Richard Hermosillo has filed a lawsuit against Mech-Tronics, L.P., alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The complaint was filed on May 29, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Hermosillo claims that Mech-Tronics failed to provide reasonable accommodations for his disability and subsequently terminated his employment in retaliation for asserting his rights under the ADA.
According to the court documents, Richard Hermosillo began working for Mech-Tronics as a Chemical Etcher in November 2011. In January 2023, he was diagnosed with a disability that significantly limited his ability to perform major life activities such as standing, lifting, and carrying. Following surgery related to his condition on January 13, 2023, Hermosillo took an approved short-term disability leave. Upon attempting to return to work in September 2023, he informed Mech-Tronics of his disability-related restrictions and requested accommodations including no heavy lifting and a desk or light-duty assignment.
Despite having open positions that could have accommodated Hermosillo's limitations, Mech-Tronics allegedly failed to engage in an interactive process to determine appropriate accommodations and denied his requests. Instead, they terminated his employment in September 2023. Hermosillo asserts that this termination was due to his disability and in retaliation for requesting accommodations.
The plaintiff argues that he met or exceeded performance expectations during his tenure at Mech-Tronics and that he was treated less favorably than similarly situated employees outside of his protected class. He further contends that the justification provided by Mech-Tronics for his termination was merely a pretext for unlawful discrimination based on disability.
Hermosillo is seeking several forms of relief from the court: back pay with interest, front pay, compensation for loss of benefits, compensatory and punitive damages, reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, pre-judgment interest if applicable, and any other relief deemed just and proper by the court.
The case is being handled by Travis P. Lampert from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., representing Richard Hermosillo. The case ID is 1:24-cv-04418.