A lawsuit has been filed against a healthcare staffing company, alleging severe discrimination and harassment based on national origin and disability. The complaint was lodged by Alaa Eddin Obeid in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on November 20, 2024, targeting NM Healthcare d/b/a NM Healthcare Staffing, LLC.
Alaa Eddin Obeid, a Syrian national with disabilities including ADHD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, claims he faced discriminatory practices from his employer, NM Healthcare Staffing. According to the lawsuit, Obeid was hired as a Clinical Quality Leader in July 2023 but faced termination in May 2024 due to alleged biases against his national origin and disabilities. Obeid's legal action cites violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), accusing the defendant of creating a hostile work environment through persistent harassment and retaliation for reporting such behavior.
Obeid recounts multiple instances where his supervisor Erica made derogatory remarks about his background and disabilities. She allegedly criticized his hiring due to being an external candidate and downplayed his mental health conditions. Further allegations include Erica mocking Obeid’s disabilities by calling him "slow" and belittling his English-speaking abilities. Despite reporting these issues to Human Resources, Obeid claims no substantial action was taken to address or investigate his complaints.
The plaintiff also describes how workplace dynamics further deteriorated when other employees began using offensive language towards him. In one instance, an employee named Laura Bisck reportedly used racial slurs and questioned Obeid's drug use based on racial stereotypes. Additionally, despite requesting reasonable accommodations for noise-related disability flare-ups during meetings, these requests were dismissed without proper engagement from management.
In response to these ongoing issues, Obeid filed formal complaints with HR in March 2024 but instead faced retaliatory actions such as being placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) under false pretenses. The complaint asserts that this PIP extension was unjustified as it cited non-existent requirements regarding documentation practices.
Through this lawsuit, Obeid seeks various forms of relief including back pay, compensatory damages for emotional distress, punitive damages for willful misconduct by the employer, as well as attorney fees. He emphasizes that other similarly situated employees outside his protected classes did not face similar adverse actions.
Representing Alaa Eddin Obeid is Nathan C. Volheim from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while details about any defense attorneys remain undisclosed at this stage. The case is presided over by judges within the Northern District of Illinois under Case ID: 1:24-cv-11930.