Kennedy Hunt P.C. recently filed a human rights lawsuit against St. Clair County, Illinois, alleging that the county violated the Family Medical Leave Act, the Illinois Human Rights Act, and Illinois common law.
According to the lawsuit, our client was employed by the County and reported discrimination and harassment against other employees. In response, the lawsuit states: “Defendant removed Plaintiff from an investigation he was conducting, denied him additional medical leave that it allowed other employees, and terminated his employment.”
Our client was employed by Defendant from 2011 to 2023. According to the lawsuit, in about Fall of 2022, employees at Defendant reported sexual harassment and discrimination to our client. Our client then reported the sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation he uncovered to multiple managers, supervisors, and attorneys for St. Clair County.
According to the lawsuit, following the investigation, the Defendant told our client to cease his investigation.
Per the lawsuit:
On or about February 16, 2023, Plaintiff met with Chairman Mark Kern, Debra Moore, and outside counsel for the County. At that meeting, Chairman Kern stated that Bob Jones, an attorney, recommended Plaintiff should be fired. That day, Plaintiff learned he was to be removed from the investigation.
Shortly after this, according to the lawsuit, our client intended to use FMLA to take leave while recovering from surgery. The lawsuit claims our client had surgery in about May 2023 and planned to return to work in July 2023. In early July 2023, Defendant terminated our client’s employment.
The lawsuit continues:
Plaintiff had surgery in about May 2023 and planned to return to work in July 2023. In early July 2023, before Plaintiff returned to work, Defendant terminated Plaintiff’s employment. Following Plaintiff’s termination, Defendant falsely reported that Plaintiff had a mental breakdown.
According to the lawsuit, the defendants published the defamatory statements, knowing the statements were false, or with reckless disregard as to their truth or falsity. As a direct and proximate result of Defendant’s false statements, Plaintiff’s personal and professional reputation has been severely harmed, causing loss of standing in the community and emotional distress.
This lawsuit seeks lost wages and benefits, front wages, emotional distress damages, compensatory damages, pre-and-post judgment interest, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees and costs.
This case is ongoing.
For more information, contact attorney Nicole A. Matlock at nmatlock@kennedyhuntlaw.com. If you or someone you know has been a victim of human rights violations, the skilled attorneys at Kennedy Hunt, P.C. may be able to help you. Fill out a questionnaire so we can understand your claim.