A Cook County woman is suing her employer in a dispute surrounding an alleged theft, a missing wallet and a potato chip bag.
Keisha Thompson filed suit Sept. 21 in the Law Division of Cook County Circuit Court against defendants The Renaissance Park South LLC, NiChelle Rice, Yolanda Brown and De Juan Rylko, citing intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment, assault and battery, and civil conspiracy.
According to the complaint, on Sept. 26, 2013, Thompson, while working for Renaissance Park as a certified nursing assistant, hid a patient’s wallet in a potato chip bag for safekeeping. The wallet was placed back in the resident's drawer. The resident reported the wallet was missing and Rice and Brown, Thompson’s supervisors, and Rylko, her union steward, questioned her about the missing wallet.
During the interrogation, Thompson claims she was strip searched and forced to expose herself and empty her purse and personal belongings. In addition, the defendants are accused of offensive physical contact during the search. The wallet was not found with Thompson, who claims she did not take it.
Chicago attorney Christine F. David is representing the plaintiff, who seeks damages of more than $50,000 for emotional distress, loss of liberty, illness, disability and impairment.
Cook County Circuit Court, Law Division case number 2015-L-009630.