A hospital employee has taken legal action against her employer, alleging a pattern of sex-based discrimination and harassment that has left her in distress. Jacqueline Chacon filed a complaint against Saint Anthony Hospital in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 26, 2025. The lawsuit accuses the hospital of allowing a hostile work environment to persist, despite her repeated complaints.
The complaint details Chacon's experiences since she began working as a patient hospital associate at Saint Anthony Hospital on December 18, 2023. According to Chacon, from June 2024 onwards, she was subjected to inappropriate comments and physical advances by Anthony Massey, the Director of Environmental Services. In one instance, Massey allegedly made sexually explicit remarks such as "I heard you can suck dick really good. I want to see how it is," which left Chacon feeling extremely uncomfortable and forced her to avoid shared spaces with him.
The situation escalated when Massey attempted to physically assault Chacon by trying to pull down her shirt on December 18, 2024. Despite reporting these incidents to Human Resources (HR) on January 8, 2025, and speaking with them five days later, Massey was only temporarily suspended before being allowed back into the workplace alongside Chacon. This decision left her feeling vulnerable and unprotected by the management.
Chacon's complaint highlights not only Massey's actions but also implicates Heather Turnpin, another associate who witnessed some of the harassment yet vowed to protect Massey due to their familial connection. Turnpin allegedly taunted Chacon through text messages and dismissed any claims of misconduct.
Chacon's legal filing claims violations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1981 for sex-based discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. She argues that Saint Anthony Hospital failed in its duty to provide a safe working environment free from discrimination and harassment based on sex. As a result of these events, Chacon reports suffering from extreme mental anguish requiring therapy.
In seeking justice through this lawsuit, Chacon requests back pay with interest, compensatory and punitive damages for emotional distress endured due to the hospital's alleged negligence in addressing her complaints adequately. Additionally sought are reasonable attorney fees along with any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Jacqueline Chacon is Chad W. Eisenback from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while no specific defense attorneys or judges have been named yet in this case identified as Case No.: 1:25-cv-02030.