Goode v. Thomas

The City of Ottawa and its mayor, James M. Thomas, appeal from a judgment order of the Circuit Court of La Salle County directing the issuance of a writ of mandamus to compel the mayor to grant a Class B retail liquor license to Samuel A. Goode, appellee.

The determinative facts, as found by the trial court, are not disputed on appeal. Goode purchased a hotel and adjacent empty tavern building in August of 1973. After commencing to remodel the hotel, he filed his application and bond for a liquor license for the tavern premises. Mayor Thomas informed him that all 36 licenses allowed by…