A former employee of a well-known department store chain has filed a lawsuit alleging severe misconduct by a colleague and the company's failure to act. Alexis Lewis, represented by Mahoney Law Firm, LLC, filed the complaint against Forman Mills Inc. in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 13, 2025. The suit accuses Forman Mills of allowing a hostile work environment where sexual harassment and assault were allegedly perpetrated by an employee named Z’hmar Branch.
According to the complaint, Alexis Lewis began working at Forman Mills' Lansing Department Store in Illinois on November 24, 2023. She claims that shortly after her employment commenced, she was subjected to unwanted sexual advances and inappropriate behavior from Branch, who was also employed at the store. On December 7, 2023, Branch allegedly followed Lewis around making sexually charged comments and showed her explicit images on his phone. The situation escalated when Branch reportedly pressed his body against Lewis and touched her inappropriately despite her clear objections.
Lewis reported these incidents to Forman Mills management on December 7, but claims that no significant action was taken against Branch. Instead, she alleges that management advised her to handle the situation herself and warned her about potential termination if she missed any shifts. Feeling unsafe and unsupported at work led Lewis to file a police report with the Lansing Police Department on December 9. During their investigation, Branch admitted to some of the allegations made by Lewis.
The complaint further states that Forman Mills had prior knowledge of Branch's inappropriate conduct towards other female employees but failed to take corrective measures. This alleged negligence resulted in a hostile work environment that forced Lewis to resign in January 2024 due to ongoing distress and fear for her safety.
In seeking justice through this lawsuit, Alexis Lewis is pursuing actual damages exceeding $75,000 along with punitive damages for violations under both the Illinois Human Rights Act and the Illinois Gender Violence Act. Her legal team argues that Forman Mills’ lack of response demonstrated reckless indifference towards its employees' rights and safety.
The case is being handled by attorneys Ryan J. Mahoney and Leigh M. Perica from Mahoney Law Firm, LLC. The presiding judge for this case is yet to be determined under Case ID No. 1:25-cv-01560.