Leiter Group Sued MJ Illinois for Unpaid Legal Fees
The law firm filed a lawsuit in Peoria County seeking over $35,000 for representation provided since 2024.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Law
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The Leiter Group has filed a lawsuit against MJ Illinois and Paul Kim in Peoria County Circuit Court, seeking $35,422 in unpaid legal fees. The firm alleges that the defendant failed to pay for two years of services and defaulted on a proposed settlement.
Why it matters
The legal dispute arises as MJ Illinois faces significant financial pressure from the city of Peoria. The city has already imposed $2 million in fines against the firm regarding maintenance and safety failures at Riverview Plaza.
The lawsuit, filed on September 22, 2026, details a billing history that began at $350 per hour in February 2024 before rising to $400 in November 2024. A case management conference is set for March 12, 2027, before Judge Timothy Cusack.
The players
Thomas Leiter
He is the attorney who provided legal services to MJ Illinois for two years.
Timothy Cusack
He is the judge presiding over the case in the Peoria County Circuit Court.
MJ Illinois
This is the company facing legal action over unpaid fees and city code violations.
Paul Kim
He is a named defendant in the lawsuit filed by The Leiter Group.
The details
Thomas Leiter served as legal counsel for MJ Illinois until he withdrew from the case in August 2026. The firm is now seeking the outstanding balance along with interest, following the closure of Riverview Plaza due to fire safety failures and a water main break.
Timeline
February 2024: Leiter began representing MJ Illinois.
August 2026: Leiter withdrew from representing MJ Illinois.
September 22, 2026: The Leiter Group filed the lawsuit in Peoria County.
March 12, 2027: A case management conference is scheduled.
Political Context
The city's ongoing enforcement action follows the closure of Riverview Plaza, mirroring other cases where municipal code enforcement triggers secondary civil litigation. Opponents may argue that such lawsuits reflect broader disputes between property owners and city inspectors.
Residents in Peoria may see ongoing delays or uncertainty regarding the future of the shuttered Riverview Plaza as the owner remains embroiled in multiple legal battles. The $2 million in fines and current litigation underscore the persistent maintenance issues affecting commercial real estate in the city.
The takeaway
Commercial property owners must maintain strict compliance with municipal building codes to avoid compounding legal and financial liabilities. Failure to meet these standards often leads to long-term litigation that can freeze assets and operations indefinitely.
What happens next
A case management conference is scheduled for March 12, 2027, before Judge Timothy Cusack to determine the next steps in the litigation.
Further reading
For more background on local disputes, visit Peoria Law.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Indianapolis Star.
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