A former employee has taken legal action against a well-known pub, alleging serious misconduct and violations of civil rights. On November 25, 2024, Haneen Adi filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Babanis, LLC, which operates as Jameson's Pub. The lawsuit accuses the pub of sex-based discrimination, harassment, and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
According to the complaint, Haneen Adi worked as a server at Jameson's Pub from March 23, 2024, until her termination on September 17, 2024. During her employment, she claims to have been subjected to a hostile work environment due to her gender. The allegations detail inappropriate behavior by one of the managers, Scott Fonfara, who allegedly sent Adi unsolicited sexual messages under the guise of "drunk texting." When Adi rejected his advances and mentioned having a boyfriend, she experienced retaliatory actions such as reduced work shifts. Despite reporting this conduct to owner George Gelis and another manager named Cozzy on August 14, 2024, no corrective measures were taken against Scott. Instead, Adi faced further derogatory treatment and was eventually terminated under dubious circumstances shortly after inquiring about her situation with another manager.
Adi's lawsuit argues that her termination was not only unjust but also retaliatory for opposing unlawful discrimination and exercising her protected rights. She asserts that throughout her tenure at Jameson's Pub, she met or exceeded performance expectations but was treated less favorably than male colleagues. The complaint outlines multiple counts under Title VII: sex-based discrimination for being treated differently due to her gender; sex-based harassment for enduring offensive conduct; and retaliation for facing adverse employment actions after reporting misconduct.
In seeking justice through the court system, Adi requests various forms of relief including back pay with interest, compensatory and punitive damages for emotional distress caused by the alleged violations along with reasonable attorney fees incurred during this process.
Representing Haneen Adi is attorney Travis P. Lampert from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while details regarding representation for Babanis LLC remain undisclosed at this time. The case is presided over by an unnamed judge in the Northern District Court under Case ID: 1:24-cv-12101.