A former employee of a municipal corporation is taking legal action against her previous employer, alleging violations of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Tamara A. Edmonson filed a complaint on November 14, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the City of Joliet and three city officials: James Capparelli, Kathy Franson, and Kevin Sing.
Tamara A. Edmonson was employed by the City of Joliet from December 2018 until her termination on December 1, 2022. During her tenure, she held positions as an accountant and later as a Grants Coordinator in the finance department. Her complaint details how she suffered from severe medical conditions starting in December 2020, which led to multiple surgeries and significant health challenges. Despite these challenges, Edmonson claims she continued to meet or exceed performance expectations at work. In August 2022, she requested FMLA leave for spinal fusion surgery but faced obstacles upon attempting to return to work remotely during her recovery period.
The lawsuit accuses the City of Joliet and its officials of failing to accommodate Edmonson's disability and interfering with her rights under FMLA by denying her request to work remotely or part-time after surgery. The complaint states that despite other employees being allowed flexible working arrangements, Edmonson's requests were denied without valid justification. Furthermore, it alleges that her eventual termination was unjustified and discriminatory.
Edmonson seeks reinstatement to her former position or an equivalent role along with back pay, benefits, compensatory damages, liquidated damages for alleged malice or reckless indifference by the defendants towards her federally protected rights under FMLA and ADA. She also requests reasonable attorney fees and any other relief deemed just by the court.
Representing Edmonson is Annemarie E. Kill from Avery | Kill LLC law firm based in Chicago. The case is identified as Case No. 1:24-cv-11738 and awaits assignment to a judge for further proceedings.