Watkins v. Office of the State Appellate Defender

Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Employment Discrimination
Citation
Case Number: 
2012 IL App (1st) 111756
Decision Date: 
Friday, August 3, 2012
District: 
1st Dist.
Division/County: 
Cook Co., 5th Div.
Holding: 
Affirmed.
Justice: 
McBRIDE
Court properly dismissed Plaintiffs' complaints of racial and disability discrimination against their former State employer, as complaint could only have been actionable in circuit court if brought under Title VII rather than Human Rights Act, as Human Rights Act claims are barred by sovereign immunity. Court properly denied Plaintiff's request to amend complaint to include Title VII claim, as it would be time-barred for failure to proceed within 90 days of receipt of right-to-sue letter, and other Plaintiff's claim would be barred for lack of right-to-sue letter. (EPSTEIN and HOWSE, concurring.)