A former employee has filed a lawsuit against a major grocery store chain, alleging discrimination and retaliation related to her disability. Suzanne Jordan lodged the complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 21, 2025, accusing Woodman’s Food Market of violating her rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA).
The lawsuit details Jordan's employment journey at Woodman’s Food Market, beginning as a cashier in November 2020 before being promoted to a liquor store clerk in August 2021. Shortly after her promotion, Jordan was diagnosed with breast cancer and required medical leave for surgery. Despite assurances from management about accommodating her condition, she faced numerous obstacles. Her requests for reasonable accommodations were ignored, and upon attempting to return to work with restrictions post-surgery, she was denied re-entry by supervisors Joe and an unnamed assistant manager. "Plaintiff was ignored," states the complaint, highlighting the lack of support from male supervisors until another supervisor named Tiffany intervened.
Jordan's legal filing alleges that Woodman’s not only failed to accommodate her disability but also retaliated against her by terminating her employment under dubious circumstances. The termination occurred on February 13, 2022, citing attendance issues despite her medical leave being approved. According to Jordan, "the first attendance point on paper was September 30, 2021," coinciding with her surgery date—a claim suggesting procedural missteps by Woodman’s management.
In seeking justice through this lawsuit, Jordan aims to secure compensatory damages for lost wages and benefits due to alleged wrongful termination based on discriminatory practices. She is also pursuing punitive damages for mental anguish suffered during this ordeal. Her attorney argues that Woodman’s actions reflect a willful disregard for ADA provisions designed to protect employees like Jordan who face health challenges requiring workplace adjustments.
The case underscores critical aspects of employment law regarding disability rights and employer responsibilities under federal statutes such as the ADA. By bringing these issues before the court, Jordan hopes not only for personal redress but also broader awareness about compliance obligations employers must uphold when dealing with disabled workers.
Representing Suzanne Jordan is Chad W. Eisenback from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while specific details about Woodman’s legal representation remain undisclosed at this time. The case is presided over by judges within the Northern District of Illinois' Western Division under Case ID: 3:25-cv-50074.