TortDefenseOutline

Lastupdated:November2011

Introduction
Althoughlitigationisfluidandcontinuous,thisoutlinedividesthestagesoflitigationinto5sectionsforeaseof
reference.Thefirstthreestagesdealwithpretriallitigation,thefourthdiscussesthetrialitself,andthefifth
stagedealswithposttrialappeals.
Thefirststagediscusseswheretofilepleadingsandwhattoincludeinpleadings.Thesecondstagedealswith
strategiesformanagingwrittenandoraldiscovery.Thethirdstageinvolveshowtoendlitigationbeforetrialwith
adispositivemotion.Thefourthstagedetailshowtoadmitevidenceattrial.Thefifthstagediscusses
interlocutoryappealsandappealsfromfinaljudgments.
Stage1JurisdictionandPleadings
Stage2Discovery
Stage3SummaryJudgment
Stage4Trial
Stage5Appeal
Thisdocumentcontainshyperlinkstopublicwebsitestoaccesstheinformationcited.Thewebsitesarelisted
below:
TheIllinoisGeneralAssemblyCompiledStatutes
TheIllinoisSupremeCourtRules
TheIllinoisRulesofEvidence
IllinoisCasesfromGoogleScholar

FirstStage:JurisdictionandPleadings
SourcesofLaw
FivesourcesoflawgovernIllinoiscivilprocedure:theUnitedStatesConstitution,theIllinoisConstitution,the
IllinoisCodeofCivilProcedure,theIllinoisSupremeCourtRules,andIllinoisRulesofEvidence.

Jurisdiction
General:CommonLawBases
Consentingtojurisdiction,
BeingpresentinIllinoiswhenservedwithprocess,
Conductingbusinessorcompletingaseriesoftransactionsinthestate,or
BeinganIllinoisresidentordomiciliary.
Specific:LongArmStatute(735ILCS5/2209)IfgeneraljurisdictionisnotavailabletheIllinoiscode
suppliesfourteenbasesforspecificjurisdiction,whichinclude:
Transactingbusinesswithinthestate,
Committingatortuousactwithinthestate,or
Owning,using,orpossessingrealpropertywithinthestate.

Venue
General:venueisproperinanycountywhereanydefendantresidesorthecountywherethecauseof
actionarose.(735ILCS5/2101)
Corporation:Illinoiscorporationsareresidentsinanycountyinwhichtheydobusiness.Venueisproperin
anycountyfornonIllinoiscorporations.(735ILCS5/2102)
ObjectionstoVenue:objectionstovenuemustbemadebeforethedefendantanswersthecomplaintor
theobjectioniswaived.

ForumNonConveniens(IllinoisSupremeCourtRule187)
AtrialcourthasdiscretiontotransferacasefromonecountytoanotherwithinIllinoisfortheconvenienceofa
party.SeeDaudyv.UnionPacific,207Ill.2d167(2003).

StatuteofLimitationsandStatuteofRepose
StatuteofLimitationstimeperiodsdifferdependingonthecauseofactionfromoneyeartotwentyyears,e.g.,
(735ILCS5/201etseq.)
Oneyear:libel,slander,certainclaimsagainstmunicipalities,
TwoYears:personalinjury,productsliability,contracts,
FourYears:contractforsaleofgoods(U.C.C.)
TwentyYears:certainrealpropertyactions.
MedicalMalpractice
Statuteoflimitations:twoyearsfromthedatethattheplaintiffknewoftheinjuryorshouldhaveknown

oftheinjury.Thisisknownasthe"DiscoveryRule."SeeNairv.Bloom,383Ill.App.3d867(1stDist.
2008).
Statuteofrepose:fouryearsfromtheactualdateofinjury.Thissetstheouterlimitonwhena
malpracticeclaimmaybebrought.(735ILCS5/13212)seeMegav.HolyCrossHop.,111Ill.2d416
(1986).
Tolling(preventsthetimeperiodfromrunning)
Minors:thestatuteofreposeisforaperiodof8yearsanddoesnottoll,buttheclaimmustbebrought
beforethepersonis22yearsold.(735ILCS5/13212)
Disability:neitherthestatuteoflimitationsnorstatueofreposebeginstorununtilafterthedisabilityis
removedprovidedthatthedisabilitywaspresentatthetimeofinjury.(735ILCS5/13212).Disabilities
includeinsanity,inabilitytomanageone'sownaffairs,andmilitaryservice.Theyarenotphysical
disabilities,butratherusuallyrelatetoaplaintiff'sabilitytorecognizeaninjuryandbepresenttobringa
claim.

