Saira Khan has filed a lawsuit against her former employer, alleging severe violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The complaint was submitted on November 5, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The defendant in this case is the Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center.
Khan's lawsuit accuses the Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center of discrimination based on her disabilities, which include post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and depression. She claims that these conditions were not only recognized under the ADA but also significantly impacted her major life activities. Despite these challenges, Khan asserts that she was able to perform her job duties effectively as a Director of Clinical Conflict Team from July 12, 2019, until her termination on December 15, 2023. Her performance was consistently rated positively by peers and supervisors alike.
The trouble began in June 2023 when Khan's direct supervisor allegedly began harassing her by micromanaging tasks and mocking her accent and English proficiency. This treatment reportedly led to panic attacks and anxiety for Khan. In September 2023, she experienced a flare-up of her conditions and requested a brief disability-related leave. Although initially approved for short-term disability leave from October 18 to December 15, Khan alleges that the center retaliated by prematurely forcing her out of work and removing one of her accounts without cause.
Khan further claims that after reporting these issues to an external organization on November 15, she was abruptly terminated on December 15 while still on leave. The stated reason for her dismissal was "going against the company mission," which Khan argues is a pretext masking discriminatory motives. She believes this action violated ADA provisions requiring reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities.
The plaintiff seeks various forms of relief from the court: back pay with interest, compensation for lost benefits, liquidated damages, compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys' fees and costs, pre-judgment interest if applicable, and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Saira Khan is attorney Mohammed O. Badwan from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., located in Lombard, Illinois. The case is presided over under Case ID: 1:24-cv-11386.