Brittany Irvin has filed a lawsuit against her former employer, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation. The complaint was lodged in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on October 29, 2024, targeting Seva, LLC, which operates as Comfort Inn. Irvin's accusations bring to light serious allegations under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Irvin's legal battle stems from her tenure as a housekeeping manager at Comfort Inn from July 2020 until August 20, 2024. She claims that she faced discriminatory practices and harassment based on her race, which ultimately led to her wrongful termination. The lawsuit details several instances where the hotel's management allegedly made racially biased comments and decisions. According to Irvin, Akash Patel, the new owner of the hotel, along with his wife, managed operations without a Human Resources department and were responsible for making discriminatory remarks. For instance, Patel's wife reportedly expressed a preference for hiring Hispanic housekeepers due to perceived language barriers that would prevent them from "talking back."
The complaint also highlights an incident involving an African American employee named Malik who was told by Patel to cut his hair because he disliked Malik's afro. Additionally, Irvin was instructed by Patel to check rooms occupied by Black guests specifically, based on unfounded suspicions about potential misconduct. These actions contribute to what Irvin describes as a hostile work environment.
Irvin alleges that these discriminatory practices were systemic and intentional violations of both Section 1981 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. She asserts that she was treated less favorably than employees outside her protected class and was subjected to adverse employment actions including reduced hours and eventual termination after voicing her concerns about reporting such behavior to the Labor Board.
The plaintiff is seeking various forms of relief from the court including back pay with interest, compensatory and punitive damages, reasonable attorney fees and costs, pre-judgment interest if applicable, and any other relief deemed just by the court.
Representing Brittany Irvin is attorney Chad W. Eisenback from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while no specific defense attorneys are mentioned in the document. The case is identified as Case No.: 3:24-cv-50437 in front of an unspecified judge in the Northern District of Illinois.