Complaint
Factpleadingjurisdiction.(735ILCS5/2601)
Everycomplaintmustcontainaprayerforrelief.(735ILCS5/2604)Butpunitivedamagesmaynot
appearinthecomplaint.Onlyaftermakingapretrialmotionmayaplaintiffthemamendhiscomplaintto
includepunitivedamages.(735ILCS5/2604.1)
JuryDemand:ifaplaintiffwantsajurytrial,hemustdemanditinthecomplaint.Ifadefendantwantsa
jurytrial,hemustdemanditinhisanswer.Otherwise,trialbyjuryiswaived.(735ILCS5/21105)
Pleadinginthealternativeisallowed.
VerifiedPleadings:apleadingmay,butneednotbe,verifiedbyoathofaparty.Ifapleadingisverified,
everysubsequentpleading(answer,reply,amendedcomplaint)mustalsobeverified.(735ILCS5/2605)
NewClaims:apartymaychangetheallegationsoraddnewallegations.SeePorterv.DecaturMemorial
Hosp.,227Ill.2d343(2008).Ifthestatuteoflimitationshasrun,aclaimmaystillbeaddedifthenew
claim"relatesback"orhasasufficientlycloserelationshiptothesubjectmatterandtimeofthematter
thatledtothesameinjury.(735ILCS5/2616(b))
DismissalforLackofDiligence:ifaplaintifffailstoexercisereasonablediligenceinservingadefendant
beforethestatuteoflimitationsruns,thecomplaintshouldbedismissedwithprejudice.(IlS.Ct.Rule
103(b))

Answer/Counterclaim
Answersmustspecificallyadmit,deny,orclaimlackofknowledgeforeachallegation.Exceptfordamages
calculations,anyallegationnotdeniedisadmitted.(735ILCS5/2610)

Thecounterclaimshouldbemadepartofthecomplaintandmustbedesignatedasacounterclaim.(735
ILCS5/2608)
RelationBack:acounterclaimthatcouldotherwisebebarredmaybeallegedifitrelatessufficientlytoa
claimthatwasproperlyfiledwithinthestatuteoflimitations.(735ILCS5/2616(d))

ThirdParties
Consideraddinganyonethatmayhavecausedtheinjury.
Ahospitalmaybevicariouslyliableforthenegligentactionsevenofanindependentcontractoriftwo
requirementsaremet:(1)thehospitalactsinamannerthatwouldleadareasonablepersontoconclude
thedoctorisanagentofthehospital,and(2)theinjuredpartyreasonablyreliedonthatconducttomean
thedoctorwasanagentofthehospital.SeeGilbertv.SycamoreMun.Hosp.,156Ill.2d511(1993).
Indemnityandcontribution:anotherpersonmayberequiredtopayallorpartofthedamagesawardto
theplaintiff.Thirdpartyactionsforcontributionarestillgovernedbythefouryearstatuteofrepose.(735
ILCS5/13204)seeUldrychv.VHSofIll.,d/b/aMacNealHosp.,239Ill.2d532(2011)Thorntonv.Paul,
74Ill.2d132(1978).

AffirmativeDefenses
Partiesmayclaimasmanydefensesastheydesire.(735ILCS5/2613(a))Anydefenseshouldbeplainlyset
forthintheanswerorreply.
IllinoisRuleofProcedurelistsvariousdefenses,including(735ILCS5/2613(d)):
Payment,
Release,
Satisfaction,
Comparativefault,
Failuretomitigate,
Fraud,
Estoppel,and
Laches.

SpecialConsiderations
DamagesCapandTortReform
TheIllinoisSupremeCourtstruckdownPublicAct94677"TortReform"whichhadsetthemaximumdamagesat
$500,000formedicalmalpracticecases.SeeLebronv.Gottlieb,237Ill.2d217(2010)Bestv.TaylorMach.
Works,179Ill.2d367(1997).

