Rickesha Hollingsworth has filed a lawsuit against Flynn Group, doing business as Taco Bell Restaurant, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, East St. Louis Division. The case ID is 3:24-cv-01245 and was filed on May 7, 2024. The plaintiff alleges sex-based discrimination and pregnancy-based discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Hollingsworth claims that during her job interview with Taco Bell on December 7, 2023, she was subjected to different terms and conditions of employment than others not within her protected class. The interviewer's demeanor allegedly changed negatively after Hollingsworth disclosed her pregnancy.
The defendant's representative reportedly told Hollingsworth that due to her pregnancy, she would be unable to complete the job as she "won't be moving fast enough." However, Hollingsworth insists that she is more than capable of performing the job duties for the position she interviewed for and that her pregnancy does not hinder her potential job performance.
Hollingsworth seeks redress for the alleged sex-based discrimination and pregnancy-based discrimination under Title VII. She claims that she was treated less favorably than similarly situated non-pregnant prospective employees outside of her protected class and suffered multiple adverse employment actions including not being hired.