HB5001 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 17635 AJO 65243 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB5001

Introduced 2/7/2012, by Rep. Elaine Nekritz

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

735 ILCS 5/15-1503	from Ch. 110, par. 15-1503
735 ILCS 5/15-1508	from Ch. 110, par. 15-1508

Amends provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure requiring a copy of a notice of foreclosure of residential real estate or a copy of a confirmation order after a confirmation of sale of residential real estate following a foreclosure to be sent by a party seeking foreclosure to the municipality or county where the mortgaged real estate is located and to the known insurers. Provides that if the municipality or county has not posted an address to which the notice of foreclosure or copy of a confirmation order must be sent, the notice of foreclosure or copy of a confirmation order must be sent to the chairperson of the county board or county clerk, mayor or city clerk, president of the board of trustees or village clerk, or president or town clerk (rather than sent in accordance with specified provisions of the Code). If the real estate is located in a city with a population of more than 2,000,000, also requires a notice of foreclosure or copy of a confirmation order to be sent to the city clerk, requires an affidavit attesting that the notice of foreclosure or copy of a confirmation order was sent, requires the city clerk to send a copy of a notice of foreclosure to the alderman for the ward in which the real estate is located, provides for dismissal of a complaint or counterclaim without prejudice if the requirements regarding a notice of foreclosure are not met, and adds notice requirements when a party refiles the complaint or counterclaim after a dismissal. Makes other changes.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning civil law.

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 changing Sections 15-1503 and 15-1508 as follows:

(735 ILCS 5/15-1503) (from Ch. 110, par. 15-1503)

Sec. 15-1503. Notice of Foreclosure.

(a) A notice of foreclosure, whether the foreclosure is initiated by complaint or counterclaim, made in accordance with this Section and recorded in the county in which the mortgaged real estate is located shall be constructive notice of the pendency of the foreclosure to every person claiming an interest in or lien on the mortgaged real estate, whose interest or lien has not been recorded prior to the recording of such notice of foreclosure. Such notice of foreclosure must be executed by any party or any party's attorney and shall include (i) the names of all plaintiffs and the case number, (ii) the court in which the action was brought, (iii) the names of title holders of record, (iv) a legal description of the real estate sufficient to identify it with reasonable certainty, (v) a common address or description of the location of the real estate and (vi) identification of the mortgage sought to be foreclosed. An incorrect common address or description of the location, or an immaterial error in the identification of a plaintiff or title holder of record, shall not invalidate the lis pendens effect of the notice under this Section. A notice which complies with this Section shall be deemed to comply with Section 2-1901 of the Code of Civil Procedure and shall have the same effect as a notice filed pursuant to that Section; however, a notice which complies with Section 2-1901 shall not be constructive notice unless it also complies with the requirements of this Section.

(b) With respect to residential real estate, a copy of the notice of foreclosure described in subsection (a) of Section 15-1503 shall be sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, to the municipality within the boundary of which the mortgaged real estate is located, or to the county within the boundary of which the mortgaged real estate is located if the mortgaged real estate is located in an unincorporated territory. A municipality or county must clearly publish on its website a single address to which such notice shall be sent. If a municipality or county does not maintain a website, then the municipality or county must publicly post in its main office a single address to which such notice shall be sent. In the event that a municipality or county has not complied with the publication requirement in this subsection (b), then the copy of the such notice to the municipality or county shall be sent by first class mail to the chairperson of the county board or county clerk in the case of a county, to the mayor or city clerk in the case of a city, to the president of the board of trustees or village clerk in the case of a village, or to the president or town clerk in the case of a town provided pursuant to Section 2-211 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Additionally, if the real estate is located in a city with a population of more than 2,000,000, regardless of whether that city has complied with the publication requirement in this subsection (b), the party must, within 3 days after filing the complaint or counterclaim: (i) send a copy of the notice of foreclosure to the city clerk and (ii) file an affidavit with the court attesting to the fact that the notice was sent to the city clerk. Within 5 days after receipt of a notice of foreclosure, the city clerk shall send a copy of the notice to the alderman for the ward in which the real estate is located. The failure to send a copy of the notice to the city clerk or to file an affidavit within 3 days as required results in the dismissal without prejudice of the complaint or counterclaim on a motion of a party or the court. If, after the complaint or counterclaim has been dismissed without prejudice, the party refiles the complaint or counterclaim, then the party must again meet the requirements that the party send the notice to the city clerk within 3 days and file an affidavit within 3 days attesting to the fact that the notice was sent as required. In that instance, the city clerk shall send a copy of the notice to the appropriate alderman within 5 days.