InformedConsent
Therearefourelementstoamalpracticeactionbasedonlackofinformedconsent:
Thephysicianhadadutytodisclosethematerialrisks,
Thephysicianfailedtodiscloseorinadequatelydisclosedtherisks,
Asadirectandproximateresultofthefailuretodisclose,thepatientconsentedtotreatment,theywould
nothaveotherwiseconsentedto,and
Theplaintiffwasinjuredbytheproposedtreatment.SeeDavisv.Kraff,405Ill.App.3d20(1stDist.
2010).
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SecondStage:Discovery
WrittenDiscovery
Fileawrittendiscoveryanddepositionnoticewithyourappearance.
InterrogatoriesaregovernedbyIll.Sup.Ct.R.213.
Fileamaximumof30interrogatories.
Standardinterrogatoriesformotorvehicle,matrimonial,andmedicalmalpracticecasesare
availableonline.(Ill.Sup.Ct.R.213)
RequestsfordocumentsaregovernedbyIll.Sup.Ct.R.214.
Resistthetemptationtoaskfortoomanydetailsinwrittendiscovery.
Limitwrittendiscoverytoidentifyingwitnesses,statements,medicaltreatment,lostincome,insurance
coverage,relevantdocuments,anditemsofspecialdamage.

Depositions
DepositionsaregovernedbyIll.Sup.Ct.R.212.Therearetwokinds:discoverydepositionsandevidence
depositions.
Whattodobeforeadeposition:
Outlinedepositionsindetail.
Walkthroughentireaccidentinpreparingyourdepositionquestions.
Depositionistheblueprintforpreparingcrossexamination.
Allcrossexaminationquestionsshouldbecrossreferencedtoadepositionquestionandanswer.

Inadeposition,getcompletebackgroundinformation:
Driver'slicensenumber,
Medicalhistory,
Familydoctor,
Priortreatmentbychiropractors,
Medications,correctivelenses,
Priorinjuriesestablishcontinuingcomplaintsandmedicaltreatmentasaresultofpriorinjuries,
Subsequentinjuries,
Prioraccidents,
Allhospitalizations,
Priordiagnostictests,xrays,MRI's,CT's,
Photographsdepictingplaintiffatanytimeaftertheaccident,vacations,trips,etc.,
Obtaininformationwithrespecttoinsurancecompaniesprovidingcoveragetoplaintiffincludinghealth
insurancecoverage,
Completeemploymentandeducationalbackgroundincludingallworker'scompensationclaims.
Depositionsforslipandfallcases:
Forthedefendant,questionsshouldbepreparedinsuchawaytodealwiththeelementsofplaintiff's
case.
Fortheplaintiff,questionsshouldnotonlyleadtotestimonythatwouldmeetyourburdenbutshould
addressanyaffirmativedefensesthedefendantmayhave.
Considerthedeminimisdefense,lackofnotice,lackofproximatecause.
"Whatcausedyoutofall?"
"Howdoyouknowyousteppedonthedebris?"
Plaintiffshouldbepreparedtorespondtotheabovequestions.
DepositionsforAutoAccidents:
Recorddetailsconcerningspeed,distance,andimpact.
Ifintersectionaccident,plaintiffshouldbeaskedwhethertheymaintainedspeedassheapproachedand
enteredintersectiondefendantshouldbeaskedwhethertheywerepayingattentionorwerecrossing
againstthelight.
Questionplaintiffaboutallobservationsmadeconcerningdefendant'svehicleanditsoperation,including
speed,braking,andevasiveaction.
Questiondefendantabouttheconditions,includingwhethertheroadwaswet,whetheritwasdarkout,

whetheranystreetlightswerenotfunctioningatthetimeoftheaccident.Defendantshouldalsonot
whetherplaintiffhadearphonesinandwasdistractedlisteningtomusic.
Questionplaintiffaboutalloftheirspecificallegationsinthecomplaintquestiondefendantabouttheir
affirmativedefenses.
Whatdidplaintiffhearyourclientsayatthescene?Whatdiddefendanthearyourclientsayatthe
scene?
Considersuddenstopinformation
Allpartiesshouldtrytoattendtheopposingparties'depositionsifpossible.

