A former St. Clair County custodian claims he was wrongfully terminated from a Cahokia school district after he obtained workers' compensation following an alleged work-related injury.
D’Necco D. Rucker of Fairview Heights filed a lawsuit on June 9 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Cahokia Unit School District #187 claiming he was denied his employment rights following a September 2013 injury.
According to the complaint, Rucker, who worked as a custodian for the district, claims he sustained a work-related injury in the course of his employment on or about Sept. 24, 2013. Pursuant to the Illinois Worker’s Compensation Act, Rucker exercised his legal rights to obtain benefits and was off work from early November 2013 through late August 2014, the suit states.
The plaintiff alleges that upon his return, he endured harassment and discrimination from his supervisor in retaliation for obtaining worker’s compensation. Rucker claims he was treated in a derogatory and disrespectful manner and was subjected to a hostile work environment.
According to the lawsuit, the defendant terminated the plaintiff on or about March 9, 2015.
Claiming lost wages and benefits, embarrassment, humiliation and damage to his reputation and community standing, Rucker seeks judgment in his favor for damages in excess of $50,000, plus attorneys’ fees and costs.
He is represented by Mathis, Marifian & Richter in Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 15-L-337