A person must file a request for trial de novo with the circuit court clerk in the county in which the city court is located within 15 days after the city court. All Illinois Courts must accept these forms.To: the Clerk of the Court and all parties: 1. □ I am the plaintiff in this case. The arbitrators de- cided that they had the power to rule on the dispute's merits and ruled in First Options' favor. The District Court confirmed the award, but. The arbitrators de- cided that they had the power to rule on the dispute's merits and ruled in First Options' favor. The District Court confirmed the award, but. Stat., Chapters 482 or 535. " 19 F. 3d, at 1509.