Todd Anderson has filed a lawsuit against Elgin Community College, accusing the institution of discrimination and retaliation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The complaint was lodged in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on January 22, 2025. Anderson claims that his termination from his role as director of the truck driving program was a direct result of discrimination based on his HIV-positive status and subsequent retaliation after he sought ADA protections.
The lawsuit details Anderson's employment history with Elgin Community College, where he served from March 14, 2022, until his dismissal on July 24, 2024. During his tenure, Anderson's responsibilities included training driver trainers, maintaining program documents, and advising students. However, things took a turn when he disclosed his HIV status to Anthony Ray, the college's Chief Human Resources Officer, on June 10, 2024. Anderson requested that his health condition be kept confidential and that he be afforded ADA protections due to his disability.
Despite these requests, Anderson alleges that just days later, he faced accusations from the college of improperly assigning himself work hours. This led to his suspension with pay and eventual termination. On June 21, 2024, feeling wronged by what he perceived as discriminatory actions linked to his disability disclosure, Anderson filed a formal complaint citing ADA violations. He noted an absence of any corrective action or negative performance reviews prior to revealing his health status.
Anderson argues that Elgin Community College's response—or lack thereof—to his complaints exemplifies a failure to investigate and address discrimination concerns adequately. His lawsuit asserts that no other employees outside of his protected class faced similar adverse actions and that the justification for his termination was rooted in bias against him due to his HIV status.
In seeking redress from the court, Anderson is pursuing several forms of relief including back pay with interest, compensatory and punitive damages for emotional distress and loss of employment benefits, as well as attorney fees. The case underscores ongoing issues surrounding workplace discrimination based on health conditions and the importance of adhering to ADA regulations.
Representing Todd Anderson is attorney Peyton M. Paschke from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while no defense attorneys are listed in this initial filing. The case is presided over by judges in the Northern District of Illinois under Case ID: 1:25-cv-00747.