(a)Commencement of Actions. An action on a small claim may be commenced by paying to the clerk of the court the required filing fee and filing a short and simple complaint setting forth (1) plaintiff’s name, residence address, e-mail address (required for attorneys only), and telephone number, (2) defendant’s name and place of residence, or place of business or regular employment, and (3) the nature and amount of the plaintiff’s claim, giving dates and other relevant information. If the claim is based upon a written instrument, a copy thereof or of so much of it as is relevant must be copied in or attached to the original and all copies of the complaint, unless the plaintiff attaches to the complaint an affidavit stating facts showing that the instrument is unavailable to him.(b)Representation of Corporations. No corporation may appear as claimant, assignee, subrogee or counterclaimant in a small claims proceeding, unless represented by counsel. When the amount claimed does not exceed the jurisdictional limit for small claims, a corporation may defend as defendant any small claims proceeding in any court of this State through any officer, director, manager, department manager or supervisor of the corporation, as though such corporation were appearing in its proper person. For the purposes of this rule, the term “officer” means the president, vice-president, registered agent or other person vested with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the corporation.
Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 282
Amended June 12, 1987, eff. Aug. 1, 1987; amended May 20, 1997, eff. July 1, 1997; amended Dec. 29, 2017, eff. Jan. 1, 2018; amended June 8, 2018, effective July 1, 2018.
