EDWARDSVILLE – A former employer is suing a credit union, alleging wrongful termination and age discrimination.
Deborah Willis filed the lawsuit Feb. 29 in Madison County Circuit Court against Scott Credit Union, alleging violations of the Illinois Human Rights Act.
According to the complaint, Willis began working for Scott as an assistant branch manager on Dec. 26, 2007, and was later named employee of the year for 2013. Then on April 27, 2014, she was relocated to the Highland facility, the suit says.
From September 2014 to Jan. 13, 2015, the suit states, Scott issued a series of charges against the plaintiff that did not qualify as formal discipline. She claims these charges were made for the sole purposes of creating a basis upon which Willis could be discharged and replaced with a younger employee.
In addition, the suit alleges, three longstanding employees were terminated, each of them older than 40, while three inexperienced employees, each younger than 40, replaced them. This shows a pattern of discrimination, the suit alleges.
As a result of the alleged discrimination, a violation of the Illinois Human Rights Act, the plaintiff claims she has suffered loss of employment, loss of past and future wages and fringe benefits, emotional humiliation and distress.
Willis seeks damages of more than $50,000, plus attorney fees and court costs. She is represented by attorney John H. Leskera of the Leskera Law Firm in Collinsville.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 16-L-279