A former employee has filed a lawsuit against a prominent hotel chain, alleging racial discrimination and wrongful termination. Anthony Conner, the plaintiff, submitted his complaint to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 6, 2026, targeting Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, Marriott International, Inc., and Watermark Lodging Trust, Inc. as defendants.
The case revolves around allegations of racial discrimination that Conner claims he experienced during his tenure at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel. According to the complaint, Conner began working for the hotel in 2005 and was terminated on July 3, 2025. In the months leading up to his termination, Conner alleges that a coworker made several racially charged comments towards him. These included derogatory terms such as “gang banger,” accusations of using “Black lingo,” and inflammatory statements like “Trump is back, he will put Black folks in their place,” accompanied by gestures symbolizing “white power.” Despite reporting these incidents to various managerial staff including the Housekeeping Manager and Director of Housekeeping, Conner asserts that no corrective action was taken by the defendants.
The situation escalated on May 23, 2025, when the same coworker allegedly threatened Conner physically with statements like “I’ll catch you outside” and “I know where you live.” This led to an abusive work environment where Conner feared for his safety. Following another report of this incident to management, Conner was suspended on June 6, 2025, and eventually terminated in early July. Notably, while Conner faced termination following these events, his white coworker did not face similar disciplinary actions.
Conner’s lawsuit accuses the defendants of retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 after he reported racial discrimination. He further claims that he was subjected to a hostile work environment based on race and wrongfully terminated due to racial bias. The complaint details how these unlawful employment practices have resulted in lost wages for Conner and emotional distress that disrupted his personal life.
In seeking justice from the court, Conner demands general and compensatory damages determined at trial alongside special damages including lost wages. He also seeks punitive damages aimed at penalizing the defendants’ alleged misconduct. Additionally, he requests coverage for attorney fees and litigation expenses incurred during this legal battle.
Representing Anthony Conner are attorneys Edward M. Fox and Tricia M. Crabtree from Ed Fox & Associates Ltd., based in Chicago. The case has been filed under Case No.: 26-cv-1425 with a jury trial demanded by the plaintiff.
Source: 126cv01425_Anthony_Conner_v_Renaissance_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
