On July 10, 2025, Kennedy Hunt P.C. filed a complaint against the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), alleging discrimination against our client based on his race and retaliation for our client’s complaints of discrimination.
Our client is an African American man who has worked as an Internal Security Investigator II for the Illinois Department of Corrections since November 1994.
According to the lawsuit, our client has applied for multiple promotions and positions at the IDOC. The lawsuit alleges that the defendant failed to hire or promote our client to any of the positions he applied for.
The lawsuit alleges:
In or about May 2024, [our client] applied and interviewed for a Deputy Commander position, which would also report to his supervisor. IDOC failed to hire Plaintiff for the position. IDOC chose a Caucasian employee for the Deputy Commander Position. When that employee left, IDOC offered the position to another Caucasian employee. On information and belief, IDOC hired less qualified candidates for the position.
The lawsuit also claims:
On multiple occasions between 2022 and 2025, Plaintiff requested a temporary assignment (TA) to learn other positions. IDOC failed to allow Plaintiff to take on a TA for the positions he requested. IDOC allowed Caucasian employees to be in TA positions and often gave them promotions into those positions
The lawsuit states that in June 2024, our client applied for an Investigative Coordinator position, for which he had previously performed the duties and responsibilities. The lawsuit claims the IDOC selected a Caucasian employee with prior performance issues.
The IDOC also allegedly instructed our client to train Caucasian employees who received promotions or positions instead of him.
According to the lawsuit, multiple other Black employees have been denied positions or promotions. The lawsuit claims IDOC has a pattern and practice of hiring and/or promoting Caucasian employees instead of Black employees.
The lawsuit seeks lost wages and benefits, front wages, emotional distress damages, compensatory damages, punitive damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney’s fees, and costs.
This case is ongoing.
For more information, contact attorney Nicole Matlock at nmatlock@kennedyhuntlaw.com. If you or someone you know has been a victim of discrimination, our skilled attorneys at Kennedy Hunt, P.C. may be able to help you. Fill out a questionnaire so we can understand your claim.