A former employee has filed a lawsuit against her previous employer, alleging severe discrimination and retaliation. Medina Burdalic initiated the complaint on February 23, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Kele, Inc., operating as Lesman Instrument Company.
Medina Burdalic claims that during her tenure as an inside sales representative from November 2016 to October 2024, she faced discrimination based on her disability and national origin. The lawsuit accuses Kele, Inc. of violating multiple laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act (IWPCA). Burdalic asserts that despite disclosing her ADHD to management and requesting reasonable accommodations such as remote work or desk relocation due to difficulty focusing in a noisy environment, her requests were either ignored or denied. She alleges that after informing her manager about another job offer allowing remote work to care for her sick mother, she was promised a raise and permanent remote work but later faced escalating hostility.
The complaint further details instances where sales orders were rerouted from Burdalic to male colleagues, diminishing her earning potential. Despite reporting these issues to company executives including CEO Mike DeLacluyse, no corrective actions were taken. Additionally, she alleges being subjected to derogatory comments about her mental health by management. After engaging in protected activities like reporting discrimination and requesting FMLA leave for caregiving duties, Burdalic claims she faced retaliation culminating in termination under false pretenses of voluntary resignation.
Burdalic seeks back pay with interest, front pay, compensatory and punitive damages among other reliefs from the court. She also demands a jury trial for all issues presented in the case.
Representing Medina Burdalic are attorneys Sophia K. Steere and Nathan C. Volheim from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., while presiding over this case is yet unspecified under Case ID: 1:26-cv-02010.
Source: 126cv02010_Medina_Burdalic_v_Kele_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
