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COOK COUNTY RECORD

Thursday, October 31, 2024

Caregiver Alleges Former Employer Violated Pregnancy Discrimination Laws

Federal Court
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Jeremy C. Daniel, Judge at USDC Northern District Illinois | https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/

A caregiver's battle for justice unfolds as she takes legal action against her former employer, accusing them of pregnancy discrimination and retaliation. On September 26, 2024, Chelice Middleton filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Ciel Plainfield, LLC. Middleton alleges that her employer violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act by failing to accommodate her pregnancy and retaliating against her for asserting her rights.

Middleton's story began when she started working as a caregiver for Ciel Plainfield, LLC in November 2023. Her troubles arose in March 2024 when she informed her supervisor, Michelle Gillespie, about her pregnancy. Initially, no specific accommodations were requested or required. However, by May or June 2024, Middleton sought relief from heavy lifting duties due to her advancing pregnancy. While these requests were initially honored, circumstances changed when she was transferred to a different unit requiring more strenuous physical tasks. Despite expressing concerns about safety and requesting accommodations again in July 2024, Middleton's pleas went unanswered.

Middleton claims that after escalating the issue to Executive Director Julia Milne in late July 2024, no changes were made to address her accommodation needs. Instead, on August 13, 2024, Milne informed Middleton that due to her restrictions, she could no longer work as a caregiver unless she accepted a lower-paying role with fewer hours in laundry services—a move that forced Middleton to resign. This sequence of events led Middleton to believe she was constructively discharged due to sex-based discrimination and retaliation for opposing unlawful practices.

In her lawsuit, Middleton seeks various forms of relief from the court including back pay and benefits, compensatory damages for emotional distress, punitive damages for willful violations of federal law by Ciel Plainfield LLC., and attorney’s fees among other remedies deemed just by the court.

Representing Chelice Middleton is Chad W. Eisenback from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while details regarding Ciel Plainfield LLC’s legal representation remain undisclosed at this time. The case has been assigned Case ID: 1:24-cv-08962 under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

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