Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Illinois

Without a court order of possession that is enforced by the Sheriff, any prior dispossession of residential property in Illinois is illegal, and a threat to do anything illegal can be stopped. As to damages for wrongful eviction, yes you can claim them. That could include the landlord's negligent handling of your property, but proving negligence is not as easy as it sounds, and if there is a proper eviction and your property is removed and set outside you will be responsible for anything that happens to it thereafter.