A pregnant employee has taken legal action against her former employer, alleging pregnancy-based discrimination and retaliation. Deionna Dillard filed a complaint on September 25, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Titan Security Services, LLC. The lawsuit claims violations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2023.
Deionna Dillard, who worked as a flex officer for Titan Security Services from March 2023 until her termination in May 2024, asserts that she faced discrimination due to her pregnancy. According to the complaint, Dillard was subjected to different terms and conditions than her non-pregnant colleagues and experienced a hostile work environment. The situation escalated when a fellow employee, Jasmin Hudson, allegedly verbally attacked Dillard for not arriving early for her shift. Despite reporting this incident to her supervisor and Human Resources, no action was taken to resolve the issue. Instead, Dillard claims she was retaliated against by being removed from the work schedule.
Dillard's complaint outlines how she sought accommodations due to her pregnancy but was met with resistance from Titan Security Services. Her requests included setting boundaries with Hudson or distancing them to prevent further stress or potential violence. However, instead of accommodating these requests, the company reportedly reduced her working hours significantly and eventually ceased scheduling her altogether.
The plaintiff argues that Titan Security Services failed to engage in an interactive process to determine appropriate accommodations and did not conduct a thorough investigation into her complaints of harassment and discrimination. As a result of these actions, Dillard alleges she suffered financial loss and heightened stress during her pregnancy.
In seeking redress from the court, Dillard is asking for back pay with interest, compensatory and punitive damages, reasonable attorney fees and costs, pre-judgment interest if applicable, and any other relief deemed just by the court.
Representing Deionna Dillard is Nathan C. Volheim from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while no attorneys are listed for Titan Security Services at this stage. The case is identified as Case No: 1:24-cv-08873 in front of an unnamed judge in the Northern District of Illinois.