Ill. R. Cir. Ct. Dupage Cnty. 14.23

As amended through September 23, 2024

Rule 14.23 - FILING OF CASES ELIGIBLE FOR COURT-ORDERED RESIDENTIAL EVICTION MEDIATION

(a) Cases filed after September 20, 2021 are required to provide notice of the eviction mediation program, notice is to be provided in substantially the following form, in a document which includes the caption for the case and otherwise conforms with all other requirements for pleadings filed in this Court (including a certificate of service and notice of filing):

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THIS RESIDENTIAL EVICTION CASE IS SUBJECT TO THE RULES OF THE EIGHTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT'S EVICTION MEDIATION PROGRAM. You are hereby advised that, unless the Court determines that participation should be excused for any reason, the parties to this action will be required to participate in mediation prior to this case proceeding to trial. The mediation required hereunder will be conducted in an informal forum, either contemporaneously at the courthouse or on a later date, when the parties can meet in person or on-line through the Zoom video-conferencing program. This mediation is intended to be non-adversarial in nature and confidential. The mediation program includes an initial screening process at the first court appearance, or prior to that date by contacting the Residential Eviction Mediation Program. The role of the court-appointed mediator assigned to your case will include, but is not limited to, assisting the parties in identifying issues, identifying resources which may be useful to either of the parties going forward, exploring settlement alternatives, and helping the parties reach an agreement to avoid the expense and consequences of trial. The Mediation required by these Rules is being provided without charge - neither side is required to pay the mediator in these cases - and the process is governed by Article 14 (Part 2) of the Local Rules of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit (Court-Ordered Mediation for Residential Eviction Cases) as well as the Illinois Uniform Mediation Act (710 ILCS 35/1, et seq.).

AS A RESIDENTIAL TENANT NAMED AS A DEFENDANT HEREIN, YOU ARE FURTHER GIVEN NOTICE that there are resources available to assist you, including financial counseling services, legal assistance, and other resources, many of which are identified in the brochure being provided to you herewith (a copy of which may be found at https://www.dupageco.org/courts/

(b) However, consistent with S. Ct. Rule 101(g), failure to include the language or brochure above described on or with the summons shall not affect the jurisdiction of the court.

Ill. R. Cir. Ct. Dupage Cnty. 14.23