Michelle Geier, a former police officer, has filed a lawsuit against the Village of Bolingbrook and its Police Chief, Michael Rompa, alleging discrimination based on age and gender. The complaint was lodged in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on November 8, 2024. Geier accuses her former employer of violating several laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Illinois Human Rights Act.
The case details a series of events beginning with an injury Geier sustained while on duty on February 15, 2021. She slipped on icy stairs while exiting an ambulance during an emergency call, resulting in a labral tear in her left hip. Despite undergoing surgery and adhering to medical advice for recovery, Geier claims she faced undue pressure from her superiors to return to work prematurely. She asserts that younger male colleagues were not subjected to similar demands or scrutiny following their injuries.
Geier's complaint further alleges that her PEDA (Public Employee Disability Act) benefits were unjustly terminated by April 26, 2022, forcing her to use personal leave to maintain her salary. She contends this action violated state law as she was entitled to full pay without using personal leave during her recovery period. Moreover, she argues that her termination from employment on December 1, 2022, was executed without due process or proper notification as required under Illinois law.
In addition to discrimination claims based on age and gender under federal statutes like §1983 and state laws such as the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act (IWPCA), Geier also alleges retaliatory discharge for filing a workers' compensation claim. Her legal team argues that these actions constitute retaliation against protected activities under both state and federal law.
Geier seeks various forms of relief from the court: back pay for lost wages and benefits; reinstatement of PEDA benefits; statutory damages under IWPCA; compensatory and punitive damages; prejudgment interest; coverage of attorney fees; and injunctive relief preventing further discrimination or harassment by the defendants.
Representing Michelle Geier are attorneys Keith L. Hunt and Delaney A. Hunt from Hunt Law, P.C., located in Bannockburn, Illinois. The Case ID is: 1:24-cv-11532.