A legal complaint alleges that a healthcare and human services provider subjected an employee to sexual harassment, discrimination based on sex, and retaliation after she reported inappropriate conduct in the workplace. The lawsuit was filed by Ashley Holloway in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on March 17, 2026, naming Eva Mae Recovery Hope, Inc. as the defendant.
According to the complaint, Ashley Holloway worked as a Licensed Counselor for Eva Mae Recovery Hope, Inc. from January 1, 2021 until her resignation on June 23, 2025. The filing states that Holloway consistently met or exceeded performance expectations during her employment and was considered an “employee” under federal law. The defendant is described as a corporation specializing in healthcare and human services with operations in Cook County.
The central allegations focus on events beginning in April 2025 when Holloway’s director—identified only as Corey—allegedly offered her $1,000 to sleep with him. According to the complaint, Corey said: “$1,000 could really change a woman’s life. As a married man, sometimes you want to do something else.” He also reportedly suggested that the money could help cover Holloway’s rent. Holloway refused these advances and reported the incident to Vice President and Human Resources representative Laquan Nelson but initially declined further action beyond making management aware.
The complaint asserts that following this report—and continuing through May 2025—Holloway experienced further inappropriate behavior from Corey. This included pressure to falsify group therapy attendance records for financial gain by adding names of non-attendees to lists submitted for payment purposes. When Holloway refused this request due to ethical concerns and company policy prohibitions, her work schedule was changed without explanation or similar changes made for other employees—a move she believed was retaliatory because it interfered with her childcare obligations.
Holloway continued reporting incidents both internally within management channels and directly to Human Resources over several months. She estimates speaking with HR between fifteen and twenty times about ongoing harassment and retaliation by Corey. During this period, Corey allegedly made comments implying inappropriate relationships between Holloway and male coworkers such as: “You gotta be messing with her,” directed at colleagues.
Despite assurances from HR that she would not lose her job for reporting these issues, Holloway claims no meaningful action was taken by management or HR to investigate or stop the alleged behavior. At one point during a phone meeting involving Corey and another manager about his conduct, Corey apologized but was told by management simply to move on from the incident.
The situation reportedly escalated until June 13, 2025 when Holloway submitted her resignation citing a hostile work environment created by Corey’s actions and what she described as insufficient response from company leadership. Although she provided two weeks’ notice intending her last day to be June 27th, she left earlier due to what she called an extremely tense atmosphere interfering with her ability to perform her job duties.
The lawsuit alleges violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964—including sex-based discrimination (Count I), sex-based harassment (Count II), retaliation (Count III)—as well as corresponding violations under the Illinois Human Rights Act (Counts IV-VI). It argues that Eva Mae Recovery Hope is strictly liable because Corey’s actions were carried out within his supervisory role at the company.
As relief from the court, Holloway seeks back pay with interest; front pay; compensation for lost benefits; compensatory and punitive damages; reasonable attorneys’ fees; pre-judgment interest if applicable; and any other relief deemed just by the court.
Ashley Holloway is represented by attorneys Chad W. Eisenback, Nathan C. Volheim, and Chasidy K. Clark of Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., located in Lombard, Illinois. The case number is 1:26-cv-02975.
Source: 126cv02975_Ashley_Holloway_v_Eva_Mae_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf