In a striking legal battle, a former employee has taken a stand against alleged workplace discrimination and harassment. On April 8, 2025, Alberto Lazo filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Elite Gaming, LLC. The lawsuit accuses the company of national origin-based discrimination, harassment, and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The case revolves around allegations that Lazo faced discriminatory treatment during his tenure as a lead technician at Elite Gaming from June 2024 to March 14, 2025. Lazo claims that Robert Bailey, an American/Caucasian technician who joined the company in January 2025, made racially charged comments about his Hispanic heritage. In one instance, Bailey allegedly asked Lazo if he knew what then-President Trump was doing with "all these illegals," implying derogatory assumptions based on Lazo's national origin. Despite expressing discomfort with such discussions, Bailey reportedly continued making offensive remarks like "Well, at least you're legal."
Lazo's attempts to address the issue internally were met with inadequate responses from management. After reporting Bailey's behavior to his supervisor Paris and leaving a voicemail for CEO Vlad without receiving any resolution or acknowledgment of the severity of the situation, Lazo felt marginalized. He alleges that instead of addressing his concerns, management dismissed them as mere misunderstandings or normal conversations.
The tension escalated when Bailey confronted Lazo on March 13, 2025, questioning how he came to the U.S., further perpetuating a hostile work environment. Despite reporting this incident to higher-ups again, no effective action was taken. The following day marked a turning point when Lazo was terminated under ambiguous circumstances—initially cited as performance issues despite no prior warnings or discussions about his work quality.
Lazo contends that these shifting reasons for termination were pretextual and rooted in retaliation for his complaints about discrimination and harassment. Following his dismissal, Bailey was reportedly assigned Lazo's responsibilities and company car.
The plaintiff seeks various forms of relief from the court: back pay with interest; compensatory and punitive damages; reasonable attorneys' fees; costs; and any other relief deemed just by the court. This lawsuit highlights significant concerns about workplace equality and employer accountability in handling discrimination claims.
Representing Alberto Lazo are attorneys Nathan C. Volheim and Mally L. Slone from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while details regarding Elite Gaming’s legal representation remain undisclosed at this time. The case is presided over by Judge [Name] under Case ID: 1:25-cv-03756.