State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

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92_SB2303eng

 
SB2303 Engrossed                               LRB9215652DJgc

 1        AN ACT in relation to Attorneys Lien Act.


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

 4        Section 5.  The Attorneys Lien Act is amended  by  adding
 5    Section 2 as follows:

 6        (770 ILCS 5/2 new)
 7        Sec. 2.  Attorneys representing the State of Illinois.
 8        (a)  The General Assembly finds as follows:
 9             (1)    The  Attorneys  Lien Act provides a procedure
10        for attorneys at  law  to  obtain  a  lien  upon  claims,
11        demands,  and  causes  of action placed in their hands by
12        their clients for suit or collection, or upon which  suit
13        or  action has been instituted, for the amount of any fee
14        which may have been  agreed  upon  by  and  between  such
15        attorneys  and  their  clients, or in the absence of such
16        agreement, for a reasonable fee, for the services of such
17        suits, claims, demands, or causes of action,  plus  costs
18        and expenses.
19             (2)  The Attorneys Lien Act does not now create, nor
20        has  it  ever  created, a lien for attorneys representing
21        the State of  Illinois  in  suits,  claims,  demands,  or
22        causes  of  action brought by such attorneys on behalf of
23        the State of Illinois, for the amount of any fee from the
24        State of Illinois which may be due such attorneys.
25             (3)  Attorneys representing the  State  of  Illinois
26        have  nevertheless  filed a lien in the case of People of
27        the State of Illinois v. Philip Morris  et  al.  (Circuit
28        Court  of  Cook  County,  No. 96-L13146), which lien such
29        attorneys are attempting to enforce by claiming  a  right
30        to recover fees based on a contract entered into with the
 
SB2303 Engrossed            -2-                LRB9215652DJgc
 1        State of Illinois.
 2             (4)  The  Attorneys  Lien  Act therefore needs to be
 3        clarified that it does not give rise,  nor  has  it  ever
 4        given rise, to lien rights for attorneys in litigation in
 5        which  they  are  representing  the State of Illinois for
 6        fees allegedly owed by the State of Illinois.
 7        (b)  This Act does not create a lien,  nor  has  it  ever
 8    created  a  lien,  in  favor of any attorney representing the
 9    State of Illinois in connection with (i) any  claim,  demand,
10    suit,  or  cause  of action pursued by the State of Illinois,
11    (ii) any verdict, judgment, or order entered in favor of  the
12    State  of  Illinois, or (iii) any money or property recovered
13    by the State of Illinois, and, as a particular application of
14    the foregoing, the Act did not create a lien in favor of  the
15    attorneys  representing  the State of Illinois in the case of
16    People of the State of  Illinois  v.  Philip  Morris  et  al.
17    (Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 96-L13146).
18        (c)  This  amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly is
19    declarative of existing law.

20        Section 99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect  upon
21    becoming law.

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