17th Judicial Circuit Announces Changes to Complex Litigation Divisions
Chief Judge Weinstein recently signed a new Administrative Order regarding the Complex Litigation Business and Tort Divisions
Attorneys and Litigants should note highlights in the Administrative Order:
• Cases may be direct filed into a Complex Business or Tort Division utilizing a form to be completed and filed through the e portal
• Procedures regarding a request to transfer a tort case from a general division judge to a complex division have not changed
• Requests to transfer a business case from a general division to a complex division shall be heard on a transfer calendar by the Administrative Judge of Circuit Civil (Judge Tuter)
• All business cases set out in A-H shall either be mandatorily filed if new, or if an existing case shall, on motion set on the transfer calendar, be transferred to the complex business division including:
A) All UCC non-consumer claims which exceed $150,000
B) All commercial foreclosure exceeding $500,000 which are accompanied by a request/motion for appointment of a receiver or assignment of rents
C) All cases in which the subject matter is an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors
D) All business dissolutions and related shareholder/partnership/LLC disputes
E) Any business case where the subject matter relates to trade secrets where the amount in controversy exceeds $150,000
F) All business cases involving Non-Competition Agreements or disputes where the amount in controversy exceeds $150,000
G) Disputes involving the confirmation of non-consumer arbitration awards
H) All shareholder derivative actions where the amount in controversy exceeds $150,000
• Any denial of a request to transfer a case to complex business or tort may be heard by the Administrative Judge of Circuit Civil
