avoidable consequences doctrine in Illinois

13 Illinois opinions name it 2 courts 1980–2025 3 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Illinois courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (7)

Case	Followed	Cited
Maere v. Churchillgreen illappct · 1983 · cited in 6 Illinois opinions naming this issue, 2010–2025 2 sentences 2010“Illinois has long recognized the applicability, in questions of damages, of the doctrine of avoidable consequences, which prevents a party from recovering damages for consequences which that party could reasonably have avoided.” Maere v. Churchill, 116 Ill. 2010"Illinois has long recognized the applicability, in questions of damages, of the doctrine of avoidable consequences, which prevents a party from recovering damages for consequences which that party could reasonably have avoided." Maere v. Churchill, 116 Ill.	4	6
Union Planters Bank, N.A. v. Thompson Coburn LLPgreen illappct · 2010 · cited in 2 Illinois opinions naming this issue, 2012–2025 2 sentences 2025Affirmative Defenses ¶ 45 In addition to the foregoing analysis, we hold that the circuit court properly granted summary judgment on the affirmative defenses of the doctrine of avoidable consequences and failure to mitigate damages. “ ‘Illinois has long recognized the applicability, in questions of damages, of the doctrine of avoidable consequences, which prevents a party from recovering damages for consequences which that party could reasonably have avoided.’ ” Union Planters 16 Bank, N.A. v. Thompson Coburn LLP, 402 Ill. 2012However, “ ‘Illinois has long recognized the applicability, in questions of damages, of the doctrine of avoidable consequences, which prevents a party from recovering damages for consequences which that party could reasonably have avoided.’ ” Union Planters Bank, N.A. v. Thompson Coburn LLP, 402 Ill.	2	2
Ashe v. Sunshine Broadcasting Corp.green illappct · 1980 · cited in 2 Illinois opinions naming this issue, 2013–2013 2 sentences 2013Slueter v. Wallbaum, 45 Ill. 43, 45-46 (1867). -6- ¶ 28 “The so-called avoidable consequences doctrine requires one injured by a breach of contract to use all reasonable means to minimize his damages.” Ashe v. Sunshine Broadcasting Corp., 90 Ill. 2013Slueter v. Wallbaum, 45 Ill. 43, 45-46 (1867). ¶ 28 "The so-called avoidable consequences doctrine requires one injured by a breach of contract to use all reasonable means to minimize his damages." Ashe v. Sunshine Broadcasting Corp., 90 Ill.	2	2
Sleuter v. Wallbaumgreen ill · 1867 · cited in 2 Illinois opinions naming this issue, 2013–2013 2 sentences 2013Slueter v. Wallbaum, 45 Ill. 43, 45-46 (1867). -6- ¶ 28 “The so-called avoidable consequences doctrine requires one injured by a breach of contract to use all reasonable means to minimize his damages.” Ashe v. Sunshine Broadcasting Corp., 90 Ill. 2013Slueter v. Wallbaum, 45 Ill. 43, 45-46 (1867). ¶ 28 "The so-called avoidable consequences doctrine requires one injured by a breach of contract to use all reasonable means to minimize his damages." Ashe v. Sunshine Broadcasting Corp., 90 Ill.	2	2
Gaylor v. Campion, Curran, Rausch, Gummerson and Dunlop, P.C.green illappct · 2012 · cited in 3 Illinois opinions naming this issue, 2020–2025 2 sentences 2025See, e.g., Gaylor v. Campion, Curran, Rausch, Gummerson & Dunlop, P.C., 2012 IL App (2d) 110718, ¶ 61 (legal malpractice action). 2021Gaylor v. Campion, Curran, Rausch, Gummerson & Dunlop, P.C., 2012 IL App (2d) 110718, ¶ 61 .	1	3
Kelly v. Chicago Park Districtgreen ill · 1951 · cited in 1 Illinois opinions naming this issue, 2022–2022 1 sentence 2022Sutherland on Damages, (1844), vol. 1, p. 226, et seq.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Kelly v. Chicago Park District, 409 Ill. 91, 98 (1951).	1	1
Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Railway & Light Co. v. Sprague Electric Co.green ill · 1917 · cited in 1 Illinois opinions naming this issue, 2022–2022 1 sentence 2022Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Ry. & Light Co. v. Sprague Electric Co., 280 Ill. 386, 391 (1917). 13 ¶ 35 The doctrine of avoidable consequences “addresses itself to the equity of the law that a plaintiff should not recover for those consequences of defendant’s act which were readily avoidable by the plaintiff.	1	1

