In a gripping legal battle that has unfolded in the Northern District of Illinois, an employee has filed a lawsuit against his employer, alleging years of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Chris Burton, the plaintiff, submitted this complaint on February 26, 2025, targeting HMSHost International Inc., accusing them of perpetuating a hostile work environment at O'Hare International Airport.
Burton's case is rooted in claims of racial and sex discrimination that he alleges began shortly after his employment commenced with HMSHost on April 17, 2013. The lawsuit outlines a pattern of discriminatory practices and harassment that Burton asserts have been ongoing since 2017. According to the complaint, Burton faced "racial discrimination because of the plaintiff’s Race, African American," as well as "sex discrimination because of the plaintiff’s Sex, Male," both violations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The defendant allegedly failed to address these issues despite multiple complaints and charges filed with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Burton's narrative paints a vivid picture of workplace turmoil. He describes incidents where management ignored his grievances or retaliated against him for raising concerns about unfair treatment. For instance, he recounts being physically assaulted by a coworker in December 2017 and facing verbal abuse from colleagues without any intervention from HR or management. His attempts to seek justice through internal channels were met with indifference or outright hostility.
The lawsuit further details how Burton's efforts to secure fair treatment were thwarted by systemic biases within HMSHost's management structure. He claims that requests for shift changes were denied without explanation while other employees received preferential treatment based on race or nationality. In one poignant example from May 2023, Burton describes how store manager Medina removed his name from a shift schedule despite being the only server who signed up for it.
Throughout this ordeal, Burton sought assistance from various entities including HR representatives and union officials but found little support. His persistence led him to file multiple EEOC charges over the years—each resulting in a Notice of Right to Sue—but the alleged discriminatory practices continued unabated.
In seeking relief from the court, Burton demands acknowledgment of his grievances along with appropriate remedies for emotional distress and breach of contract related to non-harassment policies purportedly violated by HMSHost. He also seeks punitive damages aimed at rectifying past injustices and preventing future occurrences.
Representing himself pro se due to difficulties securing legal representation amidst these complex proceedings, Chris Burton stands firm in his pursuit of justice against what he perceives as an entrenched culture of discrimination within HMSHost International Inc. This case is presided over by Judge Elaine E. Buckio with Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes assisting in adjudication under Case ID: 1:25-cv-02007.