Plaintiff, a fire department lieutenant, applied for disability pension. Remanded to Board with directions to hold a new hearing on Plaintiff's application. Plaintiff requested a leave of absence, citing her anxiety and her treatment by her coworkers. Fire Protection District granted her a 12-week unpaid leave of absence under FMLA, but required that she submit a written complaint as to allegations of sexual harassment. District then issued Plaintiff a "Notice of Interrogation" to investigate allegations of sexual harassment, but District suspended hearing indefinitely and "Interrogation" is thus ongoing. Board was biased against Plaintiff, as 3 of the 5 Board members were also firefighters specifically named as antagonists in Plaintiff's 16-page written complaint as to the District. Remanded to Board with directions to hold a new hearing on Plaintiff's application. (McLAREN and JORGENSEN, concurring.)
Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Administrative Law