SubpoenasforMedicalRecords
BeawareofHIPAArulesandprivacyobligations.
Mentalhealthrecordsrequirespecialauthorization.(740ILCS110/10(d))
Partiesmayalsorequestphysicalandmentalexaminations.(Ill.Sup.Ct.R.215)

ContoursofRule213Disclosures
Makesurethatfoundationwitnessesarealsoincludedindisclosures(e.g.,arecordlibrarianformedical
records,courtreportersforpossiblecompletionofimpeachmentissues).WesuggestdetailedRule213
disclosures.Remember,policeofficersandlaywitnessesmayhaveopinionsonsomeaspectofan
accident,includingintoxicationandspeed.
Rule213disclosurerequirementsdonotapplytocrossexaminationsonanopposingparty'sopinion
witness.See,e.g.,Maffetv.Bliss,328Ill.App.3d562(4thDist.2002)(partydidnothavetodisclose
journalarticlesthatitintendedtouseincrossexaminingtheopposingparty'sopinionwitness)Skubakv.
LutheranGen.HealthCareSys.,339Ill.App.3d30(1stDist.2003).
Awitnessmayelaborateonadisclosedopinionaslongasthetestimonystateslogicalcorollariestothe
opinionratherthannewreasonsforitthetestimonymustbeencompassedbytheoriginalopinion.See
Scassiferov.Glaser,333Ill.App.3d846(2ndDist.2002).
Apartyhasanongoingdutytosupplementanswersorresponsestowritteninterrogatorieswhenevernew
oradditionalinformationsubsequentlybecomesknownincludingrecenttreatment.SeeDoev.Chand,335
Ill.App.3d809(5thDist.2002).
Apartyimpliedlyconsentstohisphysicianreleasinganyofthemedicalinformationrelatedtothemental
orphysicalconditionthatthepatienthasplacedatissueinthelawsuit.Thepatient'simplicitconsent,
however,islimitedonlytothereleaseofhismedicalinformationpursuanttothemethodsofdiscovery
authorizedbytheSupremeCourtRules.Apatientdoesnotconsenttoexparteconferencesbetweenthe
physicianandthepatientslegaladversary.SeePetrillov.SyntexLabs.,Inc.,148Ill.App.3d581(1st
Dist.1986).

RequeststoAdmit
RequeststoadmitaregovernedbyIll.Sup.Ct.R.216.
Theseareverypowerfultoolsinlitigation.
Theyaretimesensitive:"28Day"Rule.Ifapartyfailstorespondtotheserequests,theyaredeemed
admitted.
Theyareunderutilized.
Difficulttoprepareandtoanswer.
Clients,notattorneys,mustsignandsweartoresponsestorequeststoadmit.
Considerfollowingupdepositiontestimonywithrequeststoadmit.
Considerusingarequesttoadmittoavoidhavingtoestablishevidentiaryfoundationsfordocumentsat
trial.
Thenecessityandreasonablenessofmedicalservicesandthereasonablecostsofthemedicalservicesreceived
arepropersubjectsforrequeststoadmit.Arespondingpartytoarequesthasagoodfaithobligationtomakean
efforttoobtainanswerstotherequests,whichwouldincludeinformationinthecontroloftheattorney,insurance
company,orotherrepresentatives.SeeSzczeblewskiv.Gossett,342Ill.App.3d344(5thDist.2003).
BacktotheTop

ThirdStage:SummaryJudgment
SourceofLaw
Governedby735ILCS5/21005,
Ill.Sup.Ct.R.191,and
Ill.Sup.Ct.R.192.

Procedure
Adefendantmay,atanytime,movewithorwithoutsupportingaffidavitsforasummaryjudgmentinhis
orherfavorastoalloranypartofthereliefsoughtagainsthimorher.(735ILCS1005(b))
Butmustbefiledbeforethelastdate,ifany,setbythetrialcourtforthefilingofdispositivemotions.(Ill.
Sup.Ct.Rule191(a))
Thenonmovingpartymustbegivennoticeandareasonabletimeinwhichtorespondtothemotion.

Standard
AMotionforSummaryJudgmentwillbegrantedifthemovingpartycanshowthatthereisnogenuine

issueastoanymaterialfactandthatthemovingpartyisentitledtoajudgmentasamatteroflaw.(735
ILCS5/21005(c))
Ifamaterialfactisindisputesummaryjudgmentwillnotbegranted.
Trialcourtdoesnotdecideaquestionoffactbut,rather,determineswhetheroneexiststhus,acourt
cannotmakecredibilitydeterminationsorweighevidenceindecidingasummaryjudgmentmotion.See
Coolev.CentralAreaRecycling,384Ill.App.3d.390(4thDist.2008).
Adefendantmovingforsummaryjudgmentmaysucceedbyshowingeither(1)thatanelementofthe
disputemustberesolvedinhisfavoror(2)byshowingthatthereisinsufficientevidencetosupportthe
plaintiffscase.SeeNedzvekasv.Flung,374Ill.App.3d618(1stDist.2007).

