Joshua Hastings has filed a lawsuit against his former employer, alleging disability discrimination and unlawful termination. The complaint was lodged in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 3, 2025, against Kunes Country C of Woodstock, Inc., doing business as Kunes Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Woodstock.
Hastings' legal battle centers around claims that his former employer violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA), and engaged in retaliatory discharge under common law. According to the complaint, Hastings was employed as a Finance Manager at an automobile dealership owned by the defendant. On January 13, 2024, during a snowstorm at work, Hastings slipped on ice while shoveling snow and sustained a serious knee injury. This injury significantly limited his ability to perform major life activities such as walking and standing. Despite this, Hastings asserts he could still fulfill his job duties with reasonable accommodations.
The plaintiff claims that when he reported his injury to management on January 17, 2024, he faced skepticism about its workplace nature from Regional Manager Kerry Boettcher. Despite this initial dismissal, Hastings followed instructions from General Manager Gino Mangicavello to seek medical treatment. Medical professionals placed him on restricted duty due to his injuries. However, on January 30, 2024, Hastings was terminated without warning or explanation beyond the dealership "going in a different direction."
Hastings alleges that this termination was discriminatory and retaliatory in nature. He argues that it violated both federal and state laws designed to protect employees with disabilities from unfair treatment in the workplace. Specifically, he contends that Kunes Country failed to provide reasonable accommodations for his disability and retaliated against him for seeking these accommodations.
In terms of relief sought from the court, Hastings is asking for compensation for lost wages and benefits, emotional distress damages, punitive damages for willful misconduct by the defendant, reinstatement or front pay if reinstatement is not feasible, attorney's fees and costs associated with bringing this action forward.
Representing Joshua Hastings are attorneys Nicholas Kreitman and Adrienne S. Finucane from Kreitman Law LLC based in Chicago. The case has been assigned Case ID: 1:25-cv-01147 but no judge has been named yet.