Recently, Mauck & Baker received a favorable opinion from Judge Robert M. Dow, Jr. in federal court in the case of  Affordable Recovery Housing v. City of Blue Island. Affordable Recovery Housing is a faith-based, Christian organization providing housing and recovery services to men with alcohol addiction. Licensed by the Illinois Department of Human Services in 2011, it provided housing for its recovering clients in two buildings. 

However, shortly after opening, the City of Blue Island shut down its housing facilities, citing the need  to install an expensive sprinkler system under the city's  newly amended  building code.  Left without recourse and unable to afford the expensive new sprinkler system, Affordable  filed suit, arguing that the city did not have the authority to require the sprinkler system because its recovery operations were governed  by less restrictive regulations under the Illinois Department of Human Services rather than the city's building code. Agreeing with Affordable, the court granted a partial summary judgment finding  that Affordable did not have to install the sprinkler system. Now the men can return to the dormitories and get on with the business of recovery.