Christian G. Spesia, Attorney

Christian G. Spesia focuses his practice on real estate, land use and development, and litigation.
 
Mr. Spesia is the Village Attorney for the Villages of Minooka and Rockdale and special counsel for the Forest Preserve District of Will County. 
 
Mr. Spesia has handled most kinds of land use litigation, including zoning, eminent domain, boundary litigation, mandamus and tax rate objections.  His current case load includes cases in both state and federal courts primarily focused on land use issues. 
 
Mr. Spesia has been involved in a multitude of transactions including the financing, sale and purchase of commercial and investment property, including 1031 tax free exchanges, the annexation and zoning of thousands of acres for residential, commercial and industrial uses and the issuance of millions of dollars of bonds
 
Among Mr. Spesia's transactions and cases are those related to:

Complex boundary litigation between several municipalities involving disputed jurisdiction over thousands of acres in high-growth areas.
 
Tax rate objections in both the state circuit and appellate courts.
 
Annexation and zoning of thousands of acres of commercial, industrial and residential properties.
 
Annexation of approximately 900 acres of industrial property under a favorable annexation agreement to preclude forcible annexation from an adjacent municipality and resulting tax consequences.
 
Trial and appeal of suits challenging municipal denial of zoning requests and building permits.
 
Handling of case involving the rights of trucks involved in interstate commerce to access local roadways in the federal district and appellate courts.  
 
An injunction proceeding involving the rights of a real estate developer to capacity in a municipally-owned sewage treatment plant.
 
Purchase of hundreds of acres of real estate by a Forest Preserve District and Village for conservation and recreation purposes.
 
Contractual dispute between a municipality and an Illinois Public Utility.
 
Represented municipal entity in the negotiation of agreements to purchase water from the City of Chicago and worked on the acquisition of substantial right-of-way for the project.
 
Worked on the sale of a pipeline and related right-of-way for the conveyance of liquid petroleum products.

Represented landowners 1031 tax-free exchanges.

Employment Discrimination cases in the State Department of Human Rights, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Federal Courts.

Multiple Bond Issuances for Government and Private Development.

Professional Organizations 

Member of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Institute for Local overnment Law

Illinois State Bar Association

Will County Bar Association

Admitted to the Federal District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts

Articles and Publications 

Regulating Campaign Contributions And Adopting More Restrictive Ethics Provisions (Illinois Institute For Local Government Law Journal - May, 2008)

When Does Estoppel Apply Against A Public Entity?  (Illinois Institute For Local Government Law Journal - October, 2007)

Fact Specific vs. Ultimate Facts - Pleading Requirements in Court Controlled Annexations (Illinois Institute For Local Government Law Journal - June, 2006)

Special Service Areas and Special Assessment Areas - A Growing Trend In Financing Of  Public Improvements For New Construction (Illinois Institute For Local Government Law Journal - January, 2006)

Second District Declares Right To Cross-Examination In Zoning Hearings (Illinois State Bar Association Local Government Law Newsletter - March, 2001)

Can A Bank Foreclose On An Annexation Agreement?  (Illinois State Bar Association Local Government Law Newsletter - March, 2000; Illinois Institute For Local Government Law Journal - January, 2001)