Nadia Hussain, an anesthesiologist and interventional pain management physician, has filed a lawsuit against the Acting Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, alleging racial, national origin, religious discrimination, and retaliation. The complaint was lodged in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 5, 2025. Hussain accuses Todd Hunter, Acting Secretary of the VA, of fostering a hostile work environment and engaging in discriminatory practices.
The plaintiff claims that during her tenure at both Jesse Brown VA Medical Center and VISN12 Clinical Resource Hub in Chicago, she was subjected to numerous incidents of harassment due to her Asian race, Indian/Pakistani national origin, and Islamic faith. Allegations include derogatory remarks about Indian doctors and Islam, with statements such as "Muslims should not be allowed into America" and "Ramadan is stupid." These comments were allegedly made by colleagues and supervisors alike. Furthermore, Hussain contends that she faced disparate treatment compared to her non-Asian or non-Muslim counterparts; she was paid less despite having superior qualifications and was required to work unpaid overtime.
Hussain also asserts that upon returning from maternity leave, she was compelled to make up for her absence by taking extra calls and using a lactation pump in unsanitary conditions—treatment not extended to her white colleagues. The lawsuit details multiple instances where Hussain reported these grievances internally without resolution. Despite filing formal complaints with the VA's Office of Employment Discrimination and Complaint Adjudication in September 2023, no satisfactory action was taken before she escalated the matter to federal court.
In response to these allegations, Nadia Hussain seeks several forms of relief from the court. She demands back pay with adjustments for any tax implications arising from lump-sum payments. Additionally, she requests front pay along with compensatory damages for emotional distress caused by this alleged discrimination. Punitive damages are also sought due to what is described as willful misconduct by the defendant. Legal fees incurred during this process are included in her demands for relief.
Representing Nadia Hussain is attorney Jonathan C. Goldman from the Law Offices of Goldman & Ehrlich based in Chicago. The case has been assigned Case No.: 1:25-cv-1228 under Judge Magistrate Jury Demand.