In a significant legal battle highlighting workplace discrimination, a former employee has filed a lawsuit against his previous employer for alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The complaint was lodged by Sean M. Painter in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on December 19, 2024, accusing Thorntons LLC of discriminatory practices and retaliation.
The case centers around Painter's employment as a guest services liaison at Thorntons LLC from January 2021 until his termination in October 2024. Painter, who suffers from Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), claims that despite being qualified to perform his job duties with reasonable accommodations, he faced discrimination and retaliation after disclosing his disability. According to the lawsuit, Painter required minor sensory stimulation—such as playing muted content on his phone—to manage his ADHD while working. He informed his then-general manager about this need in early 2023, effectively requesting an accommodation under the ADA.
However, following a change in management, Painter alleges that the new general manager challenged and disregarded his need for accommodations. This culminated in a series of adverse actions against him, including suspension and eventual termination without cause. The complaint details how Painter attempted to report these discriminatory actions to Thorntons' Human Resources department but received no response or support.
Painter's lawsuit accuses Thorntons LLC of failing to accommodate his disability and retaliating against him for seeking such accommodations and reporting discrimination. The legal filing outlines multiple counts under the ADA: disability-based discrimination, failure to accommodate, and retaliation. Each count underscores the plaintiff's assertion that Thorntons acted with willful disregard for his rights as a disabled individual protected under federal law.
The plaintiff seeks various forms of relief from the court, including back pay, compensatory and punitive damages, front pay, loss of benefits compensation, attorney fees, and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court. This case not only highlights critical issues surrounding workplace accommodations for individuals with disabilities but also raises questions about employer responsibilities under federal law.
Representing Sean M. Painter are attorneys Nathan C. Volheim and Sophia K. Steere from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., based in Lombard, Illinois. The case is presided over by judges from the Northern District of Illinois under Case ID: 1:24-cv-13070.