A former security guard has filed a lawsuit against two major corporations, alleging severe workplace discrimination and harassment. Jarrod O. Sanders, the plaintiff, submitted his complaint to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on November 5, 2025, targeting Allied Universal Service, Inc., and Nippon Express USA, Inc. The case centers around accusations of racial and gender discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and the creation of a hostile work environment.
Sanders began working as a security guard for Allied Universal Service in October 2023 and was stationed at Nippon Express USA in Aurora, Illinois. He claims that during his tenure, he faced continuous harassment from supervisors and colleagues including Stephanie Johnson and Jaime Rodriguez. According to Sanders, these individuals falsely accused him of possessing a phone on-site despite evidence to the contrary. “The metal detector did not alarm,” Sanders noted in his complaint. This incident led to emotional distress and reputational damage.
Despite reporting these issues to management figures like Jerry Johnson at Allied Universal Service, no corrective measures were taken. Instead, Sanders alleges that he was treated less favorably than non-Black or female employees under similar circumstances. The situation escalated to such an extent that Sanders felt compelled to resign on July 8, 2025—a move he describes as constructive discharge due to the intolerable work conditions.
In his legal filing, Sanders accuses both companies of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by engaging in race-based discrimination (42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)), sex-based discrimination (42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)), retaliation (42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a)), and fostering a hostile work environment. He seeks compensatory damages for lost wages and emotional distress as well as punitive damages against both defendants.
Sanders is representing himself pro se in this case without an attorney listed on record. The case is being overseen by Judge Robert W. Gettleman with Magistrate Judge Daniel P. McLaughlin also involved in proceedings under Case ID: 1:25-cv-13555.
Source: 125cv13555_Jarrod_Sanders_v_Alied_Universal_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