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

Case	Negative	Cited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Illinois. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (11)

Case	Cited	Years
Boyer v. Buol Properties green illappct · 2014 2 sentences 2018Boyer v. Buol Properties , 2014 IL App (1st) 132780 , ¶ 67, 387 Ill.Dec. 344 , 22 N.E.3d 389 (citing Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 350 (1981) ). 2018Boyer v. Buol Properties , 2014 IL App (1st) 132780 , ¶ 67, 387 Ill.Dec. 344 , 22 N.E.3d 389 (citing Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 350 (1981) ).	1	2018–2018
Bocchetta v. McCourt green illappct · 1983 2 sentences 1991Plaintiff relies upon Peck v. Chicago Railways Co. (1915), 270 Ill. 34 , 110 N.E. 414 , Jones v. Seiwert (1987), 164 Ill.App.3d 954 , 115 Ill.Dec. 869 , 518 N.E.2d 394 , Bocchetta v. McCourt (1983), 115 Ill.App.3d 297 , 71 Ill.Dec. 219 , 450 N.E.2d 907 , Hart v. Lyons (1982), 106 Ill.App.3d 803 , 62 Ill.Dec. 697 , 436 N.E.2d 723 , Lempera v. Karner (1979), 79 Ill. 1991Plaintiff relies upon Peck v. Chicago Railways Co. (1915), 270 Ill. 34 , 110 N.E. 414 , Jones v. Seiwert (1987), 164 Ill.App.3d 954 , 115 Ill.Dec. 869 , 518 N.E.2d 394 , Bocchetta v. McCourt (1983), 115 Ill.App.3d 297 , 71 Ill.Dec. 219 , 450 N.E.2d 907 , Hart v. Lyons (1982), 106 Ill.App.3d 803 , 62 Ill.Dec. 697 , 436 N.E.2d 723 , Lempera v. Karner (1979), 79 Ill.	1	1991–1991
Jones v. Seiwert green illappct · 1987 2 sentences 1991Plaintiff relies upon Peck v. Chicago Railways Co. (1915), 270 Ill. 34 , 110 N.E. 414 , Jones v. Seiwert (1987), 164 Ill.App.3d 954 , 115 Ill.Dec. 869 , 518 N.E.2d 394 , Bocchetta v. McCourt (1983), 115 Ill.App.3d 297 , 71 Ill.Dec. 219 , 450 N.E.2d 907 , Hart v. Lyons (1982), 106 Ill.App.3d 803 , 62 Ill.Dec. 697 , 436 N.E.2d 723 , Lempera v. Karner (1979), 79 Ill. 1991Plaintiff relies upon Peck v. Chicago Railways Co. (1915), 270 Ill. 34 , 110 N.E. 414 , Jones v. Seiwert (1987), 164 Ill.App.3d 954 , 115 Ill.Dec. 869 , 518 N.E.2d 394 , Bocchetta v. McCourt (1983), 115 Ill.App.3d 297 , 71 Ill.Dec. 219 , 450 N.E.2d 907 , Hart v. Lyons (1982), 106 Ill.App.3d 803 , 62 Ill.Dec. 697 , 436 N.E.2d 723 , Lempera v. Karner (1979), 79 Ill.	1	1991–1991
Lempera v. Karner green illappct · 1979 1 sentence 1991Plaintiff relies upon Peck v. Chicago Railways Co. (1915), 270 Ill. 34 , 110 N.E. 414 , Jones v. Seiwert (1987), 164 Ill.App.3d 954 , 115 Ill.Dec. 869 , 518 N.E.2d 394 , Bocchetta v. McCourt (1983), 115 Ill.App.3d 297 , 71 Ill.Dec. 219 , 450 N.E.2d 907 , Hart v. Lyons (1982), 106 Ill.App.3d 803 , 62 Ill.Dec. 697 , 436 N.E.2d 723 , Lempera v. Karner (1979), 79 Ill.	1	1991–1991
Peck v. Chicago Railways Co. neutral ill · 1915 1 sentence 1991Plaintiff relies upon Peck v. Chicago Railways Co. (1915), 270 Ill. 34 , 110 N.E. 414 , Jones v. Seiwert (1987), 164 Ill.App.3d 954 , 115 Ill.Dec. 869 , 518 N.E.2d 394 , Bocchetta v. McCourt (1983), 115 Ill.App.3d 297 , 71 Ill.Dec. 219 , 450 N.E.2d 907 , Hart v. Lyons (1982), 106 Ill.App.3d 803 , 62 Ill.Dec. 697 , 436 N.E.2d 723 , Lempera v. Karner (1979), 79 Ill.	1	1991–1991
