The defendant City brought a motion to stay a construction lien proceeding pending its appeal of the trial judge's liability determination in a bifurcated trial.
The court dismissed the motion, finding that the liability decision was an interlocutory order under the Construction Lien Act, which cannot be appealed until the damages phase is completed.
Furthermore, the court held that even if it had jurisdiction, it would not exercise its discretion to grant a stay because the City failed to demonstrate irreparable harm and the balance of convenience favored proceeding with the scheduled damages trial.
