In a compelling legal battle, an employee has taken a significant step by filing a lawsuit against his former employer, alleging severe discrimination and retaliation. On October 16, 2024, Hashsham Noor filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, accusing them of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
The case revolves around Noor's allegations that his employer discriminated against him due to his disabilities—anxiety disorder and Major Depressive Disorder—and failed to provide reasonable accommodations. Noor was employed as a Senior SAP Basis Administrator since February 2017 and had consistently met or exceeded performance expectations. However, things took a turn when Erfan Memon became his supervisor. Noor claims that Memon subjected him to heightened scrutiny and harassment because of his disability, going so far as to misappropriate Noor's work for personal gain.
Noor recounts incidents where Memon engaged in unprofessional behavior, including verbal abuse during phone conversations. He alleges that Memon's actions were part of a calculated scheme to create grounds for his termination while favoring non-disabled employees like Ali Faraj. Despite Noor's strong performance history, he was placed on an unwarranted Performance Improvement Plan (PIP), which he believes was discriminatory.
After experiencing increased anxiety and depression due to the hostile work environment, Noor took FMLA leave in October 2022. Upon returning in February 2023, he requested an accommodation to work under a different manager but was denied by Human Resources. Instead of addressing his concerns, HR told him to "deal with it." This refusal led to further fabricated performance issues by Memon, culminating in Noor's termination on March 17, 2023.
Noor is seeking redress for what he perceives as unlawful termination based on disability discrimination and retaliation for taking FMLA leave. The lawsuit seeks various forms of relief including back pay with interest, compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney fees, and other appropriate remedies deemed just by the court.
Representing Noor is Mohammed O. Badwan from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while Christian Olsen from R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company played a role in Noor’s termination decision-making process. The case is presided over by judges at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois under Case ID: 1:24-cv-10533.