Madison County resident David L. Sanders is suing Laura-Buick GMC for alleged violation of the Illinois Whistleblower Act and retaliatory discharge.
According to the official court filing, Sanders was an employee of Laura-Buick GMC from 2016-2022. During the course of his employment, he claims he learned of and witnessed illegal, deceptive, and fraudulent activities that Laura-Buick GMC's owners, managers, and employees were undertaking on a daily basis for the benefit of the location and themselves. Sanders claims the activities allegedly included forging customer signatures on documents, filling out manufacturer documents that would indicate that a vehicle was, in fact, sold prior to that vehicle arriving on the premises; and fraudulently filling out audit packets.
Sanders alleges he refused to participate in the aforementioned illegal activities, which directly led to the company terminating his employment on July 21. As a result, Sanders claimed he suffered a loss of wages and income, emotional damage, humiliation, loss of reputation, and the loss of a normal life, all of which he says he will continue to experience in the future.
Sanders is suing Laura-Buick GMC on two counts: violation of the Illinois Whistleblower Act and retaliatory discharge. He is currently seeking financial rewards equal to or greater than $50,000 per count in addition to the costs of court.