In a compelling legal battle, an employee is taking on a corporate giant, alleging discrimination and retaliation. Marquell Clark filed a lawsuit against Epiq Global Business Transformation Solutions, LLC in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 28, 2025. The complaint accuses the company of violating both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
The case unfolds with Clark detailing his journey from being a lead service specialist since June 2012 to experiencing severe workplace challenges following a work-related injury in November 2023. According to the complaint, Clark suffered from a pinched nerve that led to significant physical limitations. Despite submitting medical documentation, he faced what he describes as "discrimination" when his employer denied him worker's compensation and ignored his medical restrictions. This denial reportedly led to personal hardships, including losing his apartment and custody of family members.
Clark's allegations extend beyond mere negligence; he claims active harassment and retaliation by his supervisors at Epiq Global. His manager allegedly dismissed his need for FMLA leave with comments undermining its legitimacy for his situation. Furthermore, after being placed on final warnings for attending necessary physical therapy sessions, Clark found himself under increasing pressure at work. He asserts that despite having extended FMLA leave approved in November 2024, the company refused to accommodate this legally sanctioned time off.
Clark's narrative paints a picture of systemic failure within Epiq Global to engage in an interactive process to explore reasonable accommodations for his disability. The culmination of these alleged violations resulted in Clark's termination on December 19, 2024—an action he claims was both discriminatory and retaliatory.
Seeking justice, Clark demands back pay with interest, front pay, compensatory and punitive damages among other reliefs from the court. He emphasizes that Epiq Global’s actions have caused him ongoing emotional distress alongside financial losses.
Representing Marquell Clark is attorney Chad W. Eisenback from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while details about defense counsel remain undisclosed at this stage. The case is presided over by judges yet unnamed under Case ID: 1:25-cv-02116.