A former employee has filed a lawsuit against her previous employer, alleging discrimination and harassment based on race and gender. Areliz Martinez-Rivera lodged the complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on November 26, 2024, accusing Blk Out Logistics, LLC of discriminatory practices.
The case centers around allegations that Martinez-Rivera faced a hostile work environment during her tenure as a Controller at Blk Out Logistics from August to October 2024. According to the complaint, she was subjected to derogatory comments about her Hispanic/Puerto Rican heritage by Garrett, the owner of the company. These included remarks such as "don't make her mad she's Puerto Rican" in an email sent to clients. Despite raising concerns about these inappropriate comments, Garrett dismissed them as jokes.
Martinez-Rivera's employment was terminated on October 18, 2024, under what she claims were false pretenses related to financial constraints following a company acquisition. She argues that this decision was retaliatory and rooted in racial and gender bias rather than any legitimate business need or performance issues.
The lawsuit invokes several federal statutes including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866. It accuses Blk Out Logistics of race-based discrimination, harassment, sex-based discrimination, and retaliation. The plaintiff asserts that these actions have caused her significant emotional distress and financial loss due to abrupt termination and cancellation of health benefits.
In response to these grievances, Martinez-Rivera seeks various forms of relief from the court. She requests back pay with interest for lost wages due to wrongful termination, compensatory damages for emotional distress suffered as a result of discriminatory treatment, punitive damages intended to punish Blk Out Logistics for its alleged misconduct, and coverage for attorney fees incurred during litigation.
Representing Martinez-Rivera is Chad W. Eisenback from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while no specific attorneys are mentioned for Blk Out Logistics at this stage. The case is identified by Case ID: 1:24-cv-12175 and will be presided over by judges yet unnamed in this document.