Employment Discrimination Demand Letter - Illinois

EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION DEMAND LETTER

State of Illinois

Illinois Human Rights Act and Federal Anti-Discrimination Claims

[ATTORNEY/FIRM LETTERHEAD]

[Firm Name]
[Address Line 1]
[City, Illinois ZIP]
Tel: [Phone Number]
Fax: [Fax Number]
[Attorney Email]
[ARDC Registration Number]

VIA CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
AND VIA EMAIL TO: [recipient_email]

[Date]

[Employer Contact Name]
[Title]
[Company Legal Name]
[Company Address]
[City, State ZIP]

Copy to:
[Company General Counsel, if known]
[Registered Agent, if different]

Re: Employment Discrimination Claim of [Client Full Name]
IDHR Charge No.: [Number, if filed]
EEOC Charge No.: [Number, if filed]
Position: [Job Title]
CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT COMMUNICATION PURSUANT TO FRE 408 / ILL. R. EVID. 408

Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx. Last Name]:

This firm represents [Client Full Name] ("our client") regarding [his/her/their] claims of unlawful employment discrimination against [Company Legal Name] ("[Company Short Name]" or "the Company"). Our client has been subjected to discrimination based on [his/her/their] [protected class] in violation of the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/1-101 et seq.) and federal anti-discrimination statutes.

Please direct all further communications regarding this matter to our office.

I. ILLINOIS LEGAL FRAMEWORK

A. Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA)

Illinois provides comprehensive employment discrimination protections through the IHRA, with one of the most extensive lists of protected classes in the nation. Illinois is a deferral state.

Coverage:

• Private employers with 1 or more employees (harassment) / 15 or more (other discrimination)
• State and local government employers
• Employment agencies and labor organizations

Protected Classes Under Illinois Law:

B. Key Illinois-Specific Features

1. Broad Coverage:

• Harassment: Employers with 1 or more employees
• Other discrimination: Employers with 15 or more employees

2. No Damage Caps:

• IHRA imposes no caps on compensatory or punitive damages

3. Unique Protections:

• Arrest and conviction record
• Unfavorable military discharge
• Order of protection status
• Family responsibilities
• Citizenship status

4. Individual Liability:

• Supervisors may be individually liable for harassment

C. Administrative Exhaustion Requirements

Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR):

IDHR Contact Information:

• Illinois Department of Human Rights
• 555 West Monroe Street, Suite 700
• Chicago, IL 60661
• Phone: (312) 814-6200
• Springfield: (217) 785-5100
• Website: www2.illinois.gov/dhr

EEOC Filing (Cross-Filed with IDHR):

II. PROTECTED CLASS STATUS

A. Client's Protected Class

Our client is a member of the following protected class(es):

[ ] Race: [Specify]
[ ] Color: [Specify]
[ ] Religion: [Specify]
[ ] Sex: [Specify, including pregnancy]
[ ] Sexual Orientation: [Specify]
[ ] Gender Identity: [Specify]
[ ] National Origin: [Specify]
[ ] Ancestry: [Specify]
[ ] Age: [Specify - must be 40+]
[ ] Marital Status: [Specify]
[ ] Physical/Mental Disability: [Specify]
[ ] Military Status: [Specify]
[ ] Unfavorable Military Discharge: [Specify]
[ ] Order of Protection Status: [Specify]
[ ] Citizenship Status: [Specify]
[ ] Arrest Record: [Specify]
[ ] Conviction Record: [Specify]
[ ] Genetic Information: [Specify]
[ ] Reproductive Health Decisions: [Specify]
[ ] Family Responsibilities: [Specify]

B. Evidence of Protected Class Status

[Describe documentation or evidence establishing membership in the protected class]

III. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

A. Employment Relationship

B. Summary of Discriminatory Conduct

Our client was subjected to the following adverse employment action(s):

[ ] Failure to Hire: [Describe]
[ ] Termination: [Describe]
[ ] Demotion: [Describe]
[ ] Failure to Promote: [Describe]
[ ] Hostile Work Environment: [Describe]
[ ] Unequal Pay: [Describe]
[ ] Denial of Accommodation: [Describe]
[ ] Retaliation: [Describe]

C. Timeline of Events

D. Discriminatory Intent / Disparate Treatment

[Describe direct and circumstantial evidence of discrimination]

IV. LEGAL CLAIMS

A. Violation of Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/2-102)

[Company Short Name] violated IHRA by discriminating against our client based on [his/her/their] [protected class].

B. Individual Supervisor Liability (If Harassment)

[Name], in [his/her/their] capacity as supervisor, may be held individually liable for harassment under IHRA.

C. Retaliation (775 ILCS 5/6-101)

[If applicable:] [Company Short Name] retaliated against our client for engaging in protected activity.

V. DAMAGES

A. Economic Damages

B. Compensatory Damages

Compensatory Damages: $[Amount]

Note: Illinois IHRA imposes NO CAPS on compensatory damages.

C. Punitive Damages

Punitive Damages: $[Amount]

Note: Illinois IHRA imposes NO CAPS on punitive damages.

D. Attorney's Fees and Costs

Estimated Fees and Costs: $[Amount]

E. Summary of Damages

VI. SETTLEMENT DEMAND

We demand that [Company Short Name] pay $[Settlement Demand Amount] to settle all claims.

This demand will remain open for twenty-one (21) calendar days, expiring on [Response Deadline Date].

VII. ADMINISTRATIVE STATUS AND LITIGATION POSTURE

A. Agency Filing Status

[ ] IDHR Charge filed on [Date]
[ ] EEOC Charge filed on [Date]
[ ] Right to Sue obtained on [Date]

B. Litigation Venue

[ ] Illinois Circuit Court, [County] County
[ ] United States District Court for the [Northern/Central/Southern] District of Illinois

VIII. DOCUMENT PRESERVATION

LITIGATION HOLD NOTICE — Preserve all relevant documents and ESI.

Sincerely,

[Attorney Name]
[Title]
[Firm Name]
[ARDC No.]

cc: [Client Name]

ILLINOIS-SPECIFIC PRACTICE NOTES (Do Not Include in Final Letter)

Key Illinois Considerations

[ ] Deferral State: 300-day EEOC/IDHR deadline

[ ] No Damage Caps: Unlike Title VII, IHRA has no caps

[ ] Extensive Protected Classes: Among the most in nation

[ ] Individual Supervisor Liability: For harassment claims

[ ] 60-Day RTS Available: Can request early right to sue

[ ] Arrest/Conviction Record: Unique Illinois protection

[ ] Chicago Ordinance: Additional local protections available

Agency Contact Information

Illinois Department of Human Rights:

• Chicago: 555 W. Monroe, Suite 700 — (312) 814-6200
• Springfield: (217) 785-5100
• Website: www2.illinois.gov/dhr

EEOC Chicago District Office:

• 230 S. Dearborn Street, Suite 2920
• Chicago, IL 60604
• Phone: (800) 669-4000

Statute of Limitations