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Welcome to Asonye & Associates

Asonye and Associates is a Chicago-based immigration, labor and employment law firm founded in 1993.  The firms founder has been recognized by his peers as a Leading Attorney in the area of Employment Law.   For  more than 15 years, the firm has provided competent, efficient and cost-effective representation, aided by advanced technology and prompt communication with clients. 

 
Employment Agreements and Termination Harassment/Hostile Work Environment
Workplace Discrimination Employer Resources
  • I-9 Employment Eligibility Verifcation [more...]
  • Sexual Harassment Prevention [more...]
  • Harassment Complaint Investigation [more...]
  • Diversity/Anti-harassment Training [more...]
  • Independent Contractor Status [more...]

Current News

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Press releases and other news from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

  • MILWAUKEE – The Cleaning Authority-Fox Valley, a cleaning service provider in eastern Wisconsin, will pay $200,000 and furnish other relief to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by the U.S. ...

  • BEAUMONT, Texas – The Modern Group, Ltd. (TMG), headquartered in Beaumont, Texas, and one of its subsidiaries, Dragon Rig Sales and Service, LLC, a manufacturing and service company which builds oil...

  • JACKSON, Miss. – Headquartered in Tennessee, Tractor Supply Company, the nation’s largest rural lifestyle retailer with over 2,400 stores and more than 50,000 employees, has agreed to pay $75,000 ...

  • NEW YORK – Maximum Security NYC, Inc., a security company headquartered in Queens, New York, will pay a former employee $22,500 and implement an anti-discrimination policy and training program to re...

  • GLASGOW, Mont. – NorVal Electric Cooperative, Inc., a utility serving Northeast Montana, agreed to pay $50,000 to a former employee and provide other injunctive relief to resolve a sexual harassment...

  • ATLANTA – Reliable Maintenance Solutions, Inc., which provides quarry services for mine sites in Georgia, violated federal law when it refused to hire an applicant because of his disability, the U.S...

  • ATLANTA – Lubin Logistics Company, which operates as a package delivery contractor for the international shipping brand FedEx, violated federal law when it fired an employee because of his disabilit...

  • BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Chipotle Services, LLC will pay $50,000 to a former crew member at its Prattville, Alabama restaurant location and will provide other relief to resolve a sexual harassment lawsuit...

  • MEMPHIS, Tenn. – J.H.S. Holdings, LLC, and 4Top Hospitality Group, Inc., owners of Amerigo Italian Restaurant, will pay $60,000 and furnish other relief to settle a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity...

  • MEMPHIS -- Barrett Distribution Centers, LLC will pay $60,000 and furnish other relief to settle a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) lawsuit for unlawful retaliation against an emplo...

  • BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Erie Construction Mid-West, LLC, a construction company headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, and doing business in Dallas, Texas, agreed to pay $99,000 and provide other relief to settl...

  • ODESSA, Texas – Liberty Energy, Inc. doing business as Liberty Oilfield Services, LLC, will pay $265,000 to settle a race and national origin discrimination lawsuit brought on behalf of three mechan...

  • ATLANTA – Covenant Woods Senior Living, LLC and BrightSpace Senior Living, LLC (together, “Covenant Woods”), which operate the Covenant Woods retirement community in Columbus, Georgia, will pay ...

  • WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published final guidance on harassment in the workplace, “Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace.” By prov...

  • CLEVELAND – TA Dedicated (formerly known as Transport America) and Transportation Enterprise Services, trucking companies that operate under the parent TFI International, Inc., will pay $460,000 and...

In the past, employees with charges of discrimination before the EEOC and Illinois Department of Human Rights only had two forums where they could bring a lawsuit – Federal Court or the Illinois Human Rights Commission. Now, individuals who have filed a charge of discrimination at the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) also have the option of filing a lawsuit in Illinois State Court. This will affect those filing lawsuits of sexual harassment, racial harassment, age discrimination as well as other forms of discrimination and harassment.

Who Can File State Court Lawsuit of Harassment or Discrimination

To be eligible to file an employment discrimination or harassment case in Illinois State Courts, a charge of discrimination or harassment must have been filed with the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) after January 1, 2008. One can then elect to file a complaint in State Court under the following circumstances:

  • The Illinois Department of Human Rights issues a finding of substantial evidence and one elects not to have the Department file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.
  • The Illinois Department of Human Rights issues a finding of lack of substantial evidence.
  • The Illinois Department of Human Rights fails to issue a finding within 365 days of the charge being filed (or longer if an extension was signed by both parties).

Differences Between State Courts And Human Rights Commission

Unlike the Illinois Human Rights Commission, State Court allows a case to be heard and decided by a jury of your peers. At the Human Rights Commission it is up to an Administrative Law Judge to determine the outcome of particular case, including, the amount of damages that should be awarded. In State Court, however, this role may be undertaken by a Jury. This creates the possibility of larger awards in State Court than the Human Rights Commission. However, the discovery process is more extensive in State Court and the cost of prosecuting a claim in State Court may be higher than proceeding at the Human Rights Commission.

 

Disclaimer: The materials in Asonye & Associates web site have been prepared to permit visitors to our web site to learn more about the services we offer. These materials do not, and are not intended to, constitute legal advice. Neither transmission nor receipt of such materials will create an attorney-client relationship between the sender and receiver. Internet subscribers and online readers are advised not to take or refrain from taking any action based upon materials in this web site without consulting legal counsel. We do not undertake to update any materials in our Web Site to reflect subsequent legal or other developments.

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