Schweickert v. AG Services of America, Inc.

Plaintiffs Richard J. Schweickert and Joseph and Janet Helland brought a declaratory judgment action against defendant Ag Services of America, Inc., seeking a declaration that their statutory landlord’s liens for crops grown on their property had priority over the perfected security interest claimed by Ag Services. Both parties filed motions for summary judgment. The trial court granted Ag Services’ motion, finding that plaintiffs had failed to file a financing statement as required by the July 1, 2001, amendment to section 9 — 316 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Code) (735 ILCS 5/9 — 316…