Christopher Keleher Wins Appellate Court Reversal

Today, the Illinois Appellate Court issued a published opinion in Safe Zone v. Linn-Mathes, et al. The Keleher Appellate Law Group represented the Plaintiff-Appellant Safe Zone Services in its appeal in the First District Appellate Court. After a two-year, hard fought battle in the appeals court revolving around a contract dispute, the Illinois Appellate Court agreed with our position and reversed the summary judgment entered for the Defendants Linn-Mathes, Roosevelt-Western, Belmont Bank, JLL Construction, and Raymundo Rivera.

The Appellate Court found the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of defendants Rivera and JLL. The Appellate Court then took the rare step of entering Safe Zone’s motion for summary judgment and against defendants Rivera and JLL. As to the claims against Linn-Mathes, Roosevelt-Western, and Belmont, the Appellate Court also reversed. The Appellate Court found the trial court entered judgment in the defendants’ favor based solely on its conclusion that defendant Rivera owned the proceeds of certain checks. Because that conclusion was incorrect, those judgments against Linn-Mathes, Roosevelt-Western, and Belmont also could not stand.

We are proud of this appellate court reversal and happy our client finally achieved justice.

The case citation is 2026 IL App (1st) 251219.

About the Author

Christopher Keleher clerked for the Hon. William J. Bauer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. This unique opportunity provided Mr. Keleher with an invaluable understanding of the inner workings of an appellate court. He saw what persuades judges and what does not, and utilizes this knowledge every time he writes an appellate brief. The Keleher Appellate Law Group handles all phases of appellate litigation in federal and state courts across the country. Read more here.