Ceas Mortgage Co. v. Walnut Hills Associates., Ltd.

Pursuant to a question certified by the circuit court, we consider whether section 7 of the Real Estate License Act of 1983 (225 ILCS 455/7 (West 1996)) prohibits an unlicensed corporation from maintaining an action to recover real estate brokerage commissions. We answer the certified question in the affirmative, hold that an unlicensed corporation cannot maintain an action to recover brokerage commissions, and reverse the order of the circuit court denying defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiffs complaint.

Plaintiff, Ceas Mortgage Company, filed a breach of contract action against…