BELLEVILLE - A former employee of a trucking firm alleges her employment was terminated after she filed a workers' compensation claim.
Tonya Racelis of Granite City alleges the injury she suffered at work was linked to being told eight months later that she was no longer employed by the company.
Racelis filed suit against Vanguard Truck Centers in St. Clair County Circuit Court, alleging retaliatory discharge. She seeks lost wages and benefits, and punitive damages.
When contacted at its St. Louis headquarters, a representative of the company told the Record, "I do not think anyone can speak on that, can't speak on anything with open litigation."
According to the complaint, Racelis suffered an injury linked to her work at a Cahokia center Aug. 29, 2018. She claims she became eligible for workers' compensation benefits and received medical treatment for her injury on the same day, the suit alleges.
Her complaint alleges she was terminated for exercising her rights under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act and that there was a "casual connection" between exercising her rights and the termination.
Under workers' compensation statutes, employers are not allowed to terminate the employment of a worker for filing a claim.
According to the suit, Racelis will continue to suffer from loss of income and benefits and she has suffered emotional distress, embarrassment and humiliation.
Racelis seeks back wages and benefits, punitive damages in excess of $50,000, which, the plaintiff argues are "necessary to punish the defendant and other entities who are similarly disposed to violate the strong public policy of the state of Illinois."
She is represented by attorneys Keith Short and Jack Daugherty of Short and Daugherty in Alton.
St. Clair County County Circuit Case number 19-L-535