SpecialConsideration
Rememberthatthecourtmaygrantsummaryjudgmentononlyoneissue,suchaswhetherthedefendant
isliable,butproceedtotrialtosettleanothergenuineissueofmaterialfact,suchasthequestionof
damages.(735ILCS5/21005(c))
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FourthStage:Trial
SourcesofLaw
MostoftheinformationbelowistakenfromtheIllinoisRulesofEvidence.Toviewthefulltextoftherules,goto
theIllinoisRulesofEvidenceontheIllinoisSupremeCourtwebsite.

MotionsinLimine
Thesemotionsareusedtoexcludeirrelevantevidencefromtrial.Examplesofirrelevantevidence:
Referencetoallegedstatutoryviolationifthereisnoevidencethatthestatutoryviolationwasaproximate
causeoftheaccident,
Evidenceofliabilityinsurance,
Settlementoffers,
Paymentofmedicalexpensesbyathirdparty,
Evidenceoffinancialcondition,
Characterevidencetoproveconductinconformitywiththatcharacter(evidenceofhabit,however,is
relevant).
MotionsinLiminearealsousedtoexcludeotherwiserelevantevidencewhoseprobativevalueissubstantially
outweighedbythedangerof:

Unfairprejudice,
Confusionoftheissues,
Misleadingthejury,
Considerationsofunduedelay,wasteoftime,andneedlesspresentationofcumulativeevidence.

PresentationofPlaintiff'sCase
Crossexaminationofplaintiff'switnesses:
Limitedtothesubjectmatterofthedirectexaminationandmattersaffectingthecredibilityofthewitness
Leadingquestionsareallowedduringcrossexaminationandshouldbeusedinordertodirectthe
witness'stestimony.
Impeachingplaintiff'switnesses:
Thecredibilityofawitnessmaybeattackedorsupportedbyanyparty.
Credibilitymaybeattackedorsupportedbyevidenceintheformofopinionorreputation,butthe
evidencemayreferonlytocharacterfortruthfulnessoruntruthfulness,andevidenceoftruthfulcharacter
isadmissibleonlyafterthecharacterofthewitnessfortruthfulnesshasbeenattacked.
Onecanalsoimpeachthewitnessbycallingintoquestionthewitness'sabilitytoperceive.
Youcanimpeachthroughevidenceofacriminalconvictiononlyifthecrime
Waspunishablebydeathorimprisonmentinexcessofoneyearunderthelawunderwhichthewitness
wasconvicted,or
Involveddishonestyorfalsestatementregardlessofthepunishment,unless
Ineithercase,thecourtdeterminesthattheprobativevalueoftheevidenceofthecrimeissubstantially
outweighedbythedangerofunfairprejudice.
Notealsothatcriminalconvictionsarenotadmissibleifmorethan10yearshaselapsedsincethedateof
convictionorthereleaseofthewitnessfromconfinement,whicheverislater.

MotionforDirectedVerdict(725ILCS5/21202)
Atthecloseofevidenceandbeforethecaseissubmittedtothejury,anypartymaymoveforadirectedverdict.
Thecourtmay:
Grantthemotion,

Denythemotion,or
Reserveitsrulingandsubmitthecasetothejury.
Ifthecourtdeniesthemotionorreservesitsrulingonit,themotioniswaivedunlesstherequestisrenewedin
theposttrialmotion.

