Aurora Township sued, retaliatory firing alleged

A former Aurora Township human resources coordinator has sued the township and its supervisor, arguing she was fired in retaliation after cautioning about possible discrimination claims.

The lawsuit, filed in Kane County by Batavia resident Barbara Jacklow, seeks more than $100,000 in damages, including back pay with interest, reinstatement to her previous position and attorney fees.

In the lawsuit, Jacklow argues that she was protected from retaliation under the Illinois Human Rights Act because she was performing her duties in warning about possible discrimination claims.

"She was basically doing her job," said Jacklow's attorney, Glenn Gaffney, adding his client was hired in February 2012 and was not on probation when she was fired Oct. 11, 2014. "I don't want to call it whistle-blowing, but it's still protected conduct under the Act."

In the lawsuit, Jacklow argues she was fired by Township Supervisor William Catching after expressing concerns about several matters, such as: the township hiring 13 seasonal employees in summer 2013 after seasonal hiring was done and paying them a higher wage than other workers; "arbitrary promotions and substantial increases in pay" to one employee; the termination of a 72-year-old employee; allowing an employee at the township's youth center to transport children on a bus after the worker disclosed serious health issues; and saying a township worker should not be arbitrarily sifting through employee files that contained confidential information.

"There's some pretty strong evidence here that this was a retaliatory motive," Gaffney said. "Mr. Catching wasn't in favor of her position and view on these (issues)."

The Illinois Department of Human Rights, which vets discrimination cases before they care filed in court, concluded in January 2015 that there was "substantial evidence" that a civil rights violation has been committed," according to court records.

Catching said he could not comment on the lawsuit.

"Because it's pending litigation and it's a personnel issue, I really can't comment," he said. "Our response will be in court."

The case is first due in court before Judge Edward Schreiber on June 25.