Karli Duran has filed a lawsuit against her former employer, alleging sexual harassment, sex-based discrimination, and retaliation. The complaint was lodged on October 29, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Rizza Buick GMC Cadillac, Inc. Duran claims that her work environment became hostile due to the actions of her superior and that she faced adverse employment consequences after reporting these issues.
The plaintiff, Karli Duran, began working as a service manager for Rizza Buick GMC Cadillac in July 2021. She alleges that from November 2023 until her resignation in August 2024, she was subjected to discriminatory treatment and a hostile work environment based on her sex. According to the complaint, General Manager Jimmy Allegretti engaged in bullying behavior towards Duran by micromanaging her tasks and making inappropriate comments about her interactions with male colleagues. Despite reporting these issues to the owner and other superiors within the company, no remedial action was taken.
Duran further asserts that Allegretti's behavior escalated when he began spreading false rumors about her personal life among coworkers and made derogatory remarks about her attire. These actions allegedly created an unprofessional atmosphere that caused significant stress and anxiety for Duran. Despite multiple complaints to HR representative Tami Warchol and other senior management figures like CFO Dan McMillian, no substantial investigation or corrective measures were undertaken by the company.
In response to this alleged misconduct and lack of support from the employer, Duran resigned on August 13, 2024. She claims this resignation amounted to constructive discharge due to the intolerable working conditions she faced. The lawsuit accuses Rizza Buick GMC Cadillac of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by allowing sexual harassment, engaging in sex-based discrimination, and retaliating against Duran for exercising her protected rights.
Duran seeks various forms of relief from the court including back pay with interest, compensatory damages for emotional distress, punitive damages, attorney's fees, and any other relief deemed just by the court. She also demands a jury trial to address all issues presented in her complaint.
The case is being handled by attorney Chad W. Eisenback from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., representing Karli Duran. The presiding judge over this matter has not been specified in the document provided but it carries Case ID: 1:24-cv-11123.