(765 ILCS 755/15)
Sec. 15. Remedies. (a) If a landlord engages in prohibited conduct described in subsection (f) of Section 10 against a tenant, the tenant may bring a civil action to seek any one or more of the following remedies: (1) actual damages, as reasonably determined by the |
| court, for injury or loss suffered;
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(2) a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $2,000
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| for each violation, payable to the tenant;
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(3) reasonable attorney's fees and court costs; and
(4) other equitable relief as the court may deem
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(b) The immigration or citizenship status of any person is irrelevant to any issue of liability or remedy in a civil action involving a tenant's housing rights. In proceedings or discovery undertaken in a civil action involving a tenant's housing rights, no inquiry shall be permitted into the tenant's immigration or citizenship status, except if:
(1) unless otherwise provided in subsection (c), the
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| claims or defenses raised by the tenant place the person's immigration or citizenship status directly in contention; or
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(2) the person seeking to make the inquiry
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| demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that the inquiry is necessary in order to comply with federal law.
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(c) The assertion of an affirmative defense to an eviction action under Section 9-106.3 of the Code of Civil Procedure does not constitute cause for discovery or other inquiry into a person's immigration or citizenship status.
(Source: P.A. 101-439, eff. 8-21-19.)
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