A veteran nurse has filed a lawsuit against her employer, alleging age discrimination and retaliation. Rachel White lodged the complaint on July 10, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, naming the Department of Veterans Affairs and its Secretary Denis Richard McDonough as defendants.
Rachel White, represented by attorney Danielle A. Pinkston of the Pinkston Law Group, P.C., has accused her employer of violating the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA). White claims that since her transfer to the Telehealth department within the VA in 2014, she has faced continuous harassment and discriminatory treatment due to her age. As one of the oldest staff members in her department at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, White alleges that she has been subjected to disrespectful behavior from colleagues and supervisors alike.
The plaintiff details specific incidents in her complaint. On December 22, 2022, she was tasked with making weather notifications for her patients due to inclement weather conditions. After completing this task by 9:30 PM that evening, she discovered duplicated notes in patient charts made by a colleague named Tonya Woods. Despite following proper procedures to correct this error by informing CPRS Clinical Coordinators as per Standard Operating Procedures, White claims she faced hostile behavior from Woods who had become Lead Care Coordinator earlier that month.
White further accuses Assistant Manager Candice Wilson of intimidating and retaliatory behavior towards her and other staff members. According to White's complaint, Wilson's management style includes frequent inappropriate emails, micromanagement, and a lack of communication and transparency which have significantly lowered morale among staff.
On March 29, 2023, White filed a formal complaint against agency officials at VA Chicago Healthcare System but alleges that attempts to address these issues through proper channels have only led to further retaliation including demotion and removal from her position. She also filed charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for disability discrimination and retaliation and received a Notice of Right to Sue Letter on April 11, 2024.
In addition to seeking back pay and front pay for lost wages and benefits due to demotion and removal from her position, White is also asking for compensatory damages for emotional distress as well as punitive damages. She requests pre-judgment interest along with attorney’s fees and costs associated with pursuing this case.
Representing Rachel White is attorney Danielle A. Pinkston from Pinkston Law Group P.C., while Judge presiding over this case is yet unknown. The case ID is No.1:24-cv-5850.