A former employee has filed a lawsuit against a prominent car dealership, alleging severe racial and national origin discrimination. The complaint was lodged by Joel Moreta Cornielle in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on November 26, 2025, targeting Midway Dodge, Incorporated II. The lawsuit accuses the defendant of violating multiple civil rights laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 42 U.S.C. §1981, through discriminatory practices based on race and national origin.
Joel Moreta Cornielle, a Hispanic Dominican and Black individual, worked as a salesman for Midway Dodge from December 1, 2024, until his constructive discharge on February 14, 2025. Throughout his employment, Cornielle claims he faced continuous harassment and discrimination primarily from a coworker named Joe, who is described as White and American/Italian. Allegedly related to Cornielle’s supervisor, Joe reportedly made derogatory remarks about Puerto Ricans and Dominicans’ work ethic. Despite Cornielle’s attempts to address these issues with management by voicing his discomfort over being called “gato negro” (black cat) in company group chats and being mocked for his accent and English proficiency, no corrective actions were taken.
Cornielle’s allegations detail how management not only ignored his complaints but also retaliated against him by refusing to approve his sales—leading to financial strain—and subjecting him to increased scrutiny compared to non-minority coworkers. This hostile work environment culminated in what Cornielle describes as constructive discharge due to unbearable working conditions tied directly to racial and national origin-based discrimination.
The lawsuit asserts that Midway Dodge’s actions resulted in significant emotional distress and financial harm for Cornielle. He seeks various forms of relief from the court including back pay with interest, front pay, compensatory damages for emotional distress, punitive damages for willful misconduct by the employer, attorneys’ fees, costs associated with litigation, and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Joel Moreta Cornielle are attorneys Sophia K. Steere and Nathan C. Volheim from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., based in Lombard, Illinois. The case has been assigned Case ID: 1:25-cv-14479.
Source: 125cv14479_Joel_Moreta_v_Midway_Dodge_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
