A former employee has filed a lawsuit against her previous employer, alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). On February 3, 2026, Sekinat Akorede initiated legal proceedings in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Athletico, Ltd., claiming discrimination based on her disability and subsequent retaliation.
The complaint details Akorede’s employment experience as a patient coordinator at Athletico from March 4, 2025, until her termination on August 29, 2025. She disclosed her disabilities—anxiety and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)—to her employer upon hiring. Despite being qualified to perform her job duties, Akorede alleges that she faced significant anxiety due to an overwhelming workload and chronic understaffing. Her requests for reasonable accommodations, such as additional breaks to manage anxiety symptoms, were denied by her supervisor, Lara Hayward. The plaintiff further claims that after consulting with her psychiatrist for documentation supporting her accommodation request, she was placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) that outlined minor issues and set unattainable goals.
Akorede contends that the PIP was retaliatory and pretextual. She also reports experiencing panic attacks at work without receiving any support or accommodations from Athletico. Despite submitting formal accommodation requests through company channels in August 2025, she was terminated shortly thereafter under what she believes were false pretenses related to tardiness and performance issues.
In the lawsuit, Akorede accuses Athletico of failing to provide reasonable accommodations for her disabilities and not engaging in an interactive process to determine appropriate accommodations as required by the ADA. She asserts that other employees without disabilities received more lenient treatment regarding similar infractions. The complaint outlines four counts against Athletico: disability-based discrimination, failure to accommodate under the ADA, disability-based harassment, and retaliation.
The plaintiff seeks various forms of relief from the court including back pay with interest, front pay, compensatory and punitive damages, loss of benefits compensation, attorneys’ fees and costs, as well as any other relief deemed just by the court.
Representing Sekinat Akorede is attorney Travis Lampert from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while no information about Athletico’s legal representation is provided in this document. The case is identified under Case ID: 1:26-cv-01189.
Source: 126cv01189_Sekinat_Akorede_v_Athletico_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
