. _____________________________________________________________ The "incomplete or unverifiable application information" is an ace in the hole...most prospective tenants who will be problematic lie on their applications....you just need to figure out where.You should still be able to get credit reports, but you need to have your business inspected.You should be able to go to the county website and find out if they have been a plaintiff or defendant in criminal or civil lawsuits.

Yes, leases are not rocket science, but most people don't know about some of the clauses you need to protect yourself come litigation. 

This is a civil matter.

Talk to a local civil engineer .

The civil penalty is paying them back 3 times the value of the property.

I'm an attorney, more of a litigator than a transactional guy, but interested in becoming more of the latter as I get old and want to stop fighting with all those young turks.Anyway, my question is I am looking to form an entity with a close friend.

If I was personally the PM, I would try to stay out of the litigation as much as possible (even if it means losing the owner as a customer).

And a litigation in IL will use IL laws. 

I am looking for best advise to shut done this bogus claim without having to go through extended/expensive litigation.

That is just the criminal penalty, then you could have civil liabilities on top of that.