University Accused of Disability Discrimination by Former Employee

A former employee has filed a lawsuit against a major medical institution, alleging wrongful termination and discrimination due to her disability. Zenobia Leggins initiated the legal action against The University of Chicago Medical Center in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 18, 2026. Leggins claims that her dismissal was a direct result of discrimination and retaliation by her employer, violating multiple federal and state laws.

Zenobia Leggins, who suffers from severe back-related medical conditions such as arthritis and scoliosis, began working as a Medical Assistant at The University of Chicago Medical Center in October 2023. Despite performing her duties without any performance complaints, she alleges that the institution failed to provide reasonable accommodations for her disabilities. In November 2024, Leggins requested intermittent leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) due to her health condition, which was initially approved by the medical center’s leave administrator. However, complications arose when she was asked to recertify her FMLA leave in October 2025—a process that was still pending when she was terminated later that month.

The complaint accuses The University of Chicago Medical Center of multiple violations including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA), and interference with rights under the FMLA. According to Leggins’ attorneys from Consumer Law Partners, LLC, these actions resulted in financial hardship and emotional distress for their client. “Defendant’s conduct toward Plaintiff illustrated a willful and/or reckless violation of the ADA,” reads part of the filing. The lawsuit seeks various forms of relief including compensatory damages for emotional distress, punitive damages to deter similar future conduct by employers, back pay for lost wages and benefits, reinstatement or front pay as appropriate, as well as attorney fees.

Leggins is represented by Taxiarchis Hatzidimitriadis and Ricardo Alvarez from Consumer Law Partners, LLC. The case is being heard before an unnamed judge under Case No. 1:26-cv-1792.