    a unit of local government acting in an official capacity.
15        (i)  A  party  filing  a  special motion to dismiss under
16    this Section and a party  filing  a  response  to  a  special
17    motion   to   dismiss   shall   promptly   transmit   to  the
18    Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts,  by  e-mail  or
19    fax,  a copy of the motion or response, a copy of any related
20    notice of appeal, and a copy of any order issued  under  this
21    Section,  including  any  order granting or denying a special
22    motion to dismiss, discovery,  or  fees.  The  Administrative
23    Office  of the Illinois Courts shall maintain a public record
24    of information transmitted under this subsection (i)  for  at
25    least  3  years and may store the information on microfilm or
26    other appropriate electronic media.
27        (j)  On or before December 31, 2005,  the  Administrative
28    Office  of  the  Illinois  Courts shall report to the General
29    Assembly on the frequency and outcome of special  motions  to
30    dismiss  made  under  this  Section  and on any other matters
31    pertinent to the purposes of this Section.