A former employee has filed a lawsuit against her previous employer, alleging severe discrimination and retaliation. Rogelia Moran lodged the complaint against Northbrook Inn Memory Care in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on September 9, 2024.
Moran's lawsuit claims that Northbrook Inn Memory Care violated several federal laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 42 U.S.C. §1981. The complaint details Moran's experiences of national origin-based discrimination, harassment, and retaliation during her employment as a caregiver from November 2023 to August 20, 2024. According to Moran, her supervisor Jennifer Tasternak was aware that English was not Moran's first language but still prohibited her from speaking Spanish even during informal conversations with coworkers. This restriction made Moran feel isolated and uncomfortable at work.
The situation escalated after Moran took three weeks of unpaid leave in March 2024 due to personal reasons. Upon her return, she noticed a significant deterioration in Tasternak's treatment towards her. Her work hours were reduced from between 35 to 40 hours per week to just 24 to 25 hours. When questioned about this reduction, Tasternak cited Moran’s absence as the reason but continued to assign full-time hours to new employees of different national origins.
Moran also recounted an incident during a staff meeting on June 20, 2024, where Tasternak threatened termination and further reduced hours for non-compliance with walkie-talkie usage rules. When Moran raised concerns about the fairness of cutting only her hours and those of another Mexican employee named Cynthia, Tasternak publicly humiliated her by insisting she speak only English and justified the hour reductions due to her previous absence.
Despite meeting or exceeding performance expectations throughout her employment, Moran was terminated on August 20, 2024. She believes this termination was retaliatory for opposing unlawful discrimination and exercising her protected rights under Title VII.
Moran is seeking various forms of relief from the court including back pay with interest, compensatory and punitive damages, reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, pre-judgment interest if applicable, and any other relief deemed just by the court.
Representing Moran is attorney Chad W. Eisenback from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while Judge Amrith Kaur Aakre will be presiding over the case identified as Case: 1:24-cv-08190.