An Illinois woman says she was the victim of disability discrimination and retaliation by a former employer.
Jamilya Hughes, who lives in St. Clair County, filed her lawsuit in federal court against against Universal Protection Service accusing the company of disability discrimination and retaliation under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
According to the complaint, Hughes suffers from epilepsy and requires access to water to mitigate her symptoms. Despite being aware of her condition, she claims Universal Protection Service failed to accommodate her disability.
The plaintiff worked as a security guard for Universal Protection Service from March 2020 until her termination in July 2023.
She says she was assigned to work in a location with high temperatures and no access to water, which exacerbated her symptoms. When she requested reasonable accommodations such as a cooler environment with access to water, she alleges that the company responded by saying, "This job is too complicated for you."