A former employee has filed a lawsuit against a prominent educational institution, alleging discrimination and retaliation. Noroyle Lamb, the plaintiff, lodged the complaint on November 26, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The lawsuit targets the State of Illinois doing business as the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.
The case centers around alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Lamb claims that during their employment as an Equity Instruction Coach from July 2023 until May 2024, they faced discrimination based on their sex—identifying as transmasculine—and disabilities including spinal fibrosis, thyroid cancer, ADHD, OCD, and PTSD. The complaint outlines instances where Lamb's requests for reasonable accommodations were denied despite medical documentation supporting these needs. Lamb asserts that upon starting their role in August 2023, agreed-upon accommodations such as a hybrid work schedule were rescinded by the academy.
Lamb also alleges that throughout their tenure at the academy, they were subjected to harassment and a hostile work environment due to their gender identity and disabilities. Specific incidents include being misgendered by colleagues like Angela Rowley and Lassandra Walker despite repeated corrections. Furthermore, Lamb accuses the defendant of failing to address these concerns adequately or take remedial actions against those perpetuating harassment.
The complaint details how structural changes at the workplace further exacerbated accessibility issues for Lamb. For instance, new security doors lacked accessibility buttons which made navigation difficult for them. Despite requesting office relocation to accommodate this challenge due to their disabilities, no action was taken by the defendant.
Lamb’s legal team argues that these actions amount to discrimination under ADA and Title VII provisions. They highlight how other employees outside Lamb's protected classes did not face similar treatment when positions were eliminated; Patrick Young was offered another position while Lamb was not extended such an opportunity.
The lawsuit seeks various forms of relief including back pay with interest, front pay, compensatory and punitive damages alongside attorney fees and costs. It also demands corrective measures from the court to prevent future occurrences of such discriminatory practices within workplaces governed by ADA and Title VII laws.
Representing Noroyle Lamb are attorneys Nathan C. Volheim and Mally L. Slone from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., based in Lombard, Illinois. The case is identified under Case ID: 1:24-cv-12232 with a jury trial demanded.