United States: How Often Do Governmental Entities Win Their Civil Appeals (Part 2)? (Illinois Supreme Court Review)

Yesterday, we began looking at governmental entities' won-loss record in civil cases by area of law. Interestingly, governmental entities had significantly more trouble in government and administrative law cases than they did in the previous seven years. In 1997, governmental entities win two thirds of their tort cases and two thirds of their constitutional law cases. Governmental entities won one of their two cases in government and administrative law. Governmental entities lost their single cases in civil procedure, employment and insurance. In 1998, governmental entities won all six of their cases in constitutional law, all five of their government and administrative law cases, and their only tort case. Governmental entities won two of three civil procedure cases, but got shut out in tax and employment law. In 1999, the government won its only case in civil procedure, both its constitutional law cases and its one case in property law. The government won two of its three cases in government and administrative law and lost its only tort case. In 2000, the government won both its workers compensation cases and its only constitutional law case, but lost single cases in government and administrative law, tax and employment law.

In 2001, the government won its only tort case, eighty percent of its government and administrative law cases, two thirds of its constitutional law cases, and one of its two civil procedure cases – the first year (and only second overall) that the government avoided getting zeroed out in any area of law.

In 2002, governmental entities won two constitutional law cases, and their sole cases in tort law, employment law and property law. The government won only one of five cases arising in government and administrative law. The court lost its only civil procedure case. In 2003, the government won its one case in civil procedure and one case in tax law. The government won one of its two cases in constitutional law and one of its three cases in government and administrative law.

Join us back here next Tuesday as we continue to look at the government's won-loss record in civil cases at the Illinois Supreme Court.

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