State v. Human Rights Commission

A woman filed a complaint against the Illinois Department of Corrections alleging that she had been sexually harassed by her immediate supervisor, and was discharged in retaliation after she opposed the harassment and filed charges. An Administrative Law Judge found the harassment sufficient to create a hostile work environment and determined that her dismissal was retaliatory. Her reinstatement and monetary relief were recommended. The Illinois Human Rights Commission upheld the decision, awarding the woman back pay, benefits, medical expenses, attorneys' fees, and costs. The Department of Corrections appealed, arguing that the Commission's findings were against the manifest weight of the evidence and that the award for lost benefits constituted impermissible double damages. The appellate court upheld the Commission’s decision, finding that the evidence supported the conclusion that the woman was subjected to unlawful sexual harassment and was fired in retaliation. The court also rejected the Department’s argument regarding double recovery, ruling that the award for lost benefits was appropriate and not duplicative. The court affirmed the Human Rights Commission’s order in its entirety. 

Topics

• Gender discrimination
• Sexual harassment

Geographical location

• North America
• Illinois

Keywords

• sexual harassment
• employment discrimination
• gender discrimination
• 1989
• illinois

Year

• 1989

External URL

• State v. Human Rights Commission

Court

• Court of Appeals Fourth District

Type

• Domestic Case Law

Jurisdiction

• Illinois