PresentationofDefendant'sCase
LayWitnesses
Withlaywitnesses,testimonyshouldbebasedonthingsactuallyperceivedbythewitness.Testimonyintheform
ofopinionsorinferencesislimitedtothoseopinionsorinferenceswhichare:
Rationallybasedontheperceptionofthewitness,and
Helpfultoaclearunderstandingofthewitness'stestimonyorthedeterminationofafactinissue,and
Notbasedonscientific,technical,orotherspecializedknowledge.
ExpertWitnesses
Expertwitnessesmaybeusediftheirscientific,technical,orotherspecializedknowledgewillassistthetrierof
facttounderstandtheevidenceortodetermineafactinissue.Anexpertwitnesscanofferanopinionor
inferencethatembracesanultimateissuetobedecidedbythetrieroffact.Butthewitnessmayberequiredto
disclosethefactordataunderlyinghisorheropinionduringcrossexamination.
Testimonyintheformofanopinionorotherwisemaybeadmissibleif:
Theopinionisbasedonanewornovelscientificmethodologyorprincipletheproponentoftheopinion
hastheburdenofshowingthemethodologyorprincipleonwhichtheopinionisbasedissufficiently
establishedtohavegainedgeneralacceptanceintheparticularfieldinwhichitbelongs.
Witnessbasestheopiniononfactsordataperceivedbytheexpertfactsordatamadeknowntothe
expertatorbeforethehearinginadmissiblefactsordata,iftheyofatypereasonablyrelieduponby
expertsintheparticularfieldinformingopinionsorinferences.SeeWilsonv.Clark,84Ill.2d186,196
(1981)(adoptingFederalRuleofEvidence703and705).

Documents
Documentsmustbeauthenticated.
Methodsofauthentication:

Testimonyofwitnesswithknowledge,
Nonexpertopiniononhandwriting,
Comparisonbytrierorexpertwitness,
Distinctivecharacteristicsandthelike,
Voiceidentification,
Publicrecordsorreports,
Ancientdocumentsordatecompilationsifinsuchconditionastocreatenosuspicionconcerning
authenticity,inaplacewhereit,ifauthentic,wouldlikelybe,andinexistence20yearsormoreatthe
timeitisoffered
Processorsystem,and
Methodsprovidedbystatuteorrule.
Somedocumentsareselfauthenticating,including:
Domesticpublicdocumentsunderseal,
Domesticpublicdocumentsnotunderseal,
Foreignpublicdocuments,
Certifiedcopiesofpublicrecords,
Officialpublicationsfromapublicauthority,
Newspapersandperiodicals,
Tradeinscriptionsandthelike,
Documentsacknowledgedbyanotarypublicorotherofficerauthorizedtotakeacknowledgements,
Commercialpaperandrelateddocuments,
Presumptionsunderstatutes,and
Certifiedrecordsofregularlyconductedactivity.
Originaldocumentsarerequired,butduplicatesareadmissibleunless:
Agenuinequestionisraisedastoauthenticityoftheoriginal,or
Inthecircumstancesitwouldbeunfairtoadmittheduplicateinlieuoftheoriginal.

Objections
Forthepurposesofappeal,atimelyobjectionmustbemadewheninadmissibleevidenceispresentedtothe
court.

JuryInstructions
Theriskoffutureinjuriesisacompensableelementofdamages.SeeDillonv.EvanstonHospital,199Ill.

2d483(2002).
Thetrialcourtshouldmakeadeterminationofwhethertheevidencewarrantedthegivingofalossof
normallifeinstruction.SeeTurnerv.Williams,326Ill.App.3d541(2001).
Thelossofanormallifeinstructionistobegivenwheretheevidencesuggeststhattheinjuryhas
resultedinadiminishedabilitytoengageintheavocationsandactivitiesoflife,includingtheinabilityto
pursuepleasurableaspectsoflifesuchasrecreationalhobbies.SeeBakerv.Hutson,333Ill.App.3d486
(2002).
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FifthStage:Appeal
SourcesofLaw
TherighttoappealderivesfromtheIllinoisConstitution.(Ill.Const.Art.VI,4,6)
IllinoisSupremeCourtRules301384governappellateprocedure.(Ill.Sup.Ct.R.Art.III)

SubjectMatterofAppeals
Appealsmaybetakenasprovidedforincivilcases.(735ILCS5/1107)
FinalJudgments:Everyfinaljudgmentofacircuitcourtisappealableasofright.(Ill.Sup.Ct.Rule301)
Interlocutory:Someinterlocutoryjudgmentsmaybeappealedasofright.(Ill.Sup.Ct.Rule307).But
otherinterlocutoryappealsrequirethepermissionofthecourts.(Ill.Sup.Ct.Rule308)

TimeRequirements
Basedonthestatutesinvolvedinagivencase,meetingtheappropriatedeadlinesinwhichtofileisjurisdictional
andmandatory.

