A disturbing case of alleged discrimination and violence has surfaced in Illinois, drawing attention to the serious accusations of civil rights violations. Mark Martin has filed a complaint against Casey's Retail Company, along with employees Lance Boren and Coreena Close, in the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on January 8, 2025. The complaint accuses Casey's Retail Company and its employees of conspiring to interfere with Martin's rights based on his sexual orientation, among other serious allegations.
The plaintiff, Mark Martin, is a resident of Ottawa, Illinois. He claims that on July 30, 2023, he was violently assaulted by Casey’s employee Lance Boren at a store located in Marseilles, Illinois. According to the complaint, Martin entered the store seeking assistance because his phone battery was dead and he needed a safe way home. Instead of receiving help, he alleges that Boren forcibly removed him from the store and physically assaulted him multiple times while using derogatory language related to his sexual orientation. The lawsuit further states that Coreena Close, another employee who allegedly knew about Martin’s sexual orientation from their school days together and had previously bullied him, did nothing to stop the assault or assist Martin.
Martin’s complaint includes charges under federal law 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3) for conspiracy to violate his rights to equal protection under the law due to his sexual orientation. Additionally, he has raised state law claims including negligence, battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, violations under the Illinois Hate Crimes Act (720 ILCS 5/12-7.1(c)), and negligent employment practices by Casey’s Retail Company.
In recounting the events leading up to this lawsuit, Martin describes how after being assaulted inside and outside the store by Boren—who allegedly called him a "faggot"—he requested police intervention multiple times but was ignored by both Boren and Close. When police finally arrived after being called by Boren himself with false claims against Martin as an aggressor, they detained Martin instead. It was only after reviewing surveillance footage that officers reportedly saw evidence supporting Martin's account; however, parts of this footage were allegedly tampered with or missing.
Martin seeks actual damages for physical injuries such as a concussion and post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from these incidents. He also requests compensatory damages for emotional distress inflicted upon him during these events alongside punitive damages aimed at punishing Casey’s Retail Company for its role in employing individuals like Boren who have histories of violent behavior without proper oversight or intervention when necessary.
Representing Mark Martin is attorney Christina Abraham whose office is located at 161 N Clark Street Suite 1600 Chicago IL; she filed this case under Case No.: 25-cv-231 before Judge yet unnamed in court documents provided thus far.