A former employee has filed a lawsuit against her previous employer, alleging discrimination and harassment based on disability and sex. Brandy Gunderson filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on October 10, 2024, accusing Crash Champions, LLC of violating her rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Gunderson claims that during her employment as a Customer Experience Representative at Crash Champions, she was subjected to a hostile work environment exacerbated by her medical condition—seizures triggered by stress. She alleges that despite informing her manager and HR about her condition, she faced verbal abuse from her new manager, Dyllon Goyette, who reportedly called her "fucking stupid" and mocked her disability. The complaint states that Goyette reduced Gunderson's work hours without notice and altered time records to deny overtime pay. Moreover, Gunderson's requests for additional training were denied while male colleagues received such opportunities.
The plaintiff also details an incident where Goyette issued a baseless final warning motivated by discrimination. After filing a detailed complaint with HR regarding these issues, Gunderson claims no corrective action was taken against Goyette. Instead, she experienced increased stress leading to seizures at work. On March 26, 2024, Gunderson took a leave of absence due to health concerns but ultimately felt forced to resign on May 1, 2024.
Gunderson accuses Crash Champions of failing to accommodate her disability and retaliating against her for reporting discrimination. She argues that these actions led to constructive discharge—a situation where an employee is forced to resign due to intolerable working conditions. The lawsuit seeks back pay with interest, compensatory and punitive damages, attorney fees, and other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Gunderson is attorney Mohammed O. Badwan from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., located in Lombard, Illinois. The case ID is: 1:24-cv-09888