Hart v. Lyons green illappct · 1982 2 sentences 1991Plaintiff relies upon Peck v. Chicago Railways Co. (1915), 270 Ill. 34 , 110 N.E. 414 , Jones v. Seiwert (1987), 164 Ill.App.3d 954 , 115 Ill.Dec. 869 , 518 N.E.2d 394 , Bocchetta v. McCourt (1983), 115 Ill.App.3d 297 , 71 Ill.Dec. 219 , 450 N.E.2d 907 , Hart v. Lyons (1982), 106 Ill.App.3d 803 , 62 Ill.Dec. 697 , 436 N.E.2d 723 , Lempera v. Karner (1979), 79 Ill. 1991Plaintiff relies upon Peck v. Chicago Railways Co. (1915), 270 Ill. 34 , 110 N.E. 414 , Jones v. Seiwert (1987), 164 Ill.App.3d 954 , 115 Ill.Dec. 869 , 518 N.E.2d 394 , Bocchetta v. McCourt (1983), 115 Ill.App.3d 297 , 71 Ill.Dec. 219 , 450 N.E.2d 907 , Hart v. Lyons (1982), 106 Ill.App.3d 803 , 62 Ill.Dec. 697 , 436 N.E.2d 723 , Lempera v. Karner (1979), 79 Ill.	1	1991–1991
Heni Sorkin v. S. Lee green nyappdiv · 1980 2 sentences 1983(See Robak v. United States (7th Cir. 1981), 658 F.2d 471 , 479 n.23 (the court stated that physicians in negligent-sterilization cases should not be liable for the costs of rearing a normal child where the plaintiffs learned of the pregnancy within the first trimester and freely chose not to terminate the pregnancy); Sorkin v. Lee (1980), 78 A.D.2d 180 , 434 N.Y.S.2d 300 (the court held that the plaintiffs, suing for a negligently performed vasectomy, could not recover rearing costs, as they did not claim that the physician’s negligence prevented them from terminating the pregnancy or that ab 1983(See Robak v. United States (7th Cir. 1981), 658 F.2d 471 , 479 n.23 (the court stated that physicians in negligent-sterilization cases should not be liable for the costs of rearing a normal child where the plaintiffs learned of the pregnancy within the first trimester and freely chose not to terminate the pregnancy); Sorkin v. Lee (1980), 78 A.D.2d 180 , 434 N.Y.S.2d 300 (the court held that the plaintiffs, suing for a negligently performed vasectomy, could not recover rearing costs, as they did not claim that the physician’s negligence prevented them from terminating the pregnancy or that ab	1	1983–1983
Robert Robak and Anna Robak, Cross-Appellants v. United States of America, Cross-Appellee green ca7 · 1981 2 sentences 1983(See Robak v. United States (7th Cir.1981), 658 F.2d 471 , 479 n. 23 (the court stated that physicians in negligent-sterilization cases should not be liable for the costs of rearing a normal child where the plaintiffs learned of the pregnancy within the first trimester and freely chose not to terminate the pregnancy); Sorkin v. Lee (1980), 78 A.D.2d 180 , 434 N.Y.S.2d 300 (the court held that the plaintiffs, suing for a negligently performed vasectomy, could not recover rearing costs, as they did not claim 204 that the physician's negligence prevented them from terminating the pregnancy or th 1983*(See Robak v. United