In a gripping legal battle, a former employee has taken a stand against his previous employer, alleging serious misconduct and discrimination. On September 30, 2024, Phillip Hasse filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against NM Healthcare Staffing, LLC. The lawsuit claims that Hasse was subjected to sexual harassment and discrimination based on his sex and sexual orientation during his tenure with the company.
The case unfolds with Hasse accusing NM Healthcare Staffing of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. According to the complaint, Hasse endured a hostile work environment where he faced derogatory comments and discrimination due to being a gay male. The alleged harassment began around February 2024 when Dr. Robert Langman reportedly made inappropriate remarks about Hasse's appearance and sexual orientation. This behavior was allegedly condoned by other staff members, including clinical supervisor Eric Mariano.
Hasse further claims that during staff meetings, Dr. Langman made offensive comments towards other employees as well, such as mocking front desk supervisor Jess Salisbury’s medical condition and making sexist remarks about the organization. Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, Hasse reported these incidents to directors Jess and Pat on June 25, 2024. However, rather than addressing his concerns, he alleges that he was terminated the following day in retaliation for speaking out.
The plaintiff asserts that his termination was directly linked to his complaints about unlawful discrimination and harassment at work. He emphasizes that he had no prior disciplinary actions against him, which suggests that his dismissal was unjustified and retaliatory in nature.
Hasse is seeking several forms of relief from the court: back pay and benefits lost due to termination; compensatory damages for emotional distress; punitive damages; attorney’s fees; and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court. He also demands injunctive relief to prevent further occurrences of such discriminatory practices within NM Healthcare Staffing.
Representing Phillip Hasse is attorney Alexander J. Taylor from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while details regarding NM Healthcare Staffing's legal representation remain undisclosed at this time. The case has been assigned Case ID: 1:24-cv-09182 but does not yet list any presiding judges.