In a striking legal move, a former employee has filed a lawsuit against her previous employer, alleging discrimination and wrongful termination. Yesenia Hernandez lodged the complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 27, 2026, targeting AIT Worldwide Logistics, Inc. as the defendant.
The lawsuit brought forth by Hernandez accuses AIT Worldwide Logistics of violating several federal and state laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act (IWPCA). According to Hernandez’s claims, she was subjected to disability-based discrimination and harassment due to her medical conditions, which include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and menorrhagia—a condition that developed following a miscarriage in December 2024. Despite being qualified for her role and requesting reasonable accommodations such as working from home to manage her health issues, Hernandez alleges that these requests were ignored or denied by her employer.
Hernandez’s complaint details a series of events that unfolded after she returned from FMLA leave in March 2025. She describes an increasingly hostile work environment where management treated her coldly compared to colleagues outside her protected class. Despite providing medical documentation supporting her need for accommodations related to her disabilities, Hernandez faced disciplinary actions for absenteeism that included medically excused absences. Her efforts to secure accommodations met resistance even when other employees with similar needs received them.
The situation escalated when HR representatives questioned the validity of Hernandez’s doctor’s notes and allegedly invaded her privacy by contacting her doctor without permission. This scrutiny culminated in what Hernandez describes as retaliatory actions leading up to her termination on July 26, 2025—shortly after she began applying for intermittent FMLA leave again due to ongoing health challenges.
In seeking justice through this lawsuit, Hernandez demands back pay along with compensatory and punitive damages for the emotional distress suffered due to alleged ADA violations. She also seeks unpaid vacation time under IWPCA provisions alongside attorney fees and other costs incurred during litigation.
Representing Yesenia Hernandez are attorneys Sophia K. Steere and Nathan C. Volheim from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., based in Lombard, Illinois. The case is identified as Case No: 1:26-cv-02245 in front of an unspecified judge at this stage.
Source: 126cv02245_Yesinia_Hernandez_v_Ait_Worldwide_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
