In a harrowing case that underscores the ongoing battle against workplace harassment, a former employee has taken legal action against her employer, alleging severe misconduct and discrimination. Jacqueline Chacon filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 26, 2025, accusing Saint Anthony Hospital of sex-based discrimination, harassment, and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
According to the complaint, Chacon was employed by Saint Anthony Hospital as a patient hospital associate starting December 18, 2023. The lawsuit details an environment rife with inappropriate behavior and alleges that from June 2024 onwards, she was subjected to sexually explicit comments by Anthony Massey, the Director of Environmental Services. Massey's alleged remarks included offensive comments about her sexual abilities. The situation escalated in December 2024 when Massey reportedly attempted to physically assault Chacon by trying to pull down her shirt. Despite reporting these incidents to Human Resources in January 2025, Chacon claims that effective action was not taken; Massey was briefly suspended but soon returned to work alongside her.
Chacon's allegations extend beyond Massey to include Heather Turnpin, another associate who is related to Massey. Turnpin allegedly witnessed some of the harassment but vowed to protect her family member by denying any wrongdoing. Furthermore, Turnpin reportedly taunted Chacon through text messages with sexually explicit content. These actions have contributed significantly to Chacon's distress and fear of retribution from both management and coworkers.
The plaintiff asserts that Saint Anthony Hospital failed in its duty to provide a safe working environment free from harassment and discrimination. The complaint argues that despite meeting or exceeding performance expectations throughout her employment, Chacon faced adverse treatment compared to other employees outside her protected class due to her gender. She also contends that the hospital did not conduct a thorough investigation into her complaints nor took necessary steps to prevent further occurrences.
In seeking justice through this lawsuit, Jacqueline Chacon requests several forms of relief from the court: back pay with interest for lost wages due to the hostile work environment; compensatory and punitive damages for emotional distress; coverage of attorney fees and costs; and any additional relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Jacqueline Chacon is Chad W. Eisenback from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while no attorneys are listed for Saint Anthony Hospital at this stage. The case has been assigned Case ID: 1:25-cv-02030.