In a compelling legal confrontation, a former employee has taken a bold step to hold her previous employer accountable for alleged discriminatory practices. Erica Franzen filed a complaint on October 3, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Connex One Inc., alleging sex-based discrimination and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The lawsuit details Franzen's journey at Connex One Inc., where she was employed as an Enterprise Sales Director starting May 8, 2023. During her tenure, she claims to have been the only female sales leader in the U.S. division of the company. The situation took a turn in July 2023 when Franzen reported inappropriate conduct by a male colleague, Joe Giammanco, to her supervisor and the Human Resources Department. In an unexpected twist, Giammanco was subsequently promoted to become Franzen's direct supervisor. This promotion set off a chain of events leading to Franzen's termination on November 30, 2023, under the guise of corporate restructuring. However, within hours of her dismissal, Giammanco announced that his friend would assume Franzen’s role.
Franzen contends that Connex One Inc.'s actions were not only discriminatory but also retaliatory in nature. She asserts that her termination was directly linked to her complaints about gender discrimination and inappropriate workplace behavior. According to court documents, "Defendant did not take any appropriate action in regard to Plaintiff's reasonable concerns and complaints about Mr. Giammanco." Instead, they allegedly misrepresented the downsizing claim while swiftly replacing her with a male counterpart.
The legal battle intensified when Franzen filed a Charge of Discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on May 28, 2024. The EEOC responded with a Notice of Right to Sue letter on August 27, 2024, paving the way for this federal lawsuit.
Franzen is seeking various forms of relief from Connex One Inc., including compensation for lost wages and benefits due to what she describes as wrongful termination based on sex discrimination and retaliation. Additionally, she seeks damages for emotional distress caused by these actions and requests reimbursement for attorneys' fees and other costs associated with prosecuting this case.
Represented by attorney Diana C. Servos from S.T. Legal Group based in Deerfield, Illinois, Franzen is determined to seek justice through this legal process. The case is presided over by Judge [Name Not Provided] under Case ID: 1:24-cv-09417.