A former university professor has taken legal action against a prestigious educational institution, alleging wrongful termination and breach of contract. Janet Sedlar filed a complaint on April 21, 2025, in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, against The University of Chicago. Sedlar claims that her dismissal was retaliatory and violated whistleblower protections after she refused to falsify an official document.
Janet Sedlar, who holds a Ph.D. in Romance Linguistics and various other academic qualifications, was employed by The University of Chicago for sixteen years. During her tenure, she held the position of Associate Senior Instructional Professor and Co-Director of the Spanish Language Program within the Department of Romance Languages and Literature (RLL). According to the complaint filed by her attorney Thomas D. Rosenwein from Rosenwein Law Group, Sedlar's troubles began when she chaired a performance review committee for an Assistant Instructional Professor in 2020-21. Despite pressure from university officials to alter the performance assessment favorably for the instructor under review, Sedlar refused to comply with what she considered an unethical request.
The complaint outlines how Sedlar's refusal led to a series of retaliatory actions by the university administration. She faced an unprecedented mid-term performance review based on vague criticisms that contradicted previous positive evaluations. Her concerns about retaliation were dismissed by multiple university administrators despite being communicated through formal channels. Ultimately, Sedlar's employment was terminated in July 2024 with only six weeks' notice, leaving her unable to secure equivalent employment due to timing constraints.
Sedlar accuses The University of Chicago of breaching its own Whistleblower policy and violating the Illinois Whistleblower Act by retaliating against her for refusing to engage in misconduct. She also alleges that her termination breached contractual obligations as her teaching performance had been consistently praised over her career at the university.
In seeking justice from the court, Sedlar demands compensatory damages exceeding $500,000 for each count cited in her lawsuit. She is also pursuing reinstatement with seniority status intact or front pay if reinstatement is not feasible. Additionally, she seeks back pay with interest, liquidated damages amounting to $10,000, litigation costs including attorney fees and expert witness fees along with civil penalties.
Representing Janet Sedlar is attorney Thomas D. Rosenwein from Rosenwein Law Group based in Chicago. The case is presided over by Judge Mariyana T. Spyropoulos under Case ID 2025L005363.