In a detailed complaint filed on May 24, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, John Kararo has accused Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL), its Vice President of Human Resources Dee Dee Cox, and several unnamed managers and supervisors of retaliation and unlawful termination. The plaintiff, represented by attorney James C. Vlahakis, claims that his dismissal was a direct consequence of his involvement in protected activities including filing a class action lawsuit under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) and two workers' compensation claims.
According to the complaint, Kararo was employed as a short-haul truck driver at ODFL’s Chicago West Service Center. He alleges that after filing a BIPA class action lawsuit on April 6, 2023—asserting that ODFL had violated BIPA provisions by collecting biometric data without proper consent—he faced increased scrutiny and retaliatory actions from his supervisors. The lawsuit highlights that BIPA mandates explicit written consent before collecting biometric information such as fingerprints. Kararo's complaint states: "After Plaintiff filed the BIPA Class Action Lawsuit, he began to face increased scrutiny at work," with managerial staff allegedly writing him up for non-existent rule violations.
The plaintiff also details incidents following his workers' compensation claims filed on March 20, 2024, for an ankle injury and January 22, 2024, for a back injury sustained from slipping on ice. He contends that these filings further aggravated the retaliatory behavior from ODFL management. The complaint asserts: "Because Plaintiff filed a claim for workers' compensation benefits close in time to him suing Defendant ODFL for violating BIPA... ODFL accused Plaintiff of faking a workplace injury." This culminated in his termination on January 24, 2024.
Kararo’s legal action seeks various forms of relief including damages for lost wages (both back pay and front pay), harm to reputation, emotional distress caused by alleged unlawful conduct, punitive damages where applicable by law, and attorney’s fees along with allowable costs. His accusations extend beyond individual grievances to broader allegations against ODFL's executive leadership team including President Marty Freeman and Executive Vice President Gregory Plemmons among others. The complaint alleges that these executives were aware of and approved the retaliatory measures taken against him.
The case brings forth multiple counts under common law retaliatory discharge and violations of the Illinois Whistleblower Act (IWBA). Specifically, it charges ODFL with retaliation for Kararo's refusal to participate in activities he believed violated public policy and state laws concerning workplace safety regulations. It also includes defamation claims against Dee Dee Cox for allegedly making false statements about Kararo’s professional conduct which have purportedly damaged his reputation within the industry.
Represented by James C. Vlahakis of Vlahakis Law Group LLC based in Chicago, Kararo demands justice through jury trial proceedings overseen by Judge [Judge Name] under Case ID No. 1:24-cv-04299.