Villa Park administrative hearing issues continuances, default judgments and fines; one driver cleared

On April 2, 2026, Hearing Officer Erica Thomas presided over an administrative hearing for the Village of Villa Park, taking up a docket of code-enforcement and traffic-related citations, entering continuances, default judgments and fines and resolving at least one registration-related dispute.

The hearing is a civil proceeding, Thomas told those assembled, explaining the standard of proof is a preponderance of the evidence and that sworn reports may serve as prima facie evidence under Illinois state law. She reminded defendants that fines and a $35 administrative fee may be assessed, that payment is expected that day or within 30 days, and that parties have 35 days to seek administrative review in the Circuit Court of DuPage County.

Thomas continued the case of Sue Walk (CE205-771) to May 7, 2026, by agreement after Walk said she had paid a contractor who did not complete work and expected a new contractor to visit the property on May 8. "Cross my fingers," Walk said after the continuance was set; Thomas confirmed the matter was continued to allow the work to move forward.

In a parking citation matter, defendant Vivica Edwards (P5002-546) told the hearing her vehicle had been vandalized in October and would not move; she said she had a one-month parking permit on file that expired March 21 and that she was cited on March 2. Thomas said the violation before the hearing was the vehicle’s lack of valid registration on public property and, after reviewing the record, announced she would find Ms. Edwards liable for parking an unregistered vehicle. The transcript contains conflicting references to the assessment — at one point Thomas refers to a $75 citation and later to $35 — and the hearing provided Ms. Edwards with a printed statement of the disposition at the bench. (The record in the transcript is internally inconsistent about the final dollar figure.)

The hearing officer dismissed a registration-based citation for a defendant who identified himself as "Saud Perez" (P5730-1106). Perez presented evidence that his registration had been suspended because of a mandatory-insurance suspension, and that the transaction to reinstate the registration had been completed on March 2. Thomas said the record showed the suspension had been resolved and stated, "I'm going to go ahead and I'm going to find you not liable, sir," and advised Perez to keep his documentation current; the officer noted the record showed registration valid through March 2027.

Several defendants failed to appear and the hearing officer entered default judgments where the sworn reports established factual bases. The court entered a $750 default judgment in case C5815-11 (fleeing and eluding, defendant listed as MMP). In case C5253-05 (theft reported at a Villa Park Walmart), the officer entered a default judgment of $200 plus a $35 administrative fee after officers reported $32.84 in alleged theft by an employee (initials SV). For property-code matters where owners either failed to apply for a certificate of occupancy or did not appear, the hearing officer either entered default judgments (example: CE2025689 — $750) or continued matters to allow inspections or corrections (examples: 1155 North Ellsworth Avenue and 119 North Ellsworth Avenue continued to April 16; 12 West Terrace Street continued to May 7). At 1330 South Villa Avenue, the hearing officer entered fines of $250 plus the $35 administrative fee on two counts after the property’s owner and counsel did not appear.

The hearing call concluded shortly after the listed docket was completed. Parties were reminded of the right to seek administrative review in the Circuit Court of DuPage County within 35 days.

Actions recorded in the hearing included continuances to accommodate inspections or corrective work, findings of liability or non-liability based on documentary evidence and multiple default judgments where defendants failed to appear.