Diane Best, a 72-year-old pharmacy technician, has filed a lawsuit against her employer alleging age discrimination and retaliation. The complaint was filed on October 16, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Walgreen Pharmacy Services Midwest, LLC, doing business as Walgreens.
The lawsuit claims that Walgreens violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) by discriminating against Best due to her age. Best alleges that since February 2024, she has been subjected to different terms and conditions of employment compared to younger employees. She noticed a significant reduction in her work hours after renewing her pharmacy license, eventually leading to no scheduled hours at all since April 29, 2024. Despite repeated inquiries about her schedule, Best received vague responses from management while observing that younger colleagues continued to receive regular work hours.
Best formally complained to Walgreens' corporate office on July 1, 2024, alleging age discrimination as the reason for her lack of work hours. In response, she was informed of a "possible separation" from employment due to her absence since May 2024—a period during which she claims she was not scheduled for any work. The complaint further accuses Walgreens of failing to investigate her complaints thoroughly and promptly.
In addition to age discrimination, Best's lawsuit includes claims of age-based harassment and retaliation under the ADEA. She asserts that Walgreens retaliated against her for opposing unlawful discrimination by drastically reducing her work hours after she lodged formal complaints with the company's corporate office. As a result of these actions, Best claims she has suffered loss of employment opportunities, income, benefits, and endured mental anguish and distress.
Best seeks various forms of relief from the court including back pay with interest, front pay, compensatory and punitive damages, loss of benefits compensation, reasonable attorney fees and costs among other reliefs deemed just by the court.
The case is being handled by Nathan C. Volheim from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., representing Diane Best. The case ID is 1:24-cv-10472.