A recently filed lawsuit against a prominent Chicago strip club raises serious questions about the working conditions employees face behind the scenes.
TJ Thomas, a former manager at Rick’s Cabaret (formerly VIP’s), filed a federal lawsuit alleging he was fired in retaliation for reporting and opposing sexual harassment at the club. TJ is represented by Jeff and his law firm.
This isn’t the first time Rick’s Cabaret has been accused of workplace misconduct. A separate class-action lawsuit alleged that TJ’s supervisors allowed customers to sexually harass female performers, among other workplace violations.
The Allegations
According to the complaint, TJ was hired as a Host and later promoted to day shift manager. The lawsuit contends TJ excelled at his job and was described as one of the best managers in the company.
TJ alleged that two cocktail waitresses confided in him about being sexually harassed by the club’s general manager. On June 16, 2022, he reported these allegations to the club’s regional manager. However, his actions were allegedly met with retaliation—just two days later, on June 18, 2022, TJ was terminated from his position.
Rick’s Cabaret claimed TJ was terminated for misconduct. However, the lawsuit contends TJ did nothing wrong and his managers did not have a reason to fire him.
Legal Grounds for the Case
The lawsuit contends that TJ’s termination was a violation of an employee’s right to speak out against harassment without fear of retribution.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Illinois Human Rights Act protect employees from retaliation when they come forward to report harassment or discriminatory behavior in the workplace. By encouraging a safe environment for reporting, the law helps create a respectful work culture.
The lawsuit seeks remedies to address TJ’s wrongful termination and equitable relief to prevent future acts of retaliation.
Conclusion
This lawsuit is a reminder of the importance of safe workplaces where employees can speak up without fear. Discrimination, harassment and retaliation are widespread issues. When employers punish those who report problems, they create a culture of fear and encourage misconduct. Employees deserve a workplace where they feel safe, respected, and able to do what’s right.
Have you faced retaliation at work? Contact Jeff.
The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and captioned as Thomas v. Pooh Bah Enterprises, Inc., Case No. 25 C 0077.
NOTICE: The information contained in this post comes from allegations made in a legal complaint which was filed in the public record with the court. Please note that this is a contested matter. As a result, it is expected that the allegations will be opposed or denied by other parties and the court has not ruled on the merits as of the date of this statement.