(Source: P.A. 96-856, eff. 3-1-10.)

(735 ILCS 5/15-1508) (from Ch. 110, par. 15-1508)

Sec. 15-1508. Report of Sale and Confirmation of Sale.

(a) Report. The person conducting the sale shall promptly make a report to the court, which report shall include a copy of all receipts and, if any, certificate of sale.

(b) Hearing. Upon motion and notice in accordance with court rules applicable to motions generally, which motion shall not be made prior to sale, the court shall conduct a hearing to confirm the sale. Unless the court finds that (i) a notice required in accordance with subsection (c) of Section 15-1507 or a notice to the city clerk required in accordance with subsection (b) of Section 15-1503 was not given, (ii) the terms of sale were unconscionable, (iii) the sale was conducted fraudulently, or (iv) justice was otherwise not done, the court shall then enter an order confirming the sale. The confirmation order shall include a name, address, and telephone number of the holder of the certificate of sale or deed issued pursuant to that certificate or, if no certificate or deed was issued, the purchaser, whom a municipality or county may contact with concerns about the real estate. The confirmation order may also:

(1) approve the mortgagee's fees and costs arising between the entry of the judgment of foreclosure and the confirmation hearing, those costs and fees to be allowable to the same extent as provided in the note and mortgage and in Section 15-1504;

(2) provide for a personal judgment against any party for a deficiency; and

(3) determine the priority of the judgments of parties who deferred proving the priority pursuant to subsection (h) of Section 15-1506, but the court shall not defer confirming the sale pending the determination of such priority.

(b-5) Notice with respect to residential real estate. With respect to residential real estate, the notice required under subsection (b) of this Section shall be sent to the mortgagor even if the mortgagor has previously been held in default. In the event the mortgagor has filed an appearance, the notice shall be sent to the address indicated on the appearance. In all other cases, the notice shall be sent to the mortgagor at the common address of the foreclosed property. The notice shall be sent by first class mail. Unless the right to possession has been previously terminated by the court, the notice shall include the following language in 12-point boldface capitalized type:

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO

REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF

POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(c) OF THE

ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

(b-10) Notice of confirmation order sent to municipality or county. With respect to residential real estate, a A copy of the confirmation order required under subsection (b) shall be sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, to the municipality in which the foreclosed property is located, or to the county within the boundary of which the foreclosed property is located if the foreclosed property is located in an unincorporated territory. A municipality or county must clearly publish on its website a single address to which such order notice shall be sent. If a municipality or county does not maintain a website, then the municipality or county must publicly post in its main office a single address to which such order notice shall be sent. In the event that a municipality or county has not complied with the publication requirement in this subsection (b-10), then the copy of the order such notice to the municipality or county shall be sent by first class mail to the chairperson of the county board or county clerk in the case of a county, to the mayor or city clerk in the case of a city, to the president of the board of trustees or village clerk in the case of a village, or to the president or town clerk in the case of a town provided pursuant to Section 2-211 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Additionally, if the real estate is located in a city with a population of more than 2,000,000, regardless of whether that city has complied with the publication requirement in this subsection (b-10), the party filing the complaint or counterclaim must, within 3 days after the entry of the confirmation order: (i) send a copy of the confirmation order to the city clerk and (ii) file an affidavit attesting to the fact that a copy of the confirmation order was sent to the city clerk. Within 5 days after receipt of a confirmation order, the city clerk shall send a copy of the confirmation order to the alderman for the ward in which the real estate is located.

(b-15) Notice of confirmation order sent to known insurers. With respect to residential real estate, the party filing the complaint shall send a copy of the confirmation order required under subsection (b) by first class mail, postage prepaid, to the last-known property insurer of the foreclosed property. Failure to send or receive a copy of the order shall not impair or abrogate in any way the rights of the mortgagee or purchaser or affect the status of the foreclosure proceedings.

(c) Failure to Give Notice. If any sale is held without compliance with subsection (c) of Section 15-1507 of this Article, any party entitled to the notice provided for in paragraph (3) of that subsection (c) who was not so notified may, by motion supported by affidavit made prior to confirmation of such sale, ask the court which entered the judgment to set aside the sale. Any such party shall guarantee or secure by bond a bid equal to the successful bid at the prior sale, unless the party seeking to set aside the sale is the mortgagor, the real estate sold at the sale is residential real estate, and the mortgagor occupies the residential real estate at the time the motion is filed. In that event, no guarantee or bond shall be required of the mortgagor. Any subsequent sale is subject to the same notice requirement as the original sale.

