Alleged racist remarks, a mental health crisis, and a termination — all within weeks
A Pilot Travel Centers employee says she was fired on approved FMLA leave — after reporting a manager's alleged racist remarks that were not appropriately addressed.
Cheria Richards, a Deli Associate at a Pilot Travel Centers location in Morris, Illinois, filed a federal lawsuit on March 2 in the Northern District of Illinois, alleging race and disability discrimination, harassment, failure to accommodate, and retaliation.
According to the filing, Richards had worked for the company since around May 2022 and was recognized as the top Deli employee for three consecutive years at her previous store in Bloomington, Illinois. She was transferred to the Morris location on or about June 5, 2025.
The lawsuit alleges that shortly after her arrival, the store's General Manager made a discriminatory remark, stating he wanted to transfer Richards again because "this store is all white, let me transfer you somewhere else with more of your kind of people." Richards, who is African American, says she told the manager she had no issue working with people of any race and had thrived at the Bloomington store, where many of her coworkers were Caucasian.
According to the filing, Richards reported the remarks to her Deli Manager, who did not take appropriate action to address the behavior. On or about June 19, the lawsuit alleges, that same manager began criticizing Richards' prep speed — despite having...
Kenneth Scott Miller, 48, is charged with a felony count of making a false report to law enforcement. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $500 bond. According to an Escambia County ...