A recent lawsuit has been filed against a major automotive company, alleging severe workplace misconduct and discrimination. Sarah Gora initiated legal proceedings against Ford Motor Company on December 23, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The complaint accuses Ford of subjecting Gora to sexual harassment, sex-based discrimination, and retaliation for reporting these issues.
Sarah Gora claims that since July 2024, she has faced a hostile work environment at Ford due to her gender. The allegations center around a coworker named Mike Winegarden, who allegedly began verbally harassing Gora with inappropriate comments and questions about her personal life. Despite her attempts to deflect his advances by claiming she was in a relationship, Winegarden persisted. His behavior escalated when he gifted Gora with personal items like a necklace and a statue under unsettling circumstances at their workplace.
Gora's discomfort grew as Winegarden's actions intensified; he reportedly asked if she had ended her fictitious relationship and even suggested they marry. In an effort to gather evidence of his misconduct, Gora accepted Winegarden's friend request on Facebook, where he later sent messages that crossed professional boundaries. Disturbed by these interactions, Gora reported the harassment to Ford's Labor Office in September 2024 but felt dismissed when her concerns were not adequately addressed.
The complaint outlines that despite assurances from management that the situation would be handled, Winegarden continued his behavior unabated. He allegedly took photos and videos of Gora at work and used intimidating tactics such as staring at her while she worked. These ongoing issues prompted Gora to take medical leave in October 2024 due to deteriorating mental health caused by the stress of the situation.
Gora is seeking various forms of relief from the court including back pay, compensatory damages for emotional distress, punitive damages, and injunctive relief to prevent further harassment. She argues that Ford failed to conduct a thorough investigation into her complaints or take necessary steps to prevent further occurrences of harassment.
Representing Sarah Gora is attorney Peyton M. Paschke from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., based in Lombard, Illinois. The case has been filed under Case ID: 1:24-cv-13148 with jury trial demanded.