NoticeofAppeal
AppellantmustfileaNoticeofAppealspecifyingthejudgmentorpartthereoforotherordersappealed
fromandthereliefsoughtfromthereviewingcourt.(Ill.Sup.Ct.Rule303(b)(2))
Generallythenoticeofappealmustbefiledwiththeclerkofthecircuitcourtwithin30daysafterthe
entryofthefinaljudgmentappealedfrom,or,ifatimelyposttrialmotiondirectedagainstthejudgment
isfiled,within30daysaftertheentryoftheorderdisposingofthelastpendingpostjudgmentmotion.
(Ill.Sup.Ct.Rule303(a)(1))
Theentryofanorderoccurswhenthetrialcourtsignstheorderandfilesitwiththecourtclerk,evenif
thepartiesdonothaveactualnoticeoftheordersfiling.Theabsenceofadocketentryisirrelevant.See
Childersv.Kruse,297Ill.App.3d70(2dDist.1998).

Whennoticeofappealisfiledandservedbyaparty,anyotherpartymayjoinintheappeal,appeal
separately,orcrossappealbyfilinganoticeofappeal,within10daysafterserviceuponhimorher,or
within30daysfromtheentryofthejudgmentororderbeingappealed,orwithin30daysoftheentryof
theorderdisposingofthelastpendingpostjudgmentmotion,whicheverislater.(Ill.Sup.Ct.Rule303(a)
(4))
ProofofservicemustbefiledwiththeNoticeofAppeal(Ill.SupCt.Rule303(c))
ThepartyfilingtheNoticeofAppealoranamendmentasofright,must,within7days,fileanoticeof
filingwiththereviewingcourtandservetherequiredcopiesofthenotice.(Ill.Sup.Ct.Rule303(c))

TheRecordonAppealandBriefs
IllinoisSupremeCourtRules321to327regulatesthemannerofobtainingtherecordonappeal.
Adocketingstatement,transcriptofrecord,reportofproceedings,briefs,andothermattersprescribedbythe
Rulesmustbepresentedtothecourtofreview.
ThefilingoftheRecordmustoccurwithin63daysofthefilingofthenoticeofappealunlessanextension
isgranted.(Ill.Sup.Ct.Rule326)
TheAppellantmustfilehisorherbriefs35daysafterfilingtheRecord.(Ill.Sup.Ct.Rule343(a))
Theappelleehas35daysfromtheAppellantsbrieffilingtofilehisorherownbriefinresponseorcross
appeal.(Ill.Sup.Ct.Rule343(a)(b))
Theappellanthas14daysfromthatfilinginwhichtofileareplybrief.(Ill.Sup.Ct.Rule343(a))
Ifthereisacrossappeal,theoriginalAppellantshallhave35daysfromtheduedateofthesinglebrief
filedbythecrossappellanttofilehisorherReplyBrief.(Ill.Sup.Ct.Rule343(a)(b))
Thecrossappellantmayfileareplybriefconfinedstrictlytoreplyingtothoseargumentsraisedonthe
crossappealwithin14daysaftertheduedateoftheappellantsreplybrief.(Ill.Sup.Ct.Rule343(a)(b))
Thereviewingcourtmayextendorshortenthetimeforanyofthesefilings.(Ill.Sup.Ct.Rule343(c))
Manyavenuesareopentocounseltoobtainextensionsoftimeforfilingtherequireddocumentsonappeal
withinthetimespecifiedintherules.SeeFieldingv.Fielding,58Ill.App.2d279(3dDist.1965).

PetitionsforLeavetoAppeal
IllinoisSupremeCourtRules315320governsapetitionforleavetoappealtotheSupremeCourt.Mostsuch
appealsareuptothediscretionoftheSupremeCourttohear.
UnlessatimelypetitionforrehearingisfiledintheAppellateCourt,apartyseekingleavetoappealmustfilethe
petitionforleaveintheSupremeCourtwithin21daysafterentryofthejudgmentoftheAppellateCourt,or
withinthesame21daysfilewiththeAppellateCourtanaffidavitofintenttofileapetitionforleave,andfilethe
petitionwithin35daysaftertheentryofsuchjudgment.(Ill.SupCt.Rule315(b))

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