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Eric P. Hanson practices in the areas of government and municipal law, corporate law, landlord-tenant law and appellate practice. In the course of his government and municipal work, Eric has also developed a specific practice in the area of affordable housing. He represents numerous public housing authorities throughout the State of Illinois and is a frequent speaker at affordable housing conferences and workshops.

Eric was born in Joliet, Illinois. He attended the University of Illinois in Champaign, where he earned a B.A. Sociology in 1991. He received his J.D., cum laude, at The John Marshall Law School in 1995. During law school, he served as an Executive Editor of The John Marshall Law Review and participated in the Pace University Environmental Law Moot Court Competition.

Eric began his legal career as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Rita B. Garman of the Illinois Appellate Court, Fourth District. Following his clerkship, he served as a Will County Assistant State’s Attorney. He joined Mahoney, Silverman & Cross, LLC in 1998, and was named as a partner in 2004. He is rated BV by Martindale-Hubbell.

Eric’s community activities include serving as Past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA and serving as Chairman of the YMCA of the USA 2016 National Association Assembly Steering Committee.  He also served as President of the Rotary Club of Shorewood from 2010-2012 and President of the School Board at the Cathedral of St. Raymond School in Joliet from 2006-2007.

Eric is a member of the Will County Bar Association and Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA). He was elected as a member of the ISBA Assembly from 2004 – 2010 and served as a member of the Assembly Agenda and Program Committee in 2005. Currently, Eric is a member of the Standing Committee on Continuing Legal Education. He has also served on the following ISBA Committees: Task Force on Unauthorized Practice of Law; Standing Committee on Bar Services and Activities, Committee on Insurance Programs and Services and the Young Lawyers Division Council. In 2001, Eric was appointed to the ISBA Special Committee on Appellate Practice and the Special Committee on the Future of the Courts.

Eric is also a member of the Housing and Development Law Institute (HDLI) based in Washington D.C. He is a regular participant at the HDLI General Counsel Forum held annually in Tampa, Florida.

Some of Eric’s activities include the following:

• In July and August of 2016, Eric and Jean Kenol closed on the development financing for 2 low income housing tax credit (LIHTC) developments:
  • Water’s Edge (Joliet, Illinois) – 68 houses; total development budget $20.9 MM; and
  • St. Elizabeth Residences (Channahon, Illinois) – 48 senior apartments; total development budget $13.2 MM.
• In September 2015, Eric was elected as Chairman of the YMCA of the USA 2016 National Association Assembly Steering Committee.
• In June and July of 2015, Eric and Jean Kenol closed on the development financing for 3 low income tax credit (LIHTC) developments:
  • Macoupin County (Bunker Hill, Gillespie and Staunton, Illinois) – 38 single-family homes; total development budget $11.8 MM;
  • St. James Place (Pontiac, Illinois) – 26 townhouse-style family homes; total development budget $6.7 MM; and
  • Hawthorne Lakes (Frankfort, Illinois) – 36 senior apartments; total development budget $9.9 MM.
• In April 2015, Eric was a guest speaker at the Illinois Association of Housing Authorities Maintenance and Management Clinic in Decatur, Illinois where he hosted a session titled, “Ask an Attorney,” to provide PHA legal advice and spoke at another session regarding successful development of affordable housing by PHAs serving as the developer.
• In July 2014, Eric was re-elected to the Y-USA National Association Assembly Steering Committee.
• In January 2014, Eric was elected as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA.
• In September 2013, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Third District ruled in favor of our client in the matter of Kankakee County Housing Authority v. Lenee Thomas, Case No. 3-12-0531. The Housing Authority was seeking to evict a tenant based upon the criminal drug activity of her guest while on the KCHA property. Eric successfully argued that a police officer’s testimony was sufficient to establish the presence of a narcotic drug without a lab report. View Case.
• In July 2013, Eric was elected to the 2014 National Association Assembly Steering Committee for the YMCA of the USA.
• In September 2012, Eric was a guest speaker at the Illinois Association of Housing Authorities Annual Meeting in Springfield, Illinois where he discussed Tenant Grievance Hearings.
• On July 19, 2012, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Third District ruled in favor of our client in the matter of People v. Timothy Harmon, 973 N.E.2d 466, 362 Ill. Dec. 366. Eric successfully argued that the State did not present sufficient evidence concerning his client’s blood alcohol level to support a finding of guilty.  View Case.
• In April 2012, Eric was a guest speaker at the North Central Regional Council of NAHRO Annual Conference in Peoria, Illinois where he discussed PHA Tenant Evictions.
• In September 2011, Eric was a guest speaker at the Illinois NAHRO Annual Meeting in Springfield, Illinois where he discussed recent amendments to FOIA (Freedom of Information Act).
• On November 20, 2009, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Fourth District ruled in favor of our client in the matter of Housing Authority of Champaign County v. Elaine Lyles, 918 N.E.2d 1276, 335 Ill. Dec. 463. Eric successfully argued that a public housing tenant was not entitled to an award of attorney fees in a forcible entry and detainer action.  View Case.
• On January 24, 2007, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Third District ruled in favor of our client in the matter of Village of Plainfield v. Steven G. Nowicki, 854 N.E.2d 791, 305 Ill. Dec. 199. Eric successfully argued that as part of the voir dire process in a DUI trial, the attorneys should be permitted to ask prospective jurors about whether they drink alcohol socially and, if not, whether they have any religious or moral opinions regarding alcohol.  View Case.
• In May 2005, Eric worked with the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the Illinois Public Housing Finance Corporation (IPHFC) and several Illinois public housing authorities to issue tax-exempt bonds totaling more than $25 million. These funds are now available to the participating public housing authorities for major capital improvements.
•  On January 21, 2005, the Supreme Court of Illinois ruled in favor of our client in the matter of Village of Frankfort v. Russell Johnson (consolidated with People v. Robert Norris), 214 Ill. 2d 92, 824 N.E.2d 205. Eric successfully argued that Illinois Supreme Court Rule 505 should not bar the re-filing of misdemeanor traffic charges, such as driving under the influence of alcohol, after a previous dismissal.  View Case.
• On March 15, 2004, the Appellate Court of Illinois, First District ruled in favor of our client in the matter of Village of Orland Hills v. Citizens Utilities Company of Illinois, 347 Ill.App.3d 504, 807 N.E.2d 590. Eric successfully argued that our client, a public utility company, was not obligated to provide water service to an unimproved parcel of property.  View Case.

TO CONTACT ERIC:
Email: ehanson@msclawfirm.com
Call: 815-730-9500 x109
Direct: 815-280-4863