States (7th Cir. 1981), 658 F.2d 471 , 479 n.23 (the court stated that physicians in negligent-sterilization cases should not be liable for the costs of rearing a normal child where the plaintiffs learned of the pregnancy within the first trimester and freely chose not to terminate the pregnancy); Sorkin v. Lee (1980), 78 A.D.2d 180 , 434 N.Y.S.2d 300 (the court held that the plaintiffs, suing for a negligently performed vasectomy, could not recover rearing costs, as they did not claim that the physician’s negligence prevented them from terminating the pregnancy or that ab	1	1983–1983
Rieck v. Medical Protective Co. green wis · 1974 2 sentences 1983(See Robak v. United States (7th Cir. 1981), 658 F.2d 471 , 479 n.23 (the court stated that physicians in negligent-sterilization cases should not be liable for the costs of rearing a normal child where the plaintiffs learned of the pregnancy within the first trimester and freely chose not to terminate the pregnancy); Sorkin v. Lee (1980), 78 A.D.2d 180 , 434 N.Y.S.2d 300 (the court held that the plaintiffs, suing for a negligently performed vasectomy, could not recover rearing costs, as they did not claim that the physician’s negligence prevented them from terminating the pregnancy or that ab 1983(See Robak v. United States (7th Cir. 1981), 658 F.2d 471 , 479 n.23 (the court stated that physicians in negligent-sterilization cases should not be liable for the costs of rearing a normal child where the plaintiffs learned of the pregnancy within the first trimester and freely chose not to terminate the pregnancy); Sorkin v. Lee (1980), 78 A.D.2d 180 , 434 N.Y.S.2d 300 (the court held that the plaintiffs, suing for a negligently performed vasectomy, could not recover rearing costs, as they did not claim that the physician’s negligence prevented them from terminating the pregnancy or that ab	1	1983–1983
Smiley v. Manchester Insurance & Indemnity Co. of St. Louis neutral illappct · 1977 1 sentence 1980(See, e.g., Smiley v. Manchester Insurance & Indemnity Co. (1977), 49 Ill.	1	1980–1980
Doherty v. Schipper & Block green ill · 1911 1 sentence 1980(Doherty v. Schipper & Block (1911), 250 Ill. 128 , 95 N.E. 73 .) The so-called avoidable consequences doctrine requires one injured by a breach of contract to use all reasonable means to minimize his damages.	1	1980–1980

Where else courts name it

CA 23 (1988–2025) WA 18 (1984–2025) NJ 16 (1983–2025) IL 13 (1980–2025) OH 11 (1982–2008) GA 8 (1987–2026) FL 8 (1987–2018) ID 8 (1988–2026) UT 6 (1983–1997) DC 6 (1987–2015) RI 5 (1989–2009) ND 5 (1972–2007) NE 4 (1988–2024) WY 4 (1989–2025) MI 4 (1969–2014) MD 4 (1990–2001) TX 3 (2011–2024) NH 3 (1995–2004) AR 3 (1977–2025) IA 3 (1991–2018) LA 3 (1978–1984) AK 2 (1974–2015) AZ 2 (1986–2001) OR 2 (1976–1991) MO 2 (1994–2022) KS 2 (1979–1981) SC 2 (1992–2007) NC 2 (1995–1997) SD 2 (1998–2011)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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