A woman who was fired in 2019 from her job as a clerk at the LaGrange Public Library, has sued the library district and its director, accusing the library director of defaming her by publicly telling the library board that she had made racist comments, resulting in her termination.
On Oct. 30, Joyce Slabich filed suit in Cook County Circuit Court against the district and its director, Charity Gallardo.
According to the complaint, Slabich had worked as a member services clerk at the LaGrange Public Library for 13 years, and had positive employment reviews throughout that time.
However, in October 2019, she said, Gallardo allegedly told Slabich’s colleagues and the Library District Board of Trustees that Slabich “had made a racially discriminatory comment and had violated the Library District’s harassment and discrimination policies.”
The complaint alleges Gallardo also included the accusations in Slabich’s personnel lfile.
The complaint does not specify the comment Slabich asserts Gallardo accused her of saying.
However, Slabich alleges Gallardo accused Slabich of making the statements and violating the library district’s policies, despite proof allegedly supplied by Slabich “confirming” the accusations were false.
After the comments were reported to the library board, Slabich said her employment was “abruptly terminated” and her personal and professional reputations were “tarnished.”
The complaint accuses Gallardo and the Library District of defamation.
“Defendants (Gallardo and the district) knew, or should have known, that the statements were false and defamatory, and acted with malice in making such statements,” Slabich said in the complaint.
“… Ms. Gallardo was aware of the Library District’s discrimination and harassment policies, and should have known that Ms. Slabich’s statements were not in violation. Ms. Slabich assured Ms. Gallardo the meaning of the statement she had made.”
Slabich is seeking unspecified compensatory damages and punitive damages, plus attorney fees.
She is represented in the case by attorneys Ruth I. Major and Keith D. Barnstein, of the Law Offices of Ruth I. Major P.C., of Chicago.
Gallardo and the Library District declined comment.