A recent federal lawsuit claims that an employee was denied reasonable accommodations and ultimately forced out of her job after sustaining a disabling injury. The complaint was filed by Kim Davey in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on March 5, 2026, naming Apartment Management Consultants, LLC as the defendant.
According to the filing, Davey began working as a Leasing Director for Apartment Management Consultants in September 2024. Her responsibilities included overseeing leasing operations, supervising staff, preparing delinquency notices for residents facing eviction, and managing tenant relations. In November 2024, Davey suffered a broken heel in a car accident that resulted in significant mobility limitations. Despite these challenges, she asserts that she remained able to perform her job duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
Upon returning from medical leave in April 2025, Davey requested accommodations such as additional breaks to elevate her leg and permission to wear comfortable shoes. She worked with Human Resources Compliance Advisor Jocelyn Speaks Smith to implement these changes. The complaint states that these accommodations were approved and functioned without issue under supervisor Jennifer Davidson.
The situation reportedly changed when Julie Meszaros became Davey’s supervisor around July 2025. The lawsuit alleges that Meszaros made discriminatory remarks about Davey’s disability and minimized her injury by saying things like “You don’t look like you have a disability” and “I got in a car accident and I was fine.” According to the complaint, Meszaros also suggested that Davey could use a sled if she needed help navigating stairs—comments which Davey found humiliating.
In early November 2025, Meszaros allegedly instructed Davey to personally deliver delinquency notices—a task previously handled by maintenance staff—which would require using stairs despite her mobility restrictions. When Davey explained her limitations, Meszaros reportedly responded: “Maybe it’s time to look for a different job,” indicating that existing accommodations did not excuse her from this assignment.
Davey contacted Human Resources about updating her accommodations and submitted new medical documentation on December 18, 2025 restricting stair use and standing for more than twenty minutes at a time. However, the complaint alleges that instead of engaging in an interactive process regarding possible accommodations or alternative assignments—as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)—the company locked her out of its payroll system on December 22 and placed her on unpaid medical leave.
The lawsuit contends that after being placed on leave, Apartment Management Consultants failed to communicate meaningfully about any return-to-work plan or offer alternative positions compatible with Davey’s restrictions. She was never reinstated as Leasing Director nor provided any definite return date or further discussion regarding accommodations. The company asserted that delivering delinquency notices was an essential function of the role despite historical practice suggesting otherwise.
Davey claims these actions effectively terminated her employment because she was left without income or indication of reinstatement and had no choice but to seek other work. She alleges that non-disabled employees were treated more favorably by not being assigned new physical duties or having their requests for modified tasks refused.
The legal complaint includes four counts: disability-based discrimination; failure to accommodate; disability-based harassment; and retaliation—all under the ADA. It asserts that Apartment Management Consultants acted willfully or recklessly in violation of protected rights by failing to accommodate disabilities reasonably or engage in required interactive processes.
As relief from the court, Davey seeks back pay with interest; front pay; compensation for lost benefits; compensatory and punitive damages; attorneys’ fees and costs; pre-judgment interest if applicable; and any other relief deemed just by the court.
Kim Davey is represented by attorney Travis P. Lampert of Atlas Law Center LTD., Lombard, Illinois (Bar No.: 99843). The case is identified as Case: 1:26-cv-02490.
Source: 126cv02490_Kim_Davey_v_Aparment_Management_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
