Scott King, a former custodian at ABM Industries, Inc., has filed a lawsuit alleging that the company unlawfully interfered with his rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and retaliated against him for exercising those rights. The complaint was lodged in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on March 12, 2025, naming ABM Industries as the defendant.
The case centers around King's employment with ABM Industries where he served as a custodian responsible for maintaining buildings and facilities. According to the complaint, King had been diagnosed with intermediate blood pressure and diabetes in May 2024, conditions which necessitated his application for FMLA leave. Despite being approved for FMLA leave, King alleges that he was wrongfully terminated by his manager Todd on July 25, 2024, after exceeding an alleged limit of six days off per month due to his medical condition—a restriction not mentioned in his FMLA approval letter.
King contends that this termination was not only unjust but also retaliatory. He asserts that ABM Industries failed to verify with human resources whether he had indeed exceeded his leave entitlement before terminating him. Following his dismissal, an investigation by the union found King eligible for rehire; however, subsequent applications were denied without valid justification. In January 2025, when King sought clarification from another manager named Scott about his rehire eligibility, he was informed that there were no grounds making him ineligible for rehire despite being denied employment again.
In filing this lawsuit, King accuses ABM Industries of violating several provisions of the FMLA by both interfering with his right to take medical leave and retaliating against him post-application. The plaintiff claims these actions have resulted in significant personal and professional harm including loss of income and benefits as well as emotional distress.
King is seeking multiple forms of relief from the court: back pay with interest, front pay, compensation for lost benefits, compensatory and punitive damages, attorney's fees and costs, pre-judgment interest if applicable, and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
The case is being handled by Chad W. Eisenback from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., representing Scott King. The case identification number is 1:25-cv-02597.