(d) Validity of Sale. Except as provided in subsection (c) of Section 15-1508, no sale under this Article shall be held invalid or be set aside because of any defect in the notice thereof or in the publication of the same, or in the proceedings of the officer conducting the sale, except upon good cause shown in a hearing pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 15-1508. At any time after a sale has occurred, any party entitled to notice under paragraph (3) of subsection (c) of Section 15-1507 may recover from the mortgagee any damages caused by the mortgagee's failure to comply with such paragraph (3). Any party who recovers damages in a judicial proceeding brought under this subsection may also recover from the mortgagee the reasonable expenses of litigation, including reasonable attorney's fees.

(d-5) Making Home Affordable Program. The court that entered the judgment shall set aside a sale held pursuant to Section 15-1507, upon motion of the mortgagor at any time prior to the confirmation of the sale, if the mortgagor proves by a preponderance of the evidence that (i) the mortgagor has applied for assistance under the Making Home Affordable Program established by the United States Department of the Treasury pursuant to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, as amended by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and (ii) the mortgaged real estate was sold in material violation of the program's requirements for proceeding to a judicial sale. The provisions of this subsection (d-5), except for this sentence, shall become inoperative on January 1, 2013 for all actions filed under this Article after December 31, 2012, in which the mortgagor did not apply for assistance under the Making Home Affordable Program on or before December 31, 2012.

(e) Deficiency Judgment. In any order confirming a sale pursuant to the judgment of foreclosure, the court shall also enter a personal judgment for deficiency against any party (i) if otherwise authorized and (ii) to the extent requested in the complaint and proven upon presentation of the report of sale in accordance with Section 15-1508. Except as otherwise provided in this Article, a judgment may be entered for any balance of money that may be found due to the plaintiff, over and above the proceeds of the sale or sales, and enforcement may be had for the collection of such balance, the same as when the judgment is solely for the payment of money. Such judgment may be entered, or enforcement had, only in cases where personal service has been had upon the persons personally liable for the mortgage indebtedness, unless they have entered their appearance in the foreclosure action.

(f) Satisfaction. Upon confirmation of the sale, the judgment stands satisfied to the extent of the sale price less expenses and costs. If the order confirming the sale includes a deficiency judgment, the judgment shall become a lien in the manner of any other judgment for the payment of money.

(g) The order confirming the sale shall include, notwithstanding any previous orders awarding possession during the pendency of the foreclosure, an award to the purchaser of possession of the mortgaged real estate, as of the date 30 days after the entry of the order, against the parties to the foreclosure whose interests have been terminated.

An order of possession authorizing the removal of a person from possession of the mortgaged real estate shall be entered and enforced only against those persons personally named as individuals in the complaint or the petition under subsection (h) of Section 15-1701 and in the order of possession and shall not be entered and enforced against any person who is only generically described as an unknown owner or nonrecord claimant or by another generic designation in the complaint.

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, the failure to personally name, include, or seek an award of possession of the mortgaged real estate against a person in the confirmation order shall not abrogate any right that the purchaser may have to possession of the mortgaged real estate and to maintain a proceeding against that person for possession under Article 9 of this Code or subsection (h) of Section 15-1701; and possession against a person who (1) has not been personally named as a party to the foreclosure and (2) has not been provided an opportunity to be heard in the foreclosure proceeding may be sought only by maintaining a proceeding under Article 9 of this Code or subsection (h) of Section 15-1701.

(h) With respect to mortgaged real estate containing 5 or more dwelling units, the order confirming the sale shall also provide that (i) the mortgagor shall transfer to the purchaser the security deposits, if any, that the mortgagor received to secure payment of rent or to compensate for damage to the mortgaged real estate from any current occupant of a dwelling unit of the mortgaged real estate, as well as any statutory interest that has not been paid to the occupant, and (ii) the mortgagor shall provide an accounting of the security deposits that are transferred, including the name and address of each occupant for whom the mortgagor holds the deposit and the amount of the deposit and any statutory interest.

(Source: P.A. 96-265, eff. 8-11-09; 96-856, eff. 3-1-10; 96-1245, eff. 7-23-10; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11; 97-575, eff. 8-26-11.)