Illinois § 15

§ 15.

Action by interested person. (a) An interested person, including an insurer, may bring a civil action for a violation of this Act for the person and for the State of Illinois. The action shall be brought in the name of the State. The action may be dismissed only if the court and the State's Attorney or the Attorney General, whichever is participating, gives written consent to the dismissal stating their reasons for consenting. (b) A copy of the complaint and a written disclosure of substantially all material evidence and information the person possesses shall be served on the State's Attorney and Attorney General. The complaint shall be filed in camera, shall remain under seal for at least 60 days, and shall not be served on the defendant until the court so orders. The State's Attorney or Attorney General may elect to intervene and proceed with the action within 60 days after he or she receives both the complaint and the material evidence and information. If more than one governmental entity elects to intervene, the State's Attorney shall have precedence. (c) The State's Attorney or Attorney General may, for good cause shown, move the court for extensions of the time during which the complaint shall remain under seal under subsection (b). The motions may be supported by affidavits or other submissions in camera. The defendant shall not be required to respond to any complaint filed under this Section until 20 days after the complaint is unsealed and served upon the defendant. (d) Before the expiration of the 60-day period or any extensions obtained under subsection (c), the State's Attorney or Attorney General shall either: (1) proceed with the action, in which case the action shall be conducted by the State's Attorney or Attorney General; or (2) notify the court that it declines to take over the action, in which case the person bringing the action shall have the right to conduct the action. (e) When a person or governmental agency brings an action under this Act, no person other than the State's Attorney or Attorney General may intervene or bring a related action based on the facts underlying the pending action unless another statute or common law authorizes that action. (Source: P.A. 92-233, eff. 1-1-02.)